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3  1833  03372  1900 


Gc    9  77.101  Au4p 

Portrait  and  biographical 
record  of  Auglise,  Logan 
and  Shelby  Counties 


I  I  V 


-oc^^ 


^^ 


^ 


U 


^ 


-««i  RECORD  »» 


^t;j 


_^-%<iLa-iii-^— 


—OF— 


^ 


Auglaize,  Logan 

AND 

Shelby  Counties, 

— 01-[I0.*— 

CONTAINING 

Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent  and  Representative  Citizens^ 
TOGETHER  WITH  BIOGRAPHIES  AND  PORTRAITS  OF  ALL  THE 

i> Presidents  of  the  I3nited  states.® 


u 


pi^Ep/^^^E. 


IK  greatest  of  English  historians,  ;M\CAULAT,and  one  of  the  most  brilliant  -writers  of 
the  present  century,  has  said:  '-The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the 
ives  of  its  pec^jle."    In  conformity  ■\^■ith  this  idea  the  PontnAiT  and  Biogkaphicai. 
Rkcohp  Qf  this  county  has  been  prepared.     Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and 
talcing   therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our 
corps  of  writei-s  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  -nomen  -n-ho  have, by  their 
enterprise  and  industry,  brought  the  count}'  to  rank  second  to  none  among  those 
prising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
ggles.     No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelli- 
public.     In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of   coming  generations.     It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by 
industry   and   economy   have   accumulated  wealth.     It  tells  how  others,  with  limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an 
^,  influence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.     It  tells  of  men  vrho 
^       have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have 
^\^       become  famous.     It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  suc-ceed,and 
8^  records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned  their  efforts.     It  tells  also  of  many,  very 

many,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pui-sued  '-the  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content 
"  to  have  it  said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — '-they  have  done  what 
they  could."  It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  peace 
once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not 
be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from  the  fact 
tliat  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which  would  otherwise  be 
inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity  possible 
given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  them- 
selves that  they  give  to  their  readei-s  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  the  biograph- 
ical sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  represent-ative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.  For  this  the 
publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the 
inform.ation  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.  Occasionally  some  member  of 
the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 
one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made 
at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

October,   1S'J2.  CIIAl'.MAX   BROS. 


1= 


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FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


assdf 


e>.i: 


J  wx 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
%)  born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
j.rF'eb.    :;,    1732.     His   parents 
^   were     Augustine     and     Mary 
=    (Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has   not 
been    satisfactorily  traced    in 
England.       His     great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and     became      a      prosperous 
plaijter.      He   had    two    sons, 
Lawrence    and     John.      The 
former   married    Mildred    Warner 
and     had    three    children,    John, 
.-\ugustine  and   Mildred.      Augus- 
tine,   the    father   of    George,   first 
married    Jane    Butler,    who    bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 

f^        maturity.     Of  si.x  children  by  his 
\        second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,    the    others    being    Betty, 
i  Samuel,  John   .A.ugustine,  Charles 

and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  let't  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  rei;eived  [>rivate  instruction  in 
mathemat'cs.       Hi;     siiellins;   v.-as    rather    defectivs 


.iT3 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physica: 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  wa.s 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 
When  George  was  1 4  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  Li 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  e.xperience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  1757,  though  only  ig  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health.  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  tlie 
estate  oi  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddle,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assignee  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortiv  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  Xorth- 
western  Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.     The 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


irip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  fall  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  3C0  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  raost  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  Tlie  other  aids  of  Braddock 
ivere  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says:  "I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  levelin'^  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  bom  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  militarj'  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
look  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
e.xpulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
if  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
dclphia.Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  meraberof  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  lo  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
ibttunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  ever)'  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
narion  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  17S3,  Washington,  in 
.T  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  resigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  10 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  lite. 

In  February, 17S9,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  wa;, 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  i)artisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  ex|)0sed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  manv 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France. 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  agaip  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the'  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  12,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settline 
in  liis  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  wi'h  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  ol 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  cliaracter,  which  have  be^n  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  gliibe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tan,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  -His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetn- 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  ai.])earance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  tM^ing  dull. 


vm  ' 


m  ^-/damij 


SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


-^jt^rs 


JDBK  ABAMS,      <t>^^# 


'W 


(THN    ADAMS,     the     second 
^  President  and  the    first    Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States, 
wab   born   in  Braintree     ( now 
Qunicy),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
'^  nines   from    Boston,    Oct.    19, 
I   J  3    His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,   emigrated    from    England 
about  1640,  wth  a  family  of  eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents    of   John    were   John    and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.     His 
father   was    a    farmer    of    limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.      He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
'  tion    at    Harvard    College.       John 

graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  \Vorcesler,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
'school  of  .nfHiction,"  from  which  he  ender^vored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  puriiose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
jils,  cf  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  tl.e  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  flueru  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  .Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriaL'e,  (t7('>5),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentarj-  taxa- 
•ion  turned  him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holdin^,  ;i  town  meeting,  and  the   resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  [Kipulat 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  176S,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  I.eg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  the 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  kive 
appointed  June  11,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  th-; 
glow  of  e.^cited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says, "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  .America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil 
be  decided  among  men.  .A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenring  colony,  '  that  these  L'nited 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states. '  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  .America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary, 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  on 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  .Almightv 
God.     It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with   [lomp,   shows 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  Vou  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  ot 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
ravs  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
Worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not."' 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
deilegate  to  France,  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  e.\- 
posed  him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
cliosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negoriate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  pvoposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  imjx)rtant  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  2 1,  17 S3.  The  re-action  from  the  e.xcitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  AVhile  in  England,  still  drooping  anddesi)ond- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  \vinter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,hemade  the  trip. 

February  24,  17S5,  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  .\s  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
.nis  own  countr)',  where  he  arrived  in  June,  17SS. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
.\dam3,  rendered  illusuious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abro.ad,  was  chosen  Vice  President,  .^gain 
at  the  second  elecrion  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposition. 
S;;rving  in  this  office  four  years.he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

"JVhile   Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  tlieir  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  pliilosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or 
iginated  the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  jxiwerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1S24,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  hall 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  lied.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  In- 
dependence FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  :;ttendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"  Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests.was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  h^K 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  unconrteous. 
He  had  neither  the  (of(y  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
tlie  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


^••■■;%^  v>727/:^. 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


«7 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
burn  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
Msell,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were  Peter  and 
line  (  Randolpli)  Jefferson, 
the  I'urmer  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
d^Jn.  To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
end  Mar)'  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obode  of  fashion 
a.id  splendor.  Young  Jefferson,  who  was  tlien  17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  kec[)ing  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  lie 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irrejiroacha- 
able  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  however,  under 
such  influences, that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  haid  study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  verj- 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  and 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profesaion  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
Tlie  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  .American  Colonies,  and  the  enlar<^ed 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses  In 
1772  he  married  .Mrs.  Martha  .Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow 
Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  th;re 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  .Mount  Vernon 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  ho 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  .\dams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  2S,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed,  July 
4,  1776.     What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
Boverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

Ill  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  :.s  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Moniicello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
ver\'  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  17S2  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  17S9,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  r,  1794-  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1S04  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  L'nion;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
ioathwestern  frontier,  for  the  purixjse  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
.'brty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
,ic,  arid  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Havmg  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  ujxsn  the  organization  of 
the  new'administration,  in  March,- 1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  hoises, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July   i8;6,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary  of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  tlie  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer. 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  nc 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  ne.xt 
dny,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  tha'; 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  airof  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life !  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life, 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desjxjnding  countr)'men;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  courtenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage;  and  j.is  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic  ;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discemable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


<ZA 


<  t  .  ,        ,l>^_    ^i^iC^t^t 


FOURTH  PRKSIDENT. 


31 


,'3#j3:^I]QESn];?DIS0I]. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
v^  of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
^  ''  President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
V  -S^   June  28,   1S36.     The  name  of 
/g    James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
.,    country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of   this  great    republic  were 
laid.   He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called    to   his   eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
fJYU  James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
Jlf*L  planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
|)  tate  called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
ij  Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
(5|S  the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
j  esque  and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 

of  .South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attachment  e.xisted  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
iS  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vit^or 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  177  i,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsf  ■ 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  ol 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mmd 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almo!:t  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777).  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  .Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-lovirg  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the    E.xecutive  Covmcil. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  JefTerson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;    and  their  aooreciation  of  his 


JAMES  MADISON. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1 7  So,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  JVIr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  17S4,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia   Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  tlian  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January^  17S6,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  Ceneral  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  'I'lie 
convention,  liowever,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelpliia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  apjxjinted.  F.very  State  but  Rhode  Island 
fas  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention  ;  and  tlie  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  power  at  liome  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  ]X>wer  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Midison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
JetTerson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war.  ) 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  e.xjxDsed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scliolarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  hisdisixjsition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  uiion  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the  ■ 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  iSth  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  tlie  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  iSIadison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1S13,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  U|ion  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  tlie  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infan'. 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling v.'ilh  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  February, 
1S13,  in  Chesajjeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
ditator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  tliousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patu.xet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  uixm  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Jkfrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  doer  to 
await  his  si)eedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  iSi5,the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  e.xpired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  :8,  1S36,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


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FIFTH'  PFES/DiiVT. 


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\ 


AMES  MOXROE.  the  fifth 
iPasidentof  The  United  States, 
5  bom  ill  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va  ,  April  28,  175S.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
, 1  many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  i-j  }  ears  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  ujxjn  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
ill  ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
u  ho  were  surriciently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
.Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  The  voung  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  esixiLised  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  antl  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey,  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry;  and,  liaving  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  177S,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  Gerniantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Uixm 
this  failure  lie  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Tefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not.  l»wever, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  avolun 
teer,  during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  178-,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  tha! 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  E.xecutive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  disiilayed  some  of  that  abiiitv 
and  aptitutle  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremittingenergy  for  the  public  good, 


36 


JAMES  MONROE. 


lie  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
Deeply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opixjsed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
-.hinking,  with  many  others  of  'he  Republican  parly, 
'.hat  it  gave  too  much  [X)Wcr  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
sup[X)rters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Everj- month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep 
arated  them  were,  that  the  Reptiblican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  tlie  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  [X)wer,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  ix)wer  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  tlie 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
'ibuilding  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  .\ssyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
light  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  jirevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousa)id-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  e.xtremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opjwsed  the_  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Gi5vernment  to  'he  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convetrtion 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstip-tions. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  countrv,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  jeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-oiierate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  [)robably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  otir 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  "the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Departnien: 
were  also  put  upon  hiiti.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  ol 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opix>silion,  and 
upon  March  4,  18/7,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the    "  Monroe  doctrine.' 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  a?  the  "Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  l)y  him  in  1S23.  At  tha^ 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  «ish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attem[)ting  to  sub 
due  ])ortions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  ro' 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  Europeai- 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  Uniter 
States."  This  doctrine  immediatel\-  nfifected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  L^nited  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  fecond  term  Mr  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.     In  that  city  he  died, on  the  4th  of  July,  tSji, 


.VJ 


5,  Ai 


''^J'Trxi 


SIXTH  PRESIDR^^T. 


eis<»s;g<ii^;s4^;; 


sS*S:S*SiS* 


JOr^l]  QUI136Y  -^D^IlQg. 


-  I   <JH\  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
■,  id  ^i\th  I'resident  of  the   United 


'btates,  was   born  in  the  rural 
home  of  his    honored    father, 
John  Adams,  in  Qiiincy,  Mass., 
on  the  I  ith  cf  July,  1767.   His 
'  mother,   a  woman  of  exalted 

worth,  watched  over  liis  childhood 
during   the   almost   constant    ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When    but 
eight  years  of  age,  he   stood  with 
"    hib  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames   billow- 
ing up  from    the    conflagration    of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  fatner  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  ot  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  tliis 
cou.'.try,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  .Again 
•  ol.A  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  si.\  months, 
to  :.fudy;  then  accom pained  his  father  to  Holland, 
v'here  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  .A-msterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  17S1,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
yea"s  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  .and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journev  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  si.xteenth  year,  .\2ain  he  resumed 
ais  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.    Them  e 


in  the  spring  of  17S2,  he  accompanied  his  father  i; 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  tiie  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent 
examining  arcnitectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintinus 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  agaii, 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  ol 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  Afte" 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  ana 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  sludv  until  May,  17S5, 
when  he  returned  to  .America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  e.xtremely  attractive 
Init  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  .America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  .American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

L'pon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
he  studied  law  for  thiee  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
[lointed  by  Washington,  resident  m.inister  at  the 
N'etlierlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reachea 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney 
assisting  tliem  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
(jieat  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  i. 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  a? 
minister  plenipotentiary'.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Beiiin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  unril  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  \\"hile  waiting  he  was  married  to  ar 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— M'ss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughte- 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  .American  consul  In  I  ondon 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  X\A 
elevated  sphere  for  which  slie  was  <i'j*s'iced 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  mle  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purixjses  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1S02,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4tli  of  March,  1S04.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1S09,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  .^dams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1S09. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations;  while  he 
Kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
.All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  imiwrtant 
.part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1S17,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  apixiinted  Mr. 
.Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1S19,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
1 8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  yearsof  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr  .\dams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  :he  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  .-Xdams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  e.xciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
si.\ty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty-one;  Henry  Cl.iy,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  .^dams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disap;iointed  candidates  now 
;orabined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  .Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
ife«  po-sl  historj'  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  neverwas 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  tlie  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams ;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
[Xjrtentous  magnitude.  Mr.  .Adams'  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  readv  to 
do  brave  battle' for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  1  he 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly, against 
I  he  prosljvery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  Us  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prayer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2ist  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  par.nly- 
sis,  and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  ;"then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  "  I  am  content"  These  were  the 
last   words  of    the    grand    "  Old     Man     Eloquent." 


SEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


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NDREW     JACKSON,     the 
seventh    President    of     the 
'  United    States,  was  born   in 
Waxhaw  settlement,   N.    C, 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.    His 
parents  were  [xwr  emigrants 
from    Ireland,   and  took   up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very- 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.      His 
features  were  coarse,  his  forai  un- 
gainly;   and   there  was  but  very 
tittle  in  his  character,    made   visible,  which   was   at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
17S1,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  Brirish  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
Dlow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
.\ndrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — i^ne  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  hiai.  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  otlier  ill-treatraent,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  't\    iibtaining    their   exchange. 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illn^SL 
.\ndrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways.s  \z\\  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  17SS.  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  tlien  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmisl)', 
witn  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditionsof  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes 
sion,  and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  neariy  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Kno.wille  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  eleven 
counties,  .\ndrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates.' 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  io 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  .\ndre>v  Jack- 
son was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Pliiledelphia,  where  Congress    then    held  its 


ANDREW  JACKSON. 


sesiioiis, — a  distance  of  about  eight   hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  api)rove  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  wlio  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  tlie  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  fjr  si.x  years. 

When  the  war  of  1S12  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred uixan  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
jffeied  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  e.\pected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
-ivith  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
;he  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory.  ' 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exteniiinate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Favettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bendsof  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
vVith  an  armv  of  two  thousand  men.  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
Jays.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  tHe  27th  of  Marcli.  1814.     The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  01" 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  brca.st- 
work  of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suply  of  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  ever)one  of  the  nine  liundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  tlie  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  'This  ended  the  war.  The 
]X3wer  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  its  terriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  .August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up    and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1S28,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1S32.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  oyone  party, 
condemned  bv  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  oflice  he  retired  to  the  Hermit^ige,  where 
I  he  died  lune  S,  1S45.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
I    sou's    life   were   that    of   a   devoted  Christian    man. 


/  7 


/.  ^L^//.J  ^:k^-uc^^ 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


ck. 


AKTIX  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
L  nited  States,  was  born  at 
Ki  iderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
17S2.     He  died  at  the  same 
ce,  July    24,    1S62.      His 
Indy   rests  in   the   cemeter)' 
"^ l\i\^  "         ^'  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
^yS^P\^    a  plain  granite    shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  halt  way  up   on   one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shnib  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Bureu 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  f;iniier, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  e.xemplary  piety. 

.■fe  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  .At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
.11  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
^aw_  .\^  he  I'ad  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  ot  study  in  a  law-office  were  re  p.iired  of  him 
'before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Insjiired  with 
■J.  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  jxjwers,  he  [iiir- 
sued  his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  .After 
spending  si-c  yeirs  in  an  office  in  '•is    native  village. 


he  went  to  the  city  of  .\ew  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1S03,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquendy  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  th^ 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  thi 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  fof 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump. 
tion,  leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  ovei 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  wai^ 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  tJKjse  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  rS  I  2,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  iSi^,  he  was  ap- 
[lointed  Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  .Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

'.Vhile  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
Ii.ominent  leaders  of  th«   Democritic   party,   he    had 


4S 


MARTJN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage"  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  ever)-  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  1S21  he  was  elected  r.  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
~:onspicuous  Dosition  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  beirg  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
;he  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
;ermined  opposer  of  the  .Administration,  adopting  the 
■'State  Rights "  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
leeraed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
■5eat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
^daras  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whetlier 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  w'as  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
:o  touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  whicli  would,  secretly  and 
ste.-'Uhily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outv.ntted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  .\ndrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
ap{K,inted  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  wlien  it  met, 
'efused    to   ratify  the   nomination,    and   he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  tliat 
Senate  which  h.id  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite; and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  E.xecu 
tive.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States,  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Tackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
uixm  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
'I"he  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in- 
volve this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  184S, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1S41,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald, 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1S62,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


tt^.  M ^^.-zi 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


•"-mk 


ILLIAM   HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the    United  States,  was  born 
It  Berkeley,  Vx,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
Hii  father,   Benjaraiji    Harri- 
-■on  was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  div.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  «  as  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
Fntish  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
ris jn    and    John    Hancock    were 
1  oth  candidates  for  the  office  of 
[  eaker. 
Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
Lliosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
ivas  twice    re-elected.       His   son, 
i  William  Henrj-,  of  course  enjoyed 

in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidnev  College,  where  he  graduated 
witli  lionor  soon  ifter  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
'-hen  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
iobert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
■"igners  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

ifpon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  'emonsliances  of  his  friends,  he 
-loandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
.laving  obtained  I  commission  of  Ensign   from   Presi- 


dent Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
I  From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  wliose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  aiv 
ixjinted  Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territorj-.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
l)osition. 

In  the  spring  of  iSoo  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  '■  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
\\'isconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  U'il. 
liam  Henry  Harrison,  then  2-j  years  of  a:;e,  was  ap 
pointed  by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  neady  dictatorial  over  the  new 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  abilitv  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  we.'-e  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  retnon, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  Oneof  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
setdement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Hamsoi. 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.   Abon' 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  iSo6,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  ot 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  OUiwacheca,  or  "  The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  u-ith  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  tlie  Prophet,  was 
an  orator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
tliey  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator:  he  was, 
ill  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
(October  2S,  1812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side, and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
l)le,  and  j'lst  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
dus  yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
S|ieedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned ;  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore   them,    and    completely    routing    tfip    foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  desce:iding  from  the  Can- 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidaliie  forte  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolvea  from  the 
forest,  sear.hing  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn-' 
ing,  plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  -in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  desjjairing  circumstances.  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Nortii-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  diflicult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  ab.vays  sharino 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  iSr6,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  ot 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1S19,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  ol 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  hiin 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re-notnirated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimou.sly  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  aniinated.  Gen  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  anv  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects,  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisv-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  .Apnl ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


*jA*    « 


*i  -'i^    i 


\y 


vri- 


tr 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


\    OHN    TYLER,     the    tenth 
^iii  Presidentof  the  United  States. 
1    He  was  born   in  Charles-city 
\    Co.,  Va.,  March  29,  1790.   He 
was  the   favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high   social    po- 
sition.    At  the    early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and    Mar,-  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted   him- 
self with    great    assiduity  to    the 
study    of    law,    partly   with    his 
father    and    partly  with   Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
et of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
i.jt  retained.  'When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
Was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  w'.ih  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  inter"!'  improvements  by  the  General  '"n;vern- 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocatmg  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.     His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  jxirtion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slaver)-,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  svrapathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  op]X)sition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
liis  profession.     There  was  a  rplii  in  the   Democrat!, 


JOHN  TYLER. 


/arty.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
lersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forly-si.\.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  cori- 
sequence  of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  renio\ed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
'S39.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  North :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1S41,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time.  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  .;und  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
une.xpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
.'^-ril  v/as  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
Office.  He  was  placed  in  a  (Xisition  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opiX)sed  tc  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, hont:t  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harjison  had 
t-elected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccomm-nded  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.      Hf   ■suggested,   however,  that  he  -would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  ujxjn  such  a  plan  as  he 
proixjsed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  Eubmitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
%vith  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture.  ■ 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  e.xultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  W'higs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratie  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1S45,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  lelief  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1S42; 
and  in  June,  1S44,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Nfiss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sheruood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  e.xperience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unnsual  attr.ictions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State, 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn had  inaugurated.  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  b" 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,   he   was  taken   sick  and  soon   died. 


ELEVJiJVTH  PRESIDENT. 


59 


JAMES  Ko  P©IL 


^^^^m'^F^^^^^^^m^F^m 


c 


•WIES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 

■  J'aPrebident  of  the  United  States, 

.  •-J  was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 

N   C  ,  Nov.  2,  1795.     His  par- 

^  ents  were    Samuel   and    Jane 

(Kno\)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 

of  Col  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 

at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 

firbt  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1006,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the   members   of 
the   Polk  fainly,  Samuel    Polk   emi- 
grated some   two   or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck   River.       Here    in    the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared   their  log   huts, 
and  established  their  homes.    In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk   spent    the 
\(iij/       early  years   of  his    childhood    and 
feSi       youth.     His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
'f        suit  of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.   His 
mother  was   a   superior  woman,  of  strong   common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  e.xpressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
iiim  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
|)rinciples  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a  situation  for  him  behind  the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  e.xtreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  \Vith 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1S15,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  181S,  with  the  highest  honors, be- 
ing  deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
rela.xation  he  -went  to  NashWlle,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Feli.x  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  .Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished    morals,   genial   and 


£o 


/.4A/ES  K.  POLK. 


toarterus  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  joys  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  18:3,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United   States. 

In  January,  1S24,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinued in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  I'nat  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  T'^nnessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous  ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  displav. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  Hou^e  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1S39,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1S41, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  countryin  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
.Mmonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

!n  his  first  message.  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
Other  States.  In  the  meantime.  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Te.\as.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  wai 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "invasion, "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  v/as  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addirion  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  ^wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars,  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1S49,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  .Mr  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  .him.  But  the 
cholera— that  fearful  scourge — was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fiftv-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


1/^' 


'7c^^>/[^^'y,    y^yt^./^^- 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


Wt 


$1 


aSBEEES3iXCrnL 


A, 


I 


^  1  ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
^  President  of  the  United  States, 
"was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
1 7  84,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
father.  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  young  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  si.x  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regardi'd  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  fearless  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  rSoS,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army  ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  (Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  iSi2,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison. on  his  marcli  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
:ed  by  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering  fifty  men,  many  of 
\yhom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  r8i2,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war-whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  si.x  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war.  Major  Taylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fu.x  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.     There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


64 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  hira  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  ot 
colonel.  In  the  Black-Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  re  i  te,  and  in 
jemplovments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
"beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1S36,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire bevond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
iiac*  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
iieie  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
ihe  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
)c  '.he  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
ifter,  in  May,  1S3S,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
iniidst  the  everglades  of  tlte  peninsula.  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
and  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
'A-est.  This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
.Uabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
»il  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
'a  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
n'.;re  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
fir.m  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imposed  upon  him. 

In  1S46,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
bj  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
WC5  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Falma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mi;.\icans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
«as  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
%^  as  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  N'ation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
E  uena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
f(  fees  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
si/nf)licity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
\\  s.  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

Tne  tidings  of  tlie  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
■(■read  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
n.ime  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  li|)s.  The 
W  hig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
fiil  popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 

■"?red,  honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  tlie 
I'lesidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
ncuncement,  and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
cl.iring  that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
ofi  ce.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
wiihout  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
ivl.o  had  been  long  vears  in  the  public  service  found 
*i.:ir  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose   name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine- 
writer  His  friends  took  posse-ision  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  gth  of  July,  1S50. 
His  last  woids  were,  "I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready..  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  follow  ing  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  shorf' 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortaWc,  '•itviT. 
saving  contempt   for  learning  of  every  kind." 


/?> 


^~^i-c  c/       Jl 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


^MILLftRn  FILLMnHE.-^ 


vSv 


i@jt.^^^g^- 


^^ 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth Presidentof  the  United 
States,  was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  X.  Y  .,  on 
the  7th  of  Januar)',  iSoo.  His 
'~^  father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances. Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  ver\' high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.  She  died  in 
1 83 1  ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished  prom- 
isee, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  bat  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  ivhich  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
end  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  ol 
Livingston  Countv,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Ntiar  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  wlier^  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  libran'.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  cf  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  tha'. 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  \\'alter 
A\'ood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  an- 
pearance  of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own. 
no  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  ver)'  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  off"ered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange   delusion    about' 
a  collegiate  education.     A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege.    But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  hal' 
tnd  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  bv  no   means   as 


as 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1S23,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  v/as 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Co-nmon  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1S36,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  iSjg, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degrie  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected, and  took  his  seat  in  1S37.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  stiength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  uiwn  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he   was   elected  Comptroller   of    the   State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  .about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  aw.ay,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  h.ad  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  tiumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  Cut 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesofZachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  fur 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1S49, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  iVIiUard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura 
tion,  was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillniore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opiMsition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  tocontiliate 
the  South;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacyof  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  jMwer  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr  Fill- 
more, having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  Ihaf 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  S,    1S74, 


^9i-^.[^^,-/^fl:rc- 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


r^it. 


Vr    ^FRflNKLIN  FIEREE."^ 


R\N'KLIN     PIERCE,   the 
fourteenth    President  of  the 
L  nited  States,   was  bom  in 
Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1S04.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary   soldier,   who, 
with    his   own     strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a    home   in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though    uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate.  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1S20,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunsvrick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  ]X)pular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  cf  his  moral  character,  the  unvar)-ing 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,   and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1S24,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  tlie  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawj'ers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  law)-er,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  years.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1S33,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1S37.  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  yomgest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1S34,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  .•\ppleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  ever.' 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied    Of  the 


h  RANK  LIN  PIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  bom  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1S3S,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States  ;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Me.xico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1S47. 
He  took  an  imix)rtant  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
.self  a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Me.xican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  I  2th  of  June,  1S52,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  fonvard  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pieice 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States   on    the  4th  of  March,    1S53. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  e.xperienced.  The  controversy  be 
tween  slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was  ' 
an  "irrepressible  conflict"  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years"  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  ;;l:en- 
ated  from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentinier.t,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  lie  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  sei-ve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1S57,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ,  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voiLe 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
iS6g.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladened  by  his   material    bounty. 


I-IFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


maiitic  spot  in  ;i  gorge  of  the  nioun- 
tiirs,  with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  d-rama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantagi'S.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  hJs 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped re'iiarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
"to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native   powers    en- 


abled him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  wi  '- 
facility. 

In  the  year  iSog,  lie  gr.aduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  liis  clasu.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  t.dl  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  e.xuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S12,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Verv  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twentv-si.x  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  ore  of  tht 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  01 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  anc 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1S20,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  % 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  foi 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  uixjn  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
apjx)inted  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  iti 
I S33,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster. 
Clay,  \\'right  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  tl'.e  meas- 
ures prc-posedby  President  Jackson,  cf  n'.  ilf<ng  repn- 


70 


JAMES  BUCltANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  ot^ce  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
again>t  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deiKisits. 
Earnestly  he  opiwsed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  tlie  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

U|ion  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  iMr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Xiieces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  agjinst  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1050, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1S56,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slaver)'  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
•.eived  1 14  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  i»[)ular  vote  stood 
1.340,618,  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March    4th.    1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
vears  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
susking  the  destruction  of  tlie  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered     He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples, consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  [larty  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  lawh 
lie  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic.     He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opiMnents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominal  ed  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slaverv 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slaver)- 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention U[x3n  the  subject  of  slaver}-.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  had  no  [xjwer  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  'I'his 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  uixm  his  sword-hilt,  he  exclaimed.  "The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  i860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston;  Fort  Sumpter 
was  besieged;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  reljels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  countrv's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion 
He  died  at  his   Wheatland    retreat,    June    i,    i863. 


''k.. 


-x-  <^ '■  ■      <^ 


^fol^-^c^-t^ 


SIXTEEXTH  PREi,/DE.yT. 


%  i  LINCOLN,  >  i 


^^ 


gs'^ 


'^^^^^ii^ig^saeas^o^ 


'^^^^ 


BR\HAM  LINCOLN,  the 
sixteenth  President  of  the 
-'^United  States,  was  bom  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 
iSog.  About  the  year  1 7 So,  a 
"'-  man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
''^  Lincoln  left  Virginia  with  his 
I  unih  and  moved  into  the  then 
wildb  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  wath  five 
htlle  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  Stales 
whose  name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin  ;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
Iiimself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
^.iborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  buill  a  log- 
labin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
•vonian,  jentle.  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel, 
".All  'hat  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  ''  I  owe  to  my  angel-niother. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana.  Whera 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  sciibe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  hini.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  "ead 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committpH  tc 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  familv 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  Thi're  were  joys  ano 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sistfi 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mat 
ried  when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  anc 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1S30 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,   111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  thi; 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  theii 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  com,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  w.is  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  oi 
education  and  was  intensel)'  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  .And  he  had  read  ir 
God's  word,  "  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  thft 
Lord  thy  God  in  -'.a.;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  bv  3 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  labo^e^ 
among  the  farmers.  'I'hen  he  went  to  Springfield 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  larse  flat-boat 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  dowi 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  bv  the  Mis 
sissippi  to  New  Orleans.  \\'hatever  .Abraham  Lin 
coin  undertook,  he  perfomied  so  faithfullv  as  to  giv,. 
great  satisfaction  to  his  emnlovers.      In   this   adven 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


tare  his  ereiployers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon 
his  retarn  tiiey  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1S3J,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
unlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Tackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  .Ml  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1S34  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1S36  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1S54  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1 85 6,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1S5S  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  historv'.  The  issue  was  on  the 
ilavery  (Question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
;he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6th  of  June,  iS6o.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
urominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
andaslittledid  hedream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fi.x  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  wiiich  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countiymen,  second 
onlv,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  iSo 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  tlierefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  uix)n  this    good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  Februan',  i86i,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  frought ' 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more h.id  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to  "get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  conl'usion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
hall-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  haa 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Wasliington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  an.xiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people 
In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  i»sitions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  res[X)nsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wrisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  bo'h  personal  and  national  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  be  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witn  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  bo.x  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  w;!I 
live  with  that  of  W^ashington's,  its  father;  hisco-;ntry- 
men  being  unable   to  decide    whii  h   is    tl-e   greater. 


/^^7>_^^t- 


<^y^^''-:i<$h^ 


SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDEi\T. 


^£,11^ 


NDREW  JOHNSON',  seven- 
teentli  President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
was  born    December   29,     180S, 


in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  -were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  c;nf:r  -veri  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  ^Jniil  ten  years  of  age,  .Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  .\  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. .A.ndrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  tlie  assist.mce  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of   siieeches.      The  owner. 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  01. 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreatiop  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  iS;6,  and  located  a*. 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pus 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  GDllege.  In  1S28,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1S30  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs  ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1S40  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Bur(!n's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  thcsv 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  iS4r,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1S43,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1S53,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1S55.  In  all  these  resi)onsible  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  hisduties  with  distinguished  abii 


S4 


ANDRE  W  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1S57,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1S45,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  Ireedom, 
And  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1S50,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  free  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
Soudi  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  ofhis  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir,' 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  iSuo,  iie 
r/is  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
l'r>,--,idency.  In  1S61,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
:..!  D.-iiijcra'-y  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
■taad  i.i  favoi  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rale.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.    In 

1 564,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April   \i, 

1565,  became  President.  In  a  speech  two  days  Uter 
ne  said,  "The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
?hey  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  r.unished ;  that  the  Government  will  not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is  strong  not 
only  to  protect,  but  to  punish.  *  *  The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opixisition  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress ;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly  • 
defied  it,  in  everythmg  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginniiig  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the   trial   began    March   23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  r.*;ces- 
sary  to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotently, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  ine  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1S75  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  specia'. 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1S75,  the  e.x-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  Imt  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  wa- 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconsciou  . 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  .\.  M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect 


EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


:ti(®V=^€^^^^gg^=^€S^V^^ 


^,3  LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
4  eighteenth  President  of  the 
"■;8  United  States,  was  bom  on 
the  2gth  of  April,  1822,  of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
'  home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1S39,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilides,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Me.xico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibirion  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
Df  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
.le  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  aninvil,  ran  the   gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  \K  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cuUiva- 
tion  of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  i860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army,  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  diidiarge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  LTncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightfonvard  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organizarion  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.      On  the   i-"'^  of 


UZrSSES  S.  GRANT. 


hine,  tS6i,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
hdd  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
ihat  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
C.^-  lera!  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.     The 

■_>.;' ;  r  u  .ed  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
.-.I'  ilie  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
,)!.... cd  ia  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
■.mmediately  made  a  M.ijor-General,  and  the  military 
iistrict  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
cashed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Te.xas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
•ind  enter  upon  '.!"■  duties  of  his  new  office 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  cliarge  ol 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarte.-s  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  trampof  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  'with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,   1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago. 
May  21,  1S68,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1S72, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  tenn 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being   cast   for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term.  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  LTnited   States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1S80  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  tlie  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1S85,  tlie  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


X.^u 


,£^  oA 


BS/^i^^ 


yj. 


NJJSIETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


UTHERFORD  B.    HAYES, 
the    nineteenth   President     of 
^"the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three    months   after   the 
'^  death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.      His   ancestry   on    both 


the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  e.xtensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
rane  cvvmking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1600,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  wa^  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  li.'e.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724.  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  ai.dgrandfatherof  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  .■Vugust,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  uirknown  date,  settling  in  Erattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford   Hayes     the  father   of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  tliey  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me 
chanical  turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  :8i2,  for  reasons  ine.xplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to   Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  not  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  ■  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter 
mined  to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son, of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  rime  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


92 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
him,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right!  Stick  to 
him!  Vou  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet."^ 

"  Vou  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "You 
'vait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1S25,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  w^nt  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his   character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  ini- 
'proved,  and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  bat  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,31  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in   1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
tlie  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1 S45,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
witli  R.alph  P.-Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

^ji  1849  he  moved  to  Cincmnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  uixin  his  subse- 
quent'.ife.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  witli  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb',  daughter  of  Dr.  Jarnes  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  as'^^hief  justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
hood.  The  Literary  Cluu  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulne-,s  and 
modesty. 

In  1S56  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judg;  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac. 
cept  the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  o( 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Co'.incil 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1 86 1,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  lif ..  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  tlie  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  'in 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  1S61,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1S62,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79111  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  liis  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-Gener.il.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General, "for gallant  and  distinguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1S64,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times. 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1806. 

Ir.  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  CHiio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popular  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in   1875. 

In  1S76  he  was  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Repub- 
lican P.irty  in  ttie  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
augurated  Mond.ay,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hcwever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  or^-^ 


J^^  -'-v, 


L^f'- 


TiVENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


Ami 


::-3»?::s<»s,':**T;is<i 


I  liMiii  a,  ^HillW.  I 


AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    ig, 
I  S3 1,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His   par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Ehza 
(Ballou)    Garfield,   both   of  New 
'f^     England  ancestr)-  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
*i,  tory  of  that  section  of  oar  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
.t!C  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
tween the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
.nard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  ap  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
f  he  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
•heir  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
'ames.  In  May,  1823^  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
.racted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
(his  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
:ell  how  much  James  was  indetted  to  his  biother's 
toil  and  self  sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
itrs  live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  liring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  he'  struggles  to  keep  the  little   family  to- 


gether. Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor 
the  humblest  fjiend  of  his  boyliood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  1  y  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  ulain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  hi 
was  about  si.xteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtair 
some  other  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  liis  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  went 
home,  and  attended  the  seminar;'  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  wav 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1S54,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1S56,  taking  one  of  the  highest  h(fc.- 
ors  of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  stated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  happened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  hisrelision: 


9« 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  jadgmeni.  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
(lis  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
tarian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
in  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1S61  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1S61.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
'Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebelhon.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  10,  1S62;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
.■\labama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "  Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  Wstory  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Ge»  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1S62  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Oliio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congiess  for  si.xty  year* 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshui. 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  Thert:  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  whicK 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  whict 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  tlian  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  18S0,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  tiie 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  iSSi,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends,  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Elaine,  a  man  stejjped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  in.licting  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J  ,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  fouT  deed. 


TWENTY. FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


^hr 


ill-  ©Mis^sa's^  ^ 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 

^%'__^twenty-first    Prcsi-^.m   ijf  the 

United    States     was    bom    in 

Franklin  Cour  ty,  Vermont,  on 

thefifthofOdober,  1830,  andis 

the  oldest   of  a    family    of  two 

sons  and    five   daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  aBaptistd',rgyman,who 

emigrated   to   tb.s  country  froM 

the  county  Ant.im,   Ireland,    in 

his  :Sth  year,  and  died  in   1S75,  in 

Newtonville,    neaj    Albany,    after  a 

long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S(  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
S  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  cf  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $5°'^  i"  his  ;xjcket, 
and  catered  the  office  of  e.x-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
\\\  the  Western  Slates  in  search  of  an  elisible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
nungout  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
111!  career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  atterward  niirr'^d  the   daughter   of  Lieutenant 


Hemdon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nomination  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Leramon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1S5;  that  Ton. 
athan  Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  0"Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  alave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  bv  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  bv  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1S56.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
.'\ venue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  S500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and   the   other  car  companies  quickly 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  Yoik,  was  added  to  the  finn.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1S72,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
10,  187S,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  iSSo.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  thecontinent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  leading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able. men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country'.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
.vas  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
•vlarch  4,  188 1,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — those  moments  of 
inxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re 
covery  of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainlv  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr, 
Arthur's  ever)'  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  hi? 
credit  that  his  every  acrion  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifestec^ 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any  niomen* 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  nevei 
before  in  its  history  over  the  death  of  any  othei 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  0/ 
the  Vice  President  to  :.3sume  the  responsibilitR-s  ol 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York. 
Sept.  20,  i88t.  The  position  was  an  embarr.tssing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  owi, 
hands;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  c^f 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  so 
wisely  ihat  but  few  criticisea  his  administration. 
He  served  the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  18S5,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


-(^"V'"- 

i-/-"- 


^  }^.^/   C/^^/co^^-^^^ 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


|»  ©rowic  @leyeIi5Hj!. 


^"^^^^^^^mw 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
I  AND, the  twenty-second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1S37,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
h  ilf  story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
Amenca's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trait  with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
ori^n  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
Dy  way  c:  the  Halson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Favetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Favetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  tlie 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school   and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supiwrting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayette/iUe  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
inri.ience.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
llie  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $100  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  e.x- 
hibit  as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville,  he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  w!iere  lie  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  fami'v  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
.M.  Y.  .■\.t  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


5.    GROVE R   CLEVt.LAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
ne  left  the  city  tc  =eeV  his  fortune  in?t=-''  o'  '^'-■'r;? 
to  a  city.  He  first  tnougnc  oi  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
th»"re  was  some  charm  in  th.it  name  for  him  ;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
jsk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stockbreeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
;pi;ak  eathusiastically.  "What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
la\","  was  the  reply.  "Good  gracious ["  remarked 
ih"  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  ?  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"  "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 
any." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  wriile  he  could  "  look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  Lhem  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Grover's  persistency  won,  and 
ne  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
nave  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  §3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
cone — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
out  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  execuliveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
ejected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y-,  in 
which  BuSfalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  iii'-'.ishment  upon  two 
can.inals.  Li  tS8i  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  BulTalo.  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  tliat 
rit"  Tn  this  office,  qp  w^l  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
penormance  of  dury  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer-. 
reted  out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  raess.age,  we  quote  ftom  one  vetoing  an  iniqui 
tous  street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  fo\ 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betr.ay  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worsj 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  tliere- 
ujwn  recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  i.i  1SS2, 
and  his  administration  c.''  the  affairs  of  Stite  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  t;;e  natio;i 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  Jul) 
ir,  18S4,  by  the  National  Democratic  Conventioi;  £>' 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  •! 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  HendricU 
Beniamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.:  and  be 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  al.'imt  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub 
lican  statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1S85,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  ol 
March,  1SS5.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusettr> ; 
Secretar)'  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  ViUs, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
.■\rkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controver'.y  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  condnuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


^'^CSjZ^uY    ^^^z^'^-^^^-^-'-f^'-'^ 


TWENTY-THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


-TO? 


'•C*0.-g^v«V®-9**- 


I^^^ENJAMIN  HARRISON,  the 
twenty-thiril  President,  is 
the  descendant  of  one  of  the 
historical  families  of  this 
country.  The  head  of  the 
family  was  a  Major  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  trusted  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  In  the  zenith  of  Crom- 
well's power  it  became  the  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  participate  in  tne  trial  of 
Charles  I,  and  afterward  tc  sign  the 
deach  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quently paid  for  this  wiih  his  life,  being 
hung  Oct.  13,  16G0.  His  descendants 
came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 
rrin  Harrison,  of  Virginia,  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
■^^as  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  years  i774^5-6,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
wa  t'uree  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia. 
Gen    "W'iiliara   Henrv   Harrison,  the  son  of  the 


distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  sno. 
cessfu!  career  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812, 
and  with-a  clean  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1840.  His  carser  was  cut  short 
by  death  within  one  month  -ifter  liis  in-uguration. 
President  Harrison  wi-  bcrn  at  ?>Toi-''-.  Bond, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  "0,  18.5.3,  His  life  up  to 
the  time  of  his  graduation  by  the  Miami  University, 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
try lad  of  a  family  of  small  me.ans.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  ti^.^ 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  schoo 
at  Oxford.  After  graduating  he  determined  to  en- 
ter upon  the  study  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
cinnati  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  receiv;:  J  tt" 
only  inheritance  of  his  life;  his  aunt  dying  left  uin; 
a  lot  valued  at  §800.  He  regarded  this  legacy  as  a 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  'aka 
this  money  and  go  to  some  Eastern  town  an',  oe- 
gin  the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
the  money  in  his  pocket,  he  started  out  wita  his 
young  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  in   the  world-     Ms 


108 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON. 


decided  to  go  to  Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at 
that  time  a  town  of  proiiiisc.  lie  met  witli  slig'.it 
encouragement  at  first,  making  scarcely  anything 
the  first  year.  lie  worked  diligently,  applying  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
lession.     lie  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

In  18(30  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  the 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Reporter,  and  tlien  be- 
gan his  experience  as  a  stump  speake;  lie  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughly,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  1S(32  he  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  was  composed  of  *he  rawest  of  material, 
out  Col.  Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
with  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the  best 
drilled  and  organizerl  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
especially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  bravery 
at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
^complimentary  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  field 
he  Supreme  Court  declared  the  office  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
ing Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fall  oi  1S64 
he  had  taken  no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been 
nomicated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-da}'  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  of  the  State;  and  was  elected 
for  another  term.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
man, but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
;ever,  and  after  a  most  trying  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  closing 
xcidents  of  the  war. 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  re-election  as 
.•eporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law  lu  167G 
fle  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.  Althangh  de- 
-€ated,  the  brilliant  campaign  hi-  iiade  won  lOrhim 
a  National  reputation,  and  he  was  aiuch  sought,  es- 
pecia^.y  in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  In  1830, 
as  usual,  he  took  an  activt  part  in  i,ae  campaign, 
and  wuc  elected  to  the  Tnited  St.ates  Senate.  Here 
lie  aevved  sis  years,  anc  "ras  known  as  one  c  the 
ibiest  men,  best  lawyer''  -.cd  strongest  debaters  in 


that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  Scnalonul 
term  ho  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  tlie  strongest  firnis  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  country.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  .June  and 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  was  great  in  every  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  .account,  and  the  attitude  it  as- 
sumed  upon  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr.. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popular,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  delegations  journeyed 
thither  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
incre:ised  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  daily  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  Were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmen. 

On  account  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  hi" 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  upon  at  an  un- 
commonly early  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion, 
of  the  great  questions  that  tlien  began  to  agitate 
the  country.  He  was  an  uncompromising  anti 
slavery  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  t'j.e 
most  eminent  Democi'atic  speakers  of  his  Stato^ 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  dsj'red  tc 
be  pitted  with  him  again.  AVith  all  his  e'oq-ence 
.as  ail  orator  he  never  spoke  for  oratorical  elfect, 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
He  is  purely  American  in  his  ideas  and  it  a  splec 
did  t^-pe  of  the  American  statesman.  Gifted  witu 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  Nation.  Many  of  these  speeches 
sparkled  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.  Many  of  his  terse 
statements  have  already  become  aphorisms.  Origi- 
nal in  tliought  precise  in  logic,  terse  in  statement, 
ye'  withal  faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  brili'an    orator  c-  ta-,  day 


ofiia-v 


'^,  5.y 


mB 


-^m  INTRODUCTORY. P 


^HE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  coaiity  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  tlie  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserv.-d.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
Df  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  e.xists  for  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scytlie  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  worlcs  and  the  most  e.irnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
Th-;  pyramids  of  Egvpt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  Tire  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  aroheologists  uf  Egypt  from 
Vjuried  -Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those   people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea— 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  .All 
t'aese  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived.  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity ; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelH- 
gent,  undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited  in  e.xtent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  systeir 
of  local  biography.  By  tliis  system  every  man,  thougV 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  lite,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  wliich  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  [xjrtraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  tliem,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  tho-^e  "ho  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  a^h.mied  only  to 
publish  t~>  the  woild  ilie  history  of  those  whose  live-- 
are  unwenhy  of  oublic  record. 


mm  ISIOGRAPtflCAL. 


•vm 


m"^  I- 


f!/„  OX.  willia:m  lawrexce.  a.  ;m..  ll.  ix, 

r  Ji  lawyer,  jurist,  btntesmaii  and  author.  Tlie 
lk>^f^   Lawrences  of  the  Unitetl  .States  are  descend- 

(^1  ants  of  Sir  Robert  Lawrence,  of  Ashton 
Hall,  in  Lancosbire,  EnLrland.  His  grandson, 
.lames  Laurence,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IH,  mar- 
I'ied  Matilda  "Washington,  who  belonged  to  the 
family  from  which  George  "W.ashington  was  de- 
scended. The  Lawrences  in  England  were  distin- 
guished in  politics  and  otherwise.  One  of  them 
was  a  second  cousin  to  Oliver  Cromwell,  and  was 
Lord  President  of  the  Protector's  Council  and  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Lords. 

Joseph  Lawrence  was  born  in  what  is  now  Phila- 
delphia, near  Byberry  Friends  Jleeting  House,  De- 
cember 2,  1793.  He  w.as  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Ben- 
ezefs  company  of  Philadelphia  (Uiards.  in  the 
War  of  isri.  About  1816,  he  removed  to  Ohio, 
settling  near  St.  Clairsvillo.  but  soon  afterward 
went  to  Jit.  Pleasant,  Jefferson  County,  where  he 
was  married,  October  .30.  1817.  to  Temperance  <-iil- 
crist.  a  native  of  Berlielev  County,  ^'a.,  burn  Au- 
gust (5.  1792. 

William  Lawrence,  whose  [wrtrail  and  biogi-.iiihy 
we  here  present,  was  born  of  these  ]iarent.-  at  Mt. 
Pleasant,  .lune  2i;.  1819.  March  1.  is;;i).  the  par- 
ents, witli  their  .-i>n  and  a  daughter.  Sarah,  removed 
to  a  farm  then  recently  purchased  by  the  fallier 
near  Uiclimon<l,  Jefferson  County,  wliere  they  re- 
sided until  the  spring  of  ISolj.  For  the  lirst  three 
vears.  the  son   William  worked  on  the  farm  in  tlie 


bunimer,  and  attended  a  common  school  during 
the  winter,  where  he  perfected  a  knowledge  of  the 
common  branches  of  education,  surveying  and 
spherical  trigonometry,  and  before  he  was  thir- 
teen, wrot«  out  in  book  form  a  solution  of  Gum- 
mer's  Surveying. 

Xovemter  1,  1833,  our  subject  became  a  student 
in  Rev.  John  C.  Tidball's  academy  near  Knox- 
ville,  which  was  afterward  lemoved  to  Richmond. 
Here  he  continued  (except  that  he  worked  a  por- 
tion of  each  summer  on  his  father's  farm)  until  the 
spring  of  1836.  He  then  entered  the  store  of 
James  Updegraff,  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  remained 
there  as  clerk  until  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  when 
he  becariie  a  student  at  Franklin  College,  Xew 
Athens,  Ohio.  He  was  graduated  from  that  insti- 
tution with  the  degree  of  A.  B..  and  with  the  hon- 
ors of  his  class,  and  so  delivered  the  valedictory 
address  in  the  fall  of  1838. 

His  parents  having  in  the  siiring  of  1836  re- 
moved to  PennsviUe,  Jlorgan  County,  our  subject 
in  Xoveniber.  1838,  commenced  the  studv  of  law 
with  James  L.  Gage,  of  JlcConnellsville.  and  w:is 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  L.  B..  at  tlie  Cincin- 
nati Law  School  in  JLirch,  1810;  was  admitted  to 
lu'actiee  law  b}-  the  Supreme  Court  of  (Jhio.  at 
Zanesville, in  November,  1810;  and  was  rejiorterfor 
the  OJiio  State  Journal  in  the  Ohio  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives at  the  session  of  1810-11.  and  a  cor- 
respondent for  the  Zanesville  Riqiuhli':aa  and  31c- 
Connelliville  Wlilq  ^laadnnl.    While  a  law  student. 


118 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lie  taught  a  cominon  school  three  months  at  Penns- 
ville.  and  a  like  period  at  McConnellsville,  and 
had  a  somewhat  extensive  law  practice  before 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  by  which  means  he  more 
than  defrayed  his  expenses.  Ho  practiced  law  in 
the  court  at  McConnellsville,  in  tlie  early  part  of 
1S41.  but  in  .Tuly  of  that  year  commenced  his 
practice  in  Bellefontaine,  and  has  ever  since  con- 
tinued vigorously  and  successfully  engaged  in  his 
profession,  now  more  than  fifty  yeai-s,  except  when 
liis  time  w.as  devoted  to  tlie  duties  of  the  offices 
he  luis  filled. 

As  a  lawyer,  the  name  of  William  Lawrence  ap- 
pears in  many  volumes  of  the  Ohio  and  Ohio  State 
Rc|)iiits.  in  important  land  .and  otlier  cases,  in  the 
rcjiurt;>  of  the  .Supreme  Court  of  Kansas,  and  of 
the  United  States.  By  authority  of  Atty.-Gen. 
Williams,  he  was  leading  counsel  in  the  great 
c;xse  of  the  L.  L.  >t  G.  Railroad  Company  vs.  the 
United  States,  in  which  nine  hundred  and  sixty 
thousand  acres  of  land  were  reclaimed  b_v  the 
nation  and  secured  to  settlers.  From  July  15, 
1841,  to  July  15,  1843,  he  was  a  law  partner  of 
Benjamin  Stanton,  afterward  Member  of  Congress 
and  Lieuten.ant-Governor  of  Ohio.  From  July, 
1851,  to  February,  1854,  he  w.as  a  law  partner  with 
his  law.  student.  William  II.  West,  afterward  At- 
torney-General of  Ohio,  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  and  candidate  for  Governor  in  1877.  J'rom 
April.  1866.  to  August,  1871,  he  was  law  partner 
of  Emanuel  J.  Ilowenstinc.  and  following- that  for 
some  vears  partner  with  his  son.  Jo.seph  II.  Law- 
rence. 

In  that  greatest  historic  election  contest  for  the 
Presidency  before  tlie  Electoral  Commission, 
under  the  Act  of  Congress  of  January  29,  1877, 
he  was  elected  by  the  Repulilican  members  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  Congress  to  argue 
two  of  the  four  contested  State  electoral  votes, 
Oregon  and  South  Carolina,  and  the  record  shows 
with  what  learning  and  ability  he  conducted  the 
contest.  His  portrait  is  found  in  that  great  histor- 
ical painting  purchased  by  Congress,  and  now  in 
tlie  Capitol,  "The  Electoral  Commission,"  by  the 
distinguished  artist.  JNIrs.  C.  Adele  Fassett,  of 
AVa-shington,  D.  C. 

The  great  law   writer.  Bishop,  lias  quotccl   with 


approval  from  the  law  arguments  of  Judge  Law- 
rence, as  in  "  Bishop  on  Statutory  Crimes,"  section 
14,  note  (ed.  1873);  "Bishop's  Criminal  Law  "  (cd. 
1868),  section  219  and  note  1;  and  Paschal  in  his 
annoUxted  "  Constitution,"  third  edition,  page  424, 
savs  of  liis  woik  ou  the  "  Law  of  Impeachable 
Crimes,"  used  on  the  impeachment  trial  of  Presi- 
dent Johnson,  that:  "  In  all  that  great  trial  there 
is  no  more  accurate  and  precise  learning,  than  is 
to  be  found  in  tlie  brief  of  authorities  uiion  the 
law  of  imiieacliable  crimes  and  misdemeanor?,  pre- 
pared by  Hon.  William  Lawrence,  of  Ohio,  which 
w.os  adopted  by  Mr.  Butler." 

His  printed  briefs  in  law  cases  woulil  make  sev- 
eral good-sized  volumes,  some  of  whicli  are  found 
in  the  Government  Law  Library  at  Washington. 
He  h.as  contributed  law  papers  to  sundry  publica- 
tions, and  among  them  to  the  Aincrifan  Tmk:  liiy- 
istfr,  the  Cinrinnati  Lan:  Record,  and  the  Southern 
La>c  Jievieir,  including  in  the  latter  an  extended 
review  of  the  works  of  Joel  Prentice  Bi.-ho|i,  and 
of  Bliss  on  "  Code  Pleading."  He  has  studied  more 
branches  of  the  law  than  members  of  the  profes- 
sion generally.  As  lawyer  and  judge,  he  h.as  be- 
come familiar  with  the  constitution  and  common 
law  of  Ohio;  .as  president  of  a  court-martial  for  a 
month  at  Cumlierland,  Md.,  in  1862,  he  studied 
the  laws  administered  in  such  tribunals;  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Judiciary  Committee, of  the  Committee  on 
the  Revision  of  the  Laws,  and  as  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  War  Claims,  in  llie  popular  branch 
of  Congress,  he  became  familiar  with  the  constitu- 
tion and  laws  of  the  United  States  and  inter-State 
and  international  law,  including  the  laws  of  war; 
and  as  First  Comptroller  of  the  Department  of  the 
Trc.asurv,  he  became  versed  in  the  national  ex- 
ecutive coiiimou  law  and  in  the  construction  of 
statutes. 

Judge  Lawrence  was  one  of  the  Ohio  lawyers 
who,  on  July  9,  1880,  at  Cleveland,  organized  the 
Ohio  State  Bar  Association.  He  is  such  a  devoted 
stuilcnt  of  the  law,  that  an  officer  in  the  Treasury 
Department  (E.  Graham  Haywood,  law  clerk  in 
the  First  Comptroller's  office,  who.  like  his  distiu- 
CTuished  father  of  North  Carolina,  is  an  able  and 
accurate  lawyer),  well  knowing  his  taste  and 
habits,  has  said:     -  I  believe  when    his  call   conies. 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


119 


at  the  'sound  of  the  I:i8t  tninii>  '  bo  ivill  Iiave  a. 
law  book  iu  liis  banils." 

He  has  filled  important  luiblie  ullites.  In  1842. 
he  was  Commissioner  of  BanUrii|its  for  Logan 
Count3-.  In  1845— (C,  he  was  Prosecuting  Attorney 
for  the  county,  but  resigned  in  184G.  and  was 
elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  and  re- 
elected in  1847:  was  eleetci]  to  the  Senate  in  1841), 
and  again  in  IS.'il;  dii  March  20.  IS.'il,  he  was 
elected  by  the  Legislature  Reporter  ftu-  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  Oliio,  and  reported  t!ie  Twentieth 
Volume  of  Ohio  Reports.  In  1S.')l>.  he  was  one  of 
the  Whig  candidates  on  the  Scott  electoral  ticket, 
but  witli  his  party  in  the  State  w.as  defeated.  In 
18.i6.  he  was  elected  .Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas 
and  District  Court  in  the  Third  Ohio  District, 
comprising  twenty  counties;  w.as  re-elected  in  ISOl, 
and  served  until  September,  18G4,  when  he  re- 
signed, and  in  October  of  that  year  was  elected 
Representative  in  Congress.  Under  that  and  sub- 
sequent elections,  five  in  all.  he  served  for  ten 
years,  from  Jlarch  4,  \!<r,:>.  to  March  4,  1877,  not 
including  one  term  from  March  4,  1871,  to  March 
4,  187:3. 

In  1862,  during  the  Rebellion,  he  was  Colonel  of 
the  Eighty-fourth  Ohio  (three-month's)  Regiment, 
serving  at  Cumberland  and  New  Creek,  and  for  a 
month  of  that  time  he  was  President  of  a  court- 
martial  which  tried  many  important  cases.  He 
has  delivered  many  Decoration  Day  addresses; 
also  speeches  at  reunions  of  soldiers  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  a  charter  member  of 
Hurnside's  Post  Xo.  8,  De]iartment  of  the  Potomac, 
G.  A.  i;..  in  AVasliington.  1).  C,  w.as  its  first  Com- 
niandei',  and  always  an  active  member  while  in 
thatcit}-.  Tlie  charter  is  dated  .Tune  1  1,  1882.  and 
included  the  names  of  many  citizens  eminent  in 
the   military  and  political   liijtmy  of  tlie  country. 

In  186:5,  .Tudge  Lawrence  was  ap|iointed  liy 
Pje?i(lent  Lincoln  Distrirt  .ludge  of  Florida,  liiit 
declined  to  accej)!.  In  .July.  Lsso.  President  Mayes 
tendered  him  an  appointiiieiit  as  Kii^t  Cnia|itrolli'r 
in  the  Depaitmeiit  i.f  tlic  Treasury  of  the  I'liited 
States,  which  at  first  he  declined,  but  tinaliy  ac- 
cepted at  the  urgent  leipie-t  <.f  tlie  Pn->iileiit  :iiid 
.lohn  Sherman.  Seci-etary  of  the  Treasury.  He 
was  tlie  proiirietor  of  the   Logan  Gazi-lk-  at  Lelle- 


fontaino,  from  March,  1845,  to  September,  1847, 
and  w.as  its  exclusive  editor  for  the  first  six 
months  of  that  period.  He  w.as  one  of  the  editors 
of  the  four  volumes  of  the  Western  Lair  Monthl}j, 
published  at  Cleveland,  1859  to  1862,  inclusive,  in 
which,  and  in  other  law  periodicals,  many  of  his 
opinions  as  judge  were  published,  sufficient  in 
number  to  make  a  large  volume.  An  able  judne 
declared  that  his  definition  of  a"  reasonable  doubt," 
in  the  Robbins  case.  Eighth  Ohio  .State  Reports, 
was  tlie  best  to  be  found  in  tlie  books,  and  "Wliar- 
ton  and  Stille,  in  their  work  on  '■  Medical  .Jurispru- 
dence," have  copied  with  approval  almost  entire 
one  of  his  charges  to  a  jury,  in  a  case  involving 
medico-legal  questions  connected  with  chloroform. 
In  1841-43,  .Judge  Lawrence  studied  medicine 
and  surgery,  and  he  has  published  some  articles  on 
these  subjects,  including  one  on  "  Clitlirophobia," 
in  the  Cincinnati  Lancet.  In  some  of  his  medical 
articles,  he  maintains  that  "  disease  in  tlie  human 
system  is  generally  produced  by  the  presence  of 
something  which  should  be  absent,  or  by  the 
alKcnce  of  some  element  which  should  be  present, 
and  that  remedies  should  seek  to  remove  the 
former  and  supply-  the  latter."  Again  he  said: 
•'Generally  the  onlj-  proper  articles  of  diet  are 
such  as  nature  produces  in  the  climate  iu  which  we 
live.  Capt.  Hall,  the  Arctic  explorer,  once  said  to 
me  that  •  the  chief  reason  why  Northern  explorers 
had  nearly  all  perished  w.as  because  they  tried  to 
live  upon  food  adapted  to  the  climates  from  which 
tliey  came.  To  live  in  Arctic  regions  they  must  eat 
blubber  and  drink  se.al  oil.'  In  equatorial  regions, 
heat  c:iuses  waste  of  the  system,  which  is  counter- 
acted by  the  use  of  coffee,  which  nature  there  sup- 
plies, and  which  is  injurious  elsewhere  under  other 
cunditions.  because  it  retards  w.aste  and  so  re- 
tains in  the  system  effete  matter — disorganized 
life  cells — which  would  otherwise  pass  off  by 
insensible  perspiration,  this  latter  openition  be- 
ing es-rential  to  health.  Pepper,  oranyes,  ba- 
lumas  and  other  tro[>ical  products  are  useful 
where  the  Almighty  cau^i's  them  to  gn.iw  and 
hence  intends  them  to  be  consumed,  but  under 
in>rraal  cunditiims  are  injurious  elsewhere."  Again 
.ludge  Lawrence  said:  •■  Fruits  should  lie  eaten 
in    their    season.      Nature   ripens   blackberrries  at 


120 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  time  wbeii  their  .inti-e.ith.irtic  qunlities  are 
needed  to  counteract  tendencies  in  the  system  re- 
quiring them.  This  is  simply  an  illustration  of 
the  principle  that  God  provided  in  eacli  climate 
the  food  that  man  needs.  He  wlio  cans  for  the 
winter  green  corn,  berries,  and  summer  vegetation 
having  a  brief  period  of  ripened  maturity  before 
decay,  ch.anges  the  plans  of  Providence,  and  those 
who  consume  such  preparations  incur  the  danger 
of  receiving  the  penalties  of  violated  law.  lie 
should  look  through  Xatnre  up  to  Nature's  (iod, 
and  learn  the  wisdom  by  Him  imparted  in  'lessons 
written  in  Nature's  book.'  " 

Judge  Lawrence  luas  always  been  especially  in- 
terested in  the  study  of  natur.al  i)hilosopliy  and 
chemistry,  which,  like  his  other  studies,  he  dili- 
gently pursued  at  college  and  in  after  life.  While 
attending  the  Law  .School,  he  .also  attended  some 
of  the  lectures  on  chemistry  in  the  Ohio  Medical 
CoUeae.  He  h.as  said:  '■  Our  books  on  these  sub- 
jects must  be  rewritten.  Tliere  exists  in  universal 
sp.ace  spirit-essence,  and  .at  localities  matter  com- 
prising those  elements  of  which  chemistry  Lakes 
cognizance.  Jlatter  is  inert — it  cannot  .act  or 
think — it  has  per  se  no  power.  Spirit-essence — 
God-thinks,  acta — is  the  only  force.  There  is  no 
force  or  intelligence  wliich  is  a  quality  of  matter, 
as  so-called  attraction  of  gravitation,  or  of  colie- 
sion  or  adhesion,  or  .as  chemical  affinity;  each  of 
these  is  simply  God  moving  on  every  atom  and 
forming  molecules  and  masses,  and  imparting  to 
all  the  forces  that  move  them,  not  by  fixed  natural 
laws,  but  by  supreme  intelligence  and  unlimited 
power.  That  is  the  intelligence  that  guides  the 
rootlet  in  the  e.orth.and  enables  it  to  see  or  feel,  or 
at  le.ast  select,  the  necessary  elements  necessary  for 
the  process  of  vegetation.  Wh.at  is  the  power 
that  carries  these,  when  selected,  between  the  bark 
and  woody  substance  out  to  the  leaf,  and  then 
mixes  them  with  the  carl«m  drawn  from  the 
atmosphere,  .and  returns  the  pulpy  product  and 
spreads  it  in  annulations  again  between  the  wood 
and  bark,  and  so  carries  on  the  process  of  veget.a- 
tion?  God  is  the  intelligence  and  the  force.  In- 
telligence and  force  are  His  e.ssential  altriliutes. 
The  ra.aterial  tree  dies,  liut  God  never  dies.  Here 
is    a    lesson    in    spiritual    tlie(..l<igy.     The   natural 


body  of  man  dies,  'dust  returns  to  dust,'  but  the 
Spirit  never  dies,  it  '  returns  to  the  God  who  gave 
it  '  its  spiritual  and  sole  identitj-  eternal.  Tele- 
ology and  eutaxiology  .alike  prove  the  existence  ■ 
of  a  i)syehical  essence,  a  real  substantial,  intelli- 
gent force,  pervading  all  space,  and  this  is  fiod, 
who 

'  Warms  in  the  sun,  refreshes  in  the  breeze, 
Glows  ill  the  stars  and  blossoms  in  the  trees; 
Lives  through  all  life,  extends  through  all  extent; 
Spreads  undivided  and  operates  unsi)ent.'  " 

llis  work  in  tlie  Legislature  of  Ohio  is  found 
in  many  statutes,  including  the  Free  Banking  Law 
of  1S.3I,  essential  features  of  which  are  in  the  Na- 
tional Bank  acts.  His  reports  on  various  subjects 
show  great  lalim-.  On  February  13,  1851,  as 
Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee  on  the  Pen- 
itentiary in  the  Ohio  Senate,  he  made  a  report,  the 
tirst  on  the  subject,  in  favor  of  prohibiting  the 
employment  of  convicts  in  branches  of  industry 
that  would  compete  with  the  mechanics  of  the 
State.  His  decisions  as  Comptroller  show  his  re- 
gard for  the  rights  of  laboring  men.  .Tune  27, 
1871,  Columbia  Typographical  Union  No.  101,  of 
Washington,  "Resolved,  that  the  thanks  of  said 
Union  be,  and  are,  tendered  to  Judge  Lawrence 
and  (otheis  named)  for  their  manly  defense  of  the 
working  men  of  the  country,  and  for  the  interest 
and  zeal  shown  by  their  action  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  tlic  welfare  of  the  craft."  He 
had  in  Congress  vindicated  trades- unions. 

In  Congress,  Judge  Lawrence  was  the  first  to  in- 
troduce a  bill  to  convert  the  office  of  Attorney- 
General  into  an  executive  department,  and  man\' 
of  the  provisions  of  his  bill  are  found  in  the  act 
liiially  passed  creating  the  Dep.artment  of  Justice. 
His  report  of  February,  18G9,  on  the  New  York 
Election  Frauds,  led  to  important  legislation  m 
that  St.ate  to  preserve  the  purity  of  elections,  and 
to  the  legislation  of  Congress  on  the  same  subject, 
wiiicli  contains  provisions  of  a  bill  which  .accom- 
panied the  re|)(jrt.  He  is  author  of  the  law  giving 
to  each  sijUlier  as  a  homestead  one  hundred  and 
sixtv  acres  of  the  "alternate  reserved  sections  " 
in  the  limits  of  railroad  land  gr.auts.  He  was  the 
lirsl  in  Congress  to  urge  that  the  public  lands 
should  no  longer  be  disposed  of  by  Indian  treaties 


PORTR.iIT  AXD  BIOGEAPIIICAL  KECORD 


121 


to  I'.ailioad  companies,  and  that  they  sliould  be 
reserved  for  homesteads,  and  his  efforts  led  to  the 
act,  JNIarch  3,  1871,  wliich  prohibits  such  treaties, 
lie  was  tlie  first  to  urge  upon  Congress  that  tlie 
Pacilic  Raih'oad  Companies  slioidd  be  required  to 
indemnify  the  Ciovernment  for  loss  on  account  of 
tlie  subsidy  bonds  issued  to  these  companies,  and 
on  .Tuly  7.  187C.  carried  a  bill  through  the  House 
hn-  this  |)iii-iii.isi'.  and  his  elaborate  report  on  the 
subject  was  liiglily  cuiiimen<led  by  the  Auditor  of 
Railroad  Accounts  in  his  annual  reijort  of  aS'o- 
veiiilier  1,  1878.  The  Ilayes-Tilden  election  con- 
test prevented  action  by  the  .'Senate  on  this  bill, 
but  its  purpose  was  suiisciiuently  secured  by  the 
act  known  as  the  "Thiiiiiian  Act  "'  of  May  7,  1878 
(see  },  Lawrence's  ■•  CDiiiptroller's  Decisions  "  :-'l  1). 
As  Lliaiiinan  of  the  Committee  on  M'ar  Claims,  his 
reports  wc.iuld  make  a  large  volume. 

.Judge  Lawrence  was  a  la}-  delegate  from  the 
Central  Ohio  Conference  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  the  Jlethodist  Kpiscopal  Church,  at  its  ses- 
sions in  1872-7G-8l)-02,  in  -which  he  made  sundry 
reiiorts,  and  in  the  spring  of  1888.  he  published  in 
the  ]Vrxl,_'ni  Chn'.slntii  .hiruraO' a.  series  of  articles 
nil  the  niuch-nitiotfd  (iuc.-tii.m  of  the  status  of 
\Villiam  Tayhir.  1).  \>..  Missionary  Kishop  to 
Africa,  in  which  it  was  maintained  that  lie  was  a 
Ijishop  eipial  in  dignity  with  any  other,  a  position 
Mi.,tained  hy  the  General  Conference  of  1888.  The 
(  eiitial  (Jhio  Conference  three  times  elected  'SU: 
Lawrence  a  Trustee  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  rnivcr- 
.-ity  at  Delaware,  in  l.~^7.-<.  188.1  and  1888.  and  he  is 
now  serving  in  that  capacity  in  his  third  term  of 
five  years  each. 

February  l.'i.  1871,  he  organized  the  Bellefon- 
taino  National  Dank,  of  which  he  has  ever  since 
since  been  Presiilent  and  a  principal  stockholder. 

r.y  appointment  of  <  Governor  Foraker,  he  wa- 
one  of  the  delegates  at  large  from  Ohio  to  tin- 
Farmers'  Congress  of  the  United  States,  which  met 
at  Chicago,  in  Xovembcr.  18,s7,  and  in  wliicli  lie 
di'livered  an  address  on  -The  Aiiicricaii  Wool  Iii- 
terot."  afti'rward  sterei.itypcd  and  rcpriiitt-d  in 
Xew  Y,Mk  by  the  American  I'roteetive  TarilT 
l.eaLiui-.  and  exten>ivi'ly  distributed  as  a  political 
campaiLfn  clocuiiieut  in  the  Presidential  election  i_if 
lsi«.s.  and    :i-   our   ,,f    the  standard  publications  of 


the  League  ever  since.  In  the  October,  1875,  num- 
ber of  The  Eqmhlic,  a  Washington  moiithlv  maga- 
zine, he  published  an  article,  "  The  People  a  Na- 
tion; The  Union  Periietnal."  which  was  repriutcd 
as  a  Republican  campaign  docnmeut  in  the  Pie>i- 
denti.al  election  of  187(j. 

In  183-2,  the  National  Chamber  of  Indii^trv  and 
Trade  in  New  York  copyrigliteil,  printed  and  cir- 
culated extensively  a  tariff '•  Interview  with  Judge 
AVilliam  Lawrence,  by  Kdward  Young,  Ph.  D.,  late 
Chief  of  the  United  .States  Bureau  of  Statistics." 

These  are  only  specimens  of  his  political  works. 
In  the  Presidential  camjiaigu  of  1840,  before  he 
had  reached  majority,  he  made  "stump  speeches  " 
in  several  counties  of  ()lii(.),and  in  every  campaign 
since.  National  ami  State,  in  various  parts  of  tlie 
United  States,  he  has  lieen  an  active  participant, 
many  of  his  speeches  having  been  published  in 
newspa|iers  and  pamphlel.- .as  campaign  documents. 
Ills  published  speeches  and  lectures  on  peilitical. 
legal,  literary,  agricultural,  moral  ami  miscellane- 
ous subjects,  if  collected,  would  make  two  yoinl- 
sized  voUinies. 

.Judge  Lawrence  has  rendered  great  servii'C  to 
the  agricultur.nl  and  wool-;.a-owiiii;  iiidiistiies  of 
the  country.  He  wa-  a  delegate  to  the  national 
convention  of  wool-growers,  wool-dealer-  and 
w(jol-maniifactnrers  at  St.  Louis,  in  'Siiw.  1S87;  to 
a  similar  comention  in  AVasliingloii,  .lanuarv. 
18S8;  an.ithei  in  .laiiuary.  lS.s:i.  hy  the  latter  of 
which  he  was  mailc  Chairman  of  a  committee  to 
present  to  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  Senate 
the  claim?  of  w.'ol-gr...wer>  to  legislative  and  pro- 
tective duties.  His  work  in  these  conventions  has 
been  exten^ively  publi.-hed.  and  his  speeches  before 
the  Senate  Committee  arc  found  in  the  Report  of 
Tariff  Te.-timony  for  .January,  iss;).  [mrt  3.  pairc? 
lli.Vl  to  i:i77.  pulilished  by  Congress. 

In  I)eeemlier.  l>s'.i.  a  national  comention  of 
wool-groivers  in  Washington.  D.  C..  appointed  him 
Chairman  of  a  committee  to  present  the  claims  of 
wool-grower-  to  the  Committee  of  AVavs  and 
.Aleaiis  of  the  Hou-e  (jf  i;epre-eutati\e-  in  (.oii- 
gres.-.  and  his  argumeii  l>  arc  pulili-hcil  in  the  \'(.il- 
ume  of  Hearings  em  Revision  of  Tarilf.  paires  21.'i 
to  2811.  .lannary.  In'.hi.  On  Fchiiiary  l.">.  1s;hi.  I,y 
invitation  of  the  Commercial  (lull  of    I'rovideiice. 


122 


jk'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


E.  I.,  he  flelivered  an  address  on  •'  The  Protection 
of  Wool,  from  the  Standpoint  of  the  Grower," 
afterward  published  b_v  "The  Home  Market  Club  " 
of  Boston,  as  cue  of  its  standard  documents  for  gen- 
eral distribution.  He  wrote  the  memorial  of  the 
Committee  of  National  Convention-  of  Wool- 
growers,  held  in  Washington,  D.  C,  from  De- 
cember 2  to  9,  1889,  published  as  United  States 
Senate  Miscellaneous  Document  No.  149,  Fifty- 
first  Congress,  first  session.  In  January,  1891,  he 
was  elected  President  of  the  Ohio  Wool-growers' 
Association.  Ilis  annual  address  at  Columbus, 
January  12,  1892,11.13  been  extensively  published 
all  over  the  United  States.  The  North  Pacific 
liural  jSjni-it  ami  WiUiamette  Farmei;  of  February 
11,  1892,  prefaced  its  publication  by  saying, 
"  Without  any  question,  Mr.  Lawrence's  address  is 
the  ablest  document  ever  given  to  the  public 
upon  the  subject  of  wool-growing,  woolen  manu- 
factures and  their  relation  to  the  present  tariff  agi- 
tation." lion.  F.  B.  Norton  of  Burlington,  Wis- 
consin, said  in  the  Wisconsin  Farmei;  of  June  3, 
1891,  referring  to  Judge  Lawrence,  Hon.  Columbus 
Delano  and  David  Harpster:  "  It  is  Largely  due 
to  the  labors  of  these  men  that  we  have  seen  the 
value  of  our  flocks  doubled  within  the  past  few 
years,  which  means  a  gain  of  $100,000,000,  to  the 
wealth  of  the  nation.  The  farmers  of  the  United 
States  could  well  afford  to  present  a  solid  silver 
sheep  with  a  golden  fleece  to  e.ach  of  these  patri- 
otic gentlemen,  wlio  have  done  so  much  for  sheep 
liusbandry."  His  published  addresses,  reports, 
etc..  in  behalf  of  this  industry,  would  make  a  vol- 
ume of  six  hundred  pages. 

In  1884,  Judge  Lawrence  was  elected  a  member 
of  tlie  Philosophical  Society  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
a  verj-  select  body  of  learned  and  scientific  gentle- 
men, which  puljlislies  a  volume  annually.  In  the 
month  of  May,  1889,  he  w.as  elected  a  member  of  the 
Census  Analytical  Association  of  the  United  States, 
and  made  Vice-president  of  the  section  on  wool. 
The  object  of  the  association,  which  consists  of 
only  fifty  membere,  is  to  create  a  system  of  verifi- 
cation of  all  statistical  data  of   the  United  States. 

The  ollice  of  First  Comptroller  of  the  Treasury 
Department  is  second  in  importance  only  to  that 
of  the  Secretary.     He  is  a  law  ofticer.  who  decides 


questions  arising  as  to  the  payment  of  money  into 
and  out  of  the  Treasury.  Hamilton  declared  that 
'•the  Comptroller  is  a  check  upon  the  Secretary." 
From  his  decision  there  is  no  appeal,  he  cannot  be 
overruled  by  the  Secretary  nor  the  President, 
though  he  may  overrule  the  Secretary  in  the  al- 
lowance of  claims.  By  authority  of  the  Secretary, 
two  volumes  of  the  "Decisions  of  Comptroller  Law- 
rence" were  published,  the  first  ev^er  issued,  and 
Congress  then  passed  the  joint  resolution  of  Au- 
gust 3,  1882,  authorizing  one  volume  of  the  De-' 
cisions  to  be  printed  each  }'ear  thereafter,  and 
under  this,  four  additional  volumes  were  printed. 
They  for  the  first  time  distinctly*  enunciated  the 
great  sj"stem  of  "executive  national  common  law," 
and  furnished  a  fund  of  legal  learning  found  in 
no  other  works.  They  have  been  highly  com- 
mended by  jurists,  statesmen,  and  law-writers. 
Burroughs,  in  his  "Law  of  Public  Securities," 
quotes  largely  from  these  Decisions.  At  one 
time,  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia undertook  b}-  mandamus  to  compel  the  Treas- 
urer of  the  United  States  to  pay  a  claim  disallowed 
by  the  Comptroller,  but  liis  decision  was  sustained 
by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  4 
Lawrence,  261. 

Mr.  Lawrence  is  author  of: 

"The  Law  of  Claims  against  Governments." 
W.ashington,  Government  Print,  1875. 

"The  Law  of  Religious  Societies."  American 
Laic  Register.  1873. 

"The  Organization  of  the  Treasury  Department." 
Washington,  Government  Print,  1881. 

"The  Law  of  Impeachable  Crimes."  American 
Law  Ref/ister,  September,  1867. 

"Introductory  and  Concluding  Chapters  to  Lec- 
tures of  J.  B.  Helwig,  D.  D."  Dayton  U.  B.  Pub- 
lishing House,  1876. 

"Chapters  in  American  Ili.itory  of  Cliampaign 
and  Logan  Counties."     1872. 

"The  Causes  of  the  Rebellion,"  being  the  intro- 
ductory' chapter  to  "Reminiscences  of  the  War," 
by  Rev.  A.  R.  Ilowbert,  D.  D.     1888. 

"Decisions  of  tlio  Fii-st  Comptroller."  6  vols. 
W.asliington  Government  Print.      1880-85. 

Five  "Annual  Reports."  as  First  Comptroller. 
1880-84. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRARHICAL  RECORD. 


123 


"The  Treatj'  Question." 

"Sketch  of  the  Life  and  Public  Services  of  .John 
Sherman."     1888. 

Jsumerous  "Reports  in  Congress." 

"Lives  of  the  Kiret  Comptrollers."  now  re.idy 
for  the  press. 

The  Government  of  .Tnimn,  through  .■\  London, 
England,  book  house,  in  1887  procured  copies  of 
tlie  "Decisions  of  the  First  Comptrollers,"  for  use 
in  organizing  the  Treasury  Department  of  that 
country-.  Tlie  .Tapanese  Legation  at  W.ashington 
in  .Tune.  1 871,  procured  copies  of  "The  Law  of 
Claims,"  to  l)c  used  .as  authority  on  questions  grow- 
ing out  of  tlie  rebellion  in  that  country  of  the 
I'ycoon  against  the  iMikado.  The  Secretary  of 
Stale,  Hamilton  Kish.  ordered  extra  copies  printed 
for  distribution  to  foreign  governments,  and  they 
have  been  quoted  in  arguments  before  every  mixed 
commission  since  organized  to  adjust  claims  be- 
tween the  United  .States  and  foreign  countries. 
In  1874,  Hon.  Elihu  B.  Washburn,  United  States 
Jlinister  to  France,  procured  copies  for  distribu- 
tion to  publicists  in  that  counUy,  and  he  said  of 
it:  "It  is  wonderfully  able  and  exhaustive.  It  h.os 
gone  to  the  very  bottom  of  the  whole  business.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  valuable  contributions  of  the 
times  to  national  and  international  law.  It  ren- 
ders immense  service  to  the  country  bj-  'Laying 
down  the  law'  on  these  subjects."  It  h.os  been  ever 
since  regarded  and  quoted  in  Congress  .as  an  autlior- 
rit}',  and  has  been  twice  re-prmted  by  authority  of 
Congress. 

His  work  on  the  "Law  of  Religious  Societies" 
h.as  been  declared  to  be  "a  marvel  of  learning  upon 
the  subject."  D.  D.  Chapin,  in  The  Clmrchman, 
.as  quoted  in  "Current  Comment  and  Legal  Mis- 
cellany," (Vol.  I..  No.  5.  Philadelphia,  M.ay  15. 
1889.) 

His  Alma  ^Mater  conferred  upon  Judge  Lawrence 
the  degree  of  A.  M.,  in  ciirsu,  and  on  the  25th  of 
.lune,  1873.  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  L.L.  D  , 
and  Wittenberg  College  subsequently  conferred  on 
him  the  same  degree. 

.\  distinguished  citizen  of  Ohio,  who  has  hon- 
orably represented  the  United  States  in  a  foreign 
Cduntry.  but  who  differs  politically  with  .Judge 
Lawrence,  rect-ntlv  said  of  him: 


"Few  American  citizens  equ.al  him  in  the  quali- 
ties that  go  to  make  up  a  great  man  and  useful 
public  servant.  He  is  a  man  of  tireless  energies, 
of  prodigious  learning,  of  sound  judgment,  and 
of  absolute  honesty.  Moreover,  his  views  are 
broad  and  charitable,  his  disposition  confiding  and 
friendly,  and  his  character  noble  and  generous. 
His  simple  manners  are  pleasing,  while  his  easj- 
flowing  eloquence  never  wearies.  Jealousy  never 
enters  his  manly  breast.  *  *  *  He  has  alw.ays 
and  easily  risen  to  the  high  level  of  the  responsi- 
ble and  commanding  positions  he  has  held.  As  a 
statistical  schohTr  he  has  no  equal  in  Ohio.  He  is 
clear  and  methodical,  broad  and  accurate,  and  in- 
dustrious beyond'  ordinary  moi-tals.  He  is  an  au- 
thor of  established  reputation.  Some  of  his  works 
show  great  research  and  aljility.  and  are  quoted  as 
authoritj-  in  foreign  countries."* 

The  entire  career  of  Judge  Lawrence  has  been 
guided  by  a  sense  of  duty  and  he  subordinated 
ambition  to  principle.  In  1854,  a  Committee  of 
the  Know  Nothing  Order  tendered  him  a  nomin.a- 
tion  as  a  candidate  for  Congress,  with  a  certainty 
of  success,  but  lie  declined  it,  because  he  c-ould  not 
indorse  their  opposition  to  adopted  citizens,  or 
proscription  for  religious  opinions.  He  commenced 
his  career  as  a  Whig,  making  political  s|)eeches  in 
the  gre.at  campaign  of  1840,  even  before  he  had 
reached  the  .age  of  m.ajoritj-.  He  adhered  to  the 
Whig  party  until  it  was  disbanded.  Early  in  1854, 
when  the  Douglas  Kansas-Xebr.aska  Bill  w.as  pressed 
for  passage  in  the  Senate,  with  its  specious  declara- 
tion in  favor  of  "popular  sovereignty"  as  a  con- 
triv.ance  to  extend  slavery,  he  was  among  the  first 
and  foremost  to  denounce  it  and  ask  the  co-opera- 
tion of  "free-soil"  Whigs  and  Democrats  to  unite 
to  resent  the  aggression  of  the  slave-power.  He 
w.as  then  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Senate,  in  which 
Hon.  Norton  S.  To\viisend,  afterward  Member  of 
Congress,  and  now  .s  Professor  in  tiie  OJiio  State 
University,  was  also  a  member.  A  public  meeting 
w.as  called  at  Columbus,  which  was  addressed  by 
Hon.  John  W.  Andrews  and  othei-s,  and  resolu- 
tions adopted  denouncing  the  Douglas  bill.  On 
the    22d  of  February,  1854.   a    public    meeting  at 


124 


PORTRAIT  A^^)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Maiyjvilie  was  acUhojjed  by  lluii.  Joseph  K.  Swan. 
Noi-ton  S.  Townsend  .iiul  William  L.iwreiice  in 
(ippojition  to  the  Douglas  bill.  The  speech  of  the 
latter  was  pulilished  in  full  in  the  Maiysville 
Tribune. 

Soon  after  this,  some  of  the  leading  men  in  the 
Legislature  and  other  citizens  of  Columbus  organ- 
ized and  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Lawrence, Towuseud  .and  lion.  Ephraim  II.  Eckley, 
a  member  of  the  Senate,  to  address  letters  to  lead- 
ing Whigs,  Democrats  aiidFree-Soilers  all  over  the 
State,  inviting  them  to  attend  a  State  convention 
in  Columbus  to  nominate  candidates  for  State  otli- 
ces  aud  to  adopt  a  platform  against  slavery  exten- 
sion.* County  conventions  were  held  and  dele- 
gates appointed.  The  State  Convention  was  held 
and  Joseph  U.  Swan  w.as  nominated  as  a  candidate 
for  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  a  platform  w.as 
adopted.  The  convention  was  called  tlie  "Fusion 
Convention,"  a  fusion  of  Wliigs,  Democrats  and 
Fiee-Soilers,  and  it  w.as  a  gr.and  success.  The  com- 
mittee which  set  this  ball  in  motion  held  its 
sessions  in  :\Ir.  Law  rence"s  rooms,  at  tlie  A'eil  House, 
and  opened  the  w.ay  for  a  new  political  pai'ty.  The 
same  elements  which  started  this  movement  .and 
which  composed  tlie  convention  originated  and 
managed  the  State  Convention  of  lt<.')5,  formally 
held  as  the  first  Kepulilican  State  Convention. 

In  these  proceedings  the  Kepubliean  party  was 
organizeil  ami  took  form  and  name.  From  that 
time  onward.  :\Ir.  Lawrence  has  been  an  earnest, 
effective  Ik-publican.  While  he  resided  in  Wa=li- 
ini;ti>n.  1).  C.  the  ( )hio  Uepulilican  Club  was  or- 
ganized in  the  summer  cf  I'SSb.  Jlr.  Lawrence 
was  unanimously  elected  its  lirst  President,  and  so 
continued  by  annual  elections  until  under  Cleve- 
land's ailministrati(jn  it  n-as  disbanded,  in  188j. 

Ibiii.  William  ],awrence  was  married  December 
211.  \s\o.  at  MeConnellsville  to  Cornelia,  daughter 
of  Hon.  William  Hawkins,  an  excellent  lady  of 
rare  intelligence,  who  had  been  associated  willi 
him  ill  teacliing  school  at  tliat  ])lace  in  18.):i.  Mie 
died  Februaiy  2'.t,  18  It.  He  was  married  Mareli 
20.  ISi.3.  to  Caroline  M.,  daughter  of  Henry  Miller. 


an  excellent  lad^'  whose  many  virtues  have  through 
long  years  blessed  his  home.  She  was  born  at 
Port  Republic,  Rockingham  County,  Va..  .January 
20,  1828,  w.as  baptized  at  McGackeysville  Lutheran 
Church,  educated  at  the  Granville  (Oliio)  Presby- 
terian Female  .Seminary,  and  was  there  a  room- 
mate of  Cecelia  Stewart,  now  wife  of  Hon.  John 
Sherm.an.  Tliree  sons,  Joseph  IL,  "William  H.  and 
John  31.,  and  three  daughters,  Cornelia.  Frances 
C.  and  Mary  Temperance,  are  the  children  of  this 
union.     Joseph  11.,  a  lawyer,  died  May  7,  188.3. 


-^> 


•  A  cony 
red  bv  Ho 


1  his  published  (vorks. 


OHN  J.  HAUSS,  who  is  perhaps  the  largest 
dealer  in  drugs,  books,  wall  paper,  paints, 
etc.,  in  this  part  of  Ohio,  is  one  of  the 
shrewdest,  as  well  as  most  popular  and  suc- 
cessful, young  business  men  in  Auglaize  County, 
and  has  risen  from  the  tow  path  to  a  position  of 
prominence  and  wealth,  although  he  is  only  thirty- 
six  years  old.  He  is  a  native  of  St.  3Iary's,  his 
present  place  of  residence  and  business,  Ijeingborn 
in  tliis  city  September  10,  1856.  His  father,  Fred- 
erick Hauss,  was  Ijorn  in  Baden,  Germany,  nearly 
seventy  years  ago,  and  came  to  America  when  a 
voung  man.  He  landed  at  New  York,  came  thence 
to  Ohio,  and  was  at  St.  jNIaiy's  during  the  cholera 
epidemic  in  1840.  He  went  from  here  to  New  Or- 
leans. He  was  originally  a  rope-maker  in  the  old 
country,  but  he  eng.aged  in  the  cooper's  trade,  with 
which  he  was  familiar,  in  the  Crescent  City.  Re- 
turning to  St.  Mary's  after  a  year's  sojourn  in 
New  Orleans,  he  carried  on  coopering  at  this  point 
a  few  years.  He  tlien  embarked  in  mercantile 
pursuits,  .and  built  up  a  large  trade,  which  he  con- 
ducted several  years,  becoming  one  of  tlie  leading 
merclir.nt^  and  citizens  of  St.  JIary's.  For  the 
|iast  twenty  ^ears.  he  has  been  living  live  miles 
north  of  the  city,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  busi- 
ness, and  .alio  farms  to  some  extent.  While  he 
lived  in  Germany,  he  was  in  the  German  army 
under  Gen.  Seigle.  Both  he  .and  his  good  wife 
are    membei>    in    high    standing    of    the    German 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGKArillCAL   RECORD. 


125 


Evangelical  Church.  The  latter  is  also  of  German 
birth,  and  her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Kneirim. 
She  is  the  mother  of  eight  children,  of  whom  six 
are  living,  our  siiliject  being  the  elde.'il. 

(jur  subject  was  educated  in  the  inihlic  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  left  home  to  begin 
the  struggle  of  life  in  earnest,  obtaining  work  on 
the  tow  path  of  the  .Miami  and  Erie  Canal.  A 
year  later,  he  was  promoted  to  a  position  on  a  store 
boat,  where  lie  became  familiar  with  one  form  of 
mercantile  business.  lie  remained  in  that  place 
two  years,  and  was  paid  ^^oo  a  raontli.  October 
U,  1872,  he  entered  tlie  drug  store  of  W.  II.  Dolls 
to  learn  the  details  of  the  drug  business,,  and  he 
w.as  with  him  for  thirteen  veal's,  rising  to  be  his 
chief  clerk,  and  becoming  a  very  competent  drug- 
gist. Ill  1881,  he  er-tablished  a  business  of  his 
own  at  St.  Mary's  purchasing  a  small  drug  store  in 
partnersliip  with  Robert  B.  Gordon,  Jr.  They 
did  business  together  under  tlie  firm  name  of  Hauss 
it  Gordon  for  three  j-ears.  In  1887,  Mr.  Hauss 
bought  Jlr.  Gordon's  interest  in  the  concern,  and 
has  since  conducted  it  himself.  He  has  greatly 
increased  his  business,  enlarging  his  accommoda- 
tions to  keep  pace  with  his  rapidly  growing  trade, 
and  he  now  has  a  fine  two-story  brick  building,  in 
which  he  occupies  a  double  storeroom,  wliich  is 
elegantly  fitted  up,  its  appointments  being  equal 
to  tlie  fine  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the  larger 
cities,  and  he  carries  a  lieavy  stock  of  the  articles 
enumerated  in  the  begiiniii.g  of  thi>  sketch.  It  is 
said  that  he  is  luobably  doing  the  largest  business 
in  his  line  in  the  county.  lie  is  a  large  property- 
holder,  having  e.\tensive  real-estate  interests  in 
the  cit}-,  including  sI.n:  houses  and  lots  and  a 
large  number  of  building  hjts  favorably  located  in 
the  city,  beside  his  l.)U>iness  block,  and  he  has 
money  well  invested  in  other  directions.  He  is 
also  somewhat  of  a  farmer,  having  recently  juir- 
chased  a  valuable  farm,  and  is  placing  thereon  a 
fine  set  of  farm  buildings. 

Is'o  name  stands  higlier  in  financial  circles  than 
our  subject's.  He  entered  upon  his  career  with  no 
capital,  and  that  he  is  to-day,  at  no  late  i)eriod  in 
life,  a  wealthy  man.  he  owo  not  only  to  his  devo- 
tion to  his  luisini-j  and  to  hi-  f;ir-iL;lited  Iiu<ini-- 
policy,  but  to  the  honoraljle    principles   tli.-il   have 


guided  him  in  every  transaction  however  small, 
prompting  him  to  deal  with  the  utmost  fairness 
with  all,  with  no  tendency  to  he  grasping  or  over- 
reaching, and  causing  him  to  make  it  a  point  to 
pay  cash  for  everything  that  he  buys,  so  that  he 
does  not  owe  a  dollar  to  anv  man.  His  ability 
and  genial  disposition  have  brought  him  to  the 
front  in  local  politics  and  in  the  public  and  social 
life  of  the  city.  He  is  an  advocate  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  h.as  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council 
and  Clerk  of  St.  Mary's  Townshi]).  He  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  lodge.  Knight  Templars,  Inde|)endent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  to  the  Encampment. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Church. 

5Ir.  Hauss  w.as  married  .June  30.  1887,  to  Miss 
Bertha  F.  Freyman,  who  presides  with  true  gr.ace 
over  their  attractive  home.  Mrs.  Hauss  is  a  native 
of  Wapakoneta,  and  a  daughter  of  P'rcderick 
Freyman,  a  farmer  of  this  county,  and  a  Pennsyl- 
vanian  bv  birth. 


K.  ISAAC  A.  noUAN.  It  is  to  the  skill 
and  >cir-nec  of  the  druggist  thai  snlTering 
huuKiiiity  looks  (vi-  alle\iation  of  jiain. 
Till'  physician  may  succes-fuUy  diagnose, 
but  il  is  the  cliemi>l  who  prepare:-  the  remedv. 
■\Vhen,  theieforc.  as  in  the  case  of  the  gentleman 
who>e  name  forms  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the 
two  professions,  that  of  the  physician  and  that  of 
the  druggist,  are  combined,  how  douljly  important 
becomes  the  establishment  conducted  by  Dr.  Isaac 
A.  Doran,  at  Rushsylvania,  Liigau  County,  Ohio. 
This  gentleman  was  liorn  in  'Westmoreland 
County.  Grcensburgh.  I'a..  on  the  2'Si]  of  July, 
182').  and  his  father.  Thomas  I)i.>ran.  was  also  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  Stale.  The  latter  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  was  a  leamster,  hauling 
goods  with  many  teams  from  I'hiladelpliia  to  Bal- 
timore and  I'ittslnugh.  lie  also  kej)!  hotel  for 
many  years.  He  came  to  ISuller  ('oiiuty.  Ohio,  in 
182i>.  and  loi-Ued  at  IJetliaiiv,  where  he  carried  on 


126 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


.1  blacksmith  shop  and  a  liotel  for  some  time. 
From  there  he  moved  to  Sidnc\%  Shelby  County, 
Ohio,  boiiglit  a  fai-ni  about  a  mile  and  a  half  east 
of  Sidney,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in  1882. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  France.  The  mother  of 
our  subject,  .Jane  (Il.ayes)  Doran,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Shelby  County,  Ohio, 
in  1880. 

Of  the  five  children  born  to  this  estimable 
couple,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  reached 
mature  years  and  became  the  heads  of  families. 
They  were  Isaac  A.,  James  H.,  deceased;  Thomas 
S.,  residing  in  Sidney,  Ohio,  a  retired  farmer;  and 
Hannah,  the  widow  of  Joseph  Johnston,who  resides 
two  miles  east  of  Sidney,  Ohio.  Our  subject,  the 
eldest  of  this  family,  was  but  six  years  of  age  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  his  first 
schooling  was  in  the  log  schoolhousc  in  Butler 
County.  When  a  young  man,  he  worked  on  the 
canal  and  was  Captain  of  one  of  the  canal  boats 
for  some  time.  lie  was  trained  to  work  hard,  and 
lias  cut  cordwood  for  twent^'-flve  cents  a  cord, 
and  has  also  split  rails  at  the  same  price.  He  first 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  P.  B.  Beman, 
remained  with  him  about  four  years,  and  during 
that  time  attended  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of 
Cincinnati.  Later,  he  came  to  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  located  In  Rushsylvania,  and  was  the  first 
Eclectic  physician  in  the  county,  and  the  third 
physician  in  the  village.  In  1868,  he  started  his 
drug  store  in  connection  with  his  practice  and  has 
been  very  successful  in  both. 

Dr.  Doran  was  married  the  first  time  in  Janviary, 
1852,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Elam,  a  native  of  Greene 
County,  Ohio,  who  died  in  January,  1878.  Two 
children  were  born  to  this  union:  Thomas  B.,  de- 
ceased, and  Clarence E., a  railroad  man,  now  of  New- 
ark, Ohio,  who  is  married  and  has  a  family.  Our 
subject's  second  marri.age  was  with  Eliza  Stephen- 
son, a  native  of  Greenville,  Darke  County,  Ohio, 
born  February  5,  1837,  and  the  daughter  of  John 
and  lilizabeth  S.  (Stahl)  Stephenson,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stephenson  settled  in  Darke  County, 
Ohio,  in  1818.  Dr.  Doran  was  a  member  of  the 
Ohio  Eclectic  Medical  Association,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ohio  Phai-macy  Association,  of  which 


he  is  an  active  member.     Mrs.  Doran  is  a  member 
of  the  same  and  .assists  in  the  drug  store. 

A  strong  Republican  in  politics,  the  Doctor  ad- 
vocates the  principles  of  his  part\-,  and  was  Post- 
master in  Rushsylvania  from  1854  until  1883.  He 
was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  village,  and 
the  first  Clerk  of  the  Board.  He  was  made  a 
Mason  at  Sidney,  Ohio,  in  1843,  in  Lodge  Xo.  73, 
and  has  been  an  active  member  of  that  fraternity. 
He  owns  a  farm  of  sixty-five  acres  adjoining  the 
village,  also  fifty  lots  in  the  village,  and  has  built 
six  houses. 


,  V..ROF.   HENRY    WlIlT\V(jRriI,    Superin- 

j)   teiident  of  the  Public  Schools  of  Bellefon- 

taine,  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 

jt,  January  20,  1853.  His  parents.  John  and 
Sarah  (Blow)  Whitwortli,  were  l)oin,  reared  aiul 
married  in  F^ngland,  whence  they  emigrated  to 
America  earl^-  in  the  year  1852,  settling  in  Rich- 
land County,  Ohio.  The  father  was  a  local  minis- 
ter in  the  Primitive  Methodist  Church  m  f2ngland, 
and  after  coining  to  the  United  .States,  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cluirch  and  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry.  He  is  a  man  of  great  piety  and 
earnestness  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  is  liighly 
esteemed  by  all  tvith  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact.  As  a  preacher,  he  shows  unusual  familiar-, 
ity  with  the  Scriptures  and  intense  fervorand  zeal. 

Our  suliject  is  one  of  three  surviving  children, 
the  others  being  Jlrs.  Mattie  J.  Smith  and  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Wheaton.  The  rudiments  of  his  educa- 
tion were  gained  in  the  district  and  village  schools 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  parental  home,  and  after 
completing  the  common-school  studies,  he  entered 
the  Ohio  AVesleyan  University  at  Delaware  in  1871, 
o-i-aduating  from  that  famous  institution  in  1877. 
In  September  of  the  same  year,  he  came  to  Belle- 
fontaino  to  accept  the  position  of  te.acher  in  the 
High  SclKJol,  serving  .as  Principal  for  five  years. 
In  1882,  lie  was  promoted  to  the  Sui>eriuteiideiicy 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


127 


of  the  city  schools,  which  position  lie  has  since 
filled  with  marked  ability  and  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  all. 

The  fine  school  building  at  Bellcfontaine  was 
finished  in  1878,  during  his  first  year  as  Principal 
of  the  High  School.  The  school  has  about  eight 
hundred  attendants,  and  is  divided  into  twelve 
grades,  four  each  of  Primary,  Grammar  and  High 
School,  twelve  yeai-s  being  required  to  finish  the 
course.  He  h.as  been  connected  with  the  schools 
for  ten  years  and  has  been  instrumental  in  advanc- 
ing the  standard  of  education  and  gaining  increased 
facilities  for  the  children  of  the  city.  For  five 
years  he  has  been  County  Examiner  of  Logan 
County,  a  position  requiring  unusual  tact  and 
ability,  and  in  which  lie  has  served  witli  credit 
and  success. 

.June  26,  1883,  Prof.  Whilwortli  w.as  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Katie  Kernan,  an  estimable  and 
accomplished  lady,  who  has  passed  her  entire  life 
in  Bellefontaine.  One  son.  Kernan  B.,  has  blessed 
the  union.  The  religious  home  of  Prof,  and  Mrs. 
■\Vhitworth  is  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  they  are  ever  foremost  in  religious  and  benev- 
olent undertakings.  Their  culture  and  fine  social 
qualities  render  Ihem  pleasant  companions  where- 
ever  they  may  be.  and  they  are  welcome  guests 
in  the  best  circles  of  societ\'.  The  Professor  is 
identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternit}-,  in  which  he 
is  a  leading  member.  His  broad  information  and 
extensive  knowledge  of  men  and  events  qualify 
him  most  admiiably  for  the  position  which  he  h.as 
so  long  and  ably  filled,  and  he  is  numbered  among 
the  most  cultured  citizens  of  Bellefontaine. 


I«^  OLOMON  BAMBERGER  is  one  of  the  fore- 
^^^  most  business  men  of  St.  Mary's,  wlio  has 
(lt£_j);  been  the  chief  promoter  of  many  of  its 
leading  enterprises,  and  is  identified  with 
various  of  its  mercantile,  manufacturing  and  finan- 
cial interests.  He  was  born  in  Bavaria.  Germany. 
Januarj-  12,  184G,  a  son  of  a  Bavarian    nierclianl. 


David  Bamberger,  who  died  in  his  native  land  in 
1890,  at  the  venerable  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  of  nine  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living.  He  laid  the  foundation  of  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  country, 
and  subsequently  completed  it  in  a  commercial 
college  at  Bamberg.  Ambitious  to  see  something 
of  the  world  and  to  tr^'  life  in  America,  where  he 
felt  confident  he  could  win  his  way  to  a  fortune, 
he  turned  his  back  on  his  pleasant  old  home  and 
on  his  childhood  friends  when  only  fourteen  years 
of  age,  in  the  jear  1860,  and,  embarking  at  Bremen 
in  October,  landed  at  New  York  two  weeks  later. 
Thence  he  came  to  Ohio,  and,  for  the  next  five 
3'ears  his  life  was  passed  in  Sandusky,  where  he 
clerked  for  a  short  time,  and  then  engaged  in  tlie 
clothing  business  for  himself.  In  1865,  he  went  to 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  Avhere  he  was  in  business  three 
years.  In  1868, he  retuined Eastward, and  spent  a 
year  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store  in  New  York 
City.  In  1869,  he  again  took  up  his  residence  in 
Ohio,  coming  to  St.  Mary's,  where  he  has  since  en- 
g.aged  in  the  clothing  business,  with  the  exception 
of  the  year  1886,  which  he  p.assed  in  New  York. 

In  1887,  Mr.  Bamberger  and  two  other  gentle- 
men built  the  Fountain  Hotel,  in  which  he  has  a 
one-third  interest,  and  he  occupies  afineandhand- 
someh'  fitted-up  store  in  the  building,  in  which  he 
carries  a  complete  line  of  gentlemen's  clothing, 
such  as  is  furnished  by  the  best  establishments  of 
the  kind  in  the  large  cities  of  the  country.  Our 
subject's  attention  is  by  no  means  confined  to  the 
management  of  this  concern,  but  he  has  launched 
out  in  other  directions,  and  has  made  himself  a 
public  benefactor  by  liis  far-seeing  and  well  directed 
enterprise.  In  1880,  he  associated  himself  with  T. 
E.  Hollingsworth  in  the  lumber  business,  which 
they  still  carry  on.  He  is  President  of  the  People's 
Building  and  Loan  Association,  which  is  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition  under  his  careful  and  capable 
management;  and  he  is  Treasurer  and  stockholder 
of  the  Bimel  Carriage  Company,  which  was  organ- 
ized in  1892;  and  in  1890  lie  helped  to  organize 
the  Home  Banking  Company,  of  which  he  is  Vice- 
president.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Bamberger  it 
Hollingsworth  Oil  Company,  which  luis  four  wells, 
all  producing   a   good  supply  of  oil:  he  has  also 


128 


PORTRAIT  A^'D  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


valuable  propert}-  interests  in  St.  Mary's,  including 
his  lai-ge  and  handsomely  appointed  frame  resi- 
dence on  the  ci.ii  iKT  of  South  and  JIain  Streets, 
which  he  erected  in  1887.  lie  is  President  of  the 
Graphic  Publishing  Coni|iMny.  whitli  issues  the 
Republican  organ  of  this  city,  and.  as  with  every- 
thing else  with  which  his  name  is  connected,  is 
well  coniUicted  on  a  sound  and  paying  basis.  In 
politics,  he  acts  with  the  Republican  party.  lie 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  one  terra, 
and  takes  a  friendly  interest  in  the  schools  of  the 
city.  Socially,  he  is  ail.ason  of  the  highest  stand- 
ing. He  is  Master  of  Mercer  ^Masonic  Lodge  No. 
121,  and  is  High  Priest  of  St.  Mary's  Chapter  Xo.  o  1 . 
Mr.  Bamberger  was  married  in  1874.  in  >'ew 
York  City,  to  Miss  Lena  Colin,  a  native  of  that 
city,  and  a  daugliter  of  L.  11.  Cohn,  who  wasader- 
mau  l.iy  birth,  and  was  a  fresco  painter  in  that  city. 
Three  children  have  blessed  the  congenial  wedded 
life  of  our  subject  and  his  amiable  wife,  whom  they 
have  named  respectively  Ray,  Louis  and   Gilbert. 


-^-Ns|^!t"^II^M-^ 


■S^  DWARD  PL'UPUS,  M.ayor,  merchant  and 
1^  insurance  agent  of  New  Bremen.  Ohio,  is 
j\ — 'i"  one  of  the  most  thorough-going,  prominent 
and  substantial  business  men  of  the  place,  lie  has 
one  of  the  finest  business  establishments  in  tlie 
town,  and  by  his  long  and  intimate  connection 
with  the  jn-ogress  and  development  of  the  county, 
enjovs  the  respect  and  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of 
personal  and  business  .aciiuaintances.  He  began 
life  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  but  by  good  man- 
agement and  naturally  fine  qualifications,  he  has 
attained  a  position  of  which  any  man  might  be 
proud.  Mr.  Purpus  was  born  in  Germany  on  the 
15th  of  January,  1847,  and  his  parents,  Lewis  .and 
Louisa  Purpus,  were  also  natives  of  that  country. 
The  father  followed  the  occupation  of  a  brewer 
in  his  native  country  until  1860.  when  he  deter- 
mined to  emigrate  to  xVmerica,  and  there  i)ass  tlic 
remainder  of  his  days.  After  reacliinu  tlic  rniled 
States,  he  located  in  New  Bremen,  and  there  resided 


until  his  death  in  1892,  when  eighty-four  years  of 
age.  He,  with  Carl  Schiirz  and  other  prominent 
men.  entered  in  the  Rcvoluticm  in  1848.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1891,  when  eightj'-- 
two  yeare  of  .age.  Of  this  union,  seven  children 
are  living,  two  having  died  after  the  parents  came 
to  this  county. 

The  original  of  this  notice  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school and  collegiate  education  in  his  native 
country,  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  came  to 
the  States,  sailing  from  Hamburg  and  twelve  d.ays 
later  landing  in  New  York  City,  where  he  spent 
several  mouths,  eug.aged  in  various  occupations. 
From  there  he  went  to  Huntington,  Ind.,  and 
thence  to  New  Bremen  in  1865,  where  he  worked 
in  a  brewery  for  several  years.  In  18G9,  he  began 
teaching  school  and  continued  this  for  ten  }"ears, 
in  the  meantime  being  elected  .Justice  of  the  Pe.ace, 
and  Township  Clerk  and  later  being  appointed 
Notary  Public,  transacting  public  business.  He  is 
now  serving  his  sixth  term  as  Justice. 

In  1885,  he  was  appointed  Postm.aster  under 
Grovcr  Cleveland,  and  served  in  that  capacitj- 
with  much  ability  for  about  four  years.  In  1877, 
he  engaged  in  business  and  carried  a  line  of  mus- 
ical instruments,  fancy  goods,  toys,  wall  paper,  etc., 
and  now  carries  a  large  stock  of  goods.  His  build- 
ing is  at  the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Main  Streets, 
and  this  has  recently  been  enlarged  to  a  two-story 
brick  with  iron  frame,  the  best  business  building 
in  the  town.  In  New  Bremen  he  has  been  called 
to  many  othccs  of  trust  and  responsibility  and  h.as 
exhibited  an  executive  ability  far  aliove  the  aver- 
age. In  1883.  he  was  elected  Mayor  and  served 
two  years.  He  was  not  eligible  to  re-election  on 
account  of  being  Postm.aster,  but  in  1890  he  was 
re-elected,  and  again  in  1892.  In  18G9,  Mr.  Purpus 
became  .agent  for  various  fire  insurance  compan- 
ies .and  now^  represents  some  of  the  most  leading 
ones.  He  is  one  of  the  most  progressive,  thorough- 
going business  men  of  Auglaize  County,  and  one 
of  its  most  respected  citizens,  being  honorable  and 
industrious  in  a  marked  degree,  and  possessing  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  most  modern  and  ef- 
fective methods  of  dciing  l)usiiiess. 

In  1^7i3.our  subject  wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  Ileil, 
a  native  of  New  Bremen,  who  died  in  1890.  leaving 


^-^„fJ  ^i 


'' ^^=^^&?        J''^! 


r:^^ 


,  '^  -^ 


^\'^V 


/ 


^nn/2^^^- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RFXORD. 


133 


three  cliilrlreii,  viz:  Clara,  Dora  and  Irma.  lie  was 

inanicd  again  in  I8:)2,  this  time  to  Miss  Josephine 
Ilais,  (if  Covington.  K\-.  Mr.  I'uj-pns  is  active  in 
all  enterpLLses  peitaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  city 
ainl  eciuuly.  and  is  nii  indefatigable  worker  for 
the  DcHKieratic  pai-ty,  being  a  delegate  to  conn ty, 
district  and  State  conventions.  lie  owns  consider- 
alile  pro|ierty  here  and  in  ."^t.  Clary's,  all  the  frnits 
i>f  his  own  exertions. 


IIONN    1'1.\.TT.  till 


liiu'Ut  journalist. 


author.  juri?t  and  diploiiial.  was  born  in 
J)  Cincinnati.  Oliio.  on  the  -.'Dtli  of  .Iiine,  18i:i, 
was  educated  jiartly  in  l.'rbaiia  and  at  the 
Atheiieum.  now  St.  Xavier  College,  Cincinnati, 
lle^tiulied  law  under  his  father,  and  was  for  a 
time  a  puiiil  of  Tom  Corwin.  In  1851,  he  w.is  ap- 
pointed .Iiidge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Ple.is  of 
Hamilton,  and  afterward  served  ai  Secretary  of 
Legation  at  Paris,  under  Hon.  John  Y.  Mason,  of 
Mrginia,  during  Pierce's  .and  Buchanan's  adminis- 
tration. When  the  ^Minister  w.is  att.acked  with 
apoplexy  (from  wliicli  he  died  in  October,  185!),) 
our  subject  served  as  Charge  d'Affaires  for  nearly 
a    year. 

On  his  return  home.  Col.  Piatt  engaged  actively 
ill  tlie  Presidential  canvass  in  behalf  of  Abraham 
Lincoln.  In  company  with  'Jen.  Robert  C.  Schenck, 
he  >tuinped  Soutliern  lUi  ois.  and  his  services 
were  publicly  ackiiowled;_ed  liy  the  Presiiient- 
clect.  During  the  Civil  War.  he  served  on  tlie 
staff  of  Gen.  Schenck.  He  was  Judge  Adv(x-:ite  of 
the  Commission  which  investigated  the  charges 
against  Gen.  Buell,  and  favored  Iiis  acqiiittal.  Af- 
ter the  war.  he  became  the  Washington  correspond- 
ciil  of  the  Clitcii\initi  Coinmi-r'iiil.  in  which  [Kisit ion 
he  distinguished  liim>elf  as  a  writer  of  great  bril- 
liancy, often  siimewhat  indifferent  to  the  fact.-:,  but 
never  to  tlie  abrriinlities  of  the  pretensions  to  great- 
iios  on  the  [Kirt  of  many  Congressmen.  In  f.-u-t. 
he  kept  iiio>t  of  the  leaders  constantly  in  •■hot 
water,"  iiiaiiiiuratiiig  what  h;is  proved  the  now  al- 


most invariable  custom  of  "writing  down"  everv- 
tliing  Congress  does.  His  criticisms  were  frequently 
just;  it  is  the  rare  exception  now  that  the  com- 
plaints of  the  would-be  cynics  are  worthy  of 
credence. 

AVhatever  Col.  Piatt's  mistakes  were,  and  no 
di.uibt  he  made  many,  the  good  he  accomplished 
atoned  for  and  overshadowed  them.  The  excel- 
lence of  his  literary  work;  his  umpiestioued  feai-- 
lessncss.  manliness  and  independence;  bis  respect 
for  the  church;  his  ilislike  and  exposure  of  snob- 
bery, conceit,  affectation  and  inetliciency  Ln  high 
official  stations,  are  to  lie  highly  commended.  He 
subsequently  founded,  and  for  ten  yeai-s  edited. 
-Th'  M'a.shiiii/toii  C'opitah"  making  it  so  odious  to 
many  (ioveniment  ollicials,  that  at  their  instance, 
during  the  Presidential  controversy  of  1876,  he 
was  indicted;  Ijut.  as  he  naively  said,  -though 
trying  ver\-  hard,  never  got  into  jail."  On  the 
contrary,  he  sold  the  paper  at  a  very  handsome 
figure  and  returned  to  the  peace  and  quiet  of 
Jlac-o-chee.  where  he  engaged  in  literary  work  and 
farming.  His  entertaining  volume.  '-Memories  of 
the  ^len  who  Saved  the  Union."  whom  he  desig- 
nated as  Lincoln,  .Stanton.  Chase,  Seward  and  Gen. 
George  H.  Thomas,  is  sliarply  critical,  but  the 
strong  p.assages  and  just  appreciation  of  the  great 
deeds  of  great  men  more  than  atone  for  this  fault, 
if  it  be  one.  The  Westminster  liecieu:  describes  it 
as  "the  record  of  great  geniuses  by  a  genius." 

Col.  Piatt  published  a  delightful  little  book  of 
love  stories,  true  to  .life  and  of  pathetic  interest, 
mostly  war  incidents,  called  "The  Lone  Grave  of 
the  Shenandoah,  and  Other  Tales."  In  1888,  he 
edited  Bclford's  Magazine  as  a  fn-e-trade  journal. 
anil  made  the  tariff  issue  strangely  iiilerestin<r  and 
picturesque.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the  campaign, 
he  retired  from  the  editorship  and  returned  to  his 
home,  where  up  to  llie  time  of  his  death  he  was 
engaged  with  Gen.  Henry  ^I.  Cist,  of  Cincinnati. 
ii|)on  a  life  of  Gen.  George  11.  Thomas,  which  he 
left  uncompleted.  In  18i).").  he  was  elected  on  the 
Republican  ticket  a~  Representative  from  Logan 
County  to  the  Ohio  l.eirislature.  "I  made  a  tight 
for  negro  suffrage"  he  afteiwrucls  said,  -and  wi>n 
by  a  decreased  majority.  Then,  after  spending  a 
couple  of  winters   lit    (  olumbiis.  1    (|uit   by  unani- 


131 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


mous  consent."  He  had  opposed  local  legislation, 
taken  an  active  part  in  pushing  the  negi-o  suffrage 
amendment  til  rough,  and  was  accused  of  doing  more 
legislating  for  Cincinnati,  his  old  home,  than  all  the 
Hamilton  County  delegates  togethei-.  His  bril- 
liancy as  a  speaker,  and  usefulness  in  the  committee 
room,  were  widely  recognized  and  praised. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  it  was  Donn 
Piatt  who  supplied  the  word ''crank"  in  ita  present 
peculiar  and  pojiular  use.  "Twisting  the  British 
Lion's  tail"  is  a  pet  phrase  derived  from  the  same 
source.  "The  cave  of  the  winds,"  as  applied  to 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  and  the 
"fog  bank"  for  the  Senate,  arc  other  well-known 
offsprings  of  his  pen,  and  "Wanam.akered,"  a  term 
of  more  recent  in  vention,expressive  of  the  discharge 
of  Government  employes  on  political  grounds,  is 
still  another. 

As  he  appeared  l.iefore  the  public,  the  most  re- 
markable thing  about  this  most  remarkable  man 
was  his  versatility.  lie  was  equally  successful  as 
a  poet,  politician,  historian,  dramatist,  critic,  wit, 
lawyer,  judge,  diplomat,  theologian,  soldier,  ora- 
tor, journalist.  In  eacli  and  every  line  of  work 
mentioned,  he  has  made  a  distinct  and  separate 
reputation  that  is  national.  In  all  combined,  he 
has  won  fame  that  extends  wherever  the  English 
and  French  languages  are  understood.  No  two 
men  looked  at  him  alike.  One  was  captivated  by 
his  wit,  another  impressed  by  his  profound  thought, 
another  charmed  by  his  exquisite  literary  style, 
and  another  shocked  by  his  keen,  remorseless  sar- 
casm. In  each  heart  that  knew  him  he  left  a  mon- 
ument of  different  design.  Millions  admired  him, 
thousands  loved  him,  hun  reds  h.ated  him,  all  re- 
spected him.  In  more  w:  /s  than  one,  his,  though 
not  the  greatest,  was  certainly  the  most  remarka- 
ble character  of  the  century. 

Col.  Piatt  contracted  the  illness  which  resulted 
in  his  death  while  on  a  trip  to  Cincinnati  to  attend 
a  re-union  of  the  literary  club  of  which  he  had 
long  been  a  member,  and  at  which  meeting  he 
prophesied  his  early  death.  It  was  on  his  way 
home  from  that  meeting  at  which  he  said  in  a 
speech,  "In  another  year  Donn  Piatt  will  have 
joined  the  silent  miijority,"  that  he  cau^llt  IIju 
cold  whicli  leil  to  the  fatal   disease.     On   the   day 


following  the  election,  on  which  he  was  forced  to 
take  to  his  bed,  he  said  to  his  relatives  as  they 
called  to  see  him,  "This  means  death."  He  was 
conscious  till  within  a  few  hours  before  his  death, 
and  almost  his  last  words  were:  "Well,  I  must  die, 
why  not  die  now  .-" 

He  died  November  12,  1891,  and  left  a  widow 
but  no  children.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  the  well-known  authoress,  Louise  Kirby, 
and  the  surviving  wife  her  sister  Ella,  both  daugh- 
ters of  Timothy  Kirby,  a  pioneer  millionaire  of 
Cincinnati.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Piatt,  Amelia 
(Metcalf)  Kirby,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  when 
a  child  accompanied  her  parents  to  Batavia,  Cler- 
~mont  County,  Ohio,  where  she  w.as  married. 

It  was  in  the  charming  valley  of  the  Mac-o-chee 
and  on  a  wooded  hillside  facing  the  sun,  that  Col. 
Piatt  built  of  stone  and  oak  an  elegant  mansion, 
known  through  all  the  country  round  as  "The 
Castle" — built  it,  like  his  fame,  to  last  through  cen- 
turies. As  seen  from  this  great  stone  mansion,  the 
valley  of  the  Mac-o-ehee  presents  as  fair  a  vision 
■as  ever  delighted  the  eye  of  man.  Of  it  Torn  Cor- 
win  summed  up  a  description  in  the  few  words: 
"A  man  can  better  live  and  die  here  than  any 
place  I  have  ever  seen."  Little  wonder  that  he 
should  write: 

"M\'  days  among  these  wilds  are  spent 

In  restful,  calm  repose; 
No  carking  cares  or  discontent 

Disturb  life's  fitter  close. 
Be\'ond  these  wooded  hills,  I  hear 

The  world's  unceasing  roar. 
As  breaks  upon  some  inland  ear 

The  tumult  of  a  shore." 

About  a  mile  to  the  southwest  of  the  residence, 
and  hid  from  it  by  woods  and  hills,  is  the  pioneer 
burying-ground  of  the  Piatts.  It  is  situated  on  a 
hillside  beside  an  old  log  church,  now  in  decay- 
that  was  erected  when  a  few  pews  would  seat  the 
entire  settlement.  On  the  brow  of  the  hill,  facing 
the  sunset,  is  the  massive  tomb  in  which  rest  the 
remains  of  two  generations  of  the  family.  On  tlie 
top  of  the  tomb,  directly  over  the  entrance,  is  a 
iiK liniment  and  medallion  of  Louise,  the  wife  of 
Di.iiii  Pi:i(rs  youth,  and  on  tlie  reverse  side  of  the 
marble  block  U  chiseled  an  epitaph  that  is  one  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


135 


the  most  touching  ever  composed.     It  was  written 
hy  the  bereaved  hn.^li.ind  .iml  is  .is   follows: 

'•To  thy  de.ir  memory,  (i.trling.  .tmiI  my  own 
I  biiiki  in  grief  this  monunient.nl  stone: 
All  tli.it  it^tells  of  life  in  death  is  thine. 
All  that  it  means  of  death  in  life  is  mine; 
For  that  which  makes  thy  purer  spirit  blest 
In  anguish  deep  hath  brought  my  soul  unrest; 
You,  dying.  live  to  find  a  life  divine. 
1,  living,  die  till  death  hatli  made  me  thine." 

In  his  private  home  life.  Col.  I'iatl  disphiyed  a 
pliase  of  his  character  .as  truly  remarkable  .as  that 
in  wliich  he  ap])eared  before  the  public.  The  ten- 
der devotion  to  his  invalid  wife  w.as  the  pivot  on 
which  his  many-sided  character  revolved.  Hers 
was  the  only  hand  that  covild  guide  him,  her  will 
the  only  one  he  recognized  as  superior  to  his  own. 
Her  rule  w.as  one  of  love,  and  his  submission  was 
his  sweetest  joy.  He  realized  the  treasure  he  had 
iu  her  possession  and  simply  sought  to  be  worths' 
of  it,  for  a  more  refined  or  nobler  woman  never 
blessed  the  life  of  any  ni.an. 

Jlrs.  Ella  (Kirb\')  Piatt,  was  tx)rn  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1838,and  was  married 
to  Col.  Piatt  in  1866.  Her  father,  Timothy  Kirby. 
was  ;i  native  of  Connecticut,  and  w.as  born  Novem- 
litr  10,  17;)7,  w.as  reared  in  the  Old  Bay  State,  and 
came  tu  Cincinnati  when  a  stripling  of  seventeen. 
His  fuUier,  Zebulon  Kirby,  was  born  in  ^liddle- 
tiiwii.  Conn.,  February  2."),  1766,  and  died  August 
17.  1821.  and  the  grandfather,  Thomas  Kirby,  was 
liiiin  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1721),  and  died  cm 
the  IDth  of  .July,  1810.  lie  was  of  English  descent. 
Timothy  Kirby  was  a  large  real-estate  dealer  and 
banker,  his  bank  being  on  Third  Street,  in  Ciiioin- 
iKiti.  He  was  a  ver}-  prominent  and  wealthy  man 
of  that  city  and  there  died  on  the  lOthof  .January, 
ls7(i.  His  wife  died  in  1.^66.  Tlicy  were  the  i)ar- 
cnts  cif  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
tei-.  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  others 
boidcs  Mrs.  Piatt  were  I.(juise.  born  November  26. 
1.^26  (ileceased);  Byron,  b(jrn  February  S.  1S2'J. 
died  in  1881;  Clinton,  born  .Mareli  2'.).  is:31; 
Charles  (deceased),  and  .lulia.  born  Jl.ay  10.  1.S16. 
widow  of  Gen.  Henry  Banning,  four  times  Jlember 
of  Congress  from    Mt.  \'erii(in.  Ohio. 

Mi>.  Piatt  is  the  sixth  child  .and  third  dauuliti-r. 


Until  about  the  age  of  seventeen,  she  was  reared  in 
Cincinnati,  having  all  the  advantages  the  schools 
of  that  cit\-  afforded,  .and  when  about  that  age  she 
went  to  Paris,  France,  where  she  received  thorough 
instruction  in  French  and  .'^iianisb.  Besides  being 
a  line  musician  and  a  very  sweet  singer,  she  is  an 
;irtist  of  unusual  ability,  having  some  very  fine 
portrait  paintings  of  her  own  work.  She  has  full 
control  of  a  vast  amount  of  pro|)ert3-  in  Cincinnati 
and  of  her  large  estate  in  the  !M.ac-o-chee  Valley. 
A  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  ^he  is  a  liberal 
contributor  to  its  support,  and  in  addition  to  the 
chapel  iu  her  house,  is  now  building  a  Catholic 
Church  in  memorv  of  her  late  husband,  which  will 
cost  $.j,000.  The  monument  will  be  surmounted  by 
a  bronze  statue  of  Col.  Piatt  by  t^uincy  Ward, 
formerly  of  Urbana,  Ohio,  but  now  of  New 
York  City. 

Accompanying  this  jketch  of  his  life,  a  portrait 
of  Col.  Donn  Piatt  is  presented,  and  a  view  of 
"The  Castle,"  that  ideal  rural  home  which  adorns 
the  vallev  of  the  JMac-o-chee. 


l^-f^l 


m 


^IIOIIN  \V.  COSTOLO.  M.  1).  No  physician 
of  Wr  ,terii  Ohio  has  ;i  more  honorable  re- 
cord uian  Dr.  Costolo.  of  Loraniie's,  and  few 
enjo;  a  more  extended  reputation.  This 
is  due  to  !r  i  professional  skill  and  knowledge,  as 
well  as  to  tne  fact  that  for  a  number  of  years  past 
lie  has  bee  i  doing  his  utmost  to  alleviate  suffering 
in  his  CO'  imunity.  and  his  ze:d,  carefulness  and 
svmpatlr  are  duly  appreciated  by  a  large  circle  of 
patn.ms    iid  friends. 

A  kr  wledge  of  the  parent:U  iutlueiices  thrown 
;uouiiii  tny  man  aids  in  undersUinding  his  character 
therefo  'e  it  m.ay  be  well  to  note  a  few  facts  re- 
garding the  parents  of  Dr.  Cost(tlo.  He  is  a  son 
of  Thomas  Costolo.  wh<^  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
18U8.  and  on  emigrating  to  Auieric;i  located  in 
Shelby  County,  in  18;}.").  Entering  hind  in  Cyn- 
thian:i  Town.-hip.  he  beg:in  the  battle  of  life  in  the 
N.u    World  iii\:uiMcd  for  the  contest  except  by   hi- 


136 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


native  wit,  determined  spirit  and  bodily  vigor. 
He  was  one  of  tlie  oldest  settlers  in  the  township, 
at  a  time  when  wild  game  of  all  kinds  was  plenti- 
ful and  often  ver\-  troublesome.  By  careful  and 
intelligent  cultivation,  he  placed  his  land  under 
e,\;cellent  tillage  and  supplied  the  same  with  all 
needful  structures  and  manj"  improvements  both 
useful  and  ornamental.  In  1878,  he  moved  to 
Loramie's,  where  his  decease  occurred  in  1881, 
when  in  his  seventy-third  year.  He  was  verj- 
popular  in  local  affaii-s  and  was  the  incumbent  of 
every  position  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  township 
from  which  he  removed.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  bore  a  good 
reputation  among  his  neighbors  and  was  well  re- 
garded by  the  entire  communit\'. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  motlier  was 
Margaret  Costegan;  she  was  also  born  in  the  Em- 
erald Isle,  and  came  to  America  in  183.5.  Prior  to 
her  union  with  Mr.  Costolo,  she  was  married  to  Mr. 
Lauler,  by  whom  she  became  the  mother  of  four 
children.  Her  husband  died  in  1849  of  cholera, 
with  which  dread  disease  her  children  were  also 
taken  away.  She  is  still  living,  having  attained 
to  the  advanced  age  of  seventy -seven  years,  and 
makes  her  home  in  Loramie's. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  one  in  a  family  of 
three  children,  his  elder  brother  being  connected 
with  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  in  the  West. 
His  sister  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  Adolph  River 
and  makes  her  home  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio. 
John  W.  was  born  in  the  log  cabin  on  the  old 
homo  farm,  and  when  old  enough  to  go  to  school, 
attended  during  the  winter  months,  working  hard 
during  other  seasons  in  order  that  he  might 
obtain  such  an  education  as  the  public  schools 
offered,  and  with  the  energy  that  h.as  charac- 
terized him  through  life  pursued  an  undeviat- 
ing  course.  In  company  with  his  brother,  he  rented 
and  operated  the  home  farm  for  four  years  and  in 
this  way  got  his  start  in  life.  Determining  to  be- 
come a  physician,  Mr.  Costolo  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  IIamer,of  Loramie's,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  eighteen  months,  and  tlien  read 
with  Dr.  Edward  F.  Wells,  of  Minster,  tliis  .State, 
three  vears.  He  then  took  two  courses  of  Irctuies 
at  the  Ulii<i  Medical  College,  from  which  inslitu- 


tion  he  was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '83.  Dr. 
Costolo  then  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  this  place  and  now  stands  in  the  foremost 
rank  among  the  prominent  physicians  of  this 
section.  He  is  not  only  well  versed  in  his  profes- 
sion, but  is  a  man  of  broad  culture  and  extensive 
information  on  topics  of  general  interest.  He  h.as 
an  excellent  reputation,  extending  over  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county  and  the  territory  adjacent 
thereto,  and  his  sympathy  for  suffering  humanity 
and  manly  bearing  add  to  the  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held. 

The  lady  to  whom  Dr.  Costolo  was  married  in 
1888  was  Miss  Alice,  the  daughter  of  Jlichael 
Quinlin,  a  prominent  farmer  in  this  township. 
They  are  both  members  of  the  Catholic  Church 
and  by  all  who  know  them  are  respected  as  they 
deserve.  The  Doctor  has  always  taken  an  active 
part  in  politics  and  c-asts  a  Democratic  ballot.  He 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Loramie's  Milling  Company, 
and  in  medical  affairs  is  a  member  of  the  Shelb\- 
County  Medical  Society,  Northwestern  State  Med- 
ical Societ}',  Southwestern  State  Medical  Society, 
and  the  American  Medical  Association. 


^^  HARLES  P.  McKEE  is  the  fortunate  pro- 
[l(  ^^  prietor  of  the  best  oil  farm  in  Auglaize 
^^/  County,  situated  on  section  16,  St.  Mary's 
Township,  with  whose  interests  his  own  have  been 
closely  interwoven  for  many  years,  as  it  has  been 
his  home  from  early  childhood,  and  he  has  aided 
in  its  advancement  materially,  educationally,  so- 
cially and  religiously.  He  is  a  farmer  of  sound 
principles,  and  advanced  views  in  regard  to  agri- 
culture, and  he  is  an  exemplary,  public-spirited 
citizen,  whom  it  gives  us  ple.asure  to  represent  in 
this  biographical  work. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Charles  McKee  was  born  in 
Athens  County,  September  17,  1833,  but  the  month 
following  his  birth  his  parents  removed  to  St. 
.Mary's,  therefore  the  most  of  his  life  has  been 
passed  in  tliis  county.      His  father,   Thomas   Mc- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


137 


Kee,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  came  to 
Obio  wben  very  young  with  his  parents,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  this  .Stale.  His  father  was  John 
McKee,  who  was  of  Irish  birth.  Thom.as  McKec 
was  a  fanner  in  Athens  Count}-  until  his  removal 
to  this  county  in  October,  1833.  He  resided  in 
St.  Mary's  two  years,  and  then  purchased  land  a 
half-mile  south  of  town,  which  he  developed  into 
a  substantially  improved  farm.  He  was  prominent 
and  well  known  as  a  pioneer  and  a  citizen,  and 
was  held  in  high  regard  bj-  the  entire  community'. 
For  many  years,  he  was  an  Elder  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  actively  aided  in  the  advance- 
ment of  religious  interests  in  this  section.  He 
departed  this  life  in  1874,  in  his  seventy-fourth 
year.  His  first  wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  w.as 
Anuis  Reynolds,  who  died  in  1839.  They  had 
seven  children,  of  whom  three  are  living.  His 
second  wife  was  Sarah  Amerstrong,  a  daughter  of 
one  of  the  first  settlere  of  this  section.  She  died 
in  1879.  Five  children  were  born  of  that  mar- 
riage, of  whom  three  are  living. 

In  his  boyhood  days,  Charles  McKee  attended 
school  in  a  log  schoolhousc,  and  in  that  humble 
institution  of  learning  laid  the  foundations  of  a 
sound  education,  that  was  completed  in  the  excel- 
lent Union  .School  at  St.  Mary's.  He  had  a  bright 
mind  and  scholarly  tastes,  which  led  him  to  adopt 
the  profession  of  a  teacher,  at  which  he  was  very 
successfully  engaged  some  twenty  terms,  his  experi- 
ence in  school  teaching  being  confined  principal!}" 
to  two  districts,  except  during  one  winter,  when 
he  taught  elsewhere.  In  the  summer  seasons,  he 
devoted  his  time  to  farming,  remaining  an  inmate 
of  the  parental  home  until  nearly  thirty  yeai-s  old 
that  he  might  assist  his  father.  He  began  farming 
for  himself  during  the  war,  and  has  lived  on  the 
farm  that  he  now  occupies  in  St.  Mary's  Township 
for  nearly  twenty  yeare.  He  first  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land,  to  which  he  has  added  by  subsequent 
purchase  until  he  has  a  good-sized  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  is  in  a  fine  con- 
dition, is  amply  supplied  with  modern  improve- 
ments, and  everything  about  the  place  bears  evi- 
dence of  careful  and  judicious  management.  Oil 
w.as  discovered  here  in  December,  1891,  and  now 
there  are  fifteen  flowing  wells  and    one    gas    well. 


The  farm  was  leased  for  oil  purposes  after  the  im- 
portant discover}-,  and  has  been  developed  bv 
otiiers  who  have  sub-leased  it. 

Jlr.  Mclvee  and  Miss  Jennie  Smith  were  united 
in  marriage  in  18C4,  and  theirs  is  a  congenial 
union,  as  he  is  a  model  husband,  alw.ays  thouirht- 
ful  of  her  welfare,  is  generous  and  considerate  witli 
her,  and  does  not  forget  the  important  part  she 
has  pla3-ed  in  the  making  of  their  home,  while  she 
is  in  every  sense  a  true  wife,  w-ho  sympathizes 
with  her  husband  in  his  aims,  is  a  sage  counselor, 
and  contributes  greatly  to  his  comfort  and  well- 
being  by  her  wise  and  firm  guidance  of  household 
matters.  Mrs.  McKee  w.as  born  near  St.  Mary's, 
and  IS  a  daugliter  of  Aaron  Smith,  an  early  settler 
of  the  county,  who  is  still  living  liere  at  a  vener- 
able age.  Mr.  and  ^ilrs.  McKee  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  ■\Villi,am,  who  is  finel}-  educated, 
and  has  taught  school  several  terms;  Edward; 
Ada  J.,  deceased;  Charles  P.,  Jr.;  Elza  and  Jennie. 
The  McKees  are  prominent  and  well  known  in 
church  and  social  circles,  their  integrity  in  all 
things,  and  their  pleasant  personal  attributes  m.ak- 
ing  them  greatly  esteemed  as  members  of  the 
Presbytenan  Church,  and  attracting  to  them  many 
friends. 


ILTON  TA.AI  enjoys  a  good  reputation  as 
;//  '  ^\  an  honest  .and  hard-working  farmer,  who 
is  profitably  engaged  in  liis  business,  on 
section  24,  Duchouquet  Township,  Auo-- 
laize  County.  The  fine  condition  of  his  farm,  with 
its  substantial  buildings  and  well-tilled  acres,  o-ives 
ample  proof  of  his  thorough  .acquaintance  with  the 
best  methods  of  carrying  on  his  callin?. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  a  son  of  Juhii  Tain, 
who  was  born  in  1797  in  Mrginia.  lie  was  a 
brickmaker  by  trade,  and  after  locatiiiir  in  this 
township,  which  w.as  at  an  early  d,ay.  manufactured 
the  brick  for  the  Burnett  House  and  the  Land  Office 
in  Wapakonet.!.     He  w.is  also  a  patriot  in  the  War 


1£ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  1812,  having  served  nndei-  Capt.  McNeal,  of 
Virginia,  and  being  a  warm-hearted  and  genial 
man.  liad  many  friends  among  the  soldiers. 

Our  subject's  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Elizabeth  Thompson,  and  was  a  native  of  Fairfield 
Countv,  this  State.  She  was  married  in  her  native 
place,  and  in  1832  came  to  this  county,  and  after  a 
residence  of  two  j-ears  in  Wapakoneta,  located  on  a 
farm  on  section  24,  which  is  now  the  property  of  our 
subject.  They  were  the  first  to  settle  in  that  local- 
ity, their  only  neighbors  being  the  Indians  who 
were  verv  numerous.  The  parents  took  up  their 
abode  in  an  Indian  luit,  where  thej-  resided  until 
the  father  could  erect  a  more  suitable  structure. 
He  also  built  a  sawmill  on  his  farm,  which  was  the 
first  of  its  kind  in  that  locality  for  some  time,  and  en- 
tered two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  from  the 
Government,  which  he  cleared  and  resided  upon 
until  his  decease,  which  took  place  in  August,  1842; 
the  mother  died  in  1876.  They  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living.  The 
mother  of  oor  subject  was  again  married  after  the 
death  of  her  husband,  and  became  the  mother  of 
two  children,  and  by  her  tliird  union  was  also  bora 
to  her  two  children.  She  was  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Christian  Cliurch.  Johri  Tam  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  voting  the  "Whig  ticket. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  the  j-oungest  in  the 
parental  family  and  was  born  April  16,  1836,  in 
the  Indian  cabin  above  spoken  of.  He  attended 
school  in  a  log  house,  but  being  afflicted  with 
white  swelling,  neglected  his  studies  for  twelve 
years.  When  reaching  his  majority,  our  subject 
began  life  on  his  own  account  and  has  always  le- 
sided  upon  the  old  home  farm. 

In  18.57,  Jlr.  Tam  and  JIiss  Urbanna,  daughter 
of  .John  and  Hannah  Older,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. The  father  was  an  early  settler  of  Union 
T<3wnship,  this  county,  having  located  here  over 
fifty-five  years  ago.  His  wife  is  still  living  on  the 
old  homestead  and  is  eighty-four  yeai-s  of  age. 
Mrs.  Tam  was  born  .lune  :50.  18.'56,  in  Richland 
County,  this  State,  and  by  her  union  with  our  sub- 
ject is  the  mother  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living  and,  with  the  exception  of  three,  are  married 
and  established  in  homes  of  their  omi. 

Our  subject's  portion  of  the  home   farm,   which 


comprises  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  was  forty- 
nine  acres  and  to  that  he  has  since  added,  until  his 
est,ate  numbers  two  hundred  and  eightj'-four  acres, 
he  having  given  fifty  acres  to  two  of  his  children, 
twenty  to  one  and  thirty  to  another.  His  beautiful 
residence,  which  was  erected  four  years  ago,  cost 
Si, 800  and  is  supplied  with  all  the  modern  con- 
veniences, while  his  barn,  which  was  erected  in 
1876,  also  cost  ?I,800,  and  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
this  section.  The  estate  is  thoroughly  drained 
with  many  rods  of  tiling,  and  is  .supplied  with 
modera  improvements  and  all  the  appliances  in 
machinery  for  facilitating  agricultural  labors. 

In  early  life,  Mr.  Tam  taught  school  for  several 
terms,  but  of  recent  years  li.as  given  his  time  and 
attention  exclusively  to  conducting  his  farm.  He 
has  given  his  children  good  educations,  and  has 
served  as  Director  oL  the  School  Board  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  politics,  he  is  a  believer  in 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  During 
the  period  of  his  residence  here,  his  life  has  been 
such  as  to  win  him  the  confidence  of  those  with 
whom  business  relations  have  brought  him  in  con- 
tact, and  the  warm  personal  regard  of  many 
friends. 


i^^i■*^•I^S^#?#^^ 


^Tpj\  EXJAMIX  W.  MAXWELL,  the  first  miller 
|u>^.  of  Sidney  and  for  many  years  a  much- 
'/^'  I  esteemed  resident  of  that  city,  wits  born  five 
^isr  miles  north  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  Jlontgom- 
erv  County,  on  the  21st  of  November,  1817,  and 
was  the  son  of  Samuel  S.  and  Polly  (Wagner) 
JIaxwell.  the  father  a  successful  farmer.  The 
Maxwells  were  a  prominent  familj-  in  Pennsylva- 
nia for  many  yeai-s.  and  Samuel  and  family  came 
West  in  183,5  and  settled  within  the  liorders  of 
Shelby  County.  The  year  before  this.  Mr.  Max- 
well had  visited  this  section  and  had  purchased 
land  from  the  Government,  two  and  one-half  miles 
from  Sidney.  He  cleared  off  a  portion  of  land  and 
in  1835  erected  a  mill  on  Mosquito  Creek,  and 
this    he  operated  for  a  number  of  years,  makintr 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


139 


his  home  there  until  after  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
left  home,  when  he  sohl  the  farm.  Samuel  S.  Max- 
well held  the  office  of  County  Commissioner  for 
two  or  three  terms.  At  his  death  he  left  but  oue 
child,  our  subject.  One  son,  Abram,  died  in  1864, 
the  other  two,  .John  and  Thomas,  having  died  pre- 
viousl_v. 

The  original  of  this  notice  received  the  advan- 
tages of  a  good  common-school  education  and  at 
an  early  age  began  leaniing  the  milling  business, 
[jicking  it  up  himself.  The  mill  had  but  one  run 
of  stone  at  first,  but  this  was  enlarged  to  three  and 
a  verj-  successful  business  was  carried  on.  AVIien 
our  subject  removed  to  town,  he  purchased  a  mill 
with  four  run  of  stones  and  continued  to  operate 
this  until  1872.  Previous  to  the  last-mentioned 
date,  in  18G8,  he  purchased  a  mill  on  the  Big  Four 
tr.ick  and  put  in  a  roller  process,  this  being  early 
for  that  impi'ovemeut.  lie  also  owned  the  mill  in 
East  Sidney,  changed  it  from  a  woolen  mill  to  a 
gristmill,  put  in  a  stone  process,  and  in  1889  fitted 
it  up  with  the  latest  improved  roller  process.  At 
that  date,  he  abandoned  the  mill  on  the  Big  Four 
track.  The  present  mill  is  suiiplied  with  power 
from  Mosquito  Creek  and  has  a  capacity  of  one 
hundred  barrels. 

Ml-.  Maxwell  gave  almost  his  entire  life  to  mill- 
ing and  his  mills  were  in  the  most  thorough  and 
complete  condition,  fitted  out  with  all  the  latest 
improvements  in  milling  m.achinery, so  that  all  his 
customers  could  rely  on  getting  the  best.  He  w.as 
very  successful  in  this  occupation  and  was  a  prac- 
tical, wide-aw.ake  business  man.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  J.  .Shaw,  of  Green  Township,  this  county, 
and  two  children  blessed  this  union:  Almira,  who 
died  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  Samuel  W. 
The  father  of  these 'children  died  on  the  12th  of 
January,  1892,  and  his  wife  survived  him  but 
eight  days.  They  were  highly  respected  all  over 
the  community  and  were  classed  among  the  law- 
al)iding  and  much-esteemed  citizens. 

Samuel  W.  Maxwell,  son  of  the  above-mentioned 
couple,  was  liorn  in  Perry  Township,  this  county, 
on  the  loth  of  May,  1818,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  East  Sidney  schools,  later  finishing 
in  the  Central  High  .School  .and  Cleveland  Business 
College.     After  finishing  his  education,  he  entered 


the  mill  with  his  father  and  became  thoroughly  fa- 
miliar with  the  business,  being  employed  in  the  mill 
until  called  upon  to  take  charge  of  the  same  about 
five  yeai-s  ago.  He  is  now  doing  a  roost  successful 
business  and  is  a  first-class  miller.  He  selected  his 
wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Clara  Arbuckle,  a  na- 
tive of  Shelby  Countv,  and  the  daughter  of  K.  C. 
Arbuckle,  a  farmer  of  this  county,  and  their  nup- 
tials were  celebrated  on  the  19th  of  3Ia\-,  ISGy. 
They  have  one  child  living,  Benjamin,  and  one 
deceased,  Roy,  a  bright  boy,  who  died  when  seven 
veal's  of  age.  IMr.  and  Jlrs.  Maxwell  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  are  liberal 
contributors  to  all  movements  of  moment.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Council  one  term.  He  has  a  good 
residence  on  Miami  Avenue  and  is  very  comforl- 
ablv  situated. 


'  :'  UDGE  A.  J.  RERSTOCK,  A.  B.,  .Judge  of  the 
Probate  Court  of  Shelby  County,  w.as  born 
in  Butler,  Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  Mathi.as  anti 
Frances  (Eberhardt)  Rebstock,  n.itives  of 
Germany.  The  father  was  a  teacher  of  music  and 
for  some  time  previous  to  coming  to  America  w.as 
Director  of  music  at  Tubingen. 

Our  subject  conducted  his  early  studies  in  liis 
native  place  and  was  later  graduated  from  the 
Allegany  College,  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  Having  dctermineii 
to  follow  the  profession  of  law,  Jlr.  Rebstock 
read  with  .Senator  Mitchell  and  .John  H.  Thompson, 
of  Butler,  and  w.as  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1860. 
After  practicing  a  short  time  in  that  pl.ace.  he  went 
West  to  Davenport.  Iowa,  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  a  Mr.  Lane,  the  firm  name  being  Lane  i 
Rebstock.  They  continued  together  onlv  three 
months,  however,  when  our  subject  came  to  .*<id- 
ney,  this  county,  desiring  to  make  this  his  futuic 
home. 

In  1862,  he  of  whom  we  write  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army,  and  being  mustered  into  Ciiinpan\-  H. 


140 


PORTRAIT  AjST)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry,  was  sent  to  join  the  West- 
ern division  of  the  army  under  Gen.  Logan,  wbicli 
was  perhaps  more  familiarl\'  called  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  Mr.  Rebstock  participated  in  eight  or  ten 
important  battles,  among  which  was  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg.  lie  went  into  the  army  as  a  private 
and  was  later  detailed  into  the  band,  becoming  a 
member  of  Gen.  Sprague's  Brigade  Band  of  the 
Seventeentli  Army  Corps  and  Second  Brigade, 
with  which  he  reiiiaincd  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Receiving  his  honorable  discharge  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  he  returned  Imnie  and  resumed  the  practice 
of  bis  profession.  For  two  terms,  he  occupied  the 
position  of  Prosecuting  Attorney  and  was  later 
Recorder  of  the  county,  and  School  Examiner  for 
fifteen  years,  and  .lustice  of  the  Peace  for  several 
terms. 

Judge  Rebstock  was  elected  to  his  iiresent  posi- 
tion in  1887,  and  having  acceptably  filled  the 
office,  was  re-elected  in  1800  for  the  ens\iing  three 
years.  In  addition  to  his  olticial  duties,  our  sub- 
ject superintends  the  operation  of  two  farms 
which  he  owns  in  Turtle  C  ri'ck  :uid  Fraidvlin 
Townships.  Shelliy  County,  and  wliich  comprise 
two  hundred  and  fourteen  .acres.  I'ntil  a  few  years 
agi],  he  w.as  identified  with  the  band  in  this 
place,  having  inherited  marked  musical  talent 
from  his  father,  by  whom  he  was  instructed. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Clawson,  who  was  born  in  this 
city  July  28,  1846,  became  the  wife  of  our  subject 
in  1 8(!5.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Abraham  Clawson, 
one  of  tlie  old  pioneers  of  this  county,  and  by  her 
union  with  our  subject  became  the  mother  of  the 
following  four  children;  Carrie,  John  A.,  William 
E.,  and  Harry.  John  A.  married  i\Iiss  Virginia 
Craft,  cif  I'aytDn,  this  State,  to  wliom  were  born 
Bertha  and  Willa.  William  E.,  a  most  intelligent 
and  talented  young  man,  departed  this  life  July  4, 
1891,  when  twenty-one  years  of  .age. 

In  social  matters  Judge  Relistock  is  a  Grand  Army 
man  and  as  such  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Veter- 
an's I'niiin  and  was  aiipointed  on  the  st.aff  of  S.  S. 
Yoder  as  Aid-de-Camp  witli  the  title  of  Colonel.  He 
was  in  former  years  a  memlier  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  but  has  not  kept  up  his  con- 
nections with  that  society.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Chureli.  in  which 


.societ}-  they  have  a  high  standing.  The  Judge 
has  a  pleasant  residence  on  Franklin  Street,  where 
he  har,  resided  many  years.  Methodical  and  exact 
by  habit  and  conscientiously  earnest  in  all  his 
undertakings,  he  has  proven  himself  a  competent 
business  man.  His  life  has  been  a  busy  one,  but 
no  obstacle  has  ever  made  him  swerve  from  the 
path  of  duty  or  abandon  the  end  in  view. 


i•■^•^,>51!!^..■^ 


yllOWS  D.  INDERRIEDEN.  A  cursory  view 
of  the  business  streets  of  anj'  town,  whether 
^1  largo  or  small,  will  impress  the  observer  re- 
^^i/J  garding  the  business  .ability  of  the  various 
dealers.  The  very  appearance  of  a  store  or  shop 
gives  an  indication  as  to  whether  the  establishment 
is  in  a  thriving  condition  or  not,  and  it  necess.arily 
follows  that  the  degree  of  enterprise  that  has  been 
shown  by  the  proprietor,  and  his  good  judgment 
in  selecting  his  stock,is  also  manifest.  In  Loramie's, 
Shelby  County,  one  of  the  most  thriving  business 
houses  is  that  of  John  D.  Inderrieden,  a  prominent 
hardware  merchant. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Newport,  Ky.,  October 
4,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Ileiiiy  Inderrieden,  who 
was  a  native  of  (lermany.  The  latter  emigrated 
to  the  New  World  when  a  young  man,  and,  locat- 
ing in  Kentucky,  was  variouslv  engaged  until 
18G0,  when  ho  came  to  .Shelby  County  and  pur- 
chased land  in  iMcLean  Towushi|i,  which  was 
partially  improved.  Ten  j-ears  latci-,  he  took  up 
his  abode  in  Loramio's,  where  his  decease  occurred 
in  1870.  firm  in  the  faith  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
His  good  wife,  who.  prii.ir  to  her  marriage,  was 
Jliss  Elizabeth  Wehmoff,  was  also  born  in  the 
Fatherland,  and  came  to  America  with  her  parents. 
By  her  union  with  our  subject  were  born  ,-ix  chil- 
dren, four  (if  wliom  are  living.  She  departed 
this  life  in   ISIU. 

John  1).  Inderrieden  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits, 
and,  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  worked  out  for  a 
vear  on  a  farm.  He  then  went  to  ;\linster,  this 
State,  and  served  an  a|iprentieeship  i.if  fi^ur  yeai-s  at 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOC^RAPmCAL   RECORD. 


143 


the  tinner's  trade,  and  in  1872  began  in  business 
for  liiiiisolf  in  Loramie's.  retailing  stoves  and  tin- 
ware. He  lias  <rraduall_v  added  to  his  stock,  until 
now  ho  carries  a  full  line  of  heav}'  and  shelf  h.ard- 
wiire  and  agricultural  implements,  and  is  also  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business.  lie  has  been  very 
successful  in  his  undertiiking  and  deserves  great 
credit  for  his  jjresent  high  standing  in  the  business 
community,  as  he  began   life  witli   limited  means. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Inderriedeu  was  married  to  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  Rieger. 
Her  parents  weie  natives  of  Germany,  and  her 
father,  who  is  still  living,  is  a  shoemaker  by  trade. 
The  six  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife 
bear  the  respective  names  of  William,  Edward, 
Mary,  Emma.  Ida  and  Adeline  C,  the  latter  of 
whom  is  deceased. 

A  Democrat  in  [lolitics,  i^ur  subject  h.as  taken  an 
active  part  in  all  movements  of  that  body,  and  has 
served  .as  Township  Clerk  for  the  p.ost  twelve  years. 
He  is  at  present  a  member  of  tlie  Village  Council, 
and  is  in  every  w.ay  a  citizen  worthy  of  the  trust 
and  confidence  that  he  has  inspired  liy  his  honorable 
career  .as  a  business  man  and  his  merits  in  every 
other  respect.  In  addition  to  carrying  on  his  thriv- 
ing business  as  a  hardware  merchant,  he  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Loramie's  'Milling  Company,  of  which 
association  he  has  been  President  for  many  years, 
and  w.as  a  prominent  factor  in  its  organization. 
He  is  the  proprietor  of  his  store  building  and  res- 
idence, the  former  of  which  is  two  stories  in  height 
with  basement,  and  i>  -i.'ixl:?!;  feet  in  dimensions. 


r_^  ON.  WIl.l.lA.M  \ANCK  MARQUIS,  Lieu- 
\^  tenuut-liovenior  of  Ohio  in  18y0  and  1892, 
A^  bfliiiigs  to  :i  family  whose  history  in  Anier- 
vt5))  ica  dates  liack  to  Colonial  d.ays.  Their 
Ercnch-lluguenot  ancestors  were  forced  to  llec 
from  the  land  of  their  nativity,  some  finding  re- 
fuge ill  Ireland,  and  olliers  in  Seotlaiid.  In  IT'-'O. 
the  first  iviJi-p-en  la  fives  of  the  familv  in  the  I'liited 


suites  emigrated  to  old  Virginia,  of  which  State 
they  became  permanent  residents.  Thomas  Mar 
quis,  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  served  with 
(ien.  Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
Capt.  "William  Marquis  w.as  an  active  participant 
in  the  War  of  1812,  serving  under  Gen.  Hull. 

.Several  membere  of  the  family  were  eloquent 
and  honored  ministei-s  of  the  Presbj-teri.an  Church, 
and  among  them  the  most  distinguished  w.as  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Marquis,  commonly  known  as  the 
■•silver-tongued  Marquis,"  who  was  pastor  of  the 
Cross  Creek  Church,  in  W-ashington  County,  Pa., 
for  more  than  thirty  yeai-s.  John  Marquis,  father 
of  our  subject,  removed  with  his  father's  family 
from  the  alx)ve  named  county  to  Ohio,  where  he 
first  settled  in  Belmont  County,  and  afterward  re- 
moved to  Logan  County  in  1832,  becoming  a 
inominent  merchant  in  Bellefontaine.  He  was 
closely  identified  with  the  progress  of  his  commu- 
nity until  his  death  in  1848. 

Our  subject  was  named  after  3Iaj.  William 
A'ance.  a  prominent  figure  in  the  history  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Western  Peun.sylvania. 
He  w.as  lx)rn  in  ]Mt.  Vernon,  Knox  Countv,  Ohio, 
3I.ay  1,  1828,  and  w.as  a  child  of  four  years  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Bellefontaine.  His 
ediiciition  w.as  gained  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  village,  and,  while  yet  a  youth,  he  entered  his 
father's  store  as  a  clerk,  and  w.as  thus  ensraged  un- 
til the  death  of  the  latter,  when  the  business  w.as 
closed.  In  1853,  he  w.as  apjiointed  by  President 
Pierce  Postm.aster  at  Bellefontjune.  and  held  that 
oflice  for  eight  years. 

In  18G2.  Mr.  JIarquis  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Scirff  iV-  Marquis, 
and  continued  in  that  connection  for  eight  vears, 
when  he  succeeded  to  the  entire  business.  While 
thus  eng;iged,  he  occupied  one  room  in  town  for 
more  than  thirty  ye.ars.  In  1871,  in  companv 
with  Judge  William  Lawrence  and  some  others,  he 
.assisted  in  organizing  the  Bellefontaine  National 
Bank,  of  which  he  li,as  since  been  A'iee-president. 
having  held  tliat  honorable  position  for  twent\- 
one  years. 

In  politics  a  Democrat,  our  subject  has  ever 
taken  a  leading  and  active  part  in  the  public  af- 
fairs of  the  day.  and  is   one   of  the   foremost  men 


144 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  lii,-i  i)arty  in  tlie  State.  In  1867,  he  served  as 
JNIayor  of  Bellefontainc,  and  was  instrumental  in 
introducing  many  needed  reforms  in  municipal 
jjovernraent.  He  was  a  member  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil for  fifteen  years,  and  for  the  same  period  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education.  In  every- 
thing calculated  to  advance  the  interests  of  the 
place  morally  or  educationally,  he  was  especially 
active  and  zealous,  and  still  retains  his  deep  inter- 
est in  the  progress  of  the  city. 

In  1878,  he  was  nominated  by  his  party  as  a 
Member  of  Congress,  representing  the  Fourth  Dis- 
trict, and,  although  not  elected,  polled  a  vote  that 
showed  his  great  popularity.  In  1876,  he  w.as  the 
delegate  from  the  Eighth  District  in  the  St.  Louis 
convention  which  nominated  Samuel  J.  Tilden  .as 
President.  However,  the  greatest  political  honor 
conferred  upon  him  was  in  1889,  when  both  par- 
ties made  vigorous  search  for  their  best  men,  and 
tlie  contest  assumed  national  importance.  It  was 
not  a  surprise  to  his  friends  when  William  Vance 
Manjuis  w.as  nominated  as  Lieutenant-Governor, 
the  first  place  on  the  ticket  being  held  by  James  E. 
Campbell.  Jlr.  Marquis  was  elected  by  thirty-two 
majority  over  Mr.  Lampson,  the  Republican  can- 
didate. An  effort  was  made  to  declare  the  claimed 
niajoritv  wrong,  and  that  Lampson  h.ad  received 
twenty-three  majority.  The  matter  was  contested 
before  the  Ohio  Senate,  and  i-esulted  in  a  verdict 
in  favor  of  Mr.  Marquis.  He  tilled  the  office  with 
distinguished  honor,  as  he  had  ever  filled  all  offices 
of  trust  and  responsibility,  and  when  he  retired, 
.lanuary  11.  181)2,  carried  with  him  the  esteem  and 
respect  even  of  his  political  opponents. 

XovemlKM-  \'2.  1860,  Mr.  Jlarquisand  Miss  Annie 
.M.  Sti-rrelt.  of  Logan  Comity,  were  united  in  ma'-- 
riage,  and  lived  happily  together  until  the  death 
of  the  wife  in  August,  18G8.  The  second  wife  of 
Jlr.  Marcpiis,  to  whom  he  was  married  JIarch  31, 
1880,  was  JIi-s.  Helen  JI.  Guy,  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter County.  Pa.,  but  at  that  time  a  resident  of  Belle- 
fontaine.  She  died  February  20,  1881,  leaving  a 
daughter,  Helen  JIay.  born  .lanuary  30,  1881. 
Tlie  lady  wlio  ^lay  •'!,  IS.s.J,  became  the  wife  of 
(lur  subject  was  formerly  Jliss  Adelaide  (i.  Swift. 
and  was  the  daughter  of  the  late  Col.  Aluaiii  Swift, 
of  Hamilton    Countv,   Oliif).     This   excelleiit  lady 


was  a  devoted  helpmate  to  her  husband  until 
called  hence  by  death,  December  29,  1889.  Mr. 
Marquis  was  married  July  14,  1892,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garetta,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  John  M.  Parker. 

Socially,  Gov.  Marquis  is  identified  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  having  taken  the  Thirty-sec- 
ond Degree,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  having  represented  that 
organization  several  times  in  the  Grand  Lodge. 
Social  in  nature,  yet  unassuming,  with  a  natural 
activity  of  temperament,  he  h.as  made  a  success  of 
whatever  he  has  undertaken.  The  secret  of  his 
prosperity  lies  in  his  integrity  and  unwavering 
probity,  which  have  been  prominent  characteristics 
from  the  very  outset  of  his  business  career.  He 
has  merited  and  won  the  esteem  and  friendship  of 
all  who  have  been  brought  in  public  or  business 
relations  with  him,  and  wherever  known,  his  name 
is  the  synonym  of  honor,  energy  and  enterprise. 

In  this  connection  will  be  noticed  the  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  Gov.  Marquis. 


^>^^<m 


Cp\\  A.  STUE^'E.  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
L.avton  it  Stueve,  of  Wapakoneta,  Ohio,  is 
1^'  not  only  a  young  lawyer  of  ability,  but  is 
prominent  in  social  circles  as  well.  His  reputation 
is  already  established  upon  a  firm  foundation,  and 
he  is  deservedly  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  most 
energetic  and  progressive  members  of  the  Bar.  He 
was  born  in  Minster,  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  Ko- 
vember  27,  185.5,  and  is  a  son  of  Clemens  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Vogt)  Stueve,  both  natives  of  Germany. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject.  Her- 
man Stueve,  was  a  carpenter  and  builder  by  trade, 
and  followed  this  in  his  own  country.  Germany, 
with  substantial  results  until  1834.  when,  on  the 
10th  of  September,  he  decided  to  emigrate  to  the 
L.and  of  the  Free.  After  reaching  the  American 
continent,  he  settled  in  Minster,  then  known  as 
Stallotown,  in  November,  and  there  his  death  oc- 
curred on  the  28th  of  July,  1849,  of  cholera.  His  ' 
son  Clemens,  the  father   of  our   subject,  w.as  but 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


145 


seven  years  of  age  when  lie  crossed  the  ocean  with 
his  parents,  and  lie  finished  his  growtli  in  the 
Buckeye  State,  Auglaize  County.  He  learned  the 
w.agon-maker's  trade,  but  did  not  follow  it  long. 
For  a  numlier  of  yeare  lie  was  engaged  in  business 
in  Minster,  and  became  one  of  the  best  known  and 
much  esteemed  citizens  of  the  same.  He  is  at 
present  tlie  proprietor  of  the  Henry  House  at  Wa- 
jjakonela.  and  keeps  one  of  the  best  and  most 
home-like  houses  in  the  place.  His  marriage  re- 
.-ulted  in  the  birth  of  eleven  children,  six  sons  and 
tivc  daughters. 

C.  A.  Stueve,  the  third  child  in  order  of  birth, 
attained  his  growtli,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  .school  of  Jlinster  and  at  Toledo.  Later,  he 
altended  the  NclM.in  lUisinoss  College  at  Cincin- 
nati, and  then  eiubarked  in  business  with  his 
father,  with  wliom  he  remained  but  a  short  time. 
After  this,  he  made  his  home  in  Decatur,  Ind.,  for 
more  than  a  year,  and  on  the  17th  of  March,  1878, 
he  came  to  'Wapakoneta,  and  began  reading  with 
R.  D.  Marshall  and  T.  W.  Brotherton.  Still  later, 
he  went  to  Dayton.  Ohio,  and  there  continued  un- 
til he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  on  the  Gtli  of  .June, 
1882.  He  then  located  at  Wapakoneta  and  became 
a  partner  with  Hon.  F.  C.  L.ayton,  the  present  ^lem- 
l)er  of  Congress,  and  this  h.as  continued  as  the  firm 
of  Layton  it  Stueve  since  1883.  This  firm  enjoys 
the  leading  pr.actice  of  the  county,  and  its  reputa- 
tion is  first-class  for  integrity  and  trustworthiness 
in  all  matters  entrusted  to  it.  Mr.  Stueve  is  a 
gentleman  of  much  abilit}-  in  his  profession,  and 
is  possessed  of  rare  social  qualities.  He  attends  to 
the  business  of  his  partner  when  the  latter  is  away 
as  a  ^lember  of  Congress,  and  is  wide-aw.ake  and 
rnterprising. 

On  the  17tli  of  Octol)er,  1882,  he  led  to  the 
allar  iliss  Mary  A.  Dickman,  of  Auglaize  County. 
(  tliici,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
three  Sons,  as  follows:  Richard  C,  Winfreil  H.. 
and  Theodore  F.  .Mi-,  and  Mrs.  .Stueve  aie  faith- 
ful members  of  tlie  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Stueve 
was  Corporation  Clerk  from  April,  1880,  until 
September,  1881.  when  he  resigned  to  go  to  Day- 
t..ii,  (Jhio,  t(.i  finish  his  studies.  He  wa^  elected 
-Mayor  (if  the  town  of  Wapakoneta  in  1888.  and 
served  in  that  capacity  one  term.     He  was  Deputy 


County  Treasurer  for  two  years,  during  1879  and 
1881,  and  at  present  he  holds  the  position  of 
Chairman  of  the  County  Democratic  Executive 
Committee.  ■  He  is  a   very  prominent  }-oung  man. 


ii  l»  ILLIAM  YOUNG.  There  is  no  finer  farm 
%/\j/i  ^'''■'''"  thelimitsof  Franklin  Township, and 
'\jf^  few  more  highly  cultivated  throughout 
all  Shelby  County,  than  the  estate  owned  and  man- 
aged by  Mr.  Young.  Through  his  unaided  exer- 
tion? he  has  become  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
eiglity  acres  comprised  in  this  farm,  beside  one 
hundred  acres  near  Bloom  Centre,  Logan  County. 
His  residence,  which  was  erected  to  replace  one 
burned  in  1883,  is  an  elegant  briek  structure,  and 
without  doubt  the  most  comforUible  rtiral  lunne  in 
the  township. 

A  few  words  with  reference  to  the  ancestors  of 
Mr.  Young  will  not  be  amiss.  His  grandfather, 
Charles  Young,  w.as a  soldier  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  afterward  serving  under  Gen.  Wash- 
ington nnd  receiving  injuries  in  active  engage- 
ment'. At  the  close  (if  the  conflict,  he  returned 
to  Berkeley  County.  W.  \'a.,  where  he  conducted 
farming  o|)erations  on  his  estate  of  five  hundred 
acies.  His  son  Adam  w.as  there  born.  November 
2').  17118,  and  remained  in  that  county  until  he  was 
sixteen  yeai-s  old.  He  then  removed  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Pickaway  County,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  w.as  known  in  maid- 
enhood .as  .Sarah  Crum.  and  was  born  in  R(jeking- 
hani  County,  Va.,  .September  13,  17;)7.  Her  father, 
Anthony  Crum,  w.as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  afterward  owned  a  plantation  in  the  Old  Do- 
minion. The  parents  of  our  subject  resided  in 
Pickaway  County  until  1831,  wla-n  they  came  to 
.Shelby  County,  and  settled  on  an  unimpro\ed 
farm  in  Franklin  Township.  Eiglit  \eais  were 
.spent  in  clearing  the  soil,  turning  the  lirst  fiu- 
rows    and   sratlieriuir    in    the    harvests    of    golden 


146 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


giain.  The  phice  wjis  then  sold,  and  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Din^moie  Township,  where  set- 
tlement was  made  on  eight}'  acres  of  land  which 
had  not  been  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness.  Upon 
that  place  the  mother  died  March  2;3,  1865,  and 
the  father  March  20,  1S71. 

In  their  religious  belief,  the  parents  were  life- 
long members  and  ardent  supporters  of  the  !Meth- 
odist  Episco])al  Church,  in  which  he  w.as  Class- 
leader  and  Steward,  and  was  licensed  as  an  exhorter. 
Politically,  he  was  a  Whig,  and  upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  joined  its  ranks. 
His  famil}-  consisted  of  seven  children,  tlirce  of 
whom  survive,  namely:  Mrs.  ,Tohn  W.  Fridley.  our 
subject,  and  Jason,  who  is  a  minister  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  William  Young  was  born 
in  Pickaw.ay  County,  August  31,  1819,  and  p.assed 
his  childhood  j-ears  in  his  father's  home.  He  had 
no  educational  advant.ages,  but  by  observation  and 
reading  has  kept  abreast  with  the  times,  and  is  a 
well-informed  man. 

jMarch  25,  1841,  Mr.  Yoinig  was  married  toIMiss 
Louisa,  daughter  of  Stephen  Kingrcy,  of  Jladison 
County,  Ohio,  and  soon  after  that  important  event 
lie  settled  on  a  rented  farm  in  Dinsraore  Township. 
He  continued  as  a  renter  until  18-19,  when  he  pur- 
cliased  the  farm  where  lie  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  at  oiK'C  erected  a  frame  house,  the  first  in  the 
vicinity,  .-md  with  the  aid  of  his  noble  and  helpful 
wife  evolved  a  line  farm  from  the  wilderness.  Mrs. 
Louisa  Young  was  liorn  in  ^Madison  County,  Ohio, 
March  16.  1822,  and  died  .Tune  9,  1858.  Only  two 
of  her  six  children  are  now  living:  Rufina  married 
.Icjhn  Shellenbarger,  and  the_y  have  throe  children; 
.Vdam  H.  chose  as  his  wife  .'^arah  E.  Kairdon,  and 
tliov  are  tlie  parents  of  six  children,  their  liome  be- 
ing in  Iowa. 

The  lady  wlio  on  August  26.  1861,  becirme  the 
wife  of  ^Ir.  Young  w;is  formerly  Mrs.  Loretta  A. 
Williams,  a  native  of  Fairfield  County,  Ohio.  Her 
father,  IMicliael  Rairdoii,  was  a  soldier  in  tlie  War 
of  l,sl2.  :uid  a  Major  in  the  .State  militia  after  tlie 
(■lo>e  of  tlie  war.  Of  tliis  union  seven  cliildren 
were  lioni.six  now  living,  as  follows:  F.  Fi.  K.  mar- 
ried ^[iiinie  Fogt,  ami  lUey  have  one  child;  Kli/.a. 
ihs.  (ieorge  Waitman,  has  one  child :  .lolui  W.. 
Kddie  W..  George  W.  and  Willie  JleK.  are  at  home 


■with  their  father.  JNIrs.  Loretta  A.  Young  passed 
from  earth  May  27,  1888,  mourned  by  a  large  cir- 
cle of  friends.  A  son  of  Mr.  Y'oung  by  his  first 
marriage,  James  C,  served  in  the  Civil  War,  and 
died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  November  27,  1862. 
In  I'eligious  convictions,  Mr.  Y'oung  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he 
h.as  been  Steward,  Trustee,  Class-leader  and  local 
minister.  Politically,  he  w.as  a  Rejiublican  until 
recently,  but  is  now  a  Prohibitionist.  His  work  on 
the  Township  Board  of  Education  has  been  pro- 
ductive of  good,  and  he  h.as  also  served  efficiently 
as  Koad  Supervisor.  He  has  been  from  his  youth 
a  man  of  great  industry  and  enterprise,  and  cleared 
two  hundred  acres  of  land  before  his  niarri.age. 
His  success  is  the  result  of  his  determination  and 
push,  and  in  connection  with  his  financial  prosper- 
ity he  has  also  gained  and  maintained  the  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow-men. 


*Tf„  ENRY  J.  F.  NIETERT,  who  is  engaged  in 
K~J,  the  manufacture  of  flour,  and  in  buying 
ii^^  and  shipping  grain  at  St.  Mary's,  in  part- 
i^)  nership  with  his  son-in-law,  A.  C.  Koop,  is 
numbered  among  the  men  of  far-seeing  enterprise 
and  solid  business  ((ualifieations,  who  have  aided 
in  placing  on  a  firm  foundation  the  prosperity  of 
Auglaize  Coiiiitv,  of  which  their  fathers  were  pio- 
neers. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  April 
13,  1832.  His  father,  (iotleib  Nietert,  was  al^o  of 
(ierman  nativity,  born  in  Schaumberg.  in  the 
province  of  Lippe.  He  emigrated  to  America  in 
1832  with  his  family,  crossing  the  ocean  from  Bre- 
men to  Baltimore  in  a  thirteen  weeks'  voyage.  He 
made  his  way  to  Pittsl)urg,  and  thence  went  down 
the  Ohio  River  to  Cincinnati  on  a  keel  boat,  lie 
lived  at  Miamislnirgh  nine  months,  and  then  came 
to  what  is  now  Auglaize  County,  in  the  fall  of 
1833,  and  was  a  pioneer  settler  near  Wapakoneta, 
where  he  entered  eighty  acres   of    land.     He  built 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIUGRAPIIICaL  RECORD. 


147 


a  log  house,  and  in  tbat  humble  abode  he  and  his 
family  commenced  life  here.  The  country  was 
wild  and  unsettled,  he  being  one  of  the  fli'st  to  lo- 
cate at  that  point,  .and  some  Indians  still  lingered 
around  their  old  haunts,  although  the  main  tribe 
had  been  removed.  JNIr.  Nielert  worked  steadily 
to  clear  and  improve  his  land,  and  in  a  few  j-ears 
sold  it  at  a  good  advance  on  the  cost  price.  His 
next  move  was  to  a  place  tw(.i  miles  northeast  of 
Bremen,  where  lie  bought  a  partly-improved  farm 
on  the  Knoxville  and  Bremen  Road.  In  1860,  he 
removed  to  Bremen,  and  there  he  serenely  passed 
the  declining  years  of  a  long  and  honorable  life, 
dying  in  1882,  in  lus  eight \-n in th  year,  leaving 
behind  him  a  good  record  as  one  of  the  most  wor- 
thy of  our  pioueei's,  who  w.as  greatly  respected  for 
his  sterling  merits.  Ilis  wife  departed  this  life  in 
1888,  in  her  eighty-eighth  year. 

The  subject  of  this  sketcli  i?  the  elder  of  two 
children.  lie  had  to  obtain  his  education  -princi- 
pall}-  in  the  school  of  experience,  as  there  were  no 
public  schools  in  the  county  until  he  w.as  twelve 
years  old,  so  that  his  schooling  w.as  limited  to  about 
three  months'  attendance  at  a  primitive  log  house. 
He  lived  with  his  father  until  1855,  affording  him 
valuable  assistance  in  carrying  on  his  farm,  and 
he  then  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  him- 
self for  five  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
he  entered  the  mercantile  business  with  John  H. 
Boesche,  at  IS'ew  Bremen,  and  they  dealt  together 
in  grain,  pork,  etc.,  from  ISGD  to  1875.  In  the 
latter  year,  Jlr.  Nietert  and  his  son-in-law,  A.  C. 
Koop,  purcliased  the  Monsard  flouring  mills  at  St. 
Mary's,  and  since  then  have  been  actively  engaijed 
in  the  manufacture  of  flour  at  this  point,  and  in 
buying  and  shipping  grain.  Tliey  do  a  large  and 
lucrative  business,  conducted  with  sagacity  and 
enterprise,  that  places  them  among  the  most  thriv- 
ing business  men  of  this  locality.  They  are  quick 
to  take  advantage  of  the  markets,  and  by  prompt- 
ness in  payment  and  fair  dealing,  maintain 
sound  credit  in  tinancial  circles.  Mr.  Nietert 
started  out  in  life  with  no  means,  but  a  clear  brain, 
a  stead}-  hand  and  a  resolute  will  have  been  good 
substitutes  for  moneyed  capital,  and  with  these  he 
has  acquired  riches.  His  interest  in  an  Indiana 
oil  licld   bring-  liiiii  in  a    ^ond  sum  vcarlv.  and  he 


has  valuable  city  property  at  St.  Mary's,  including 
his  handsome  brick  residence  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Water  Streets. 

Mr.  Nietert  was  married,  in  18.">.),  to  Jliss  Eliza- 
beth Arnett.  who  is  a  native  of  Oermantown. 
Montgomery  County,  and  to  her  capable  manage- 
ment of  household  affairs  he  is  greatly  indebted 
for  the  coziness  and  true  comfort  that  prevail  in 
their  well-ordered  houio.  .AIr>.  Nietert'^  parcm,-~ 
were  natives  respectively  of  \irgiiiia  and  I'enus\i- 
vania.  Her  father  w.as  a  farmer,  and  was  an  earlv 
settler  of  Montgomery  County.  Mr.  and  Mis. 
Nietert  have  two  chihiren:  :\Iary.  wife  of  A.  C. 
Koop,  has  four  children:  Clarence,  Emil.  Leon  and 
Alandes;  Minnie,  wife  of  .1.  II.  Knost.  has  two  cliil- 
dren:  Alfred  and  Augusta,  of  St.  JIarv"?. 

Our  subject  is  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  citx- 
of  his  adoption,  and  has  done  much  U)  forward 
them,  both  as  a  private  citizen  and  .as  a  |iul.ilic  olli- 
cial.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  C<,iuncil  sev- 
eral terms,  and  is  at  present  a  Gas  Trustee  of  St. 
Mary's.  Politically,  lie  is  a  Democrat  of  the  truest 
type,  and  h.as  served  his  party  .as  delegate  tj  tlie 
county  and  district  conventions.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  memlicrs  of  the  German  Reformed  Church, 
and  all  worthy  religious  and  cliaritable  objects  that 
come  under  their  notice  are  sure  of  their  generous 
support. 


^  OHN  KAUTZMAN.  Pennsylvania  has  given 
to  Logan  County  many  e.~tiinali!e  citizen- 
but  she  has  contributed  none  more  hiylilv 
^^/  respected,  or  for  the  conscientiou>  disclianre 
of  duty  in  every  relation  of  life  more  worth  \-  of 
respect  and  esteem,  than  the  suliject  (:>f  this  .-keteli. 
He  was  born  in  Franklin  Count  v.  Pa.,  on  tlie  L'l.-l 
of  October.  1806, and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  men 
in  the  county. 

The  parents  of  our  subject, .lohn  and  .Alary  Ann 
(Cook)  Kautzman,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  were  reared  and  married.  The  father 
was  b<nn  ua  the  loth  of  IMay.  178U.aiid  al'lei  mar- 


U8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


riage  he  aad  his  wife  rciiioved  to  the  Old  Domin- 
ion, ivhere  they  remained  until  184,5.  From  there 
they  went  to  Ohio  .ind  settled  in  Rush  Creek  Town- 
ship, Logan  County,  where  they  partly  improved 
a  farm.  There  they  received  their  final  summons, 
the  father  dying  at  the  ago  of  ninety-four  years 
and  two  days,  and  the  mother  when  ninety-two 
years  and  two  days  old.  Seven  children  were  born 
to  their  union,  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity  and  all  married  but  one. 
George,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  resides  in  Iowa;  Daniel 
died  in  the  service  of  his  country;  Barney  (de- 
ceased); Ann,  wife  of  .John  Roberts,  of  this  county; 
and  Deli  la,  widow  of  .Tames  D.  Cox,  of  Kans.as. 

John  Kautzman,  the  eldest  child,  remained  with 
his  parents  until  twenty-two  j'ears  old, and  received 
his  scholastic  training  in  the  common  schools. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  he  commenced  learn- 
ing the  tailor's  trade  in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  and 
after  six  mouths  left  and  began  working  on  a  farm 
by  the  month  in  Virginia.  From  there  he  came  to 
(Jhio  in  1833,  first  to  Greene  Count}-  and  later,  or 
in  1845,  to  Logan  County,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  for  the  most  part  ever  since.  He  was  married 
in  (ireene  County,  Ohio,  in  August,  1836,  to  Miss 
Ann  Ticen,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  1807. 
When  but  a  small  girl.  Mrs.  Kautzman  came  to 
Ohio  with  her  father  .and  settled  with  him  in 
Greene  County,  where  she  grew  to  womanhood. 

After  marriage,  our  subject  and  wife  located  in 
Bellbrook,  Greene  County,  Ohio,  where  he  worked 
at  the  tailoring  business  until  184.5.  As  above 
mentioned,  lie  then  removed  to  Logan  County 
and  bought  a  faiiii  in  Rush  Cieek  Township, which 
he  tilled  very  successfully  until  1856,  after  which 
he  left  tlie  farm  and  i-emoved  to  Rushsylvania. 
There  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  until 
the  7th  of  April.  1881,  when  he  became  convinced 
that  he  had  had  his  share  of  Iiard  work  and  retired 
from  business.  He  sold  his  farm  and  now  dwns 
a  double  front,  two-story  brick  business  block, 
besides  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  dwelling.  He 
and  his  wife  are  the  oldest  couple  in  the  county, 
and  are  honored  and  respected  by  the  many  with 
whom  they  are  acquainted.  No  more  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  live  in  the  county  than  Jlr.  ami 
Kautzman.  and  the}'  ever  donate  liberally  to  pub- 


lic enterprises,  such  as  churches,  schools,  etc.  They 
have  had  no  children.  Mr.  Kautzman  aUiliates 
with  the  Republican  party  in  his  political  views. 
He  has  been  Notary  Public  for  twenty  years  or 
more,  was  Justice  of  the  Pe.a<;e  for  six  years,  and 
Township  Clerk  for  three  years.  He  was  made  a 
Mason  in  1854  at  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  and  was  at 
one  time  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance. 
He  has  always  been  a  strong  temperance  man  and 
has  not  touched  liquor  since  1848.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Disciples  Church.  His  grandfather, 
Barne\'  Kautzman,  w.as  a  native  of  Germany  and 
crossed  the  ocean  to  America  when  a  young  man. 
He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania  but  afterward  le- 
moved  to  Virginia  and  settled  in  Augusta  County. 
Our  subject's  maternal  grandf.ather,  Adam  Cook, 
was  born  in  Peuns3-lvania,  but  his  father  was  a  n.a- 
tive  of  (lernianv. 


i^^HE  -WAPAKONETA  AVHEEL  COMPANY 
fr(^\  was  organized  in  1870,  with  J.  H.  Timmer- 
"^^fe/  meister  as  President;  A.  M.  Kuhn,  Secre- 
tary and  Manager,  and  L.  N.  Blume,  Treasurer. 
The  present  olKcers  are:  J.  H.  Timmcrmtister, 
President;  J.  H.  Doering,  Vice-president;  L.  N. 
Blume,  Treasurer;  and  Carl  D.  Fischer,  Secretary 
and  Manager.  This  concern  is  one  of  the  largest 
of  its  kind  in  Eastern  Ohio,  and  in  the  vari- 
ous branches  of  this  great  industry  one  hundred 
and  tifty  men  are  emplo_yed.  All  kinds  of  wheels 
are  manufactured  and  shipped  all  over  the  United 
States  and  the  Old  Country.  A  switch  runs  into 
their  factory  from  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  it 
Dayton  R.ailroad,  and  there  they  load  their  cars. 

Carl  D.  Fischer,  the  General  Manager  and  Secre- 
tary of  this  concern,  is  a  native  of  Hessen,  Ger- 
many, born  June  19,  1855,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
capable  and  thorough  business  men  of  the  county. 
He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (.Schnellen- 
pfeil)  Fischer,  both  natives  of  Germany,  where  the 
father  is  living  at  the  present  time  and  is  now 
seventy-three  years  of  age.  The  mother  is  de- 
ceased. 


PORTRAIT  A2vD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


U9 


Carl  D.  Fischer  was  thoroughly  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Germany,  and  subsequently  served  an 
apprenticeship  at  the  mercantile  business,  where 
he  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  book-keep- 
ing, etc.  When  eighteen  years  of  age,  or  in  1873, 
he  bade  farewell  to  his  native  land  and  sailed  for 
America,  landing  in  Now  York  City.  From  there 
lie  came  direct  to  AVapakoneta,  Ohio, and  although 
he  had  very  little  capital  to  start  with,  he  pos- 
sessed all  the  thrift  and  perseverance  char.acteris- 
tic  of  the  Germans,  and  immediately  began  search- 
ing for  some  paying  position.  He  secured  a  position 
with  his  brother  Dittmar  as  clerk  in  a  grocery 
store,  and  remained  with  him  about  two  and  one- 
half  years.  After  this,  he  became  a  partner,  and 
on  the  death  of  his  brother,  in  1876,  he  assumed 
full  charge  of  the  business,  taking  a  partner  under 
the  firm  title  of  Fischer  it  Lucas.  They  continued 
together  until  1884,  when  they  sold  out,  and  Mr. 
Fischer  took  the  management  of  the  Wapakoneta 
Bending  Works,  of  which  he  was  the  originator, 
and  continued  with  this  as  Secretaiy  and  Man- 
ager until  1890.  At  the  same  time,  he  assumed 
the  management  and  vice-presidency  of  the  Wa- 
pakoneta, Wheel  Works,  and  his  time  was  thor- 
oughly taken  up  with  the  business  of  both  con- 
cerns. He  took  his  present  position  on  the  1st  of 
.)uly,  1887,  and  has  been  in  charge  ever  since.  At 
one  time,  he  had  the  management  of  four  fac- 
tories for  the  American  Wheel  Company,  located 
at  Wapakoneta.  St.  Jlary's.  Ottawa  (Ohio.)  and  Ft. 
Wayne,  Ind. 

Mr.  Fischer  h.is  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
business  and  has  prospered  in  all  his  undertakings. 
All  the  factories  have  made  much  progress  under 
his  management,  and  Wapakoneta  is  to  be  con- 
gratulated on  being  the  center  of  such  important 
enterprises.  iSIr.  Fischer  is  President  of  the  Wa- 
pakoneta JIachine  Company,  and  is  thoroughly 
alive  to  tlie  business  interests  of  this  city.  lie  w;is 
married,  in  1878,  to  Miss  Louisa  Fischer,  and  the 
fruits  of  this  union  liave  been  two  interesting  chil- 
dren:  Carl  U.,  .Tr..  and  Einil  .J. 

Mr.  Fischer  has  shown  his  appreciation  of  secret 
organizations  by  becoming  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Udd   Fellows.      IK-    ;i„.l    .Ml-.    Fischer    are  active 


and  zealous  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church  and  are  liberal  contributors  to  the  same, 
as  well  as  to  all  enterprises  for  the  advancement 
of  town  and  county.  They  are  higlily  esteemed 
as  citizens  and  neighbors,  and  are  a  credit  to  any 
community. 


m: 


'^i^OSEPH  RATEK.MANN  who  occupies  the 
prominent  position  of  .Sheriff  of  Shelby 
County,  w.as  elected  to   that  office  in    1889 

and  re-elected  to  the  same  position  in  1891. 

He  is  at  present  residing  in  Sidney,  and  beinsr 
possessed  of  those  sterling  traits  of  char.acter  that 
mark  a  thoroughly  conscientious  and  upright  man, 
he  is  greatl}'  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 

A  native  of  this  county,  our  subject  w.as  liorn 
in  Berlin,  September  2,  18.50,  and  is  the  son  of 
John  B.  H,  and  Anna  Mary  ( Wellmann )  Ratermann, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Germany.  The  par- 
ents took  up  their  abode  in  Berlin  in  1834,  Init 
this  now  tliriving  village  did  not  even  boast 
of  a  name  until  many  yeai-s  after  their  loca- 
tion there.  The  father  of  our  suliject  purch.ased 
land  from  the  Government  and  until  it  was  piaceil 
in  a  productive  condition,  worked  on  the  canal  in 
order  to  su|)|)ly  his  family  with  the  necessities  of 
life.  The  estate,  which  comprised  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  w;»s  soon  placed  under  good  tillage 
and  there  the  parents  made  their  home  until  their 
decease. 

The  original  of  this  sketcli  received  a  good  edu- 
cation in  tlie  schools  of  Berlin,  which  place  has 
since  been  called  Lorainie's.  lie  remained  on 
the  home  farm  assisting  his  father  in  its  manage- 
ment until  the  latter 's  death,  when  in  addition  to 
carrying  on  the  estate,  he  went  into  tlie  grain  busi- 
ness, having  his  headquarters  at  Loramie's.  He  was 
thus  engaged  for  three  years,  when  he  erected  a 
roller-process  flouring  mill,  which  w.as  the  first  of 
its  kind  in  the  county  and  whose  capacity  was 
ses  eiil\ -live    barrels    a    dav.      Mr.  Raleriuaun  uUu 


150 


PORTR.VIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


owned  a  warehouse  near  the  mill,  which  latter  was 
soon  burned,  and  our  subject  having  no  insurance 
lost  all  lie  had. 

After  the  catastrolihe  aliove  mentioned,  <iur  sub- 
ject came  to  Sidney  and  0|>crated  as  "mine  host" 
of  the  Union  House  for  tiu-ee  jears,  in  whicli  busi- 
ness he  was  more  than  cudinarily  successful.  At 
the  expiration  of  tliat  time  lie  sold  his  hotel  and, 
being  nominated  for  Slieriff,  removed  for  the  time 
being  to  Loramie's,  and  on  being  defeated  for  that 
imsition  returned  to  Sidney  and  engaged  in  the 
li(]uor  business.  The  following  election,  he  w.as 
again  nominated  for  the  Slirievalty  and,  being 
elected,  fulfilled  the  duties  of  tlie  othce  so  credit- 
ably to  himself  and  acceptaljly  to  the  people  that 
lie  was  re-elected  and  is  now  serving  his  second 
term.  He  is  a  man  of  tine  physique,  standing  six 
feel  tu'O  and  weighing  from  two  hundred  and 
sixty-five  to  two  hundred  and  seventy  pounds. 

The  lady  to  whom  our  subject  was  married  in 
1S7.T  was  Anna  IMary  Meier,  a  native  of  this  town- 
ship. They  have  become  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, only  five  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  .lulius, 
Michael,  .loseph,  Rosa  and  Tillie.  Tho  family  are 
inembors  of  the  Holy  Angel  Catholic  Cliurch  of 
this  city  and  are  prominent  and  influential  in 
social  circles. 


^m^s^^^mm^ 


WnSEY.  MARTIN  VITZ,  pastor  of  the  fierman 
IL^f'  Reformed  Church  of  Xew  Bremen,  is  a  fine 
^\  scholar,  a  man  of  resolute  will  and  positive 
"  opinions,  and  able  and  willing  to  maintain 
them.  He  is  of  ple.asing  address,  possesses  excel- 
lent ipialifieations  as  a  man  of  education  and  retiiie- 
meut,  IS  highly  respected  by  all  cl.asses  in  general, 
and  is  evidently  deeph'  interested  in  the  noble 
work  in  which  he  is  engaged. 

Born  in  Adams  County,  near  Decatur,  Ind..  on 
the  IStli  of  August,  18.57,  he  is  the  son  of  Rev. 
Peter  Vitz,  who  was  born  in  the  Rhenish  Province, 
Prussia,  German^',  and  who  left  his  native  country 
for  this  in  the  j'ear  1853,  when  abont  twenty-eight 
years  of  age,  after  having  served  two  years  in  the 


Prussian  arm}'.  After  reaching  the  land  ovei-  which 
float  the  .Stars  and  Stripes,  he  settled  in  'Wisconsin 
and  began  studying  for  the  ministry,  att<'nding 
Heidelberg  Seminary  at  Titlin,  Ohio,  and  gradu- 
ating from  the  theological  department  in  l^ofJ, 
He  subsequently  entered  upon  his  ministerial  du- 
ties in  the  German  Reformed  Church,  filled  three 
charges  ill  Indiana,  and  is  now  at  Delphos,  Allen 
County,  Ohio,  tilling  the  pulpit  of  the  Zion  Re- 
formed Church,  He  is  now  in  his  sixty-eighth  year. 
His  wife  was  bom  in  Berne,  Switzerland,  and  her 
maiden  name  was  Anna  M.  Jacob.  When  a  young 
lady  she  came  with  friends  to  America,  but  her 
parents  remained  in  their  native  countiy. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  the  eldest  of  nine 
children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  first  attended 
the  common  schools  at  Huntington,  Ind.. and  later 
the  academ}-  at  that  place,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  After  this  he  taught  three  terms  of  school 
when  fourteen  years  of  age  and  in  1874  he  went 
to  Franklin.  Sheboygan  County,  AVis,,  where  he 
spent  three  years  in  the  Mission  schools.  In  the 
fall  of  1877,  he  entered  Heidelberg  University,  at 
Titlin,  Ohio,  and  graduated  at  that  institution  in 
1880,  receiving  the  degree  of  A,  B.  Returning  to 
Wisconsin,  he  entered  the  Reformed  Theological 
.Seminary  at  Franklin,  remained  there  one  year, 
and  in  1881  went  to  his  father  to  assist  him  in  his 
work.  After  this  he  carried  on  his  theological 
studies  at  A'era  Cruz,  Ind.,  and  was  examined  and 
licensed  to  preach  in  .lanuary,  1882.  On  the  8th 
of  March  of  that  year  he  w.as  ordained  a  minister. 
His  first  charge  was  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  where  he 
continued  to  fill  the  jjulpitof  Friedius  Reformed 
Church  for  six  years.  In  1888,  he  came  to  Xew 
Bremen  and  has  since  filled  the  pulpit  of  Zion  Re- 
formed Church  in  a  veiy  satisfactory  manner. 

He  selected  his  companion  in  life  in  the  person 
of  Miss  Mary  E.  Engeler,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and 
their  nuptials  were  celebrated  on  the  26th  of  Feb- 
ruary 1882.  Her  father,  Frederick  Engeler,  was 
born  in  Switzerland,  came  to  Ohio  when  a  young 
man,  and  settled  in  Indiana.  He  was  a  prospector 
for  gold  in  California  for  some  time,  but  h.as  been 
engaged  in  milling  at  Vera  Cruz,  Ind.,  and  is  retired. 
He  is  a  very  prominent  man  in  his  county,  has 
been  Notary  Pulilic,  -Justice  of  the  Peace,  Trustee. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


153 


etc.,  aud  is  highly  esteemed  by  .ill.  Mrs.  Vitz 
leceivcd  hor  primary  education  in  tlie  common 
scliools,  but  subsequently  attended  a  Normal  and 
then  taught  several  terms,  five  children  have  been 
bom  to  Mv.  and  Mrs.  \'itz:  Carl.  Frederick,  Ilulda. 
Frank  and  Robert.  Jlr.  \'it7.  is  a  member  of  tlie 
Central  Synod,  serveil  as  Secn'tary  of  the  Heidel- 
berg Classes  and  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions, Central  Synod  and  Synods  of  the  Northwest. 


*r^ 


|EV.  AV.  H.  .SJNGLKY.  1).  I). 
of  Lo^an  County  is  belt 


No    resident 
known  than  the 


gentleman  whose  Jjortrait  and  biography 
are  here  presented.  His  name  is  a  familiar 
one,  not  only  to  the  citizens  of  the  county-,  but 
from  East  to  AVest  among  the  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Chuich.  As  pastor  of  the  church  of  that 
denomination  in  Cellefontaine,  he  Ims  w(m  the 
esteem  of  his  parishioners  and  the  general  public 
as  well,  and  is  known  .as  one  of  the  most  eloquent 
divines  and  able  ministers  of  the  State. 

In  Johnstown,  Pa.,  that  ill-fated  town  which  was 
swept  by  the  mighty  surging  and  roaring  waters, 
taking  thousands  of  people  down  the  dark  v.alley 
of  death,  our  subject  was  born.  February  18,  1848. 
His  parents  were  (1.  W.  and  Mnrv  A.  (Trefts) 
Singley,  both  of  whuni  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  Singley  family  was  of  the  Platistic 
Lutheran  stock  from  Germany.  The  parents  were 
mendiers  of  the  English  Lutheran  Church  at  .lohns- 
lown.  in  wliich  the  father  w.as  Deacim.  until  the 
fall   (if    18.))). 

During  the  above-mentioned  year,  tlie  family  rc- 
iniived  to  .\ppanoose  County,  Liwa,  whither  they 
had  been  preceded  a  few  years  liy  the  grandfather. 
George  .Singley.  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  AVar  of 
1812.  and  lived  to  the  great  age  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  years.  Lacking  one  month.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  a  machinist  in  tlie  early  days,  but 
later  engaged  in  farming  pursuits.  When  he  set- 
tled in  Iowa,  the  country  was  comparatively  new 
ami  ad\aiitaui's  few,  but  lie  was    di'lcniiined  to  se- 


cure good  educational  facilities  for  his  children. 
and  did  everything  in  his  power  to  aid  them  in 
obtaining  a  good  start  in  life. 

At  the  time  of  the  removal  to  Iowa,  our  subject 
w;is  quite  young,  and  until  he  had  reached  nine- 
teen sumraere.  he  labored  as  a  pioneer  on  tlie  wild 
and  wide  uncultivated  prairies  of  Iowa.  Like 
many  another  liard-working  farmer-boy,  he  spent 
his  summer  seasons  in  tilling  the  soil  and  during 
the  winter  studied  in  the  district  school.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  entered  a  store  in  CentreviUe. 
Iowa,  -nhere  he  lillod  the  position  of  clerk.  His 
kind-hearted  employer  gave  him  the  privilege  of 
attending  the  academy  during  the  forenoons,  and 
while  there  he  conceived  the  idea  of  thorouirh 
preparation  for  commercial  life. 

When  fifteen  yeai-s  old,  our  subject  entered  the 
well-known  Br\anl  it  .Stratton"s  Lujiness  College 
at  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  was  gr.aduated  with 
the  highest  honors  in  a  class  of  fortv.  At  that 
lime  there  were  about  four  hundred  pupils  in  at- 
tendance. After  gi-aduating,  he  began  teaching  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  was 
[nofessor  of  a  vvriting-school  at  night.  His  first 
school  closed  the  day  liefore  he  w.as  seventeen. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  he  was  laboring  niirlit 
and  d.ay,  but  his  industry  was  crowned  with  a  vic- 
tory that  is  seldom  attained. 

While  thus  engaged.  Jlr.  Singley  made  a  public 
[M-ofession  of  religion.  His  neighbors  and  friends 
at  once  urged  the  Christi.an  ministry  upon  him. 
This  he  considered  seriously,  and  finally  vielded 
to  the  call  of  duty  and  conviction,  gave  up  busi- 
ness life  aud  decided  to  preiiare  himself  for  the 
ministry.  The  church  to  which  his  life  w.as  to  be 
devoted  must  be  chosen.  The  local  churches  were 
kind  and  solicitous.  The^'  pointed  the  yountr  nian 
to  their  colleges  and  seminaries,  but  the  wishes  and 
Ifachings  of  his  parents  could  not  be  e.asilv  thrown 
asiilc.  Twelve  yeai-s  had  gone  by  since  this  onlv 
Lutheran  family  in  that  region  had  looked  upon 
the  face  of  a  Lutheran  pre.acher.  The  cliiirch  w.as 
known  in  the  neighborhood  only  to  be  derided 
and  misrepresented.  While  this  conllict  w.a.s  ir,,inir 
on,  with  his  parents  on  one  side  anil  his  neifflihors 
on  the  other,  strange  t.j  >a\  .  II, ■\ .  A.  .\I.  Taiuu'r. 
llic    lii-l  Liillicraii    iiiini-u-r    tlic-\    liud    met    since 


154 


PORTRAIT  ANT)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


leaving  Pennsylvania,  happened  along.  He  very 
adroitly  induced  tliG  young  man  to  visit  in  Tipton, 
Iowa,  during  tlie  pastoi'ate  of  Rev.  Daniel  S.  Alt- 
man,  by  whom  lie  was  confirmed  during  the  visit. 
He  had  been  baptized  in  infancy  in  the  Lutlierau 
Cliurch  at  Johnstown.  He  accompanied  these 
gentlemen  to  the  Iowa  Synod  convened  at  Lisbon, 
Iowa,  in  August,  1868.  The  kindly  welcome  and 
encouragement  of  the  S^Tiod  made  a  most  favora- 
ble impression  upon  him.  He  took  Rev.  Mr.  Alt- 
man's  advice  and  entered  Wittenberg  College, 
Springfield,  Ohio,  at  tlie  fall  term  of  1868.  From 
this  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1873,  having 
taken  the  entire  course  and  also  one  3'ear's  course 
iu  theology,  which  he  pursued  at  favorable  times 
and  during  vacations.  At  that  time,  the  theologi- 
cal course  only  required  one  year. 

In  the  spring  of  1873,  our  subject  represented 
his  literary  society  in  a  public  debate  given  in  the 
city,  the  highest  honor  in  the  gift  of  the  society. 
During  the  senior  vacation,  he  supplied  the  Luth- 
eran pulpit  at  Darrtown,  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  en- 
tered the  Theological  Seminary  at  Yale  University, 
Isew  Haven,  Conn.  In  addition  thereto,  he  heard 
Dr.  Porter's  lectures  on  mental  philosophy-,  and 
Sumner  on  Political  Econom\-.  After  the  theologi- 
cal department  at  Wittenberg  was  reorganized  and 
extended,  he  returned  and  finished  the  course  at 
his  Alma  Mater,  at  the  same  time  serving  as  senior 
editor  of  the  Wittenberyer,  the  college  journal.  In 
1876,  his  Alma  Mater  conferred  the  degree  of  A. 
M.  upon  him. 

The  young  minister  found  his  first  pastorate  at 
Osborn,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  August. 
187G.  He  then  accepted  a  call  to  Bellefontaine, 
where  he  at  once  entered  vigorously  upon  his 
duties  as  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  On 
coming  here,  lie  found  a  small  and  discouraged 
band,  but  he  knew  his  duty  and  the  hard  labor 
before  him;  his  courage  and  vigor  increased,  and 
he  had  not  long  to  wait  until  his  talent  was  the 
subject  of  the  daj-  and  his  influence  widely  fell. 
He  soon  built  up  a  fine  cougregation,  which  is  to- 
da\'  one  of  the  strongest  in  the  city.  He  deter- 
mined 10  have  a  new  church,  and  in  addition  to 
increased  spiritual  and  >ociaI  iiitiuenco.  Ii:i-  Lrainnl 
a  large  and  handsome  [)roperty.     The  new  edi.ce. 


which  was  dedicated  in  1881,  is  96x60  feet  in  di- 
mensions, with  slate  roof,  tow-er  and  steeple, 
stained  windows  and  all  modern  improvements. 
The  first  pi|)e  organ  ever  brought  to  this  city  -n-as  ' 
put  in  the  church  in  1883.  The  congregation  now 
worships  in  one  of  the  handsomest  auditoriums  in 
the  State  and  their  large  new  pipe  organ  is  the 
finest  in  the  place.  During  his  pastorate,  the  con- 
gregation has  never  been  deficient  in  benevolent 
apportionment. 

In  1883,  the  Degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was 
conferred  upon  our  subject  by  "Western  College, 
located  at  Toledo,  Iowa,  before  whose  students 
and  faculty  he  had  preached  and  lectured  the  year 
before.  He  delivers  his  sermons,  lectures  and  ad- 
dresses entirely  without  manuscript  and  has  more 
calls  on  miscellaneous  occasions  than  he  can  fill. 
He  has  versatilitj-  of  talent,  is  always  ready  and 
pleasing  as  a  public  speaker,  his  splendid  elocu- 
tionary and  oratorical  powers  never  failing  him.  He 
is  especially  successful  at  church  dedications  and  is 
often  invited  to  officiate  in  other  denominations 
than  his  own.  He  is  thoroughly  progi'essive  in 
his  ideas  of  church  finance.  A  zealous  advocate 
of  temperance  reform,  he  threw  himself  into  a 
vigorous  campaign  a  few  j-ears  ago,  when  there 
were  seventy-seven  saloons  in  the  county,  and,  in 
company  with  other  citizens,  succeeded  in  wiping 
them  all  out.  His  position  on  this  question  is  not 
that  of  a  fanatic,  but  of  a  sound  reformer.  A 
multiplicity  of  labors  seems  to  be  most  congenial 
to  him,  and  he  is  never  tiring  of  something  to  do. 

Dr.  Singley  joined  a  company  of  his  brethren  in 
an  effort  to  establish  a  Western  church  paper,  and 
on  January  5,  1877,  the  Lutheran  Ecangelist.  a 
weekly,  was  started.  The  eflfort  was  successful  and 
the  paper  has  become  wideh'  known  and  popular. 
He  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  company  and  also 
assistant  editor,  the  paper  being  published  at  Belle- 
fontaine. In  a  little  less  than  three  jears.  he  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  .7.  H.  AV.  Stuckenberg  as  editor,  and 
subsequently  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  paper. 
For  a  number  of  3-ears  he  has  shared  very  largely 
in -the  struggles  and  labors  incident  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  church  paper.  In  1878,  he  started 
and  edited  a  mon'hly  Sunday-school  paper  called 
The  Sunshine  ami  Skadoic,  which  still  lives.     He  is 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


155 


Director  in  :i  large  publisliiiig  firm  just  organized, 
known  as  the  Lutheran  World  Publishing  Com- 
pany, which  consists  of  some  of  the  leading  and 
well-known  men  of  the  United  States,  having  offi- 
ces located  at  Baltimore.  Cincinnati  and  Chicago. 
The  services  of  Dr.  Singley  were  sought  in  this 
concern,  both  for  the  busines.-;  and  literary  depart- 
uients. 

In  ISSI),  Dr.  Singley  was  called  uiion  by  a  prom- 
inent publislier  to  write  an  article  on  tlie  Lord's 
Supper,  representing  the  Lutheran  denomination. 
To  this  request  he  responded  with  an  article,  which 
wa?  published  in  book  form.  For  several  years.he 
li.as  done  some  lycoum  lecture  work,  taking  from 
ten  to  fifteen  eng.agemeuts  per  year.  He  is  very 
fond  of  science,  and  has  one  of  tiie  finest  private 
libraries  in  the  State.  Outside  of  church  matters. 
he  ranks  among  the  foremost  and  best  business 
men  of  Logan  County,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  useful  men  in  the  city  and  county. 
He  has  filled  a  number  of  important  positions,  and 
is  now  President  of  the  Board  of  School  Examin- 
ers fiir  Logan  County,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
memljei-  for  fourteen  yeai-s.  He  h.as  served  as 
Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Bellefontaine. 
of  which  he  has  been  a  memter  for  nine  yeare.  As 
]:)irector  of  Wittenberg  College  and  Seminary  of 
Springfield,  Ohio,  he  has  rendered  eflicient  service 
for  ten  years;  also  .as  Secretary  of  the  Buildina: 
Committee  for  the  erection  of  the  elegant  scminarv 
building  at  Springfield.  (Jhio.  He  ha.s  mercantile 
interests  in  Bellefontaine,  and  an  interest  in  a  nic-e 
farm  just  outside  the  city  limits.  On  this  place  he 
is  largely  interested  in  fine  stoc-k  and  li.as  some  of 
the  choicest  -bloods"  in  the  State. 

In  Logan  County  the  influence  of  Dr.  Singlev 
lias  done  much  in  the  w.ay  of  advancing  religious. 
.-ocial  and  business  affairs,  and  there  is  scarcely  a 
mijvement  made  in  these  directions  in  which  lie  is 
not  called  u\)t)n  to  participate.  Hi.-  family  con- 
si.-ts  of  his  estimable  and  cultured  wife  and  two 
children.  Mabel  E.  and  Florence.  In  the  spring  of 
l.'^Tl;.  the  I'.ellefontaine  Church  invited  him  U^  su|>- 
ply  their  pulpit  one  Sabbath  morning.  He  was  an 
entire  stranger  to  the  congregation,  having-  never 
seen  one  of  them  previously.  L-ite  one  Saturday 
c'veniim  he  arrived  in  tlit-  villairc.  and   the  follow- 


ing morning  delivered  to  his  congregation  an  elo- 
ipient  sermon  which  captivated  the  entire  audience, 
and  w.as  the  cause  of  his  residence  in  Bellefon- 
taine. After  the  close  of  this  service,  the  officers 
of  the  church  immediately  called  a  meeting  (hav- 
ing sent  the  young  graduate  home  with  one  of  the 
ladies)  and  elected  him  p.astor  of  the  church  with- 
out a  dissenting  voice.  In  a  few  d.aj-s,  the  call  was 
accepted  and  he  is  still  the  happy  p.astor  of  a  hapiiy 
people.  Since  the  date  of  his  call  here,  many  ef- 
forts have  been  made  to  rob  the  churcii  of  their 
pastor,  who  has  stood  by  them  much  longer  than 
any  other  pastor  ever  did  in  their  long  history  as 
an  organization. 

In  1S8-1,  the  Findlay  Chinch  unanimously  elected 
Dr.  Singley  to  their  p.astorate;  he  declined  this  as 
lie  did  a  call  from  Pennsylvania.  In  l.-<87.  when 
Wichita,  Kan.,  was  in  the  midst  of  the  greatest 
Iwom  ever  known  in  that  State,  he  was  elected,  at 
a  splendid  salary,  pastor  of  a  churcli  there.  This 
he  declined,  at  the  same  time  declining  another 
call  from  Findlay,  as  well  as  a  call  from  Spring- 
field. Ohio.  During  the  fall  and  winter  of  1890-91, 
he  w.^s  unanimously  elected  to  the  pastorate  at 
Indianapolis.  Ind..  and  Louisville,  Ky..  and  was 
asked  to  consider  calls  to  All)any,  >'.  Y..  and  \Voos- 
ter,  Ohio.  His  services  have  been  sought  from 
far  and  uear,biit  all  in  vitations  have  been  rejected 
on  account  of  the  devotion  stored  in  his  heart  for 
the  people  of  Bellefontaine.  He  was  solicited  to 
consider  a  call  to  the  Presidency  of  churcli  col- 
leges, one  in  Illinois  anil  anotherin  California,  but 
these  offers  he  h.as  also  refused.  For  some  time 
past  he  has  been  urged  to  accept  a  call  to  the  city 
of  Chicago,  where  he  niav  vet  locate. 


^p^Ol'IRK  K-  LIDLU.M.  Among  those  to 
whom  the  tilling  of  the  soil  has  proved  a 
)))  remunerative  occupation,  enabling  them 
to  spend  their  declining  years  in  the  en- 
joyment of  pea<-e  and  plenty,  is  Mr.  Ludlum.  who 
is  :it  pie-cnl  residing  on  section  1.  Franklin  Town- 


156 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ship,  Shelby  County.  He  owns  a  tract  of  land 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  i"  x-iit,  which  is 
adorned  witli  a  cozy  and  coirfortable  dwelling, 
■whore  he  is  enjoying  the  companionship  of  his 
wife  and  the  many  friends  he  has  made  in  this 
county.  He  has  proved  a  valuable  addition  to 
the  citizenship  of  this  part  of  the  county,  and 
besides  the  work  he  has  done  in  advancing  its 
prosperity  as  one  of  its  most  enterprising  farmers, 
he  has  done  good  service  in  helping  to  administer 
public  affairs,  and  for  thirty-three  years  has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  during  which  time  he  has 
married  one  hundred  and  ninety-six  couples. 

Smith  Ludlum,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey  and  the  son  of  Ephraim 
Ludlum,  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  The  lat- 
ter-named gentleman  came  with  his  family  to 
this  Stale  m  1796,  at  which  time  he  settled  in 
Hocking  County  on  a  wild  farm.  Ten  years  later, 
they  removed  to  Warren  County,  where  the  fa- 
ther was  accidentally  killed  by  being  thrown  from 
a  horse.  His  good  wife  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-three  years. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was 
Marv  Reed.  She  was  a  native  of  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and 
the  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Mary  Reed,  the  former 
of  whom  was  "mine  host"  of  an  hotel  in  that 
jjlace  for  over  forty  years;  he  also  served  as  a 
soldier  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  par- 
ents of  our  subject  after  their  marriage  came  to 
this  State,  in  1818,  when  they  located  on  a  small 
farm  in  Warren  County.  In  1831,  they  purchased 
a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  in  the  same  county, 
where  they  made  their  home  until  their  decease, 
the  fatlier  dying  in  1m:''.»,  and  the  mother  in  1868. 
Of  their  family  of  ten  children,  only  four  are  now 
living.  Active  in  church  work,  they  were  for 
many  years  members  of  the  Methodist  Ei)i3Copal 
denomination,  in  which  body  the  father  was  a 
Class-leader  for  m.any  years. 

In  early  life  a  .hick-nnian  Democrat,  the  elder 
:\lr.  Ludlum  v(jteil  for  Uie  United  States  Bank 
Hill.  l)Ut  later  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  Whig  party. 
Three  of  his  sons,  Nathan,  George  W.  and  Jo- 
seph, served  as  Union  soldiers  during  the  late  war. 
The  latter  was  taken  prisoner  and  w.as  conliiicd  in 
Libby    and    Andersonville    for   eighteen    months, 


during  which  time  he  was  nearly  starved  to  death, 
and  on  being  liberated,  his  appetite  was  so  rav- 
enous and  his  stomach  so  weak  that  he  died  from 
the  effects  of  over-eating.  Mr.  Ludlum  comes' 
from  a  very  patriotic  family,  for  besides  those 
already  mentioned,  he  had  nineteen  cousins  wlio 
participated  in  the  Civil  War. 

A  native  of  Warren  County,  this  State,  our 
subject  was  born  September  20,  1822.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm  until  reaching  his  eighteenth 
year,  when  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carriage- 
maker,  and  followed  that  line  of  business  for  five 
years.  The  lady  to  -whom  he  w-as  married  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1844,  w:is  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Persinger,  daugh- 
ter of  Madison  and  Elizabeth  Persinger.  She  was 
born  April  10,  1827,  and  immediately  after  her 
marriage  stiirted  with  her  young  husband  for  this 
county,  they  making  a  location  on  what  is  now 
their  present  farm,  but  which  then  bore  little  re- 
semblance to  it-s  now  highly-cultivated  condition. 
They  took  up  their  abode  in  a  small  log  cabin, 
and  Mr.  Ludlum  set  himself  industriously  to  work 
to  clear  his  quarter-section,  and,  in  addition  to 
that  tract,  improved  forty  acres  of  llie  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  adjoining  on  the  east,  and 
fifteen  .acres  on  another  farm.  He  has  been  a  con- 
tinuous resident  on  his  present  estate  for  the  past 
forty-eight  years  and,  with  one  exception,  is  the 
only  old  settler  who  h.as  been  living  here  that 
length  of  time. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ludlum  have  been  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased,  viz: 
Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  H.  M.  Lehman,  and  Anna  A. 
Those  living  are  Joseph  B.,  James  S.,  Catherine  C. 
(Mrs.  James  Newmann),  Elias  L.,  Martha  E.  (Mrs. 
Henry  Mayor),  George  W.,  Rilla  R.  (Mrs.  William 
T.  Carey),  Madison  W.,  Carrie  E.,  Maggie  A.  (Mrs. 
William  Finkenbine). 

Our  subject  h.as  been  instrumental  in  the  organ- 
ization of  his  school  district,  and  has  served  as  Di- 
rector for  nine  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Township  Board  of  Education  and  h.as  been  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  from  1856  to  1889.  He  gives 
his  political  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party, 
casting  his  first  vote  for  James  K.  Polk.  He  has 
been  very  popular  and  prominent  in  local  affairs, 
and  during  the  six  years  in  which  he  was  Countv 


^wy- 


a. 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


159 


Coniinissioner  built  the  InHmaiy  and  over  three 
liuudred  miles  of  free  turnpike,  and  has  filled 
many  other  offices  of  his  township.  He  has  acted 
as  Administrator  of  various  estates  and  lias  paid 
over  $12,000  in  security  debts  for  others.  He  and 
his  wife  endured  many  liardships  and  privations, 
as  did  the  other  pioneei-s  when  locating  in  this 
newly-settled  region,  but  tlicv  are  now  passing 
their  declining  yeare  in  peace  and  plenty,  free 
from  tlie  cares  that  beset  their  earlier  3'ears.  Mr. 
Ludhira  li.os  now  attained  his  three  score  years  and 
ten,  and  it  is  the  earnest  wish  of  his  many  friends 
that  he  will  be  spared  to  them  many  years. 


>|L  ON.  WILLIAM  W.  BE  ATT  Y  is  one  of 
}f)i)  those  men,  too  few  in  number,  who  fully 
•Jt^yy  recognize  the  truth  so  often  urged  by  the 
(^^  sages  of  the  law,  that  of  all  men,  the  read- 
ing and  thought  of  a  lawyer  should  be  the  most 
extended.  Systematic  reading  gives  a  more  com- 
prehensive grasp  to  the  mind,  variety  and  richness 
to  tliought,  and  a  clearer  perception  of  the  mo- 
tives of  men  and  the  principles  of  things — indeed, 
of  the  veiT  spirit  of  laws.  This  he  has  found 
most  essential  in  the  prosecution  of  his  profes- 
sional practice  at  Huntsville.  where  he  is  a  promi- 
nent attorney  and  also  serves  as  Postmaster. 

Our  subject,  as  well  as  his  father,  John  H.,  and 
his  grandfather,  David  Beatty,  were  natives  of  the 
Old  Dominion.  The  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  a  native-born  .Scotchman  and  came  to 
America  during  Colonial  days,  settling  in  Virginia, 
where  his  death  occurred.  Tlie  grandfather  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  miller  in  his  native 
State  and  passed  his  entire  life  there,  dying  when 
sixty-three  years  of  age.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics. 

The  father  of  our  subject  w.is  reared  in  Virginia, 
and  followed  the  occupation  of  a  carpenter,  joiner 
and  cabinet-maker.  He  came  with  his  family  to 
Ohio  in   1833.  the  journey    being   made   over   tlie 


mountains  in  a  two-horse  wagon.  He  settled  in 
Belmont  County,  Ohio,  in  the  woods,  and  there 
followed  his  trade.  About  183.5,  he  moved  fioin 
there  to  Moorefield,  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  and 
pursued  his  trade  there  until  1844,  when  he  came 
to  Bellefontaine,  following  his  trade  in  this  city 
until  advanced  in  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Huntsville,  where  he  served  as  Constable  for  a 
number  of  jears,  and  there  he  died  when  over 
eighty-six  years  of  .age.  From  \\\s,  youth  he  was 
identified  with  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he 
remained  a  worthy  member  until  his  death.  In 
politics,  he  was  an  active  Democrat  until  1840. 
but  afterward  was  a  Whig  until  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party,  when  he  became  a  firm 
adherent  of  its  principles.  He  married  Miss  Elea- 
nor Southerland,  a  native  of  Rockingham  County, 
Va.,  of  Dutch-Irish  descent,  and  nine  children  were 
born  to  them,  six  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years. 
They  were  named  in  the  order  of  their  births  as 
follows:  William  W.,  Elizabeth,  Francis  A.,  John  J., 
Cornelius  B.  and  Ellen.  The  mother  died  when 
sixty-fiveyearsof  age,  in  full  communion  with  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Born  in  Loudoun  County,  Va.,  September  12 
1820,  William  W.  Beatty  attended  the  district 
school  in  his  native  county  until  thirteen  years 
old,  and  supplemented  this  by  a  course  in  an 
academy  at  L'pperville.  He  remembers  very  dis- 
tinctly the  journey  from  Virginia  to  Ohio,  then 
considered  a  very  great  undertaking.  His  ambi- 
tious and  enterprising  disposition  was  displ.aj-ed 
in  childhood,  when  he  traded  his  school  books  to 
another  boy  for  a  dog  and  then  tr.aded  the  dog  for 
a  small  flint-lock  pistol.  While  on  the  wav  from 
Mrginia  to  Ohio,  he  boughtsome  ammunition  and 
thought  he  would  practice  shooting  at  a  mark. 
Xot  knowing  how  his  parents  would  like  this,  he 
slipped  out  of  the  Ijack  part  of  the  wagon  and 
became  so  interested  in  firing  at  different  objects, 
that  he  forgot  all  about  the  wagon  and  enjoved 
himself  most  thoroughly.  However,  his  happiness 
was  brought  to  a  termination  by  his  father  return- 
ing for  him  with  a  Ih'ccIi  gad,  wliich  plaved  an 
important  part  in  his  hurry  to  overtake  the  wa<'on. 
His  beloved  pistol  w.as  taken  from  him  and  he  w.as 
in  disgrace  for  some  time.       llnwevcr.    hi.-    active 


IGO 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


brain  went  to  work  to  conjure  up  some  scheme  to 
get  the  pistol  back  into  liis  possession,  and  he  told 
liis  father  that  if  be  would  give  it  to  him  lie  wovild 
sleep  ill  the  wagon  and  watch  the  goods,  for  he 
thought  the  communit}-  a  very  '•tough"  one. 
This  scheme  proved  successful  ami  once  more  he 
grasped  the  handle  of  that  murderous  weapon. 

After  reaching  Ohio,  oursuljject  attended  school 
for  a  short  time  in  a  log  cabin,  witli  a  large  lire- 
place,  mud  and  stick  cliimney,  and  slab  seats.  He 
subsequently  served  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years 
at  the  carpenter's  trade,  wliich  he  followed  both  in 
Relmont  .and  Harrison  Counties.  After  settling 
at  iMoorefield,  Harrison  County,  he  met  an  old 
.lustice  of  the  Pe.ace.  by  the  name  of  Samuel  Skin- 
ner, wild  took  a  fancy  to  liim,  and  induced  him  to 
read  law  under  Turner  .^i-  Cowan,  of  Cadiz,  Harri- 
son County,  for  eighteen  montlis.  After  tliis,  he 
came  to  Logan  County,  where  he  and  his  family 
were  taken  with  ague,  and  it  was  two  years  before 
he  was  able  to  earn  his  livelihood.  He  had  no 
means  to  continue  his  law  studies  and  fell  back  on 
his  trade  of  a  carpenter,  which  he  carried  on  for 
two  vears.  In  this  manner,  he  began  to  retrieve 
his  fallen  fortunes,  and,  as  soon  as  able,  began 
reading  law  under  .Judge  Lawrence,  now  of  Belle- 
fontaine.  This  he  continued  for  two  years  and 
was  admitted  to  tlie  Bar  in  1850.  He  then  began 
practicing  in  Belle  Centre,  Logan  County,  and  in 
connection  carried  on  a  store,  but  in  this  he  was 
not  very  successful.  After  residing  in  Belle  Cen- 
tre until  18.3.5,  lie  sold  out  and  removed  to  Hunts- 
ville.  wliere  lie  has  pr.acticed  ever  since.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  talented  attorneys  of  Logan 
County,  lending  strength  to  her  Bar,  tone  to  her 
finances  and  gr.ace  to  her  society,  and  since  his 
residence  here  has  been  honorably  and  usefully 
identified  with  the  interests  of  the  county  and 
with  its  advancement  in  every  worthy  particular. 
November  9,  185.5,  JNIr.  Beatty  married  Miss 
Mary  Wilkins.  a  native  of  Harrison  County,  Ohio, 
and  the  fruit  of  this  union  has  lieen  live  children, 
one  daughter  and  four  sons:  Catherine,  now  Mrs. 
Ragan,  who  resides  at  Kenton.  Ohio;  Henry,  who 
died  from  the  effects  of  hard  service  during  the 
war:  David  W..  who  was  killed  at  Missionary 
Ridse;  John  11.,  who  resides  in   Kansas;     and    Al- 


bert, whowas  train  dispatcher  at  Cleveland,  and 
was  killed  by  the  cars.  All  the  sons  were. in  the 
late  war. 

Ill  1875,  Mr.  Beatty  w.as  elected  Representative, 
and  two  years  later  was  chosen  State  .Senator. 
During  his  first  session,  he  introduced  a  number  of 
bills  and  succeeded  in  having  many  of  them  p.assed. 
One  of  the  most  important  was  the  County  Officer 
Fee  Bill,  the  importance  of  whicli  was  to  repeal 
the  salary  bill  and  make  it  a  free  bill.  While  in 
the  Senate,  the  same  bill  w.as  passed  which  our 
subject  introduced  in  the  House.  He  introduced 
m.any  bills  in  the  Senate,  and  was  recognized  as 
one  of  the  best  workei-s  the  county  had  ever  had, 
either  in  the  House  or  Senate.  He  was  again 
elected  to  the  Legislature  in  the  fall  of  1885,  and 
re-elected  in  1887.  The  most  important  bill  he 
introduced  during  that  time  was  the  Township 
]>ocal  Option  Bill,  which  passed.  Just  after  intro- 
ducing this  bill,  Mr.  Beatty  was  stricken  with  par- 
alysis and  for  a  month  was  verv  ill,  but  by  stren- 
uous efforts  he  succeeded  in  getting  back  in  time 
to  vote  for  his  bill.  He  also  introduced  a  bill  to 
compel  railroad  companies  to  provide  an  auto- 
matic car  coupler,  so  that  the  brakemen  would  not 
have  to  pass  between  the  cars.  Owing  to  deceit- 
ful manipulations  and  promises  of  railroad  men. 
this  bill  failed  to  pass.  Usually,  however,  ilr. 
Beatty  was  very  successful  in  getting  bills  passed 
and  was  one  of  the  hardest  workers  in  the  House. 
Among  the  committees  on  which  he  served  were 
the  Committees  on  Rules,  Judiciary,  Fees  and  Sal- 
aries, Revision  of  Laws  and  Corjioratioiis  otlier 
than  municipal. 

For  forty-two  years.  Mr.  Beatty  ha<  followed 
his  profession  at  Huntsville  and  has  the  second 
largest  practice  in  Logan  County,  where  he  has 
many  warm  friends  among  both  Democrats  and 
Republicans.  He  is  strong  in  his  adherence  to  the 
last-n.amed  party,  and  cast  his  first  Presidential 
ballot  for  William  H.  Harrison.  In  addition  to 
liis  service  in  the  House  and  Senate,  he  has 
been  elected  by  his  party  to  various  positions  of 
trust  and  honor,  and  is  at  present  remiering  effi- 
cient service  as  Postmaster  at  Huntsville.  A  warm 
friend  of  the  temperance  cause,  and  an  imwaver- 
ing  foe  to  the  liquor  traffic,  his  intluence    may    be 


'\ 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


161 


relied  upon  for  the  advancement   of    the    former 
and  the  suppression  of  the  latter.     In  religion,  he 

is  a  believer   in   the    doctrines   of    the    Methodist 
Church,  with  which  his  wife  is  also  identified. 

A  lithograpliic  portrait  of    Mr.    Beatty  accom- 
panies this  slcetch. 


\^  G.  WISENER,  one  of  the  leading  merch- 
ants of  Wapakoneta,  is  a  man  of  talent, 
—J  i  '^^  wide  experience,  and  st.ands  high  in  tlie 
^^l'  financial  circles  of  the  county.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Butler  county,  Jan- 
uary 25.  18-11.  His  parents,  Jolin  G.  '\Visener,.Sr.. 
and  Margareta  (Xicklas)  AVisener,  were  natives  of 
<Terraany.  having  come  to  America  in  an  early 
day,  and  were  married  in  the  Ke3-stone  State, 
where  they  made  tlieir  home  until  tlieir  decease. 
The  father  was  a  leading  merchant  in  Butler,  wliere 
he  was  considered  one  of  the  substantial  and  en- 
terprising citizens. 

Mr.  'Wiscner,  of  this  sketch,  had  three  brothers 
and  three  sisters,  of  whom  he  was  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth.  He  w.as  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  academy  of  his  native  pl.ace,  and  later 
took  a  commercial  course  in  the  college  at  Pitts- 
burgh. After  completing  his  studies  lie  clerked 
for  a  short  time  in  the  above  city,  and  wlien  but 
seventeen  years  of  age  came  to  this  city  and  for 
five  years  acted  .as  a  clerk  for  the  well-known 
merchant.  Otto  Dicker.  He  was  then  taken  into 
the  firm,  the  partner^liip  lasting  for  a  twelve- 
month. 

Since  1 8G.").  oiu-  subject  has  been  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  the  city  for  himself,  and  is  therefore  one  of 
its  oldest  resident  merchant:;.  He  carries  a  complete 
stock  of  dry  goods  and  carpets,  .and  that  prosperity 
has  smiled  upon  his  efforts  is  indicated  from  the  fact 
that  he  carries  on  the  largest  trade  in  the  city.  In 
addition  to  liis  extensive  interests,  Mr.  Wisener  is 
a  stockholder  in  the  Natural  Gas  Company,  and  a 
Director  in  the  Wapakoueva  Building  and  Loan 
-Association.     He  is  a   fine  type  of  our  ;elf-raade 


men,  as  from  poverty  he  has  risen  to  a  position  of 
wealth  and  importance  in  the  communit}-.  When 
he  arrived  here  in  the  flush  and  vigor  of  early 
manhood,  his  moneyed  capital  was  very  small,  but 
his  health,  strength  and  brain  were  good  substi- 
tutes, and  by  their  aid  he  has  .acquired  riches.  His 
financial  abilitj'  is  of  a  high  order,  and  in  all  his 
transactions  he  has  alwajs  acted  with  strict  regard 
to  veracity  and  honor. 

In  18G5,  Mr.  Wisener  aud  iliss  Georgiana  W. 
Boshe  were  united  in  marriage,  and  of  their  union 
were  born  nine  children,  namely:  John  L..  Laura 
D.,  Margareta  F.,  George  F.  (deceased),  Lewis  A., 
Winfield  B.,  George  B.,  Georgiana  D.,  and  Wilhel- 
mena  A.  Lewis  A.  is  employed  in  the  Govern- 
ment Printing  Office  at  Washington.  D.  C.  Our 
subject,  socially,  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  with  his  wife  is  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  He  has  extensive  farming 
interests  in  this  section,  and  has  many  sincere 
friends  throughout  the  community.  The  father 
of  our  subject  died  in  1840.  and  the  mother 
p.assed  away  in    1880. 


-^^^^Is^'ll^ 


.  ILBUR  A.  GIXX.  There  is  in  the  business 
world  only  one  kind  of  man  who  can  suc- 
cessfully combat  the  many  disadvantages 
and  trials  that  come  boldly  to  the  front,  and  that 
is  the  man  of  superior  intelligence  and  force  of 
char.acter.  To  this  class  belongs  Mr.  Ginn.  the 
popular  young  civil  engineer  of  Bellefontaine.  A 
native  of  Shelby  Count}-,  this  State,  our  subject 
was  born  December  9,  1862.  and  is  the  son  of 
George  and  Frances  E.  (Wells)  Ginn.  the  father  a 
native  of  County  Donegal.  Ireland,  and  the  mother 
born  in  Shelby  County,  this  .state,  wliere  her  family 
were  among  the  early  pioneers. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  win,.  i>  a  fanner  bv 
occupation,  is  residing  at  the  pre~cnt  time  in  the 
above-named  county,  where  lie  is  recoirnized  as 
one  of  the  most  able  and  v.Thied  citizens.  Our 
subject,  the  eldest  child   in   a   family  .if  f.uir  sims 


1G2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  two  daughters,  received  Ids  early  education  in 
tlie  public  schools,  and  completed  his  studies  at 
the  jSTational  Normal  University  at  Lebanon,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  the  engi- 
neering department  in  1882. 

When  leaving  school,  ]\Ir.  (Jmn  located  in 
Sidney,  where  for  four  years  he  w.is  City  Engineer. 
In  1800,  he  came  to  Piellefontaine,  and  that  same 
\'ear  was  emi)loyed  l)v  the  Ohio  State  Canal  Com- 
missioner to  make  surveys  of  the  reservoirs 
of  the  western  division  of  the  Public  Works  of 
Ohio,  and  this  has  occupied  his  time  since  locating 
liere.  December  29,  188(5,  he  w.os  married  to  ISIiss 
Maggie  J.,  the  only  child  of  Dr.  David  Watson. 
To  tliem  has  been  born  one  son.  Wells  W. 

In  social  matters,  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
ludependent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  religi- 
gious  affairs,  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
<'0pal  Church.  He  is  a  man  possessing  shrewd 
judgment  and  strict  integrity,  and,  it  is  predicted 
by  his  friends,  will  soon  reach  tlie  top  round  of  the 
ladder  of  fortune. 


I    J);   ness  and  hones 
f^J^     Shawver's  aclic 


II^.ANTEL  SHAWVER.  Industry,  upright- 
ness and  honesty  have  characterized  Mr. 
ions  in  life,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  mott  substantial  and  worthy  citi- 
zens of  Lake  Township,  Logan  County.  He  was 
born  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  on  the  30th  of 
April,  1827,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel,  Sr., and  Eliz.a- 
betli  (Shultz)  Shaivver,  natives  respectively  of 
Pennsylvania  and  JIaryland,  the  latter  born  on  the 
15th  of  November,  178.5.  The  father  grew  to 
manhood  in  the  Keystone  State,  and  about  1804 
came  to  Ohio,  where  he  met  and  married  Jliss 
Sliultz,  who  had  come  to  the  Buckeye  State  witli 
lier  parents  when  a  young  lady.  Their  nuptials 
were  celebrated  in  .Jefferson  County,  and  they  first 
located  on  a  farm  in  that  county,  in  a  little  log 
cabin  that  the  husband  built  in  the  woods,  and  here 
began  tilling  land  purchased  from  the  Government. 
On   this  place  Mr.  and   ]\Irs.  Shawver  remained 


until  18.36,  when  they  removed  to  Harrison  Town- 
ship, Logan  County,  and  settled  in  another  log 
liouse.  The}"  worked  industriously  and  soon  had  the 
farm  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Both  lived 
to  a  good  old  age,  the  father  dying  in  1865,  when 
about  eighty-four  years  of  age,  and  the  mother 
dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  Mr.  Shawver 
built  the  mill  known  as  the  John  F.  Kayler  Mill, 
on  Blue  Jacket,  in  this  county.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  tlie  Lutheran  and  Presbyterian 
Churches  respectively,  were  active  workers  in  re- 
ligious causes,  and  he  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  his 
church.  Of  the  large  family  of  children  born  to 
them,  fourteen  in  number,  all  grew  to  mature  years, 
married  and  had  families.  There  were  nine  sons 
and  five  daughters,  as  follows:  Elizabeth  and 
Marg.aret  (twins),  Catherine,  George,  Jacob,  John, 
Solomon,  Elias,  Joshua.  Jonathan,  Susannah, 
Sophia,  Daniel  (our  subject)  and  Michael.  Those 
living  are  Solomon,  of  Cla^-  County,  111.;  Jona- 
than, of  Champaign  County,  Ohio;  Susannah,  wife 
of  William  Moon,  of  Jefferson  Township,  this 
county;  Daniel,  our  subject,  and  Jlichael,  of  Clarke 
County,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  is  the  thirteenth  child  and  eighth 
i  son.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  scliools  of  his 
native  place,  and  supplemented  this  by  attending 
school  about  two  years  in  Harrison  Township,  Lo- 
gan Count}-.  He  remained  with  bis  parents  until 
twenty-five  yeare  of  age,  and  meanwhile  worked 
bj'  the  day  at  various  times  after  he  was  of  age. 
On  the  27th  of  January,  1853,  he  was  married  in 
Monroe  Township,  Logan  County,  to  Miss  Hannah 
Foust,  who  was  born  June  7,  1832,  in  Port.age 
County,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Logan  County-  when 
but  a  child.  Her  father,  Henry  Foust,  was  origin- 
ally from  the  Keystone  State,  but  at  a  very  late 
date  made  a  settlement  in  Ohio.  In  1838,  he  re- 
moved to  Logan  County,  where  his  death  occurred 
in  1881.  The  mother  is  still  living.  They  were 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  all  of  whom 
re.ached  mature  years,  as  follows:  John  Y.,  Solo- 
mon P.,  Benjamin,  Hannah,  JIary  .\nn,  Sarah,  Sam- 
uel, George,  Ileniy,  jNIeliuda  and  Lucinda  (twins), 
Wilson  S.  and  James  R.,  all  now  living  but  Benja- 
min, who  died  in  1882,  and  John  Y.,  whose  death 
occurred  Mav  22,  1892. 


-< 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


165 


Directlj'  aftei-  his  nian'iage,  our  subject  located 
where  he  now  lives,  in  a  small  log  bouse,  whoie  he 
and  his  bride  began  in  a  very  frugal  and  primitive 
manner  to  lay  the  foundation  for  their  subsequent 
prosperous  career.  A  small  log  barn  was  on  this 
place  and  there  were  about  forty  acres  cleared. 
As  the  years  passed  bj',  children  gathered  in  tlie 
lionie  and  biouglit  sunshine  and  J03'  to  the  parents. 
Nine  children  were  given  them,  as  follows:  Mary 
Anna,  wife  of  Samuel  McNett,  of  Delaware  County, 
Ind.,  is  the  mother  of  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters; ^lalinda  C,  wife  of  John  Hemphill,  of  Logan 
Count}',  is  the  mother  of  one  child;  George  F.,  of 
West  JIansfield,  Ohio,  married  Miss  Susan  Vaness, 
who  died,  leaving  ason  and  a  daughter  and  he  after- 
ward married  Jliss  Ida  Hickman;  John  W.  died 
Novembers,  1862,  at  the  age  of  four  years,  one 
month  and  ten  days;  Lucinda  M.,  widow  of  Syl- 
vester Morris,  has  three  sons  and  one  daughter; 
Rebecca  E.,  David  K.,  Dora  Bell  and  Maltie  E.  are 
at  home  with  their  parents. 

The  tine  farm  belonging  to  Mr.  Shawver  is  pleas- 
antly located  in  Lake  Township  and  is  under  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  Numerous  substantial 
buildings  embellish  the  place,  conspicuous  among 
which  is  the  commodious  brick  residence,  erected 
in  1861  at  a  cost  of  ^2,400.  A  view  of  this  ple:is- 
ant  home  is  shown  on  another  page.  In  18G8,  Mr. 
.Shawver  built  what  was  then,  and  is  still,  the  larg- 
est barn  in  the  county,  being  101x40  feet  in  di- 
mensions, and  sixteen  feet  high,  with  an  eight-foot 
b.asement.  In  1891,  an  addition  was  built,  101x32 
feet,  with  twenty-three-foot  posts,  and  a  steel 
roof.  This  is  intended  for  a  straw  shed  and  cov- 
ered barnyard,  where  the  stock  can  remain  pro- 
tected from  the  storm.  The  entire  building  con- 
tains forty-six  windows.  In  1891,  Mr.  Shawver 
placed  a  steel  roof  on  his  house,  and  has  added 
other  improvements  .as  needed.  The  barn  and 
other  outbuildings  were  erected  by  himself  and 
represent  liis  unaided  exertions.  He  purch.ased  one 
hundred  acres  of  the  farm  in  1849,  twenty-two 
acres  in  1872,  and  still  further  added  to  it  in  1S81. 
when  he  purchased  sixt3--three  acres.  Stock-raising 
engages  his  attention  to  a  considerable  extent  and 
he  makes  a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle,  while  he 
also  engages  with  success  in  raising  wlieat.  corn 


and  clorer.  His  agricultural  labors  so  closely  en- 
gage his  time  and  thought  that  he  has  little  leisure 
for  public  affairs;  however,  he  takes  an  intelligent 
interest  in  matters  of  local  importance,  and  politi- 
calh",  is  a  Democrat  of  no  uncertain  tone.  The 
Lutheran  Church  counts  him  as  one  of  its  faithful 
members,  and  he  contributes  liberally  to  religious 
causes. 


"^ 


<T^.  LI.'^HA  N.  BREWER,  who  is  the  son  of  the 
Itr  venerable  ex-County  Commissioner.  Nich- 
/i — i/  ol.os  Brewer,  li.as  done  his  share  in  reclaim- 
ing Auglaize  County  from  its  original  wildness, 
and  is  cl.assed  among  the  piosperous  farmers  who 
have  been  instrumental  in  the  upbuilding  of  Noble 
Township,  where  his  well-improved  farm  is  situ- 
ated on  section  12. 

Our  subject  w.as  born  in  Clinton  Countv.  this 
State,  January  19,  1S32,  and  was  live  years  old 
when  his  parents  took  up  their  residence  in  Au- 
glaize Count)-,  which  has  now  been  his  home  for 
fifty-five  years,  and  in  his  boyliood  he  was  per- 
fectly familiar  with  the  various  phases  of  pioneer 
life,  under  whose  influences  he  grew  to  a  sturdv, 
self-helpful  manhood,  with  good  mental  .and  phy- 
sical endowments.  In  those  earlv  yeai-s,  when  he 
should  have  been  going  to  school,  there  were  but 
few  scliools  in  this  part  of  the  State,  and  he  was 
scarcely  able  to  go  at  all  until  he  was  fifteen 
yeare  of  age.  However,  he  made  the  best  of  his 
opportunities  to  obt.ain  an  education  in  the  three 
seasons  of  three  months  each  that  he  had  a  chance 
to  attend  a  school  taught  in  a  primitive  log  school- 
house,  rudely  furnished  with  slab  seats, and  lighted 
by  greased  paper  windows.  The  schoolbouse  was 
two  miles  from  his  home,  the  way  to  it  lying  through 
the  woods.  Wild  game  w.as  plentiful,  and  he  has 
killed  many  a  deer  and  wild  turkey.  He  activelv 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  and  improving  his 
land  a--  soon  as  he  was  large  enough  to  handle 
an  axe,  and  he  c<)ntinue<i  an  inmate  of  the  par- 
ental family  luitil  he  was  twenty-two  years  old. 
when   he   left    to  learn    llir   trade  of    a  carpenter. 


lfi() 


^RTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


llo  hnii  ijiiite  a  ta.-^le  for  meclKinics.  and  over 
siiu'e  he  h;id  been  old  enough  up  to  that  time,  he 
had  attended  a  good  many  house  and  barn  rais- 
ings to  lend  a  helping  hand.  When  he  had  mas- 
tered his  trade,  he  was  engaged  in  it  all  over  this 
section  of  the  country. 

For  many  years,  our  subjeot  h.as  devoted  him- 
self to  farming,  and  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  tneuty-seven  .acres  on  sections  11  and  12. 
Noble  Township,  that  is  in  an  excellent  condition, 
the  land,  which  is  fertile  and  very  productive, 
lieing  under  the  best  of  tillage,  and  a  well-built 
and  conveniently-arranged  set  of  buildings  adds  to 
the  value  of  the  place.  The  farm  is  well  stocked,  a 
tine  herd  of  .Jersey  cows,  to  the  breeding  of  which 
he  has  paid  much  attention  for  the  past  few  years, 
making  a  good  showing.  In  the  early  years,  this 
country  was  known  as  '-The  Black  Swamp."  and 
the  only  way  to  get  tlirough  the  woods  w.as  to 
walk  on  logs.  Our  subject  has  lived  to  see  this 
swamp  and  wilderness  cleared  up  and  drained, 
until  the  broad  acres  and  fine  farms  respond  to 
the  touch  of  the  husbandman,  the  swamps  are  no 
more,  yellow  fields  of  grain  wave  in  the  breeze, 
and  the  green  cornfields  add  to  the  beauty  of  the 
landsc.-ipe. 

Mr.  Brewer  has  been  married  twice;  the  first 
time,  in  18.i7,  to  Miss  Ellen  Richardson,  a  native 
of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Archibald  and 
Elizabeth  Richardson,  who  were  natives  respec- 
tively of  Xew  .Jersey  and  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Richardson  w.as  a  weaver  by  trade,  but  he  worked 
at  various  occupations.  Mrs.  Brewer  was  a  most 
estimable  woman,  a  loving  wife  and  tender  mo- 
ther, and  her  death,  Angust  25,  1872,  w-as  a  sad 
loss  to  her  household.  .'^Iie  was  the  mother  of 
three  children,  of  whom  the  following  is  the  rec- 
ord: Lena,  who  died  at  the  .age  of  two  and  one-half 
years;  P>edus.  who  was  born  October  22.  1860,  is 
married  and  settled  in  life  .as  a  carpenter  .and  builder 
in  Moulton  Township;  Niehol.as,  born  November 
1 1.  ISGtJ,  is  a  carpenter  and  resides  with  his  father. 

Mr.  Brewer  w.as  married  a  second  time.  May  8, 
1873.  this  union  being  with  Mrs.  flattie  (Hudson) 
Smith,  widow  of  .lobn  Smith.  She  is  a  native  of 
'\Vasliingt<jn  Township,  and  a  daughter  of  .lesso  and 
Marv  Hudson,  who  were  natives  of  Franklin  County 


and  early  settlers  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Brewer's  first 
husband  died  in  October,  1867,  leaving  her  with  one 
cliild,  Ettie  F.  She  is  a  most  excellent  woman,  and 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  finds  in  her  one  of 
its  worthiest  members.  She  has  property  in  her 
own  right,  including  a  good  farm  of  fifty-five 
.acres,  well  improved,  joining  her  husband's  farm 
in  Noble  Township. 

The  people  of  his  community  who  have  known 
our  subject  during  the  many  jears  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Auglaize  County  can  testify  one  and 
all  that  he  is  a  man  of  true  merit,  who  has  ever 
led  a  conscientious,  upright  life,  dealing  fairly 
and  honestly  by  all,  and  always  a  kind  and  oblig- 
ing neighbor  to  those  who  live  in  his  vicinity. 
He  has  made  a  good  public  officer  whenever  he 
has  held  office,  alw.a^-s  using  his  indueuce  to  for- 
ward the  best  interests  of  his  township.  He  has 
been  an  incumbent  of  various  civic  positions,  and 
for  twelve  successive  years  w.as  Trustee  of  Noble 
Township.  Politicall}',  he  is  a  Democrat,  tried 
and  true. 


I^AVID  BAKER.  In  presenting  a  sketch  of 
)j  this  gentleman  to  our  readers,  we  record  the 
life  work  of  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  successful  farmers  of  .Shelby  County.  He  is  at 
present  residing  on  section  18,  Franklin  Township, 
where  he  owns  a  quarter-section  of  valuable  laud 
on  which  he  lives,  and  a  fifty -acre  farm  joining  on 
the  south,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Its  im- 
provements, which  are  many,  are  most  useful  and 
ornamental  and  the  dwelling,  which  is  a  conven- 
iently arranged  frame  structure,  is  pleasantly  situ- 
ated .and  is  replete  with  comfort. 

.John  C.  Baker,  .Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Germany  in  178-1,  where  also  his  father 
who  likewise  bore  the  name  of  John  C.,  was  born 
and  engaged  in  the  European  wars.  The  family 
of  the  latter  emigrated  to  America  in  17'J7.  and 
when  landing  on  the  shores  of  the  New  Woild.tlie 
children  were  sold   to  the  highest  bidder  in  (jrder 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


167 


to  pay  for  their  passage  across  the  oceau.  The  father 
of  our  subject  served  for  five  3-ears,  and  after  ob- 
taining his  freedom  helped  to  ransom  his  sister. 
The  parents  located  in  Virginia,  where  tliey  re- 
mained until  1814uind  then  coming  to  Ohio,  located 
in  Greene  Count}',  whicli  was  their  home  for  many 
years,  and  in  18.30  came  to  this  county,  taking  up 
their  abode  witli  the  father  of  our  subject. 

The  lady  to  whom  .Tolin  C.  Baker,  .Ir.,  w.as  mar- 
ried bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jlargaret  Bush,  and 
was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1787.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  \'irginia.  and  coming  to  Ohio  in  1815,  set- 
tled in  (  ueene  County,  walking  tlie  entire  distance. 
As  they  were  very  poor,  tliey  located  on  a  le.ased 
wild  farm,  which  was  their  home  until  1830,  the 
date  of  their  coming  to  this  county.  The\'  remained 
for  two  years  on  a  rented  farm  in  Orange  Tow-n- 
ship,  when  Mr.  Baker  purch.ased  eighty  acres  of 
wild  land  on  section  4.  Salem  Township.  Tliere 
he  erected  a  log  shanty  without  a  floor,  in  which 
the  family  moved  and  made  their  home  until  he 
could  erect  a  more  comfortable  abiding-place.  The 
father  was  a  hard-working  man.  and  in  addition 
to  improving  his  own  i)r()perty,  cleared  land  for 
other  parties,  amoimting  to  alwut  three  hundred 
acres  of  solid  woods,  and  was  alw.ays  closely  con- 
nected with  the  upbuilding  of  his  community.  lie 
died  August  26,  1855,  being  followed  to  tlie  better 
land  by  his  wife,  who  departed  this  life  March 
I'J,  18G'.),  aged  eight\-  years  eight  months  and 
twenty-nine  days.  He  was  a  patriot  in  the  AVar 
of  1812,  and  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  reared 
eleven  to  mature  years.  Six  of  his  sons  are  still 
living  namely:  George  C,  .Jacob,  John,  Jr.,  Isaac, 
our  subject,  and  Squire,  their  avei-age  ages  being 
seventj'-two  yeare. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  born  January  21. 
1827,  in  Greene  County,  this  State  and  as  his  par- 
ents were  too  poor  to  send  him  to  the  subscription 
schools,  his  opportunities  for  gaining  .an  education 
were  very  limited.  The  temple  of  learning  in  that 
early  day  \va~  built  of  logs,  had  greased  paper 
U)r  windows.and  the  seats  were  made  of  split  logs. 
He  was  very  useful  in  aiding  his  father  to  operate 
the  farm  and  remained  at  home  until  reaching  his 
majority,  when  he  was  married.  March  15,  184D,  to 
Jeminiah  Ann.  daughter  of    George   and    Ilann.ah 


(Carter)  Mieh.ael.  Her  parents  removed  from 
Montgomery  to  this  county  in  an  early  dav,  her 
birth  occurring  in  the  former  place  April  26,  1826. 

After  his  marriage  Jlr.  Baker  lived  on  rented 
property-  for  two  j-ears  and  then  moving  to  Port 
Jefferson,  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  nine 
yeai-s.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  became 
tlie  owiier  of  eighty  acres  on  section  17.  Salem 
Township,  where  the  wife  died  July  5,  1860,  hav- 
ing become  the  mother  of  four  children,  of  whom 
the  tliree  living  are:  Harvey  W.,  who  married 
.Sarah  H.  Falder:  (Jeorge  M..  who  married  Ella  Grif- 
fiths, and  Jacob  II..  the  husband  of  Belle  Ward. 
The  deceased  child.  Lewis  M..  died  when  seven 
months  old,  in  July,  1S52. 

The  lady  whom  our  subject  chose  as  his  second 
wife  September  13,  1856,  was  Miss  .Sarah,  daushter 
of  David  and  Lydia  (Ketchner)  Swanders,  natives 
respectively  of  Fairfield  County,  this  State,  and 
Pennsylvania.  The  father  came  here  in  1833  and 
made  settlement  at  what  is  now  .Swanders'  Corners. 
Fi'anklin  Town.ship,  this  county,  where  he  w.as  re- 
siding at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1853.  His  yood 
wife,  who  reared  a  family  of  eleven  children,  is  still 
living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eight^'-five  years. 
>Irs.  Baker,  who  is  the  eldest  of  the  family  now  liv- 
ing, was  born  October  3(.t.  1832.  in  Fairfield  County, 
and  after  her  marriage  located  with  our  subject  up- 
on their  present  farm. 

The  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  which  are  included 
in  the  estate  of  Mr.  B.iker  are  almost  all  under  the 
best  methods  of  improvement.  He  erected  on  his 
place  a  eomfort.ible  residence  in  1875,  two  vears 
previous  to  which  time,  however,  he  had  built  a 
large  barn.  His  pl.ace  is  thoroughly  tiled  and  his 
fields  well  tilled.  The  two  children  of  which  he 
is  the  father  are  David  M..  who  wiis born  December 
4.  !8ti.s.  married  Eugenia  Fiuk  and  resides  in  Xe- 
br.aska.  while  James  M..  who  was  born  Julv  24. 
1870,  married  Alice  T.ayloi'  ami  makes  his  home  in 
this  township. 

Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  are  Christian 
people,  he  having  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
E|)iscopal  Church  for  well  nigh  a  half-century. and 
his  wife  has  been  connected  with  the  (ierman  Re- 
formed Church  f(u-  over  forty  years.  Mr.  Baker 
is  one  of  the  famous  ■•Sciuirrel  Hunters"  and  holds 


ll>S 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


an  honorable  discharge  from  the  same.  I)ui-ing 
the  h»te  war,  he  captured  one  of  the  lebeU  and.  tak- 
ing him  to  Cincinnati,  exchanged  hira  for  a  I'niou 
soldier.  He  had  a  brother  Isa.ac  who  served  for  a 
period  of  four  _ve.ni-s  in  the  Civil  AVar.  in  wliich 
conflict  Mrs.  Baker  h.ad  two  brothers. 

After  his  marriage  Jlr.  Baker  was  in  very  lim- 
ited circumstances  .and  after  carrying  on  the  home 
f:irm  for  two  yeare,  .as  Ivfore  stated,  went  to  Port 
.Teffei-son  and  worked  for  sixty  cents  a  day  at  tlie 
carpenter's  trade.  He  went  in  debt  $1,250  for 
his  firet  purchase  of  land,  which  property  he  im- 
proved and  later  sold  for  |i3.250,  and  on  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  AVar  loaned  that  amount  to  the 
Government:  when  he  purch.ased  his  pi'esent  farm 
it  was  paid  b.ack  to  him  with  good  interest. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is  greatly 
esteemed  in  his  comnuuiity  for  his  pei-sonal  wurth. 


"I^  OBERT  HASTINGS,  a  prominent  merchant 
IW^  of  Botkins,  Shelby  County,  is  one  of  tlie 
iL  V  well-known  business  men  of  that  thriving 
\^^  city,  and  in  addition  to  conducting  his  in- 
terests, tliere  has  done  much  to  promote  the  agri 
cultural  development  of  Diusmore  Township,  being 
the  proprietor  of  eight  hundred  acres  of  arable 
land,  which  forms  one  of  the  mo,t  valuable  pieces 
of  i)roperty  in  this  locality'. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  bora  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  y..  .Tuly  1,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  Hast- 
ings. Sr..  wlio  is  a  native  of  Engl.and.  The  latter 
since  emigrating  to  America,  in  or  about  18.30.  has 
been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lubricating 
oils  in  >'ew  York  City.  Ilis  wife,  who  bore  tlie 
maiden  name  of  Nancy  Black,  was  a  native  of  New 
Vurk.  and  departed  this  life  when  our  suliject  was 
(|uite  small. 

The  original  of.  this  sketch  is  the  elder  nf  two 
children  in  the  parent.al  family  and  obtained  his 
education  mostly  in  his  native  city.  Wlieii  four- 
teen vears  of  ase,  he  came  to  this  .^tate  and  visite<l 


an  uncle,  who  w.as  at  that  time  living  in  Cincin- 
nati. While  there,  the  latter  enlisted  in  the  Civil 
War,  and  our  suliject,  although  3'oung,  in  Junei 
1862,  Itecame  a  member  of  Company  E,  Second 
United  States  Artillery.  The  first  engagement  in 
which  he  participated  was  the  siege  of  Yorktown, 
which  lasted  from  April  19  to  IMay  4,  1862.  The 
succeeding  battles  were  Golding's  Farm,  June  27; 
Turkey  Bend,  .Tune  27;  IMalvern  Hillj.luly  1;  Bull 
Run,  September  1;  Chan tilly,  September  1;  South 
Mountain,  September  14;  Antietam,  September  16 
and  17;  Fredericksburg,  from  December  11  to  14; 
siege  of  Vicksburgh,  from  June  20  till  Jul}-  4; 
Jackson,  July  4  to  20;  Campbell  Station,  Novem- 
ber 16;  Ft.  .'zanders,  November  29;  tlie  Wilderness, 
Cold  Harbor,  and  numerous  minor  engagements. 
Young  Hastings  received  his  honorable  discharge 
at  W.ashington,  having  served  his  country  faitli- 
fully  and  well  for  a  period  of  three  j'ears.  For 
valiant  service  rendered,  he  was  promoted  to  be 
Corporal  and  afterward  w.as  made  Sergeant. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  our  subject  returned  to 
Shelby  County  and  located  near  Port  Jefferson, 
having  in  the  meantime  purchased  an  outfit  and 
prepared  to  cultivate  the  soil.  Abouta  year  there- 
after, he  became  the  proprietor  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  .acres  of  timber  land  on  section  ll,Dinsmore 
Township,  for  which  he  paid  §10  per  acre.  He 
immediately  set  to  work  to  clear  his  land,  and 
in  a  short  time  readily  sold  it  for  §4,000.  ^Ir. 
Hastings  then  removed  to  Botkins  and  engaged  in 
leaning  money,  dealing  in  notes,  mortgages,  etc. 
He  also  handled  real  estate,  shipped  stock  to  the 
city  markets  and  superintended  the  operations  of 
the  farms  which  he  owned.  He  later  added  to  his 
extended  business  that  of  shipping  grain,  in  which 
br.anch  he  still  continues.  He  also  owned  and  op- 
erated a  spoke  factory,  and  in  various  other  w.a^-s 
h.as  been  closely  identified  with  the  business  inter- 
ests of  this  section  for  many  years.  He  is  a  man  of 
steady  habits,  of  high  principles,  doing  as  he  would 
be  done  by  in  the  various  relations  that  he  sustains 
toward  others,  and  his  life  record  in  all  things  is 
unblemished  and  worthy  of  emulation. 

Tlie  lady  who  became  the  wife  of  OLir  subject  in 
1872  was  JlibS  Florence,  daughter  of  Isaac  H.  and 
Nancv  Gallimore,  natives  of   this   State,  and  Mrs. 


PORTRAIT  AND  lilOGRAPlUCAL   RECORD. 


169 


Hastings  was  born  in  this  county.  Her  father  was 
one  of  nine  children  bom  to  .'^ainueland  Elizabeth 
(Broegg)  Gallimore,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
November  12,  1794,  in  Virginia,  lieing  descended 
from  an  old  Virginia  family-,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio 
when  a  bo}'.  His  wife  was  bora  in  E.ast  Tennessee, 
August  19,  1803.  The  gi'andparents  of  Mrs.  Hast- 
ings were  pioneers  of  this  township,  and  it  w.as 
here  that  her  father  grew  to  manhood  and  was 
married.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist  in  this 
section  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  'War,  joining 
a  company  in  the  Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry,  and 
being  Color-bcarer.  He  was  killed  in  one  of 
the  first  battles  fought,  dying  at  his  post  of 
duly  with  the  flag  of  his  country  in  liis  hands. 
His  wife,  who  had  preceded  him  to  the  bettei  land, 
died  in  1860. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  have  been 
hern  seven  sons,  namely:  Oscar,  Albert,  AValter, 
Orvil,  Arthur,  Chest^rand  Charles.  A  Republican 
in  politics,  Jlr.  H.astings  is  always  in  favor  of  every 
movement  which  will  in  .any  w.ay  benefit  the  town- 
ship or  county,  but  finds  that  he  lias  no  time  to 
hold  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  attention  to 
private  affairs.  As  before  stated,  he  owns  eight 
hundred  acres  of  Land,  half  of  which  is  in  the 
neighborhood  of  P>otkins.  He  h:is  carried  on  his 
numerous  interests  with  untiring  industry,  which 
has  been  seconded  by  sound  judgment  in  regard  to 
business  matters,  and  he  has  therefore  lieen  much 
profited.  A  pirt  of  liis  success  he  justly  attributes 
to  his  devoted  wife,  who  has  co-operated  with  him 
in  every  possible  way.  and  ha?  been  to  him  a 
wise  counselor. 


B^^m^-^^mm^  - 


lli  ACOB  PAUL,  the  eflicient  Commissioner  of 
Shelby  County,  Ohio,  has  occupied  various 
positions  of  trust  in  the  county  and  is  every- 
^^  where  respected  for  his  sterling  worth.  A,- 
he  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  on  the  14th  of 
November,  1841,  he  is  well  acquainted,  and  the 
people   liave    every   nppurl unity    to  judge  of  his 


xcy 


character  and  qualifications.  His  father.  Adam 
Paul,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  on  the  14th 
of  February.  1809,  and  secured  a  good  practical 
education  in  his  native  country'.  In  1833,  he 
braved  Neptune's  tender  mercies  and  came  to  the 
United  .states,  buying  land  from  the  Government, 
which  he  cleared  up  himself.  To  him  belongs  the 
honor  of  being  the  fii-st  settler  in  Van  Buren 
Township,  this  county.  On  this  farm  this  wurlhy 
pioneer  delved  and  worked  until  his  death,  in  18,sl'. 
He  married  Jliss  Elizabeth  M.  Boesel,  a  sister  of 
Senator  Boesel.  and  the}-  became  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  four 
now  living,  viz:  Christian,  who  resides  in  Auulaize 
County;  our  subject;  Charlotta,  wife  of  Henry 
Metz.  of  Kansas;  and  Philip  P.,  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 
The  four  deceased  were  Adam.  Elizabetli,  Carolina, 
and  AVilhelmina. 

Our  subject  passed  the  early  days  of  his  life  in 
assisting  on  the  farm,  and  later  embarked  in  f:irm- 
ing  and  buying  and  sliipping  st<x-k.  He  continued 
to  make  his  home  in  Van  Buren  Township  luitil 
the  time  of  his  election,  and  became  the  owner  of 
a  most  desirable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
six  acres,  all  the  fruits  of  his  own  exertions.  On 
the  26th  of  April,  1861.  he  led  to  the  .altar  Miss 
Catherine  Purpus,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany, 
but  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1860.  Six 
children  have  blessed  this  union  and  are  as  fol- 
lows: Mina,  wife  of  Charles  Fritz,  of  Van  Bu- 
ren Township;  Louis,  on  the  farm;  Rosa,  wife  of 
Martin  Knost.  of  New  Bremen,  Auglaize  County; 
.lacob  C..  on  the  farm;  Edward,  with  his  parents; 
and  -Vinanda.  also  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  are  worthy  and  exemplary 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  Mr.  Paul's 
father  was  one  of  the  organizei-s  of  this  church  at 
New  Bremen.  Our  subject  and  wife  are  deeply 
interested  in  religiousand  educational  matters,  and 
are  .active  in  all  other  good  work.  In  his  career 
as  a  public  official,  Mr.  Paul's  record  h.as  ever  been 
one  of  the  best,  and  he  has  discharged  the  duties 
of  every  position  with  much  credit  to  himself  and 
his  constituents.  He  served  for  three  \-ears  as 
Trustee  of  the  township,  seven  years  as  Town- 
ship Assessor,  and  then,  in  1886.  w.as  elected  to  the 
position  of  County  Commissioner,  ami   re-elected 


170 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  1SS9,  taking  the  otlice  the  Janiuiry  folloniiiir 
his  election.  He  moved  to  Sidney  .ifur  lioiiii: 
elected  the  second  time.  :uid  li;u<  fiiico  L'iveii  his 
whole  attention  to  the  il\itics  of  hi,-  oltiio,  leaving 
his  two  sous  to  carry  on  the  farm.  He  i.-  one  of 
the  county's  liest  citizen.*,  and  is  thorouLrhly  es- 
teemed in  the  commimitv. 


=«^  r* 


&()N.  ROBERT  B.  (iORDON  is  a  man  wliose 
spirit  of  enterprise,  progressive  hiisiness 
methods  and  native  ability  early  brought 
him  to  the  front  in  tiie  financial  circles  of 
Auglaize  County,  and  have  kept  him  there,  besides 
giving  him  prominence  as  an  otlice-holder  occupy- 
ing some  of  the  highest  positions  within  the  gift  of 
his  fellow-citizens.  For  more  than  fifty  years,  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  iSt.  Mary's,  has  been  one 
of  its  foremost  business  men,  and  his  name  is  insep- 
arably connected  with  its  rise  and  growth,  and  he  is 
still  one  of  its  most  energetic,  busy  and  useful 
citizens,  although  he  long  .ago  passed  the  age  when 
most  men  retire  from  active  life.  He  is  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  flour,  having  a  large  mill  at 
this  point,  deals  extensively  in  grain  and  superin- 
tends his  valuable  farming  and  oil  interests  him- 
self. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Wincliester,  Va..  No- 
vember I'o.  1815.  lie  is  a  son  of  John  Gordon, 
who  w.as  al;o  born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  was 
of  .Scotch  descent.  He  had  a  large  plantation  in 
his  .State,  kept  a  great  iiuml)er  of  slaves  and  was 
wealthy.  At  an  advanced  age,  after  his  family 
had  scattered,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  died  at  I'iqua, 
when  past  eighty  veal's  old. 

John  ^y.  Gordon,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
one  of  five  sons.  He  became  a  farmer  in  early 
life,  but  coming  to  Ohio  in  182.'),  he  took  up  the 
mercantile  business  at  Chillicothe.  In  1827.  he 
removed  to  Richmond.  Ross  County,  and  from 
there  to  Bellefonlaine.  but  he  only  resided  in  each 
place  about  a  year,  and  then  took  up  his  abode  in 
I'iijua,  where   he  carried   on  a  mercantile  business 


with  a  good  degi-ee  of  prosperity  for  twenty-five 
yeai-s  or  so.  In  18(51,  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
where  lie  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven 
years,  lie  was  a  gallant  odicer  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  a  member  of  some  general's  staff.  He  w.as  ap- 
pointed Postmaster  at  Piqiia  in  1841,  under  Tv- 
ler's  administration.  He  w.as  fairly  successful  as  a 
financier,  w.as  promini'nt  in  his  community,  open- 
hearted  and  generous,  and  liberal  in  the  »ise  of  his 
means.  In  him  the  Methodist  Church,  which  he 
joined  in  1823,  had  one  of  its  most  valued  mem- 
bers, who  did  good  service  in  church  work  as  Class- 
leader  and  in  other  oflicial  positions.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Sanih  Bryarly,  a  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Klizabcth  Bryarly,  who  were  natives  of 
Virginia  and  owiu'il  an  extensive  plantation  in 
Frederick  County,  where  they  had  a  large  number 
of  slaves  and  kept  manj'  fine  horees,  as  the  giaiid- 
father  of  our  subject  w.as  a  lover  of  the  beautiful 
animals.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  Febru- 
ary 3,  1831.  .She  had  nine  children,  of  whom  three 
are  living.  The  father  remarried  and  one  of  his 
two  children    liy  his  second  marriage   is  living. 

Robert  Gordon,  of  this  biographical  review,  ob- 
tained his  early  education  in  an  old  log  school- 
house  in  his  native  pl.ace.  After  the  family  settled 
in  Piqua,  he  attended  a  public  school  in  that  city, 
and  later  went  to  an  academy.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one.  he  became  clerk  in  his  father's  store  at 
Piqua,  and  obtained  a  clear  insiglit  into  business, 
and  so  was  well  equipped  both  by  natural  aptitude 
for  it  and  by  training,  when  he  came  to  St.  Mary's 
in  1839,  and  established  himself  as  a  general  mer- 
chant at  this  point  in  comi)any  with  David  Bates, 
who  was  Chief  Kngineer  of  the  canal  that  was 
tlieii  in  process  (if  cimstructiou.  Three  3'ears  later, 
our  subject  abandoned  that  venture  to  .accept  the 
position  of  Treasurer  of  Mercer  County,  to  which 
he  was  elected  in  1842,  and  for  two  terms  of  four 
years  he  managed  the  finances  of  the  county  with 
his  usual  good  judgment  and  to  the  perfect  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Gordon  entered  the  milling  busi- 
ness, having  a  half-interest  in  a  flouring  mill  on 
the  canal,  which  he  retained  three  years.  He  next 
engaged  in  farming  and  conducted  a  large  business 
in  that  line,  having  eleven  hundred  acres  of  laud 


PORTRAJT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


171 


at  that  time.  He  dealt  extensively  in  stock,  mak- 
ing a  specialitj-  of  mules,  and  raised  more  mules 
than  any  man  in  Ohio  at  that  period,  keeping 
from  two  hundred  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  a  year 
and  frequently  selling  one  hundred  at  a  time  in 
Kentucky,  finding  a  market  for  all  that  he  could 
raise,  as  they  were  regarded  as  a  superior  breed. 
Since  1855,  he  has  engaged  in  milling  as  well  as  in 
fanning,  buying  his  present  large  and  well- 
epuipped  mill  at  St.  Mary's  December  19,  of  that 
year  and  immediately  entering  upon  its  manage- 
ment. He  has  other  valuable  interests  in  the  city, 
including  a  warehouse,  six  dwellings  and  other 
property,  beside  owning  a  fine  large  farm  of  three 
hundred  acres  near  St.  Mary's.  He  derives  a  hand- 
some income  from  the  oil  found  on  about  sixty 
acres  of  his  land,  and  has  drilled  six  oil  wells  him- 
self, four  of  which  are  the  hcsl  producers  in  tliis 
tield. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  married  September  18,  1838, 
to  Catherine  Barrington,  a  native  of  Philadelphia, 
who  was  born  in  1817.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam R.  and  Jane  Barrington,  who  were  also  Phila- 
delphians  by  birth  and  were  pioneers  of  Ohio.  Mr. 
Barrington  was  a  prominent  man  in  Piqua,  where 
he  established  the  first  paper  started  at  that  place, 
which  he  edited  until  his  death.  He  was  at  one 
time  Mayor  of  Piqua.  and  .Justice  of  tlie  Peace  also. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  had  eight  children, 
of  whom  Sarah  B.  and  Robert  B.,  Jr.,  are  the  only 
survivors.  The  latter  is  a  well-known  public  man, 
and  is  County  Auditor.  Jlrs.  Gordon  is  greatly 
esteemed  among  her  friends  for  rare  worth  and  in 
her  the  Kpiscopal  Church  h.as  a  devout  member. 

As  before  mentioned,  our  subject  has  [ilayed  an 
important  part  in  tlie  administration  of  civic 
affairs,  as  well  as  in  the  advancement  of  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  this  part  of  the  State.  He  is 
prominent  in  local  politics  as  a  Democrat  who  has 
stood  steadfastly  by  his  partj-  ever  since  he  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren, 
and  he  has  done  it  good  service  as  delegate  to 
county,  district  and  State  conventions.  He  was  at 
one  time  Justice  of  the  Peace,  but  kept  no  docket. 
He  filled  the  office  admirably,  transacting  all  busi- 
ness that  came  before  him  with  ex.actness  and 
promptness,  and  his  decijioiis   were    marked  with 


a  clear  comprehension  of  the  law  and  were 
always  impartial  and  to  the  point.  He  settled 
every  case  that  was  tried  before  him  but  one,  a 
dispute  about  four  geese,  and  in  order  to  satisfy 
all  concerned,  he  offered  to  pay  for  the  geese  him- 
self; but  the  contestants  could  not  agree  and  ap- 
pealed to  the  Circuit  Court.  In  making  a  tran- 
scription of  the  case.  Judge  Gordon  cooly  used  a 
shingle.  This  unique  method  of  transcription 
rather  set  the  dignity  of  the  court  at  defiance,  and 
in  any  one  else  but  "Bob  Gordon,"  as  his  friend, 
the  presiding  Judge,  familial  ly  termed  him,  would 
have  called  for  a  fine  for  contempt  of  court. 

Our  subject  was  elected  Representative  to  the 
l^tate  Legistature  from  Auglaize  County  in  1864, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1866.  He  served  as  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  Claims,  w;is  a  member  of 
several  other  committees,  and  won  an  honorable 
reputation  as  a  statesman  who  was  true  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  public  that  he  served.  He  is  well 
known  in  social  circles  as  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  having  been  connected  with  both  organi- 
zations since  1842,  a  period  of  fifty  years. 


ATIIAN  T.  N(JBLK.  M.  ])..  of  St.  .Alaiy's. 
jl  is  a  physician  of  rare  merit,  who  is  well 
/l^  .^  grounded  in  his  profession,  and  a  long  and 
siiccesjful  pi-actice  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
in  which  he  has  kept  pace  with  the  times  in  regard 
to  modern  methods  in  the  treatment  ofdise.ase  and 
discoveries  in  the  medical  world,  has  placed  him 
auKJUg  the  firet  of  his  calling  in  Auglaize  County, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  for  the  past  few 
years. 

The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  what  at  Uiat  tiiiio  was 
Mercer,  but  is  now  Auglaize,  Countv,  born  in  the 
Township  of  Wayne,  April  28,  1848.  Henry  Xoble, 
his  father,  was  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  his  birthplace 
in  the  county  of  Clinton,  where  he  was  born  in 
181-2.  He  was  a  son  of  Klislia  Noble,  a  famous 
pioneer  of  this  section  of  the  coiintrv.  who  was 
born   ou   the  Eastern  shore  of  Marvland.     I'radi- 


172 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPIIJCAL   RECORD. 


lion  li!vs  it  tli.it  the  Xoble  family  originated  in 
America  from  throe  brotliers  of  tlio  name,  vho 
emigrated  from  Kngland  in  Colonial  times,  (nie  set- 
tling in  New  York,  niiotlier  in  Maryland,  and  tlie 
third  in  Virginia.  Frmn  them  has  sprung  a  nii- 
raerons  family.  'I'he  great-grandfallier  of  our  sub- 
ject w.a.s  a  g:xllant  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  wliih^ 
his  grandfather  took  an  artive  part  in  tlu^  War  of 
1!<I2.  The  latter  came  to  Ohio  early  in  the  his- 
tory of  its  settlement,  and  located  at  lir>t  in  Clin- 
ton County,  probably  about  the  year  l^o.s.  In 
IS33.  lie  came  thence  to  Auglaize  County,  then  a 
part  of  Mercer  County,  and  w.is  a  pioneer  settler 
of  W.ayno  Township,  where  he  bought  (Tovernment 
land,  which  he  transformed  into  a  substantially 
improved  farm.  He  died  in  1864,  when  past  four- 
score yeai-s.  but  his  name  still  lives  as  that  of  one 
of  our  most  prominent  pioneers,  and  is  borne  by 
Noble  Township  in  his  honor.  Ho  was  Commis- 
sioner of  Jlereer  County  several  years,  and  also 
acted  as  the  tiret  Commissioner  of  Auglaize  County, 
never  receiving  much  remuneration  for  hi-^  ser- 
vices, lie  bought  one  eighty-.aere  trad  of  land 
on  the  St.  Clary's  River,  at  ^1.2.')  an  acre,  and  as 
one  corner  of  it  was  cut  off  l)y  the  stream,  he  paid 
only  -?'.i0.9'.l  for  the  tract. 

Henry  Noble  w.as  one  of  a  large  family.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  bricklayer  when  3'oiing,  but 
followed  farming  after  coming  to  this  county,  and 
the  remainder  of  his  life  was  eng.aged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Wayne  Township,  now  Noble 
Township,  his  death  occurring  in  1879.  He  had 
dwelt  in  this  county  forty-two  years,  and  had  not 
onlv  been  a  witness  of  almost  its  entire  growth. 
but  he  had  played  no  unimportant  part  in  its  rise 
and  progress.  He  wa.s  a  wide-awake  business  m.an, 
and  dealt  considerably  in  land,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  owned  a  valuable  farm  of  three  huudreil 
and  twenty  acres.  He  held  public  otlices,  was 
Trustee  of  his  township  several  terms,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  a  Director  of  the  County  Infirmary. 
He  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Disciples  Chinch. 
and  was  a  man  of  firm  religious  principles.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  C3nthian  A.  Roberts.  .i 
native  of  Kentucky,  and  she  died  in  18.)8.  leav- 
ing three  children,  of  whom  he  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.     The  father  was  again  married. 


Until  he  was  thirteen  years  old,  the  Doctor  at- 
tended school  in  an  old  log  house,  that  was  fur- 
nished with  rough  slab  scats.  He  afterwards  went 
to  the  National  Normal  I'niversitj-  at  Lebanon, of 
which  he  was  a  student  two  years.  He  utilized 
his  educatiou  by  teaching  a  few  terms,  and  during 
that  time  he  read  medicine  with  Dr.  JMiltcui  M. 
Miller,  of  Celina.  one  year.  He  next  pl.aced  him- 
self under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Nichols,  of  Wapa- 
koneta,  with  whom  he  remained  two  years.  In  the 
meantime,  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Ohio  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati,  and  w.as 
gi-aduated  from  that  institution  in  18C9,  finely 
equipped  for  his  chosen  profession.  He  practiced 
one  year  at  Cridersville,  in  this  count}',  but  desir- 
ing a  broader  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents, 
in  1870  he  went  to  Kans.as,  and  established  him- 
self in  the  drug  business  at  Topeka.  He  subse- 
quently removed  to  Wakarusa,  twelve  miles  from 
the  State  Capit.al,  and  was  stationed  there  three 
yeare.  From  there  he  went  to  Silver  Lake,  and 
was  in  practice  there  a  year.  After  the  death  of 
his  wife,  he  went  down  into  Indian  Territory,  and 
eng.aged  at  his  calling  among  the  Indians  of  the 
Pottawatomie  Nation,  and  also  taught  school 
among  them.  We  next  hear  of  him  as  Surgeon 
in  Capt.  Walches'  company  of  Texas  Rangers,  in 
which  he  served  eighteen  months.  He  was  the 
most  of  that  time  on  the  Texas  frontier,  and  oc- 
casionally crossed  the  border  into  Mexico,  when 
tlie  Rangers  went  thither  in  pursuit  of  cattle 
tliieves,  and  he  was  present  at  one  engagement  of 
the  regiment  with  the  Mexicans. 

Tiring  of  the  rough,  hard  life  on  the  plains.  Dr. 
Noble  located  in  Matamora.  Mexico,  for  a  short 
time,  then  returned  to  Silver  L.ake,  Kan.,  and  prac- 
ticed there  awhile  ere  he  finally  came  back  to  his 
old  home  in  Ohio,  in  1876,  after  an  absence  of  six 
yeai-s.  He  opened  an  office  in  Celina,  but  after  a 
residence  there  of  nearly  a  year,  he  located  on  a 
farm  in  Noble  Township,  and  superintended  its 
cultivation;  at  the  same  time  he  continued  in  .ac- 
tive pr.actice  .as  a  physician,  being  thus  engaged 
there  for  nine  years.  He  was  always  a  close 
student,  even  when  busiest  in  professional  work 
nni\  in  managing  his  affairs,  but  he  desired  t(.i  irain 
a  still  more  profound  knowledge  of  medicine,  and 


(£.,  J.   i^u&  J^.9. 


PORTRAIT  AiS"D  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


175 


in  1886  took  a  post-gvaduate  course  at  his  old 
Alma  Mater,  the  Ohio  Medical  College.  After 
leaving  college  a  second  time,  the  Doctor  resumed 
practice  at  Kossuth,  whence  he  came  to  St.  Mary's 
in  I8K8.  He  at  first  associated  himself  n-ith  Dr. 
Kisler.  who  retired  in  181)2.  He  has  tirml^'  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  confidence  of  the  people,  who 
regard  him  as  one  of  the  most  learned  and  most 
able  jihysicians  of  the  place,  and  he  h.as  his  full 
share  of  practice.  lie  is  a  member  in  higli  stand- 
ing of  the  Xorthwestern  Medical  Society,  and  he 
is  Examiner  for  the  Jlichigan  Mutual  Life  Insur- 
ance Company.  He  is  likewise  identified  with  the 
public  life  of  St.  Mary's  as  a  member  of  the  City 
Council.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  I^oble 
Township  one  term,  and  Township  Clerk  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  politics,  his  sympathies  are  with 
the  Democratic  party. 

Dr.  Noble  was  first  marrieil  iu  1871.  to  Miss 
I'rilla  Fiery,  a  native  of  Maiyland.  She  died  at 
Silver  Lake,  Kan.,  leaviug  one  child,  Harr}%  now 
deceased.  Our  subject  was  again  married,  in  1877, 
this  time  to  Mrs.  Anna  Ellis,  nee  .Johnson,  of  Ohio, 
who  presides  with  true  tact  over  their  home.  The 
Doctor  still  retains  his  farm  of  eighty  .acres  in  Xoble 
Township,  and  is  in  good  financial  standing.  Fra- 
ternally, the  Doctor  is  Chief  Patriarch  of  Encamp- 
ment No.  -KXat  St.  Mary's, also  .Scribe  of  St.  Mary's 
ChaperNo.   51.  R.  A.  M. 


^^W®^—- 


I.  KREBS.  M.  1).  Tlie  name  of  this  uiuch- 
estecnied  and  re>pected  citizen  is  well  and 
favorably  known  to  the  people  of  Auglaize 
'  County,  where  he  practiced  the  "'healing 
art"  for  many  years.  He  was  originally  from  the 
Keystuue  State.  b(.>rn  in  1832.  and  his  parents. 
I.-aac  and  Esther  (Topper)  Krehs,  were  natives  re- 
spectively of  Winchester.  Va.,  and  Maryland.  After 
marriage,  tlie  parents  settled  first  in  Pennsylvania, 
but  afterward  made  their  home  in  Winchester. 
Va..  where  they  passed  the  closnig  scenes  of  their 
lives,  the  mother  dying  in    I8i;i.  and  the  father  in 

1H,H4. 

8 


The  gentleman  whose  [wrtrait  and  life  sketch 
are  here  presented  accorapmied  his  parents  in 
their  remov.al  from  Pennsylvania  to  Virginia  in 
1846,  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
attaining  his  m.ajority.  In  1850,  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Hugh  II.  McGiiire, 
father  of  the  renowned  Hunter  McGuire,  and  dur- 
ing the  session  of  1851-52  he  attended  the  Win- 
chester Jledical  College.  In  the  last-named  yeai-. 
he  entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  the  following 
year.  Shortly  afterward,  he  located  at  Mt.  Jack- 
son, and  in  1854  removed  to  Westminster,  Allen 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  his  profession 
successfully  until  1858.  From  there  he  went  to 
AVaj'nesfield,  Auglaize  County,  and  w.as  engasrod 
in  a  very  large  and  lucrative  practice  there  until 
1885,  when  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Wa\ne  Town- 
ship, the  same  county,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm 
he  had  owned  prior  to  selling  out  at  Waynesfield. 
This  place  consists  of  eighty-five  acres,  mostly  im- 
proved, and  embellished  by  a  substantial  residence 
erected  in  1890. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Krebs  united  him  with  Miss 
Lucina  Myers,  a  native  of  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
and  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Jlyers. 
also  of  that  county.  This  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  three  children:  Laura  L.,  Jennie  J.  and 
Francis  G.  Laura  L.  was  graduated  from  Ada 
University  in  Hardin  County,  and  also  attended 
the  Columbus  Medical  College  and  the  Homeo- 
pathic College  at  Cincinnati.  Her  talent  :is  an 
elocutionist  is  of  an  unusually  high  order.  .Mie  is 
now  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Jlauchester,  of  Goshen  Town- 
ship, who  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  of 
t)hio.  Jennie  .1.,  wlio  is  the  wife  of  Ira  liar- 
rod,  of  Wayne  Township,  was  a  student  at  Ad.a 
University,  but  on  .account  of  poor  health  did  not 
graduate.  She  is  a  fine  musician,  and  is  organist 
of  the  Waynesfield  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Francis  G.  likewise  studied  in  Ada  Universit\-, 
and  is  now  a  prosperous  citizen  of  Goshen  Town- 
ship. His  marriage  united  him  with  Miss  Nellie 
daughter  of  Rev.  A.  P.  McXuit.  of  IJiadner,  Wnnd 
County,  Ohio. 

For  thirty-eight  Nears  l)r.  Krebs  wu.-  in  the 
active   pr.actice  of   hi>   profes.-iou,  ami   is  now   re- 


176 


VOUTR^VIT  AND  BIOGI^VPIIICAL  RECORD. 


tired,  sijendina:  his  declining  years  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  fruits  of  liis  laboi-s.  In  politics,  he 
luis  been  .1  life-long  Demoerat,  and  east  his  fii-st 
Presidential  vote  for  .lames  Bnchannn.  He  has 
been  especi-ally  interested  in  edueati<Mial  matters, 
and  h.as  served  as  School  Director,  as  well  as  in 
other  ollicial  capacities.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  which  they  are 
active  workers.  His  tliorough  knowledge  of  his 
profession  caused  his  services  to  be  in  demand 
over  a  wide  scope  of  territory,  and  his  practice  was 
limited  only  by  the  time  he  was  able  to  devote 
to  it.  His  cheerful  countenance,  encouraging 
words  and  sympathizing  manner  have  won  for 
him  a  host  of  warm  personal  friends,  and  he  is 
universally  respected. 


^^^EOKCtE  a.  MARSHALL  is  one  of  the  prom- 
j  - —  inent  legal  lights  of  Shelby  County,  and  as 
V;^  a  lawyer,  he  combines  ability  and  a  thor- 
ough training  in  leg.al  principles  with  industry 
and  close  application  to  the  interests  of  his  clients. 
He  is  a  scholarly  gentleman,  a  valuable  counselor, 
and  a  useful  and  influential  citizen.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  active  practice  in  this  county  since 
1878,  and  has  been  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  the 
same.  Mr.  Marehall  was  born  in  Washington 
Township,  this  county,  on  the  14th  of  Septemljer, 
1850,  and  is  a  son  of  .Samuel  and  Jane  (Russell) 
Marshall,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  father  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
January  8,  180.3,  and  with  his  father,  also  Samuel 
Marshall,  came  to  Washington  Township,  Shelby 
County,  in  1805.  The  elder  Samuel  made  a  set- 
tlement in  Miami  Count\-,  which  extended  to  the 
Lakes.  He  entered  the  third  tract  in  what  is  now 
Shelby  County,  developed  a  farm,  and  there  his 
death  occurred.  He  w.as  Assnciate  Judge  ft>r  this 
jvidiei.il  district.  .Samuel,  Jr.,  was  reared  on  the 
f.arm  and  made  that  his  home  all  his  life.  He 
married  Mi-<  I'cis- ell  and  reared  a  family  nfi-lrvrn 
rliildren.     I'.mIU  he  and  Mrs.  .Marshall  were   mem- 


bers of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he 
was  Count}-  Coroner  for  several  years.  His  wife 
died  on  the  Sth  of  January,  18fil,  and  he  followed 
her  to  the  grave  on  the  I'Jth  of  February,   1871. 

Our  subject  entered  the  Delaware  (Ohio)  Wes- 
leyan  University  at  a  suitable  age,  and  took  a 
three  years  and  a-lialf  course,  afterward  reading 
law  Willi  the  tinn  of  Conklin  &  Burroughs,  lie 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  by  the  Supreme  Court 
in  1878,  and  at  once  located  in  Sidney  for  pr.actice. 
Later,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Judge 
Conklin,  continued  with  him  for  two  j-ears,  and 
since  that  time  has  conducted  the  business  alone. 
In  1878,  he  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney,  and 
w.as  sworn  in  on  the  1st  of  January,  1879,  holding 
that  position  one  term  of  two,  and  two  terras  of 
three  years,  each.  He  was  elected  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  During  the  great  political  fight  of 
1890,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress,  but  was 
one  of  the  five  who  were  not  elected.  There  were 
three  conventions  of  a  week's  duration  each. 

Mr.  Marshall  chose  his  wife  in  the  person  of 
Miss  Lou  Cowan,  who  was  born  in  Shelby  County, 
Ohio,  and  whose  father,  Dr.  Cowan,  resided  west 
of  Sidney  for  manj' years.  The  nupti.als  were  cele- 
brated on  the  8th  of  January,  1880,  and  three 
children  have  blessed  this  union:  Benjamin,  Sam- 
uel and  Frank.  Mr.  Marshall  is  well  versed  in 
law  and  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Bar  and  a 
highly  reputable  gentleman.  His  reputation  and 
record  are  first-class  for  integrity  and  trustworthi- 
ness in  all  matters  intrusted  to  him,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  most  capable  members  of  his  profession  in 
the  city. 


1<^  ICHOLAS  BREWER.     It  gives  us  pleasure 

I  J,  to  i)lace  on  these  pages  a  biographical  re- 
view of  the  life  of  this  venerable  pioneer 
of  Auglaize  County,  who  is  a  fine  representative  of 
hi«  class.  For  more  th.an  half  a  century,  he  has 
llvrd  and  l.-iliiiri'il  in  Noble  Township,  and  his 
name  will    fuicver  be  associated    vrith  its  rise  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


17; 


growth.  He  has  reclaimed  a  beautiful  farm  from 
the  forests  that  prevailed  here  wheu  be  settled  in 
his  locality,  and  lie  has  been  prominent  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  public  affairs  in  various  important 
official  capacities. 

Mr.  Brewer  was  born  in  lligiiland  County.  .Janu- 
ary 10,  1812.  a  son  of  Isliam  Brewer,  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  who  c;inie  to  Ohio  in  the  early 
years  of  its  settlement,  and  was  one  of  the  origi- 
nal pioneers  of  Higliland  County.  He  married 
there  and  became  a  prospenjus  farmer.  A  few 
years  prior  to  his  death,  he  removed  to  Clinton 
Count\-,  where  he  died  in  1850.  at  .an  advanced 
age.  His  wife,  Ph(jebe  Brewer,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, passed  awa}-  some  years  before  lie  did.  They 
had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  six  sons  and  five 
daughters,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest. 

Mr.  Brewer's  school  advantages  were  very  lim- 
ited.as  he  had  to  go  two  or  three  miles  to  a  school, 
which  was  taugiit  in  a  rude  log  cabin,  and  he  only 
went  two  terms  in  all.  He  obtained  the  most  of 
his  education  at  Imme.  ami  also  obt.ained  a  good 
drilling  in  all  kinds  of  farm  work,  passing  his 
boyhood  on  his  father's  farms  in  Highland  and 
Clinton  Counties,  the  family  removing  to  the  lat- 
ter pl.ace  when  he  was  (piite  small.  The  country 
w.as  wild,  and  game,  ^uch  as  deer,  wolves,  bears 
and  other  animals,  abounded,  so  that  he  had  a  fine 
chance  to  exercise  his  skill  .as  a  m.arksman  when  he 
could  obtain  leave  logo  hunting.  He  farmed  five 
jears  in  Clinton  County  before  his  marriage,  and 
worked  until  he  obtained  money  enough  to  buy 
eighty  acres  of  land.  In  1836.  he  t-.iine  to  Au- 
glaize County-  to  select  a  suitable  location  and  to  in- 
vest his  money,  accompanied  hither  by  his  wife  and 
two  sons,  the  jonrnev  being  made  the  most  of  the 
way  in  a  wagon  througli  the  woods.  When  3Ir. 
Brewer  arrived  at  .St.  Mary's,  he  hired  a  man  to  cut 
his  way  with  an  axe  to  Noble  Township,  and  he 
located  here  in  the  forests,  buying  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  section  24,  where  he  has  since  lived  a 
l)eriod  of  fifty-six  yea-.-s.  His  homestead  was  land 
that  had  been  donated  to  the  State  by  the  Govern- 
ment, that  the  Jliami  and  Erie  Canal  might  be 
built  from  the  proceeds  obtained  in  selling  the 
land. 

Our  suliject  began  life  in   regular  pioneer  btyle. 


erecting  a  log  cabin,  18x20  feet  in  dimensions,  for 
a  dwelling,  in  which  he  lived  several  years.  In- 
dians frequently  passed  by  on  hunting  expedi- 
tions, .and  he  h.as  killed  many  a  deer  and  wolf, 
selling  the  pelts  for  groceries  and  other  necessaries 
for  family  use.  and  supplying  the  table  with  veni- 
son. It  was  the  fall  of  the  jear  when  he  settled 
here,  and  by  the  following  3-ear  he  had  seven  acres 
of  his  land  cleared  and  ready  for  cultivation,  and 
planted  it  with  corn.  He  cleared  a  little  of  his  farm 
each  year,  and,  working  very  hard  to  make  a  liv- 
ing, occasionalh-  became  discour.iged  and  wi^licd 
himself  back  in  his  old  home.  To  make  mat- 
ters worse,  a  few  yeai-s  later,  after  the  canal 
w;is  begun,  the  ague  became  prevalent,  and  he  and 
his  family  suffered  greatly  from  it.  But  better 
times  came;  he  had  his  land  pretty  well  cleared, 
began  to  make  a  little  money,  added  more  land  to 
his  original  purchase,  and  in  time  had  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  most  excellent  farming 
land  in  his  possession.  He  has  given  his  two  sons 
eighty  acres  each,  but  still  retains  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  sections  2.3  and  21.  All  this 
land  has  been  cleared  b_v  his  own  hands,  and  he 
has  placed  it  under  substantial  improvement.  He 
began  here  in  the  woods  with  but  little  cai)ital, 
and  has  hewed  his  way  to  a  comfortable  fortune, 
which  places  him  among  the  solid  men  of  Noble 
Township. 

Mr.  Brewer  was  married  Decemlter  15,  I80O,  to 
.Sarah  Noble,  a  native  of  Clinton  County,  whose 
parents  came  to  this  county  at  the  same  time  that 
she  and  her  husband  came.  She  was  an  excellent 
Christian  woman,  the  best  of  wives  and  mothers, 
anil  an  honored  member  of  the  Metliodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  .She  was  greatly  mourned  when  death 
called  her  hence  in  187U.  Five  sons  and  five 
daughters  were  the  fruit  of  her  marriage  with  our 
subject,  as  follows:  Elisha  N.,  Caroline  (deceased), 
Calvin  (deceased),  Elizabeth,  Margaret.  Auirusta, 
.\lbert  (deceased).  Cass.  Susan  (deceased),  and 
Clinton. 

Mr.  Brewer  h.as  a  good  record  as  a  Democrat 
since  the  day,  many  years  ago,  that  he  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  .Vndrew  .lackson.  His  fellow- 
citizens  early  recognized  his  fitness  for  public  life, 
and  have  from  lime  to  time  called  him  to  fill  vari- 


17S 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL  RECORD. 


ous  responsible  offices  connected  with  the  admin- 
istration of  civic  affairs.  lie  was  at  one  time 
County  Commissioner,  discharging  the  duties  thus 
incumbent  upon  him  nitli  true  public  spirit,  and 
.•^lining  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best 
men  that  ever  held  the  position.  lie  w.as  Trus- 
tee of  Noble  Township  for  several  years,  and 
Township  Clerk  for  a  long  time,  and  for  many 
yeai-s  had  charge  of  the  finances  of  the  ti)«nship 
as  Treasurer. 


.«  »11. 1.1AM    MARION    SNOW    is  intoUigent. 

\  -  /  progressive  anil  prosperous  in  the  prosecu- 
VV  tiou  of  his  calling  as  a  farmer  and  stock- 
man, and  is  numbered  among  the  leading  members 
of  his  cl,TSS  in  .Shelby  County.  His  home  is  one  of 
the  most  comfortable  and  attractive  on  section  12, 
Cynthiaua  Township,  where  he  is  enlensively  en- 
gaged in  business. 

A  native  of  this  .State,  our  subject  w.is  born  near 
Piqua.  .Miami  County.  October  4.  1850.  He  is  a  son 
of  George  .Snow,  who  emigrated  from  his  native 
country,  Germany,  to -\merica  when  a  lad  of  seven 
years  in  company  with  his  father,  who  also  bore 
the  name  of  George.  They  first  made  their  home 
in  Baltimore,  but  soon  afterward  removed  to  this 
State  and  located  in  this  county,  wheie  tlie  grand- 
father died.  The  father  of  our  subject  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and,  coming  to  this 
county  in  18.i6,  made  a  permanent  location  in 
Cvnthiana  Township,  where  he  purchased  land  and 
resided  until  his  dece.ise,  which  occurred  in  No- 
vember. 1800,  when  in  his  eightieth  year,  lie  was 
a  prominent  land-owner  in  this  county,  and  at  Iiis 
death  left  an  estate  of  ¥4.000.  In  religious  affairs, 
he  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
Church. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Nancv  Crowl  and  w.-ls  a  native  of  Montgomery 
Countv.  Like  her  husband,  she  w.as  also  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  Church,  and  reared  a  family  i>f 


nine  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  'William 
M.,  of  this  sketch,  was  given  a  good  education,  and 
when  twenty  years  of  age  started  out  to  make  his 
own  w.ay  in  the  world.  In  186'J,  he  went  West  to 
Missouri,  and  thence  to  I^awrence,  Kan.,  in  both  of 
which  pl.aces  he  w.as  engaged  in  working  on  a  farm, 
remaining  about  a  j-ear.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  returning  home,  he  eiig.iged  in  farming  in 
Cynthiana  Township,  to  which  industry,  in  188.'), 
he  added  that  of  buying  and  shipping  stock,  hand- 
ling about  S!,tO,000  worth  of  animals  each  year, 
which  he  ships  mostly  to  Buffalo. 

The  Lady  who  became  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
Januarj-  1,  1838,  was  Miss  Henrietta,  daughter  of 
Cyrus  and  Jane  Miller,  natives  of  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.,  where  their  daughter  w.as  also  born. 
Tlie  parents  of  Mrs.  Snow  came  to  Ohio  in  1870, 
at  which  time  they  located  in  Miami  County, 
where  they  are  at  present  residing.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  have  had  one  son,  Marion  F.,  who 
was  born  Decembers,  1879,  .and  died  .lanuary  .5, 
1880. 

Mr.  Snow  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  h.as  been  called  upon  to  represent  his 
fellow-townsmen  as  a  delegate  to  the  various 
county  conventions.  He  w.as  candidate  for  Sheriff 
in  the  fall  of  1890,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small 
majority.  He  is  now  serving  his  second  year  as 
Trustee,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  is  perform- 
ing in  a  manner  which  does  credit  to  himself  and 
gives  satisf.action  to  his  constituents.  He  is  the 
owner  of  fifty  acres  of  good  land  on  section  23, 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  another  por- 
tion of  the  township,  which  he  is  cultivating  in  a 
most  intelligent  and  profitable  manner. 


il 


■  ILLIAM  .SCHULKNBERG.  No  n.irae  in 
the  memorial  department  of  this  work  is 
^y  more  worthy  of  mention  th.an  that  of  Will- 
iam Schulen berg.  Postmaster  and  merchant  of  New 
ISremen.  .Vuirlaize  County,  Ohio.  In  him  thecoin- 
niuiiitv  lias  a  faithful  and  unswerving  friend,  ever 


PORTRAIT  AST)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


179 


alert  to  serve  its  best  int-erests,  and  generous  in  his 
contributions  toward  every  movement  tending  to 
the  general  advancement.  He  vras  born  September  7, 
1838,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  comes  of  German 
parentage,  his  fatlier  and  mother,  Henry  F. and  Wil- 
helmina  (Buck)  Sehulenberg,  being  natives  of  the 
Old  Countrj'.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Ger- 
many on  the  7th  of  Ma\',  1832, and  there  the  father 
followed  his  trade,  that  of  miller  and  millwright, 
until  1833,  when  they  took  passage  for  theUnited 
States.  After  an  ocean  voyage  of  two  months  Ihey 
landed  on  American  soil  and  came  immediately  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Sehulenberg  followed 
building  and  contracting  for  several  years.  From 
there  he  subsequenth-  moved  to  Is'ew  Bremen, 
Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  and  a  few  j-ears  later  to 
Cincinnati.  However,  he  was  not  satisfied  to  re- 
main in  that  city  and  soon  afterwards  he  returned 
to  jSTew  Bremen,  where  he  settled  permanently,  be- 
ing one  of  the  first  residents  of  that  town.  He  fol- 
lowed his  trade  of  carpenter  and  builder,  and  all  tlie 
first-class  houses  of  that  town  are  monuments  to  his 
work.  He  w:is  Captain  of  a  company  of  State  militia 
here  for  a  number  of  jeai-s.  AVhen  Randolph  freed 
his  slaves,  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Mercer 
County  where  he  sent  them  to  school.  They  camped 
near  New  Bremen  until  the  people  objected,  when 
Mr.  Sehulenberg  loaded  tliem  on  a  canal  boat  and 
sent  them  back.  Mr.  Sehulenberg  was  a  member 
of  the  St.  Paul  Lutheran  church,  wliich  lie  built, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  well- 
known  men  of  the  county.  He  served  in  the  army 
in  Germany.  He  died  of  cholera  in  1849,  when 
only  forty  > ears  of  age,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
the  year  previous. 

Our  subject,  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of  twelve 
children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  was  but 
eleven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  died,  and  he 
received  such  educational  advantages  as  the  times 
afforded,  attending  the  common  schools  of  tlie 
county  in  log  schoolliouses  with  slab  seats,  etc. 
After  the  death  of  his  parents  he  painted  wagons 
in  the  shop  of  a  wagon-maker,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  fifteen  years  of  age.  after  which  he 
hired  out  to  work  on  a  farm  for  §3  per  month. 
He  was  thus  engaged  for  about  three  years,  after 
which  he  boated  on  the  Miami  and  Erie  Canal  dur- 


ing the  summer  and  followed  coopering  during 
the  winter  months.  In  1858,  he  ran  the  stage  and 
carried  the  mail  from  New  Bremen  toPiqua,  Ohio, 
and  continued  thus  engaged  until  18G2.  On  tlie 
25th  of  August  of  that  3'ear,  he  enlisted  in  companv 
C,  Thirty-seventh  Ohio  Infantry,  under  Col.  Siebert, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Vicksburg,  siege 
and  assault  of  Jackson,  Missionary  Ridge,  Resaca, 
Dallas,  Keuesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro, 
and  Bentonville.  Two  of  his  brothers  were  in  his 
company  and  another  brother  was  in  the  First 
Ohio  Calvary.  Mr.  Sehulenberg  had  several  bullet 
holes  shot  through  his  blouse,  and  was  shot  through 
the  hair  once,  but  never  received  a  flesh  wound. 
The  l.ast  six- months  of  his  service,  he  was  sent  to 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  acted  as  fowarding  oflicer, 
forwarding  substitutes  to  the  front.  He  became 
clerk  in  that  department  On  tlie  28th  of  Mav, 
1865,  he  was  discharged  and  returned  to  New 
Bremen.  He  was  in  the  hospital  about  a  week 
during  his  service. 

Returning  to  New  Bremen,  Mr.  .Sehulenberg  was 
married  to  Miss  C.  Helwig,  a  native  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  settled  down  to  the  duties  of  life,  first 
working  in  a  brewery.  Later,  he  secured  a  position 
in  a  hardware  store  and  still  later  was  in  the  saloon 
business  for  himself.  In  1868,  under  Glen.  Grant, 
he  became  Postm.aster  at  New  Bremen,  which  posi- 
tion he  continued  to  hold  in  a  very  satisfactorv 
manner  until  1885.  In  1868,  he  engaged  in  the 
book  and  stationery  business  and  continued  this 
in  connection  with  the  postoffice  business.  In  1886, 
he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Auglaize  Count}-  on  the 
Republican  ticket  and  was  elected  with  a  majoritj- 
of  331  in  a  county  of  from  1,800  to  2,000  Demo- 
cratic majority,  thus  showing  his  popularitj-.  He 
served  one  term,  during  which  time  he  resided  at 
AVapakoneta,  the  county  seat,  but  he  continued  his 
business  at  New  Bremen.  After  his  term  had  ex- 
pired, Mr.  Sehulenberg  returned  to  New  Bremen 
and  was  re-appointed  Postmaster  under  Gen.  Har- 
rison. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sehulenberg  are  the  parents  of 
three  children:  ,\nna.  wife  of  Edward  Lanyhert. 
of  this  town;  Herbert,  who  is  assistant  Post- 
master and  carries  on  the  store,  and  Francis,  twelve 
years  old.   Mr.  and  Mrs.  .S<,-huleii berg  have  adopted 


ISO 


PORTRAIT  ANO  BlOCRAPIllCAL   RIX'ORD. 


a  cbiUI.  Franklin  Iluenke,  whom  they  took  when 
but  six  months  old.  lie  is  still  with  our  subject 
:»nd  wife.  Mr.  Seiiulenberg  has  been  Mayor  of  tlie 
town  of  New  Bremen,  has  been  Chief  of  the  fire 
department,  .ini)  has  been  a  member  of  the  City 
t'ouneil.  lie  is  a  st.inoh  supporter  of  Republican 
l>rinoiple<.  lie  ami  wife  are  membei-s  of  the  St. 
PaiiTs  Lutheran  Church  and  he  is  at  present  .Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Schulenberg 
owns  a  tine  dwelling  in  New  Bremen,  a  handsome 
business  block  and  other  town  property,  including 
three  ,acres  adjoining  the  corporation.  He  operated 
a  tile  yard  for  a  few  yeai-s  and  also  started  a  min- 
eral water  f.ictory  bvit  soon  sold  this.  IK' has  also 
been  connected  with  an  agricultural  implement 
store  here,  lie  and  the  Postmaster  at  St.  ^Mary's 
are  the  two  oldest  of  "rncle  Sam's  boys"  in  the 
county,  having  been  in  the  I'nited  States  service 
nearly  twenty-live  years.  Our  subject  has  a  fine 
large  store  and  h:is  a  select  stock  of  books  and 
stationery.  He  is  wide-awake  and  thm-ougli-go- 
ing  and  one  of  the  pri>mineiit  men  of  tlie  county. 


F.  LAXFER.SIF.CK.  The  inventive  genius 
of  this  prosperous  age  has  found  one  of  its 
most  progi-essive  fields  in  devising  imple- 
_  ments  designed  to  lighten  the  labor  of  the 
agiiculturist,  and  the  progressive  farmer  of  the 
day  is  ])rovided  with  machines  which  to  a  great 
extent  relieve  him  from  heavy  manual  labor. 
Among  houses  well  known  for  the  production  of 
these  wonderful  devices  is  that  of  J.  F.  Lanfei-sieck 
(t  Co..  manufacturers  of  sulky  plows,  gang  plows. 
sinsrle  plows. etc.  The  quality  of  the  goods  man\i- 
faetured  h.as  given  them  a  wide-spread  reputation 
and  they  are  doing  a  tlnurishing  business. 

J.  F.  Ijnfersieck  w.as  born  in  Shelby  County, 
Ohio.  May  14,  18^2.  and  comes  of  German  parent- 
age, his  father,  Victor  Lanfersieck.  and  his  mo- 
ther. Catherine  (Knost)  Lanfei-sieck.  having  l>een 
born  in   Germanv.     The  father  was  a   stonecutter 


and  followed  his  trade  in  his  native  country 
until  18.'M.  when  he  decided  that  he  could  do  better 
in  .\nierica,  and  so  crossed  the  ocean.  lie  came  to 
Ohio  and  located  in  \'an  Ruren  Township,  Slielby 
County,  where  he  purcha.sed  land.  He  was  about 
the  second  man  to  settle  in  that  township,  and  he 
first  purcha.sed  fifty  acres,  upon  whicli  he  built  a  log 
house.  This  farm  lie  improved  and  cleared,  and 
when  he  sold  out,  ill  1  SUM.  ho  liad  one  hundiL-.l  and 
ninety  acres  of  wcll-improveil   land. 

He  moved  to  New  Bremen  and  Ihoie  lived  re- 
tired until  his  deatli.  in  IsTI,  when  sixty-four 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  much  detfiniina- 
tioii  and  energy,  and  although  he  .started  with 
limited  means,  he  became  one  of  tlie  sulistaiilial 
men  of  his  section.  He  was  a  Lutheran  in  his  re- 
ligious views,  as  w.as  also  liis  wife,  who  died  in 
1.S88,  when  eiglity-t%vo  years  of  age.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  survive 
at  the  present  time. 

The  original  of  this  notice  w;is  born  in  the  lug 
house  his  father  had  built  in  Shelby  Countv,  Van 
Buren  Township,  and  he  attended  school  in  a  log 
schoolhouse,his  educational  advantages  being  lim- 
ited to  a  few  months  each  year.  He  assisted  his 
father  on  the  home  pl.ace  until  twenty  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  began  learning  the  bl.acksmith's 
trade,  or  plow-making,  in  New  Bremen,  and  after- 
ward followed  this  for  thirteen  years.  In  1880, 
he  purchased  the  plow  works  in  New  Bremen  of 
I.  H.  Lanfei-sieck,  who  was  the  founder  of  the 
works,  and  our  subject  w.as  sole  proprietor  until 
1881.  wliea  he  sold  a  half-interest  to  .J.  H.  Gro- 
tliaus,  the  tirm  name  afterward  becoming  J.  F. 
Lanfersieck  it  Co.  In  1891,  the  firm  erected  a 
large  new  brick  establishment  with  a  front.age  of 
one  hundred  feet  and  seventy  feet  deep,  and  two 
stories  high.  They  give  eraplo^'ment  to  a  good 
many  skilled  workmen  and  maiuifaetuie  many 
'■New  Bremen"  plows  in  a  year. 

Mr.  Lanfei-sieck  lias  been  twice  niariicd.  lirst  in 
ISTO  to  .Mi.ss  Caruliiie  -Vhlers.  a  native  of  .Shelliy 
County,  ()\iU>,  who  died  in  1880,  le.nving  three 
children:  Augusta,  Alinda  and  Amanda.  Our  sub- 
ject's second  raarri.age  occurred  in  1881,  to  Miss 
JIary  Welleraeyer,  a  native  of  (Germany,  who  came 
to  America  with   her  parents.     No  children    have 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


181 


been  born  of  this  union.  In  p  litics,  Mr.  Lanfer- 
sieck  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion,  a  Luthei-an. 

J.  H.  Grothaus,  -nho  represents  the  company  of 
this  firm,  is  a  native  of  Slielb_v  County,  Van  Buren 
Township,  Ohio,  born  February  20,  1859,  and  the 
son  of  AVilliam  Grothaus,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  18-25.  When  fourteen  years  of  age,  the 
ehler  Grotliaus  came  to  America,  located  in  Penn- 
sylvanin.  and  tliere  worked  .is  a  farm  hand  for 
some  time.  Later,  he  learned  the  cigar-making 
trade,  and  then  came  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  con- 
tinued the  same.  The  gold  fever  seized  him  in  1850, 
and  that-j-car  he  went  to  California,  where  hespent 
three  years  in  the  gold  mines.  lie  met  with  much 
luck,  and  returned  home  with  considerable  gold, 
making  the  return  trip  via  the  Isthmus.  He  spent 
a  few  years  in  St.  Louis,  and  traveled  for  a  whole- 
sale house  tliere  for  a  sliort  time.  He  was  in  Chi- 
cago when  it  was  but  a  small  town,  and  was  in  the 
grocery  business  in  Cincinnati  for  a  short  time. 
He  came  to  Van  Buren  Township,  Shelby  Count}', 
Ohio,  soon  after  his  return  from  California,  pur- 
chased a  farm,  and  later  located  on  this,  tilling  the 
soil  successfully  for  nine  years. 

In  1865,  he  sold  liis  farm  and  located  in  New 
Bremen,  where  he  eng.aged  in  the  cigar  business  a 
short  time,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  slioe  busi- 
ness for  a  few  ^ears.  He  was  JIayor  of  the  town 
nine  years.  Justice  of  the  Peace  several  years,  and 
resigned  both  positions  on  account  of  failing  health. 
He  died  in  1885.  when  sixty-two  years  of  ■  ge.  He 
was  a  well-informed  man,  had  traveled  a  great 
deal, and  was  higlily  esteemed  by  all.  He  left  con- 
siderable property.  His  wife,  wliose  maiden  name 
was  Eliza  Lanfersieck,  w.as  a  native  of  Van  Buren 
Township,  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  and  she  is  still 
living,  making  her  home  in  New  Bremen.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  Of 
the  ten  children  born  to  her  marii.age.  eiglit  are 
living  at  the  [iresent  time. 

J.  H.  CJiothaus.  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of 
thp>e  children,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  New  r.i-emen.  and  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age 
when  he  entered  the  plow  works  of  II.  Lanfersieck 
i  Co.,  as  painter.  In  18.^1.  when  twenty-two 
years  of  age.  he  purcliased  a  half  interest  in  the 
plow  works,  then  owned  by  .1.  F.  Lanfersieck.     He 


attended  the  books,  looked  after  the  sales,  etc.  On 
the  14th  of  November,  1888,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Amelia  Vogelsong,  a  native  of  New  Bremen, 
and  the  daughter  of  F.  Vogelsong,  one  of  the 
wealthiest  business  men  in  IS'cw  Bremen.  Two 
children  have  blessed  this  union:  Alvin  and  Wal- 
ter. Mr.  Grothaus  is  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  po- 
litical views,  and  has  been  Clerk  of  the  town  for 
six  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  School  Board, 
now  serving  his  second  term,  and  has  held  other 
local  positions.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  En- 
campment. Mr.  and  Mi's.  Grothaus  are  both  Ger- 
man Lutherans  in  their  religious  views.  Mr. 
Grotliaus  is  a  stockholder  in  the  New  Bremen 
Natur.-d  G.as  Company,  and  is  Secretary  of  the 
Home  Oil  Company.  He  owns  a  fine  residence 
near  the  school  building. 


S.  ElvERMEYER.     The    humanizing    in- 
Ijl      |\\    fluence  of   Christianity   is  shown  in  thou- 
S  sands  of  directions,  but  in  none  to  a  more 
*  marked  degree  than  in  that  of  medical  and 

surgical  science.  Auglaize  County,  Ohio, has  many 
accomplished  physicians,  and  among  these  is  Dr. 
M.  S.  Ekermeyer,  who  Ls  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  chosen  profession  and  devotes  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  healing  the  sick  and  afflicted. 

Our  subject  was  born  at  Zanesville,  Ohio,  on  the 
4th  of  September,  1860,  and  five  years  later  moved 
with  his  parents  to  New  Lremen,  where  be  at- 
tended school  until  1871,  and  thus  laid  the  foun- 
dation for  his  subsequent  prosperous  career.  He 
then  went  to  Cincinnati,  entered  the  public 
schools  there  and  spent  four  years  in  close  appli- 
cation to  his  books.  After  this,  for  three  years 
he  served  an  apprenticeship  in  a  drug-store  and 
in  the  fall  of  1878  he  entered  upon  a  three-years 
course  in  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute  at  Cincin- 
nati, graduating  at  that  well-known  institution  in 
the  spring  of  1881. 


1S2 


IVKTKAIT  AND  UliH'.KAPllICAI.    KKCORD. 


Fixmi  there  >[r.  Ekermeyer  came  to  New  Bvc- 
nuMi,  practiced  a  -few  inontlis.  and  in  the  fall  of 
ISSl  went  to  Ciucinnati.  whoie  lio  praitui-d  nu'ili- 
ciiio  in  partnci-sliip  with  his  father,  wlio  is  also  a 
proniinent  physician.  He  arrived  in  the  Queen 
City  just  in  time  to  take  an  active  part  in  sulidu- 
in;;:  one  of  the  woi-st  epidemics  of  smallpox  that  city 
liad  ever  known.  lie  met  with  wonderful  success 
in  his  treatment  of  tliis  fell  disease  and  was  also 
very  successful  in  his  Ciises  of  diplitheria,  which 
was  largely  prevalent  at  that  time. 

In  1883.  Dr.  Kkermeyer  returned  to  New  Kre- 
mon.  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, and 
his  efforts  .as  a  practitioner  of  the  healing  art  are 
meeting  with  excellent  success,  lie  is  now  en- 
g:igeil  in  a  large  and  lucrative  prarliee  and  is  one 
of  tlie  foremost  physicians  of  the  county.  In  18.').'), 
lie  w;\s  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  JIartlia  Schmidt, 
of  Xew  Bremen,  daughter  of  Henry  .Schmidt,  who 
wa.s  formerly  one  of  the  well-known  merchants  of 
New  Bremen,  where  he  died  in  1877.  One  child, 
Ksther.  li:is  been  born   to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ekermeyer. 

Although  a  stanch  Repuljlican  in  his  political 
views.  Dr.  P^kermeyer  does  not  aspire  to  any  polit- 
ical position  and  does  not  take  a  very  .active  in- 
terest in  political  affaire,  but  is  thoroughly  posted 
on  .all  subjects  of  moment.  .Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pj'thias  and  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  very  prominent 
in  social  circles,  being  at  present  District  Deputy 
Grand  M.aster  in  the  former  organization,  lie  is 
a  meml>er  of  the  Ohio  Slate  Medical  Society  and 
is  a  popular,  wide-awake,  thoroughly-posted  young 
physician.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kkermeyer  are  progress- 
ive and  .active  wmker^  of  the  SI.  Peter's  Lutheran 
Church. 


-^3:i£^^S, 


^^mM^-m:m 


jf^rSUF.ODOliV.  Pl'RPrS.  a  native  of  Rhenish 
//^\  Bavaria,  flermany.  born  on  the  lilli  <>!  No- 
Vs5>/  vcmber.  1844,  is  now  the  popular  and  most 
efficient  editor  of  the  New  Bremen  Star,  one  of 
the  representative  county  journals,  a  German  pa- 


per, lie  attended  school  until  sixteen  ye.ars  of  age 

and  tlieii  .-ecured  a  ])osilion  in  the  Treasurer's 
nllici'.  which  hi'  tilled  for  six  years  in  a  verv  satis- 
factory manner. 

In  18()l),  he  sailed  lor  America  from  I'rancc, 
taking  passage  at  1  lavre  do  tir.ace  in  December, 
18t).').and  lamling  in  New  York  City  in  .lanuarv 
of  the  following  year,  lie  came  immediately  to 
New  Bremen  and  became  a  teacher  in  the  schools 
of  that  city,  remaining  in  the  same  until  1879.  He 
w.as  a  very  popular  .-uid  successful  educator  and 
accomplished  much  L;(iod  in  the  schools  of  that 
town.  In  December,  187!),  he  jjurchased  the  office 
of  the  Stem  iks  WesUichen  Ohio.  The  owner  and 
founder  of  this  paper  was  .1.  V.  .Sehiffer,  who  started 
the  paper  in  1873,  at  jMinster,  three  miles  south  of 
New  Bremen,  and  conducted  it  at  that  point  until 
it  w.as  purchased  by  Mr.  Piirpus,  who  removed  it 
to  New  Bremen,  where  it  has  since  been  conducted. 
The  paper  always  advocates  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  Mr.  Purpus  h.as  proved 
himself  to  boa  man  of  good  judgment  in  conduct- 
ing the  editorial  policy  of  his  paper.  He  has  evei- 
been  an  earnest  advocate  of  all  public  enteri)rises 
calculated  to  benefit  the  county,  and  through  the 
columns  of  his  journal  has  wielded  no  slight  inllu- 
ence  in  directing  the  proper  steps  to  be  taken  for 
any  movement.  The  paper  is  29x44,  nine-column 
folio,  and  his  office  is  equipped  with  iiower-press, 
job  presses  and  a  go(jd  assortment  of  tj'pe  and 
material.  I'nder  the  efficient  man.agement  of  IMr. 
Purpus,  the  iSfac  has  come  to  be  regarded  as  one  of 
the  best  papers  of  the  county  and  journeys  over 
a  wide  scope  of  country. 

Mr.  Purpus  selected  as  his  comiiauidu  in  life 
Miss  Antoinette  Vockell,  a  native  of  New  Bremen, 
and  their  union  w.as  solemnized  in  the  year  1869. 
Mrs.  Purpus'  parents  came  to  America  from  Ger- 
many in  1806  and  settled  in  Auglaize  County, 
where  they  passed  the  closing  scenes  of  their 
lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Purpus  became  the  jiar- 
onts  of  an  interesting  family  of  eitrht  children, 
as  follows:  Louisa,  Theodore.  Alficil.  Adolph, 
Otto.  Leo,  and  Florentina  and  Kiuina.  both  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Purpus  has  ever  advocated  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  served  one 
term  .as  Township  Clerk.    He  is  at  present  Clerk  of 


n 


Md/aa^Jf' 


/X^-'t7-r(_^s 


PORTRAIT  A:SD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


185 


the  School  Board.  He  was  elected  Secietarj-  of  the 
Xew  Biemen  Building  and  Savings  Association 
upon  its  organization  in  1873  and  served  in  tliat 
capacity  until  1881.  The  Concordia  Building  and 
Savings  Association  was  then  started,  in  January, 
1884,  and  he  is  now  its  worthy  Secretary.  Both 
he  and  Mrs.  Purpus  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
St.  Paul's  Church,  and  are  well  respected  in  the 
(■(inmuuiitv. 


:X[  feALLACE  W.  KOACll,  Sheriff  of  Logan 
\/\l//  County,  is  a  gentleman  whose  kindly  and 
)^'^  courteous  mannei-s  have  won  for  him 
many  warm  pei-sonal  friends,  both  in  political  and 
social  circles.  He  was  born  i)i  AVashington  County, 
this  Slate,  March  11,  1850,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel 
M.  and  Susan  (Hanson)  Roach,  also  natives  of  this 
State.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and, 
removing  to  Indiana,  there  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life. 

The  parental  family  included  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  all  of  wlioin  .ire  living.  AVall.ace 
W.  was  given  a  practical  education  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  county,  and  when  reaching  his  majority 
learned  the  scroll-sawing  and  chair-making  trade. 
For  six  \ears,  he  resided  at  Kenton,  this  State, 
wliere  he  worked  at  his  trade.  In  April,  1880.  he 
came  to  Bellefontaine  and.iccepted  the  position  of 
foreman  in  the  scroll  department  of  what  was  then 
the  Nathan  Walker  Chair  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. Subsequently,  he  became  Superintendent 
of  the  wholesale  concern,  which  position  lie  filled 
for  two  years. 

Always  actively  interested  in  public  affairs.  Mr. 
Koach  was  elected  to  the  City  Council  in  1882,  and 
two  years  later  was  appointed  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term  of  one  of  his  brother  Aldei-men.  In  1886, 
he  was  elected  Citj-  Marshal,  and  on  the  same  day 
on  which  his  term  expired  was  nominated  for 
.Sheriff  of  Logan  Countv,  being  elected  to  that 
responsible  ottice  in  November,  1888.  He  was  re- 
elected the  following  terra,  and  during  both    cam- 


paigns carried  the  county  by  the  largest  majority 
ever  given  to  a  Sheriff,  which  speaks  well  for  his 
standing  in  this  section.  As  a  Sheriff,  he  has  given 
entire  satisfaction  to  everyone  concerned  and  is 
very  popular  among  his  fellow-citizens.  A  Re- 
publican in  political  mattei'S,  he  served  as  Chair- 
man of  the  Republican  County  Committee  in  1891 
and  h.as  occupied  other  positions  of  trust. 

During  the  Civil  "War,  Mr.  Roach  served  for 
nine  months  as  a  member  of  Compan3-  C,  Eigh- 
teenth Ohio  Infantry,  and  as  he  enlisted  before 
reaching  his  fifteenth  year,  he  is  the  youngest  man 
in  Logan  Count}-  who  carried  a  gun  during  the 
war.  As  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army,  he  is 
connected  with  Post  No.  441,  .and  occupies  a  high 
position  among  his  comrades.  In  1888.  he  was  ap- 
pointed Quartermaster  of  Logan  County  Battalion, 
by  J.  AV.  O'Neal,  Department  Commander  of  the 
National  Encampment  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  Soci- 
ally, Mr.  Roach  is  identified  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  serving  as  District  Deputy 
Grand  Master  in  1887;  the  Knights  of  Pythi.os  and 
Uniform  Rank,  Sixty-eighth  Division,  where  he  is 
serving  his  second  term  as  Representative  to  the 
Grand  Lodge;  and  he  also  belongs  to  Bellefontaine 
Lodge  No.  209,  F.  it  A.  M.;  LaFayette  Chapter 
No.  GO.  and  Roper  Commandery  No.  19,  K.  T. 

Decembers,  1867,  Mr.  Roach  and  Miss  Louise 
;M.  Sprague  were  united  in  marriage,  and  unto  them 
have  been  bora  three  children,  viz.:  Otto  ^Y.. 
Marleu  B.  and  Gertrude  S.  An  old  family  Bible 
now  in  the  possession  of  Elijah  Sprasrue,  father  of 
Airs.  Roach,  gives  the  following  facts  in  regard  to 
the  family  history:  AA'illiam  Sprague,  great-grand- 
father of  Elijah,  was  born  February  2,  1691,  anil 
oil  the  10th  of  September,  1714,  w.os  married  to 
Alice  Brown,  whose  birth  occurred  Alay  31,  1G91. 
Their  son  Joshua  was  born  .lulj-  3,  1729  and  in 
.January.  1749,  w.as  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Amy  Darling.  His  second  marriage,  which  oc- 
curred April  22.  17.51.  united  liim  with  Abigail 
AViiljur.  .lune  10.  1762.  he  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily from  Rhode  Island  to  Nova  Scotia,  but  at  the 
opening  of  the  Revolutionary  AVar  returned  to 
New  England,  settling  m  Massachusetts.  During 
the  war,  he  and  his  two  eldest  sons  did  valiant  ser- 
vice for  the  Colonies.     .limatlKUi  Sprague.  Sr..  was 


I8o 


rORTUAIT  ANP  BIUtiHAVinCA)-  KECOUn. 


IxM'i)  J:iiiii:iry  ;>.  1767.  niul  was  one  of  a  (.-oiiipany 
wlio  cmiic  lo  Ohio  in  I7S8.  His  wife,  wliosc 
maiden  name  w:u>  Callierine  Kmerson.  was  born  at 
SniithlioM.  Providence  County,  H.  I..  September 
i;>,  1 7;>l*.  and  w.-u:  llie  daughter  of  Ezekiel  Kmer- 
son,  ovei-seer  of  the  first  cotton  factory  in  the 
I'mted  .States.  F.lijah  Sjii-ngue,  father  of  Mrs. 
Ivoaoli,  was  lH>rn  March  10,  If^lS.and  is  still  living:. 

The  paternal  gt-.indfatlier  of  our  subject,  Daniel 
Roach,  was  lxirn  in  Virjrinia,  and  came  to  Ohio  in 
1739,  looiting  in  Washinirton  County,  where  he 
died  in  .luly,  lt*.')0.  Lyman  S.  Konch,  brother  of 
our  subject,  is  a  very  prominent  politicanand  now 
resides  in  Texas.  During  the  late  war,  he  served 
,as  a  mcnjber  of  the  Ohio  T.ight  Artillery,  Battery 
C,  and  w.as  captured  in  the  fall  of  1861,  after 
which  he  w.as  confined  in  the  Florence  (S.  C.)  Pri- 
son for  about  five  months. 

In  connection  with  this  biographical  sketch  will 
be  noticed  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Roach. 


'  AMKS  M.  KAUF.MAN.  Among  the  resi- 
dents of  Bellefontaine  who  are  spending 
their  declining  years  in  the  enjoyment  of 
peace  and  plenty,  obUiined  by  their  indus- 
trious efforts  ,'ind  good  man.agement,  and  are  secure 
in  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  them,  is  Mr.  Kauf- 
man, who  is  a  retired  agriculturist.  He  w.as  born 
in  Baltimore  County,  Md..  December  1,  1816,  .iiid 
is  the  son  of  Frederick  and  Klizabeth  (Spaiks) 
Kaufm.an,  natives  respectively  of  I'ennsylvania 
and  Maryland. 

Georse  Kaufman,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Amsterdam,  Holland, 
and  emigrating  to  .-Vmerica  when  a  Ixjy,  made  his 
home  in  Pennsylvania.  He  served  valiantly  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  and  si)ent  his 
la-st  davs  in  Allentown.  Pa.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  a  saddler  by  trade,  which  occupation 
he  learned  in  his  native  town  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  later  went  to  Maryland,  and  carried  on  his 
trade  in  connection   with   mercantile  and  farming 


interests.  He  w,as  very  successful  iu  all  his  under- 
takings, and  departed  this  life  in  Baltimore  County. 
He  W!is  a  very  prominent  AVliig  in  his  day,  "ud 
was  always  roaily  to  support  any  measure  whioli 
had  for  it,'-  oliji'ct  tlic  upluiildiiig  df  his  coiiunu- 
nity. 

Of  the  parcnt.-il  family  of  four  sous  and  one 
daughter,  three  sous  are  now  livinir.  those  besides 
our  subject  being  Tluini:i>  and  .bilm  '1'.,  who  live 
in  this  county,  .'ind  Baltimore,  rospecli vely,  where 
they  follow  tlie  busine.-.s  of  saddlers  and  har- 
ness-makers, .laino  M.,  of  this  sketch,  was  reared 
iu  Ills  native  coiiuly,  and  educated  in  the  priv- 
ate and  subscription  schools.  Wlim  reaching 
his  eighteenth  year,  he  went  to  the  city  of  Balti- 
more and  .served  an  appienticesliip  of  four  years 
at  the  carpenter's  trade.  After  mastering  that  oc- 
cupation, he  went,  in  IS.'Jl,  to  Kentucky,  and,  in 
partnership  with  his  uncle,  .lohn  .Sparks,  built  the 
court  house  at  Stanford.  .Mr.  Kaufman  remained 
in  that  place  for  about  two  years,  and  while  there 
voted  for  William  Henry  Harrison.  He  next  went 
to  Hustonville,  that  State,  and  opened  a  grocery 
store,  which  he  conducted  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to  Xenui,  this 
.State,  where  he  met  and  married,  that  same  year, 
;Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Silas  Roberts,  of  that 
city.  His  father-in-law  having  purchased  two 
farms  in  Logan  County,  this  .State,  the  winter 
previous,  our  subject  thought  it  advisable  to  try 
farming,  and  in  the  fall  of  1838,  moved  on  a  farm 
in  Harrison  Township,  where  he  made  his  home 
iintil  1868. 

In  the  above-named  year,  .Mr.  Kaufman  came  to 
Bellefontaine,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has 
a  beautiful  home  in  this  city,  where  he  is  enjoying 
the  pleasures  of  a  charming  domestic  life.  He 
still  owns  his  farm  in  Harrison  Township,  which 
consists  of  four  hun<lred  and  eight  acres,  and  i> 
under  thorough  tillage.  The  estate  bears  a  full 
line  of  adtquale  improvements,  and  produces  a 
ijood  store  of  the  various  cro[)s,  to  the  raising  of 
which  it  is  devoted.  Jlr.  Kaufman,  while  residing 
upon  his  farm,  devoted  consideraljlc  attention  to 
breeding  stock,  in  which  branch  (jf  ai^riculture 
he  was  very  successful. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  (.'lerk  of   llairi- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


187 


son  Township  for  ten  or  fifteen  yeai-s.  He  also 
served  as  School  Director  for  a  long  time,  was  As- 
sessor, Real-estate  Appraiser,  and  Director  of  the 
County  Infirmary  for  eighteen  years.  It  will  be 
thus  seen  that  he  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
residents  of  the  county,  and  has  hosts  of  friends 
throughout  this  section.  He  joined  the  Masonic 
fraternity  in  1836.  and  is  to-day  the  oldest  Mason 
in  Logan  County,  and  the  only  charter  member 
living. 

Mr.  and  JIi-s.  Kaufman  have  a  family  of  three 
s(ins  and  four  daughters:  Silas,  Francis,  William, 
Casander  K.,  Kmezetta,  Alice  and  Katie.  William 
is  a  very  prominent  architect  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
and  drew  the  plans  for  the  handsome  Methodist 
Kpiscopal  Church  in  this  city.  The  family  are  all 
members  of  that  denomination,  where  they  are  re- 
garded as  among  it;;  most  etlicicnt  members. 


m 


L.  HOFFMANN.  From  the  very  earliest  ages 
the  art  of  preparing  the  compounds  that 
arrest  and  remove  pain  and  heal  the  sick 
has  been  regarded  as  among  the  highest  of 
human  functions,  and  thus  it  is  that  so  much  in- 
terest and  importance  attach  to  the  calling  of  the 
druggist  in  our  own  day.  Among  the  leading  and 
most  reliable  memljers  of  the  pharmaceutical  pro- 
fession in  the  count3-  may  be  named  Mr.  J.  L. 
Hoffmann.  This  gentleman  was  born  in  Piqua.Ohio, 
(in  the  2i>th  of  April,  1841),  and  he  inherits  the 
sturdy,  honest  blood  of  German  ancestors. 

His  father,  John  P.  Hoffmann,  was  born  in  Sax- 
ony, Germany,  and  there  followed  the  occupation 
of  a  brewer.  In  1847,  about  three  years  after  his 
marriage,  he  took  pa.'^sage  at  Hamburg  for  America, 
and  after  being  nine  weeks  on  the  oce.an.  landed 
in  the  harbor  of  New  York  City.  He  came  direct 
to  Findlay.  Ohio,  and  from  there  by  wagon  to 
Piqua.  passing  through  a  very  new  and  wild 
country  on    the  trip.     He  worked    at  his    trade  as 


brewer  for  some  time,  but  later  bought  a  small 
farm  and  branched  out  as  an  agriculturist.  His 
death  occuned  in  1880,  when  fifty-eight  years  of 
•age.  He  was  a  Lutheran  in  religion.  His  wife, 
whose  name  was  formerly  Anna  M.  Schneyer,  was 
a  native  of  Saxony,  Germany,  and  she  is  now  a 
resident  of  Piqua,  Ohio.  She  also  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Lutheran  Church. 

.1.  L.  Hoffmann  is  the  elder  (if  two  children. 
His  sister,  JLiry  E.,  married  Charles  \Vuod.  and 
resides  in  Piqua.  Our  subject  attended  the  puiili(; 
schools  of  his  native  town  during  his  boyhood 
days,  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  began  clerk- 
ing in  a  dry-goods  store  in  Piqua.  Later,  he  clerked 
in  a  grocery  store,  and  in  1869  he  entered  a  drug 
store  as  clerk,  remaining  there  three  years.  In 
1872,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  clerked  in  a  drug 
store  there  for  a  short  time,  and  in  the  fall  of  that 
year  he  came  to  New  Bremen,  where  lie  purchased 
a  drug  stock  and  started  out  in  business  for  him- 
self. Five  j'ears  later,  he  moved  into  the  building 
he  now  occupies,a  two-story  brick,  fronting  AYasb- 
ington  Street,  where  he  carries  a  stock  of  fresh, 
pure  drugs  and  chemicals,  toilet  articles,  perfum- 
ery, druggist's  sundries,  etc. 

In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Anna  M,  Koester,  a  native  of  Piqua,  Ohio, 
and  the  daughter  of  John  Koester,  who  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  and  who  came  to  America 
and  located  at  Piqua,  where  he  became  a  prominent 
citizen.  He  is  now  in  the  grocery  business  there, 
and  h.as  met  with  much  success.  The  mother  is  also 
living.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffmann  have  been  born 
four  interesting  children:  John  A.,  Lillie,  John  L. 
and  George  Walter.  Mr.  Hoffmann  casts  his  vote 
with  the  Republican  party,  in  whose  principles 
and  practices  he  h.as  unbounded  faith,  and  he  takes 
a  leading  and  influential  part  in  all  political  affairs. 
He  has  been  a  delegate  to  county  conventions, 
and  IS  a  hard  worker  for  his  party.  Socially,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
I  ndependent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  being  Treasurer 
of  the  last-named  organization. 

In  1886,  he  and  Mr.  Negust  erected  a  grain  ele- 
vator and  dealt  in  grain  until  the  fall  of  1887, 
when  our  subjeet  sold  his  interest  to  Jay  it  Co. 
He  owns   stock  in    the    New    Bremen    Tri-County 


1S> 


IVKTIJArr  AND  KKHiKArilU'AI.    RlXOKl). 


Fair  Associnlinn.  ami  i>  a  memlHT  of  tlie  Ohio 
Slati'  Pliarraai-outioal  Association,  boinsr  rtirres- 
poiulout  for  Aii!il:u7.o  County.  Tliis  association  lio 
jointvl  in  18#i. 


HCinnAI.n  FINI.AY  has  given  full  proof 
of  the  value  of  his  citizenship,  not  only  l>y 
liis  patriotic  conduct  as  a  brave  and  ami- 
pet'ont  soldier  during  the  trying  times  of 
the  rebellion,  but  also  by  his  coui-se  since  the  war 
closed  as  a  practical  farmer  who  has  helped  to  in- 
cre.isc  theagricultural  interestsof  Auglaize  County, 
thus  adding  to  iti  wealth  and  importance,  by  his 
hard  but  well-directed  lalioi-s  in  the  improvement 
of  his  farm,  which  lies  on  section  27.  Salem  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Finlay  w.as  born  in  Medina  C'niuity,  Sept- 
ember ii.  lSo9,  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  the  State.  Ilis  father,  Wi  11- 
iam  Finl:«y,  w:ib  a  native  of  Ireland,  boru  in  tli:it 
country  in  ISU.  He  was  a  son  of  Adam  Finlay. 
who  brouglit  his  family  to  America  in  1823,  and  be- 
airae  a  pioneer  family  of  Wayne  County,  this  Slate. 
He  had  followed  the  trade  of  a  weaver  in  Ireland. 
He  lived  to  be  nearly  ninety-nine  years  old. 

William  Finl.ay  w.os  one  of  seven  children,  and 
he  was  twelve  years  old  when  the  family  emigrated 
to  America.  He  grew  up  amid  pioneer  scenes,  and 
in  due  time  began  life  for  himself  .as  a  farmer,  be- 
comina  t'..e  proprietor  of  a  good  farm  on  the  line 
Ixjlween  Medina  and  Wayne  Counties,  which  he 
developed  into  one  of  the  l>est  farms  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, working  hard  to  accomplish  his  purpose. 
15y  his  untimely  death  in  1872.  caused  by  a  tree 
falling  on  him  while  he  was  in  the  wfx^ds,  his  com- 
munity wa.-  deprived  of  a  citizen  who  was  greatly 
respected.  He  was  a  Presbyterian,  and  stanch  in  the 
faith  of  his  fathers.  His  wife  w;is  S:irali  Ferguson. 
and  both  she  and  her  parent-S  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.     She  departed  this  life  in    !><(!:!. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  the  second  of  a 
familv  of  ten  children,  of  whom  Ihree  are  deceased. 


He  received  n  very  good  education  in  the  district 
schools,  which  he  attended  until  lie  was  twentv 
years  old.  he  being  an  apt  seliolai-  and  fond  of  his 
studies,  lie  remained  an  inmate  of  tlio  parental 
home  until  he  arrived  at  that  age,  helping  his  father 
in  his  farm  work  when  he  was  not  at  school.  In 
March,  I86l),  he  began  his  independent  career, 
leaving  his  native  place  and  coming  to  Auglaize 
County  to  seek  a  situation  as  a  farm  hand,  at  which 
employment  he  was  engaged  two  and  a  half  years. 
In  .Vngust,  1802,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  not 
long  after  was  lighting  side  by  side  with  other  of 
the  noble  sons  of  this  State  that  slie  sent  to  the 
fiont  to  do  their  (iuty  in  defending  the  Stars  and 
Strijies.  lie  went  out  with  his  regiment,  and  came 
home  witli  it  at  the  close  of  the  war,  having  in  the 
meantime  experienced  in  a  full  measure  many  of 
the  hardships  and  trials  of  a  soldier's  life  in  its 
various  phases.  The  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth 
Ohio  spent  the  first  six  months  of  active  service 
in  Kentucky,  where  our  subject  did  scout  duty 
with  others  of  his  comrades.  The  next  move  was 
to  Eastern  Tennessee,  where  they  were  with  Gen. 
I'lUrnside.  and  did  gallant  service  at  the  siege  of 
Knoxville.  The  regiment  won  a  fine  reputation 
for  it.-i  lighting  qualities,  making  itself  very  useful 
all  through  the  Atlanta  eaini)aign  that  followed. 
and  made  its  mark  in  the  battle  of  Fianklin  and 
in  numerous  other  engagements  with  the  enemy. 
The  w.ar  was  at  length  brought  to  a  close  and  our 
subject  and  his  fellow-soldiers  gladly  laid  down 
their  arms  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  where  they  were 
mustered  out,  receiving  their  final  discharge  at 
Cleveland  .July  9,  18G,i. 

When  he  left  the  army,  Mr.  Finlay  returned  to 
Auglaiae  Count}',  and  purch.asing  his  present  farm 
in  .Salem  Township,  has  been  pros|)erously  engaged 
in  farming  and  in  raising  stock  ever  since.  He 
has  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  choice  farming 
land,  and  nearly  all  of  it  has  been  eleare<l  and 
pl.aeed  in  a.  high  slate  of  cultivation  Ijy  his  luue- 
milting  toil,  and  he  can  now  take  life  more  easily, 
with  a  g(K)d  income  to  place  its  comforts  and  en- 
joyments within  his  reach.  He  has  erected  neat 
and  commodious  buildings  on  his  farm,  and  li.is 
everything  in  a  fine  condition.      He   llnds  a  good 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


189 


source  of  profit  in  the  stock  of  various  kinds  that 
lie  raises,  having  well-selected  breeds,  which  always 
command  a  ready  sale.  Mrs.  Finl.iy  is  also  a  prop- 
ertj'owner,  having  sixty  acres  of  fine  land  on  sec- 
tion 26. 

Mr.  Finl.iy  was  first  married  in  1867  to  Miss 
Samantha  McMilne,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
Their  wedded  life  thougli  happy  was  brief,  as  !Mrs. 
Finlay  died  in  1870,  leaving  one  child,  Ida,  now 
the  wife  of  Gus  .'^ears,  of  Spencerville.  Our  sub- 
ject was  again  married  in  1871,  taking  as  his  wife 
Mr,«.  Eliza  J.  I.ongworth,  nee  3Iork,  a  native  of 
Faj-ette  County.  Three  children  have  been  born 
to  them :  Frances,  deceased ;  ^Martha  R.  an d  Mary  E. 

Mr.  Finlaj-'s  military  record  is  commemorated 
by  his  membership  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  he  h.as  further  social  relations  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  with 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association.  In  poli- 
ties, he  is  a  f.aithful  Republican.  His  religious 
views  find  expression  in  the  creed  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  highly  esteemed  members,  and  he  h.as  been 
Steward  thereof  for  several  years,  always  taking  a 
deep  inteiest  in  church  matters  and  in  all  things 
tliat  will  in  anv  wav  benefit  the  CDUinuuiitv. 


'jl'  OIIN  B.  COWGILL.  ( >ne  of  the  most  prom- 
I  inent  and  well-to-do  agriculturists  of  Zane 
j^l  I  Township.  Logan  County,  Ohio,  who  is  as 
'A^j/'  conspicuous  for  his  progress  and  enterprise 
as  for  his  intelligence  and  ability,  isho  whose  name 
is  at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  He  has  one  of  the 
neatest  and  coziest  rural  homes  and  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  the  county,  the  house  standing  back 
from  the  pike  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  three 
miles  south  and  east  of  'West  Middleburgh. 

Tlie  grandfather  of  Mr.  Cowgill,  .John  Cowgill. 
was  a  native  of  that  grand  old  State,  Virginia,  and 
left  that  .State  for  Ohio  nt  a  very  early  date.  lie 
was  one  of  the  very  firet  settlers  of  Zane  Township, 
and  he  fulhiwed  :ii.'ricultiii:ii  puuuils  there,  clear- 


ing the  land  and  making  possible  the  pleasant 
homes  of  to-day.  On  this  farm,  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  d.ays.  Ilis  son,  Elisha  Cowgill,  f.a- 
ther  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  brought  to  Logan  County 
by  his  parents  when  about  a  year  old.  Hero  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Bishop,  a  native  of  Lo- 
gan County,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Bishop,  who 
was  a  Virginian  and  one  of  tlie  early  pioneers  of 
Logan  County.  After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cowgill  settled  in  L'nion  County-,  but  the  father 
died  in  Log.an  County  when  seventy-eight  years  of 
age.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  resides  on 
a  good  farm  west  of  that  of  her  son,  John  B. 
Cowgill  Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cowgill, six  daughters  .ind  four  sons;  nine  grew  to 
j'cars  of  discretion,  and  five  are  living  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  l'nion  County,  Allen 
Township,  Ohio,  September  15,  1835.  being  the 
fourth  child  and  eldest  son  of  the  .above-men- 
tioned children.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  1864,  when  he  hastened  to  the  defense 
of  an  imperiled  county,  and  enlisted  in  Company 
K,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Ohio  Infan- 
try. He  was  in  service  about  four  months  and  was 
discharged  on  the  10th  of  September,  1864,  after- 
ward returning  to  Union  County,  where  he  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  marriage.  On  the 
14th  of  April,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Anna  Sharp. 
daughter  of  John  and  Alcy  (Bowker)  Sharp,  and 
afterward  located  in  Logan  County,  the  same 
township,  where  he  remained  two  yeai-s.  From 
there,  he  removed  to  L'nion  County,  made  his 
home  there  eight  }eai-s  and  then  located  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives.  He  has  met  with  unusual 
success  in  all  his  enterprises  and  is  well  known  as 
a  substantial  man  and  a  representative  citizen. 

He  has  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  five  acres  in 
Zane  Township,  this  counts, eighty  acres  in  I'liicm 
Count}- just  .across  the  line, and  is  actively  lugaged 
in  farming  and  stock-raising.  His  son  has  the 
pl.ice  rented  and  does  most  of  tlie  farininir.  Mr. 
Cowgill  built  his  present  residence  in  1881  at  a 
cost  of  52,000,  and  everything  about  the  place  in- 
dicates a  thrifty  and  progressive  owner.  He  ha> 
a  fine  barn.  50x10  feet,  erected  in   18,su.     .Mr.  Cow- 


rOKTli.Vrr  and  lUOGIi^VPlUCAL  recoiid. 


gill  IS  .H  KopublicAU  in  politics  and  his  fii-st  Prosi- 
(lonlial  vote  w;u>  c:i*t  for  A.  l.im-oln.  Ho  i>:i  luom- 
bor  of  llio  >lotho<li>t  Kpisi-op:»I  CUuroli.  i>  Mowni^l 
in  the  s;»uie  :mu1  w:is  Supoiintoinlrnt  v(  llio  Niiii- 
ilav-schix>l  for  some  time,  lie  i.-  aetivo  in  all  re- 
lii:ious  matters  and  is  a  lil'enil  eontiibiitoi  to  tins 
cUnroh.  Two  ehild|-en  were  born  of  lli^  niarriai:e. 
Klislia  .lohn  and  Marv  A.,  both  inoiniiu-nt  vouml: 
people  of  their  neiglitK>rhood. 


ENNIS  DENNY.  The  agrieultui.nl  pari  of 
the  conitnunity  is  its  bone  and  sinew,  from 
which  come  the  strength  and  vigor  neces- 
sary to  carry  ou  the  affairs  of  manuf.icture,  com- 
merce and  State.  AVhen  the  farming  peojilc  arc 
composed  of  men  and  women  of  cour.age,  enter- 
prise, intelligence  and  integrity,  prosperity  will  at- 
tend all  departments  of  activity,  and  thi.-  i~  pio- 
eminently  the  case  in  I.ogan  County. 

Mr.  Denny  is  one  of  the  most  prdniinonl 
farmers  in  McArthur  Township,  I.ogan  County, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  man  highly  esteemed  and  respected 
in  the  community.  He  w.^s  originally  from  South 
Charleston.  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  born  on  the  Ttli 
of  February,  l?3o,  and  the  son  of  .John  ami  J.u- 
cinda  (.James)  Denny,  natives  of  Alleghany 
County.  I'a.,  and  Ohio  respectively.  The  grand- 
father, Dennis  Denny,  was  a  native  of  County 
Donesal,  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  shortly 
after  the  Kevolutionary  War.  He  located  on  Coal 
Hill,  where  Alleghany  City  now  stands,  and  tliere 
tilled  the  soil  for  some  time.  In  the  year  1816, 
he  moved  to  Warren  County,  Ohio,  then  two 
years  later  to  Clarke  County,  and  settled  near 
.S.>uth  Charle:-ton.  He  bouglil  Government  laml. 
settled  in  the  woods, and  Ixcame  prominently  idi'u- 
tified  with  the  farming  interests  of  the  count}'. 
There  his  death  occurred.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Church.  He  married  Miss  Eunice 
Mcl-au2hlin,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  had  come 
to  .\inerica  wiieu   a  young  girl,  and   to  llii=  union 


were   born    two    d.aughters   and   one    .son:    .John, 

M;u\  .\.  and  S.irah.  Mi-s.  l)enny  was  a  mon\ber 
of  Iho  (  atholic  Churrh  for  many  years,  but  in 
the  latter  part  of  her  life  slir  became  a  >Iotli- 
odist. 

The  father  of  our  subject  followed  the  orcu- 
palion  to  which  he  had  been  reared,  faiining,  .-md 
was  f(.iurteeu  years  of  age  when  he  canu'  to  ( )hio. 
The  family  made  the  trip  in  a  wagon  and  first  set- 
tled in  Warren  County.  Eater,  they  removed  to 
Clarke  County,  and  there  found  plenty  of  Indians, 
ah-io  many  wild  animals,  but  Mr.  Denny  cared  little 
for  hunting,  .\fter  growing  to  mature  years,  he 
bought  out  the  heirs  to  his  father's  farm  and 
made  his  lioiiie  there  until  1837,  when  he  settled 
on  the  farm  in  this  county  on  the  30tli  of  Maich, 
of  that  year.  Tlie  eounlry  was  wild  and  unset- 
•tlcd.  neighbor^  were  few  and  scattering,  and  there 
was  but  (Mie  farm  between  his  place  and  the 
county  farm.  But  fifteen  acres  were  cleared  then, 
and  only  a  few  log  buildings  had  been  erected 
when  he  bought  the  farm.  He  was  a  hard  worker, 
an  excellent  farmer  and  stock-de.aler,  and  a  man 
whose  estini:ible  (jualities  of  mind  and  heart  won 
many  friends.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  the  2.'Jth  of  September,  1889,  he  was 
the  owner  of  two  liundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
and  a  most  comforUdile  and  pleasant  home.  'There 
was  no  belter  judge  of  stock  in  the  county  than 
Ml.  Deiinv,  and  he  wrus  an  extensive  stock-dealer. 
He  was  a  very  strict  Methodist  and  always  took 
an  active  interest  in  church  nialters.  lie  wa>  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  su|iporl  of  llu^  church 
and  was  Steward  for  fifty  year.i.  In  politics,  he 
was  a  Whig,  later  a  Republican,  and.  |iievioiis  to 
the  war,  wa.s  a  strong  Abolitionist.  His  marriage 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  six  children,  but  only  two 
grew  to  mature  yeai-s:  .James,  deceased;  Dennis, 
.Sarah;  Richard.  .John  and  Levi,  deceased.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  181,i.  She  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
.Vfter  her  death,  the  father  married  Miss  Rebecca 
Robert-son,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  died  two  years 
later.  Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather,  Rich- 
ard .James,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  came  to 
Ohio  in  IHOO.  and  settled  in  Warren  Counly.  The 
journey  wa-S  made  by  team  and  through  an  alnic;st 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


191 


unbroken  wilderness.  A  number  of  years  later, 
he  removed  to  Clarke  County,  Ohio.  He  was  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  assisted  in  building  a  block 
house  in  Richland  Tovvnsliip,  this  county,  on  what 
is  now  the  farm  of  A.  C.  McClure.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  developed  a  fine  tract  of  land  in  Clarke 
County,  but  later  sold  out  and  went  to  Crawford 
County,  III.,  where  he  resided  with  his  son  until 
liis  death,  when  eightj'-threc  years  of  age.  His 
wife  lived  to  be  ninety-eiglit  years  of  age.  The 
.James  family  was  of  Welsh  descent 

Dennis    Denny,  the   subject  of    this  sketch,  re- 
ceived his  scholastic   training  in  the  primitive  log 
schoolhouse  of   pioneer  days,  and   the  first  one  he 
entered  had  the  open  fire-place,  slab  seats  with  pin 
legs,  and   for  a   writing-desk    a    board    placed  on 
pegs  driven  into  the  wall  served  the  purpose.     He 
assisted  liis  father  on    the    farm,  and    in    1852  he 
entered  the    Ohio   Wes]e3'an   University,  at    Dela- 
ware, where  he  took  select  studies  for   two  years. 
After  finishing,  he  returned  home  and  assisted  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  War.     On  the   24th  of  August,  1861,  he  en- 
listed  in    Company  G,   First    Ohio  Infantry,  was 
mustered  in  near   Da\ton,  Ohio,  and  placed  in  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.    He  served  three  years.   I 
He  first  went  to    Louibville,  Ky.,  and  his  first  en-    i 
gagement  was  at  Pittsburgh  Landing.     Afterward 
he  was   at  Stone    River,  Perrysville  Chattanooga,   . 
Chickamauga,    Missionary   Rulge,  siege  of  Knox- 
ville,   Resaca.   Buzzard's    Roost,   and   all  the    en- 
gagements on    that  campaign.     He  w.as  mustered    \ 
out  on   the  7th  of    September,  186-1,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio.     Our  subject  went  out  as  a  private  and  w,is 
made   Sergeant  at    Camp  Cornin.     Later,  he  was   I 
promoted  to  the  Second  Lieutenancy  at  Pittsburgh   • 
Landing  and  First  Lieutenant  at  Nashville,  Tenn.   ; 
He  carried  himself   through  that  bloody  epoch  of 
history  in  a  manner  to  win    the  admiration  of  his 
comrades  and  superior  otticers. 

Returning  home,  our  subject  w.is  married,  on 
the  30th  of  March,  1865.  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Nichols, 
a  native  of  .'^helby  County,  Ohio,  born  April  5, 
1812.  The  fruits  of  this  union  have  been  four 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  John  W.,  Lu-  , 
cinda  D.  and  Nellie  B.  The  first  and  hist  are 
students   in    the  Ohio    WcsK-yaii    Cniversity,  and   j 


Lucinda  was  graduated  from  the  Art  Department 
in  1891.  Our  subject  owns  the  home  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  and  has  four  liuii- 
dred  acres  of  land  in  Stokes  Township,  ail  im- 
proved. He  uses  it  principally  for  pasture  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  fat  stock.  He  has 
bought  .and  sold  a  gre.at  many  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  has  shipped  some  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He  thinks 
now  of  dealing  more  extensively  in  sheep.  He 
has  made  most  of  his  money  out  of  stock.  lie 
farmed  in  partnership  with  his  father  until  the 
latter's  death,  and  it  was  during  the  time  of  their 
partnership  that  they  built  our  subject's  fine  brick 
residence. 

Mr.  Denny  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
township,  plenty  of  running  water  on  it,  and 
everything  about  the  place  indicates  the  owner  to 
be  a  man  of  enterprise  and  progress.  He  is  highly 
esteemed  in  the  communit3-,  h-as  helped  to  settle 
a  number  of  estates,  and  was  guardian  for  one 
child.  He  and  his  familj'  are  members  of  the 
Pleasant  Grove  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
he  takes  an  active  interest  in  it.  He  has  assisted 
in  building  two  churches  and  is  prominent  in  all 
religious  matteis,  and  has  been  Superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school  for  many  yeai-s.  He  is  an  ar- 
dent adv(X'ate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  has  been  Township  Trustee,  .and  lias  held 
other  local  offices,  lie  is  a  member  of  Boggs' 
Post  No.  518,  G.  A.  R..  at  Huntsville. 


^^  EORGE  VAN  OSS.  Our  history  as  a  people 
IJl  ,- —  is  full  of  examples  of  what  can  be  accom- 
'Vi^  plished  by  ambitious  and  intelligent  .young 
men,  whose  only  fortune  at  first  consists  of  irood 
health,  energy,  integrity  and  firmness  of  purpose. 
In  fact,  a  large  proportion  of  our  best  citizens 
have  been  the  scions  of  poverty,  not  wealth. 
They  have  had  to  work  while  studying,  and  have 
had  to  learn  to  deny  themselves  in  youth  that  thev 
might  have  fame  and  world's  plenty  in  the  closini;- 
days  of  life.     Among  those  self-made  men  whose 


VM 


roKi'UAir  ANP  BionuAriiu'A 

I 


UK(.H)K1). 


reputation  assubstanti.-il  :miiI  pri'^ivssivo  luon  places 
them  Riuoiii:  llio  l>o<t  in  the  oouiilv.  is  Mi.  (u-oiijo 
Van  Oss.  who  sorvtMl  no:\ily  oiirht  _vo:ii-j  :is  County 
C'oiumissionoi'  ;iiul  i^  now  pionunontlv  nirntionoil 
a>  a  oaiu1i<i;ito  for  I'lobnto  .Itui^i'  in  1S;1.'>. 

Horn  in  Ilollaml  on  tho  l-*t  of  .Tan nary.  1."<I1. 
Mr.  \"an  Os*  i>  the  ^i^>n  of  Thooiioro  Van  (K<.  also 
a  native  of  Holland,  «lio  foilOHi'il  tlio  brick in:uion's 
ti-niU"  in  his  native  cotuury  until  18.ir>.  wlu  ii  he 
i-amo  with  his  family  to  America,  'riiey  were 
thirty-tivc  days  in  cros.<inir.  and  after  landinir  m 
New  York  City,  they  came  direct  to  Minster.  .\u- 
jjlaize  County,  <.>hio,  whore  the  father  is  residing  at 
the  (iresent  tune.  He  is  a  niembcr  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  his  wife  also  holds  membership  in  the 
same,  lie  has  been  a  member  of  the  council  in 
this  town  and  is  a  man  universally  respected  for 
his  estimable  <iualities.  lie  is  the  father  nf  six 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  the  eldest  of  the 
above-mentioned  family,  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Holland  and  after  coming  to  Min- 
ster received  a  gooil  practical  education  in  that 
town,  attending  evening  school  for  three  years  to 
get  his  English  education.  When  Hflecn  years  of 
age.  he  V>egan  working  with  his  father,  learned  the 
trade  of  brickl.aying,  and  when  twenty-one  years 
of  .ige  entered  into  partnership  with  his  father. 
After  this,  the  firm  commenced  contr.acting  and 
bnilding  and  continued  in  partnership  until  1882, 
erecting  a  great  many  churches,  etc.,  when  at  that 
date  our  subject  was  elected  County  Commissioner 
of  Auglaize  County.  He  devoted  all  his  time  to 
that  position  and  fdled  it  in  such  an  able  an<l  elli- 
cient  manner  that  he  w•,^s  elected  f(^r  the  .second 
term  and  also  tilled  two  unexpired  terms,  making 
seven  years  and  alxiut  seven  months  in  all.  Be- 
sides locating  a  great  many  roads  and  ditches, 
more  than  half  the  fine  turnpikes  in  the  iniinty 
were  constructed  during  his  administration.  Many 
bridges  Were  also  constructed,  includinir  two  lino 
onc-s  spanning  the  .'^t.   MaryV  Uiver  at  M.  Mary's. 

One  week  from  the  expiration  of  his  term  as 
County  Commissioner,  on  the  first  Monday  in 
l-'*;io.  he  Ixcame  a  partner  in  the  Citizens"  I'ankat 
Minster.  Ohio.  He  h.i.-  -ince  ixcupicd  the  respon- 
-iljle  po-itioii  i.f  Cashier  of   the    bank  and   h  well 


fitted  for  his  position.  In  the  year  186."),  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Bernadina  .\ll)ers,  a  native  of  Minster, 
Ohio,  whose  parent.s  died  of  cholera  when  she  was 
but  a  child.  Mrs.  Van  Oss  passed  (juietly  away  in 
the  spring  of  18()7,  leaving  one  child, 'I'lieiKUire. 
In  the  fall  of  I8t!X,  Mr.  Van  O.^^s  was  wedded  to 
Miss  Caroline  Bergman,  who  was  born  in  Minster, 
Ohio,  and  whose  parents,  natives  of  (ierinanv, 
were  early  .seltlei-s  in  tliis  lor.-dity.  To  Mr.  and 
Mr-.  \an  ( ).-s  liave  been  horn  ten  children,  as  fol- 
lows: M:u-y.  Henry,  .lohn.  Oeorge.  Ste|ihen  .\.. 
Catherine,  liosie.  Anthony,  .\melia,  and  .Inlius.  .\^ 
a  Democrat.  Mr.  ^'.■ul  Oss  is  well  known  through- 
out the  county  and  stands  high  in  the  regard  of 
his  party.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  county,  dis- 
trict and  State  conventions,  and  has  been  a  ineni- 
ber  of  the  Minster  Council  two  terms.  He  was 
Clerk  of  the  township  two  years  and  is  at  pre>enl 
a  member  of  the  ,*^chool  Board. 


AMUEL  A.  HOSKINS  is  not  only  well 
known  in  Wapakoneta  and  in  the  vicinity 
round  about,  but  his  name  has  become  fa- 
miliar to  those  in  other  parts  .as  a  inenilKi 
of  the  liar  and  a  prominent  attorney.  He  w.is  born 
in  Tuion  County,  this  .'>tate,  March  5,  1803,  to 
.l.acob  Vi'.  and  Martha  (Newhonse)  Ho,skins. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  a  mini>li-rof 
the  Christian  Tnion  denomination,  occupying  the 
pulpit  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  died  in 
November.  1881.  By  his  tinion  with  Miss  New- 
house  was  liorn  one  son  and  two  daughters,  one 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  As  an  intelligent  and 
proirressive  genllem:in.  he  drew  around  him  a 
pleasant  circle  of  fiiends. 

Samuel  A.  Hoskins,  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  in 
his  native  county  and  piusucd  his  primary  studies 
in  the  public  schools.  His  life  as  a  student  w.as 
marked  by  extreme  diligence,  and  in  1887  he  was 
'graduated  from  the  Ohio  Normal  I'liiversity  of 
.■\da  with  the  degi'ce  of  .\.  1',.  After  r-eceiving  his 
iliploma    from   that  school  young  llo.skins  lauglil 


'^t^ty^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


195 


for  two  3'ears  in  whicli  occupation,  he  was  veiy 
successful.  During  the  ten  years  of  his  life  as  a 
student,  he  taught  school  and  attended  college 
alternately,  his  teaching  being  the  only  means  of 
getting  an  education. 

Having  determined  to  follow  the  profession  of  a 
lawyer,  our  subject  began  reading  with  Powell, 
( >\vcn  A-  Ricketts,  a  prominent  law  firm  of  Cohnn- 
luis.  ( )liio.  and  later  going  to  Cincinnati,  took  a 
cctui>e  in  the  law  school  in  tliat  city  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  tlie  Bar  in  18D0.  Then  going. South,  Mr. 
Hoskins  traveled  for  a  short  period  and  in  October 
in  the  above  j'ear  located  at  Wapakoiieta.where  he 
he  has  built  up  a  practice  far  beyond  his  expecta- 
tions. He  is  a  young  man  of  fine  ability,  and  as 
an  advocate  he  is  precise,  careful,  earnest  and  often 
eloquent.  He  is  a  close  reader  of  human  nature, 
never  becomes  excited,  but  acts  after  mature  delib- 
eration. 

.•September  10,  IS'JO,  Miss  Clara  Hamilton,  of 
Richwood,  Ohio,  became  the  wife  of  our  subject 
and  to  them  has  l)een  Ixiru  one  son,  George  Owen. 
They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Clnu'ch.  and  have  a  beautiful  home  in  the  city. 


,F.V.  A.  K.  IIOWBKHT,  1).  D.  On  the  op- 
posite page  appears  the  portrait  of  one  of 
the  most  talented  and  able  ministers  of  Lo- 
gan County,  who  fdr  many  years  h.as  lieen 
pastor  of  the  Lutlieran  Church  at  liellefontaine. 
Not  only  by  his  cimgi-egation,  but  b\  ail  who  en- 
joy the  pleasure  of  his  acquaiiitanie.  lie  is  held  in 
high  esteem  as  a  devoted  laborer  in  the  vinevard 
of  the  Lord. 

The  lirst  representatives  of  the  llowbert  family 
in  America  probably  came  from  the  Xorth  of 
France,  and.  after  emigrating,  settled  in  Philadel- 
phia. I'a..  where  they  occupied  prominent  po>i- 
ti(;ns,  some  as  doctors,  others  as  te.achei-s.  and  a 
few  .as  ministers.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  George  Howbert,  w.as  a  soldier  in  the  licv- 
'J 


olutionar^-  War,  and  died  while  residing  in  Vir- 
ginia. His  business  talents  were  of  a  hiuh  order, 
and  he  w.as  successful  in  carrying  on  a  laii^e  hotel 
and  wagon  stand. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  .Jacob  Howbert,  par- 
ticipated in  the  War  of  LS12,  and  during  most  of 
his  life  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  In 
183.5.  he  removeii  to  Ohio,  and  thence,  in  ISl.^, 
went  to  Bartholomew  County,  Ind.,  the  removal 
being  made  on  account  of  his  strong  opposition  to 
slavery.  To  his  sons  he  predicted  that  "God  will 
|)unish  this  nation  on  account  of  this  curse,  and 
this  punishment  will  likely  result  in  the  flow  of 
blood.  I  will  not  live  to  see  it,  but  you  probablv 
will."  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mar- 
garet Locke,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  seven 
sons  and  si.\  daughtei-s,  of  whom  two  sons  and 
three  daughters  are  still  living. 

The  third  in  the  parental  family  was  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  in  Roanoke  Countv. 
Va.,  June  2,  182.).  After  an  attendance  for  some 
time  in  the  commo)i  schools,  he  entered  the  Penn- 
sylvania College  at  Gettysburg,  from  which  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  the  literary  course. 
Afterward  coming  to  Ohio,  he  took  a  theological 
course  in  the  seminary  at  Springfield,  and  had  the 
honor  of  receiving  his  diploma  vdth  the  first  class 
graduated  from  that  institution.  His  first  chart^e 
was  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  from  which  place  he  re- 
turned to  this  State,  .and  for  nine  years  was  pastor 
of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Bncyrus. 

While  residing  at  Bucyrus,  the  Civil  War  broke 
out,  and  Dr.  Howbert  w.as  appointed  Chaplain  of 
the  Eighty-fourth  Regiment,  serving  through  the 
entire  war  as  a  member  of  fieii.  Todd's  staff.  In 
addition  to  this,  he  held  a  Christian  Commis- 
sion from  the  association,  and  during  the  war 
traveled  at  le,ast  fifty  thousand  miles,  becom- 
ing familiar  with  all  the  movements  of  the  arm  v. 
At  the  close  of  the  war.  Jie  came  to  lielle- 
fontaine through  the  inlhience  of  his  old  friend, 
.ludge  William  Lawrence.  Since  coming  here,  he 
has  been  p.a.stor  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  has 
organized  four  churches  in  Logan  Countw  which 
have  [H'ospered  under  his  faithful  guidance,  lie 
also  s])eiit  twi.  years  .-il  Colorado  Spring-^.  Ci>lii.. 
during  whirli   tiiiu'   he    hail   charge  of  the  flnircli 


196 


KMM'KAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAI.  UKClMiD. 


iliere.  His  brother  'Williara  was  an  influeutinl 
minister  in  Coloniilo,  and  was  Chaplain  to  the  first 
Territorial  Leijislatuiv,  while  a  si>ii  of  that  >;onth>- 
nian.  Hon.  F.rvin  Hovvl>ert,  i?  tlie  well-known  and 
wealthy  Senator  from  that  State. 

The  first  marriasre  of  Dr.  Howbcrt  united  him 
with  Mis.*  Mary  Mitchell  Forcy.  of  New  Carlisle. 
(">hio.  who  died  ahout  1SJ4,  and  the  two  children 
lH>rn  of  the  union  are  also  deceased.  JIarcli  5. 
18^)7,  he  married  S;irah  A.  Helwig.a  native  of  Ham- 
ilton County.  Ohio.  Unto  them  h.as  been  born 
one  child.  D.  Todd,  now  of  Colorado  .'^[)rings.  Tlie 
parents  of  Mrs.  Howbort  were  Peter  and  Leah 
(.lacoby)  Helwig.  natives  of  renusylvania.  who 
came  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  and  located  in  But- 
ler County.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  he  and  his  wife  reared  three  sons  and 
four  daughtei-s.  the  former  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. 

The  degiec  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  w.is  con- 
ferred upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howbert  by  the  Western 
Collegiate  Institute  in  1890.  In  addition  to  his 
duties  as  p-astor,  he  finds  time  for  considerable  lit- 
erary work,  and  is  the  author  of  a  book  entitled, 
■•The  Reminiscences  of  the  'War,"  which  contains 
about  four  hundred  pages  chronologically  ar- 
ranged, and  relating  to  the  history  of  the  condicl 
from  Ijeginning  to  end.  The  stj-le  of  writing  is 
fascinating,  and  the  work  has  a  wide  circulation 
throughout  the  .States.  Dr.  Howbert  now  { 1892)  has 
the  manuscript  for  a  volume  devoted  to  the  secret 
service  during  the  war,  which,  when  published, 
will  form  a  valuable  addition  to  our  literature. 
AmoDZ  the  relics  of  war  times  which  the  Doctor 
most  prizes  is  some  Confederate  money,  and  he 
h.as  other  interesting  souvenirs  of  those  dark  d.ajs. 

Dr.  Howbert  is  President  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain .'^ynod.  which  embraces  Colorado  and  Wyo- 
ming, and  is  Financial  Secretary  of  the  Jlinisters' 
Invalid  Home,  which  is  located  in  the  "Garden  of 
the  Gods."  Seeing  the  need  of  a  place  where  in- 
valid ministers  might  recuperate,  he  originated 
the  idea  of  the  "Home."  and  secured  from  his 
nephew.  Hon.  F.  W.  Howbert.  a  most  beautiful 
plot  of  ground,  compri.'ing  twenty  acres,  at  Colo- 
rado S|(rii.L'-.  ''H  which  .■■iiitablc  biiildiii;.;-^  arc  to 
'•»    erected    in    the    near    future.     In    couueclion 


therewith,  it  is  proposed  to  condiiol  a  school 
for  lK)ys,  and  at  the  hist  mooting  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  Dr.  Howbert  was  elected  SuiuMintondeiil 
and  Financial  Secretary.  This  work  ho  hopes  to 
make  the  ci owning  .act  and  culmination  of  his 
eventful  life,  and  it  is  safe  to  .say  that  through  it 
:  his  name  will  be  handed  down  to  posterity  as  that 
j    of  a  benefactor  of  mankind. 

I        At  one  time  Dr.  Howbert  served  .as  President  of 

I    the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Wittenberg  College,  and 

'    during  the   erection  of    that  structiiro.  ho  and  the 

j    daughter  of     (Jon.    Anthony    laid    tho    fust    two 

I    bricks  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  building.  An 

earnest,  large-hearted  man,  unselfishly  devoted  to 

the    interests   of    others,  he  takes  part    in    many 

charitable  enterprises,  and  his  constant  deeds  and 

words  of  kindness  have  won  the  friendship  of  all 

who  know  him. 


'^^^^m^^m^m 


R.  JAMES  L.  SCOIT.  the  popular  and 
skillful  young  dentist  of  St.  Mary's,  has 
already  won  a  good  standing  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  fine 
pr.actice.  He  is  a  native  of  Defiance  Countj-,  and 
was  born  M.ay  5,  18(57.  His  father  was  Mathow 
Scott,  who  was  a  Pennsjlvanian  by  birth,  and  canio 
to  Ohio  to  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  De- 
fiance County  when  it  was  ((uite  new  and  sparsely 
settled.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  became  one  of  tho 
prominent  men  of  his  calling,  and  an  infiucntial 
citizen  of  his  community.  He  purchased  a  tract 
of  land,  which  he  cleared  and  developed  into  a 
valuable  farm.  His  death  in  1878  was  a  blow  l<i 
the  best  interests  of  his  township,  and  the  United 
Brethren  Churcli  lost  one  of  its  most  zealous  mem- 
bers, who  had  worked  to  promote  its  growth  for 
maiiv  jears.  His  wife  survives  him.  She  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  .Sarah  Menear,  and  is  of  Scotch 
extraction. 

Our  subject,  who  is  the  youngest  of  nine  ciiil- 
dioii.  of  whnin  eight  are  living,  was  brought  U|)  on 
a  farm  under  good  home  inlluences.     lie  wius  early 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


197 


sent  to  the  district  school,  where  he  obtained  the 
preliminaries  of  a  liberal  education,  which  w.is con- 
tinued in  the  High  School  at  Hicksviile.  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1888.  with  a  high  i-ank 
for  scliolarsiiip.  He  had  previously  determined  to 
make  dentistry  his  profession,  and  had  already  ac- 
(juired  considerable  knowledge  of  it  in  thcolliceof 
u  well-known  practitioner  at  Celina.  After  his 
graduation  from  school,  he  returned  to  his  former 
instructor's  office,  and  completed  his  dental  stud- 
ies. Having  tlius  thoroughly  familiarized  him- 
.-elf  with  the  details  of  his  chosen  vocation,  he 
practiced  it  at  Celina  a  short  time,  and  then  lo- 
cated at  Speneerville.  whence  became  to  St.  Mary's 
in  1891.  He  fitted  up  neat  and  attractive  dental 
parhub  with  all  the  modern  conveniences,  and 
Willi  the  finest  instruments  known  to  his  profes- 
sion, and  has  met  with  marked  success  in  securing 
a  lucrative  practice,  as  he  soon  found  favor  with 
the  people,  who  learned  when  they  patronized  him 
tiiat  he  was  not  only  skillful  and  dexterous  in  the 
use  uf  hi>  instiuments,  hut  was  careful  and  consid- 
erate with  his  patients.  He  is  a  young  man  of  fine 
pre:ronce.  of  good  address,  and  is  invariabh'  court- 
eous and  pleasant  in  bis  intei-course  with  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact,  either  in  a  business,  or 
in  a  social,  way. 

The  Doctor  was  married  January  18,  1891,  to 
Miss  Mary  Hayes,  a  native  of  Rockford,  Ohio,  and 
they  have  a  charming  home.  (!)ur  subject  stands 
with  the  Republicans  in  (lolitical  matters,  and  his 
Social  relations  arc  with  the  Knights  of  Pythi.as,  of 
which  order  he  is  an  ardent  suppurter. 


lAHLKS  CHL'RCIHLI..  It  i-  cmly  natural 
"■_.   that  when  st.artiiig  out  U_,  tight  life's  battles 

for  hiin:~elf,  Mr.  Churchill  sliould  .select 
agricultural  pursuits  as  his  chosen  occupation,  for 
he  has  been  trained  to  the  duties  of  tlie  farm  from 
early  boyhood,  and  w.as  perfectly  familiar  with  all 
its  details.  lie  is  now  a  prominent  l.and-owner  of 
this  county,  having  eighty   acres   of   tine    fanning 


land   in  Clinton  Township,  and  he  and  liis   wife 
own  considerable  residence  property  in  Sidne\'. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Parslppanv,  Morris 
County,  N.  J.,  on  the  I9th  of  September,  1819, and 
his  parents,  'William  S.  and  Mary  (Johnson)  Church- 
ill, were  natives  of  the  same  countw  Tilt  parents 
cultivated  the  soil  in  their  native  countv  until 
1814,  and  then  decided  to  move  to  the  Bucke\e 
State  and  liy  their  hand  at  agricultural  pursuiLs 
here.  Tliey  purchased  the  farm  which  our  sub- 
ject now  owns,  and  there  spent  the  balance  of 
I  their  days.  Both  were  highly  esteemed,  and  were 
honoiable,  upright  citizens,  a  credit  to  any  neigh- 
borhood. 

As  our  subject  came  to  Shelby  County    with  his 
I    parents   in     1844.   he   has   resided    here  for  nearh" 
j    fifty  years,  and  no  man  is   held  in   higher  estima- 
i    tion  b\- his  neighbors.  Honorable  and  upright  in  all 
his  transactions,  he  fully  merits  tlie  esteem  in  which 
j    he  is  held.  After  reaching  mature  years,  our  subject 
'    was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  Van  Ness,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  who  liore  him  six  children,   only   one 
now  living,  Anna,  wife  of  .Kihn  C.  Stipp.  of   Clin- 
ton Township,  this  county.     After  the  celebration 
of  his  nuptials,   'Sly.  Churchill   rem^jved    to   Union 
County,  Ind.,  and  there  resided   for  eleven    vears. 
There  he  w.as  called  upon  to  part  with  his  wife. 

After  her  death,  or  .about  18.36,  Mr.  Churchill 
returned  to  Shelby  County,  ()hio,  and  altliough  he 
w.as  a  wagon-inaker  by  trade,  and  had  followed 
that  business  in  Indiana,  after  returning  to  Ohio, 
he  turned  his  attention  almost  wholly  to  farming. 
His  second  marri.age  was  to  Jliss  Ellen  Howard,  of 
Indiana,  who  left  no  issue.  On  the  2d  of  Feb- 
ruary, 186.5.  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Kain,  his 
present  wife,  who  was  born  in  'Williamsbnrgh.  Clei- 
mont  County,  Ohio,  March  8.  184.").  Afterwanl. 
our  subject  continued  farming  until  1.s,h9,  when 
he  removed  to  town,  where  Mrs.  Churchill  owned 
a  good  residence  besides  five  lots  and  three  houses. 
One  child  has  come  to  bless  this  union,  a  son. 
Charles  H.,  who  wa.s  born  in  Turtle  C  reck  Town- 
ship, October  26.  186.i.  Mrs.  Chuivhiirs  par- 
ents, Thomas  and  .lane  (McLean)  Kain.  w  re  V>oni 
in  Clermont  and  I'.rown  Counties.  Ohio,  respec- 
tively, and  her  father  was  a  fanner  by  pursuit. 
From    him.    .Mrs.    (  huii-hill    received   part   of    |r-v 


13!? 


roKTKAlT  AND  llIDGUArUlCAl.    liKlOlU). 


property.  Both  parents  were  mcnibors  of  tlic 
Metho«1ist  Kpis<.'ojv»l  Church.  !\\u\  in  this  Mrs. 
Chuix-hill  liolils  nicnilx-rship  too.  The  father  «:i> 
.■>  M.-v<on,  .ind  was  »  loaiiiug  man  in  his  vicinitv. 
Mr.  and  Mn>.  Chmvhill's  s<in.  Charles  II..  w!\s  odii- 
o.itod  in  the  lliirli  ."v-liool  of  .'^i^^nov.  ami  is  n<nv 
C'.-xshior  of  the  Cincinnati.  Hamilton  A-  Dayton  Kail- 
nati.  at  Kind  lay,  Ohio.  He  filled  that  capacity  in 
this  city  until  abont  six  yeai-s  ago,  when  he  was 
promoted.  Ho  is  a  bright,  thorough-going  young 
man.  Ho  w^as  niarrii-d  to  Mi.<5  Louisa  Ziminei's, 
.•v>ptomber  17,  ISSO.  and  they  have  had  one  child, 
William  Lawrence,  who  w.as  born  to  them  August 
1.1.  ISim.and  died  September  17.  189 1. 


^^ 


TSAAC  B.  HrFF.MAN.  of  Sidney,  Ohio,  is  an 
excellent  example  of  what  can  be  acconi- 
piished  when  one  possesses  a  thorough  deter- 
mination to  succeed  in  life,  coupled  with  energy, 
perseverance,  and  intelligence.  AVhat  he  has  ac- 
cumulated in  the  w.ay  of  this  world's  goods  is  the 
result  of  his  own  good  fighting  qualities,  and  he 
deserves  much  credit  for  his  industry  and  thor- 
oughness. He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  St. 
Paris.  Champaign  County,  on  the  21st  of  Septem- 
lK?r.  1S:V^.  and  his  parents,  David  and  Hannah 
(.\ppl?)  HutTman.  were  natives  of  Virginia  and 
I'cnn.sylvania.  respectively.  At  an  early  date,  the 
parents  cr.mc  to  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  and 
there  '.he  father  followed  the  cooper  trade  until 
his  death.  He  left  a  family  of  five  children,  four 
i-.f  whom  fought  bravely  in  defense  of  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  and  all  were  in  the  army  at  one  tinie. 
viz:  Abraham.  I^a-ic  15.  (our  subject).  Henry  and 
Daniel.  The  youngest  child  was  named  Isaiah. 
After  the  death  of  the  father,  the  mother  married 
a  Mr.  'riiatcher,  of  St.  Pari>.  where  the  mother 
still  lives,  beinL  now  over  seventy  ycai-s  of  age. 
()<\r  subject  wa.s  fairly  educated  in  the  schools 
..f  St.  Pari-,  and  after  the  death  of  his  rather 
was  oblig"d  to  depend  upon  his  own  resources  for 


a  livelihood.  M  the  early  age  of  ten  years,  ho 
began  to  earn  his  own  living,  and  from  the 
ago  of  thiitcon  until  sovonleon  he  was  .apiiron- 
ticed  to  a  carpculcr,  previous  to  that  lime  having 
been  on  a  farm,  ,\fler  learning  his  trade,  he  car- 
ried it  on.  and  liiially  settled  in  St.  Paris,  where 
ho  w.a,s  engaged  in  tlie  cnntrnctiiig  aiul  building 
bu^inoss  for  ,<onio  lime.  On  tlio  'Jltli  of  August, 
l,si;i,  hi'  onlislcd  ill  Coiiipauy  A.  SocoikI  ( )liin 
Inf.-iiilry.  and  was  sent  to  iho  .•\iiiiy  of  tlio 
Cumberland,  (lartici paling  in  llio  baltlos  of  West 
Liberty,  Bridgeport,  Ala..  I'iketown.  Ky.,  I'l  iry- 
ville,  Ky.,  .Stone  Kivcr,  Tenii.,  Murfreoslioro, 
Chickamauga,  Ga.,  Lookout  Mountain,  Tenn., 
Mission  Kidgc,  Kinggold,  Ga.,  Buzzard's  Boost, 
Tunnel  Hill.  Kocky-Face  Bidge,  Ga.,  Bosaca,  Cia., 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  Hoover's  Gap.  lie  was 
wounded,  and  thought  to  bo  dead,  at  llio  bat- 
tle of  Chickamauga.  He  lay  on  the  (icld  from 
Saturd.ay  night  until  Tuesday  morning,  refused  to 
have  his  arm  amputated,  and  was  subsorptently 
shipped  from  Louisville  to  New  Albany,  where  he 
soon  began  to  recover,  thus  saving  his  arm  as 
well.  He  was  .also  wounded  in  the  chest,  and  still 
carries  a  number  of  scars  in  the  upper  part  of  his 
body.  He  receives  a  pension  for  total  disability. 
He  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties, 
and  no  braver  soldier  trod  the  red  turf  of  a  battle- 
field. 

Beturning  to  St.  Pans  after  the  war,  Mr.  Huffman 
carried  on  the  contracting  business,  not  being  able 
to  work  himself.  In  1876,  he  moved  to  this  cil3'  and 
worked  for  a  time,  but  found  that  his  main  busi- 
ness must  be  contracting.  For  the  past  six  years 
he  h.as  not  been  able  to  do  any  work.  He  h.as 
erected  a  good,  comfortable  residence  at  No.  916 
Ponieroy  Avenue,  and  has  resided  here  ever  since 
his  location  in  the  citj'.  In  his  biisiness,  as  well  as 
ill  his  social  relations,  ho  conunands  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all.  Socially,  ho  is  a  ini'mbor  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  An- 
cient Order  of  L'nited  AVorknien. 

On  the  Jtli  of  May,  186.i,  Mr.  Huffman  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Laura  C.  Wilkins(jn, 
who  was  at  that  time  residing  in  (^uincy,  Logan 
(Ounty,  Ohio,  but  who  had  previously  resided  in 
St.   Paris,      llvr  father,  John  ('•.    Wilkinson,  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


199 


a  strong  Uuion  man,  and  a  Republican,  and  was 
obliged  to  sell  his  property  on  account  of  tliis.  It 
was  the  design  of  the  Southern  sympathizers  to 
prevent  his  voting  for  Lincoln,  but  they  were  dis- 
appointed in  this,  as  he  went  early  to  the  polls. 
Afterward,  he  went  E.ist  for  three  months,  to  keep 
awaj-  from  their  vengeance.  His  daughter,  Mrs. 
Huffman,  had  iucurred  their  enmity  b^'  feeding 
Union  soldiers,  and  watched  many  nights, sleeping 
in  the  day  time.  She  was  born  in  Morrow  County, 
Ohio,  on  the  10th  of  November,  1848.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union,  viz:  Su- 
sannah Elma,  wife  of  E.  C.  Runj'an,  of  this  city, 
who  has  two  children,  Clara  E.  and  Arthur;  Em- 
ery Neil  (deceased) ;  Pearl  A.,  who  is  still  in  school, 
and  Alice  May.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  has 
held  membership  for  twenty-nine   or  thirty  3'ears. 


^ILLIAM  ELLIOTT,  a  retired  farmer  liv- 
^/\/l/  ing  on  section  24,  Clinton  Township, 
'^'^  Shelby  County,  is  one  of  the  heroic  vet- 
eran soldieis  of  the  late  war,  who  fought  to  put 
down  the  Rebellion,  risking  life  and  all  that  he  held 
dear  in  order  that  the  glorious  Stars  and  Strijjes 
might  float  proudly  over  an  undivided  country. 
On  returning  from  the  army,  Mr.  Elliott  won  for 
himself  an  honorable  place  among  the  thrifty  and 
industrious  membei-s  of  the  farming  community 
of  this  township,  and  is  now  enabled  to  live  re- 
tired from  the  active  duties  of  life. 

A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  he  of  whom  we  write 
w.ij  burn  in  Perry  Township,  January-  28,  1830, 
and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Jeanette  (Hart) 
Elliott,  both  natives  of  the  same  State  and  county 
in  which  their  sou  was  born.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Ireland,  of  Scotch-Irish  par- 
entage, and  there  also  his  maternal  grandfnther, 
Hugh  Hart,  w.as  born.  The  former  emigrated  from 
his  native  land  and  located  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
the  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  IT'J.J. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  had  her  birlli   in    1802, 


in  the  above-named  county,  wliere  her  parents   lo- 
cated on  coming  to  .\merica. 

James  and  Jeanette  Elliott  made  their  liome  in 
their  native  State  aft«r  their  marriage  until  18.32, 
when  they  came  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Miami 
Count}'.  Residing  there  a  few  years,  they  later 
came  to  Shelby  County  and  made  their  home 
about  oue  riiile  west  of  Sidney,  where  their  decease 
occurred,  the  father  dying  in  the  fall  of  1858,  and 
the  mother  in  January,  1883.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 

William  Elliott,  of  this  sketch,  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  this  conntj-,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  the  old  homestead  for  fortv- 
eight  years,  or  until  1888,  when  he  removed  to  his 
present  residence.  In  1863,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army,  joining  Company  I,  One  Hundred 
and  Eighteenth  Ohio  Inf.antry,  and  was  mustered 
in  as  First  Lieutenant.  His  term  of  ser\ic-e  havino- 
expired,  he  was  re-elected  in  May,  18G4,  in  the  one 
hundred  days'  service,  and  at  Bermuda  Hundred 
was  attached  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourtli 
Ohio  Regiment,  and  during  the  following  four 
months  saw  much  active  service.  In  September  of 
the  above-named  year,  Mr.  Elliott  rctunied  home 
and  again  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  in 
which  calling  he  has  been  very  successful. 

October  2,  1882,  Mr.  Elliott  and  Miss  Sarah  R., 
daughter  of  James  A.  Wellb,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. The  lad^-'s  father  was  born  in  Keene,  N. 
H.,  in  1812,  while  her  mother,  wlio  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Sar.ah  Robinson,  was  born  about 
1818,  in  Martiusburgh,  Va.  The  grandfather  of 
;Mrs.  Elliott  was  James  Wells,  Sr.;  he  came  to 
this  county  about  1824,  where  her  father  grew  to 
manhood,  and  w.as  married  in  Sidney.  Her  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  Abraham  Robinson,  came  to 
this  county  in  an  early  day,  and  ranked  among  its 
well-to-do  and  respected  citizens.  James  A.  Wells 
was  a  surveyor  by  occupation,  and  followed  that 
business  until  his  death.  He  served  ,as  County  Sur- 
veyor for  many  yeai-s,  and  died  on  the  old  home- 
stead north  of  Sidney  about  1885;  the  mother, 
who  preceded  him  to  the  better  land  by  a  number 
of  yeai-s.  died  in  1875.  leaving  a  family  of  two 
sons  and  four  ilaughtcrs,  of  whom  Mrs.  Klliott  was 


ioo 


iORTIJAir  ANn   llIOCKArilH  AI.    RKCOKD. 


tlio  second  in  order  of  birth,  her  n;it-;il  day  being 
KebruMV  S,  ISi;?.  Her  father  was  a  member  of 
the  ritsbylerian  Cliiirch,  in  which  l>ody  he  was 
Klder  for  thirt_\-two  yeni-s.  'I'lie  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  KUioli  w:is  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  ISIJ. 
and  parlicipateti  in  tlie  tattles  of  l.umly's  l.ano 
and   ChipiK^na. 

Oar  subject  and  his  wife  are  |ironiinenl  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  (.hurch.  and  eonlribnte  liber- 
ally to  lis  support.  In  stK-ial  matlci-s,  Mr.  Klliolt 
is  a  member  of  Neal  Post  No.  t!'.'.  C<.  A.  K..  and  as 
an  active  member  of  tlie  Republican  party,  has 
s«'rved  many  years  as  'l\>wnship  Trustee.  He  ticcu- 
pies  a  handsome  residence  on  his  estate,  and  .is 
a  man  of  good  habits,  and  sound  and  sensible  views 
on  all  subjects  with  which  !ie  is  familiar,  he  is 
held  in  high  estimation  by  his  neighbors  and 
friends.  Our  subject  and  his  two  sisters  are  all 
that  arc  now  left  of  a  family  of  ten  ohildren.  six 
sons  and  four  dausrhteis. 


AI.VIN  M.  AVII.KIN.'^.  Mr.  Wilkins  is  n 
'j_  farmer  of  high  repute  and  sliinding  in  An- 
^^  glaize  Connly.  His  farm  on  sections  1:5 
and  24.  .'^t.  Mary's  Township,  is  valuable  for  its 
productiveness  and  finely  improved  condition, and 
also  on  .account  of  iu  situatinn  within  the  natural 
gas  belt,  it  being  famous  as  the  site  of  the  first  gas 
discovery  in  this  region.  This  farm  is  tlic  old 
homestead,  on  which  he  was  born  .hine  17.  18 1:*.. 
into  one  of  the  early  pioneer  families  of  the  county. 
and  he  h.as  never  left  it  for  any  other  home. 

Belitha  AVilkins,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  and  he  came  to  Ohio  when  Im 
was  twenty-three  years  old.  in  the  full  lliish  ami 
vigor  of  the  opening  years  of  a  stalwart  manhood. 
His  father,  .lames  Wilkins,  also  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, came  to  this  State  with  him  to  liegin  life 
anew  in  the  wilderness,  where  the  Indians  still 
lived,  and  where  wild  animals  not  now  found  in 
this  part  of  the  country  were  then  plentiful.  lb- 
entered  a  tract  of  land  in   the  woods  in  .^t.  Marv's 


Township,  Auglai/.c  Cuiinly.  and  built  a  himso  of 
logs  that  he  hewed  from  trees  that  he  cut  on  the 
very  spot  wlioie  lie  eiveted  his  humble  pioneer 
dwelling.  lie  lived  to  see  the  surrounding  couu- 
tiy  tiaiisfoniu'd  into  a  line  farming  region,  which 
he  liad  hel|ied  to  (lr\ebip  by  reclaiming  a  goodly 
farm  from  the  li.-mds  of  Nature,  lie  died  in  ISCi'i. 
aged  eighty-f.iur  years.  When  the  War  of  \X\-> 
was  waging,  he  entered  tlie  service  and  foiii;lii 
right  gallantly  for  the  maintenance  cjf  the  jioiioi- 
of  his  country. 

Our  subject's  father,  when  he  caim-  to  Auglaize 
Count}',  selected  a  suitable  locali(ui  in  St,  Marv's 
Township,  and  built  up  here  a  very  comfort-able 
home  in  the  busy  yeais  that  followed,  which  he 
never  left  until  death  called  him  hence  in  ISlil, 
when  but  tifty-four  years  of  .age,  scarcely  past  the 
meridian  of  life.  He  did  valuable  work  as  a  pio- 
neer, helping  to  clear  a  good  many  aries  of  land. 
He  '.vas  expert  in  the  use  of  the  i  ille,  .inil  brought 
down  many  a  deer  tleeing  from  liim  with  Hying 
feet,  bird  on  the  wing  and  other  game.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  true  Christian  people,  who  were 
for  many  years  among  the  most  zealous  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  were  very 
strict  in  their  religious  observances.  He  was  Class- 
leader  in  the  church  for  more  than  twenty  years. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  KUen  Sheppard, 
and  who  wxs  a  native  of  Athens  County,  wiis  not 
long  separated  from  him  after  he  passed  aw.ay,  as 
her  death  occurred  two  days  later  than  his,  at  the 
age  of  fort^-nine  years. 

Calvin  AVilkins  is  the  eldest  son  in  a  family  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  all  are  living.  His  rear- 
ing was  amid  pioneer  environments,  and  his  early 
education  was  such  as  was  .afforded  by  the  primi- 
tive schools  of  the  time,  taught  in  some  old  log 
cabin  rented  from  its  owner  for  a  trivial  sum,  and 
furnished  with  slab  seat.s,  the  only  desk  lieing  a 
board  placed  against  the  wall  on  wooden  jiins 
driven  into  the  cracks  between  the  loi;-.  and  an 
old-f.ashioned  fireplace  being  u-ed  for  lieafin;;  pur- 
poses. When  he  was  twenty-one.  he  hail  the  mis- 
fortune to  lose  both  his  parents,  and  w;is  left  with 
three  \oungcr  brothers  and  sisters  to  care  for.  He 
continued  to  live  with  them  on  the  old  houu'stead, 
and  nobly  did  his  duty  by  his  charges.     He  after- 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


201 


ward  bougbt  the  farm  of  the  other  heirs,  and  has 
alwa_vs  lived  ou  it  in  peace  and  contentment.  It 
comprises  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  excellent 
land,  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  provided 
with  substantial  and  neatly  kept  buildings,  and  all 
the  appliances  for  carrying  on  farming  profitably. 
It  w.as  on  this  place  that  the  Lima  Natural  G.is  Co. 
fii-st  struck  gas  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
There  are  now  two  good  wells  on  the  farm,  and 
g.as  is  piped  from  them  to  Lima.  Besides  this,  it 
supplies  his  residence  witli  fuel  and  light,  and  is 
the  source  of  a  fine  income. 

It  was  Mr.  Wilkins'  good  fortune  to  secure  a 
wife  who  li.os  been  a  real  helpmate  and  companion 
to  him  since  their  marriage  in  18C8.  Mrs.  Wilkins, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Abigail  Ramsey,  is 
a  native  of  Indiana,  but  is  of  the  old  pioneer 
stock  of  this  State,  to  which  her  parents  came  as 
pioneers.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  seven 
children  that  liave  hallowed  the  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife:  John  R.,  Harry,  Pierce,  Ford. 
Abigail,  Estella  and  Louise. 

Our  subject  is  borne  in  the  utmost  respect  by  the 
people  among  whom  his  entire  life  h.as  boon  passed, 
.as  they  knew  him  to  be  a  man  of  irrepro.-ichablc 
morals,  whose  word  is  to  be  trusted,  who  is  neigh- 
borly, cheerful  and  accommodating  in  his  relations 
with  others,  and  who,  in  short,  lives  up  to  the 
Christian  faith  that  he  professes  as  an  esteemed 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  which 
he  is  Trustee.  His  amiable  wife  is  alsoa  consistent 
member  of  that  church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, who  li.as  always  stood  loyally   by  his  party. 


Ir^R.  M.  F.  IirsSEY,  B.  S..  C.  F.,  .M.  I).,  is  one 
It  J!  of  the  rising  3'oung  physicians  of  Sidney. 
Jt^  wliere  lie  has  been  engaged  lu  the  practice 
of  his  cliij<en  profession  since  March,  1801.  and 
his  reputatioii  as  a  lhc)rough  student  of  med- 
icine and  an  lionnralile.  upright  man.  is  thor- 
oughly established.  Tlie  people  have  liad  every 
chance    to  judge  of   his    cliaracter  and    qualifica- 


tions, for  he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
all  his  life,  his  birth  occurring  in  Port  .leffei-son, 
Shetbj-  Countrv,  on  the  5th  of  .September,  1856. 

His  father.  Dr.  S.  C.  Ilussey,  of  Port  Joffei-son. 
Ohio,  was  one  of  tlie  early  physicians  of  this 
county,  having  located  here  in  1848.  He  was  a 
son  of  Christopher  Hussey,  who  was  born  in  Tenn- 
essee, and  moved  to  near  .Jamestown,  Oliio,  in 
1807,  where  he  followed  farming.  Dr.  S.  C.  Hus- 
sey married  Miss  Ann  Wical,  a  native  of  Bowers- 
ville.  Ohio,  and  they  roared  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Thomas  M.,  formerly  a  Sheriff  of 
the  county,  now  resides  in  Sidney;  Dr.  A.  (de- 
ceased); John  C,  Clerk  of  the  Court;  Mary  (de- 
ceased); Hester,  wife  of  Oscar  Malley,  resides  in 
Xenia,  Ohio;  Dr.  M.  P..  our  subject;  Emma  (de- 
ceased); Mattio  C.  wife  of  Lewis  Thorn [json,  of 
Port  Jefferson;  C.  L..  at  home,  and  .-Vda.  wife  of 
Frank  Cargill. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  in  addition  to  a 
common-school  education,  attended  Port  Jeffei-son 
High  School  and  graduated  from  the  National 
Normal  School  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  with  the  de- 
grees of  B.  S.  and  C.  E.  After  this,  he  began 
teaching  school  and  won  an  excellent  reputation 
.as  an  educator.  Previous  to  gr.aduating,  he  taught 
for  three  years  and  afterward  was  Principal  of  the 
Port  Jefferson  school  for  three  years,  also  the  Anna 
school  for  the  same  length  of  time,  and  the  Bot- 
kins  school  for  two  years.  Like  the  m.ajoritv  of 
boys.  Dr.  Hussey  h.as  followed  in  his  ancestors'  foot- 
steps, and  at  an  early  age  evinced  a  liking  for  the 
medical  profession.  During  the  latter  ])art  of  his 
term  as  County  Examiner,  he  read  medicine  with 
his  brother,  Dr.  A.,  until  the  latter's  death,  and 
was  then  with  Dr.  Wood  until  his  death.  After 
this,  he  was  with  Dr.  Ross  S.  John,  of  Houston, 
and  then  took  his  medical  lectures  at  Ohio  Medi- 
cal College.  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  was  <:radu- 
ated  in  18',»1. 

.About  I^Iay  I  of  that  year,  iielccated  in  Sidnev 
and  so  far  has  a  tlatteriiig  practice.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Surgeon  of  tlie  Cincinnati.  Hamilton  >v 
Dayton  Railroad.  He  has  also  bi-eii  t;iven  chartte 
anil  contrril  of  the  Sht-lJiy  County  Infirmary 
:is  its  physician,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Shelby 
County  Medical   Society.     Sociallv.  lu'  is  a  mem- 


■iO-2 


rOKTRAlT  AMI  BUM'.RArilUAl.    KKCOUn. 


l>ci-  of  tho  In.leiK-ndont  Orilor  of  OiM  Fellows. 
From  l?{5t)  until  1887.  Dr.  IIussov  w.is  Ucgis- 
tor  of  tlu>  Ooverninent  Pupor  Mills  :il  I'ilt*- 
fiold.  M:u<s..  to  whii'li  lK^sition  lie  was  apiKiintoii 
Hudor  rrvsiiioiil  Clcvelaiu).  and  it  w;is  his  duty  to 
kei-p  track  iif  all  fvij>er  nianufaotuicd  to  W  used 
for  curreiu\v  and  post.il  notes.  Vr.  Ilussoy  is  a 
lile:vs;int  and  g^enerons  gentleman.  libt>ral  in  all  liis 
ideas,  and  a  protector  of  llie  riir'its  of.  and  in  deep 
sympathy  with,  humanity. 


Di^a^j^^^p 


T  LdlN  i;.  WIUTK.  one  of  the  must  intelli- 
gent and  respei-ted  members  of  the  farminj^ 
^^  ooiumunily  of  L'nion  Township.  Auglaize 
'^J  Colli. ty.  li:vs  been  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  here  since  l!<76.  lie  is  the  son 
of  George  White,  a  native  uf  Greenbrier  C'lHinty. 
Va..  where  he  was  b<>rn  in  isoo.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  who  bore  the  name  c^f  .lolm.  was  of 
.S.'otch-Irish  ancestry,  and  came  tu  Olnu  from  \"ii'- 
ginia  .as  early  aa  180;'),  and  located  on  a  wild 
farm  near  ."^pringSeld.  L.atcr.  he  removed  to 
Champaign  County,  settling  one  mile  ea.st  of  the 
Court  Hou.<e  in  Url)ana.  There  he  made  a  perma- 
nent location,  and  it  was  there  that  the  fatlior  of 
our  subject  grew  to  manhood. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subjeefs  m<itlier  was 
Amy  Rigdon;  she  w.is  a  daughter  ni  .bihn  KiLrdmi. 
an  CArly  settler  of  this  .St.ate.  and  w.i-  bniu  in 
l«i)2.  in  Kentucky,  and  in  1821  w;is  married  in 
Champaign  County,  where  her  husband  w.is  cii- 
gageil  in  farming  until  1832.  At  that  date  lie 
moved  to  Allen  County,  and  located  in  Bath  Town- 
ship, on  a  wild  tr.act  of  land.  Four  years  later,  lie 
disposed  of  that  pro])erty  and  went  to  Michiu'aii. 
whence  he  returned  the  following  year,  llis  decease 
occurred  in  l'<74.and  his  wife,  who  became  the  mo- 
ther of  eight  children,  died  in  1890.  Two  of  their 
sons.  George  and  Charles,  served  in  the  late  war, 
the  former  dying  in  that  conflict.  Charles  departed 
this  life  in  Texas  several  \ears  thereafter.  Mr.  and 
Mr«.  White  were  devoted  members  of  the  Presbv- 


terian  Church,  in  which  body  they  wwv  iictivc  and 
zealous  worUeis.  In  politics,  ihc  father  voted 
Willi  the  W'liig  party,  llo  was  a  man  of  educa- 
tion, and  was   often  enijaged  in  polilii'al  debate. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  w:»i  the  eldest  of  the 
parental  family,  his  birtli  occurring  .Iul\'  17,  1S22, 
in  Cbanipaigii  County.  In  that  early  da\-  lie  w.as 
obliged  to  walk  two  mile.-  to  .-ehool,  and  a.-  books 
were  very  scarce,  learned  to  read  out  of  the  New 
Testament.  Later,  eager  to  learn  all  he  could,  he 
gladly  embraced  the  opportunity  to  advance  his 
education,  and  attended  school  at  Westminster. 
He  w.as  thus  well  litteil  for  the  in-ofcssion  of  teach- 
ing, and  when  young  entered  upon  that  voc.-i- 
tiiin. 

.lohii  Iv.  White- and  Miss  .Sarah  Byerly,  who  was 
born  in  Tenne.'^see  in  1812,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage ill  ISCtl.  Three  ye.-irs  later,  they  removed  to 
this  county  and  located  upon  their  present  f.-iriii. 
where  they  have  made  their  home  since  that  lime. 
Our  subject,  who  formerly  had  three  hundred  and 
ninety-four  acres  of  land,  now  has  in  lii.s  posses- 
sion tliree  liundiid  and  lifty-live  acres,  which  his 
industry  and  g(jod  judgment  have  placed  under 
excellent  improvement.  He  has  alw.iys  followed 
the  vcK-ation  of  a  farmer,  and  brings  a  cultured 
and  well-trained  mind  to  bear  upon  the  |)robIems 
that  beset  the  skilled  agriculturist  who  seeks  to 
till  the  soil  after  the  best  methods,  and  so  a.s  to  make 
it  produce  abundantly  without  exhiiusling  it.s  nat- 
ural fertility. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  been  born  eight 
cliiblien,  one  of  whom  i.s  deceased.  Those  living 
aie  William.  Ivlwin,  Alice,  Mattie,  Kmma,  Charles 
and  .billies,  the  latter  twins.  I'revioii-  to  tlie 
Civil  ^Var.  our  subject  was  a  consistent  niember  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  but  during  that  struggle 
withdrew  his  merabei'ship.  .and  since  then  has  not 
been  connected  with  any  denomination.  Jlrs. 
White,  however,  is  a  member  of  the  Dunkard 
Church.  They  have  given  their  children  the  best 
of  advantages  in  an  educatioii.il  way,  .Mi>s  .Mattie 
having  t.aught  school  for  some  time.  .Mi?s  Alice  is 
an  accomplished  musician.  Formerly  a  member 
of  the  Whig  part^',  on  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  our  subject  joined  it-  ranks 
and  h.as  since  voted  that  ticket.     While    residing 


4> 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


205 


iu  Allen  Count}-,  he  served  as  Township  Trustee 
Mud  Supervisor,  and  since  makinsf  his  home  in 
I'nion  Township  has  been  elected  Trustee. 

On  tlie  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  White, 
being  in  poor  health,  did  not  offer  his  services  in 
defense  of  his  country,  but  contributed  liberally 
of  liis  means  towards  sending  strong  and  brave 
men  to  the  front.  In  addition  to  raising  the  ce- 
reals lie  keeps  a  good  grade  of  cattle,  hoi'scs  and 
sheep  on  his  place,  and  in  financial  circles  liis 
standing  is  good,  .and  none  know  him  but  to  es- 
teem him  for  those  qualities  of  head  and  heart 
that  are  his  distinguishing  characteristics. 


■il?  AMES  A.  UrBBELL.  M.  D.  There  are  al- 
ways, in  the  medical  profession,  some  indi- 
viduals wlio  gain  eminence  and  command  a 
large  pr.aetice,  and  among  the  representa- 
tives of  this  class  in  Logan  County  especial  recog- 
nition belongs  to  Dr.  Ihiblwll,  of  Quincy.  His 
lineaments,  shown  iu  the  .accompanying  portrait, 
are  familiar  and  welcome  in  the  homes  of  tlie  af- 
flicted and  sick  of  Logan  and  sun'ounding counties. 
A  physician  of  established  reputation,  liis  skill  in 
the  diagnosis  of  difficult  coses,  and  success  in  their 
treatment  is  as  widely  known  as  liis  name. 

A  large  volume  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  Ilubbell 
traces  the  genealogj'  of  the  family,  and  from  it 
we  learn  that  the  first  one  of  the  name  in  America 
was  Richard  Hubbell,  wlio  emigrated  from  .Scot- 
land in  1647  and  located  in  Connecticut.  Tlic 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  Hezekiah  Hubbell.  Sr.. 
was  a  native  of  Xew  Jersey  and  in  early  life  w.as  a 
sailor,  spending  nine  years  on  the  high  seas  and 
visiting  the  principal  ports  of  the  world.  During 
the  AVarof  1812,  he  w.as  before  the  mast.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  he  came  down 
the  Oliio  River  with  the  pioneer  settlers  of  tiiis 
State  and  resided  for  a  short  time  at  Marietta, 
wliere  the  first  settlement  was  made. 

Subsequently,  Grandfather  Hubbell  removed  to 
Lithopolis,  and  while  proprietor  of  an  hotel  at  that 


place.  Gen.  LaFayette,  DeWitt  Clinton  and  other 
noted  men  took  meals  and  lodgings  at  his  bouse 
wliile  on  their  tours  of  inspection  through  the 
West.  Later,  Mr.  Hubbell  sojourned  for  a  short  time 
at  Lancaster,  and  as  early  as  1815  came  to  Shelby- 
Count}',  where  for  a  time  he  lived  in  the  old  block 
house  on  Starret's  Run.  He  built  the  first  hotel  in 
the  county,  on  tlie  ground  now  occupied  by  the 
Monumental  Building,  and  continued  actively  en- 
gaged in  progressive  enterprises  until  advanced  in 
years.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  he  made  his 
home  with  his  children  until  he  was  called  hence, 
at  Columbus  Grove,  Ohio,  having  reached  the 
great  .age  of  one  hundred  years,  one  month  and 
eleven  days. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Hezekiah  Hubbell,  .Ir., 
was  born  near  L.aneaster,  Ohio,  September  4,  1804. 
and  ill  his  j'outh  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker 
which  he  followed  in  Sidney.  In  183.3,  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  on  the  Miami  River,  a  few  miles 
from  (juinc}-  near  the  line  of  Logan  and  Champaign 
Counties,  and  remained  thereuntil  1847.  becoming 
meanwhile  a  very  extensive  and  prosperous  farmer. 
His  nest  purchase  was  on  Indian  Creek,  in  Miami 
Township,  Logan  County,  where  in  the  course  of 
time  he  became  the  owner  of  four  hundred 
acres.  He  commenced  for  himself  with  verv  lim- 
ited means  and  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  and 
ills  wife  could  have  carried  all  their  belongings  in 
two  handkerchiefs.  Hunting  was  his  especial  de- 
light, and  he  was  never  happier  than  when,  with 
his  trusty  rille  over  his  shoulder,  he  started  in 
search  of  game,  which  he  seldom  failed  to  bring 
down.  During  one  season  he  killed  twentv-three 
deer  and  eleven  bears.  He  w.as  a  man  of  intelli- 
gence, industrious  and  an  excellent  manager.  Po- 
litically, he  was  a  Whig  until  Jackson's  time,  after 
which  he  affiliated  with  the  Democrats. 

Sarah  Johnston,  as  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  known  in  maidenhood,  was  born  in  Berkeley 
County,  West  Va..  in  1812  and  died  April  U. 
188.'5.  The  father  survived  her  several  years,  pass- 
ing away  Octol)er  2.  188U,  at  his  home  in  Quincv, 
whither  he  had  retired  to  spend  his  declining  vears. 
Of  their  marriage,  seven  children  were  born,  five  of 
whom  reached  mature  years,  namely:  William  J., 
Xancy  J..  James  A..  .Sarah  and    Marv.     James    A.. 


30i". 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOORAmiCAL  RECORD. 


tho  juhjivt  of  this  fkololi,  wns  liorn  Octoln-r  16, 
IS-H.  hi?  biilliplace  lH>inir  tho  oUI  liompstoad  on 
the  north  Kink  of  the  Mi.mii  Hivcr.  in  rio:\s;int 
Township,  l.Oirnn  County.  I.iko  tho  n).'»j<Mity  of 
f.irmor  bovs  of  his  time,  lio  (iiviiioil  his  nttoiition 
in  youtli  Ivtweon  .-u^sistinir  i"  tho  woik  nl  lionio 
A\\'\  .itteiuUnj  svh^vil  in  tho  round-log  house  which 
hsd  slab  IhmioIios  for  so:it.s  .ind  many  other  rude 
inventions  found  in  primitive  sohoolhouses. 

When  sixteen  years  of  .•«!xe,  Mr.  llnbbcU  coni- 
nienood  to  tench  and  with  tlio  money  thus  saved, 
.attended  one  term  at  the  ."Sidney  schools,  subse- 
quently to.iching  for  one  year  and  again  studying 
in  the  schools  of  .Sidney.  He  taught  school  nine 
years  altogether  and  read  medicine  meanwhile. 
After  attaining  his  twenty-second  year,  he  carried 
on  \u>  medical  studies  with  Dr.  X.  ^'.  ,Speece.  now 
of  Quinoy,  and  later  entered  Starling  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Columbus,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  on  the  28th  of  Februar}-,  1870.  Im- 
mediately after  concluding  his  studies,  he  com- 
menced to  practice  at  <^uincy,  and  since  then  his 
time  has  been  devoted  to  the  relief  of  suffering 
humanity.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  diseases 
of  women  and  children  and  h.as  a  large  practice, 
being  held  in  the  highest  esteem  as  a  pliysician.  as 
well  as  a  citizen. 

Decemljer  21,  1370,  Dr.  Hubbcll  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Anna  E.  Leach,  a  native  of 
Miami  Township,  Logan  County,  bom  July  19, 
l?,5,i.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  them: 
Cleo  Pearl,  who  died  in  infancy;  Loving  1-'.  and 
Samuel  V.  The  little  daughter,  as  well  as  the  father 
and  mother  of  our  subject,  «•,-«  laid  to  rest  in  Fair- 
view  Cemetery,  a  beautiful  place  situated  on  an 
elevation  which  is  divided  by  a  ravine.  It  is  one 
of  the  loveliest  spots  of  nature  for  miles  around, 
and  formerly  was  a  part  of  tho  Hubbell  homestead. 

In  1>«2.  Dr.  Hubbell  erected  aeommodiousand 
suljstantial  double  two-story  brick  building  at  a 
cost  of  j'.J.BOO.  and  rents  the  two  lower  storerooms. 
He  lives  on  the  ujiper  floor,  where  he  has  an  ele- 
sant  and  spacious  home.  hand.-'Omely  furnished. 
In  addition  to  this  prot>erly.  he  owns  the  hotel  and 
livery  stable  at  '^uincy.  and  two  farms,  consisting 
of  seventy-one  and  one  Inindrcd  and  forty-eight 
acres  respectively,  the  former  in   Miami  Town.ship 


on  Indian  Crook  and  the  latter  joining  the  corpor- 
ation of  (iuincy.  lie  hires  men  tocultivali'  these 
farms  but  personally  superintends  the  work,  and 
upon  thorn  is  raising  .lomo  fine  Short-horn  r:itUc 
and  ro:id  and  track  horses.  In  politics.  Dr.  lluli- 
bell  is  a  Democrat.  ,S>cially,  he  is  idonlilicd  with 
the  M:isonic  fratoruity,  the  Stale  and  CounU  Med- 
ical .Associations,  and  tiikes  an  Jictive  ])arl  in  all 
affairs  of  public  ijitorost. 


—y      --^- 


^y^  IIARLKS  COCLTKU.  The  life  ,,f  this  pros- 
(li  r~  P<''''">^  •'I'"'  sid)stantial  gonllcman  has  been 
^^i-'  07ie  (if  more  than  ordinary  success  iis  well  as 
activity,  ami  the  enviable  position  to  wliicli  he 
has  attained  has  bcoii  reached  only  by  years  of 
industry  and  strict  adlu'rence  to  the  calling  to 
which  he  had  been  reared.  tli.Mt  of  fanning.  lie  is 
well  and  favorably  known  all  over  the  county,  is 
a  great  reader,  a  profound  thinker,  and  .'i  tlmidugli 
student  of  mankind,  from  a  mctaphysiial  staml- 
[Xjint.  Although  his  educational  advantages  were 
confined  to  the  subscription  schools  of  his  day,  he 
was  po.ssessed  of  more  than  the  average  amount  of 
ability,  and  by  study  and  observation  has  become 
one  of  the  deep  ro.asoners  and  Ihiiikers  of  his  sec- 
ticin. 

Ohio  is  the  native  Stale  of  our  sulijcct.  and  liis 
birth  (X-curred  in  Cl.arke  County  (in  the  'id  of  M;iv, 
1830.  His  grandfather,  .l.diii  Coullcr,  was  boni  on 
the  F.menild  Isle,  and  just  after  the  Kevoliitionary 
War.  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Harrison 
County,  Ky.  He  was  a  linen-wcavcr  in  hi>  native 
country,  but  after  settling  in  Kentucky,  he  lucamc 
interested  in  farming,  which  he  carried  on  for  many 
yeai-s.  About  180(1,  he  settled  in  Clarke  County, 
Ohio,  and  was  (Uie  of  the  first  settlers  there.  On 
land  which  he  had  piirch.ased  Irorii  Ihr  liovcin- 
ment,  Ik?  erected  a  log  cabin,  and,  surrounded  on 
all  sides  by  woods,  he  began  his  career  .as  a  pioneer. 
He  partially  developed  a  farm  and  was  called  out 
in  the  War  of  1812.  His  death  occurn-d  in  Clarke 
County,  Ohio,  when  quite  advanced  in  years. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


207 


Andrew  Coulter,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  on  tlie  loth  of  Sep- 
tember 1798,  but  was  reared  in  the  wilds  of  Clarke 
County,  Ohio.  He  lived  among  the  Indians  and 
pla^-ed  with  their  children.  He  delighted  in  hunt- 
ing, and  many  a  deer,  wild  hog  and  turkey  fell  a 
victim  at  the  report  of  his  unerring  riHe.  He  fol- 
lowed the  oocui)ation  of  a  farmer  and,  although  he 
had  little  education,  he  possessed  much  natural 
ability,  and  was  often  on  the  jur^-  in  court.  .Some- 
times he  would  plead  cases  before  justices,  and  his 
earnestness  and  magnetism  generally  produced  a 
favorable  effect.  It  w.as  said  that  he  would  have 
made  an  excellent  lawyer  if  he  had  been  educated. 
He  served  as  Constable  for  twenty-five  years  and 
hold  other  local  positions.  In  1853,  ho  came  to 
Logan  County,  Ohio,  settled  in  Harrison  Township 
and  bought  a  farm  of  two  liuiulred  acres.  This  he 
finally  sold  and  lived  retired  in  Kellefontaine, 
where  liis  deatli  occuircd  when  eighty  years  of  age. 
He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist  Church, 
of  which  he  had  been  a  member  nearly  all  his  life, 
and  in  politics,  was  first  a  "Wliig  and  later  a  Repub- 
lican.    He  was  a  prominent  man.  • 

The  fatlier  of  our  subject  married  Miss  Ruth 
Ketherwood.  a  native  of  Harrison  County,  Ky., 
■where  their  nuptials  were  celebrated.  Her  father, 
Charles  Ketlierwood,  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
came  to  -\merica  at  an  earU'  day,  settling  in  Har- 
rison County,  Ky.  He  was  considered  an  educated 
man  at  that  time  and  w.as  very  outspoken  in  his 
remarks  against  slavery  and  for  the  promotion  of 
religion.  He  w.as  a  Methodist  and  his  house  was 
the  first  preaching  place  in  that  part  of  Kentucky, 
Bishop  Asbury  preaching  there.  He  farmed  some, 
but  most  of  his  time  w.as  spent  talking  against 
slavery,  and,  being  very  prominent  and  a  man  of 
more  th.an  average  ability,  his  remarks  had  weight. 
There  his  death  occurred.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject reared  four  children:  Mary  J.  (Mrs.  Prince), 
Charles,  Eliza  A.  (Mrs.  Allen),  and  Rebecca  (Mrs. 
Row.and).  The  mother  was  a  member  of  tlie  Meth- 
odist Church  all  her  life,  was  an  active  worker  in 
the  same,  and  died  in  that  faith,  when  aI>out  sev- 
enty-five j-ears  of  age. 

Charles  Coulter  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm  in 
Clarke  County,  Ohio,  and  received  his  education  in 


the  district  school,  three  miles  north  of  Springfield, 
the  fii-st  brick  schoolhousc  in  the  county.  It  was 
conducted  on  the  subscription  plan  and  our  sub- 
ject never  attended  any  other  school.  In  1853, 
he  came  to  Logan  County,  Oliio,  and  for  some  time 
fanned  his  father's  place,  also  was  engaged  in  buy- 
ing, trading  and  selling  stock.  On  the  3d  of  No- 
vember, 1857,  he  married  Jliss  Eliz.abeth  Parish,  a 
native  of  Washington  Township,  Ohio,  born  Doc- 
ember  25,  1834,  and  three  children  were  born  to 
them:  Lintner  Lincoln  died  when  five  months 
old;  Grant  died  at  the  .age  of  nine  months; 
and  Minerva,  who  married  George  "Wonders,  re- 
sides on  a  farm  in  Kusli  Creek  Township,  this 
county. 

^Ir.  Coulter  bought  his  present  farm  about  1859, 
and  there  were  very  few  improvements  made  on 
it.  About  tliirly  acres  had  been  cleared,  a  log 
house  of  one  room,  without  a  fireplace,  and  a  dilap- 
idated old  log  stable  were  all  the  improvements. 
Mr.  Coulter  has  cleared  and  made  manv  im- 
provements since  then,  and  in  1860  he  began  buy- 
ing and  shipping  hogs  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  continu- 
ing this  for  twenty  yeai-s.  He  has  shipped  stock  to 
Buffalo,  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati,  and  nearly  all  the 
stock  markets  in  the  country.  He  has  bought  cat- 
tle in  Logan,  Champaign,  Harrison,  Allen,  Jlercer, 
Shelby.  Auglaize, "V'an  Wert  and  Putnam  Counties, 
and  used  to  go  on  horseback  most  of  the  time.  He 
is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres 
of  land;  a  comfortable  house,  and  a  large  frame 
barn  was  erected  in  1883.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coulter 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Churcli.  in  which 
botli  are  deeply  interested,  and  he  has  been  .Steward 
in  the  same  for  years.  Mrs.  Coulter  is  one  of  the 
most  cultured  and  intelligent  ladies  of  the  county, 
and  well  liked  by  all  who  are  favored  with  her 
.acquaintance. 

In  politics,  .Mr.  Coulter  is  a  firm  Republican. 
and  his  first  vote  was  for  Gen.  Scott,  in  1852.  He  is  a 
Thirty-second  degree  M.ason  and  has  been  connected 
with  that  Older  for  thirty-seven  years.  In  May, 
1864.  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-second  Regiment,  was  through  Virginia  and 
at  Arlington  Heights.  Bermuda  Hundred  and 
White  House  Landing.  He  was  detailed  with  the 
doctors  taking  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded  from 


20S 


POKTKAIT  AND  BlOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


the  Kcutle  of  Ihe  Wilderiies*  ami  Cold  Harlx>r. 
Ho  w:is  under  fire  at  Bormuda  lUindrod  for  uearly 
a  week.  Uo  abo  :issistod  in  building  fortitioalions 
and  served  four  months  and  a  half,  being  mustered 
out  of  service  in  September,  l$l<4.  lie  is  a  moiii- 
l>er  of  the  Grand  Armv  Post  at  De Graff. 


I  _^  ENRY  C.  KIENZEI..  a  member  of  llic 
Y^)  lirm  of  liakhaus  \-  Kucnzel,  proprietors  of 
J^/  the  Ilour  and  woolen  mills  of  New  Hremen, 
'{0  is  a  pi-actio.ll.  energetic  and  thorough  man 
of  business,  and  most  reliable  in  all  transactions. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  boru  in  Day- 
ton on  the  7th  of  July,  1S52,  and  his  parentis, 
.John  C.  .and  Maria  (Wunderlick)  Kuenzel,  were 
natives  of  Germany. 

The  elder  >Ir.  Kuen/.el  was  liorn  at  .Marklentlieii. 
Uavaria.  on  the  5th  of  .September,  1«23.  and 
spent  fifteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  schoolroom, 
where  he  received  a  thorough  knowledge  of  those 
branches  necessary  as  a  foundation  on  wliich  to 
build  a  permanent  structure.  When  not  in  the 
schoolroom,  he  w.as  engaged  in  honest,  useful 
labor,  and  thus  in  early  life  he  became  possessed 
of  a.lvanced  ideas  and  principles,  which  remained 
with  him  through  life,  and  which  were  plainly  ob- 
served by  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact 
throughout  the  whole  of  a  successful  business  ca- 
reer. He  was  a  great  reader,  often  burning  the 
midnight  oil  when  .an  interesting  book  was  before 
him.  and  he  was  also  a  man  of  untiring  and  un- 
wearied indu.-try,  which  never  fagged  or  fal- 
tered. 

Mr.  Kuenzel  emigrated  to  the  I  iiitcd  .States 
with  his  father  and  the  remainder  of  the  family  in 
1»».3>*  and  landed  at  New  Orleans,  but  immediately 
c'ame  to  New  Bremen.  Auglaize  County,  <)lii<>. 
where  those  sterling  traits  of  char.ictcr  proveil  of 
great  value  in  the  wilderness.  Learning  the  tin- 
ner's trade  of  his  f.ather.  he  engaged  in  biisiiK-ss 
with  a  will  that  never  said  "go.'"  but  -'come."   Al- 


though he  started  with  but  tifly  cents,  by  strict 
attention  tii  business  and  by  uprightness  and  hon- 
orable dealing,  when  he  sold  the  tannery,  in  1870, 
ho  w:is  one  of  the  wealtliiost  men  in  the  town, 
llo  w.as  married,  in  is  17.  to  :\Iiss  Wiindorliok, 
ami  thirteen  cliilduMi  woro  given  llioin,  live  of 
whom  survivo.  Mr.  Kiiin/.ol  was  over  closely 
allied  with  all  ontorprisos  for  tlio  improvement  of 
tho  town  and  county,  and  «:is  pulilio-spiritod  and 
enterprising  to  an  iiiuimi:i1   degree. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Kuenzel  was  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education  of  the  town,  and  with  a 
zeal  that  know  no  cessation,  he,  with  a  few  olliei-s, 
was  successful  in  clearing  the  way  so  that  all 
children  of  the  township  had  the  advantjigo  of  a 
good  education.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
.Soplembor,  1879,  he  w.as  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  Hour  and  woolen  goods,  in  which  business 
he  h.is  boon  succeeded  by  his  sons.  Honored  and 
revered  liy  all.  in  his  death  the  county  lost  one 
of  her  most  valuable  citizens.  His  wife,  who 
came  to  this  coiintiy  with  lior  parents  at  an  early 
dale,  passed  aw.iy  in  l>i70.  .She  was  a  woman  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability  and  well  liked  for  her 
many  womanly   virtues. 

Henry  C.  Kuenzel,  the  second  child  in  order 
of  birth  of  the  above-mentioned  children, attended 
the  district  school,  and  later  entered  the  High 
School  of  D.ayton,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
There  he  laid  the  foundation  on  which  he  buildcd 
later  .at  Groer"s  College,  at  Dayton.  In  18G8,  he 
entered  his  father's  tannery  and  s[)ent  three  years 
iu  learning  the  tiade.  After  this,  he  worked  for 
W.  Schueltliei.-,  a  former  partner  of  his  father's, 
but  at  that  lime  the  proprietor  of  a  largo  tannery 
at  Lima,  and  remained  with  him  a  year.  Then  he 
siK'nt  two  years  in  Chicago  working  at  his  trade. 
Returning  to  New  Bremen,  he  worked  for  a  short 
lime  for  his  brother-in-law,  who  in  llie  meantime 
had  purcha.«od  the  tannery  owned  by  his  father. 
After  this,  he  went  to  Louisville,  worked  for  a 
year  in  a  tannery  there,  and  then  clerked  in  a 
leather  store  for  two  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1879,  after  having  retiiri  ed 
to  Scv,-  Bremen,  he  became  a  partner  in  the  tljur 
and  woolen  mills  at  the  time  when  his  fathe  was 
part  owner,  and   in  the  fall  of   that  year,  ?iter  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


209 


father's  death,  he  purchased  his  father's  interest. 
The  firm  then  became  Balchaus  A  Kucnzel,  the  in- 
dividual members  of  the  same  being  Fred  Bakhaus 
and  Henry  and  Godfrey  Kueuzel.  They  are  doing 
a  flourishing  business.  In  his  political  views,  Mr. 
Kuenzel  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  all  political  questions.  He  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  State  convention  and  has  held  a  num- 
lier  of  local  oflices  in  the  township,  such  as  City 
Clerk  and  a  member  of  the  City  Council.  He  is 
.'secretary  of  the  New  Bremen  Natural  G.as  Com- 
pany-, is  Treasurer  of  the  Citizens'  Building  it 
Loan  Association,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Home  Oil  Comp.anj'.  .Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Encampment.  He  is  a  thorougli.  energetic  and 
most  competent,  painstaking  and  reliable  business 
man. 


->' 


}-<r 


NGLE  W.  RUSH.  Agriculture  and  stock-rais- 
ing have  formed  the  principal  occupations  of 
/li  this  gentlem.an.  and  the  wide-awake  manner  in 
which  ho  has  taken  advantage  of  all  methods  and 
ideas  tending  to  enhancing  the  value  of  his  prop- 
erty has  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  obtaining 
the  competence  which  he  now  enjoys.  All  his  life 
he  has  followed,  with  substantial  results,  the  occu- 
pation to  which  he  was  reared,  and  as  a  man.  no 
less  than  a  citizen,  he  is  highly  esteemed.  Born 
in  Logan  County.  Ohio,  on  the  10th  of  December, 
1852.  he  is  the  son  of  .losiah  Rush,  and  the  grand- 
son of  Wesley  Rush,  the  latter  a  native  of  Mary- 
land. The  grandfather  came  toPickaw.ay  County, 
Ohio,  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century, 
prior  to  tlie  War  of  isr2.  and  entered  Govern- 
ment land  there.  He  came  to  this  State  by  an 
Indian  trail,  began  improving  his  place,  and  be- 
came the  proud  possessor  of  one  thousand  acres 
of  valuable  land  on  tlie  Pickaw.ay  Plains.  He 
was  a  man  of  more  than  average  ability,  and 
w.as  well  posted  on  history  and  the  Bible.  He 
was  an  excellent  financier  and  accumulated  much 
wealth.     .\  member   of  the  I'resbvterian    Cliurch, 


he  died  in  that  faith.  In  politics,  he  was  a  firm 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Whig  party 
until  the  formation  of  the  Republican  partv, 
when  he  united  with  that,  and  took  a  deep  inter- 
est in  all  political  question?. 

Josiah  Rush,  father  of  our  subject,  w.as  roared 
on  the  farm  in  Pickaw.ay  County,  and  after  reach- 
ing mature  j'ears,  wedded  Mi>s  M.alinda  Eatherton, 
a  native  of  Pickaway  County,  ()liio.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  union,  but  only  two  grow 
to  years  of  maturity:  Alice  .1..  now  married  to 
Millard  F.  Buxton,  resides  in  Montgomery  County. 
Ind.;  and  Ingle  W..  tlie  subject  of  this  sketch. 
The  parents  of  tliese  children  removed  to  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  about  1848,  and  here  became  the 
owners  of  much  valuable  land.  The  father  died 
on  this  property  in  M.ay,  18(;n.  The  mother,  who 
is  still  living  and  now  sixty-five  years  of  aire, 
makes  her  home  with  her  daughter  in  Indian.a.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  her 
husband  also  held  membei-ship  in  that  church. 

Ingle  W.  Rush  w.as  but  nine  years  old  when  he 
returned  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  .and  after 
residing  there  for  one  year,  went  to  live  witli  his 
stepfather,  William  B.  Winters,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  twenty-six  years  of  age.  lie  secured 
a  good  practical  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  when  seventeen  yeai-s  of  age  started  out  to 
fight  his  own  way  in  life.  After  the  death  of  the 
stepfather,  our  subject  took  charge  of  the  farm, 
.and  on  the  Gth  of  February,  1873,  he  was  united 
in  marri.age  to  Miss  .'^aiah  A.  Selby.  a  native  of 
fiercer  County.  Ohio.  Seven  children  have  been 
born  to  this  union:  Ira  N.,  Zellie  il..  Lulu  G., 
Jlerly  B..  Grove  P..  .7.  B.  Ward  and  Cecil  C. 

Mr.  Rush  settled  on  his  present  farm  on  the  4tli 
of  March.  1879,  and  h.as  made  about  all  the  sub- 
stantial improvements  on  it.  He  owns  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  and  has  about  seven 
miles  of  tile  drainage  on  the  place.  He  annually 
raises  many  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep,  especially  hogs, 
and  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  successful  farmers 
in  this  section.  His  handsome  residence,  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  township,  was  erected  in  188.5. 
and  he  is  now  building  a  large  barn.  40x80  feet, 
with  sheds  at  each  end.  Eveiything  about  the 
place  shows  the  owner  to  be   thrifty  and   enter- 


■210 


roiM'KAir  ANP  lUOCKAl'llK'Al.  KIXXIKD. 


prising,  and  be  is  recoguizcil  as  one  of  tlio  best 
finanoierf  for  liis  n|re  of  nny  man  in  I.osran 
County.  IIo  is  one  of  the  county  "s  most  promi- 
nonl  citizous.  In  iv^lilii-s,  he  is  a  Poiiuh  rat.  Ii:u< 
held  the  otVice  of  Township  Treasurer  for  >ix  yo:irs. 
wai  also  a  Trustee  for  some  lime,  and  di^ili:iri:i'il 
the  duties  of  these  olliees  in  a  very  cflloieni  man- 
ner. He  and  family  are  Christians  in  their  relig- 
ious vievTs. 


i^ii^j;^^^ 


U.  .1.  G.  SriTON,  a  prominent  and  popu- 
lar physician  of  Kuslisylvania.  Ohio,  is  a 
native  of  Logan  County,  Rush  Creek 
Township,  this  .State,  and  was  born  on  the 
:nii  of  September,  185-2.  His  father.  W.  W.  Sut- 
ton, was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  Viorn  in  1818.  and 
came  to  the  Buckeye  State  with  his  parent*  wlieu 
but  seven  years  of  age.  His  father,  .lonathan  .but- 
ton, was  also  a  native  of  Blue  Or.asssoil,  and  after 
coming  to  Ohio,  he  located  in  I.ogan  County,  Rush 
Creek  Township,  in  the  woods.  His  first  home 
there  was  a  log  cabin,  in  which  he  resided  until  his 
death,  when  but  thirty-nine  years  of  ago. 

W.  W.  Sutton  was  about  sixteen  yeai-s  of  age 
when  his  father  died,  and  he  subsequently  engaged 
in  the  sawmill  busine,-s  at  three  different  places  in 
Rush  Creek  Township.  This  he  continued  for 
twentv-five  yeai^s.  and  was  well  known  luid  es- 
teemed in  the  county.  He  was  the  soul  of  lninur 
and  uprightness,  and  there  w:is  never  a  lilot  or 
si>it  on  his  character  as  a  citizen  and  neiglibor. 
He  w.as  a  member  of  the  Disciples  Church, and  wa< 
thoroushly  posted  on  all  Biblical  subjects,  a.s  he 
w.as  on  all  other  topics  of  interest.  In  politics,  he 
atlilialed  with  the  Democi-atic  parly.  Altlnjiigli  he 
never  went  to  school  but  .seventeen  days  in  his 
life,  he  was  well  informed,  and  was  a  self-made 
man  in  every  respect.  The  lady  who  became  his 
wife.  Mi.-s  Catherine  .lane  Neigbarger.  w;ls  burn  in 
Ohio,  is  still  livinf;.  and  makes  her  home  in  Rusli- 
svlvania.  She  is  now  sixty-nine  years  of  age,  and 
enjovs  comparativeh'  good  health.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  .Jacob  Neigbarger. 


Only  one  of  the  eleven  cliihhcn  born  to  ^Ir.  and 
Mrs.  .Sutton  was  a  daughter,  and  she  was  the  eld- 
est of  the  family.  Her  n:jme  was  Rebecca,  and  she 
became  the  wife  of  C.  M.Tap|i.  They  now  reside  in 
Kushsyh  .-uiia.  .lonathan  lives  in  Findlay,  Ohio,  .■nni 
1. e:\ndor.  in  Walnut  (ii'ovc.  Logan  County,  <  lliin; 
Harvey  O..  a  liaveling  iii;in  for  school  ^u]l|lli^■^. 
wa?  Superintendent  of  the  schools  tjf  Ku>hsylvnnia 
and  second  Superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Bcllc- 
fontaine,  at  one  time.  He  also  held  the  same  po- 
sition in  the  Mansfield  schools.  Walter  is  a  farmer 
of  Logan  Co\inty,  Ohio,  l-'ranklin  W.  died  when 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  Charles  L.  and  Ches- 
ter M.  (twins),  now  twenty-two  years  of  age,  arc 
school  teachers. 

Dr.  .1.  O.  Sutton,  the  >ixth  child  and  liflh  son. 
received  his  priiiiar;.  education  in  the  district 
Schools  of  his  native  county,  and  remained  under 
the  parent^U  roof  until  he  had  attained  his  major- 
itv.  .•i>si.-ting  his  father  on  the  f.-irni.  The  latter 
kept  from  eighl'linndrcd  to  sixteen  hunilrcd  head 
of  sheep,  and  it  Iiei>t  young  Sutton  busy  looking 
after  thini  and  a>sisting  in  the  usual  faiin  work. 
When  twenty-one  years  of  age.  he  entcicd  the 
Northwestern  Normal  School  in  Hardin  County, 
Ohio,  going  from  the  harvest  field  to  college. 
Thisconfinement  did  not  agree  with  him  and  he  was 
taken  sick  and  returned  home,  where  he  remained 
three  monttis,  and  then,  on  .account  of  limited 
means,  entered  a  district  school  in  Hardin  County, 
where  he  remained  one  winter. 

The  spring  of  1877  saw  him  inarrii-d  to  .Mi.s.s 
Martha  K.  (drwin.  a  native  of  Rush  Creek  Town- 
ship, Logan  C(uiiily.  Ohio,  born  .luiie  22,  1857, 
and  the  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Dick- 
inson) Corwin.  She  w.as  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Logan  County,  and  is  a  bright,  intelli- 
gent ladv.  After  marriage,  Mr.  Sutton  located 
near  Zanesfield,  Logan  County,  on  a  farni,  and 
tilled  the  soil  the  summer  following  his  union,  lie 
attended  school  in  Zanesfield  the  f<^)llowing  winter, 
received  a  certilicate  to  leach,  and  during  the  win- 
ter of  I H79,  he  taught  the  Ml.  Zion  .school,  near 
Z.inestield.  Willi  the  money  thus  carneil,  he  and 
his  wife  went  to  Cincinnati  and  he  attended  the 
Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  thus  tilling  a  long-felt 
desire  on  his  part  for  a  medical   education.     After 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


211 


this,  he  taught  school  in  different  places  until  1880, 
when  he  w.is  called  home  on  account  of  his  father's 
sickness.  He  took  charge  of  the  farm,  managed 
the  large  flock  of  sheep  as  well  as  other  stock,  and 
took  care  of  all  his  father's  business.  After  the 
death  of  the  latter,  he  and  his  brother  Harve^'  G. 
were  appointed  administrators  of  the  estate,  but  as 
his  brother  was  away,  engaged  in  other  enterprises, 
most  of  the  business  transactions  fell  upon  our 
subject.  He  settled  up  the  affairs  of  the  estate,  and 
remained  upon  the  farm  until  1884,  when,  in  the 
spring  of  that  year,  lie  sold  out  .and  removed  to 
Kenton,  Hardin  Count}-,  Ohio.  There  he  was  en- 
gaged by  Cantwell  &  Co..  hardware  and  agricul- 
tural implement  merchants,  and  worked  for  them 
about  nine  months.  From  there  he  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati to  finish  his  medical  education,  and  there 
he  remained  two  terms,  graduating  in  .June,  1886. 
During  the  summer  and  fall  of  that  year,  he  was 
located  on  his  mother's  farm,  and  while  there  was 
called  to  treat  man}-  cases.  His  firet  location  was 
made  in  Lewistown  in  1887,  and  he  remained  there 
until  April  23,  1888,  when  he  located  where  he 
now  resides.  A  liberal  patronage  h.as  rewarded  liis 
efforts,  and  he  has  been  unusually  successful.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Eclectic  Medical  Association 
of  Ohio,  and  is  a  member  of  Rush  Lodge  IS'o.  381, 
1.  O.  0.  F.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  .Sutton  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  daugliters:  Etta  !May,  .Jessie  (iay  and 
Bessie  Fay. 


/>^,  IIHlsTlAN  \'().sLER.  The  qualities  of  tliiift 
III       _  and     perseverance     which     usually     char- 

'V^/  acterize  the  (Germans  have  crowned  their 
efforts  with  prosperity  in  whatever  portion  of 
thr  n-ijrld  their  lot  has  been  cast.  Nor  does  the  life 
of  Mr.  \'usler  furnish  an  exception  to  the  usual 
rule,  for  he  is  numbered  among  the  most  prosperous 
citizens  of  Auglaize  County,  having  a  splendid  es- 
tate located  on  section  l(j,  Duchouquet  Township. 
As  has  alreadv  been  indicated,  the  native   home 


of  Mr.  Vosler  was  in  ■V\"urtemberg,  Germany,  and 
the  date  of  his  birth  .January  28,  1840.  He  is  the 
son  of  Chris  and  Anna  Vosler,  also  natives  of  the 
Fatherland,  where  the  former  followed  the  trade 
of  a  cooper.  They  lived  in  their  native  land 
until  1847,  when,  having  resolved  to  seek  a  home 
intheN'ew  World,  they  emigrated  to  this  country, 
coming  directly  to  Auglaize  County,  and  locatinn- 
on  the  fort\-  acres  of  land  which  is  included  in  the 
present  home  of  our  subject.  The  father  died  here 
in  October,  1875,  while  his  good  wife,  who  is  in 
her  eighty-first  ^-ear,  is  still  surviving  and  makes 
her  home  with  our  subject.  The  parents  were  de- 
voted members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which 
body  Mr.  Vosler  occupied  an  olticial  position.  In 
his  political  relations,  he  voted  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

Of  the  parental  family  of  four  children,  two  are 
now  living,  Mrs.  Weaver  and  our  subject.  The  lat- 
ter grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  has  always 
resided.  His  advantages  for  obtaining  an  educa- 
tion were  very  limited,  but  m.aking  the  best  of  the 
means  afforded  him,  he  now  ranks  among  the  in- 
telligent farmei's  of  his  localitv. 

The  lady  to  whom  .AIi-.  \'(>s|t.i-  was  married  in 
18G2  was  3Iiss  Catherine,  daughter  of  .John  and 
Margaret  (Leathermau)  Keller,  natives  respectively 
of  Germany  and  France.  The  parents,  who  arc 
both  now  dece.ased.  came  to  America  in  an  earlv 
day  and  located  in  tlii,-?  section  while  the  Indians 
were  very  numerous.  Mrs.  \'osler  was  bdrii  in 
Pusheta  Township,  this  county,  in  1(>41.  and  was 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  nine  children 
who  are  living,  two  having  died  in  infant'v.  Her 
brothei-s  and  sisters  bear  the  respective  names  of 
Annie.  Christian  .John.  Mary.  Susan.  William. 
(.  harles,  Henry  and  Caroline. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  agricultural  pur.-uits. 
and  when  a  lad  of  eleven  years  began  to  .assist  his 
father  in  carrying  on  tlie  home  farm.  He  is  the 
proprietor  of  one  hundred  and  tliirty-six  acres  of 
excellent  land,  nearly  all  of  which  he  cleared  him- 
self. In  1862.  he  erected  a  comfortable  residence 
on  his  estate,  which  is  also  supiilied  with  all  the 
needful  buildings,  and  is  thorouglily  drained  with 
eight  hundred  rods  of   tile. 

In  18i)4  Mr.  Vosler  enlisted  in  the  Luion   army, 


•.M2 


n)lMKAll'  AND   llIOC.KArilUAl,   lUX'OKl). 


beconiiniT  a  menilior  of  ComiMiiv  G,  One  llimdrod 
snd  Fifty-sixtli  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  mnsteivd 
in  at  Camp  IVnison.  He  tlion  wi'iit  to  Coving- 
ton, Ky..  frvini  tlioro  to  Falmouth,  tlionco  IcCvnth- 
iana.  and  frv^m  tlioro  to  CumlHTland,  Md..  « lioio 
with  his  ovimjvany  ho  did  gonoral  pickptdnly.  Af- 
tor  Ivinj  mnstorod  out  of  the  sorvioo,  Soiitcn)l«-r 
7.  I.'*ti4.  our  sut>joot  apiin  rolurnod  to  the  iwaoeful 
pursuits  of  farniinir,  ami  at  the  present  time  do- 
votos  his  entire  attention  to  raising:  eoreals  and 
raising  a  j.'v^od  trr:tde  of  stixk.  Me  is  a  prominent 
ineinl>er  of  the  German  Lutheran  Ciinrch  and  has 
j:iven  lil>or:»lIy  of  his  moans  toward  the  erection  of 
the  new  huildins  in  AVapakoneta.  His  interest  in 
school  affairs  h.as  caused  him  to  ho  placed  on  the 
School  15oard.  where  he  has  rendered  etlicient  ser- 
vice in  the  c:tl>acity  of  Director.  In  social  affairs. 
Mr.  ^'o«ler  is  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  (irand 
Army.  In  politics,  he  votes  with  tlic  Repulilican 
party,  and  h.as  served  his  fellow-townsmen  as  Road 
.•^uiiervisor  for  a  number  of  yeai-s. 

Tlie  three  children  Itorn  to  'Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vosler 
are  Cliristian  .1..  who  married  Lena  Hoebaugh: 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Charles  Torwilliirer.  and  Cather- 
ine. Mi-s.AVilliam  Slndwrt. 


OIIN  LArKKRSWKII.KK.  hardware  .m.l 
general  provision  merchant,  is  one  of  tlic 
thorough-going,  progressive  men  of  Mm- 
^i^y  ster  and  h,as  done  much  to  promote  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  that  town.  'I'liat  wliicli  h:us  con- 
tributed largely  to  his  success  h.as  been  the  thor- 
oujldy  reliable  and  mcthodieal  business  principles 
which  have  governed  his  dealings  in  all  tran.-.ic- 
tions  and  established  for  him  the  popular  favor 
which  strict  probity  alone  can  secure,  his  motto 
lieing:  "Honorable  representation  and  fair  treat- 
ment to  .all."  What  he  has  accumulated  in  the 
way  of  this  world's  goods  is  the  result  of  his  own 
exertions,  for  he  started  at  the  bottom  of  the  lad- 
der. He  was  born  in  I'rnssia.  Germany,  on  the 
25tli  of    April.    I-iU.  and   his    (jarents.  Peter  and 


Ann.i  M.  (I'riederick)  l.;iufoi-swoiler,  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  Old  Country. 

The  father  was  a  cabinet-m.iUor  and  o.ii  ponler 
by  trade,  ami  he  remained  in  his  native  connti\ 
until  .Inly.  1SI7.  w  lien  lie  sailed  with  his  family 
from  Aniweipto  New  VoiU,  i-i-u-Iuml;  Ihe  Land  of 
the  I'ree  in  nl>onl  llnee  weeks.  They  c.-uiie  \  ia 
til.'  Lakes  to  Toledo.  Ohio,  and  llienee  by  canal  to 
Min,-ter.  .Mr.  L:iufersweiler  pui'cha.^ed  about  ten 
.acres  of  laml  liotween  Minster  and  New  Bremen.  :unl 
here  ho  woikcd  at  his  trade  until  quite  aged,  lie  died 
in  1>S80.  when  seventy -seven  years  of  ,age,  and  tin- 
mother  on  the  imh  of  .\ugust,  18G7,  at  the  age  of 
sixty  years,  liotli  were  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  Seven  of  the  twelve  children  born  to 
them  grew  to  m.-iturity.  and  oiu'.a  danghter,  died 
on  the  ocean. 

Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Ihiee  \ears  of 
age  when  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  AiniMiea.  and 
his  edui'alional  facilities  in  youtli  were  rather  Hni- 
ited.  This  ho  remedii'd  in  a  measure  by  attend- 
ing evening  >chool  after  reaching  the  .age  of  eigh- 
teen. Ill'  remained  with  his  parents,  assisting  in 
cultivating  the  small  farm,  until  grown,  and  was 
on  the  tow-patli  for  six  months,  the  canal  ]).a.ssing 
within  a  few  rods  of  their  home.  When  about 
sixteen  years  of  age,  ho  drove  the  United  States 
mail  from  New  Bremen  to  Piqua  for  eight  months, 
and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  tlie  tinner's  ti'ade  for  two  and  a 
half  years  in  Min.-t<'r. 

In  18G(!.  lie  piirch.ased  an  inlerot  in  the  hard- 
ware bnsines>,  inan.aged  this  fur  about  ten  \ears, 
and  in  ISTii  piircli.ased  his  partner's  inteie.-t  and 
became  sole  proprietor.  In  IKSii.  lie  erected  a 
large  twi).-itoiy  brick  block,  in  wlii<'li  he  h.as  since 
conducted  bii-iiic>s.  and  now  carries  a  large  and 
complete  stock  of  hardware.  He  is  highly  popu- 
lar and  enjoys  an  extensive  acquaintance  and 
patronage  within  the  city  and  surroundings.  To 
his  hardware  slock  he  has  added  grocerio  and 
provisions  and  buys  country  produce,  etc. 

In  the  year  1807,  our  subject  was  wediled  to 
.Miss  Agnes  Sprehe,  of  Minster,  Ohio,  who  died  in 
1882.  Kightchildren  were  the  fruit  of  this  union: 
.Josephine,  IJemodine  (deceased),  Charles,  .loseph. 
Prank  (deceased),  Cecelia.  Katie,  and  Laurens  (de- 


/T^. 


tyt^ 


?}:  >^  "^^^i/^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


215 


ceased).  In  1885,  Mr.  Laufei-sweiler  was  married 
to  Miss  Anua  Schmiiecker,  of  Covington,  Ky.,  and 
three  childien  have  been  given  them:  Ida.  Loietta 
and  Olive.  A  Denioeiat  in  his  political  affiliations. 
Ml'.  Laufersweiler  lia.-^  ever  been  pioniinent  and 
intiuential  in  local  polities.  He  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  county  and  district  conventions,  h.as  served 
a-  Clerk  of  the  town  for  eight  yeare.  a  member  of 
the  Council  for  two  yeais.  Mayor  eight  years 
and  has  now  served  .is  Treasurer  foi-  three  years. 
Tims  it  m.ay  be  seen  that  he  is  well  informed  on 
political  and  gener.al  topics  .and  is  a  inominent  po- 
Hlical  factor,  not  only  in  the  township,  but  in  tlie 
count\-.  He  and  Mrs.  Laufersweiler  are  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church. 

Our  subject  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Citizens' 
Bank  and  a  Director  in  the  same.  He  was  a[)- 
pointed  Notary  Public  in  18S1.  and  was  re- 
ai)pointed  b\-  Gov.  Campbell  in  i.siHi.  He  owns 
stock  in  the  Minster  Cooperage  Company,  of 
which  he  has  been  President  since  its  formation. 
He  is  al.-o  President  of,  and  a  stockholder  in.  the 
Minster  Manufacturing  Company.  In  18(J6,  Mr. 
Laufersweiler  engaged  in  business  ^1  worse  off 
than  nothing,  for  he  was  $7  in  debt  when  he 
purclia^ed  a  h.alf-iutercst  in  the  stock.  He  has 
met  with  unusually  good  luck  and  lias  always 
contributed  his  share  towards  the  advancement 
and  improvement  of  the  town.  He  has  been 
Secretary  of  the  Building  and  Loan  .\ssociation  of 
this  place  for  twenty  years. 


/pssffl  W.  M.  FAliL.-VM).  .Vmongtlie  prominent 
^^?  and  influential  citizen?  of  Auglaize  Couuty_ 
we  take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  our 
readers  the  biogra[iliy  and  portrait  of  S. 
W.  McFarland,  the  popular  .and  trustworthy 
County  Treasurer.  lie  deservedly  ranks  ami^ng 
the  foremost  men  of  his  county,  not  only  for  the 
efficient  and  capable  manner  in  which  hediscliarires 
the  duties  of  his  responsible  position,  but  as  well 
for  his  qualities  as  a  citizen  and  man. 

10 


Jlr.  McFarland  was  born  in  Auglaize  County. 
Ohio,  in  March,  1851,  and  as  the  people  have  known 
him  from  infancy,  they  have  had  every  opportu- 
nity to  judge  of  his  character  and  qualifications. 
He  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  where  he  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  subsequent  pro.sperous  career.  L'ntil  aliout 
fourteen  yeai-s  of  age,  ho  remained  on  the  faiin. 
and  then  began  clerking  in  a  dry-goods  store. 
When  eighteen  yeai-s  of  age,  he  embarked  in  the 
grocery  business  for  himself,  and  in  this  enterprise 
was  very  successful,  continuing  it  for  about  six- 
teen yeare.  When  he  first  started  out  for  himself, 
he  taught  school  for  a  few  terms  in  this  county, 
and  for  ten  months  in  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind. 

During  liis  business  career  in  Wap.akonet.i.  Mr. 
McF'arland  w.as  brought  in  contract  with  many 
people,  and  l)y  his  lionor.able,  upright  conduct,  won 
a  host  of  warm  friends,  and  became  very  popular. 
During  this  lime,  lie  served  .as  Councilman  for  two 
or  three  terms,  and  was  on  the  committees  on  Streets. 
Finance  and  Law.  In  .lauuary,  1887,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster  by  President  Cleveland,  and 
in  this  capacity  served  nearly  three  years.  "While 
holding  that  position,  he  wa.>  nominated  without 
opposition  by  the  Democratic  part\-  as  a  candidate 
for  County  Treasurer,  and  afterward,  in  1S8'J, 
elected  by  a  large  m.ajority,  and  re-elected  in  18!)1 
witli  the  largest  majority  on  the  ticket,  thus  show- 
ing his  popularity.  He  li.as  always  been  a  stanch 
advocate  of  Democratic  principles,  and  his  vote  is 
ever  cast  with  that  party.  A  faithful,  painstaking 
and  competent  officer,  he  has  broiiglit  to  the  man- 
agement of  his  official  duties  the  same  thorough 
methods  and  business  acumen  that  have  made  him 
so  popular  and  successful  in  other  direction?,  and 
is  well  and  favorably  known  in  this  and  adjoiniuLr 
roiinties.  The  Cincinnati  IiUjuin-r  oi  .Iaiiuar\'  lo. 
1S.S7.  published  his  portrait  and  a  short  -ketch  of 
his  appointments  to  various  official  positions.  Mi. 
McFarland  was  married  in  -Inly.  l.s'J(j.  to  ;Mis~ 
Carrie  Kinstle,  a  member  of    the  Catholic  (_  hiirch. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  .lames  !■".  .McFarland. 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  IMl.nnd  moved  to 
Logan  County,  Ohio,  in  Ls.).').  Five  years  later, 
he  came  to  Auglaize  County  and  settled  in  .Moul- 
ton  Township,  on  the  .St.  Mary'sT'lank  Road,  three 


:i6 


IVKlKAir  AM)   r.lOi;KAl  niCAL    Ki:COUD. 


ami  a  half  miles  west  of  Wajwkoneta.  He  selected 
as  his  wife  Miss  Naiu'v  Ij»«ho:u1.  ami  llioy  roared 
two  chiMrvn.  one  of  whom.  \V.  K..  dioil  in  1)<7;>. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife.  Mr.  MeKarland  mar- 
ried Miss  K.v<aniia  Walker,  and  they  i-eared  four 
childivn.  namely:  .lohn  I..  S.  W.  (our  subject), 
Frank  .1.  and  Mary.  The  mother  died  in  August. 
Iti.il.  and  Mr.  MeFarland  afterward  marrieil  .Mrs. 
Sus-an  Wan),  by  whom  he  beeanie  the  father  of  two 
children.  Mattie  and  t'elia.  Up»n  the  deatli  of  hi-; 
third  wife,  he  married  Mrs.  I  atherine  Wliet.-tone. 
who  still  survives. 

When  James  K.  MeKarland  came  to  this  county, 
he  sei-ured  one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres,  and  soon 
.ndded  other  valuable  land,  a  portion  of  which 
still  belongs  to  his  estate.  He  w.as  elected  .lustice 
of  the  Peace  in  ISU.  which  ollice  he  held  about 
thirty-one  years,  and  during  twenty-six  years  of 
this  time  he  served  .as  Township  Treasurer.  He 
w.as  one  of  a  family  of  six  children,  and  was  the 
third  of  these  to  p.ass  aw.ay;  his  next  younger 
brother.  Bishop  MeFarland,  of  Providence.  H.  I., 
being  the  first,  and  Dr.  JIcFarland,  of  Cleveland, 
who  died  about  1874,  being  the  second.  James  IC. 
MeFarland  died  on  the  21st  of  July,  1875.  Since 
then  two  other  brothers,  W.  H..  of  F-dina,  Mo.,  and 
Dr.  J.  A.,  of  Tiffin.  Ohio,  have  also  passed  away. 
Dr.  J.  L.  MeFarland,  formerly  Auditor  of  Auglaize 
County,  is  still  living.  The  family  is  one  of  the 
mo;t  intellectual  in  this  section  and  its  members 
are  well  qualified  for  the  professions  they  follow 
or  the  positions  which  they  fill. 


601-  S.VMn-.l.  n.  MOIT.  of  >t.  Mary>.  wlio 
.  won  a  distinguished  reputation  .as  an  otlicer 
of  an  Ohio  regiment  during  the  Civil  War. 
h.a.-  t>een  a  resident  of  .Vuglaize  County  sixty  years, 
and  hi-  name  is  ch^ely  :issociated  with  the  history 
•  n  iL-  ri.-e  and  progress  from  the  fir-st  days  of  it> 
■.•r;;an;zalion  a-  a  >ep:irate  county,  when  he  iva-oiic 
"f  iU  leading  civic  ollicials   and   prominent  as  one 


of  its  legal  lights,  to  the  present  time,  in  which  he 
is  held  .as  one  of  its  most  honored  citizens. 

Col.  Mott  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  most 
eminent  families  of  America,  many  of  who.se  mem- 
bei-s  have  atUiined  distinction  in  various  walks  of 
life,  Valentine  Mott.  one  of  the  most  famous  sur- 
geons of  his  day,  and  a  cousin  <>f  ihi'  fallu-iof  oui 
subject,  belonging  to  il.  Tlic  Mo(ts  arc  of  Fniuli 
origin,  and  were  of  the  lluguenot  religion.  The 
fii-st  to  Ic.ivo  sunny  France  to  seek  a  liomc  on 
foreign  soil  was  Maj.  John  Mott,  grandfather  of 
our  subject  who  came  to  America  alx)ut  the  time 
of  the  Uevolution  in  this  country,  and  accepted  a 
commission  from  the  Government,  whereby  he  be- 
came an  ollicer  in  the  ContinenUd  army,  and  right 
gallantly  did  he  fight  for  the  cause  of  his  adopted 
land.  He  was  wounded  in  the  left  slioulderin  tlie 
first  battle  in  which  he  took  |)art,  and  again  in  the 
second  battle  a  ISriti.sh  bullet  did  execution  in  the 
same  place.  He  w:us  put  on  detached  service  after 
that  and  assisted  in  recruiting  the  forces.  lie  finally 
became  a  Baptist  pie.achcr  of  some  note,  and  com- 
ing to  Ohio  in  pioneer  times,  died  in  Knox  County 
at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-two  yeai-s,  from  in- 
juries received  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse 
against  a  fence,  by  which  several  of  his  ribs  were 
broken  and  ho  w.os  hurt  internally.  lie  was  a  re- 
markable man  in  many  respects,  possessing  much 
ability  and  originality.  He  had  four  sons:  John, 
Samuel,  (ridcou  and  Freeman.  The  three  eldest 
came  to  Oliio  and  settled,  while  the  youngest  lo- 
cated at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died. 

Gideon  Mott,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Hartford,  Conn.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Vale 
College,  a  gentleman  and  a  scholar,  of  a  quiet,  re- 
fined nature.  Ho  was  a  well-read  man  and  studied 
medicine,  but  never  practiced.  In  1806,  he  came 
to  Ohio,  and  at  first  lived  in  Zanesville.  He  sub- 
sequently followed  farming  in  Knox  Count}',  of 
which  he  w:is  nn  early  settler,  until  18.'!3,  when  he 
came  to  Auglaize  County,  an<l  for  a  few  years 
kept  a  hotel  at  Shane's  Crossing.  In  1837,  he  re- 
turned to  Knox  County  to  close  up  some  old  busi- 
ness affair,  and  while  at  his  brother  John's  home 
died  at  the  .age  of  sixty  years.  He  served  in  the 
W:ir  of  1*<12.  and  w.as  tjiken  prisoner  at  Detroit 
wiien    Gen.    Hull   surrendered,    being   kept  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


21; 


hands  of  the  enemy  until  after  peace  was  declared, 
lie  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  during  his  residence 
in  Clinton_-Towusliii),  Knox  County,  and  he  w.-is 
I'o.-^tmaster  at  Shane's  Crossing  as  long  as  he  re- 
mained there.  His  wife,  Ann  Newell,  who  was 
alsd  a  native  of  Hartford.  Cunii.,  wns  one  of  llio 
MKist  accomplished  women  nf  her  day.  She 
was  linely  educated,  iv.as  a  great  reader  and  a 
lluent  conversationalist.  Sln'  was  a  notable  Ikjusc- 
wife,  did  all  her  own  hon^euork.  and  spun  and 
wove  tlax  and  wool  into  rlotli  for  garments  for 
her  children.  .She  died  at  Shane's  Crossing  Sep- 
tember 10,  1836,  leaving  her  family  inconsolable 
r(_ii-  her  l(jss.  and  depriving  the  Metlioilist  Church 
of  one  of  its  most  zealous  members.  Her  mother, 
Elizabeth  Peck,  w.as  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 
I'eck  family  that  came  over  in  the  •■  Maytlower." 
The  subject  of  this  biographical  .-ketch  w.as  born 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Knox  County,  .January  2G, 
ISIS,  the  fifth  of  a  famil_vof  sixcliildren,  of  whom 
he  and  a  younger  sister  are  the  only  survivors. 
His  early  educational  advantages,  as  far  as  school- 
ing went,  were  limited  to  about  three  months'  at- 
tendance at  a  primitive,  pioneer  log  schoolhonse, 
that  w.as  furnished  witli  slab  seats,  heated  by  means 
of  an  old-fashioned  tirepKace,  and  lighted  liy  means 
of  greased-paper  windows.  He  wa.*,  however, 
carefully  trained  at  home  l.iy  wise  and  good  par- 
ents, with  whom  he  came  to  .\uglaize  County 
when  he  w.as  fifteen  \'ears  old.  At  that  age,  he 
began  the  battle  of  life  for  himself,  and  learning 
the  trades  of  a  bricklayer  and  i)lasterer,  picking  it 
up  himself,  as  he  had  considerable  mechanical 
ingenuity,  was  engaged  in  tho>e  occupations 
until  Jlay,  18.'>lj.  In  that  montli  he  enlisted  in 
Capt.  Charles  Colerick's  company  to  go  on  the 
Ti'xa.-  campaign,  when  that  State  decided  to  secede 
from  Mexico.  He  was  down  tliere  a  year  and  took 
aa  active  part  in  several  skirmishes,  although  the 
last  real  battle  had  been  fought  on  the  21st  of  the 
l)receding  April.  In  Augu.-t.  l.s.J'.i.  the  Colonel 
resumed  his  trade  at  Dayton.  He  saved  *17."). 
ami  in  lS.;:i  he  laid  claim  to  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Dublin  Towmhip.  fiercer  County.  Duringthe 
winter  of  l.s:!:)-l.s40.  he  taught  -chool.  lie  soon 
sold  Ills  land  at  an  advance  liguic.  and  with  tlie 
proceeds  ami  what  nionev  he  had  in  tlif  meantime 


earned,  he  had  a  capital  of  several  hundred  del" 
lars.  AVhile  teaching,  be  had  forty-five  pupils, and 
was  paid  -^^..lO  for  each  one  that  he  tanght,  ob- 
t.aining  his  board  free  in  return  for  instructing- 
the  children  of  his  host. 

The  Colonel  began  the  study  of  law  in  theollice 
of  his  brother,  (iordon  X.,  at  Piqua.  and  in  March, 
1842.  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  Cincinnati. 
He  came  to  St.  Clary's  to  establish  himself  in  his 
profession,  and  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  his 
legal  duties  until  the  war  broke  out.  In  1846.  he 
w.as  elected  Prosecuting  Atttirney  for  Mercer 
County,  of  whicli  .St.  Mary's  w.as  then  a  part.  In 
18-18,  when  Auglaize  w.as  organized  .as  a  separate 
county,  he  was  elected  its  first  Prosecuting  At- 
torney. He  resigned  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
as  the  Democrats  had  elected  him  to  represent  the 
district  in  the  State  Legislature,  in  which  he  served 
with  acceptance  to  all  without  regard  to  party 
affiliations.  In  1852,  he  was  again  elected  Prose- 
cuting Attorney  for  this  county. 

Our  subject  was  busily  engaged  in  his  law  prac- 
tice when  the  Rebellion  broke  out.  He  had  been 
watching  with  intense  interest  the  events  that  led 
up  to  the  outbreak,  and  he  was  prompt  to  respond 
to  his  country's  call  for  assistance.  He  was  elected 
Lieutenant  of  a  company  of  troops  organized  in 
April,  1861,  at  .St.  Mary's,  and  when  the  company 
arrived  at  Camp  .Tackson,  in  Columbus,  his  name 
w.as  presented  to  the  Governor  by  the  men  com- 
posing it,  .as  the  one  best  fitted  for  the  im[)ortant 
post  of  Captain,  and  he  w.as  comnnssioned  as  such. 
lie  had  enlisted  for  three  months,  and  he  and  his 
men  were  attached  to  the  Twentieth  Ohio  Regi- 
ment. They  were  mustered  out  the  .September 
fiillowing,  ha%ing  gained  a  fine  record  for  good 
sohliershii)  in  the  lively  skirmishes  with  the  enemv 
in  \'irginia.  in  whieh  they  had  borne  a  consiiieu- 
ou-  [lart,  capturing  a  rebel  Hag  on  one  occasion. 

The  Colonel  returned  home  after  the  termof  hi.s 
enlistment  ex[)ired.  and  threw  hi-  whole  eneriries 
into  the  work  of  recruiting  another  iM.mpany.  rc- 
enli-ting  Septemljer  :!.  1861.  in  the  Thirty-lir-t 
Ohio  as  CapLain.  Ili>  gallant  i-ouilmt  won  him 
merited  promotion  to  the  position  of  M.-ijor.  Keb- 
ruaiy  28.  1862.  but  he  magaiiimously  decliiu-il  the 
po-iiion  in  favor  of  another.     ( )n    lh<-  .■;th  '\::.y  of 


218 


roKTUAir  AMI  r.UH'.KArUK'AL  uix'oun. 


the  following  Octolior,  ho  w:i>  apimiiitol  C'oloiu-l 
of  the  One  Hundri-d  ami  Kiirhlivnth  Ohio  Koiii- 
iiiont.  his  il.iriiii:.  ivoliiesj  aiul  lino  pnwois  as  a 
loador  winninir  liini  |>roniotioi\.  Ilo  ha<l  his  nun 
iitulor  iroixl  (iisoiplino,  ami  at  the  siinio  tinio  was 
londorly  ix'srariifiil  of  thoir  welfare,  so  tlial  he  was 
a  favorite  with  all.  anil  ho  inspired  them  to  do 
thoir  duty  nohlyon  many  a  hotly -i-ontested  battle- 
tiold.  where  their  valor  and  prowess  helped  to  carry 
the  day.  He  w.as  fearless  in  the  faee  of  danjicr 
and  always  led  the  way  in  niakini;  an  attack,  his 
inspiritinsr  cry  of  "Come  on,  boys"  encouraging 
even  the  most  faint-hearted  when  the  enemy  was 
to  Iv  braved.  The  following  is  .a  li.-l  of  the  bat- 
tles in  which  the  t'olonel  earned  his  spurs:  Corinth, 
(  Miss.).  Mill  ."Springs. Kingston.  Mossy  Creek.  Kocky- 
Kaced  Rid^o.  Kenosaw  Mountain,  AtlanUi,  Uesaca, 
and  Dallas.  In  the  eniragement  at  Mos-sy  Creek, 
the  drum  of  his  left  ear  was  burst  by  the  concus- 
sion of  a  swiftly  jiassing  shell.  He  entered  tlie 
service  a  vigorous,  stalwart  man,  although  p.ast 
the  prescribed  forty-five  yeai-s  at  which  men  were 
allowed  to  enlist,  and  he  withstood  the  terrible 
hardships  and  trials  of  military  life  with  admirable 
fortitude  until  he  w.as  honorably  discharged  from 
the  army  in  March,  1SG4. 

On  his  return  from  Southern  battleliclds.  Col. 
Motl  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  w,'is  ac- 
tivelv  engaged  in  his  profession  until  liis  retire- 
ment from  the  liar  in  l.S'JO.  His  busines.i has  been 
remunerative,  and  he  is  in  receipt  of  a  good  in- 
come from  his  property.  He  h.is  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  Noble  Township, and  sixty- 
five  acres  in  St.  Mary"s  Township  that  has  a  good 
oil  well  on  it,  which  pays  over  #100  a  month. 
The  Colonel  h,T.s  alw.ays  been  prominent  in  the 
councils  of  the  Democrats  of  this  section,  and  has 
attended  nearly  every  .State  convention  held  by 
his  party  in  (Jhio  since  183G.  Socially,  ho  is  a 
memt*r  of  Kishler  Post  No.  8.3.  H.  A.  1!..  and  ho 
h.o.-  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  oldest 
Ma.»ons  in  the  county,  having  lieen  connected  with 
the  fiaternity  since  l^HO.  a  period  of  fifty-two 
years. 

In  \>i\Z.  our  subject  was  happily  wodilcd  lo  Mrs. 
Carf>line  (Kepner)  I'ickroll.  a  native  of  Si.  M:ii\  - 
Town.<ihip.    in  whom    he    has    had  a   faithful   and 


tondor  wilo.  Twolvo  childion  linvo  boon  born  to 
tlioni.  of  wlioni  two  died  in  inf.uioy,  and  four  died 
at  a  hilor  poiiod  of  life:  Thomas,  Anna  V..,  Harry 
ancl  l.ulu.  Those  living  are:  .lohn,  Walter  N., 
Mollio  li..  CluuU's  W..  Bon  and  Nollio. 


II.I.IA.M  SI'OKKK.  :in  intluon(i:il  I'armor 
,1,  -,,,,.  of  (ireone  Township,  Shelby  County, 
\jf'^'  operates  an  estate  of  eighty  acres,  and 
through  unremitting  indvistry  has  beoonio  woll-tci- 
do.  He  is  tlio  .son  ot  Ciittoii  and  S.-iUio  (Ticklo) 
.Stoker,  natives  of  Virgini:i,  where  tlioy  wore  mar- 
ried and  whence  llioy  emigrated  to  this  .State  about 
eighty  years  ago.  They  made  their  home  for  two 
years  in  Mad  RiverTownship,  Groone  County,  .-iiiil 
then  took  up  their  abode  six  miles  north  of  D.-iy- 
ton  on  a  wild  farm,  which  the  father  bad  located. 
They  made  their  home  there  for  thirty-tive  years, 
and  then  coming  to  Shelby  County,  located  in 
Orange  and  Greene  Townships,  just  west  of  Platts- 
ville.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  two 
of  whom  are  now  living,  our  subject  and  his  sister 
Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Bowlsby.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  1832. 

Mr.  Stoker  w.'us  married  a  second  time,  by  whicli 
union  he  became  the  father  of  one  child,  George 
W.,  who  served  a  period  of  three  years  during  the 
Civil  War.  The  father  died  in  18Gy,and  his  wife, 
who  survived  him  many  years,  departed  this  life 
in  1890.  William,  of  tliis  sketch,  was  boin  Sej)- 
teniber  22,  1822,  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio. 
and  .as  he  w.os  called  upon  to  aid  his  father  in  oper- 
ating the  home  farm,  received  but  limited  advan- 
tages for  obtaining  an  education.  Ho  began  life 
for  himself  when  sixteen  years  of  .age  by  working 
out  on  farms  for  other  parties,  and  in  this  manner 
got  a  start  in  the  world. 

In  184.').  Mr.  Stoker  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Iluies- 
man  were  united  in  marriage.  They  became  the 
parents  of  two  children,  only  one  of  whom,  Jose- 
jihiiM-.  ^Ir-.  Young,  is  now  living.  The  mother 
iliod  in  IH.'*!,  and  seven  years  later  our  subject  was 


'-^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


221 


married  to  Sophia  Kellenbarger,  and  to  them  was 
born  a  family  of  four  children,  one  of  whom  is 
deceased.  Those  living  are  Alice,  Mrs.  Fiddler; 
Rosa,  Mrs.  Campijell;  and  John  W.  Mrs.  Stoker 
died  in  1870,  and  tlie  lady  to  whom  our  subject 
was  married  April  27,  1879,  still  survives;  she  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Eliza  E.  Peekham.  The  two 
cluldren  born  of  this  union  were  Henry  Ward  and 
Clara  Avada. 

lie  of  whom  we  write  came  to  this  county  in 
1858,  and  located  upon  his  present  estate  of  eighty 
acres,  which  bore  but  slight  improvements.  He 
now  has  the  greater  portion  of  it  under  cultivation, 
and  embellished  with  all  the  needful  farm  build- 
ings, not  the  le.ast  among  which  is  his  comfortable 
residence,  which  was  erected  in  1873  at  a  cost  of 
^1,672.  Mrs.  Stoker  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  and  our  subject  is  liberal  in  his 
religious  views,  giving  cheerfully  of  his  means  to 
the  support  of  all  denominations.  He  has  served 
efficiently  in  the  office  of  School  Director,  and  as 
an  active  politician  votes  with  the  Democratic 
party,  casting  his  fii-st  vote  for  James  K.  Polk. 


,Tpj\,ENJAMIX  SWEIGART,  a  well-to-do  and 
jl^^  greatly  respected  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
/£5)  I  tion  G,  St.  ilary's  Township,  has  one  of 
^S#  the  best  oil-producing  farms  in  Auglaize 
County,  finely  located  on  the  borders  of  the  great 
St.  Mary's  Reservoir,  the  largest  artificial  body  of 
water  in  the  world.  Jlr.  Sweigart  was  born  April 
1).  IS  11,  in  Cynthiana Township,  Shelby  County,  of 
uhicli  his  father,  Henrj-  Sweigart,  was  an  early 
settler. 

Henry  Sweig.-irt  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
180-4,  and  was  of  (Jerman  descent.  Early  in  life 
lie  migialod  to  Ohio,  and  cast  in  his  fortunes  with 
the  pioneers  of  Shelby  County,  purchasing  a  tract 
of  wild  land  in  Cynthiana  Township,  wliich  he  de- 
veloped into  a  good  farm.  The  country  was  full 
of  deer,  bears,  wolves  and  other  wild  animals,  and 
he  had   plenty  i.if  opportunities  f<.>r  exercising  his 


skill  as  a  marksman.  Being  very  fond  of  bunt- 
ing, he  supplied  the  family  table  with  many  a  de- 
licious haunch  of  venison  and  other  choice  game. 
The  dwelling  that  he  erected  w.as  a  tvpical  pioneer 
home,  built  of  round  logs,  and  had  a  puncheon 
floor  and  clapboard  roof.  He  lived  on  his  farm 
until  he  became  quite  old,  and  then,  selling  it  at  a 
good  price,  removed  to  St.  Mary's  Township,  and 
spent  his  last  days  in  tliis  county,  dyingat  a  ven- 
erable age  in  1886.  His  first  wife,  Mary  Lyons,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  died  in  1864.  She  was 
the  mother  of  ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are 
living,  and  our  subject  is  the  sixth  child  of  the 
family  in  order  of  birth.  The  father  was  again 
married  after  coming  to  Auglaize  Countv. 

Our  subject's  educational  advantages  were  mea- 
gre. When  he  first  went  to  school,  the  schools 
were  held  in  log  houses  that  were  rudely  furnished 
with  slab  scats  without  backs,  and  they  were  con- 
ducted on  the  subscription  plan.  When  he-  was 
eighteen  j-ears  old,  he  went  out  to  work  on  a  farm, 
and  was  employed  in  splitting  rails,  cutting  cord- 
wood,  clearing  land,  and  in  similar  pioneer  tasks. 
After  his  marriage,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  on  his  own  account,  and  in  1868  came  to 
St.  Mary's,  bought  property,  and  lived  in  the  city 
three  years,  working  at  various  occuiiations.  In 
1871,  he  purch.ased  thirtj-seven  acres  of  land  on 
section  6,  St.  Mary's  Township;  he  has  since  bought 
other  land,  and  now  has  one  hundred  and  seventj- 
two  acres  in  all,  of  which  fifty-two  acres  are  on 
section  6  of  the  townshij)  just  mentioned,  wliile 
the  remainder  is  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  and  another 
of  forty  acres,  in  Mercer  County.  His  home  farm 
is  very  rich  in  oil,  and  five  wells  have  already  been 
drilled;  the  first  one,  March  1.  1890,  having  a  ca- 
pacity of  four  hundred  and  fifty  barrels,  and  the 
next  two  yielded  three  hundred  barrels  each,  at 
first. 

Mr.  Sweigart  was  first  iiiarncil  in  ISCl.  to  Miss 
Annie  Kelch.  whose  death  occurred  after  a  short 
wedded  life,  in  l.SG:!.  She  left  one  child.  Mary  IL. 
who  died  at  the  age  (.>f  five  and  oiie-lialf  years. 
Mr.  Sweigart  was  again  married  in  1-S6I.  Miss 
Xancy  -\nn  Stout  becoming  his  wife.  She  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  (iernian  descent,  and 
came  to  Ohio  with  her  parents.     Slie  died  April  .'5, 


rouruAir  ami  luor-UAriiuAi.  kkcoko. 


ISS".  loaviii<r  twelve  cliildivn:  Fnink,  Aiigoliiu'. 
K:«to,  l">:uiiol.  Simon,  .lolin.  Kose  K.,  Klizaliolli, 
Iloiiry.  Uiissell.  Klij:\li  and  Nor.i  K.  In  18>s;l.  Mr. 
Swei^iit  w.i.<  nmrrioil  lo  Mi-s.  KlizalH-lli  (^Kicliardsl 
l.ipp.  She  i>  a  niemlH-r  of  tlie  Metliodist  K.pisi-opal 
(.'linivli.  and  one  of  it?  active  workei'S.  Her  husband 
iH'lonpi  to  the  I  liuroh  of  (iod,  and  is  iiilhiential 
in  its  upbuilding.  In  politics,  he  is  a  l>einoci:it. 
lie  has  cx|KMienivd  the  u|<s  and  di>\vii>  of  lifo.lmt 
h:L<  worked  bi-avely  on  in  spite  of  cvim  v  obslaclo, 
and  has  met  with  the  reward  due  to  his  jKMsever- 
anoe  and  industry.  He  is  a  conscientious. straight- 
forward man.  rigidly  hone.-l  ami  upright  in  liis 
daily  walk,  .aivonimodating  and  kiinlly  in  spirit. 
and  stands  well  with  his  fellow-men. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  is  invilod  In  :i  vii  \v 
of  Mr.  Sweigart's  attractive  homestead,  and  also 
his  porlniit,  el^ewhore  shown. 


.^^KOROK  W.  FILKKR.SON.  M.  1).  The 
profession  of  medicine  is  one  tlial  calls 
for  keenness  of  ju<lgment  and  acciir.acy  of 
knowled;:e.  together  with  an  almost  instinctive  ap- 
preciation of  effects,  differing  in  qu.ality  from  that 
needed  in  any  other  calling.  To  s,ay  that  a  man  is 
a  successful  physician  is  therefore  high  praise,  al- 
thou-rh  it  may  be  no  more  than  the  pei-son  re- 
ferred to  merits.  Dr.  Kulkerson  li:is  been  a  resi- 
dent of  \Vvnant  for  many  years,  and  by  his  success 
in  his  chosen  work  has  won  an  excellent  reputation 
a-  a  physician. 

lie  of  whom  we  write  was  boin  in  New  York 
City.  St^ptomlier  1.  lf<2><.  and  is  a  <"t\  of  .losoph 
Karlins  Kulkerson.  who  was  born  in  ll'Ji't.  in  New 
.lersey.  of  Dutch  and  Knglish  extraction.  Win  ii 
a  voun'.r  man.  the  father  of  our  subject  wenl  to 
I'ennsvlvania  an<l  in  1822  was  married  to  .Mar- 
iraret  Mcs.-inger.  After  establishing  a  home  of  his 
own.  he  resided  in  E.aston.  that  SUite.  until  about 
li<2t;.  when  he  removed  t<^  New  York  City  and  en- 
"aiied  in   the  manuf.acturing  business.     Thinking 


lo  belter  lu>  condition  in  the  farther  \Vc>t,  the 
ehler  .Mr.  1-iilUcrson  in  l.s.!;)  look  up  his  abode  in 
Monroe  t'ounty.  this  State,  where  he  was  variously 
engaged  for  sonu'  time,  lie  subseqiuMitly  moved 
to  r>ucyrus.  ('r:iuford  County,  wlieic  liis  death  oc- 
curred Aprd  ,-<.  1S7I;  he  was  followed  I,)  llic  better 
land  that  same  year  by  hi-  wife,  wlio,  like  liini- 
self.  wa.-  a  con-i-tcnt  member  of  llir  .Mctlioili-t 
F.|>i--.-opal  Cliuivli. 

lie  of  whom  «  e  wiile  is  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  parental  family  of  nine  cliildrcn.  live 
of  whom  are  now  li\  inir.  lb'  was  given  an  ex- 
cellenL  education,  his  primary  studies  being  con- 
ducted in  the  district  schools  in  .Steuben  County.  N. 
Y.,and  he  later  took  a  thonuigh  course  in  the  High 
.School.  He  lemained  umler  the  parental  roof  until 
reaching  his  majority,  at  which  lime  he  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  .loel  .lohnslon. 
of  Bucyrus.  After  a  short  time  thus  engaged,  he 
removed  with  Dr.  .lohnston  to  Bel lefontaine,  where 
they  eng.aged  in  the  drug  business  until  18.").'). 
Then  dissolving  partnership.  Dr.  I'lilkerson  went  to 
Plca.sant  Hill,  this  State,  and  associated  himself 
with  Dr.  Cal)K .  wliicli  ccumection  lasted  for  about 
two  years. 

In  18.57.  Dr.  Fulkcrson  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
Nishwitz.  of  ^Vest  Milton,  Miami  County,  this 
State,  were  united  in  marri.age  and  the  same  year 
came  to  Newport,  where  they  have  since  resided. 
The  Doctor  then  entered  the  Kclectic  Jledical 
Institute  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  institution  he 
w.as  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medi- 
cine in  18G0  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  successful  and  skillful  jiractice  of  his 
profession. 

Mi"S.  Fulkeison  only  lived  (me  year  .after  her 
marriage  and  in  1876  the  Doctor  was  married  to 
Jliss  M.aggie.  daughter  of  I).  C.  Mills,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Cynthiana  Township.  Slielby  County. 
Mrs.  I-'nIkcrsou  w.as  born  near  .Vcwiioit  in  IH.Vi. 
and  li\'  her  union  with  our  siibj.M-t  liccaiiic  I  lie  mo- 
ther of  three  children:  .lolin  M..  Wajlci-  K.  and 
William  A. 

During  the  laic  CivilWar,  l)i-.  iMiikciMin  took 
a  very  decided  stand  in  favor  of  llic  I'liion  and 
rendered  valuable  assisUinee  to  tin;  •  Mivciiinu'nL 
during  that  period,  by  encouraging   men  to  enlist. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPIIICAl,   RECORD. 


223 


agreeing  to  render  medical  aid  to  the  family  of 
every  soldier  in  tlie  township  free  of  charge.  He 
has  ahva^vs  been  a  stanch  adlierent  of  tlie  Republi- 
can part\-  but  never  an  office-seeker,  as  he  prefers 
to  devote  his  time  to  his  private  interests  and  let 
tliose  wlioni  he  considers  better  qualified  fill  public 
positions.  Religiously,  with  his  wife,  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
prior  to  becoming  a  member  of  that  denomination 
w.as  selected  as  one  of  its  Trustees  and  placed  upon 
the  building  committee.  lie  has  since  been  elected 
to  various  positions  in  the  church  and  gives  liber- 
ally of  his  means  tow.ard  its  support. 

In  social  matters,  Dr.  Fiilkerson  is  an  Odd  Fel- 
low and  a  member  of  the  Eclectic  Medical  Associa- 
tion of  Ohio.  In  addition  to  the  practice  of  liis 
profession,  he  superintends  the  operations  of  five 
farms  wliich  comprise  nearly  five  liundred  acres 
and  of  which  he  is  the  proprietor.  He  is  at  pres- 
ent residing  in  a  substantial  and  comfortable  brick 
residence  which  also  contains  bis  office  and  where 
is  to  be  found  every  convenience  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  studies. 


,«SS?3ii£"^ 


mmm^^mm^: 


Il.LlAM  P.  WILKINS.     Of  thatsturdy  and 

M  independent  class,  the  farmers  of  Ohio, 
^  ^  none  are  possessed  of  more  genuine  merit 
or  stronger  character  than  William  P.  Wilkins, 
who  has  attained  to  a  success  which  is  justly-  de- 
served by  his  systematic  and  careful,  tliorougli 
manner  of  work. 

Tlie  grandparents  of  our  subject,  James  Riley 
and  ilaiv  Wilkins,  were  natives  of  Maryland,  and 
the  grandfather  was  the  firet  of  his  family  to 
move  to  the  boundless  West.  In  1«1!).  he  emi- 
grated to  the  Buckeye  State  and  located  on  a  farm 
on  Carter  Creek,  south  of  St.  Clary's.  Au^daize 
County,  whose  inhabitants  at  that  time  were  Ind- 
ians and  uihl  animals.  The  father  was  at  Ft.  Wayne 
when  the  Indians  were  beaten  in  their  last  battle 
and  driven  from  Auglaize  County,  and  he  saw 
them   as  they   pas^ed   the  fort  on  horseback   after 


the  battle.  He  bought  a  pony,  saddle  and  bridle 
of  an  Indian  for  io.  but  these  were  afterward 
stolen  by  the  redskins.  However,  a  friendly  In<l- 
ian  agreed  to  return  them  for  ^.5  and  a  bottle  of 
whiskey,  and  thus  Mr.  Wilkins  recovered  his  prop- 
erty. On  several  occasions  during  the  absence  of 
her  husband,  Mrs.  Wilkins,  with  her  children,  lav 
concealed  under  the  puncheon  floor  of  their  cabin 
during  ransacking  visits  made  by  the  Indians,  who 
[lillaged  and   destroyed  to   their  hearts'   content. 

To  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Wilkins  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, two  now  living.  Both  grandparents  were 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  the 
grandfather  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  attil- 
iations.  The  father  of  our  subject,  .Tames  Wilkins, 
was  born  in  Maryland  in  1813,  and  emigrated  to 
Blooinfield,  Pickaw.ay  County,  Ohio,  with  his  par- 
ents in  1818.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  this  SUite 
and  was  here  married  to  Mr^.  M.ay  Hudson,  of 
^Maryland.  Afterward,  he  removed  to  a  farm  in 
the  wilds  of  Auglaize  Count3%  and  when  he  desired 
to  go  to  mill  w.as  obliged  to  take  his  grist  to  Pick- 
away, thirty  miles.  In  this  unsettled  community 
and  amid  scenes  of  pioneer  life  were  reared  five 
children,  only  one,  Lewis,  besides  our  subject  now 
living. 

Mr.  and  Mre.  Wilkins  were  members  of  the 
I'nited  Brethren  Church, and  the  latter  w;is  a  Class- 
leader  in  the  same  for  thirty-seven  yeai's.  Like  his 
father,  he  was  a  strong  advocate  of  Democratic 
principles.  He  assisted  in  constructing  the  canal 
and  reservoir  west  of  St.  JIary's.  Mr.  and  JIis. 
Wilkins  were  economical  .and  industrious,  and  .ac- 
cumulated a  comfortable  competence  by  their  in- 
dustry and  good  management,  being  enabled  to 
p.ass  their  last  days  in  peace  and  plenty.  She  re- 
ceived her  final  summons  in  18tji>,and  he  followed 
her  to  the  grave  in  1874. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  in  .Auglaize 
County  in  1844,  received  a  good  practical  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  after  growinu:  uji 
selected  the  occupation  U>  which  he  had  been 
reared,  farming,  as  his  pursuit  in  life.  He  was 
married,  in  18G'J,  to  Jliss  Lydia  Needles,  a  daugh 
tcr  of  James  and  .Sarah  Needles,  of  Franklin 
C(^unty.  and  shortly  after  marriage  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Auglaize  Countv.     The  same   year,  he  re- 


124 


rOHTliAir  AM)   BUH'.KAn!l(.Al.    KIX'OKP. 


niovod  from  lliero  to  Krniikliii  County  luid  thence  to 
Auglaize  County  in  1ST7.  He  li:is  sini-e  cleared 
fifty  of  the  one  hinulreil  :intl  tifty-fimr  acres  he 
now  owns.  Of  the  thrtv  chiMi-en  Ihou  to  his  mar- 
riage, only  two  are  now  living:  .Tames  1,.  and  ."Nirah 
Ellen.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  I'nited  Brethren  Clmirli.  and  ho  is  a  Cl.ass- 
leader  in  the  same.  In  politics,  he  follows  in  the 
f»>titste[v<  of  his  ancestors  and  is  a  Democrat,  lie 
has  held  the  ortice  of  .lust ice  of  the  I'eace.  He  is 
a  very   prominent  farinei-  ami  a  man  well  liked  by 

air. 


W 


OllN  11.  BAILKY.  who  h.is  a  beautiful  and 
well-equipped  farm  in  ."^alem  Township,  oc- 
cupies an  imporUinl  pl.ace  in  the  agricul- 
tural community  of  Auglaize  County  as  a 
sagacious,  progressive  farmer,  who  is  using  his  in- 
fluence to  raise  the  st.andard  of  stock  bred  within 
its  borders.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Highland 
County  .June  26,  1840,  and  is  of  the  old  pioneer 
stock  of  the  State,  and  can  also  trace  his  ancestry 
Kack  to  the  Pilgrims  of  the  "Maytlowcr." 

John  Riiley.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Bailey, 
also  a  N'irginian  by  birth.  In  1808,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject  left  his  early  home  in  the 
()\<^  Dominion,  and  journeying  across  the  moun- 
tains and  over  a  wild,  scarcely  habitable  country, 
made  his  w.ay  to  Highland  Couuly,  Ohio,  and  lo- 
cated on  land  about  five  miles  from  the  county 
seat,  being  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  tliat  re 
gion.  Ho  devoted  the  busy  years  that  followed  to 
clearing  and  improving  his  land,  and  also  engaged 
U>  some  extent  in  his  trade  as  a  bl.acksmith.  He 
was  of  the  (Quaker  faith,  and  a  very  line  old  man. 
whose  generous,  kindly  nature  gained  for  him  a 
warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow-pioneers,  by 
whom  he  was  greatly  mourned  when  he  passed 
from  the  scenes  of  earth.  November  27,  I8.")8.  at 
the  venerable  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

.John  Bailey  became  a  good  practical  farmer  in 
Hishland  County,  where  he  died  .July  10,  1884,  in 


his  scvoiily-nintli  year.  U;i\  iiig  behind  him  a  high 
reputation  ;vs  .h  man  of  strict  morality,  and  of  un- 
swerving honesty  in  all  things.  He  wi\s  reared  in 
the  IJuaker  faith,  hut  later  in  life  joined  the 
Dunkard  (  liunli.  lie  was  twice  married  and  was 
the  father  ipf  eight  childiiMi.  who  lived  to  mature 
years,  of  whom  two  were  liy  his  lirst  marriage. 
His  second  wife,  tlie  mother  of  our  subject,  was 
Sarah  Kinzei,  a  native  of  Highland  County,  while 
her  people  were  from  Pennsylvania  originally, and 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  that  countv. 
She  died  in  1888  at  a  ripe  old  age. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  is  the 
third  child  and  eldest  son  of  his  father's  second 
marriage.  His  education  was  such  as  could  be  ob- 
tained in  the  pioneer  schools  of  his  day,  the  one 
that  he  attended  in  his  childhood  being  taught  in 
a  small  log  house,  the  dimensions  of  which  were 
10x18  feet,  and  tlie  scats  were  made  of  slabs.  He 
was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and  was  well 
grounded  in  all  that  pertains  to  agricultuie,  on 
his  father's  farm.  ,\t  the  age  of  twent\-one,  he 
left  the  (laternal  home  to  shoulder  life's  burdens 
elsewliere,  and  settled  in  -Mien  County,  where  he 
took  up  tlu'  tiade  of  a  I'arpenter  in  I8G2.  I-"or 
thirteen  years,  he  was  activel}-  engaged  in  contract- 
ing and  building  in  that  county  and  in  this.  At 
the  end  of  that  time,  he  resumed  his  early  calling, 
locating  on  land  on  sections  31  and  .')2,  .'^a- 
lera  Townshij),  a  part  of  which  his  father  had 
owned  for  some  years.  By  skillful  and  perse- 
vering toil,  he  h.is  cleared  his  land,  has  it  well 
drained  by  tiles,  and  has  its  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty acres  under  the  best  of  tillage,  while  neat  and 
roomy  huihliiigs  for  every  needed  purp(jse  have 
been  erected.  ()ri  another  [lagc,  a  view  of  this 
pleasant  rural  abode  is  shown.  .Mr.  Bailey  is 
greatly  interested  in  stock,  and  has  a  valuable 
llock  of  .Shropshire  sheep,  and  has  been  engaged 
ill  breeding  Galloway  cattle  for  the  past  three 
years,  being  a  pioneer  in  the  introduction  of  that 
celebrated  breed,  and  already  has  a  fine  herd, 
which  is  the  onl_v  one  of  that  blood  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  county. 

In  187.5,  Mr.  Bailey  was  wedded  t(j  Mi.^s  l.avina 
.J.  Ix^vett,  a  native  of  Fairfield  County.  Her  father 
died  when  she  was  quite  young,  while  her  mother 


'■T*J'      ^ 


RESIDENCE  OF    B.SWEIGART,  SEC.  G.,5T  MARYS  TP.AUGLAl  ZE    CO.,0, 


RESIDENCE  or  JOHN    H.    BAILEY,    SEC^-SI    52.,  5A  LEM    TR,  AU  GLAI  ZE  CO.,0. 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


2-27 


is  still  living,  and  is  a  beloved  inmate  of  her  home. 
She  was  well  educated  in  her  girlhood,  and  taught 
school  several  terms.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bailey  are 
(Quakers  in  their  religious  faith,  and  are  araong  the 
leading  members  of  the  Church  of  Friends,  in 
which  he  is  an  Elder  and  she  is  a  well-known  min- 
ister and  also  Superintendent  of  the  Quarterly 
Meetings,  her  religious  work,  to  which  she  is  do- 
voted  heart  and  soul,  oceup3ing  much  of  her  time. 
She  IS  a  woman  of  a  sweet,  refined,  earnest  nature, 
and  of  a  pleasant  personality,  possessing  much 
strength  of  character  withal,  and  her  spiritual  gifts 
are  many.  She  has  a  cultured  mind,  and  h.is  been 
quite  a  student  of  the  Bible,  and  is'  considered  a 
power  for  great  good  in  her  church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bailey's  marriage  has  been  hallowed  to  them 
by  the  birth  of  five  children.  Amy  L.,  Mortimer, 
Alvin  A.  and  Minnie  (twins),  and  Harvey.  Mr. 
Bailey  is  a  true  gentleman  in  every  sense  of  the 
word,  courteous,  frank,  and  warm-hearted,  and  all 
charitable  objects  meet  with  generous  encourage- 
ment from  him.  He  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  political  honors,  but  is  a  good  worker  in  the 
interests  of  the  Republican  party.  His  father  was 
an  old-line  Whis. 


mm^ 


AMEL  B.  LIXDEMUTH.  In  studying  the 
genealogy  of  the  Lindemuth  family  in 
Araeiica,  we  find  that  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, Ludwick  Liudemuth.  a  native  of 
Wurtemberg.  Germany,  was  the  first  to  settle  upon 
American  soil.  There  is  a  tradition  in  the  fam- 
ily to  the  effect  that  one  of  the  ancestors  of  this 
family  w.as.  at  about  the  beginning  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  the  chief  officer  in  the  veterinary 
department  of  the  King  of  Austria.  Ludwick 
Lindemuth,  together  with  several  of  his  sons,  fust 
came  to  America  in  1730,  preceding  the  mother 
and  remaining  children  a  few  months,  in  order 
to  search  for  a  suitable  location.  A  settlement 
was  made  at  a  place  called  Steitzer,  now  Leb- 
anon,   in    Pennsylvania,    and  here  the  farailv   re- 


sided until  1748,  when  they  located  in  Lancas- 
ter County,  Pa.,  purchasing,  second-handed,  a 
part  of  the  original  Penn  estate.  (Our  subject 
now  has  the  deed  signed  by  William,  Thomas,  and 
Richard  Penn,  conveying  the  land  to  the  gentleman 
from  whom  his  great-grandfather  subsequentlv 
purchiised  it.)  Although  comparatively  little  is 
known  of  Ludwick  Lindemuth,  there  is  sufficient 
evidence  to  convince  one  that  lie  was  a  man  of 
education  and  unusual  business  capacity.  He  died 
in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  when  quite  an  aged 
man.  He  reared  a  large  family  of  sons,  and  two 
of  them,  Jacob  and  George,  were  soldiers  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  The  former,  though  a  com- 
mon farmer,  w.as  promoted  to  a  high  office  and 
l)iesented  witli  a  silver-plated  sword  in  considera- 
tion of  his  distinguished  services. 

■lohn  P.  Lindemuth,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  w.as  born  in  mid-ocean  while  his  mother 
and  a  part  of  the  family  were  en  route  to  Amer- 
ica to  join  the  father.  After  reaching  man's 
estate,  Mr.  Lindemuth  selected  agricultural  pur- 
suits as  his  chosen  occupation,  and  became  a  verv 
thrifty  and  successful  fanner,  owning  two  hundred 
and  twelve  .acres,  and  purch.asing  four  other  farms 
for  liis  children.  He  w.as  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
er.an  Church,  was  active  in  all  religious  work,  and 
used  to  go  twelve  miles  to  Lancaster  to  church. 
He  was  first  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  but  later  ho 
transferred  his  allegiance  to  the  AVhig  party,  with 
which  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  w.as  seventy-nine  years  of  atre.  He  reared 
ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  as  fol- 
lows: .Jacob,  Peter,  Louis,  George,  .Tohn,  Mrs. 
Gormer.  Mi-s.  Zeigler.  Mrs.  Yetter,  Mi-s.  Long,  and 
Mrs.  Kuntz. 

.lohn  Lindemuth,  f,ather  of  our  subject,  w.is  born 
in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1799,  and 
w.as  early  trained  to  the  duties  of  farm  life,  which 
occupation  he  carried  on  in  his  native  county  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  but 
thirty-eight  years  of  age.  He  married  Miss  Eliz.a- 
bet!i  Balmer,  a  native  of  Lancaster  County,  Pa., 
born  in  1800,  and  three  children  were  born  of  this 
union:  Daniel  B..  Barbara  (deceased),  and  Solo- 
mon P.,  who  resides  in  York  County,  Pa.  The 
father  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and 


roKlKAir  AND   lUOC.KArilUWI.    KKCUKI). 


:i  Wbiir  ill  liis  iHililicnl  \  iows.  l.iko  lii-  fallur.  lie 
\y.n\  follitwed  tlio  CKVii|vntu>ii  ot  fanniii';.  and  .it 
the  tiino  of  lii*  lionlli  »:u<  tlio  owner  of  one  liun- 
ilroti  and  forly-tivo  :UTe#  in  his  native  Stale.  Aftei- 
his  death,  tlic  mother  nianiod  IXivid  Tanirer.  by 
whom  she  had  two  children,  David  15.  ami  S:»rah 
A.  The  mother  reitivod  her  final  summons  when 
eiilhtv-six  years  of  ace.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Krf.nmed  C'hiirrli. 

Daniel  1!.  I.indennith  also  ilainis  IVnnsy Ivania 
as  his  native  State,  and  was  born  in  I.;\ncastor 
County  on  the  18lh  of  Mareh.  ISlM.  When  six- 
teen yeai-s  of  aire,  he  came  lo  Clarke  County.  Ohio. 
making  the  journey  by  mil  lo  Chainberslnirgli.  I'a.. 
and  by  st.agx;  to  /.anesville.  Ohio,  whore  they  refused 
to  aivept  his  shinplaster  money.  Oponini;  his 
trunk,  he  t«x>k  out  three  bundles  of  clotliinsr.  and 
wiih  the^e  on  his  back  he  st,irU>il  on  foot  for  Clarke 
lounty.  The  first  day  he  made  thirty-seven  miles, 
and  one  hundred  niile<  in  the  next  three-days.  He 
sold  a  vest  pattern  in  Columbus  to  a  negro  for 
sixty-two  cents,  and  with  this  he  bought  crackers, 
on  which  he  lived  until  he  reached  his  grand- 
father lialmer's  pl,ace  in  Clark  County.  Hero  ho 
worked  by  the  month  for  seven  months,  and  then 
learned  the  milling  business  at  Adam  Raker's  mill, 
.and  worked  at  this  for  three  yeai-s.  lie  subse- 
ipiently  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  worked  at  the 
milling  business  in  that  State  for  a  few  months, 
and  on  the  I'.Hh  of  December,  1«43,  he  waj<  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Ann  C.  Snyder. a  native  of  Lanc:isler 
County.  I'a..  Ixuii  August  S.  1822.  Eight  children 
have  lieen  bom  of  this  marriage:  Olivia  C...  born 
Noveml>er  10,  1814;  Alice  C..  September  20.  InKJ: 
Kmma  M..  March  8.  184'.t;  .John  F..  November  3, 
18.')1;  Simon  R.  S..  April  28.  l.H.-jl:  Mary  K.,  .Tune 
22.  18.57:  Mark  C..  M.iy  10.  l.**!;!;  and  Oladie  A., 
March  6.  l.-^O.j. 

Mr.  I.indemuth  was  the  owner  of  about  soventy- 
ihree  acres  in  lii.s  native  Slate,  but  sold  this  in 
April.  18.54,  and  then  moved  to  Logan  County. 
Ohio,  where  he  Ijought  his  [jresent  farm.  \l  that 
time,  a  sm.all  portion  of  it  had  been  cleared,  a  loir 
"•abin  had  been  erected,  and  on  this  unilevelopod 
piece  of  land  our  subject  and  his  family  loo:ited. 
.Manv  and  vx't  have  been  the  changes  made  in  this 
farm  since  then,  and  all  through  the  industry  and 


good  maM:iL;onu'iit  of  our  ^ubjo^•l  :uid  his  ostiuia- 
ble  wife,  who  h:is  boon  a  holpmato  indood.  'I'hey 
now  own  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres  in  a  body 
here,  and  in  connection  with  farming,  .Mr.  l.indo- 
niuth  is  actively  engaged  in  slook-r:iisiiig.  niid  has 
.-onie  extra  lino  Short-horn  o:illlo.  llo  orootod  a 
fine  brick  rcsidonco  in  IST.'i.  a  hiigo  fraino  liaru  in 
18.'*2,  and  has  other  goo(i  iniprovoinonl,--  on  his 
lilaoo.  llo  is  ouo  of  [he  proMiinont  old  soMlors, 
:\nd  a  popular  and  wimUIiv  faiiiior  of  Mio  county. 
In  him,  tliecomniuuity  has  a  faithful  and  unswerv- 
ing friend,  ever  alert  to  serve  its  best  inlorest.s,and 
^onerous  in  his  contributions  toward  every  inove- 
niont  lending  to  the  general  advancement.  A  Ke- 
piiblican  in  jwlitios.  Mr.  l.iudomulh  has  held  the 
ollice  of  Land  Appr:ii^or  of  the  township,  and 
other  local  ]io>itioiis.  Tlio  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Lindoniulh.  .loliii  Kioli,  oanio  lo  Amorii'a  in  177:!. 
landing  in  ri:illimoro,  whoro  ho  was  sold  lo  a 
(Quaker  for  four  years  for  the  amount  of  his  pa.ss- 
age  money,  which  was  X22,  4s.  (id.  After  serving 
his  time,  in  1781  ho  w.as  married  in  York,  Pa.,  to 
.Susanna  Maria  I'.utsingorin,  who  w.as  born  in  17.')0, 
in  llos^o-l)arm>lalll,  Oorniany.  Tier  father  sick- - 
oikmI  :uid  died  on  the  v<iy:igo  :uid  was  buried  at 
sea.  The  daughters  wore  sold  for  their  pass.age  on 
landing  on  American  soil.  I\Irs.  Rich  died  Octo- 
ber ,T.  178  1,  and  hor  husband  was  a  second  time  mar- 
ried. On  .Tuly  7.  1780,  he  married  Anna  Marga- 
ret I.ul/..  who  was  the  grandmother  of  Mr.  I.inde- 
muth. .lohn  Rich  died  in  1807,  and  was  buried  at 
t^uickel's  Church,  seven  miles  west  of  York,  Pa. 


,/^Ji>  AMTKI,  \.  r.lCllANAX,  one  of  Iho  prom- 
inent cilizoMs  of  liollefontaino,  is  a  native 
of  this  Stale,  having  been  born  in  Lancas- 
ter,   l-'airlield   County,  September   7.1  HID. 

IIo  is  tl-.e  son   of   the    Rev.  .lames  II.  and    .Maiy  S. 

(Carpenter)  Kuchanan.  natives  of  Fail  liold  Counly. 

this  Slate,  and  of  Scotch  and  German  origin,  ro- 

spectively.   .Samuel  Carpenter,  Sr.,  the  grandf.alhor 


PORTRAIT  AXT5  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


229 


of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  Count}-, 
Pa.,  and  as  a  surveyor  and  civil  engineer  w.as  em- 
ployed by  llie  Government  from  182i»  to  18:5iJ  in 
milking  surveys  of  land. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  minister  in  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church,  his  first  charge  being 
at  Birmingham,  Pa.,  to  which  he  w:is  appointed  in 
;°X7^and  his  hist  pastorate  was  at  Sunny  Hill, 
Henry  Couni,>  ,Iii.  On  his  dece.ise,  which  occurred 
in  18S;5,  he  left  four  children.  Samuel  A.,  Robert 
v..  Mary  L.  and  Charles  H.  He  was  a  very  prom- 
inent man  in  his  SLate  and  for  thirteen  years  was 
Principal  and  owner  of  the  Oxford  Female  Insti- 
tute, now  tlie  Oxford  College,  of  this  State. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
received  an  excellent  education,  having  attended 
the  Miami  I'niversity  at  Oxford  and  the  ()liio  State 
University  at  Columbus,  tliis  State.  On  account 
of  limited  means,  due  to  reverses  and  heavy  losses, 
his  fatlier  was  muible  to  give  liim  any  assisUince 
while  at  college,  and  in  order  to  defr.ay  his  ex- 
[lenses,  he  worked  everv  available  hour  outside  of 
recitations,  thus  earning  enough  monej'  to  ynxy  his 
w.ay  through  college,  the  course  including  civil 
engineering,  which  profession  he  had  determined 
to  follow.  Having  learned  the  trade  of  house- 
painting  in  an  early  day,  young  Buchanan  earned 
quite  a  sum  of  money  while  in  school  by  following 
tliis  occu])ation  during  his  vacations. 

After  completing  his  studies,  Mr.  Buchanan  of 
this  .sketch  began  work  as  a  civil  engineer  in  Lo- 
gan County, and  for  twelve  years  was  in  charge  of 
county  bridges,  during  which  time  he  planned  and 
superintended  the  construction  of  all  the  impor- 
tant bridges  in  the  county,  inelnding  the  large 
two-span  iron  bridge  over  the  Miami  River  at 
Ouincy.  wliich  was  the  firet  bridge  built  under  his 
iliiertion.  Subsequently, he  built  two  iron  bridges 
over  the  same  river  at  Logansville,  the  stone  piers 
and  abutments  being  constructed  under  his  per- 
sonal supervision.  All  tliesc  bridges,  and  many 
others  equally  as  substantial,  are  still  standing  as 
an  evidence  of  liis  skill  and  judgment  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

Mr.  Buchanan  served  two  terms  as  County  Sur- 
veyor, from  1882  to  1888,  and  during  that  time, 
in    company  with  D.  W.  Pampel.  Associate    Sur- 


veyor of  Shelby  County,  located  the  line  which 
determined  the  boundary  between  Shelby  and  Lo- 
gan Counties.  During  his  incumbency  of  that 
ollice,  he  also,  in  connection  with  the  County  Sur- 
veyor of  Hardin  County,  3Ir.  N.  H.  Col  well,  estab- 
lished the  old  county  line,  which  w.as  run  in  1820 
between  Hardin  and  Logan  Counties,  and  also 
planted  all  the  monuments  which  still  stand  t(^ 
perpetuate  the  line  .as  by  him  located.  Mr.  15u- 
clianan  later,  with  .Samuel  Craig.  Survevoi-  of  Au- 
glaize County,  retiticed  and  established  the  old 
line  between  that  county  apd  Logan,  but  bv  vote 
of  the  two  counties  this  was  then  changed  from 
the  old  line,  which  cut  diagonally  at  an  acute  an- 
gle acro.ss  the  section  .and  land  lines  to  its  present 
place,  so  as  to  follow,  instead  of  intercepting,  sec- 
tional lines. 

It  was  discovered  by  our  subject  that  local  at- 
traction so  influenced  the  m.agnetic  needle  that  the 
north  line  of  Logan  County,  from  the  northeast 
corner  running  west  to  a  point  north  of  Belle 
Centre, was  a  gradual  curve  to  the  south,  making  in 
this  distance  a  deflection  amounting  to  a  little 
more  than  one-fourth  of  a  mile.  The  old  line  was 
run  by  a  surveyor's  comp.ass  and  was  supposed  to 
be  perfectl\-  straight  until  the  transit  line  run  by 
Mr.  Buchanan  proved  it  otherwise. 

October  2,  1878,  Miss  Livy  Lusk  was  united  in 
marri.age  with  our  subject,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed in  the  Presb3-terian  Church  in  Oxford, 
Ohio.  The  young  couple  came  immediately  to  this 
cit\'  and  began  housekeeping  in  a  small  house, 
whicli  tifey  occupied,  however,  only  six  months 
when  they  took  up  their  abode  in  a  brick  and 
frame  dwelling  on  .Sandusky  Street.  Mr.  Buchanan 
says.  '•!  moved  my  household  goods  from  my  first 
home  to  this  second  one  in  a  wliecl-barrow.  and 
did  not  have  many  loads  at  that."  In  that  place 
his  first  child.  Sutton  Richey,  w.as  born,  Ma\'  12, 
1880,  and  in  .September,  188-1,  he  purcluased  the 
comfortable  home  which  he  now  occupies  on  Gar- 
field Avenue. 

In  1890.  our  subject  organized  the  Buchanan 
Bridge  Company  with  a  capital   stock  of  SlO.OOO, 

I    which  w.as  increased  the  following  year  to  ?^25.00(). 

i   The  corapanv  h.as  since  its  ors.anization  been  verv 
prosperous  and  is  one  for  which  all  the  citizens  of 


rOlMKAir  AN!1  KIOi;K.\rniCAL  kixdrd. 


Ix-llofonUinr  feci  a  kindly  iiitoresl.  The  ofllco 
Mid  shop,  which  is  Kx-ntod  on  Garfield  Avenue, 
al>out  a  s«iuare  west  of  Mr.  Hiiohanan's  re.<ideni-e. 
iHvupies  three-fourths  of  an  .tore  of  arround.  l>ur 
s«l>je<.-t  is  President  of  the  eotnpanv  and  one  of  the 
prineiivnl  stockholders.  With  his  wife,  he  is  a  con- 
sistent, active  nieml»er  of  the  Kinst  I'l-esbyterian 
Chuivli.  and  numbers  hosts  of  friends  throughout 
this  (H^rtion  of  the  St.ite. 


IIAKI.KS  t.  CooKSTllN.fariiU'r  niul  stock- 
raiser,  residing  three  miles  and  a-half  from 
West  LilH.Tt\-.  Ohio,  is  justly  conoeiled  a 
pl.ace  among  the  enterprising,  intluential  men  of 
worth  in  this  conirounily.  Not  only  is  he  es- 
teemed :vs  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  but  .as 
one  of  ils  progressive  and  substantial  citizens.  He 
tirst  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Franklin  County. 
Pa.,  nenr  C'hainbcrsburgb.  March  16.  l.s-.>-.',  and 
his  father,  Thomas  Cookston.  w.as  a  native  of  the 
same  county  and  State,  and  w.ts  there  reared.  The 
grandfather,  Charles  Cookston,  was  an  Knglish- 
inan.  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man. 

Thomas  Cookston,  the  father  of  our  f ubject, 
married  Miss  Mary  K.  Staley,  a  native  of  Franklin 
County.  Pa.,  and  the  daughter  of  .lacob  .'^taley. 
who  was  Ivorn  in  tiermany.  and  who  came  to  the 
United  .States  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania  when  a 
young  man.  Mr.  and  Mi's.  Cookston  were  married 
in  Franklin  County.  P.a..  and  there  resided  until 
1-1.30.  the  father  following  the  shoemaker's  trade. 
At  that  date  they  came  to  Ohio,  located  in  .Musk- 
ingum County,  and  there  followed  farming  for 
five  years.  From  there  they  moved  to  Logan 
County.  Ohio,  in  183.i.  settled  in  a  log  house  in 
I'nion  Township,  and  began  clearing  an  unim- 
pr'jved  tract  of  land.  >[rs.  Cookston  died  m  1841. 
and  Mr.  Cookston  afterward  moved  to  Jlonroe 
Tijwnihip.  Logan  County,  and  settled  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  our  subject.  Mere  his  death 
•xx-urred  in  \>*'\.  His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cx<t 
for.Iackson,    after  which  he  vrAed  the  Kepublican 


ticket.  He  was  Laiui  Appraiser  in  IMIO.  :iiul  in  re- 
ligion w.as  »  strong  Methodist,  and  an  oxhorter  in 
the  Methodist  Church.  He  was  a  good  man,  well 
known  .as  a  worker  in  the  cliinch.  and  a  Class-leader 
ne.irly  his  entiii'  life.  Il<'  wns  mvcr  without 
ottkv  in  the  church. 

Of  the  eight  children  bom  to  this  iiuuli-e.-lfonied 
couple,  our  subject  w.as  the  el(U>t.  and  two_^ -^,..,' 
and  two  danghtei-s  are  now  living.  When  eight 
years  of  age,  Charles  C.  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents,  and  his  first  scholastic  training  w.as 
received  in  tlie  schools  of  Muskingum  County, 
Ohio.  Wlii'ii  eighteen  ycai-s  of  age,  he  began 
learning  the  carpenter's  trade  at  West  Liberty, but 
as  he  did  not  like  the  business,  .soon  gave  it  up.  On 
the  18th  of  March,  181."),  he  w.as  married  in  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  to  Jliss  Margaret  Strayer,  daughter 
of  Nicholas  and  Rebecca  (White.aah)  Str.ayer,  and 
a  native  of  Berkeley  County,  Vn.,  of  which  .State 
her  parents  were  also  native.-,  .^he  w:is  liorn  on 
the  20th  of  February.  1821.  and  came  to  Ohio 
with  her  parents  in  183:3.  Directly  after  marriage, 
our  subject  located  in  Lnion  Township,  this 
county,  resided  there  four  years  and  then  moved 
to  Plea.sant  Township,  the  same  county,  wlicre  he 
bought  his  fii-bt  farm  of  ninety  .acres,  on  which  he 
resided  six  years.  He  then  moved  to  the  village 
of  De  Graff,  Logan  County,  and  for  three  years 
was  in  the  livery  business  there.  He  traded  his 
propertv  there  for  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
.sixtv-six  acres  in  .Miami  Township,  just  west  of 
the  village  of  De  Graff,  and  was  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  there  for  six  years.  He  then  sold 
his  farm  and  enlisted  in  the  One  lliuulred  and 
Thirty-second  Ohio  Infantry,  in  the  one  liundn-d 
dav  service,  and  w.as  discharged  on  the  Hllh  of 
Septerater,  I8t>5. 

Returning  home,  he  found  lliat  .Mrs.  Cookston 
hail  rented  a  farm  just  .across  the  road  from  the 
farm  that  he  had  sold,  and  he  remained  there  two 
years,  when  he  bought  the  place  where  he  now 
lives.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  this  union, 
five  sons  and  one  daughter:  Thom.as  F.  enlisted 
Willi  his  f;itlier  in  the  army  and  w.as  dischargeil 
at  the  same  time.  He  subsequently  went  to  Kan- 
sas, wxs  married,  and  there  died  on  the  17th  of 
.I.anuarv.  1877.    .Joseph  H.  was  married  in  St.  Louis, 


PORTRAIT  A^■D  BIOGRAPHICAL   RFXORD. 


Mo.,  and  now  resides  in  Union  County,  Ohio, 
wliere  he  owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eight 
acres;  Marj-  E.,  wife  of  J.  O.  Hunter,  resides  on  a 
farm  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio;  Horace  W. 
niairied  and  resides  in  JIarion  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  fanning  and  breeding  fine 
horses;  William  L.  married,  and  resides  in  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  at  Belle  Centre,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  hotel  and  livery  business;  and  Clifford  G. 
married,  and  is  with  his  brother  in  the  livery 
business.  The  latter  is  a  civil  engineer,  and  laler 
expects  to  make  civil  engineering  his  occupation. 
Mr.  Cookslon  has  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  .acres,  but  rents  his  place.  He  advo- 
cates the  principles  of  the  Republican  part}-,  and 
has  held  a  number  of  county  oltices.  He  was 
Township  Trustee  for  some  time,  held  the  oftice  of 
County  Commissioner  for  six  years  in  succession, 
aud  lias  filled  other  positions.  He  w.as  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  has  held 
office  in  the  same  for  many  years,  and  is  a  liberal 
contributor  to  the  same.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  post  at  West  Liberty,  and  is 
Chaplain  of  the  same. 


if^ ^     W.  TAEC^CII.     Among   the  many  entor- 

rji,  prises  necessary  to  complete  the  commer- 
J^)^  t'ial  resources  of  a  town  or  city,  none  is  of 
V^)  more  importance  than  that  of  the  grocer, 
.as  being  one  of  the  main  factors  in  the  furnishing 
of  our  food  supplies.  Prominent  in  this  ti-ade  is 
the  establishment  of  Jlr.  H.  W.  Taeusch,  which  is 
one  of  the  most  complete  in  its  line  in  the  city. 
This  gentleman  was  horn  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of 
Saxe-AVeimar,  Germany,  November  29,  182.5.  and 
his  parents.  Carroll  W.  and  .Sophia  E.  (Steinmetz) 
Taeusch.  were  natives  of  the  same  place. 

In  18.3o,  the  parents  of  our  subject  emigrated  ti) 
America,  and  landed  in  Baltimore,  where  they  re- 
mained for  a  short  time,  and  then  with  wagon 
they  went  from  there  to  Cincinnati.  At  the  latter 
place  they  disposed  of  their  teams  and  went  by 
boat   to   St.  Louis.     Xot   beiua;  satisfied  with  the 


country-,  they  went  back  as  far  .as  Louisville,  Kv., 
remained  there  a  few  weeks,  and  then  again  en- 
tered the  city  of  Cincinnati.  Still  later  they  went 
to  Miami,?biirgh,  Ohio,  and  while  there  heard  of 
the  rapid  filling  up  of  the  Wapakoneta  country, 
the  Indians  having  just  been  driven  out.  In  the 
fall  of  1835,  they  came  to  what  is  now  Auglaize 
County,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  one 
and  one-half  miles  southwest  of  Wapakoneta. 
This  was  covered  with  timber  at  that  time,  and  af- 
ter clearing  a  small  portion,  a  rude  log  cabin  with 
clapboard  roof  w.as  erected.  The  cracks  were 
pl.astered  with  mud,  the  clapboards  were  weighted 
down  with  poles,  and  in  this  [irimitive  manner  Mr. 
Taeusch  and  family  began  their  career  us  pioneers. 
As  years  p.assed  by,  they  giadii.ally  began  to  gather 
around  them  many  of  the  comforts  and  conven- 
iences of  life,  and  as  improvement  after  improve- 
ment was  made  on  the  place,  it  soon  became  a  very 
attiactive  and  pleasant  home. 

Mr.  Taeusch  inherited  all  the  thrift  and  energv 
of  his  German  ancestors,  and  it  was  not  Ions  be- 
fore the  humble  log  cabin  was  supplanted  bv  a 
comfortable  hemi-log  house,  which  at  that  time 
and  d.ay  was  considered  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
country.  In  this  the  father's  death  occurred  in 
1863.  The  mother  had  passed  away  in  18.51. 
While  a  resident  of  the  Old  Country,  JMr.  Taeusch 
was  a  very  prominent  man,  and  bold  the  otlice 
which  we  call  County  Treasurer.  Tliis  position  is 
a  Government  oHice  in  Germany,  and  he  held  this 
for  over  twenty  yeai-s.  ^Ir.  and  Mi-s.  T.aeusch  were 
the  parents  of  one  son  and  two  daughters,  as  fol- 
lows: Jlena,  who  married  Mr.  Everett. and  remained 
in  Germany,  is  now  deceased.  The  other  daugh- 
ter, Ch.arlotte,  became  the  wife  of  John  Rummel. 
and  is  now  a  resident  of  Kentucky. 

The  original  (jf  this  notice  was  about  nine 
years  of  ,ige  wlien  he  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
country,  and  he  well  remembers  the  vovai;e  across 
the  briny  deep.  After  settling  with  his  parents  in 
Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  he  assisted  them  in  clear- 
ing the  farm  and  making  improvements,  and  thus 
acquired  habits  of  industry  and  perseverance, 
which  have  remained  with  him  through  life.  He 
received  a  common-school  education,  but  his  ad- 
vantages were  not  of  the  best,  for  he  was  obliged 


iVKTKAir  AND  HlOCKArilU  AI.    UKIOUI). 


to  work  hard,  as  he  was  the  main  hand  on  the 
fnnn  of  his  father.  Tlie  principal  jvirt  of  his  edn- 
entioii  was  re^'oivod  from  his  father,  who  was  a 
man  of  intelli^-iice.  ami  liis  rei-ord  is  an  cxIimpK' 
of  what  i"an  Ik"  aivimiplished  by  amliitiiMis  ami  iii- 
tellicrent  yoiini;  men.  wlu>so  only  fortniio  at  lirsl 
consists  of  ir<0(l  healtli.  ener^'y.  inlciriity  ami  lirni- 
ncss  of  pur|H>sc. 

After  the  death  of  the  father,  our  suhjecl  con- 
tinued on  the  farm  until  liSdli.  when  he  removed 
to  Wapakoneta  with  liis  hrotiier-iii-law.  ami  en- 
^aired  in  the  provision  business  under  the  linn 
name  of  Fisher  Sc  Taeuscli.  which  continued  until 
the  spring  of  1870.  when  they  sold  out  with  the 
intention  of  locatiiii:  in  the  Lone  .'>tar  ,'^lale.  Af- 
ter re.aching  that  .state,  they  settled  for  a  short 
time  in  Austin,  hut  subsequently  returned  to 
Wapakoneta,  where  our  subject  bought  and  built 
his  present  fine  re*idence.  In  1873,  he  opened  a 
j:rocery  store,  and  this  he  h.as  carried  on  success- 
fully ever  since.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  gioceis 
of  the  place,  alw.ays  keo|)s  a  fresh  and  attractive 
st<K.-k  of  jroods.  and  has  a  very  large  trade,  lie 
nn:  J  a  farm  near  Wai>akoneta.  and  is  a  prosperous 
and  s>d.istantial  citizen.  He  has  several  times  been 
nominated  for  otlice.  but  .as  he  is  on  the  minority 
side,  he  has  never  been  elected. 

In  the  year  18.')3,  he  married  Mi.-^s  .Julia  Miller, 
who  iKirc  him  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, viz.:  Henry  C,  who  owns  an  interest  in  the 
store;  Sophia.  .John.  Lizzie  and  .'^arah.  .Mrs. 
Tacusch  died  in  .January,  18(>U.  On  the  7tli  of 
Decemlier.  1872.  <)ur  suliject  was  married  to  Miss 
.^Iary  Krische.  a  native  of  Hanover.  ( Jermany.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tac\is<-li  are  faithful  niemliei^  cf  the 
Evansclical  Lutheran  Cliuroh. 


_*^  nUAIIAM    II.   K.MI.KV.      It  being  llie  pur- 
@JuJ     Jiose  of  the  authors  of   tlii.s  work   to   prc- 
/    J    serve  for  the  b<:netil  of  posterity  a  record 
0/  of  the  lives  of  honest  and  industrious  citi- 

zens, they  would  fail  in  their  purpose  if  they  omit- 
ted thai  of  A.  H.  F;raley.  of  .Shelby  County.    This 


ijentleman  is  now  the  occuiMut  of  a  pleasant  home 
in  Franklin  Township,  where  he  has  as  fine  apiece 
of  pro|icrty  as  is  to  be  found  in  this  vicinity.  The 
trad  is  well  localed  and  bears  the  improvemenUs 
usually  in.ndo  liy  a  man  who  desires  to  keep  up  with 
tlir  liiiu's  .'iml  jui  round  himself  with  the  comfort 
ami  conveiiiencos  of  modern  farm  life. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  a  sou  (vf  'I'uni''  Knilev, 
who  was  a  ii;itiveof  I'.urlinglon  County.  X.  .I..aud 
a  soldier  in  the  Warof  1.s1l>.  He  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  a  faimei-  and  was  the  sou  of  I'eter 
Kudoy.  also  of  New  .lersey,  wlio.-e  ancestors  were 
(ierman  and  Knglish.  The  maiden  name  of  our 
subjecfs  mother  was  .\nna  Covert;  she  w.as  a  native 
of  Xew  .Jersey  and  the  daughter  of  Tunis  Covert, 
who  hailed  from  Holland. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Kmlcy  were  man  led  in  New 
Jersey,  where  they  resided  until  their  death,  the 
father,  who  w.as  born  in  I7ltO,  dying  in  his  sixty- 
seventh  year  ami  the  mother,  who  was  born  in 
179L  di>parte<l  this  life  when  sixty  years  of  age. 
They  ri'ared  a  family  of  nine  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living,  (tneof  their  sons,  George  I'',ni- 
ley.  served  in  the  Civil  War  .as  a  member  of  the 
Fir.>t  New  .Jersey  Cavalry.  The  mother  was  a  Meth- 
odist in  religion,  and  in  his  political  relations  Mr. 
F.raley  voted  with  the  Democratic  parly. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  born  October  l.s. 
1822.  in  New  .Jersey.  He  was  not  permitted  to  at- 
tend school  until  reaching  his  Ihirleeiilli  year,  and 
bein^  rcare<l  on  the  home  farm,  when  ready  lo 
■start  out  in  life  for  himself  chose  theoccupalion  of 
a  farmer.  On  reaching  his  majorily,  Mr.  Kiiiley  in 
1840  w.as  married  to  Kebccca  Toy,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  .Slate  as  was  her  husband,  lie  renled 
his  father's  farm,  which  he  carried  on  for  the  fol- 
lowing seven  ycars.at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  farming  on  account 
of  his  wife's  ill  health  and  purchased  property  in 
.Jacobstown,  N.  .J.,  where  she  died  in  185,0.  They 
had  become  the  parents  of  three  children,  viz: 
Klla.  Mrs.  Milton  Bennett,  who  resides  in  .Sidney; 
Ivhjar.  who  makes  his  home  in  Salem  Townslii[)and 
is  the  husband  of  Amy  Fr.asier:  and  Eliza.  Jlrs. 
William  Enright,  who  makes  her  home  in  Sidney. 

In  1.H.38,  Mr.  Emiey  emigrated  to  this  Stale, 
bringing  with  him  his  family, and  located  on  a  farm 


PORTIiAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


233 


on  section  12,  Franklin  Township.  That  j-ear  he 
was  married  to  Susan,  daughter  of  AVilliam  and 
Sophia  (Young)  Hoover,  natives  respectively  of 
Kentuck\'  and  Maryland.  Ilor  parents  were  very 
young  when  they  came  to  this  State  and  located 
with  their  parents  in  Jlontgomery  County,  it  being 
about  seventy  yeai-s  ago.  Jlr.  Hoover  cleared  a 
farm  from  ttie  wilderness  and  departed  this  life  in 
1S7.T,  being  preceded  to  the  kind  beyond  by  his 
wife,  who  died  in  1862.  They  were  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children,  who  grew  to  mature  yeai-s  and 
of  whom  nine  are  now  living.  One  son,  Marion, 
who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  is  now 
deceased.  The  mother  was  a  most  intelligent  lady 
and  a  sincere  member  of  the  Cliristian  Church. 

Mrs.  Emley,who  was  born  in  Montgomery  County, 
this  State,  April  24,  1830,  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  subscription  schools  near  her  home.  By 
her  union  with  our  subject  have  been  born  four 
children,  namely:  William  E..  who  married  Zilla 
Dye,  lives  in  Washington  Suite:  David  C.  who 
married  Carrie  Rundel,  also  makes  his  home  there: 
Thomas  E.,  who  married  Sophia  Finkenbinc.  lives 
in  this  county,  and  Lovie  1!.,  who  is  Ihc  youngest 
of  the  family. 

Mr.  Emley  moved  to  his  present  farm  in  1870, 
which  was  then  in  a  wild  state.  It  comprises  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres,  and  in  addition  to 
that  propert\-,  he  owns  seventy  acres  east  of  .Sidney 
all  which  is  improved.  In  1880,  he  erected  his 
present  beautiful  residence,  which  cost  ¥2,500,  and 
embellished  his  estate  with  all  the  needful  build- 
ings used  In  the  storing  of  grain  and  shelter  of 
stock. 

In  1864,  our  subject  enlisted  In  the  Union  army 
as  a  member  of  Companj-  K,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-fourth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  sent  with  his 
regiment  to  Cumberland,  Va..  where  they  were  en- 
gaged in  guarding  a  bridge  at  Pattereon  Creek. 
From  there  the}-  were  sent  to  the  front  and  opemted 
against  the  enemy  along  the  .lames  River  in  Vir- 
ginia to  Petersburgh.  ^Ir.  Emley  was  on  duty  the 
entire  period  of  his  enlistment,  during  which  time 
he  never  missed  a  roll  call  and  received  his  honor- 
able discharge  with  his  regiment.  During  the 
Civil  War  his  wife  was  President  of  the  Lidies' 
Soldiers"    Aid  Society    of    I'liim  Creek  Chapel  and 


rendered  much  efficient  service  to  those  who  were 
sacrificing  their  homes  and  lives  for  theircountrv's 
honor.  Our  subject  is  connected  with  the  Grand 
Army  Post  at  Sidney  and  with  his  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grange.  Formerly  a  Republican  In 
politics,  he  is  now  independent,  reserving  hlsrl^ht 
to  vote  for  the  man  whom  he  considers  will  best 
fill  the  office.  He  has  been  the  Incumbent  of  vari- 
ous positions  of  honor  and  trust,  serving  as  Town- 
ship Trustee  for  many  years,  lie  was  elected  Jus- 
tice of  tlie  Peace,  but  preferring  to  give  his  time 
to  his  private  interests  refused  to  qualify. 


J^'USTIX  BARBER,  President  of  Ihe  Au- 
W  i     S'''*'^*'    County   Agricultural   Society,  and 

>jj  A  one  of  the  foremost  fanners  and  stock- 
(qJJ  raisci-s  of  the  county,  has   dune  conspicu- 

ous service  In  iiUroducIng  modern  methods  of 
farming,  and  has  a  model  farm  i>n  section  32.  .Sa- 
lem Township,  whose  sub.-lantlal  ai>polntnieiits 
and  highly  tilled  fields  mark  It  :rs  one  of  the  best 
e(iuipped  and  most  deslralile  places  in  this  vi- 
cinity. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  In  Inion 
Township,  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Mercer. 
Januarv  8,  1833.  Ills  father,  Samuel  C.  ISarber. 
w.as  born  In  1804.  near  Honeoye  Lake,  X.  Y..  and 
was  a  son  of  Capt.  Amos  Barber,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  M.ossacliusetts,  and  was  of  Iri^h  antece- 
dents. In  the  early  part  of  hi^  life,  he  removed 
to  New  York,  and  thence  t(i  Iventuckv  in  1817. 
and  there  died  in  Hardin  County.  He  was  Cap- 
tain of  a  company  In  the  War  of  1812. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  lail  of  thirteen 
years  wlien  the  family  moved  to  Kentucky,  and 
there  he  grew  up  to  tlie  life  of  a  faiiner.  In  the 
fall  of  1828.  in  the  vigor  and  prime  of  the  open- 
ing years  of  a  st-alwart  manhood,  he  crossed  the 
Ohio  River,  and  penetrating  ihrongh  the  wilder- 
ness as  far  northward  as  Mercer  County,  took  up 
a  tract  of  land  in    Union    Township  and    became 


iM 


ntivi'KAir  AM)  i'1(h;i^\1'iiu  Ai.  IvF.cokd. 


one  of  its  earliest  settlers.  Indians  still  made 
their  homes  (here,  and  wild  game  was  very  al>iiii- 
dant.  im  tliat  Mr.  iKirln-r  kept  his  family  supiilioil 
with  venison,  wtld  turkeys,  etc.  He  led  a  Imsy  life 
and  by  hard  t(.>il  eleared  a  goodly  farm  and  iiiaile 
many  sul>stantial  improvements  ujwn  it.  ilu' 
first  building  that  he  erected  Iving  a  typical  Iol' 
cabin  for  a  dwelling,  lie  died  September  L'l. 
I)*,il.  leaving  l)ehind  him  a  good  name  and  a 
worthy  rec<'>rd  as  a  pioneer.  His  wife  hail  jnc- 
eeded  him  in  death,  dying  in  18-14.  She  bmc  the 
mniilou  name  of  Hannah  Murlin.  and  w.as  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  she  faithfully  shared  with  him  tlic 
privations  of  pioneer  life.  They  had  junrncvcil 
to  their  new  home  in  Ohio  with  a  yoke  nf  oxen 
attached  to  a  cart,  a  hoi-se  being  placed  in  front 
of  the  oxen,  and  they  had  brought  all  their 
earthly  possessions  with  them.  They  had  three 
sons  and  two  daughters,  our  subject,  wli.i  i>  the 
third  of  the  children  in  order  of  biilh.  and  a 
younger  brother  lieing  the  only  survivors  of  the 
family. 

Mr.  llarber  had  but  meagre  educational  advan- 
tages in  his  boyhood,  but  lie  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  first  went  to  school  in  an  old  log 
cabin,  that  had  a  puncheon  floor  and  w.as  fur- 
nished with  slab  seats.  His  schooling  was  limited 
to  two  or  throe  months  in  the  winter,  and  to  a 
day  or  so  occasionally  in  the  summer.  As  soon 
as  he  was  old  enough,  he  began  to  help  his  fa- 
ther on  the  farm,  and  early  liccame  a  practical 
farmer.  He  had  a  full  cxi)erience  of  pioneer  lifi' 
in  all  its  ph-ases.  He  w.as  clothed  in  homespun. 
and  the  first  (xiir  of  hoots  that  he  ever  wore  ho 
had  the  winter  he  w.as  seventeen.  Ilunling  was 
one  of  hii  amusements  when  he  w;is  young,  and 
he  has  killed  deer,  which  he  h.xs  seen  in  laig'' 
herds.  Iiiduans  often  called  at  his  fatlie; 's  house 
and  camped  on  the  banks  of  the  creek  near  by. 

In  the  spring  of  1852.  our  subject  hired  out  to 
work  by  the  month  for  a  period  of  six  month.-. 
at  %12  a  month.  In  the  fall,  he  secured  employ- 
ment at  fifty  cents  a  d.ay.  The  following  winter. 
he  taught  school  at  %13  a  month,  and  boarded 
around  among  the  parents  of  the  pupils.  lie  en- 
iraiiod  in  the  same  profession  the  succeeding  win- 


ter, with  till'  slightly  incica^od  salary  of  ^il.'i  a 
month.  In  the  summer  time,  he  pursued  fanning, 
and  ill  the  spring  of  18,")l  took  the  managonient 
of  the  old  family  holne^tead  in  I'nion  To«n>hip. 
He  remained  there  until  l.SG:!,  wlun  he  liouclit 
and  took  possession  of  his  present  farm  in  Salem 
Town>hip.  comprising  two  huiidrod  and  eight\ 
acre-  on  sections  .'52  and  .'i.  It  was  paitlv  ini- 
provecl.  :in  olil  lu'wcd-log  house  sUuuling  on  it. 
and  thiiiy-livc  .-uii's  had  been  cleared.  He  has 
wrought  a  great  change  by  pereevering  labor  and 
intelligent  modes  of  farming,  and  has  transformed 
the  place  into  as  tine  a  farm  .as  can  be  found  in 
this  seilioii  of  the  country.  He  has  removed  the 
timber  that  remained  standing  when  he  purchased 
it;  has  thoroughly  drained  the  land  by  tiling;  the 
fields  are  strongly  fenced;  and  commoilious  ami 
well-arranged  buildings  adorn  the  place,  including 
a  substantial  brick  residence  erected  to  replace  the 
original  log  house. 

Mr.  liarbcr  has  a  thoughtful,  well-balanced, 
well-trained  mind,  and  through  experience,  ob- 
.servation  and  careful  reading,  h.as  gained  a  more 
thorough,  practical  education  than  that  of  many 
a  college-bred  man.  His  brain  and  muscles  were 
his  only  capital  when  he  started  out  in  life,  but 
he  put  them  to  good  use,  and  h.as  been  eminently 
successful  in  his  chosen  calling,  which  Horace 
rTieelej-  so  aptly  styled  "the  noblest  of  profes- 
sions." He  conihicts  a  good  business  as  a  general 
farmer,  raising  stock  extensively,  and  for  many 
years  he  li.as  bred  .Short-horn  cattle,  for  which  he 
h:is  won  many  prizes.  He  has  Ijeeii  one  of  the 
leading  meniliers  of  the  Auglaize  County  Agri- 
cultural .Society  for  several  years,  is  now  its  pre- 
siding ollicer.  and  throughout  his  entire  connec- 
tion with  it  has  been  an  inspiration  in  the  good 
work  that  makes  it  so  valuable  an  organization 
for  the  promotion  of  the  farming  interests  of  this 
part  of  (Jhio.  Mr.  l>arber  has  also  been  influ- 
ential in  advancing  local  educational  affairs,  and 
has  held  the  oflice  of  .School  Director  a  longer 
time  than  any  other  man  in  the  district.  Dtiriiif; 
his  residence  in  I'nion  Township,  he  was  Town- 
ship Clerk  six  years.  He  is  an  .advocate  of  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  but  he  takes 
no  part  in  politics. 


PORTRAIT  AXl)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


237 


The  marriage  of  oiir  subject  with  Miss  Eliza 
L.  Hamilton  was  solemnized  April  2.  1854.  Mrs. 
Barber  was  born  in  Union  Township,  about  a  mile 
from  the  birthplace  of  her  husband,  and  they 
grew  up  together  in  the  same  neighborhood,  at- 
tended the  same  school,  and  their  friendship  in 
youth  ripened  into  the  stronger  attachment  of 
matiirer  years,  which  resulted  in  a  true  marriage. 
She  w.as  well  educated  and  taught  school  one 
lerin  before  she  entered  upon  the  responsibilities 
of  wedded  life.  February  7.  is;)(i.  tlie  happy 
home  that  she  had  hel|ied  to  build  up.  and  that 
w.as  made  sacred  to  those  wlm  loved  her  by  her 
presence,  was  darkened  by  her  denth.  and  her  loss 
was  greatly  felt  liy  tije  iMitire  ci.inimunity.  She 
was  a  woman  of  rare  personality,  gifted  with  a 
sweet,  strong  nature,  a  generous,  open  hand,  and 
a  warm  heart  that  beat  in  sympathy  with  all  who 
were  in  sorrow  or  trouble.  .She  guided  her  house- 
hold affairs  with  a  firm,  even  hand,  and  was  de- 
voted to  her  husband  and  children,  who  worship 
her  memory,  llcr  work  here  is  compassed  and 
done — 

'•But  we  cannot  think  of  her  idle; 

She  must  be  a  home-maker  still; 
(lod  giveth  that  work  to  the  angels. 

Who  are  fittest  the  t.ask  to  fulfill. 

••And  somewhere,  yet.  in  the  hilltops 
Of  the  country  that  hath  no  pain, 

She  will  watch  in  her  beautiful  doorw.iy 
To  liid  lis  a  welcome  again." 

Mrs.  Barber  w.is  the  sixth  of  the  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  are  living,  of  the  Hon.  Judge 
Justin  Hamilton.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Blaii- 
ford,  IM.ass.,  born  September  11,  17Wt).  and  when 
he  was  joung  his  father  removed  first  to  Xiw 
York,  and  thence  to  Hardin  County,  Ky..  wlicie 
he  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood  as  Mr.  Uai- 
lier's  father.  In  1S2;J.  Judg.^  Hamilton  seltloil 
in  .Mcri-er  County,  tliis  Slati'.  and  wa-  one  uf  \l- 
eaiiiot  |)ioueei-  farmers.  \]v  wa.-  a  >urvi-yoi-. 
and  .surM'Vfd  a  great  part  of  lhi>  >cction  o('  thr 
coniitiy.  He  was  very  prcjiiiiiii'nl  and  \\iiK-ly 
known  in  public  life,  -crved  in  tlic  l.egi>l;iluir 
several  term-.  wa>  Jii-tin'  of  thr  VfAn:  U>v  many 
years,  and  wa.-  one  of  the  .V-soriati-  .liidgi'S  ot  the 
Coiniiion  I'lua.-  Court  of  Mercrr  Co,inl\.  lie  dic-d 
11 


in  February,  1863.  His  wife  survived  him  until 
November  24,  1887,  her  death  occurring  on  that 
date  in  the  home  of  our  subject.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Kliza  Rhodes,  and  she  w,as  born  in  New 
York,  February  28.  1798. 

Our  subject  ,and  his  wife  h.ad  eight  children: 
F.lla,  who  is  deceased;  Hannah,  wife  of  C.  AV. 
Sliim|),  a  farmer  of  Salem  Township;  Ireiia.  de- 
ceased; Dora,  wife  of  J.  H.  Wright,  a  farmer  i.if 
this  township;  Abram  11.,  who  is  married  and 
lives  on  a  part  of  the  lionu-  farm;  .\rthur,  who  is 
married  and  makes  his  home  willi  liis  father;  Ina 
and  Walter.  Ijoth  at  home,  the  latter  a  teacher. 
Tlie  children  are  liurly  educated,  and  Arthur  and 
Dora  have  also  taught  scliool. 


/^  IIARLKS  K.  S.MUOT.  M.  D.  In  every  com- 
(I       „  munily  throughout  our  broad  land,  there 

^\^'  may  be  found  men  who  are  gaining  success 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery.  Shelbv 
County  is  the  seat  of  the  labors  of  many  physicians 
who.  in  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  their  pro- 
fession, skill  in  diagnosis  and  success  in  the  treat- 
ment of  disea>es,  manifest  great  ability.  Amona- 
tliis  nuinlier  i>  Di-.  Smoot,  of  JetTerson,  who  is  rap- 
idly coming  U)  the  front  and  thoroughly  establish- 
ing himself  in  the  respei-t  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact.  He  has  been  a  hard  student, and 
at  the  time  of  his  graduation  stood  fourth  in  a 
class  of  thirty-nine  who  received  their  deirrees  as 
Doctors  of  .^ledicine. 

Our  subject  was  Iwirn  in  Port  .k'ffersou.  C)hio. 
Ortoliei-  7.  ItiCi;.  and  is  a  sou  of  .lohn  H.  .Snioot, 
«  ho  was  born  in  .Miami  County  in  lf(3;>.  Grand- 
fathei-  .lacoip  S.  Snioot  w:l-  horn  in  New  ,Iersp\  ami 
emii^iated  to  tlii~  Mate  about  l^L'H.  liciiii;' cla.-si/d 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Shelby  County.  Tin- 
ri  pie-eiitatives  of  the  family  in  this  coiintiv  came 
from  the  Prmince  of  Hesse.  ( lermany.  dir.inL'  Col- 
onial times.  Tho  i;reat-L:iMndfather  was  a  i;e\o- 
hitionaiy  soMicr  and  was  present  at  ti.e  liattle  <'f 
Voiklowii.  uiuies>iu--  the  siim-iider  of  the  I'.iili-h 

i,i\<-r-    lo  (  .I'M.    \V;l>llilluloll. 


■i3S 


l\)UTKArr  AND  lUOCKAl'IIK'Al,  KF.COKI). 


The  grandfather  of  o«r  subject,  on  coming  to 
this  ct^unty.  Kx^ted  ou  a  wild  farm  on  I.oatlier 
W^xxl  Crook,  in  Gioon  Township.  Avhore  lie  was 
residing  at  tho  tinio  of  his  death,  .nliout  18('2.  Ilis 
wife,  who  Ixne  tho  maiden  name  of  Catherine  S. 
."^hnnk.  was  also  of  Kovoliitionary  stock,  and  died 
in  It^S,'!,  at  tho  advanced  ajjo  of  ninety-throo  Toai-s. 
.lohn  11.  SniiX)l  w.is  one  of  two  sons  and  three 
daughters  Uirn  to  his  parent;-,  four  of  whom  arc 
living.  He  is  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  is  now 
rejiding  in  Perry  Township,  this  county,  where  he 
h.as  a  valuable  estate,  adorned  with  a  commodious 
residence.  :is  well  :is  substantial  barns  and  out- 
building?. 

Tho  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was 
Kliza  .1.  ."^toiio.  .'^Iio  was  born  in  Perry  Township, 
this  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Demovillc  and 
Kliz,abeth  .''tone,  lioth  of  whom  were  early  settlers 
in  this  county  and  aiv  long  since  decc.-u<ed.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  to  the  parent*  of  our  subject, 
only  three  are  living,  of  whom  Charles  K.  is  the 
eldest.  Ilis  primary  eclucation  w.ij  conducted  in 
tho  district  school  until  re.aching  his  fourteenth 
year,  at  which  time  he  went  to  Port  .Teffei-son  and 
took  a  three-ycai-s'  course  in  the  High  School. 
Being  then  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  taught 
school  for  eight  term*,  during  which  time  he  stud- 
ied such  branches  .as  he  expected  to  need  when 
commencing  the  study  of  medicine. 

In  18><.T.  our  subject  look  up  the  study  of  medi- 
cine under  Dr.  -I.  V.  Miller,  of  Port  .leffei-son,  with 
whom  he  re.ad  until  IHSS.  He  then  entered  the 
.^larlii.g  Medical  College  at  Columbus  and  wa.s 
graduated  two  years  later,  having  completed  the 
regular  medical  and  surgical  courses.  Dr.  .Sraoot 
locattd  for  practice  at  Mt.  .Jefferson,  where  he  has 
built  up  a  good  trade  and  occupies  a  place  in  the 
front  rank  among  his  fellow-practitioners.  He 
belongs  to  the  ."^helby  County  Medical  Society  and 
endeavors  by  extensive  reading  ami  thought  to 
advance  his  own  professional  culture  and  thus 
make  bis  work  of  greater  benefit  to  mankind. 

In  1886.  Dr.  Smoot  and  Miss  Annette,  daughter 
of  Peter  JI.  and  Mariamna  (Gilfillin;  Trapp,  were 
united  in  marriage.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
this  State,  and  lior  father,  who  i.-i  a  contractm.  Iku- 
'■  tilt   ovirr   I  .vo  hundred  uiile=  of  turnpike  in  tins 


and  neighboring  ctninties.  To  the  Doctor  and  hi.s 
wife  have  boon  born  two  children,  Coila  Kditli  an<l 
.lames  Harold.  .Mi's.  .Sinoot  is  a  member  uf  thr 
Methodist  Kpiscop.al  Church.  In  politics,  our  sulj- 
ject  is  a  stanch  DoiiKurat,  willing  at  all  times  to 
uphold  party  principles  by  his  inlliioncc  niul  balldl. 
.\  lithographic  portrait  of  Dr.  Sinniit  accniiiprui- 
ies  this  biographical  notice. 


OHN  .M.  .STALEV,  A.  15..  LI..  1).,  who  is  one 
of  the  prominent  lawyei's  of  Sidney,  has  been 
engaged  in  active  practice  for  a  number  of 
^^^  years.  .\  native  of  Shelby  County,  he  was 
born  in  Franklin  Towii.ship,  Kebniary  2,  18  17,  and 
is  the  son  of  .Tohn  and  Catherine  (Young)  Staley. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  moved 
to  this  section  from  Montgomery  County,  this 
State.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Stillwater, 
Ohio,  and  w.as  the  daughter  of  Philip  Young,  and, 
with  her  husband,  w.os  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm,  and  remained  with  his  parents  until 
the  clo.sc  of  the  Civil  War.  Two  of  his  brothers, 
Henry  and  George  W.,  were  soldiers  in  the  I'nioii 
army,  the  former  of  whom  died  at  Paducah,  Ky.; 
the  latter  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Jack.son 
Township,  this  county. 

Mr.  Staley  of  this  sketeh  lirst  attendod  flic 
country  schools,  and  was  a  pupil  of  the  Sidney 
High  .S-'liool  when  Lincoln  was  ass.assinated.  He 
then  attended  the  Ohio  ^Vesleyan  Iniversity  at 
Delaware,  and  after  a  course  there  of  two  years, 
took  a  position  a.s  teacher  of  music  in  the  Lebanon 
Normal  .School,  from  >vliich  institution  he  had  been 
graduated  in  1872.  Having  a  natural  talent  for 
music,  our  subject  h.os  taken  advantage  of  every 
opportunity  to  advance  his  knowledge  in  that  art, 
and  is  now  the  leader  and  te.acher  of  the  orchestra 
III  llii>  phiii-.  uliicli  ranks  anioii'^:  the  linest  in 
WcMorn  Dhio. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL    RfXORD. 


230 


After  his  graduation  in  1872,  Mr.  Staley  super- 
intended different  schools  for  five  j'eai-s,  during 
wiiicli  time  he  was  industriously  engaged  in  read- 
ing law.  At  the  expii-ation  of  the  time  al)ove 
mentioned,  lie  refused  a  position  offered  him  as 
.'Superintendent  of  the  city  .'■chools  of  Findlay, 
Oliio.  in  order  to  euter  the  office  of  Jloulton.. John- 
son A-  Levi,  in  Cincinnati,  which  was  one  of  the 
leading  law  firms  of  tliat  city.  Mr.  Moulton  lieing 
a  brother-in-law  of  -Toliu  Sliciniau. 

After  graduating  in  the  year  187S  from  the  t  in- 
cinnati  Law  College,  Mr.  .Staley  returned  to  Sidney, 
where  lie  has  since  been  engaged  in  tlie  practice  of 
his  profession,  lie  is  no«-  Commi>Moner  of  In- 
solvents, C'ount\-  School  Examiner,  .-ind  a  niemlier 
of  the  Board  of  Elections,  lie  uas  also  City  So- 
licitor for  one  term,  and  noworcupies  a  prominent 
place  in  the  .Shelby  County  l>ai-.  Mr.  Staley  is 
always  an  entluisiaslic  Democrat,  auil  is  liberal 
in  his  religious  views. 

In  .Septemljer,  1872.  .John  31.  Staley  and  Miss 
.\!ice,  daughter  of  George  and  Rachael  Witt,  were 
united  in  marriage.  To  them  have  been  granted 
one  son.  Ralph  Witt,  who  is  a  pupil  of  the  .Sidney 
schools,  and  in  1879,  being  twelve  years  old,  won 
the  second  ))rize  offered  by  the  Sidney  Journal  for 
the  best  original  composition  by  pupils  of  city 
ami  country  schools  under  fourteen  years  of  age. 
(  )iie  daugliter,  Ruth,  died  in  1891,  at  the  age  of 
fi.iur  years. 


^l|i|-^i"i^ll^5#t^< 


(»1:RIS  lloNNEl.L.  Among  tlie  promi- 
nent and  enterprising  citi/en.>  of  Sidney. 
li  no  one  i-;  more  worthy  of  note  than  lie 
uhc.ini  wo  here  name,  who  has  now  retired 
fnini  lii>  One  farm  in  'W'asliiiiglon  'roun...|iip.  and 
since  November.  Is.hi.  das  been  a  resident  of  this 
city.  .lust  previous  to  settling  here,  lie  sold  part 
of  the  old  homestead,  whieii  consisted  of  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres,  and  has  now  :i  iiK^-l 
altiaclive  and  pl,-asaiit  home  :il  .\,,.  l-_>lo  l-air 
Avriiui'.      lie  has  an  extensive  lawn    of    o\ei-  \.\y< 


acres,  lieautifully  decorated  with  fine  shade  trees. 
orn.ament.al  shrubs  and  lovely  ttowei-s.  and  his  res- 
idence is  a  very  cozy  and  substantial  one. 

Like  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Honnell  was  born  in  the  Keystone  State, 
in  Greene  County,  on  the  3d  of  December,  1824. 
and  is  a  son  of  AV'illiam  and  Ellen  (Wilson)  Hon- 
nell, the  former  of  English  and  the  latter  of  (Ger- 
man descent.  William  Ilonnell  lef t  liis  native  State 
for  (Jhioiu  1833. and  firetsettled  in  Clinton  Town- 
shii).  At  that  time  they  were  surrounded  by  woods, 
and  settlers  throughout  the  comity  were  scattering. 
Mr.  Honnell  cleared  up  a  good  f.-uin.  and  on  this 
resided  until  his  death  in  I.n.V!.  when  fifty -six 
years  of  age.  He  was  in  sympathy  with  the 
Tuited  ISrethren  Chinch. and  liis  wife  held  member- 
ship in  that  diurch.  She  died  in  ISDd.  when  sjxtv- 
six  years  of  age.  and  left  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, eight  sons  .and  four  daughtci-s,  as  follows: 
Architald.  who  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  died: 
Maria,  wife  of  John  English,  who  with  her  husband 
is  deceased:  Jlorris:  V..  B.,  who  lives  at  Port  .Jeffer- 
son ;  William,  now  a  Presbyterian  minister  of  Kin<rs- 
ton.  Kan.:  Dr. -Jesse  Cat  Beaver  Dam.  Allen  Coun- 
t_v.  Ohio:  Henry,  of  ISrown  County.  Kan.:  Catherine. 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Benjamin  ^lartin:  Cvn- 
thia  E.,  decea.sed:  Thom.as  C.  who  was  a  Captain 
in  the  army.  Ninety-iiintli  ()liio  Infantrv. 
and  now  resides  at  Everest,  l!rowii  Coun- 
ty, K.an.;  Martha,  wife  of  William  Neal.  also  of 
Brown  County.  Kan.:  and  Francis  R..  who  w.as  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  ( )hio  Cavalrv. 
:ind  died  in  Anderson  ville  Prison. 

In  addition  to  a  fair  education  received  in  the 
snb~eription  schools  of  his  dav.  our  subject  was 
well  educated  in  the  |)ublic  schools  of  .Sidney, 
although  when  liis  parents  first  settled  tliere.  there 
was  not  a  schoolhouse  in  the  town.  .Shortly  af- 
terw.aid.  a  little  log  cabin  was  erected  and  u.sed  for 
that  purpose,  Mm'ris  Honnell  continued  to  make 
his  home  with  his  ]iaients  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  wzQ.  and  then  started  out  to  fight  his  own 
way  111  life.  In  b'^.^iO,  he  was  attacked  with  the 
U'old  fever  so  badly  that  he  went  overland  to  Cal- 
ifoniia.  l-'roin  St.  ,loe  a  party  of  (ive  started 
in  oiii>  waiioii.  walked  nearly  all  the  way  tlimngh 
to    S;iii     Lake,   and    from  there  to  llaiiiitown.  C:i'. 


2-10 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


All  remained  together  till  the  end.  and  all  are  still 
living.  Our  subject  went  up  on  the  Yuba  River, 
erected  a  sawmill,  and  ran  this  on  Goodyear 
Creek  for  nearly  four  years.  lie  was  very  suc- 
cessful, and  returned  to  the  E.ast  by  way  of  the 
Istlinius,  getting  his  gold  dust  coined  at  Philadel- 
liliia.  Returning  to  Ohio,  he  bought  the  farm  he 
now  owns,  began  at  once  to  develop  and  improve 
it.  and  on  the  10th  of  May,  1855,  he  w.as  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  Ann  McDonough.  of 
Leiianon,  Oliio.  They  made  their  liome  on  tlie 
farm  until  1881.  when  they  moved  to  Sidney,  and 
now  liave  one  of  the  coziest  and  most  desirable 
places  in  that  town.  Their  tine  residence  is  of 
niddern  arcliitectural  design,  and  is  fitted  up  with 
every  comfort  and  convenience,  and  they  keep  a 
tine  driving  team,  thus  passing  the  remainder  of 
their  days  in  peace  and  plenty.  Both  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  has  been  a  Dea- 
con in  the  county  for  many  years,  and  an  Elder 
since  he  moved  to  town.  Tlieir  children,  two 
in  number,  are  as  follow^s:  Emma  .J.,  wife  of 
Is.aac  N.  Woodcox,  resides  in  .Sidney  and  has  one 
son,  Raymond  Honnell;  and  Olive  Belle,  still  at 
home.  Mrs.  Honnell  was  born  in  "Warren  Countj', 
Ohio,  M.ay  7.  1824,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Susannah  (Beard)  McDonough,  both  of  whom 
died  when  she  was  quite  young.  Her  grand  father 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  in  all  probability  of 
Scotch  descent.  Jlr.  Honnell  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  views. 


^T^^RKD  ^'()GELSA^'G.  Among  the  resources 
j[s@'  of  tlie  town  of  New  Bremen  which  go  to 
[k\  ~  make  up  its  commercial  fabric,  the  trade 
carried  on  in  stoves,  tinware,  etc..  forms  a  most 
important  feature.  Prominent  amung  those  en- 
gaged in  it  is  Jlr.  Fred  \'ogelsang.  who  is  a  practi- 
cal and  enersetic  man  of  busine-s,  lioiiorable  and 
upriglit  in  all  lus  dealings.  Since  its  incei>lion.  the 
business  I  in  <  lioi'ii  ron-tanlly  imiuoving,  the  vol  nine 
of  busilll•^>    tiaii.-aclcd    now  being  verv  far    in   ad- 


vance of  former  years.  Mr.  Vogelsang  is  of  for- 
eign birth,  having  been  born  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, on  the  9tli  of  January,  1831,  and  his  father, 
Henry  Vogelsang,  .as  well  as  his  grandparents,  Fred 
and  Sophia  (Meyers)  Vogelsang,  were  also  natives 
of  Hanover,  Germany. 

Henry  Vogelsang  w.as  married  in  his  native 
country  and  later,  with  his  faraih'and  his  parents, 
cro.ssed  the  ocean  to  America.  They  landed  in 
New  York  City,  but  the  fertile  soil  of  Ohio  tempted 
them  to  settle  within  its  borders  and  they  pushed 
on  to  that  State.  Mr.  Vogelsang  was  one  of  the 
fii-st  to  locate  in  Auglaize  County,  and  here  he  and 
his  wife  and  one  of  his  children  died  .about  two 
weeks  later.  The  other  child,  our  subject,  who 
w.as  the  elder,  was  reared  by  his  grandparents,  who 
had  accompanied  them.  The  grandparents  pur- 
chased a  farm  on  which  now  stands  a  part  of  the 
village  of  New  Bremen,  the  village  at  that  time 
being  just  laid  out  and  consisting  of  three  or  four 
houses.  The  entire  countrj-  was  new,  very  few 
settlei's  were  to  be  found,  and  the  woods  swarmed 
with  wild  game.  They  located  in  a  log  house,  and 
there  the  grandfather  died  in  1845.  The  grand- 
mother lived  until  1864,  and  w.as  then  eighty-six 
years  of  age. 

The  first  school  our  subject  attended  was  held  in 
the  church,  for  there  were  no  schoolhouses,  and  he 
was  taught  in  German  by  the  minister.  At  the 
time  of  the  death  of  the  grandfather,  our  subject 
was  about  fourteen  years  of  age  and  he  remained 
on  the  farm  and  took  care  of  the  grandmother  un- 
til about  1856,  when  he  purch.ased  an  interest  in 
the  flouring  mill  in  New  Bremen,  and  continued 
the  milling  business  for  about  ten  yeai-s.  In  1870, 
he  purchased  a  large  tin  store  and  since  then  has 
conducted  an  extensive  business  in  tinware  and 
stoves. 

In  the  year  1852.  he  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie 
Kuenning,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to 
America  with  her  parents  when  about  thirteen 
vears  of  age.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  \'ogelsang  have 
been  born  thirteen  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living,  viz.:  August.  Amelia,  Edward,  Olwiena, 
Emale  and  Henry.  August  learned  the  tinners' 
tiailr.  aufl  lia-  been  in  partnership  with  his 
father.      Mr.     \  oycUang   atliliatcs    with    llic    Deni- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHJCAL  RECORD. 


®J 


ocratic  paity,  ami  for  twelve  \'ears  he  has  been 
Trustee  of  the  Township.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  tlie  Board  of  Education  several  years  and  was 
President  of  the  same  when  tlie  large  and  very 
handsome  new  High  School  building  was  erected 
in  1877.  He  is  a  member  of  tlie  Village  Council. 
Both  he  and  Mrs.  Vogelsang  are  active  niembei's  of 
the  Lutheran  Cluirch,  and  they  are  liberal  con- 
tributors to  all  enterprises  of  a  laudable  nature. 
!Mr.  ^'ogelsang  owns  considerable  village  property 
and  has  met  with  the  best  of  success  in  his  business 
ventures.  Like  all  his  countrymen,  he  is  industri- 
ous, thrifty  and  enterprising. 


*^^^a^fe' 


ANIEL  GRAF.  The  philosopher  Mill 
h.as  said  that  the  -'worth  of  a  State  in  the 
long  run  is  the  worth  of  the  individuals 
composing  it."  Xot  less  true  is  the  say- 
ing that  the  prosperity  of  a  country  depends  upon 
the  character  of  its  younger  population.  Auglaize 
County  is  especially  fortunate,  in  that  it  h.as  within 
its  boundaries  many  young  men  of  worth,  enter- 
prise and  honor,  and  in  this  cl.nss,  the  gentleman 
of  whom  this  pereonal  sketch  is  written  holds  a 
conspicuous  place.  He  is  at  jiresent  engaged  in 
the  boot  and  shoe  business  at  Wai)akonet.i  and 
is  carrying  on  a  thriving  trade. 

A  native  of  this  county,  our  subject  was  bom 
Jlarch  ;5,  1 8  jO,  to  Jacob  .and  Anna  C.  ( Wolfer)  Graf, 
natives  respectively  of  Echterdinger  and  Stutt- 
gart. Germanj-.  After  their  marriage  in  the 
Fatherland,  the  parents  emigrated  to  the  United 
.States  and  located  in  this  county,  where  the  father 
spent  his  last  d.ays  and  w.as  one  of  the  well-to-do 
agriculturists  of  this  section.  In  his  native  land, 
however,  he  followed  the  occupation  of  a  weaver 
of  fine  linens,  for  which  Germany  is  noted. 

The  two  sons  and  three  daughters  included  in 
the  parental  family  bore  the  respective  names  of 
Jacob  J.;  Daniel;  Catherine,  the  widow  of  Jolin 
Ramge;  Barbara.  Mrs.  A.  N.  Shaw:  and  Rachel, the 
wife    of    Benjamin    (iarduer.    uf     Rossville,   Kan. 


Daniel,  of  this  sketch,  has  p.ossed  his  entire  life 
within  the  confines  of  Auglaize  Countj-,  and,  like 
most  farmei-s'  sons,  obtained  liis  primary  education 
in  the  district  school.  Early  in  life  he  began  to 
display  a  thirst  for  knowledge  and  was  verv  faith- 
ful in  the  preparation  of  his  lessons.  In  order 
that  he  might  make  the  best  of  the  advanlaires 
offered  in  the  schools  of  Wapakoneta,  he  came 
hither  and  carried  on  his  studies  for  some  time. 

Young  Graf,  when  starting  out  in  life  on  his 
own  responsibility,  clerked  in  a  store  for  .some 
time  in  this  city,  and  August  8,  1890,  opened  up 
in  his  present  business.  He  carries  a  Large  and 
complete  assortment  of  fine  boots  and  shoes,  and 
by  courteous  treatment  of  customers  and  fair  deal- 
ing, he  is  rapidly  coming  to  the  front  among  the 
prominent  business  men  of  the  place.  .Socially,  he 
is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  in 
religious  affairs  is  a  firm  adherent  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church,  to  the  support  of  which  he  con- 
tributes liberally  of  his  means.  He  has  performed 
all  the  duties  of  an  honorable  and  upright  citizen. 
Mr.  Graf  is  still  unmarried. 


x^-  IIRISTIE  AYILLIAMS,  Aiulitor  of  Logan 
[V^^'ip  County,  is  at  present  classed  among  the 
^!^'  prominent  residents  of  Bellefontaine.  He 
was  bom  in  this  county  March  31,  1833,  and  is  a 
son  of  Mathias  and  Elizabeth  ((4roen)  AVilliams, 
natives  respec-tively  of  Virginia  and  Kentuckv. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  brouglit  to  this 
State  by  his  parents  when  four  years  of  ase,  in 
1805.  His  father,  who  bore  the  name  of  John, 
w.as  a  native  of  I^orth  Carolina  and  was  a  Quaker 
in  religion.  He  was  born  in  Guilford  Countv  and 
remembered  the  battle  between  Green  and  Corn- 
wallis,  at  which  time  many  of  the  wounded  were 
carried  into  his  home.  After  coming  to  this  State, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject  located  in  Highland 
County,  and  later  took  up  his  abode  in  Cham- 
paign County.     During  the  War  of  1812.  he  came 


•242 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD, 


to  what  is  now  Logan  Ccnmly.  wliero  lie  resided 
until  his  decease,  which  ocoiiiri'd  in  18o().  His 
family  included  seven  sons  and  two  daugliters 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  (ieorge 
(ireen.  was  hiwn  in  F.nLiland,  emigrating  to  Amer- 
ica when  twenty  years  of  age.  He  settled  in 
Maryland,  wlicre  he  was  married,  and  then  moved 
to  what  is  now  Fleming  C'ouiily,  Ky.,  where  his 
family  were  all  Ijorn  except  his  eldest  child.  He 
later  took  up  his  residence  in  this  county,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1832.  He  had  a  large 
family  of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mathias 
Williams  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  in  which 
calling  he  was  more  than  ordinarily  successful. 
He  departed  this  life  December  28,  1865,  being 
preceded  to  the  better  land  by  his  good  wife  by 
four  weeks,  she  liaving  died  Novemlier  27.  Our 
subject,  who  is  tlie  only  s\irvivor  of  the  family, 
had  two  sisters.  He  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits 
and  received  his  early  educaticjn  in  the  public 
schools.  He  later  attended  the  (lliio  Wesleyan 
University  at  Delaware,  anil  the  Southwest  Nor- 
mal School  at  Lebanon.  After  completing  his  ed- 
ucation, JNIr.  Williams  tauglit  school  for  several 
years  during  the  winter  months,  and  worked  on 
the  farm  during  the  summer. 

In  February,  1865,  the  original  of  this  sketch 
enlisted  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Xinoty- 
second  Ohio  Infantry,  and  saw  mnch  hard  sei'vice 
in  the  Slienandtiah  Valley.  Having  had  a  very 
serious  attack  of  measles,  lie  was  conlined  for  a 
time  in  the  general  huspital  at  Ilaitimore.  .Aid., 
from  which  he  received  hi>  honoralilo  discharge, 
lieturning  home,  our  subject  resumed  the  peace- 
ful iiursuit  of  farming,  and  cdulinued  thus  cm- 
ploved  until  18«l.  when,  his  health  failing,  he 
removed  U>  Lellefontaine.  with  whose  interests  lie 
has  since  l)een  identiheil.  In  this  city  he  embarked 
in  the  mercantile  Imsine-s.  but  w.as  only  thus  em- 
ployed a  .-hort  lime  when  he  .again  taught  school, 
ailing  the  position  of  a  teacher  until  he'  was 
elected  to  his  present  otiice.  in  1«^»;.  So  worthily 
and  satisfactorily  did  he  iierf.jrm  all  tlic>  duties 
imposed  upon  liim.  llial  the  folhiwing  term  he  was 
re-elected. 

April  12.  1860.  Christie  Williams  and  .Miss  Pliila 
A.  Cliesher  were  united  in  marriage,  and  to   them 


have  been  born  one  son  and  one  daughter.  The 
wife  and  mother  departed  this  life  September  8, 
188!>,  firm  in  the  faith  of  the  Christian  Church,  to 
which  body  her  husband  also  belongs,  and  some- 
times officiates  in  the  pulpit  asminister.  In  social 
matters,  Mr.  Willi.ams  is  a  Grand  Arm\'  man  and 
is  to-d.ay  well  known  throughout  the  county,  and 
is  respected  as  his  industrious  and  upright  life 
deserves. 


-^=m>^<'^ 


W  OHX  W.  KNOX.  The  ofticial  work  of  this 
gentleman,  who  is  now  the  etlicient  Town- 
ship and  Corporatiiui  Clerk,  has  extended 
over  twent}'  years,  and  in  him  the  people 
have  found  a  man  of  ability  and  integrity,  and  one 
whose  activity  has  ever  been  employed  for  the 
good  of  the  community.  He  is  now  a  resident  of 
Sidney,  but  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Ohio,  on  the 
.■51st  of  March,  1837. 

His  father,  Robert  Knox,  was  an  "old-time" 
Irish  gentleman,  and  he  remained  in  the  "green  isle" 
till  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  till  18-19  in  Lebanon.  In 
1850,  accompanied  by  his  family,  he  moved  to 
Shelby  County,  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  four  miles 
from  Sidney,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1856. 
He  was  a  pei-severing,  upright,  honorable  gentle- 
man, and  one  who  won  and  held  the  respect  of  all. 
He  married  Jliss  Jeanelta  Skinner,  of  Lebanon, 
Warren  County,  Ohio,  and  reared  an  interesting 
faniilv  of  eight  children,  four  girls  and  four  boys, 
all  living  except  James,  who  was  killed  in  defense 
of  his  country  at  Resaca,  (ia. 

The  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  divided 
his  time  in  youth  between  Lhe  duties  of  the  farm 
and  those  of  the  .scliCHil-room.  receiving  a  good 
liractical  education  in  the  common  schools.  He 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  and  <lcveloping  the 
farm  until  lie  had  reached  the  age  of  eighteen, 
after  which  he  came  to  Sidney  and  was  engaged 
as  clerk  for  M.  B.  Newnham,  Express  Agent.  Af- 
terward, he  was  in  the  Bee  Line  depot,  ami.  later, 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


243 


in  the  militaiy  telegraph  corps  in  ^lissouri.  He 
ran  as  messenger  for  tlie  United  States  Express 
Company,  also  for  the  American  Express  Company 
for  some  time,  and  served  in  the  latter  capacit\' 
until  1867.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  Corpora- 
tion and  Township  Clerk,  and  has  filled  that  posi- 
tion in  sucli  a  cai)able  and  satisfactory  manner 
tliat  he  lias  been  re-elected  for  the  present  term. 
He  has  been  before  the  public  for  the  past  twenty- 
live  years,  and  in  every  walk  of  life  his  career  has 
been  most  honorable  and  upright.  Miss  Ellen  T. 
Cr<iinfr.  whom  he  selected  as  his  companion  in  life. 
W.1S  born  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  near  Tippecanoe, 
and  two  children  have  blessed  this  union,  Kate  and 
John  W.,  aged  respectively  ten  and  six  years,  who 
are  at  liome. 


i^i-i-M"!-  ^^  -S-M"?-; 


•M"i"f -^i^  *•{••!•+= 


,T^  V.\.  JOSET'lI  Ll'TZ.  pastor  of  St.  ^Mary's 
li*f  Catholic  Church,  is  a  man  of  deep  learning 
-L  \\\  and  earnest  pietv,  who  is  an  influence  for 
\^  great  good  among  his  people,  and  stands 
well  with  all  classes,  of  whatsoever  religious  faith. 
He  was  born  in  Hohenzollern,  Sigraaringen,  Prus- 
sia, November  26,  1851.  His  parents  were  .Joseph 
and  Erancesca  Lutz.  who  were  natives,  respectivelv, 
of  Prussia  and  Bavaria.  His  father  w.os  a  litho- 
grapher, and  was  skillful  at  his  art.  He  died  in 
18S7.  at  tlie  rijie  old  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
To  him  and  his  wife  were  born  four  children. 
One  of  their  sons  took  part  in  the  late  Eranco- 
Prussian  War  and  was  severely  wounded  in  battle. 
Eather  Lutz  revisited  his  old  home  in  1886,  and 
spent  three  months  very  pleasantly  among  his  old 
friends  and  in  seeing  once  more  the  familiar  sights 
of  his  childhood. 

Our  sulijeet  gained  the  preliminaries  of  his  edu- 
cation in  tlie  fine  public  schools  of  his  native  land, 
and.  at  tlio  aue  of  thirteen,  he  entered  the  gymna- 
sium in  the  town  of  his  birth,  and  in  that  institu- 
tion of  learning  became  thoroughly  grounded  in 
the  classics,  in  philosophy,  and  in  all  the  studies 
required    by  the  curriculum  of    the  school,  which 


included  the  langu.ages,and  he  became  a  fine  Latin, 
Oreek.  Erench  and  Hebrew  scholar.  Thinking  to 
find  a  broader  field  for  his  talents  and  for  the  ex- 
ercise of  the  sacred  calling  to  which  he  determined 
to  devote  himself,  he  came  to  this  country  in  1S73, 
and  entered  Mt.  St.  Mary's  Seminarj-.  at  Cincin- 
nati, to  further  prepare  himself  for  the  priesthood, 
and  he  studied  there  three  years. 

In  1876,  our  subject  was  ordained  by  the  late 
Archbishop  .John  1>.  Purcelhand  immediately  after 
t.aking  holy  orders,  entered  upon  the  ministry  at 
(ilynwood,  in  this  county.  In  November,  1877, 
he  was  tr.ansf erred  to  St.  ^Mary's,  to  take  charge 
of  St.  Mary's  Church.  and  has  held  this 
liastorate  ever  since.  The  Catliolic  house  of 
worship  is  a  large,  substantial  brick  building, 
erected  in  1867  by  the  present  Bishop  of  Et. 
AVayne,  Ind.,  and  Eather  Lutz  is  the  sixth  pastor 
of  the  society.  The  parishioners  are  nearly  half 
of  them  Germans,  the  remainder  being  mostly 
English,  and  comprise  .about  ninety-five   families. 

Eather  Lutz  is  quietly  doing  a  good  work  here, 
which  has  greatly  strengthened  the  church,  has 
promoted  its  growth  both  spiritually  and  materi- 
ally, and  fostere  its  dearest  interests.  He  throws 
his  whole  soul  into  his  labors,  and  leaves  nothing 
undone  that  will  enhance  the  welfare  of  his  be- 
loved people,  b}-  whom  he  is  regarded  with  every 
feeling  of  affection  and  confidence  in  rep.ayment 
for  his  untiring  efforts  in  their  behalf. 


K.  .JOILX  S.  .MONTCOMEHV.  Like  many 
J/  other  young  men  of  Logan  County,  Ohio, 
who  have  distinguished  themselves  in  pub- 
lic and  professional  life,  Dr.  .John  S.  .Alontgom- 
ery  commenced  teaching  school  at  an  earlv  age. 
and  while  thus  engaged  began  the  studv  of  med- 
icine. He  is  a  native-born  resident  of  Hunts- 
ville.  Ohio,  his  birth  occurring  on  the  9th  of  .Jan- 
uary. 1861.  and  is  the  son  of  James  B.  Montgom- 
ery,   a    native    of    ( liiio.     The  arrandfatlier.  Adam 


■2ii 


i>ORTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Jlontgoinen',  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of 
Irish  descent,  the  family  coming  to  Aniei-ica  in 
Colonial  times.  Adam  'Montgiimei-y  follnweil  the 
occupation  of  a  fanner  and  came  to  Ohio  at  an 
early  day.  He  went  liy  land  to  Pittsburgh,  thence 
down  the  Ohio  liiver  l>y  Hatboat  and  settled  in 
tlie  woods  in  Adams  County,  Oliio,  where  ho  built 
a  log  cabin  and  began  making  improvements. 
Numerous  wild  animals  abounded,  and  as  he  was 
quite  a  liunter.  mucli  of  his  spaie  time  wiis  spent 
with  his  trusty  gun.  lie  made  improvements  on 
his  place,  cleared  it  of  tlie  heavy  timber  with 
which  it  was  covered,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  liis  ihiys.  dying  wljen  sixty-four  years 
of  age.  lie  was  a  member  of  tlie  Covenanter 
Cliurch  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  a  farmer  In- 
occupation, and  he  cultivated  tlie  hume  place  of 
two  hundred  acres.  lie  was  very  fond  of  fine 
hor.ses  and  alw.ays  kept  a  great  many  on  his  place. 
He  was  but  forty-four  years  of  age  when  his  death 
occurred.  In  religion,  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  and 
in  politics,  a  Democrat  until  the  war  broke  out, 
after  which  he  became  a  strong  Republican.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Annaneila  J^eaton,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  ar.d  the  result  of  this  union  was  two  chil- 
ilren:  William  L.,  who  died  when  but  fourteen 
montlis  old,  and  our  subject.  Mrs.  JMontgomery 
was  also  quite  young  when  her  death  occurred, 
lieing  but  twenty -seven.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  Her  father.  William  Sea- 
ton,  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  ,\merica  when 
young.  He  first  followed  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker 
ill  Westmoreland  County,  I'a..  but  subseiiiiently 
moveil  t(i  Adams  County,  Ohio,  and  (engaged  in 
au'i-iiuUuial  pursuits,  developing  a  fine  farm  from 
tlie  wihlerness.     Tliere  his  death  occurred. 

Dr.  Montgomery  became  familiar  with  the  ardu- 
ous duties  of  the  farm  at  an  early  age.  and  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in  the  district 
schools.  Later  he  entered  the  Xationat  University 
at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  remained  there  two  years,  and 
was  graduated  in  the  busine.-^s  coui-se.  He  nearly 
completed  the  scientific  course,  and  afterward 
taught  school  for  six  years,  at  Russellville  (Ohio) 
Union  schools  for  two  years,  and  at  Youngsville, 
Ohio,  for   four   vears.     In  the  meantime,  our  sub- 


ject was  stud^'iug  medicine  under  Dr.  W.  K.  Cole- 
man, of  West  Union,  Ohio,  and  taught  in  a  Normal 
school  one  summer  at  that  place.  He  entered  the 
Ohio  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1887, 
and  graduated  at  that  institution  in  1889.  Besides 
the  regular  course,  our  subject  took  special  studies 
on  the  diseases  of  the  eye.  After  graduating,  the 
Doctor  came  to  Huntsville,  and  has  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice. 

He  was  married  in  this  city  on  the  2Rth  of  .Sep- 
tember, 1889,  to  Miss  Kate  C.  Allison,  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  State,  born  on  the  9th  of  October, 
18G7,  and  tliey  have  one  bright  little  boy,  Willard 
A.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  IMontgomery  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  views.  He  takes  a  decided  interest 
in  ail  political  matters,  and  is  ready  with  his 
means  to  assist  all  worthy'  enterprises.  .Sociallj', 
the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Belle  Centre  Lodge 
No.  42.H.  K.  P. 


^.4.#4^.4. 


ON.  HUBBARD  HUME,  whose  home  is 
pleasantly  located  in  Sidney,  has  been  a 
resident  of  tireen  Township,  Shelby  County, 
since  November  1,  1848,  and  may  well  be 
classed  among  its  pioneers.  He  was  born  in  Mor- 
gan Countv,  W.  Va.,  September  17,  1822,  and  is  a 
son  of  Peter  .and  Mary  (Yost)  Hume,  (irandfather 
Hubbard  Hume  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  emi- 
grating from  that  country  in  an  early  day,  made 
his  home  in  West  Virginia,  where  he  carried  on 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 

The  father  of  our  snljject.  in  182;i.  came  to 
Licking  County,  this  State,  and  soon  thereafter 
took  up  his  abode  in  INIuskingum,  near  Zanesville. 
Thence  he  removed  to  Harrison  Township,  Cham- 
paign County,  and  there  remained  for  about  four 
years,  then  removed  to  Adams  Township,  where 
our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days.  The  elder  Jlr. 
Hume  entered  a  quarter-section  of  land  in  that 
county,  which  he  improved  and  resided  upon  until 
his  death,    wdiich   occurred    in    April,    l.s.'i.s.     His 


f^ 


^  i  jSj^^-^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


247 


good  wife,  who  survived  liim  one  slioit  year,  died. 
leaving  a  family  of  seven  children,  three  having 
died  when  young. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  given  a  good 
practical  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
when  leaving  home  learned  the  trade  of  a  gunsmith 
at  I Juincy.  Logan  County,  where  he  worked  for  two 
yi'ar-.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  he  returned  home 
and.  in  company  with  his  brother  .John,  under  the 
lirm  name  of  .1.  .Vr  II.  Hume,  engaged  in  running  a 
gunsmith  shop  and  store,  in  which  business  they 
continued  until  18.55,  when  they  disposed  of  their 
interests  in  that  line  and  purch.ased  a  farm  in 
Oreen  Township,  to  which  they  removed.  After 
a  residence  there  of  two  years,  the  brothers  divided 
the  property,  our  subject  living  upon  his  share 
until  1866.  when  he  took  up  his  abode  in  .Sidney, 
having  been  elected  to  the  ofliee  of  County  Treas- 
urer. Mr.  Ilurae  w.as  the  incumbent  of  that  re- 
sponsible position  for  four  j-ears  and  at  the  expi- 
ration of  that  time  purch.ased  a  one-half  interest  in 
the  .Shelby  Countv  Dpmoifat.  Nearly  three  years 
later,  the  partnerehip  was  dissolved  and  the  plant 
sold. 

Mr.  Hume  has  done  much  for  the  upbuilding  of 
Shelby  County,  and  his  name  will  always  be  asso- 
■ciated  with  its  history.  He  is  public-spirited  and 
enterprising  and  has  been  called  upon  by  his  fel- 
low-townsmen to  fill  all  the  otlices  of  trust  in  his 
community.  After  selling  his  interest  in  the  .shelbj- 
County  Demon-ni^  he  was  elected  .Justice  of  the 
Peace,  which  position  he  held  until  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature  in  the  fall  of  1878.  He  was  in 
the  House  two  terms,  being  the  first  man  ever  re- 
elected from  this  county.  While  occupying  that 
liosition,  he  served  as  Committeeman  on  Roads, 
Iligliwavs,  Legal  Advertising,  Drains,  Ditches  and 
Water  Courses,  and  also  on  the  Committees  on 
Public  Printing.  New  Counties  and  County  af- 
fairs. 

Prior  to  the  expiration  of  Mr.  Hume's  term  as  a 
^lember  of  the  Legislature,  he  w.is  engaged  in  the 
m.inufacture  of  spokes  and  rims,  in  which  line  of 
business  he  continued  until  1883.  Novemljer  ■>. 
ISl.T.  lie  w.as  marrieil  to  Elizabeth  Parke,  of  Logan 
County,  this  State,  and  to  them  have  lieen  b<irn 
two   children:    Rai.-hael    .\nn.  now    Mrs.    William 


A.  .\rcher.  of  Perry  Township, .Shelby  Countj-,  and 
Lewis  C,  who  is  at  present  residing  on  the  farm  of 
our  subject,  in  the  above-named  township.  The 
wife  and  mother  departed  this  life  in  Green  Town- 
ship, March  1,  1850,  and  the  lady  whom  our  subject 
chose  as  his  second  wife  was  Mary  C,  daughter  of 
Edward  Conroy,  who  located  in  thissection  .as early 
as  1818.  Of  this  union  have  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Fmnces  R.,  the  wife  of  F.  M. 
Liddle,  of  Champaign  County;  George  W..  of  this 
city;  Edward  C,  deceased;  Minnie  Maude;  .Tennie 
Gertrude.  Jlrs.  Albert  King,  of  this  cilv;  Cora  E., 
at  home;  and  Harry  IL,  dece.osed.  In  social  matters, 
.our  subject  is  a  prominent  M.ason.  having  been 
identified  with  that  order  since  18.')3. 


<jp^ICHOLAS  .SHUBERT.  It  would  be  hard 
III  j)  to  find  in  Auglaize  County  a  gentleman 
[li^  whose  word  is  more  thoroughly  relied  upon, 
or  one  who  is  more  highly  respected  for  his  pri- 
vate life  and  public  labors,  than  the  original  of 
the  jjortrait  shown  on  the  opposite  p.age.  A  na- 
tive of  New  York,  he  was  born  in  Rockland 
County  February  7,  1840,  and  is  the  son  of  Adam 
and  Eliz.abeth  .Shulx?rt,  who  were  born  in  Germanv. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  who  followed  the 
profession  of  a  scIkjoI  teacher  in  Germanv,  enii- 
gi-ated  to  the  United  States  when  twenty-four 
years  of  age,  and  located  in  New  York  Slate, 
where  he  obtained  a  position  as  foreman  of  the 
Highland  Lime  Kilns,  on  the  river  of  that  name. 
After  leaving  New  York,  he  located  in  Elizabeth- 
town.  N.  .1..  where  he  established  a  lime  kiln  and 
brick  yard.  In  1854.  he  came  with  his  family  to 
Ohio,  located  on  a  farm  near  'Wapakoneta.  and 
followed  the  occupation  of  an  agriculturist  until 
his  decease,  which  occurred  in  1876.  He  was  verv 
prominent  in  hx^al  affairs  in  this  section,  and  for 
some  time  w;vs  Director  of  the  Infirmary,  and  was 
later  elected  Superintendent  of  that  institution. 

Of  the  parental  f:imily  of  four  <(.>ns  and  five 
dau'zhters.  oiih-  three  survive,  of   whom  (Uir  sub- 


248 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ject  is  the  only  son.  He  was  a  lad  of  fourteen 
years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  this  county,  and  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  log  schoolhouse.  He  was  en- 
g.aged  in  various  pursuits  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War,  when,  in  1861,  he  enlisted  in  a  three- 
months  service,  joining  Company  C,  Fifteenth 
Ohio  Infantry.  Later,  he  enlisted  in  Compan}'  C, 
Eighty-fifth  Ohio  Infantry.  He  saw  much  hard 
service  during  that  struggle,  and  participated  in 
many  important  battles.  On  the  close  of  the  war, 
having  received  his  honorable  discharge  at  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  he  came  home  and  worked  at  the  trade 
of  a  brick-molder.  which  he  followed  for  eight 
years. 

Previous  to  being  elected  to  his  present  office  of 
.•sheriff,  our  subject  served  as  Marshal  of  Wapa- 
koneta  for  eight  years.  In  188:>,  he  was  elected 
Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  re-elected  to  the  same 
position  in  1891.  He  is  widely  and  favorably- 
known  throughout  the  county,  and  during  his 
long  residence  here  his  course  in  life  h.is  been  such 
as  to  win  for  him  universal  respect,  and  he  is  a 
great  favorite  with  all  who  come  under  the  influ- 
ence of  his  manly  character  and  his  unswerving 
allegiance  to  the  right. 

.Tuly  28,  1862,  was  the  date  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jlary  J.,  daughter  of 
AVilliani  Thomas,  of  Auglaize  Countj'.  In  all  his 
work,  Mr.  Shubert  has  the  'active  co-operation  of 
his  wife,  a  most  exemplary  woman,  worthy  of  the 
respect  called  forth  by  her  kindness  of  heart  and 
other  noble  person.al  attributes.  They  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Lj'dia,  William,  Cora,  Frederick,  Etiie  and 
Gertrude.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Kyle 
(irand  Army  Post,  and  the  influence  of  his  up- 
right life  is  beneficial  and  widely  recognized. 

■jT^  RA>'C1S  .1.  M.  FAR  LAND,  President  of  the 
][^{5)>  People's  National  Bank  of  Wapakoneta, 
/IJ)  was  elected   to   that  position   in    October, 

18D0.  The  bank  was  organized  July  o.  \xxi).  and 
opened   for  business   on  the   2d   of     .\ugu»t    with 


Francis  Fritsch  as  President,  Theo  W.  Brotherton, 
A'ice-president,  and  F.  .J.  McFarland,  Cashier. 
Four  years  later,  Mr.  Fritsch  sold  out  his  stock,  and 
the  v.acancy  was  filled  by  our  subject,  the  Vice- 
president  being  J.  H.  Doering  and  the  Cashier 
Lewis  Wisner. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  a  native  of  Logan 
County,  having  been  born  in  July,  1843,  to  Will- 
iam H.  and  Maria  (Seig)  McFarland,  natives  re- 
spectivel}'  of  Pennsylvania  and  A'irginia.  The 
parents  were  early  settlers  of  this  county,  where 
the  father,  during  the  fii-st  years,  followed  the 
trade  of  a  mechanic.  Later,  however,  he  took  up 
his  abode  on  a  pleasant  farm,  and  was  engaged  in 
cultivating  the  soil  for  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
In  1849,  he  came  to  Auglaize  County  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  two  miles  west  of  Wapakoneta,  where 
he  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  and  then  going 
west  to  Missouri,  made  his  home  in  Knox  County, 
where  he  w.as  residing  at  the  time  of  his  decease, 
and  where  also  his  good  wife  p.assed  aw.a^-. 

Mr.  JIcFarland  of  this  sketch  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Auglaize  County, 
and  resided  at  home  with  his  parents  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  when,  in  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Eightieth 
Ohio  Infantry',  serving  his  countiy  faithfully  and 
well  until  the  close  of  that  struggle.  At  Charlotte, 
N.  C,  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  Cor- 
por.al.and  returning  home,  resumed  farming,  which 
occupation  he  followed  during  the  summer  sea- 
son, and  taught  school  in  the  winter  months. 

In  1869,  our  subject  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  Wapakoneta,  in  company  with  Joseph 
Brown,  which  partnership  lasted  several  years,  un- 
til the  death  of  Mr.  Brown.  The  firm  were  also  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  wooden  ware,  etc., 
which  proved  so  remunerative  that  they  concluded 
to  abandon  the  grocery  business  and  devote  their 
time  and  attention  to  their  manuf.acluring  interests. 
The  factory  is  still  in  runningorder,  being  operated 
under  the  firm  name  of  M.  Brown  i  Co.  The  firm 
make  a  specialty  of  manufacturing  the  Bentwood 
Churn  and  the  United  .States  Washing-machine 
It  is  one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  Western  Ohio, 
occupying  three  large  buildings,  besidcsits  exten- 
sive lumber    3'ards.     Our  subject  is  President  and 


PORTRAIT  A'ST)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


249 


Director  of  the  Wapakoneta  Natuial  Gas  Companj-, 
President  of  the  Home  Milling  Company,  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Citizens'  Hiiilding  and  J ^oan  As- 
sociation. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  MoFarland  was  married 
in  1871  was  JNIiss  Emma  Bowsher,  and  their  family 
of  five  children  hear  the  respective  names  of  Ma- 
mie L.,  Henry  I.,  Charles  A.,  William  A.  and  .1. 
Clarence.  They  are  both  members  of  the  Catholic 
Chuich.  and  in  social  mattere  he  is  a  (Jrand  Army 
man.  He  is  a  man  of  industrious  habits,  ambitious, 
and  honorable  in  his  ambition,  and  is  one  of  the 
wealthiest  men  in  this  count}*.  The  interest  which 
ho  has  manifested  in  the  various  matters  which  re- 
late to  the  growth  (jf  the  city  and  county  adds  to 
his  reputation  arid  deepens  the  respect  of  his  fel- 
low-citizens. 


,ROF.  CHAHLF.S  W.  WILLIAM.SON,  Su- 
perintendent of  Public  and  High  .Schools  of 
Wapakoneta,  Ohio,  came  into  the  bus}'  life 
of  the  world  at  a  time,  and  under  auspices, 
calculated  not  only  to  develop  the  best  that  was  in 
him,  but  to  call  into  play  the  strongest  elements  of 
his  nature.  Ohio  was  in  its  j-outhful  days,  and 
schools  and  culture  had  not  reached  that  point  where 
a  finished  education  was  the  rule  and  expectation 
of  the  great  mass  of  the  youth,  .as  now.  The  free- 
dom of  pioneer  life  was  around  him.  and  while  he 
learned  the  lessons  of  refinement  and  culture 
within  his  parental  home,  he  was  learning  the  les- 
sons of  self-reliance,  courage,  and  ]>ei"sonal  respon- 
sibility, from  the  outdoor  environments  of  his  day 
and  neighborhood. 

He  was  born  in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  Jlay  1:2, 
1S.'5.T,  and  traces  his  ancestry  in  this  country  back 
as  far  as  the  coming  of  -The  Maytlower."  in  which 
iJiie  (if  the  Williamsons  came  to  this  country.  He 
was  an  intimate  friend  of  the  celebrated  Miles 
St.uidish.  and  with  him  niade  explorations  into  the 
interior  of  the  countrv  the  dav  after  landina'  on 


American  shores.  Hugh  Williamson,  one  of  the 
early  memltei-s  of  the  family,  w.as  a  man  of  mark 
in  early  da>-s.  and  w.as  a  Common  Plea.s  Court 
.ludge.  While  making  a  journey  on  horeeback  to 
Lancaster,  Ohio,  to  hold  court,  a  heavy  storm  came 
up  and  he  rode  under  a  shed  for  protection.  While 
there,  he  w.as  struck  by  lightning  and  instantly 
killed,  the  bolt  melting  a  fine  silver  watch  that  he 
carried  in  his  pocket. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  W.xshington  William- 
son, was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  and  followed  the 
calling  of  a  land  surveyor.  He  was  one  of  the 
tried  and  faithful  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  and 
was  a  nephew  of  Gen.  Williamson.  About  1800, 
he  came  down  the  Ohio  Kiveron  a  tiat-boat.  but 
being  exposed  to  a  pouring  rain  when  coming 
down  with  the  measles,  he  caught  a  severe  cold, 
which  resulted  in  his  death  in  180.j,  at  ^Marietta, 
Ohio,  of  consumption.  .lohii  W.  Williamson, 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  only 
child  of  his  parents  and  was  Ixtrn  and  reared  in 
Perry  County,  Ohio.  He  w.as  an  honest  tiller  of 
the  soil,  and  died  in  Seneca  County.  Ohio,  in  188.5, 
leaving  a  family  of  five  children  to  mourn  his 
loss:  Charles  W;  Angcline.  wife  of  Lewis  Conant, 
of  Osceola,  Mo.;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  James  Kelley; 
Charlotte,  wife  of  S.  Faurot,  and  Dr.  Milton,  of 
Findl.ay,  Ohio.  The  mother  of  these  children  was 
Miss  Elizabeth  Wiseman  prior  to  her  marriage,  a 
German  by  descent,  whose  ancestors  followed  .ag- 
ricultural i)ursuits. 

Prof.  Chailes  W.  Williamson  seems  to  be  one  of 
that  class  singled  out  by  nature  to  show  what  a 
man  can  do  when  he  sets  his  mind  upon  accom- 
plishing a  certain  object,  lie  is  self-made,  and 
what  he  h:is  won  in  the  w.ay  of  this  world's  o-oods. 
and  in  his  personal  achievements,  is  due  to  his 
own  good  fighting  qualities.  Brought  up  on  a 
farm  until  he  attained  his  majority,  he  witnessed 
and  expeiienced  the  hardships  and  privations  of 
pioneer  life,  and  from  the  time  he  could  cut  out  a 
chip,  he  swung  the  ax  until  he  had  cleared  two 
farms.  His  youth  and  early  manhood  weroalmost 
wholly  spent  in  the  confiicls  and  rou^h  expe- 
riences that  mark  the  life  of  the  fii-st  settlers  in  a 
new  country,  where  the  only  art  at  that  lime  known 
was  the  art  of  war;    the   onlv  science,  the  science 


250 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  life,  as  uarrowly  viewed  from  the  staiulpoiiit  of 
bread  and  bulter;  and  the  only  education  that 
wli it'll  was  obtained  in  the  pioneer  log  school- 
house.  Yet  sound  sense  and  discriminating  judg- 
ment were  not  lacking,  and  he  was  imbued  with  a 
determination  to  make  the  best  use  of  all  the  pos- 
sibilities which  might  present  themselves,  and  s( 
upon  attaining  his  twenty-first  year  he  enterr 
ITeidelljurg  College  at  Tiftin,  Ohio,  graduating  in 
1858.  This  was  accomplished  after  eleven  j-ears 
of  arduous  labor,  for  he  was  compelled  to  teach  in 
order  to  defray  his  collegiate  expenses,  and  is  but 
one  of  the  many  instances  illustrating  the  will 
power  of  the  man.  In  the  meantime,  he  studied 
law  and  attended  the  Union  Law  College  at  Cleve- 
land, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1863. 

After  finishing  his  legal  couree,  he  found  that 
his  means  were  at  such  a  low  ebb  that  he  must 
engage  in  some  occupation  that  would  bring 
liim  in  immediate  funds,  and  he  began  devoting 
himself  to  his  former  occupation  of  teaching.  In 
the  year  1868,  he  took  charge  of  the  public 
schools  of  Wapakoneta,  but  declined  a  re-election 
in  1879,  and  turned  his  attention  to  engineering 
and  surveying  roads  in  Auglaize  County.  In  1880, 
he  accepted  the  position  of  Superintendent  of  the 
schools  of  Napoleon,  but  two  years  later  resigned 
his  position  to  purchase  a  half-interest  in  the  Al- 
len County  Democrat,  of  which  pai)er  he  was  the 
aljle  editor  for  one  year.  He  then  became  Super- 
intendent of  the  schools  of  New  Bremen.  Ohio, 
and  four  years  later  was  elected  to  his  present  po- 
sition, which  he  has  filled  with  equal  credit  to  him- 
self and  the  county.  He  keeps  thoroughly  posted 
in  his  profession,  is  in  constant  touch  with  all  forms 
of  current  thought,  and  it  is  a  principle  of  his  to 
perfect  his  work  more  and  more.  He  has  been 
School  Examiner  of  Auglaize  County  for  the  past 
seventeen  years,  which  is  a  sufficient  guarantee  of 
his  ability  and  popuLarity.  In  the  year  1870.  he 
married  ilaria  L.  Timmonds,  a  native  of  Mercer 
Count\-,  Ohio,  by  whom  he  luis  one  son.  Howard. 
Mrs.  Williamson  is  a  member  of  tlie  Presbyterian 
Church. 

The  scliool  buildings  over  which  Prof.  William- 
son presides  are  substantial  structures.  (Jne  c(in- 
sists  of  ten  large  school-rooms,  the  third  sturv  be- 


ing used  for  the  two  highest  grades,  and  a  large 
hall  which  is  used  for  commencement  exercises. 
The  building  is  heated  by  a  natural-gas  furnace, 
which  can  be  regulated  to  any  temperature  at  a 
moment's  notice.  The  other  building  contains  five 
rooms,  and  is  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town. 


Wk^ 


\t^^  EV.  ROBERT  McCASLlN,  B.  A..  D.  D.,  of 
llgfr  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he 
■^  \V  h.is  been  pastor  since  October  1,  1866,  has 
ever  sought  to  develop  the  highest  type  of 
social  life  in  the  church,  and  has  become  the  per- 
sonal friend  of  each  member  of  his  congregation. 
The  church  was  organized  in  September,  1825, 
one  of  tlie  first  organized  religious  bodies  in  this 
county-,  and  the  first  church  structure,  a  frame 
building,  was  erected  during  1830,  on  the  location 
now  occupied  by  the  present  church.  This  was  used 
as  a  church  for  thirteen  years,  or  until  the  present 
fine  large  brick  edifice  was  built.  The  latter 
contains  lecture-room,  Sunday-school  room  and 
audience-room  on  one  floor  and  in  the  basement 
the  other  departments.  The  seating  capacity  of  the 
auditorium  is  four  hundred  and  will  hold  altogther 
about  one  thousand.  This  building  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  >i25,000,  not  counting  the  lot,  and  the 
present  membership  is  about  four  hundred.  When 
Mr.  McCaslin  first  came  here,  thei-e  were  two  hun- 
dred members  and  at  one  time,  in  1886,  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  members  were  added.  About 
fifty  have  been  added  the  present  year. 

Mr.  McCaslin  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
near  New  Castle,  Lawrence  County,  on  the  13th 
of  May,  183-1,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Rose 
.\nna  (Elder)  ^IcC.aslin,  both  of  Irish-Scotch  de- 
scent. The  aneestoi-s  came  from  the  North  of  Ire- 
land ai:out  three  generations  back  and  were  Pres- 
bvterians  as  far  back  as  any  record  is  kept.  Our 
subject  received  his  education  at  the  Westminister 
College  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  at 
New  Wilmington,  Lawrence  County,  Pa.,  and 
from  tliat    institution    he    received    the   decree  of 


rORTRAIT  AND  BlUGKAPIUCAL    RECORD. 


251 


B.  A.  He  immediately  corameuced  liis  studies  in 
the  Theological  Semin.iry  of  the  same  chinch  :it 
Alleghany  City  and  finished  in  April,  1860.  He 
belonged  to  the  Covenanter  Pieshyterian  Chui-cli 
and  was  licensed  to  proach  in  April,  18G0.  After 
this,  he  was  an  itinerant  minister  for  one  year, 
principal!}-  through  the  'Western  States,  and  was 
then  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Xenia,  in  JMay.  18G1. 
There  ho  leniained  for  five  and  a-half  years,  and 
during  the  war  he  was  out  with  the  Home  Guards; 
being  called  in  ]8()4,  he  enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  Ohio  Infantry,  of  which 
he  was  made  Chaplain.  He  was  sent  to  Piedmont, 
West  Virginia,  on  the  l>altiinore  A-  Ohio  Railroad, 
and  was  in  service  until  cessation  of  hostilities. 

He  remained  in  Xenia  until  the  fall  of  186G, 
after  which  he  came  to  .Sidney,  and  he  has  labored 
faithfully  for  the  cause  of  Christianity  at  that 
point  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century.  He  was 
made  1).  D.  by  the  I'resbyterian  Church  and  Woos- 
ter  University  in  January.  18;)0.  Mr.  McCaslin 
was  married  on  the  13th  of  January.  1861,  to  Jliss 
JIary  Smith,  a  native  of  Alleghany  City,  I'a.,  and 
the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Smith,  both  of 
whom  were  from  the  North  of  Ireland.  Mr.  and 
Jlrs.  McCaslin  are  tlie  parents  of  two  children,  as 
follows:  Frank,  engaged  in  the  hardware  business 
at  Sidney,  and  Jennie,  wife  of  Jesse  L.  Dicken- 
sheest,  who  is  inanaL'^er  of  the  Sidney  Gazette. 


-^^^-^mM&sim 


OL.  WILLIAM  KENNEDY.  Auglaize 
_  County,  when  the  Reliellion  broke  out.  sent 
^  a  iiolile  band  i.if  devoted,  patriotic  citi/.en- 
soldiers  to  the  front  at  the  first  call  for  troo|)s  to 
defend  the  homir  and  unity  of  our  country. 
Prominent  among  tlii>  number  was  (.'ol.  Wiliiam 
Keiineily.  wlm  used  his  intluence  to  rai>e  a  com- 
[lany  of  men.  and  in  tlie  long  and  trying  years 
that  fr.howeil.  was  di^tingui-hed  .as  one  of  the 
ablest  and  brave-t.  .as  wl-U  as  one  of  the  most 
trU5Lworth\,  of   lU,-  olli,a-r~  of   hi;   rei;iment.      Tlie 


Colonel  also  has  a  place  in  the  history  of  this 
county  as  one  of  its  pioneers,  who  boldly  f.aced 
the  dangers  and  trials  of  life  in  the  wilderness, 
bearing  with  fortitude  its  many  privations  and 
discomforts,  and  by  dint  of  hard  labor  reclaiming 
a  beautiful  farm  on  section  20,  Salem  Townshii). 
'from  the  primeval  forests  which  abounded  in  this 
'I'egion  when  he  came  here  more  than  forty  years 
ago,  .as  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  this  neigh- 
borhood, he  and  his  sister  now  being  the  only  two 
left  of  those  who  firet  located  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  township,  on  what  is  known  as  The  Ridce. 

Col.  Kennedy  was  born  in  Juniata  County,  Pa., 
June  2;%  1821.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  of  Irish 
blood,  while  his  ancestors  on  his  mother's  side  were 
.Scotch.  His  father,  Richard  Kennedy,  was  a  Penn- 
sylvania farmer,  and  died  in  Juniata  County,  in 
his  native  State,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  His 
wife.  !Mary  Graham,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
lived  to  be  seventy  ye.ars  old.  Our  subject  is  the 
youngest  of  nine  children,  and  lie  and  his  sister, 
Jlrs.  Lawrence,  are  the  only  survivors  of  the  fam- 
ily. In  b03'hood,  he  obtained  a  limited  education 
in  the  di.-trict  schools,  but  early  displayed  an 
aptitude  for  mechanics,  and  so  decided  to  become 
a  carjienter  when  he  was  quite  3'oung. 

In  18:^7.  after  he  had  worked  at  his  trade  for 
a  while  in  his  native  State,  he  determined  to  tr\- 
life  in  Ohio.  He  crossed  the  Alleghany  Jlountains 
on  foot,  and  bare-footed  at  that,  and  finally  ar- 
rived at  his  destination  m  Wayne  County,  foot- 
sore and  weary.  He  at  once  .actively  resumed  his 
calling,  and  in  a  few  years  rose  to  be  one  of  tlie 
leading  carpenters  in  the  county.  He  planned 
and  constructed  many  large  brick  residences  and 
barns  in  various  localities  while  living  there.  In 
1841.1.  he  visited  Auglaize  County,  journeying 
through  the  woods  on  horseliack,  and  spent  tlie 
winter  of  18411-41  in  the  vicinity  of  his  present 
home.  The  country  was  then  a  howling  wilder- 
ness for  miles  in  either  direction,  and  settlements 
were  few  and  far  between.  He  was.  however, 
pleased  with  its  beauty  and  the  possibilities  it 
offered  to  an  enterprising,  industrious  man  to 
build  up  his  fortunes,  and  in  18t'.»  ho  came  here  to 
locate  permanently.  Ho  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
on  section  20,  in  tlie  northern  part  of  Saleiu  Town- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGEAPinCAL   RECORD. 


ship,  on  The  Ridge,  and  by  years  of  laborious  and 
well-directed  toil,  li.as  tr.-insfofmed  it  into  a  valu- 
.il)Io  farm,  supplied  with  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments and  conveniences  for  carrying  on  agriculture 
profitably.  He  has  given  to  each  of  his  three 
eldest  children  forty  .acres  of  fine  farming  land, 
and  retains  one  hundred  and  seven  acres  in  his 
lioniestead.  He  cut  the  first  stick  of  timber  on 
his  land,  and  erected  the  first  house  in  this  vicin- 
ity. There  were  then  no  regularly  laid  out  roads 
in  this  region,  but  he  afterward  helped  to  make 
some  of  the  present  highways  of  travel.  In  the 
dense  forests  that  abounded,  he  had  many  fine 
chances  for  exercising  his  skill  as  a  marksman, 
and  killed  not  a  few  deer  and  turkeys. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  war  roused  a  martial 
spirit  in  the  heart  of  our  subject,  and  at  the  first 
call  for  troops  he  bent  all  his  energies  to  raising  a 
company  of  soldiers,  which  was  attached  to  the 
One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Ohio  Infantry  as 
Company  E.  The  regiment  was  mustered  in  at 
Camp  Lima,  was  placed  in  comm.and  of  Col.  S.  R. 
Jlott,  and  our  subject  was  appointed  Captain  of 
his  company-.  His  first  military  duty  was  in  Ken- 
tucky, guai-ding  the  Kentucky  Central  Railway, 
and  he  was  at  Robinson  Station  much  of  the  time 
while  there.  The  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth 
Infantry  built  a  large  number  of  stockades  and 
block  houses  along  the  line  of  that  railw.ay,  and 
was  often  engaged  in  scouting  wliile  in  the  Blue 
Grass  State.  August  16,  186.3.  it  w.as  ordered  to 
join  Buruside's  command  in  Eastern  Tennessee,  to 
take  part  in  his  expedition  in  that  quarter.  While 
on  that  campaign,  the  Colonel  and  his  men  had 
some  bitter  experiences  in  their  numerous  en- 
counters with  the  enemy.  Tliey  were  at  last  cut 
off  from  support,  and  came  near  dying  of  starva- 
tion. The  Colonel  went  twenty-four  hours  without 
a  mouthful  of  food,  and  for  some  time  he  and  his 
comrades  subsisted  on  scant  rations,  such  as  corn 
meal,  ground  cob  and  all,  and  were  glad  to  get 
even  that,  as  the  surrounding  country  h.ad  been 
foraged  of  every  eatable.  Starvation  was  immi- 
nent when  relief  finally  came. 

In  the  spring  of  1884,  Col.  Kenneily  and  his 
reirimeut  were-eut  to  join  (ien.  Sliernian  at  lvi>cky- 
Fuced  Kidge,  to  assist  in  the  famous  Allan Ui  cam- 


paign, of  which  the  first  real  battle  was  fought  al 
Mossy  Creek,  Res.aca  following.  During  that 
campaign,  Col.  Young,  since  Governor  of  Ohio, 
who  had  command  of  tlie  One  Hundred  and  Eigh- 
teenth Infantry,  was  taken  ill,  and  was  relieved  bv 
Col.  Kennedj',  who  took  his  place  at  the  head  of 
the  regiment  June  2:5,  1864.  He  led  it  at  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  when  .about  one-third  of  tlie  men 
in  his  old  company  were  slaughtered.  He  i)roved 
a  right  gallant  leader,  who  inspired  his  soldiers  to 
brave  deeds  by  his  coolness,  daring  and  invincible 
courage  in  the  face  of  the  greatest  dangers,  his 
skill  in  h.indling  his  troops,  his  promptness  in 
obeying  the  ordere  of  his  superiors  and  his  intelli- 
gence in  executing  them,  winning  the  commend.a- 
tion  of  his  superiors.  He  received  merited  promo- 
tion to  the  rank  of  Lieut.-Colonel.  his  commission 
bearing  the  date  of  October  12,  1864.  December 
12,  of  that  year,  he  w.is  obliged  to  resign  from  the 
army  on  .account  of  ill  health,  the  long  and  ardu- 
ous strain  to  which  he  had  been  subjected  in 
common  with  others  during  his  lengthy  term  of 
service,  telling  seriously  on  his  naturally  fine  con- 
stitution. He  sufi'ered  for  some  time,  and  did  not 
fully  recover  so  as  to  resume  military  duty  until 
the  war  had  closed.  He  had  had  some  thrilling 
experiences  while  in  the  South,  had  many  miracu- 
lously narrow  escapes,  but  was  never  seriously 
injured,  although  in  the  thick  of  manv  a  battle. 
His  farm  had  been  lying  idle  while  he  had  been 
fighting  for  his  country,  and  after  his  return  home 
lie  resumed  it^  management  as  soon  .as  convales- 
cent. 

Col.  Kennedy  h.as  been  twice  married.  In  .Tune, 
184.T.  he  was  wedded  to  >Iiss  IMary  McCoy,  a 
native  of  Wayne  County.  She  died  in  .-Vugust, 
187.').  leaving  three  cliildren.  Laura  C,  Sarah  A. 
and  Ohio  .V.  The  Colonel's  second  marriage  was 
with  Jlrs.  Eliza  Cook,  nee  Redd,  and  took  place 
.June  27,  1876.  Jlrs.  Kennedy  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  one  of  its  pioneer  families, 
her  parents  being  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  To 
her  and  our  subject  have  been  born  two  children, 
Richard  M.  and  William  L. 

The  Colonel  is  a  man  of  much  strength  of  char- 
aeler.  who  has  the  coiir.age  (if  his  opinions.  :ujd  lie 
is  well  informed  on  all  the  current  topics  of  the 


Portrait  axd  biographical  record. 


253 


day.  He  is  thoroughly  posted  in  politics,  though 
not  taking  a  very  active  part  in  them  for  the  past 
few  years.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Martin  Van 
Biiren  when  he  was  candidate  for  the  Presidency 
in  1840,  and  he  sides  with  tlie  Democrats.  He  has 
never  sought  oflico.  but  he  lias  held  some  respon- 
sible positions.  He  served  a>  Trustee  of  the  town- 
ship several  terms,  and  was  chosen  Lanil  Appraiser 
in  I860,  and  again  in  l.sso.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  :\nc\  he  donates  liber- 
ally to  its  support,  as  well  .as  to  all  worthy  objects 
that  he  thinks  mav  better  the  communitv. 


==_^^':^si^. 


IV.ESLEY  S.MITII.     This  gentleman  is  associ- 


\\' a/A  •'ift'd  with  the  farmers  and  stockmen  who 
^y^'  have  been  prime  movers  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  agricultm-al  resources  of  Augl.aize 
County,  and  lie  has  valuable  farming  and  stock 
interests  in  >>"oble  Township,  of  wliich  he  h.as  been 
a  resident  these  many  years.  He  was  born  near 
Trenton,  Is.  .1..  November  30,  1832,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam JNI.  and  Mary  C.  (Hunt)  .Smith,  wlio  were  na- 
tives of  iS'ew  .Jersey. 

William  Smith  was  lioni  A))rii  28,  1803.  Li 
early  life,  he  learneil  tlie  trade  of  a  shoemaker 
and  currier.  In  tlie  spring  of  1833.  in  the  full 
vigor  of  a  stalwart,  self-reliant  niaidujod.  he  emi- 
grated to  Ohio,  and  at  first  c.a.-t  in  his  fortunes  with 
the  pioneers  of  Greene  County,  where  he  followed 
farming.  He  subsei|Uently  removed  to  Darke 
County,  where  he  re^ideil  eiL:lit  years  ^irior  to 
coming  to  this  county.  He  entered  land  in  Xoljle 
Townshi|)  ill  \>>o2.  and  the  following  year  rettlt-d 
upon  it.  building  a  log  house  in  the  woods  and 
startinii  out  once  more  in  the  regulation  pioiu-er 
style.  He  cleared  and  developed  his  farm  and 
dwelt  in  this  ti.>wn?liip  until  lie  closed  his  eye?  on 
the  scenes  of  earth  .laiuiary  '22.  bs;u .  when  eighty- 
eight  years  of  ai;e.  having  lived  u|irightly  in  the 
-ight  of  (";.).]  :nid  ni.-iii.  ;ind  wiiiniuL;'  uni\'i--r<.-il 
esteem.      He  w:ij  Sui.i'i  inlcii.icnl  of  Uie  hr^t  Coun- 


ty Infirmary  Farm  of  Auglaize  County,  and  in 
whatever  position  he  was,  he  performed  his  duties 
with  char.a(?teristic  fidelity.  He  joined  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  at  Port  Jeffci-son  in  1840, 
while  a  resident  of  Darke  County,  and  for  fifty 
years  and  more  he  w.as  a  most  exemplary  Christian, 
a  strict  churchman,  and  was  of  a  kindly,  charitable 
nature,  that  could  see  some  good  in  every  man.  His 
wife,  who  was  also  an  active  member  of  the  same 
church  .as  that  to  which  he  belonged,  preceded  him 
in  death,  dying  in  1880.  in  the  sevent^-fii-st  year 
of  her  age.  They  had  ten  children,  six  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity  and  four  still  survive. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  of  the 
family  living.  His  educational  advantages  were 
limited,  as  his  parents  were  poor  and  needed  his 
assistance,  so  that  he  was  able  to  go  to  school 
only  two  or  three  months  in  the  winter,  the  school- 
house  to  which  he  then  went  being  of  the  pioneer 
type,  constructed  of  logs  and  provided  with  slab 
seats  that  did  not  have  any  backs  or  desks.  In 
18.58,  he  began  life  for  himself,  marrying  in  the 
spring  of  the  year,  having  previously  made  his 
home  with  his  father  and  mother.  After  his  mar- 
riage, he  hx^ated  on  his  father's  farm,  Ijtit  two 
years  later  he  removed  to  a  tract  of  forty  acres  of 
land  that  he  had  bought  in  Jloulton  Township. 
In  18(;3.  he  came  to  Noble  Township  and  pur- 
cha-ed  land  on  section  15,  lying  along  the  St. 
Maiy'>  River.  It  wa?  partly  cleared,  but  the  sulj- 
stantial  and  well-arranged  set  of  buildings  that 
now  aih.'rn  the  place  were  put  up  by  him.  and  he 
Iki.~  brought  the  farm  into  a  very  tine  condition. 
He  ha.-  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  lieautiful 
farming  land,  one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  beiiii,'- 
comprised  in  the  home  farm  on  section  1.5.  and  he 
has  a  half-interest  in  one  hundred  and  twentv 
acres  besides.  He  li.as  a  valuable  gas  well  on  his 
laml.  which  is  a  source  of  great  profit.  He  started 
on  his  career  empty-handed,  but  he  needed  not  the 
adventitious  aid  of  fortune  to  .achieve  success  in 
his  chosen  calling,  as  a  clear  brain,  a  re>oliite  will, 
sturdy  coniraou  sen-e  and  industrious  habits  jtood 
liim  111  good  stead.  He  stayed  not  to  query 
whether  or  no  life  was  worth  living,  but  made  it 
so  by  |ierforming  each  duty  a-  it  eanie  to  hand, 
and  b\   ultendiusr  slriclh    to  bu;iue?;.      Hi.^  aduiir- 


254 


rORTR^UT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


able  traits  of  cliaiacter  have  also  made  bim  an  in- 
valuable citizen  and  a  trusty  public  official,  lie  had 
been  Assessor  of  Xoble  Township  and  for  seven 
years  he  had  charge  of  the  finances  of  the  town- 
sliip  as  Treasurer,  rulitically.  he  is  loyal  to  the 
Democratic  party.  In  liis  social  relations,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  JIasonic  fraternity.  Botli  he  and 
his  wife  are  prominently  connected  with  the  Jleth- 
odist  Episcopal  Church  as  two  of  its  most  active 
members,  and  he  is  a  Trustee  of  tlie  same. 

:March  11,  1858.  our  subject  took  an  important 
step  in  life,  as  on  that  date  he  was  wedded  to  Miss 
Eliza1)eth  Botkin,  a  native  of  Illinois,  in  whom  he 
has  found  the  best  of  wives.  Iler  father  was  a 
native  of  Clai-ke  County,  in  this  .State,  lie  mar- 
ried Rebecca,  daughter  of  Maj.  Pickett  Doutey, 
and  they  went  to  Illinois  in  the  early  years  of  its 
settlement.  3Ir.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  been  blessed 
in  tlieir  marriage  with  six  cjiildren,  namely:  Le- 
viea.  wife  of  Richard  Barrington,  a  farmer  of  St. 
Mary's  Township;  William  F.,  who  is  married  and 
lives  on  a  farm  near  his  old  home;  .lennie,  de- 
ceased; Ida;  and  Mollie  and  Cora,wlio  are  te.achers 
of  high  standing.  Tlie  eldest  daughter  began 
teaching  before  she  was  sixteen  years  old  and 
taught  several  terms  very  successfully. 


^^EORGE  E.  EMERY.  A  history  of  the 
(l[  __  prominent  men  of  Logan  County  would  in 
"^^^ijj  no  me.osure  l)e  complete  without  mention 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  George  E.  Emery,  a 
most  popular  and  influential  farmer  of  Harrison 
Township.  This  gentleman  first  saw  the  liulit  of 
dav  in  Pennsylvania,  his  birth  occurring  in  Ches- 
ter County  on  the  13th  of  March.  bS-KJ. 

His  grandfather,  Peter  Emery,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  German  by  descent,  folluwod  tlie 
occupation  of  a  farmer  and  distiller  in  that  State 
for  many  yeai-s;  he  became  the  owner  of  three  farms 
and  was  a  substantial  citizen  of  his  native  State, 
where  he  died  when  ninety-tliree  years  of  age.  Ills 
son.  .lames  Emery,  the  father  of  our  siilijert.  aKo 
claimed    Pennsylvania    as    his    native    State,   and 


Chester  as  his  native  county,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred on  the  1st  of  March.  1818.  Fanning  was 
his  principal  occupation  in  life,  and  this  he  car- 
ried on  successfully-  in  his  native  Slate  until  1854, 
when  he  moved  to  Harrison  Townsliip.  Eogan 
County,  Ohio.  He  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  and  made  many  improvements  on  it, 
but  later  moved  to  Bellefontaine,  where  he  lived 
retired  for  six  years.  He  died  when  sixty- four 
years  of  age,  and  was  De.acon  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  for  some  time  before  his  death.  He  w;is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  had  held  a  number 
of  minor  offices  of  his  township,  being  .Uistice  of 
the  Peace  for  some  time. 

Our  subject's  mother  was  Eliza  A.  Eagle,  a  native 
of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  who  w.as  born  on  the  2od 
of  January,  1818,  and  six  of  her  seven  children 
grew  to  mature  years.  They  were  as  follows; 
Elmina  .1.,  Cyrus  E.  (deceased),  (^ieorge  E.,  Oli- 
via E.  (deceased),  Louis  T.,  William  K.,  and 
.lames  L.  (deceased).  The  mother  died  when 
over  fifty  years  of  age,  and  was  an  .active  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbj'terian  Church.  Her  father, 
George  Eagle,  w.as  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
so  far  as  known,  and  his  parents  were  born  in 
Germany,  Jlr.  Eagle  was  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
and  followed  that  business  all  his  life,  dying  when 
eight3'-five  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  of  Irish 
descent. 

Eight  yeai-s  had  p.assed  over  our  subject's  head 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  here 
he  attended  the  schools  taught  in  the  old  log 
cabins  of  those  days,  being  the  fii-st  boy  wh  ^ 
studied  grammar  in  the  school.  When  eighteen 
years  of  .age.  he  became  convinced  that  a  better 
education  w.as  necessary,  and,  after  teaching  three 
terms,  or  when  twent\-one  years  of  age,  lie  en- 
tered Eastman's  National  Business  College  at 
Ponghkeepsie.  X.  Y.,  and  graduated  at  that  insti- 
tution on  the  -id  of  April,  1867.  He  subsequently 
we  it  M  Chicago  in  search  of  a  position,  but  was 
taken  ill  and  returned  home.  His  nuptials  with 
^liss  Nancy  M.  Horn,  a  native  of  Lake  Township, 
this  county,  born  November  11,  1849.  w.as  solem- 
nized on  the  20th  of  February.  1872.  The  three 
children  lioni  to  llii.~  marriage  were  named  as  fol- 
lows:   KUie  A..  Levie  E..  and  Chivtou  E. 


tL<.^..,c.^y^^h^^ 


PORTRAIT  A>D  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


Immediately  after  his  inairiage,  ^Ir.  Emery  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  this  towustiip,  and  now  has  one 
liundred  and  sixty  acres  in  a  tine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, lie  erected  a  fine  modern  residence  in  18'Jii, 
one  of  llie  best  in  the  townshiii.  and  has  it  nicely 
and  comfortably  furnished.  lie  has  liis  land  w»'ll 
tilled,  and  although  intere>tcd  in  farming,  he  does 
not  neglect  stock-raising,  and  ha>  -onie  tine  ani- 
niaN  on  his  place.  Fonneily.  lie  bought  many 
.-hcep  and  other  stock  and  shipped  them  to  liuITalo 
and  Cincinnati.  For  llnie  year,-  he  and  liis 
brother.  Louis  T..  bought  and  .-hipped  irrain.  and 
were  very  successful  in  this  Im-iness.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Emery  hold  membership  in  the  Lntlieran 
Cliurch,  and  he  is  a  Republican  in  [lolitics.  hold- 
ing the  ottice  of  Township  'J'rea>uiei'  at  the  pre>- 
ent  time.  lie  has  consideralih'  political  inlluence 
in  the  township  and  county,  and  i-  a  man  who 
has  a  host  of  warm  friends.  .Mr.  l-hnery  i.-  a  prac- 
tical business  man,  and  keeps  an  accurate  book  .ac- 
count of  everything  bought  or  sold  on  the  farm. 
He  is  one  of  the  county's  most  respected  and  es- 
teemed citizens. 


UDOLPH  A.  RCLMA.XN.  .M.  D.  A  very 
V-^  successful  physician  and  popular  druggist 
of  Minster,  is  Dr.  Rulinann.  a  native  of 
'Prussia,  born  on  the  I'.lth  of  January, 
istil).  Although  young  in  year-,  he  has  met 
with  unusual  success  in  the  pro('e->icin  he  has 
chosen,  and  in  the  dual  capacity  of  phvsician  and 
druggist  lua-  gained  a  most  emiablc  reputation. 
His  father,  Herman  I!.  Rulniann.  wa-  :il>o  a  native 
of  Prussia,  and  there  followed  tlie  tr.-ideof  a  miller. 
In  I.SC").  he  emigrated  to  Arneiiea,  locating  tir.-t.at 
Oldenburgh.  later  at  Laurel.  Ind..  and  linally.  m 
188S,  came  to  Mm-ter.  where  he  is  m.w  enu.-iL;edin 
milling.  His  wife,  the  motlier  of  our  ^lllljecl. 
whose  ;naiden  name  was  .\ui_nr-t.'i  Miiellai-.  wa.- 
liorn  in  Prussia,  and  died  in  Indian.ain  lH7.'i.  .\f- 
terwai-d.  the  father  married  .Mi-  .Muiv  Hackman. 
Dr.  Kulmann  i=  the  elder  of  t«o  .  hildi  en.  lii.- 
1:.' 


l)rotlier  being  at  the  present  lime  a  prescription 
clerk  in  a  Cincinnati  drug  store.  He  was  quite 
young  when  his  parents  came  to  America,  his 
father  crossing  the  ocean  in  l.S(;.').  and  the  family 
following  in  ISOll.  They  landed  at  Baltimore, 
.Md..  on  the  1st  of  .Inly  of  the  latter  year,  and  on 
the  4th  reached  Cincinnati,  where  the  dis|)la\'  and 
celebration^  of  that  day  made  an  indelible  imiiro- 
siun  upon  the  miiiil  of  the  lad.  liefore  coming 
to  America,  he  had  attended  school  nearly  four 
year>  in  hl^  own  couiitr\  .  and  after  reachint;-  the 
Inited  .^tate>.  he  wa>  a  -tudeiit  in  the  Reading 
(Ohio)  school  aliont  on,,  year,  and  later  studied 
at  (Oldenburgh.  liid.  In  the  ye.ar  I.-^T  1.  he  entered 
Francis  College  and  there  pa.--ed  two  years, 
aftei-  which,  in  tlie  fall  of  IsTii.  lie  read  medicine 
withDr.  Aveidick.of  Oidenbur-h.  In  the  autumn  of 
the  following  year,  lie  entered  the  Ohio  Medical 
College.  (.)f  Cincinnati,  took  a  graded  einirse  of  four 
vcar.-.  and  wa>  graduated  on  the  .hi  of  March, 
1!S»1.  uith  the  degree  of  .M.  I).  II,,  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  ho-pital  praetiee  <iuring  hi.-  collegiate 
studios,  and  tixik  a  special  coiir-e  in  ob.-tetricsand 
diseases  of  women  .ami  children. 

On  the  2-2d  of  A|)ril.  Lssi.  Dr.  Knlmann  began 
practicing  in  Minster,  and  is  now  one  of  the  fore- 
most physicians  of  the  county,  where  he  has  an 
e.xcellent  practice  and  i^  well  establi.-hed  in  busi- 
nes.«.  In  the  year  I.^iSl.  he  w.-i-  mariied  to  Miss 
Isabel  .Schmieder.  a  n.'iti\  e  of  Min.-ter.  Her  father. 
Hon.  .1.  P.  .Shmiedei.  wa-  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers and  nio,-t  prominent  citi/.en- of  .Miir-ter.  where 
he  re-ided  for  many  year-.  He  wys  a  jihysician  of 
acknowledu'cd  ability,  and  hi-  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  l.ssiT.  while  he  was  -erving  his  second 
term  as  .Stale  .Senator,  wa-  widely  mourned  a-  a 
|>ublic  los-.  .Mr-.  Kulmann  died  on  the  I'.Hli  of 
Feliruary.  ISSij.  Two  cliildron  were  lioiii  to  tlii- 
unioii.  .Vlbert  II.  ami  .loliu  P.  (decea-eil ). 

Dr.  Kulmann '.I -eii.nd  inarri.-ige  occurred  in  is.s.s. 
lii>  wife  being  Mi"  .bi-eiihine  \ogel-an^'.  who  wa- 
born  in  Min-ter.  .iiid  who-e  parent-.  Fred  and 
Elizabeth  \"o<.'el-aiiL:.  were  early  -eltler-  of  tliat 
place,  where  they  re-ide  .at  llie  pre-i-nl  linie.  Two 
iliiblren  have  been  li.-in  1,.  Dr.  and  .Mr>.  Pul  iiiann . 
(  laieiiee  an.l  lleiiierl.  In  political  prelereiice. 
oui   -iibjecl     ir-    a    Deiuocral  and  a  ^lancll  ail\  oc.alc 


•258 


PORTR-ilT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  the  platform  of  that  party.  For  the  past  four 
years  he  has  been  Health  Officer  of  the  town.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
In  1881,  he  established  a  drug  store  in  Minster 
(the  only  one  in  the  village),  and  h,as  occupied  his 
present  fine  building  since  1889.  He  is  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Rulinann  Milling  Company, 
of  which  his  father  is  President,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  thorough-going  men  of 
the  place. 


^^^^,  EOKGE  C.VinVOOD  is  one  of  tlicmostsuc- 

ll!  cessful    and     suljstantial    business    men    of 

^V^-JA;  Rush  Creek  Township,  and  now  resides  at 
Big  Springs.  Logan  County,  Ohio,  wliere,  in  con- 
nection with  farming,  lie  is  also  engaged  in  the  saw- 
mill business,  which  consists  of  planing  and  bending 
works,  also  located  at  Big  Springs,whither  he  moved 
it  from  his  farm  many  years  ago.  His  .son  AVillie 
is  in  partnership  with  him  and  they  are  doing  a 
lar^e  business.  They  also  own  a  hardware  estab- 
lishment, ill  which  they  furnish  finisliings  for 
liouses.  -Mr.  <  Garwood  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  the  townslii[>  for  many  years  and 
is  deservedly  popular,  bearing  an  excellent  repu- 
tation for  honesty  and  uprightness. 

Our  subject  first  saw  the  light  of  <lay  in  East 
Liberty,  Perry  Townsliip,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  in 
the  first  house  erected  in  the  village,  November  11, 
1823,  and  is  the  son  of  .Tames  and  Jane  (.Smith) 
Garw(M)il.  nalives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  the  fatlier 
being  b'irn  in  Culpeper  County  in  1800  and  tlie 
mother  in  IT'.IO.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  .hidge  1.l-vi  <  iarwood,  w.as  a  native  of  \'ir- 
ginia  and  it  is  supposed  that  lie  was  reared  in  that 
State.  In  1812.  lie  came  direct  to  Logan  C'nunty, 
Ohio,  and  located  in  Perry  Township  among  the 
first  settlers.  His  father,  Thomas  Garwood,  was  a 
native  of  England  and  came  with  two  brothers  to 
■Virginia  at  a  \im\   early  date. 

The  parents  of  our>ubjecl  wen-  maniuil  in  [^'J'-i. 


at  what  is  now  East  Liberty,  and  began  housekeep- 
ing in  the  building  where  our  subject  was  born. 
The  father  w.as  a  miller  and  took  charge  of  the 
first  mill  in  the  county,  remaining  there  about 
three  years.  He  then  moved  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  east  of  that  village,  located  on  a  farm,  and  in 
connection  with  farming  carried  on  a  sawmill  for 
about  five  year's.  In  about  1831  he  built  the  first 
carding  mill  in  the  county,  located  on  Otter  Creek, 
in  Perry  Township,  and  carried  this  on  for  about 
twelve  years  when  he  moved  back  to  East  Liberty, 
At  this  place  he  followed  farming  and  also  worked 
in  the  mill  until  his  death,  in  ISTi.  The  mother 
was  a  widow  with  seven  children  when  she  mar- 
ried Mr.  Garwood.  She  passed  away  in  the  3ear 
1852. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  the  eldest  of  three 
sons  born  to  his  parents  and  is  now  the  only  one 
living.  The  others  were  Levi  and  Ozero.  He  had 
limited  educational  advantages  in  youth  and  was 
obliged  to  walk  over  two  miles  to  attend  the  dis- 
trict school.  Later  he  attended  the  log  school- 
house  in  East  Liberty  and  thus  obtained  a  fair  ed- 
ucation. He  remained  with  his  parents  until 
twenty-one  yeai-s  of  age  and  all  his  earnings  went 
to  liis  father  and  mother.  lie  selected  his  wife  in 
the  person  of  Miss  Eraeline  Brown,  daughter  of 
William  E.  and  Eva  (Sowles)  Brown,  and  their 
nuptials  were  celebrated  on  the  1st  of  .Tan nary, 
184tj.  Her  parents  were  n.atives  respectively  of 
Massachusetts  and  Vermont,  and  they  met  and  were 
married  in  Canada.  There  they  located  and  re- 
mained about  six  years,  when  they  came  to  the 
Empire  State  and  settled  in  JMayville,  the  father 
working  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1838  he  and 
family  moved  to  Crawford,  Ohio,  remained  there 
aliout  three  vears  and  then  went  to  Union  County, 
where  tliey  made  tlieir  home  until  coming  to  Logan 
County.  Both  are  now  deceased,  tlie  father  dying 
in  1871  and  the  motlier  in  1876,  both  in  Rush 
Creek  Townsliip,  this  county.  They  were  tlie  par- 
ents of  nine  children.  ;Mrs.  (iarwood  being  the 
third  child  and  second  daughter.  .She  was  born  in 
Canada  on  the  17th  of  January,  1824,  and  remained 
with  her  jiarents  until  her  marriage. 

Following  lii>  marriage,  our  subjeel  located  on 
his  father'.^  farm  in  Perry  Township.  Logan  County, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


2.i9 


Ohio,  and  worked  for  bis  fiitlier  for  three  yeai-s. 
Later  he  settled  on  his  own  farm  of  one  hundred 
aeres.  one  and  a-lialf  miles  we>t  uf  Ka,-l  Liherly. 
and  tliere  remained  fifteen  veal's,  after  which  lie 
moved  to  Rush  Creek  Township  wliere  lie  owneil 
another  farm  of  two  hundred  and  seveiity-tive 
aere,--.  He  Iniilt  a  sawmill  lu'ii-  and  uiierated  tiii> 
in  eiinneetion  with  hi>  airricultiiial  |iiirsuit?  fur 
fiiiu-  years,  when  lie  moved  the  mill  to  where  it  imw 
stands,  at  the  liiir  ."^priiiii^.  (  liir  subject  miived 
from  his  farm  In  the  villai;i'  cf  I'.i^'  Spiinirs  in 
1S,S(;.  Imt  he  still  owns  and  canies  on  his  farm. 
Ilis  marriage  resulted  in  the  liirtli  of  two  sons: 
Carlos,  a  native  of  Perry  Toun-lii|i.  Lo.j;;iu  County. 
( )hio.  born  in  1848.  is  married  and  resides  in  Hush 
Creek  Township,  this  county.  His  wife  was  formerly 
Miss  Retta  Outland  and  they  li.'ivc  one  son.  Laii- 
son.  Willie,  our  siibjecCs  second  -on.  was  also  a 
native  of  Perry  Township.  Logan  County.  Ohio, 
born  in  18.38.  He  married  ^liss  Mary  .'-^imiisou 
and  they  have  one  son.  Albert. 

Our  subject  now  owns  lluee  hundred  and  s,v- 
enty-seven  acres  of  land  in  Rush  Creek  Township 
and  he  and  his  son  Willie  carry  on  the  planing- 
mill  in  connection  with  the  sawmill  and  bending 
work-.  Aside  from  this,  they  also  keeji  all  kinds 
of  iiouse  finishings  and  hardware.  In  politics.  Mr. 
Garwood  allies  himself  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  and  his  wife  are  classed  among  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  the  county  and  are  highly  regarded 
bv  all. 


DWAKl)  C.  K.\CM(..\i;rKN.  I.oiami.- 
Township  is  conspicuous  for  the  Tellt<^lli^ 
element  which  i-  predominant,  and  their 
siipcrioi-  methods  in  auiicultuic  mc  evident  in  the 
well-kcpl  and  iiro.liirti\-i.'  faiiiiv  Our  subject  is 
one  of  the  huge  number  of  (ieniiaii-  who  have 
here  ileveloped  the  re-ources  of  tlii-  legion  -o  ex- 
tensively, as  he  IS  the  owner  of  ii  laru'c  farm  in  ihi- 
section,  and  i-:  enterin-ising  and  progressive.  Mi. 
KanmL;:irteii    is  a  s,,ii    ,,f   Fredeiiek    niid    l-^li/.-a  ( Si- 


fornl)  Baumgarten,  natives  of  Germany,  where 
they  remained  until  1847.  when,  on  the  loth  of 
.May.  of  that  year,  they  sailed  from  Bremen  and 
after  a  voyage  of  seventy-four  days  landed  in 
t)uebec.  Canada.  From  there  they  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, thence  to  I'ifpia,  and  on  the  Ifitli  of  .Sep- 
tember the  family  landed  in  Loramie  Township. 
Shelby  County. Ohio.  The  father  |)nrchased  eighty 
acres  of  wild  land,  erected  a  Mn:ill  log  cabin  im  it. 
and  here  he  and  his  family  resided  until  ls;.54. 
when  he  moved  to  I'iipia.  this  Slate.  There  his 
death  occurred  in  l.s.sil.  when  eighty-four  years  of 
age.  He  served  in  tlie  army  in  Germanv.  and  in 
his  religiijii-  views  was  a  Lutheran.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1«70.  Nine  ehihlreii  were  born  to 
this  worthy  couple,  only  ti\-e  now  living'. 

Ldward  Laumgarten.  the  third  in  order  of  liirtli 
of  the  alx>ve-nientioned  childien.  was  lioni  in  (on- 
many  on  the  l>th  of  Octolier.  is.iil.  and  received 
his  education  in  his  native  country,  attending 
school  every  school  day  from  the  age  of  seven  to 
fi.iurteeii.  V,\  his  early  training  he  became  familiar 
with  the  duties  of  the  farm,  and  he  remained  at 
home  and  as-isted  in  developing  the  home  place 
until  twenty-six  years  of  age.  In  l.s.")(l,  he  started 
out  to  fight  his  own  way  in  life,  and  forsometimc 
worked  out  by  the  mi'iith.  Three  vears  later,  he 
rented  land  ami  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil,  con- 
tinuing this  on  rented  land  for  sixteen  vears.  .\1- 
though  he  met  with  many  discoin-.agements  and 
drawbacks,  the  sturdy  German  blood  in  him  showed 
itself,  and  by  his  perseverance  and  industry  he 
became  the  (:iwner  of  a  good  farm  in  18(io.  After 
spending  one  winter  on  tlii-.  he  sold  It.  and  then 
purchased  other  f.arms.  which  he  s<ild  during  the 
next  few  years. 

In  isr.'.t.  !Mr.  Lauingarteii  |uiicha.sed  his  present 
faiin  (111  section  I'l.  Loramie  Townshii).  it  beiii^ 
[lartly  iiiipvovecl.  (In  this  he  l.icated  in  ls7L>.ancl 
since  then  he  has  made  many  lir~l-class  improve- 
ment-. iT'iud  buildings,  feiici 
the  mo-t  thorougli-goini;.  wi 
county.  He  has  a  g-ood  \\,-\r\. 
staiitial  liaiik  b.aiu.  all  the 
eneiL;\'  and  per-iM  eram-e.  |i 
lie.l  to  Mi--  .lohanii.i  Mader.  ; 
nh.i  .-aiile  ;,,  .\iiiei-ica    with     1 


.  etc..  and  is  one  of 
c-awake  men  of  the 
residence  and  a  -ub- 
-ult  of  indomitable 
Ishl.  he.  wa-  niar- 
iialive  of  I  ieniiaiiy. 
■r    parents    in     l.S4:i. 


260 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


They  settled  in  Loramie  Township,  this  county, 
and  here  the  father  and  mother  passed  tlie  remain- 
der of  their  days.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  Mi-s.  Baumgarlen  was  tlie  eldest 
of  the  girls,  and  seven  are  now  living. 

Although  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Baumgarlen 's  union  h.as 
not  been  blessed  by  tlie  birth  of  any  cliildren,  they 
adopted  two,  a  lioy  and  girl,  reared  both  to  ma- 
ture years  and  saw  them  married.  In  politics.  Mr. 
Bauragarton  is  independent  and  votes  for  the  best 
man.  He  served  two  terms  as  Trustee  and  has 
held  other  local  positions,  tilling  all  with  credit 
and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  people.  He 
and  his  wife  are  Lutherans  in  tlieir  religious  views. 
They  have  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land, 
one  hundred  acres  of  which  are  improved,  and 
three  thousand  rods  of  tiling  are  on  the  place.  In 
connection  with  farming,  he  raises  considerable 
stock,  and  although  he  started  out  to  battle  his 
own  way  m  life  without  a  cent,  he  has  met  with 
the  best  of  success  and  is  one  of  the  county's  most 
substantial  farmers. 


ILLIAM  KINZER  EMERY.  .Vinoug  the 
sons  of  Pennsylvania  wlio  have  brought 
^^  with  them  to  this  Western  land  sturdy  in- 
dependence and  the  thrift  and  energy  of  those  of 
that  nativity  is  William  K.  Emery,  who,  although 
young  in  years,  is  one  of  the  most  progressive 
and  successful  agriculturists  of  Harrison  Town- 
ship, Logan  County.  lie  comes  of  an  old  and 
prominent  family  and  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.,  on  the  2-2(1  of  February,  lSo4. 

James  Emery,  father  of  our  subject,  as  well  as 
his  grandfather,  Peter  Emery,  were  natives  of  the 
Kej'stone  State,  in  which  they  carried  on  .agricul- 
tural pursuits  .all  their  lives.  In  ci;)nnection  with 
farming,  at  which  he  w.as  unusually  successful, 
owning  three  largo  farms,  the  grandfather  also  kept 
a  distillery  and  was  a  man  of  excellent  busines? 
acumen.  IK'  «.-i>  :i  ^uli^tanlial  and  wealth \  citi/.i-ii 
aud  died  in  hi^    native    .Slate    when    niuety-thrce 


years  of  age.  James  Emery,  his  son,  was  born  in 
C'liester  County  on  the  1st  of  March,  1818,  and 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  there  until  1854, 
when  he  moved  to  Harrison  Township,  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  purchasing  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  laud  on  which  he  made  many  improve- 
ments. Later  he  moved  to  Bellefontaine,  lived  re- 
tired for  six  years,  and  died  when  sixty-four  years 
of  age.  He  w.as  a  Deacon  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  for  some  time  before  his  death,  and  w.as  a 
man  highly  esteemed  by  all.  He  w.as  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  his 
township  for  some   time. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Eliza  A.  Eagle,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster 
Ccninty,  Pa.,  born  on  the  23d  of  January,  1818,  and 
of  her  union  with  James  Emery  seven  children 
were  born:  Elmina  J.,  Cyrus  E.  (deceased), George 
E.,  Olivia  E.  (deceased),  Louis  T.,  William  K.  (our 
subject)  aud  James  L.  (deceased).  The  mother, 
who  had  been  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  for  m.any  years,  died  when  a  little 
over  fifty  years  of  age.  Her  father,  George  E.agle, 
who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  so  far  as  known, 
and  who  came  of  German  parentage,was  a  carpenter 
by  trade  and  followed  that  business  until  his  death 
when  eighty-five  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  of 
Irish  extraction. 

Our  subject  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  the  April  following  his  birth,  and 
after  attaining  a  suitable  age  attended  the  district 
schools  in  winter  but  during  the  summer  season 
was  actively  engaged  in  assisting  his  father  on  the 
farm.  On  the  10th  of  January,  1878,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Arab  Lee  Wellman.  who  w.as  born  in 
Harrison  Township,  this  county,  on  the  2;5d  of 
December,  18.59.  Five  children  were  born  to  this 
union  as  follows:  Wilbert  S.,  Harry  W.,  Mary  L.,  an 
infant,  and  Helen  May,  all  deceased.  At  the  death  of 
his  father,  Mr.  Emery  fell  heir  to  the  home  place.  He 
h:is  one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres,  all  under  cultiva- 
tion except  thirty  acres,  and  is  actively  cng.aged 
in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  keeps  a  great 
man}'  cattle,  horses  aud  Merino  sheep  and  his 
principal  crops  are  wheat  and  corn.  His  frame 
l.tini.  which  i--  ..111'  of  the  best  in  the  township,  cost 
him  about  J2,UUU  at  the  lime  of   its    building,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


263 


JOIIX  KKLLKi;.  the  |iO|iul:ii-  Clerk  of  Au- 
glaize Ciiuiity,  is  what  is  commonly  called  a 
self-made  man.  as  they  usually  occupy  high 
positions,  both  in  National  and  State  affairs, 
and  reach  higher  positions  in  the  commercial  world 
than  thi»e  whose  childluxid  was  surrounded  by 
every  o|)[iortunity.  lie  was  Iiorn  in  Miamis- 
liurgh,  ilontgoraery  County,  this  Slate,  June  24, 
1830,  to  .Joseph  and  ISIaria  (Zwier)  Keller,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  France,  and  the 
latter  of  Lebanon  County,  Pa. 

The  father  of  our  subject  emigrated  from  his 
native  land  to  the  United  States  when  twenty- 
eight  j'ears  of  .age.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
and,  locating  in  the  aliove-named  (.'ounty  in  Penn- 
sylvania, there  met  and  married  his  wife.  The 
young  couple  subsequently  removed  to  this  State 
and  made  their  home  for  some  time  in  Miamis- 
burLih.  where  the  father  prosecuted  his  trade.  In 
l!^.3(j.  he  moved  to  Allen  County,  now  Auglaize 
County,  and.  locating  in  AVapakoneta.  there  de- 
parted this  life  in  1847. 

]Mr.  and  ilrs.  .Joseph  Keller  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living.- the 
brother  of  our  subject  being  Henry  S.  Keller,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Xebr.aska.  .John  of  this  sketch 
was  reared  to  manhood  in  Wapakoneta,  and  prose- 
cuted his  studies  in  the  best  schools  which  the  lo- 
cality afforded  at  tliat  time.     AYhen  starting  out 


is  a  bank  barn,  40x60  feet.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emery  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Bellefontaine. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  served  as  Town- 
ship Trustee  for  nine  years  and  for  the  past  seven 
or  eight  years  h.as  been  Road  Supervisor,  holding 
that  position  at  the  present  time.  He  is  a  prosper- 
ous young  farmer  and  is  bound  to  make  a  success 
of  his  calling.  | 

On  another  page  will  be   frnmd   a    view    of   the 
comfortable  home  and   rural   surroundings   on  I\Ir.    ! 
Emerv's  place.  i 


in  life  for  himself,  he  acted  as  a  clerk  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  which  occupation  he  followed  when 
removing  to  St.  Mary's  in  1849.  He  later  was 
given  the  position  of  Station  Agent  for  the  Lake 
Erie  <fe  Western  Railroad,  which  he  repi-esented 
for  fourteen  jears. 

Mr.  Keller  w.as  elected  to  his  present  ofhce  in 
1888,  and  so  well  did  he  perform  its  duties  that 
he  received  a  re-election  tlic  following  term. 
While  a  resident  of  St.  Mary's,  ho  was  Township 
Clerk  for  a  period  of  twelve  years,  and  by  his 
honest  and  straightforward  life  was  highly  re- 
garded. He  deserves  great  praise  for  the  interest  he 
manifests  in  public  affairs,  and  is  a  willing  con- 
tributor to  all  worthy  causes. 

In  October,  18.55,  he  of  whom  we  write  and  Miss 
Rebecca  Armstrong  were  united  in  marri.age,  and 
to  them  h.as  been  born  a  family  of  two  sons  and 
one  daughter,  namely:  Charles  II.,  Hariy  A.  and 
Maud  E.  Mr.  Keller  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  is  an  ardent  memlier  of  the  Democratic 
party,  whose  principles  he  takes  great  pride  in 
supporting.  His  wife  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  they  number  their 
friends  among  the  best  residents  of  the  countv. 


^^m-^-mMm^i 


W  OHS  W.  THATCHER,  a  prominent  grain- 
IJ  buyer  and  lumberman  at  De  Graff,  Ohio,  is 
-— |r  a  self-made  man,  and  what  he  has  accum- 
',^//  ulated  in  the  w.ay  of  this  world's  goods  is 
the  result  of  his  own  good  fighting  qualities.  He 
is  possessed  of  unusually  good  judgment,  excellent 
business  acumen,  and  is  one  of  the  foremost  busi- 
ness men  of  the  county.  He  was  born  in  Greene 
County,  Ohio.  November  21).  1841,  and  is  the  son 
of  Absalom  and  Isabella  (Hedges)  Thatcher,  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  The  father  was  of  I'.nglish- 
Irish.  and  the  mother  of  Engli-h-German,  extrac- 
tion. 

.\bsalom  Thatcher  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer  until  1831.  when  became  to  Greene  County. 


264 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RIX'ORD. 


He  settled  on  tlio  Little  Miami  River,  a  few  miles 
from  Xema.  and  operated  a  sawmill,  a  very  ex- 
tensive one  for  the  time,  and  eontiinied  this  a 
number  of  year;^.  He  also  owned  a  stone  quarry. 
From  tliere.  he  renioveil  to  I'rliana,  Champaign 
County.  Ohio,  and  a  short  time  later  to  St.  Paris, 
of  the  same  eounty.  where  his  death  occurred  in 
iy.')I.when  lifty-seven  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
|iowerfully  Imill  man.  stood  six  feet  and  one-half 
inches  in  his  stoeUinifs.  ami  weighed  tw(j  hundred 
|)onnds.  He  worked  hard  all  his  life  and  was  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence.  Six  of 
the  twelve  children  horn  to  this  wtirthy  couple 
were  reared  to  .matiu'e  years  and  were  named  as 
follows:  Samuel.  .lose|)h.  l.ucinda.  .Tonathan.  .Tohii 
W.  and  Henry  C. 

The  original  of  tlii?  notice  passed  his  boyhood 
days  in  ("ireene  and  Champaign  Counties  and  was 
educated  in  the  district  and  village  schools,  at- 
tending the  same  district  school  in  Greene  County 
as  Whitelaw  Reid,  the  famous  editor  of  tlie  New 
York  Tribune  and  at  present  a  candidate  for  the 
Vice-presidency  of  the  I'nited  States  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  He  recalls  many  incidents  of  their 
boyhood  days.  When  nine  years  of  age,  our  sub- 
ject removed  with  his  father  to  Crbana  and  there 
attended  the  public  schools.  Later  he  attended 
the  schools  at  St.  Paris  after  locating  there,  and 
when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  worked  one  year  at 
tlie  pla>terer's  trade.  For  some  time  after  this,  he 
worked  at  common  laboi'  on  the  farm  and  was 
nineteen  yeaj's  of  age  when  the  war  broke  out. 
Filled  with  a  patriotic  desire  to  aid  his  country's 
cause,  he  enlisted  in  ^lay.  IHdl.in  ('ompan\-  H. 
Twenty-sixth  Ohio  Infanti'y.and  served  faithfully 
and  \aliantly  for  four  year,-  and  six  months.  He 
participated  in  the  campaigns  through  \Ve>t  \\r- 
ginia.  Kenliu-ky.  Tennessee.  Alabama,  (ieorgia. 
Jfississiplii  and  Texas,  and  saw  as  much  active 
service  as  any  soldier  in  the  army.  ']"he  tirst 
six  months  of  his  service  were  spent  in  West  \'ir- 
ginia  and  then  he  joined  the  Army  of  the  Cumlier- 
land  and  served  in  the  Twenty-first  and  Fourth 
Corps  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  a  great  many  battles  and  skirmishes, 
the  principal  being  Stone  River.  Chickaniauga, 
Rockv-Faced  Ridge,    Resaca,    Kenesaw,    Atlanta, 


Jonesborough,  Spring  Hills,  Franklin  and  Nash- 
ville. He  had  many  narrow  escapes  from  being 
killed  and  taken  prisoner,  and  has  every  reason  to 
be  proud  of  his  war  record,  for  no  braver  or  truer 
soldier  trod  the  ground.  He  was  wounded  twice 
at  .Stone  River,  once  at  Kenesaw  Jlountain  and 
once  at  Chickamauga.  At  the  latter  place,  he  was 
shot  through  the  left  arm  near  the  elbow  and  was 
obliged  to  go  to  the  hospital.  The  surgeons  had 
decided  to  amputate  the  arm  and  had  the  table 
preiiared  for  that  purpose,  when  our  subject  recov- 
ered consciousness  and  would  not  allow  it.  He  can 
now  use  that  arm  but  has  to  be  careful. 

]Mnch  of  the  time  our  subject  was  detailed  on 
.scout  duty,  and  while  so  engaged  practiced  a  great 
deal  of  sliarpshooting,  being  considered  an  expert. 
At  Kenesaw  ^Mountain,  he  and  a  companion  were 
sliarpshooting  quite  a  distance  from  the  L'niou 
line,  when  a  rebel  squad  got  after  them  and  our 
subject's  companion  w.as  captured.  While  running 
to  get  away,  a  shell  burst  above  Mr.  Thatcher's 
head  and  a  piece  struck  him  on  the  knee,  felling 
him  to  the  ground.  A  rebel  Major  in  hot  pursuit 
came  upon  him  and  w.as  about  to  take  him  a  pris- 
oner, when  our  subject  gave  a  sudden  spring  and 
sought  safety  in  a  slough  that  was  near.  The 
Union  forces  coining  up  saved  him  from  being 
captured  and  from  being  confined  in  Libby  Prison, 
of  which  he  had  so  great  a  horror  that  lie  resolved 
to  die  rather  than  be  captured.  About  the  close 
of  the  war.  Jlr.  Thatcher's  regiment  was  sent  to 
New  Orleans  and  across  the  Gulf  to  settle  the 
trouble  then  rife  in  Texas,  and  he  was  mustered 
out  at  \'ictoria.  that  State,  in  October,  18().5. 

Returning  home,  our  subject  engaged  in  lumber- 
ing at  Cra\(in.  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  and  in 
1870, under  the  firm  title  of  Thatcher  Bros.it  Co.,  he 
embarked  in  the  sawmill  and  planing-mill  business. 
With  the  exception  of  a  year  or  two.  i>ur  subject 
c(intiiHHHl  at  this  until  Isi.H.H.  wlien  he  disposed  of 
hi--  interest  and  operated  a  liiniber-yani,  adding  to 
that  an  elevator  in  July,  18,8',t.  He  handles  a  great 
deal  of  grain  and  is  doing  a  rushing  business.  He 
owns  considerable  town  prc>perty.  and  owing  to 
the  fact  that  he  only  had  ^400  to  start  with  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  his  success  has  been  remarkable. 
He  was  married  tirst  in   1866  to  Miss  Anna  Xeer, 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


2ti5 


who  was  boin  in  Champaign  County,  Oliio,  in 
1839,  and  of  the  nine  children  bora  to  them,  seven 
grew  to  mature  years  and  are  named  Alice,  Cora 
(Mrs.  Sullivan),  Rosa  (Mrs.  P.  S.  Hudson),  Zona, 
Minnie,  James  and  Eva.  Mrs.  Thatcher  p.assed  away 
on  the  26lli  of  June,  1882.  Mr.  Thatcher's  second 
marri.age  occurred  in  June,  1888.  to  Miss  Minnie 
Xeer,  sister  of  his  former  wife,  and  they  have  one 
rliild.  Maxie  D.  Mr.  Thatcher  and  wife  and  entire 
family  are  Methodists  and  Mr.  Thatcher  is  Trus- 
tee in  his  church.  Although  he  t.akes  an  active 
interest  in  politics,  he  does  not  aspire  to  office,  and 
his  vote  is  ever  cast  with  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  (irand  Army 
Post  at  DeOraff. 


^^H-$-; 


^■DRE\V  KOHLER  is  an  intelligent,  wide- 
lOi  awake  and  prosperous  farmer,  m.aking  his 
home  on  section  1 7,  Duchouquet  Town- 
ship, Auglaize  County.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  Frederick  and  Annie  (Foos)  Kohler,  natives 
of  Wurtemlierg.  ( iermany,  where  the  father  was 
born  in  1800.  and  the  mother  August  11.  1803. 
The  parents  started  for  the  New  World  in  1847, 
but  the  father  dying  while  en  route  to  this  country, 
was  buried  at  sea.  The  mother,  on  landing  on  the 
shores  of  the  New  World,  came  directly  to  this 
county  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Washington 
Township,  two  miles  southwest  of  Wapakoneta, 
which  place  was  in  the  inisscssion  of  the  family 
until  18011. 

In  the  parental  family  were  seven  children,  two 
of  whom  died  on  the  passage  to  this  country. 
Those  living  are  P'red,  Mary,  .Vnna.  liirtara,  and 
our  subject.  The  latter  wa^  born  April  n.  1841, 
in  Wurtemberg,  Oermanj",  and  was  a  lad  of 
jix  years  when  lie  accomp.anied  his  mother  to 
their  new  home.  His  advantages  for  obtaining  an 
education  were  extremely  limited,  he  being  per- 
mitted to  attend  school  only  three  months  during 
his  life.  He  w.is,  however,  trained  by  his  mother 
in  all  that   goes  to   make   an   honorable  man,  and 


w.as  thoroughly  drilled  in  farm  work  while  young, 
so  that  he  came  to  his  vocation  well  fitted  to  per- 
form its  dutie.>. 

In  18G0.  Mr.  Kohler  went  to  St.  Eciuis,  Mo.,  and 
April  27  of  the  following  year  returned  and  en- 
listed in  the  I'nion  Array  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany K,  Fifteenth  Oliio  Infantry.  The  company, 
which  w.os  organized  in  this  county,  was  sent  to 
Columbus,  thence  to  Zanesville,  where  tliev  re- 
ceived their  arms,  and  then  crossing  over  into  West 
Virginia,  guarded  the  Baltimore  A-  Ohio  Railroad. 
His  term  of  enlistment  having  expii-ed  August 
28,  1861,  our  subject  re-enlisted  two  days  after 
for  three  yeai-s,  in  Company  C,  Thirty-seventh 
Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  soon  promoted  to  the  po- 
sition of  Sergeant.  The  regiment  was  sent  into 
the  Kanawha  Valley,  and  thence  to  Vicksburg  under 
Gen.  (irant.  They  were  later  with  Gen  Sher- 
man in  tlie  Chattanooga  campaign,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  following  battles:  Princeton,  RoUa, 
Fayetteville,  Charleston  (W.  A'a.),  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg and  Jackson  (Miss.),  and  Mission  Ridge. 
Mr.  Kohler  was  wounded,  Xovember  24,  18fi3, 
by  a  ininie-ball,  and  after  being  confined  for 
a  time  in  the  field  hospital  at  the  mouth  of 
Chickaniauga  Creek,  he  was  .sent  to  Bridgeport, 
Tenn..  and  tlience  to  Xashville,  where  he  received 
a  furlough  for  thirty  d.'i3-s.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  time,  he  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Cleve- 
land, Tenn.,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Dal- 
las, Ga.,  where  he  was  again  wounded.  Mav  29, 
1864,  by  a  minie-b.all,  which  entered  his  right 
lung.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Chick- 
amauga  Gap,  and  then  to  Rome,  Ga.,  where  he  lay 
until  brought'home.  Mr.  Kohler  received  his  hon- 
orable discharge  December  13.  1804.  having  served 
his  country  faithfully  and  well  for  three  years 
and  eight  months. 

March  5,  18G5,  our  subject  and  ML-s  Paulina, 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Annie  Maria  (Kepler) 
Pfaff,  were  united  in  marriage.  Tlie  parents  of 
Mrs.  Kohler  were  natives  of  Prussia.  German  v, 
where  the  father  jerved  four  years  as  a  soldier  in 
the  Prussian  army.  They  came  to  .Vmerica  in  1834, 
and  the  father  is  still  living  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eigbt\'-seven  years. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  w.as  born  March  4,  1844, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


in  Duchouquet  Township,  this  county,  and  de- 
paited  this  life  in  Xovember,  1879,  after  having 
liecorao  the  inothor  of  nine  fhililrcn.  two  of  whom 
are  dec-ensed.  'I'liose  livini;  are  Annie  (Mrs. 
Charles  Konislia),  .lolin,  Fred,  Mary,  (ieorge,  Ed- 
ward. Albert,  and  Fra?ik.  In  Doeember,  1880,  Mr. 
Kohler  chose  for  his  second  wife  Jliss  JVIelinda 
Lee,  a  native  of  Rockingham,  Xn.,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  .lacob  II.  Lee,  who  was  a  .soldier  in  the  Con- 
federate arnn',  and  now  lives  in  Pusheta  Town- 
ship, this  county.  JNIrs.  Kohler  was  Ixirn  .Tanuary 
2.').  18r)8,  in  A'irgiuia. 

The  original  of  this  ,-ketch  has  a  good  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  nearly  all  of  which 
is  improved.  Since  his  return  from  the  army,  he 
has  been  unable  to  do  any  liard  work  and  devotes 
his  time  and  attention  to  superintending  the  oper- 
ations of  tlic  farm.  Kc-ligiously.  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Lutlieran  Churcli,  while  his  good  wife  is 
connected  with  the  I'nited  IJrethren  denomina- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  Kyle  Post  No.  41,  G.  A. 
H.,  in  which  body  lie  has  been  Cliaiilain,  Senior 
and  .Junior  ^"ice.  ami  al.-o  Commander.  He  is 
greatly  interested  in  school  affairs,  and  h.as  served 
as  a  Director  of  the  School  Hoard  and  also  as  a 
member  of  the  Township  lioard  of  Education.  He 
has  Occupied  the  position  of  Township  .Assessor, 
and  has  been  frequently  chosen  by  the  Republican 
party  as  delegate  to  the  various  district  conven- 
tions, and  also  .as  a  member  of  the  Central  Execu- 
tive Committee. 


■:=^=3^^|;g' 


■VTOSEPH  KNOX  CUMMINS,  Auditor  of 
I  Shelby  County,  w.as  elected  to  that  posi- 
tion in  (Jctobei-,  1886.  and  re-elected  in  the 
>^!^y  fall  of  1889,  for  a  term  of  three  years.  Our 
subject  was  born  in  Sidney,  April  30,  18.57.  where 
he  is  at  present  residing,  and  is  a  son  of  .lohn  K. 
Cummins,  who  was  brought  to  this  county  by  his 
parent,-  wlien  three  years  of  age,  they  removing 
from  Mifflintown.  .Juniata  County,  Pa.,  in  18.'34. 


.Joseph  Cummins,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  on  remov- 
ing to  this  county  established  in  the  merc-antile 
business,  and  at  the  same  time  carried  on  a  thriv- 
ing tiade  .as  a  miller.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  very  prominent  in  this  count}',  having  been 
an  attorney  at  Sidney,  where  he  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  He  w.as  a  member  of  the  Shelby 
County  Bar  from  lS.').i  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War.  when,  volunteering  his  services  to  the 
Union  army,  he  w.as  made  Lieutenant-Colonel  of 
the  Ninet_v-ninth  r)liio  Infantr}-,  and  later  was 
promoted  to  be  Colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty-fifth  Ohio  Infantry.  He  served  his  coun- 
try faithfully  and  well  for  a  i)eriod  of  three  yeai-s, 
and  on  returning  home  from  the  battlefield  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  resumed  his  practice  as  one  of  the 
well-known  and  influential  members  of  the  legal 
fraternity-. 

The  maiden  name  of  t)ur  subject's  mother  was 
Harriet  K.  Carey;  she  was  a  native  of  this  city  and 
the  daughter  of  .John  W.  Care}',  an  old  and  re- 
spected resident  of  Sidney,  who  w.as  the  fii-st  banker 
of  the  county,  .lohn  E.  Cummins,  prior  to  enter- 
ing the  army,  was  Prosecuting  Attorney,  and  on 
the  close  of  that  conflict,  when  agaih  taking  up 
the  pursuits  of  civil  life,  represented  his  district  in 
the  State  Senate,  .and  was  Revenue  Assessor  under 
President  .Johnson.  He  departed  this  life  in  April, 
187.),  leaving  a  widow  and  three  children;  his 
good  wife,  however,  survived  him  but  a  twelve- 
month, lier  death  t.aking  pl.ace  in  Eebruar}',  1876. 
The  sons  of  .John  E.  Cummins  are  .lohn  C,  now- 
engaged  in  the  Citizens'  Rank;  Frank  C,  Deputy 
County  Auditor,  and  oiu-  subject.  The  latter 
received  a  good  practical  education  in  the  city 
and  High  Schools,  later  supplementing  the  knowl- 
edge gained  therein  by  a  two-years  course  at  the 
University  at  \Voostcr.  Mr.  Cummins  then  taught 
in  the  city  school  for  one  year,  after  which  he  was 
aiipointed  Deputy  County  Auditcn-.  in  November, 
ISSd.  under  11.  S.  .\iles.  lie  served  m  that  posi- 
tion for  six  years  and  ten  months,  when  he  was 
elected  County  Auditor,  and  ha.-  since  performed 
all  the  duties  pertaining  to  that  office  in  a  most 
satisf.actory  and  creditable  manner.  Our  subject 
was  a  Delegate  to  the   National   Democratic   Con- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


2(;n 


veDtion  at  Chicago,  fiom  tlie  Fourth  Congiessioiial 
District  of  Ohio. 

Miss  Kate,  d.iughter  of  George  Aclverly,  a  promi- 
nent resident  of  Sidney,  became  the  wife  of  our 
subject  November  1.5,  1887,  and  to  them  h.as  been 
born  one  daughter,  Mai-garet  Ackerlj.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cummins  are  very  pleasant,  intelligent  peo- 
ple, whom  it  IS  a  pleasure  to  meet,  and  they  are 
very  highly  thought  of  liy  people  among  whom 
they  have  made  their  home.  Mr.  Cummins  seems 
to  possess  special  talent  for  the  work  in  which  he 
is  engaged,  and  success  has  indeed  been  with  him. 


IIII.KMON  15.  ALLF.X.  It  is  doubtful  if 
Slielby  County  contains  a  lietter  example 
of  that  type  of  man.  who  in  the  AVest 
would  be  called  a  ■•  lni>tler  "  than  Mr. 
Allen,  who  is  the  owner  and  occupant  of  a  tine 
farm  in  Dinsmore  Township.  As  his  father  was  a 
farmer  in  ordinary  circumstances,  he  had  no  special 
advantages,  but,  on  the  contrary,  began  his  life's 
work  with  only  a  limited  education,  but  an  abun- 
dant store  of  enterprise  and  determination.  His 
farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  every  rod  of 
it  being  made  useful  or  ornamental  and  display- 
ing the  hand  of  a  master  in  it5  appearance  of  fer- 
tility and  the  improvements  that  it  bears.  The 
residence  is  a  comfortable  one.  is  well  furnislied. 
and  makes-  an  appropriate  shelter  for  the  interest- 
ing and  hap[)y  family  circle. 

(.)ur  subject  is  .i  native  of  this  State,  having 
been  burn  in  Kairtield  Counly,  February  27,  1826. 
and  i~  a  -<,in  of  Sila-  1).  AUen.  who  was  born  May 
22.  1801.  ill  \'ermoiit.  (irandfather  AVhiting 
Allen  was  born  April  Iri.  1779.  in  Connecticut, 
and  for  eighteen  montlis  served  a-  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812.  On  emigrating  to  Ohio  in  18"2.  he 
located  in  Fairtield  Cciuuty.-»where  he  w.a.>  one  of 
the  earliest  pioneers.  He  there  redeemed  from  its 
native  wildness  a  quarter-section  of  land,  which  he 
subsequently  sold,  and   removed  to  Delaware,  this 


State,  where  he  died  at  a  ripe  old  age.  He  was  the 
father  of  a  large  family  of  five  sons  and  three 
daughter,  to  whom  he  gave  as  good  educations 
.as  the  times  and  his  circumstances  would  permit. 

On  the  paternalside,  the  ancestors  of  oursubject 
were  residents  of  Vermont,  where  they  were  well 
known  and  well-to-do.  His  father  was  the  eldest 
of  the  family,  and  when  starting  out  in  life  for 
himself,  beg.an  the  manufacture  of  spinning  wlieels 
and  afterward  learned  the  cari>enter's  trade.  In 
18:52.  he  came  to  this  county  and  purchased  four 
hundred  acres  of  Government  land  in  Dinsmore 
Township,  for  which  he  paid  *  1.2.5  per  acre.  The 
country  at  that  time  w.is  in  its  original  condition, 
and  }ilr.  Allen  erected  a  log  cabin  in  the  woods  on 
section  25.  The  Indians  were  still  in  the  locality, 
but  did  not  remain  long  after  the  section  came  to 
be  inhabited.  The  forests  were  so  dense  in  some 
places  that  a  man  could  not  be  seen  at  a  distance 
of  three  rods,  but  these  goodly  forests  in  their 
primeval  beauty  drew  the  pioneer  as  the  magnet 
does  the  needle.  No  other  consideration  ever  bore 
such  weight  as  the  thought  of  the  generous  shel- 
ter which  these  islands  of  shade  and  cool  streams 
gave — about  the  only  comfort  the  earlv  settlers 
found  in  their  new  home;  all  others  were  sur- 
roundings of  discomfort.  The  absence  of  schools 
and  markets,  the  cramped  cabitis,  sickness,  se- 
vere storms,  depredations  of  wild  be.asts,  fires, 
snakes,  poorly  paid  toil  and  the  uncertaintv 
of  the  future,  all  gave  way  to  the  supporting 
shelter  of  the  grove  and  timber.  Mr.  Allen,  like 
other  pioneei-s,  was  engaged  in  subduing  nature, 
clearing  land,  breaking  prairie,  etc,  but  with  all 
this  labor  was  social  and  happy,  having  a  care  for 
the  morals  and  education  of  his  growing  f.amilv. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Cliurch.  and  wx-  well  calculated  to  aid  in  the 
huildiiis:  u|i  of  a  new  country,  being  energetic, 
affable  and  kind-hcaited.  Ik-  departed  this  life 
.Tune  in.  1^.5(1. 

(_)ur  subject's  ninlher.  pri(.ir  to  her  marriage,  was 
Klizabeth  (ioiige,  a  native  of  N'irginia.  from  wliich 
State  her  parents  emigrated  to  Fairfield  Countv 
in  an  early  day.  At  her  ileath.  which  occurred  in 
l.H2'.».  she  left  two  children,  the  elder  of  whom  is 
our  subject.     The    daughter    married   W.   H.   Ed- 


270 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


wards  and  makes  her  home  in  Putnam  County, 
Ohio.  The  f.ither  of  our  subject  cliose  for  his 
second  wife  Miss  Pha>bc  Fridley,  also  a  native  of 
Virginia,  by  wlioni  he  became  the  father  of  five 
cliildren,  three  of  whom  are  still  living.  Mrs. 
Allen  died  in  18til  in  this  township. 

He  of  whom  we  write  w.as  a  lad  of  six  jears 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  this  county,  and  well  remembers  the  long  jour- 
ney through  the  woods  to  their  new  home.  There 
were  no  schools  in  the  locality  of  his  home  for  ten 
years  after  coming  here,  and  even  after  their  es- 
tablislimeut  they  were  furnislied  in  a  most  primi- 
tive manner,  with  puncheon  Boor,  slab  seats,  etc. 

When  establishing  a  home  for  himself  in  the  fall 
of  1847,  Mr.  Allen  was  married  to  Lydia  A.,  the 
daughter  of  .James  H.  Coleman,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. The  young  couple  took  up  their  abode  on 
a  tract  of  wild  land  which  our  subject  had  pur- 
chased from  his  father,  and  on  which  only  one 
tree  had  been  cut.  He  erected  a  log  house,  in 
which  he  lived  for  some  time,  and  began  clearing 
the  est^ate  whicli  is  his  plac-e  of  residence  to-day. 

A  few  years  after  starting  out  on  his  own  re- 
sponsibilitj-,  Mr.  Allen  procured  a  yoke  of  oxen 
and  did  teaming  for  about  five  years,  after  which 
he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  some  time 
in  his  neighborhood.  He  has  recently  erected  on 
his  place  a  barn  34x70  feet  in  dimensions  and  eigh- 
teen feet  high.  This  was  built  entirely  in  accordance 
with  an  original  idea  of  his  own,  and  in  its  con- 
struction he  did  not  use  a  chisel  or  a  stick  of  tim- 
ber thicker  than  2x8,  j'et  it  is  considered  strong 
and  substantial  in  every  particular.  In  his  earlier 
years  he  did  some  contr.acting  and  built  two  miles 
of  pike.  His  first  house,  which  he  constructed 
himself,  cost  him  just  seventy-five  cents,  but  the 
comfortable  structure  in  which  he  now  makes  his 
home  is  among  the  best  in  the  township. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Allen  came  from  Kentucky 
with  his  father,  Philip  Coleman,  who  in  turn  was 
a  son  of  Henry  Coleman,  a  native  of  Montgomery 
County.  Pa.,  and  a  hatter  by  trade.  Her  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Susann.ah  Snider,  .and  the  mar- 
riage of  her  parents  occurred  February  20.  1817. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  six  of  whom 
are    living;    the    mother    died    .January     1,   1841. 


The  lady  whom  Mr.  Coleman  chose  as  his  second 
wife,  March  5,  1841,  was  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Summers. 
The  father,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
.Shelby  County,  died  in  Logan  County,  .January 
10,  1882.  Mrs.  Allen  has  a  workbasket  in  her 
possession  which  her  mother  purchased  of  the 
Indians  in  this  locality,  and  which  she  prizes  verj" 
highly.  She  also  has  some  garments  that  her 
mother,  with  her  assistance,  spun  and  wove  many 
years  ago,  when  tlie  pioneei-s  were  accustomed  to 
make  by  hand  all  their  own  wearing  apparel  as 
well  as  carpets. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  have  been  born  ten  chil- 
dren, namely:  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Mary,  Hannah  C, 
Silas  D.,  Eliza,  (dece.Tsed),  Lydia  A.,  George  P., 
Ella  C.  and  James  C.  All  those  living  are  mar- 
ried and  established  in  good  homes  of  their  own. 
Although  reared  a  Whig  in  politics,  our  subject, 
since  18.56,  has  voted  with  the  Democratic  part}- 
and  has  been  the  incumbent  of  the  various  local 
positions  of  trust  and  honor.  With  his  wife,  he  is 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  with  which  denomination  he  has  been 
connected  for  a  half  century.  At  one  time  he 
owned  four  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
but  since  dividing  his  estate  among  his  children, 
now  has  only  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  which 
are  pleas.antly  located  on  sections  2.5  and  26,  and 
whicli  he  has  developed  from  the  wilderness  by  his 
own  hands.  Not  only  has  he  been  a  witness  of 
almost  the  entire  growth  of  this  section  of  the 
.State,  but  he  has  also  contributed  his  quota  to  its 
upbuilding,  and  his  portrait  presented  in  this  con- 
nection is  therefore  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
volume. 


^->^^Sf^ 


(*^S)HOMAS  B.  M(  CORJIICK.  When  mention 
l( (^%  is  made  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  .Shelby 
^^^f/  County,  the  ni-SIhe  of  this  successful  agricul- 
turist of  Jackson  Township  should  be  included. 
For  several  generations  the  family  of  whicli  he  is 
a   member  has  been  represented   in    the   Buckeye 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


271 


State,  and  has  contributed  to  its  progress  and  the 
development  of  its  material  resources.  His  pater- 
nal grandfather  owned  a  section  of  land  where  the 
city  of  Hamilton  now  stands,  and  afterward  pur- 
cliased  two  sections  in  Greene  County,  this  State. 
With  the  assistance  of  his  two  sons,  lie  hiiilt  the 
Kniseley  Mills  in  Mad  River  Township,  and  also 
devoted  considerable  attention  to  general  farming 
pursuits.  During  the  Revolutionary  War,  lie 
fought  for  the  independence  of  tlie  Colonies  .and 
was  present  al  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at 
Vorktown. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  James  McCorinick. 
possessed  the  family  characteristics  of  enterprise 
.and  patriotism.  He  was  born  in  PennsN-lvania  in 
ITltO,  and  in  early  manhood  served  his  country  in 
tlie  War  of  1812.  After  coming  to  Greene  County, 
Ohio,  he  was  married  to  Klizabetli  .'^hearer,  who, 
like  himself,  was  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State, 
and  wa-s  born  in  1802.  In  18;31.  he  removed  from 
(u-eene  to  Slielb\-  County,  and  settled  in  the  south 
part  of  Jackson  Township,  of  which  lie  and  his 
family  were  the  first  white  settlers.  Frcim  that 
day  to  this,  the  McCormiek  family  has  been  promi- 
nent in  the  public  affairs  of  tlie  township,  and  is 
probably  better  known  than  any  other  family 
therein. 

During  the  early  days  of  his  settlement  in  .lack- 
son  Township,  James  McCormiek  endured  the 
hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  was  surrounded  by 
Indians  and  wild  animals.  He  was  not  permitted 
to  enjoy  the  fruitsof  hi.-  laliors.  for  he  was  removed 
liy  death  in  1842.  when  still  in  life's  prime.  His 
wife  survived  until  isii4.  They  were  members  of 
the  Reformed  Church.  Politically,  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  served  as  the  first  Townsliip  Trustee,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  first  (Jverseers  of  the  Poor. 
Their  family  nuniliered  eleven  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Three  sons  served  in  the 
Civil  War.  one  of  whom.  Francis  M.,  was  a  soldier 
in  Company  K,  Fifty-seventh  (_)hio  Infantry,  and 
died  in  the  .Marine  Hospital  at  .st.  Louis.  M.i.. 
in   1862. 

The  subject  of  this  sketcli  w.as  born  at  tlie  old 
homestead  in  Jackson  Townsliip.  January  24.  1839. 
and  grew  to  manhood  amid  tlie  pioneer  scenes  of 
the  county.     In  1861,  he  enlisted   in  Company  K,   j 


Fifty-seventh  Ohio  Infantry,  at  the  organization 
of  the  regiment  in  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  was  Sec- 
ond Sergeant  of  his  company  and  acted  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  Orderly  .Sergeant  during  all  the  time  of 
his  service.  Witli  his  regiment  he  marched  to  Pa- 
ducah,  Ky..  and  from  there  to  Pittsburgh  Landing, 
where  he  participated  in  an  engagement  with  tlie 
enemy.  At  Corinth.  Miss.,  he  became  ill  with  king 
fever  and  later  with  broncliitis.  from  which  lie 
suffered  severely.  After  a  service  of  seventeen 
months,  he  was  honorably  discliarged  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio. 

The  marriage  of  our  suliject,  November  2.  1863, 
united  him  with  Elizabeth  Ilawver,  who  was  born 
in  Miami  County.  Ohio,  January  2.5,  1839.  Mrs. 
McCoimick  is  the  daughterof  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Brown)  Ilawver,  natives  of  Maryland,  and  born 
respectively  in  1791  and  1797.  After  their  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  in  ^laiyland  in  1816,  Mr. 
and  JIi-s.  Hawver  resided  in  their  native  State  until 
1837,  when  they  removed  to  Miami  County,  and 
there  the  former  died.  In  185.5,  Mrs.  Hawver  re- 
moved to  Shelby  County  and  bought  a  farm  in 
Jackson  Township,  where  she  resided  until  death. 
.She  and  her  husband  were  faithful  members  of  tlie 
Lutheran  Church,  and  politically,  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. They  were  the  parents  of  tliirteen  children, 
seven  of  wliom  are  still  living. 

For  one  year  following  his  marriage,  Mr.  Mc- 
Coniiick  resided  on  a  farm  south  of  Jackson  Centre, 
whence  he  moved  to  .Salem  Township  and  made 
his  home  on  a  rented  farm  for  eight  years.  He 
then  removed  to  his  present  estate,  which  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  and  is 
ciJiisidered  one  of  the  most  finely-improved  farms 
in  the  community.  Mr.  McCormiek  and  his  es- 
timable wife  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but 
adopted  a  child.  Edgar,  when  he  was  two  years 
old  and  gave  him  every  educational  advantage 
within  their  power,  as  well  .as  the  care  and  love 
which  they  would  have  bestowed  upon  a  child  of 
their  own^  Edgar  is  a  graduate  of  the  Ohio  Medi- 
cal College  and  is  now  an  active  practitioner  at 
Kossuth,  tliis  State. 

Besides  being  a  successful  farmer.  Mr.  McCor- 
miek is  an  enterprising  citizen,  and  is  always  anx- 
ious to  promote  any  project  that  will  advance  the 


272 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


interests  of  the  community.  He  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  School  Bo.ard,  and  has  been  Trustee 
and  Treasurer  of  Jackson  Township  for  the  past 
ten  years.  For  twenty  years  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  Reformed  Church,  in  whicli  he  has  filled 
oflicial  positions.  His  wife  is  also  active  in  the 
good  works  of  the  Reformed  Church,  of  which  she 
has  been  a  member  since  she  was  eighteen  years 
of  aare. 


-ALTER  S.  ROEBUCK,  of  the  firm  of  Koe- 
f'  buck  it  Brand,  editors  and  proprietors  of 
^^^^'  the  Logan  County  Index,  was  born  in 
Bellefontaine,  July  31,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Jo- 
seph and  Arpatia  M.  (Shepherd)  Roebuck,  natives 
respectively  of  Ohio  and  Virginia.  The  elder  ^Ir. 
Roebuck  came  to  Bellefontaine  at  an  early  day,  at 
a  time  when  the  Indians  inhabited  the  country, 
and  carried  on  his  business  of  a  tailor  in  this  place 
until  his  decease,  which  occurred  in  1877.  His 
widow,  who  still  survives,  has  attained  the  ad- 
vanced ,age  of  eighty-one  years. 

Our  subject  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in 
the  parental  family  of  three  sons,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place.  When  fourteen  years  of  age,  in  the 
midst  of  his  studies,  he  enlisted  in  Company  L, 
Second  Ohio  Heavy  Artillery,  and  served  his 
country  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  one  of 
the  youngest  soldiers  from  Logan  County. 

After  the  close  of  hostilities,  our  subject  returned 
to  this  city  and  engaged  at  work  in  tlie  iirinting- 
office  of  the  RfpubUran,  and  served  liis  full  ap- 
prenticeship in  that  art.  He  then  worked  at  the 
printer's  trade  in  different  cities  for  several 
years,  and  in  187.5,  going  to  W.ashinglon,  D.  C, 
was  employed  in  the  Government  printing-ottice 
for  five  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he 
again  returned  to  this  place,  and  in  187!)  pur- 
chised  a  half  interest  in  his  present  office,  which 
was  then  owned  by  J.  H.  Bowman.  They  contin- 
ued   together   until    August.   188'),   when  the  firm 


name  was  changed  to  Roebuck  <fe  Brand,  the  latter 
gentleman  having  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Bowman.  The  Index  h.as  continued  nnder  its 
present  management  very  successfully  and  has  a 
ver^-  largo  circulation.  The  office  is  well  equipped 
with  all  modern  machinery,  having  a  Cottrell 
press.  The  paiier,  which  is  an  eight-page  folio, 
is  a  spicy  and  newsy  sheet,  containing  all  the  cur- 
rent and  local  news. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  Roebuck  was  married  in 
1873  was  Miss  Mattie  M.  Gulp,  of  Springfield, 
tills  .State.  To  them  have  been  granted  a  family 
of  four  .sons  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Lee  J., 
Charles  W.,  Florence  N.,  Edwin  C,  and  Carl  JI. 
Mrs.  Roebuck  is  a  devoted  and  conscientious  mem- 
ber of  the  Jlethodist  Episcop.al  Churcli,  and  her 
husb.and,  in  social  affairs,  is  a  prominent  jNIason, 
Knight  of  Pythias.  Odd  Fellow  and  Grand  Army 
man.  He  also  lielongs  to  several  insurance  orders, 
and  w.as  District  Deputy  of  the  IndependentOrder 
of  Odd  Fellows  for  two  terms,  and  served  as  a 
representative  of  that  body  for  a  like  period.  He 
is  greatly  interested  in  secret  societies  and  is  an 
active  worker  in  the  same.  He  has  been  elected 
to  the  position  of  Alderman  of  Bellefontaine  and 
is  heartily  in  favor  of  whatever  scheme  is  ad- 
vanced to  promote  the  interests  of  his  county. 


L^^ME  SIDNEY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  was  in- 
(f^\  corporated  as  a  stock  company  on  the  5th 
\^/'  of  December.  1869,  by  the  citizens  of  the 
city  subscribing  to  a  stock,  as  follows:  A.  J.  Robert- 
son. Jason  JlcVay,  S.  A.  Leckey,  Robert  Given, 
John  H.  Mathers,  George  Vogle,  L.  C.  Barkall, 
William  P.  Metcalf,  James  Johnson,  H.  C.  Morhing, 
.S.  G.  McCullough,  L.  E.  Mathers,  Hugh  Thompson, 
A.  L.  Marshall,  N.  R.  Wyman,  E.  31.  Green,  H. 
Guthrie.  0.  O.  jMathers,  J.  W.  P.ampell,  II.  H. 
Spr.ague,  James  McKercher,  Joseph  (i.  Irwin,  H.  S. 
Conkli;i,Zinn  &  Hoover,  Jonathan  Counts,  Turner 
k  Bro.,  William  McCullough,  R.   K.  Lytic,  James 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


273 


A.  Wells,  R.  MuCaslin,   D.   L.   A-  George  S.  Bush, 

B.  F.  Carey,  John  Bailej-,  B.  W.  Maxwell,  Al- 
exander Green,  James  Caldwell,  James  Murray, 
and  James  R.  Kendall,  each  of  whom  paid  $28.50. 

Benjamin  W.  Good  paid  ¥.30.50;  J.  S.  Crosier 
S29.00;  A.  B.  Coles.  *30.00;  H.  Wilson,  ¥.'51.30; 
W^illiani  U.  Lucans,  $7.50;  William  II.  Khodehamel, 
§17.22;  A.  Clanson,  810.25;  H.  A.  Kliodehamel, 
¥14.00;  James  M.  Fletcher,$5.00;  Josepli  :\IcGon.agb. 
§11.00;  II.  G.  .'^teeley,  §5.00;  Alexander  Ramsey. 
*I5.00;  Clay  K.  Joslin,  ¥17.50;  M.  C.  Hale,  ¥5.0(1; 
J.  S.  Conklin,  $10.00;  J.  A.  Henry,  $8.50;  Ed  .Smith, 
$20.00;  Benjamin  Shisser.  $2.50;  William  C.  Wy- 
nian,  $21.00;  Dr.  A.  AVilsou,  $14.00;  II.  Rauth, 
$16.50;  John  (i.  .Stephenson,  $10.00;  John  A.  Cum- 
mins, $25.00;  N.R.Burress, $14.00;  A.  J.  Rebstook, 
$14.00;  R.  M.Trego,  $7.40;  Willi.am  Binkley,$5.00; 
H.  C.  Kolierts.  $2.50;  J.  15.  Walker,  $2.50;  C.  E. 
Fielding.  $2.50,  and  R.  15.  Thorn,  $10.00.  AVhole 
amount  paid  in.  $1,506.  27. 

This  was  run  .is  a  stock  company  until  October, 
1876,  when  it  was  turned  over  to  the  ^Monumental 
Library  Association  in  the  Monumental  Building, 
and  remained  in  a  dormant  state  until  1885,  when 
it  was  under  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion. In  1886,  William  C.  W^-man  was  appointed 
Librarian  b^-  the  Town  Council  and  after  .Septem- 
ber 1  it  was  to  be  open  every  day,  Sunday  ex- 
cepted, from  8.30  A.  M.  until  'J  V.  M.  Mr.  Wy- 
man  has  held  this  position  ever  since,  with  the 
exception  of  one  year,  and  there  are  an  average  of 
two  hundred  and  tifty  books  out  per  day.  There 
is  al-so  a  depository  of  United  .States  public  docu- 
ments. 


— 1-^#^--— ^ 


W.  SIDKSINGER.  Agriculture  and  stock- 
raising  have  formed  the  principal  occupa- 
f — \  tion  of  this  gentleman,  and  the  wide-awake 
manner  in  wliich  he  has  taken  advantage  of  all 
methods  and  ideas  tending  to  enhancing  the  value 
of  his  property  h:is  had  a  sreat  di-al  to  do  with 
obtaining  the  compi-tciici.-   which    he    now   enjoys. 


His  fine  farm  lies  five  miles  northeast  of  West 
Liberty,  on  the  West  Liberty  and  Zanesfield  Pike, 
in  Monroe  Township,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  is 
a  very  pleasant  and  attractive  sjwt. 

Mr.  Sidesinger  w.as  born  in  Whitestown.  Adams 
County,  Pa.,  February  4,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of 
Leonard  Sidesinger,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
count}-  and  State,  June  6,  1787,  and  was  reared  on 
the  same  f.irm.  tirandfather  Sidesinger  was  a  na- 
tive of  Germany  and  a  bell-maker  by  trade.  Our 
subject's  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Marv  A. 
McElwee,  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa., 
M.ay  18,  1794,  and  was  of  Irisli  parent.age.  Tlie 
parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  their  native 
State  and  there  the  mother  died  in  1824.  After- 
ward the  father  married  ^Ii>s  Ivancy  I..  Cook,  a 
native  of  York  County,  Pa.,  and  later  moved  to 
Miami  County,  Ohio,  thence  to  Champaign  County 
of  that  .State  and  finall}*  to  Logan  County,  where 
his  death  occurred  December  21, 1869.  In  politics, 
he  was  first  a  Whig  .and  later  a  Republican.  To 
his  first  marriage  were  born  five  children,  two 
daughters  and  three  sons,  all  of  whom  re.aclied 
mature  years.  The}'  were  as  follows:  Sarah  (de- 
ceased); Barbara  A.  resides  with  our  subject; 
.Samuel  (deceased);  Leonard  W.,  our  subject,  and 
James  J.,  in  Adams  County.  Pa.  To  the  second 
marriage  were  born  six  children,  two  daughters 
and  four  sons,  viz.:  .lohii.  of  Jlonroe  Township, 
this  county;  llanict  (decetised).  Rebecca  (de- 
ceased); Hiram,  of  Illinois;  William  A.  (deceased), 
and  Gordon  (deceased).  Mi's.  Sidesinger.  the  mo- 
ther of  the  last-named  children,  was  born  Feljru- 
ary  11.  1805,  and  died  December  28.  1838. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  the  fourth  child  and 
second  son.  w.as  twelve  yeare  of  age  when  he 
moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  Miami  County,  Ohio, 
and  his  early  cducatiou  was  received  in  the  log 
schoolhouses  of  his  native  .State.  He  assisted  his 
fatlier  on  the  farm  until  about  1850,  when  he  and 
his  brother  Samuel  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  on 
rented  laud,  and  continued  togetiier  for  about  two 
years.  Then  our  subject  branched  out  for  himself 
and  %v.as  married  August  29.  1863,  in  Jlouroe 
Township.  Logan  County,  Oliio.  to  ]Miss  Mary  A. 
Foust,  a  daughter  of  Ili-nry  and  ,M:irgaret  (Yohu) 
Foust,  and  a  native  of  .Sunuuit  Couul\'.  Ohio,  born 


27-1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArfflCAL  RFXORD. 


January  23,  1836.  Her  parents  were  both  natives 
of  ^'orthalnpton  Count.y,  Pa.,  wbere  they  were 
married  and  there  they  resided  until  1831.  when 
thev  came  to  Summit  Count}-,  Ohio.  Later,  (ir 
about  1838,  they  moved  to  Logan  County,  where 
the  father  died  in  18711  :ind  the  mother  when  in 
her  seventy-ninth  year.  Thev  were  the  parents  of 
thirteen  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
years  and  all  are  living  at  the  present  time  except 
one. 

Our  subject  located  on  tlie  farm  where  he  now 
lives  soon  after  marriage  and  is  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  sixt\'-three  acres  where  he  resides 
and  thirty-five  acres  in  Jetferson  Township,  lie  is 
a  prominent  farmer  and  stock-raiser  .and  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  his  section.  He  was  formerly  n 
Whig  in  politics,  afterward  a  Republican,  and  has 
been  Township  Trustee  for  seventeen  years.  He 
was  also  Supervisor  of  Roads.  lie  has  erected  all 
the  buildings  on  his  farm  and  is  progressive  and 
enterprising. 


W[  OHN  A.  RUSSELL.  But  few  of  the  farmers 
I  of  Shelby  County  have  met  with  more  sub- 
j    stantial  success  in    their  calling   than    Mr. 


"■^^i;  Russell,  whose  push,  determination  and 
practical  ability  have  placed  him  among  the  fore- 
most agriculturists  of  Clinton  Township.  He  has 
valuable  landed  interests  on  section  22,  and  his 
farm,  with  its  broad,  well-tilled  fields  and  fine  im- 
provements, is  classed  among  the  most  productive 
in  this  locality.  It  is  also  embellished  witli  excel- 
lent buildings,  not  the  le.ast  among  which  is  the 
comfortable  residence,  which  alone  prficlaims  its 
proprietor  to  be  a  man  of  taste  aud  mean-^. 

.Joshua  Russell,  the  father  of  our  sulijeet.  was 
born  in  Augusta  County.  \'a..  in  1808.  He  was  a 
boy  when  his  parents  removed  to  Greene  County, 
this  State,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  and  in 
183.5  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  McClure,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Virginia,  having  been  born  in  a 
county    adjuining  that  of    her   husband    in     I8U5. 


Soon  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mi-s.  Russell 
came  to  Shelby  Count}-,  and  made  location  in  the 
northern  portion  of  Clinton  Township,  where  thev 
resided  until  their  de.ith.  the  mother  p.assingawav- 
February  22,  1874.  and  the  father  dying  July  7, 
1884.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church,  and  had  born  to  them  a  family  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  the  eldest  died  in  infancy. 
William  A.  is  at  present  residing  in  Turtle  Creek 
Township;  Moses  J.  is  a  farmer  in  Clinton  Town- 
slii|i:  Cyrus  J.  died  in  the  army,  being  a  member 
of  Company  H,  Ninety-ninth  Ohio  Infantrj-;  John 
A.  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth;  Mary  J.  married 
Adam  Russell;  Margaret  E.  departed  this  life  In 
the  fall  of  1888;  jMartha  K.  is  the  wife  of  William 
Russell,  of  Clinton  Townshi]),  and  our  subject. 

John  A.  Russell  w.as  boru  in  Clinton  Township. 
Shelby  County.  July  4,  1842.  and  received  a  prac- 
tical education  in  the  common  schools,  and  was 
trained  by  his  worthy  parent*  to  farm  pursuits. 
He  resided  at  homo  until  his  marriage,  September 
22,  1873,  at  which  time  Miss  Mary  B.  Hohn,  who 
w.as  born  in  Turtle  Creek  Township,  this  county, 
January  ,3,  1855,  became  his  wife.  Mrs.  Russell 
was  the  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Mary  (Strouse) 
Hohn,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  JNIontgom- 
ery  County,  this  State,  in  1826,  and  the  latter  w.-is 
born  in  Reading.  Pa.,  in  1828.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hohn 
were  united  in  marriage  in  Dayton,  and  soon  after 
located  in  Jlontgomery  County,  where  thev  re- 
sided until  1854.  the  date  of  their  coming  to  Tur- 
tle Creek  Township.  They  later  took  up  their 
abode  in  Clinton  Township,  where  they  m.ake  their 
home  at  the  present  time.  The  children  com- 
prised in  their  family  bear  the  respective  names 
of  Mary  B.,  William  E.,  Frank  L..  Melinda  R.  and 
M.  A.  King.  Adaui  D.  is  deceased,  and  also  Sarah 
L..  who  died  in  infancy. 

Siicm  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Russell  of  this 
sketch  located  in  Clinton  Township,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  His  estate,  which  comprises  eighty 
acres,  as  mentioned  in  our  opening  paragraph,  is 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  township,  and  is  so  culti- 
vated .as  to  bring  its  owner  a  handsome  income. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  two 
children.  Jennie  M.  and  Martha  E. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  a  stanch  Republican  in 


PORTRAJT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


275 


politics,  but  could  not  in  any  sense  be  termed  an 
office-seeker,  as  he  prefers  to  devote  his  time  and 
attention  to  his  private  aCfairs.  Witli  his  wife,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
their  place  in  the  community  is  a  most  enviable 
one,  as  they  enjoy  the  confidence  of  a  host  of  warm 
personal  friends. 


DlTi^,  ARVKY  OrTHRlK.  who  ha<  won  a  hiafli 
1  reputation  as  a  wide-awake  and  progressive 
citizen  of  .*^helby  County,  occupies  the  re- 
'v^;  sponsible  position  of  .Superintendent  of  the 
Infirmary.  Hi?  honorable  record  as  a  man.  as  a 
citizen  and  in  the  business  world,  stanijK  him  as 
one  upon  wliom  perfect  reliance  can  be  placed, 
wlio  is  trusted  in  all  things,  and  who,  as  a  citizen. 
is  of  value  to  any  community. 

A  native  of  Virginia,  our  subject  w.as  born  in 
Pulaski  County,  July  28.  1828.  ami  is  a  >on  of 
James  (t.  and  Elizaliclli  (Deskins)  (iuthrie.  both 
natives  of  Virginia.  They  emigrated  to  this  State 
and  county  in  the  fall  of  182U,  and  after  a  residence 
here  of  two  yeai-s.  the  fatlier  purch-t-ed  a  farm  in 
Washington  Tuwn>liip.  where  they  resided  until 
their  decease. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  very  prominent 
in  his  community,  and  his  fellow-citizens, appreciat- 
ing the  fact  that  lie  was  a  man  of  great  merit, 
worthy  in  every  way  ut  tlieir  consideration,  fre- 
o|uently  selected  liini  to  fill  some  public  position, 
and  he  held  most  of  the  township  ottices.  such  ;i.> 
that  of  County  Comun>.-ioner.  Justice  of  tlie  Peace 
and  Associate  Judge.  Hi;  death  resulted  from  a 
ver\'  serious  fall  in  1844.  He  and  his  family  were 
highly  esteemed  in  their  community,  being  pleas- 
ant and  intelligent  people  whom  it  was  a  pleasvu'e 
to  meet. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest  of  the 
parental  family  of  three  sinis  and  four  daughters. 
He    spent    the    ^icali-i     pMi  l    uf   his    early    life    in 


Washington  Township,  Shelby  County,  where  he 
received  a  practical  education  and  was  trained  to 
farm  pursuits,  which  h.as  been  his  life  occupation. 
He  continued  to  make  his  home  on  the  old  farm 
in  the  above-named  township  until  the  fall  of  1868, 
when  he  removed  to  Sidney,  having  been  elected 
to  the  position  of  County  Auditor.  In  March. 
188.5,  he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  the 
.Shelby  County  Infirmary,  which  position  he  has 
since  filled  to  the  entire  satisf.action  of  the  com- 
munity. He  is  numbered  among  the  most  ardent 
sujiporters  of  the  Democratic  party  and  promoted 
it5  welfare  in  every  possible  w.ay,  c.asting  his  ballot 
for  its  candidates  and  using  his  intkience  in  behalf 
of  its  principles.  There  are  no  measures  proposed 
for  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the  com- 
munity and  its  citizens  which  fail  to  receive  the 
hearty  endoi-seinent  of  Mr.  Guthrie,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  the  ottices  already  mentioned,  he  was  Jus- 
tice of  the  Pea';e  in  Washington  Township  for 
twelve  yeai-s.  and  for  two  years  held  the  honorable 
office  of  M.ayor  of  Sidney. 

The  lady  to  whom  our  subject  was  married  in  Sep- 
tember. 18.')7.  bore  the  name  of  Ella  F.  Mellinger. 
a  daughter  of  the  late  William  Mellinger.  Her 
father,  who  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this 
county,  came  hitiier  as  early  .as  1807.  and  was  well 
known  and  highly  esteemed  throughout  the  entire 
county.  Mrs.  Guthrie  was  Ijorn  near  Lcx'kington. 
this  State,  wlicre  slie  was  reared  to  womanhood. 
P,y  her  marriage  liave  been  born  three  children, 
viz.:  James  \V..  wIhi  married  Retta  Plains;  Marv 
A.,  and  Cma. 

^Ir.  (iuthrie  is  the  itroprietorof  a  \aluable  estate, 
comprising  two  hundred  and  ten  .acres,  which  is 
well  equipped  with  a  fine  set  of  buildings  and  all 
the  m.achinery  used  by  a  progressive  farmer.  Pri(jr 
to  entei-ing  public  life,  he  devoted  his  time  and 
attention  to  farm  pursuits,  and  by  application  to 
business,  and  fair  and  honest  dealinors.  won  a  com- 
fortable competence.  He  was  elected  to  his  pres- 
ent position  in  the  winter  of  lSG8-09,and  has  under 
his  charge  about  sixty  inmates.  His  whole  career 
shows  him  to  be  a  man  of  honor,  with  an  open 
heart  and  fair  mind,  just  and  generous  in  his  deal- 
ings and  incorruptible  in  money  matters.  His 
fellow-citizens    fully  ap[ireciateil    tlie    force    of   his 


27(5 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


ohaiacteristics,  and  knowing  bis  executive  ability, 
did  well  when  they  elected  hira  to  hi;*  i-esponsible 
position. 

In  social  matters,  our  sulijecl  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  also  connected  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  lie  was 
elected  by  his  fellow-citizens  as  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention  which  met  in  Cincin- 
nati in  1873-74,  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the 
Oliio  State  Constitution.  Mr.  and  JIi-s.  (Juthrie 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  stand 
high  in  the  estimation  of  their  neighbors,  who 
know  them  to  be  sincere,  true-hearted  people, 
helpful  toward  others  who  may  be  in  need  of  as- 
sistance and  always  friendly  in  their  relations  with 
those  about  them. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  .subject,  who 
bore  the  name  of  Richard  Guthrie,  was  born  in 
Slarylaud.  The  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
and  down  the  entire  line  of  descent  liave  always 
been  prominenth- connected  with  the  most  leading 
interests  of  tlieir  community'.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  Mr.  (juthrie  was  .Stephen  Deskins, 
whom,  it  is  thought,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
probably  of  English  origin.  The  wife  of  that 
gentleman  was  a  Jliss  Mcintosh,  whose  ancestor 
originated  in  Scotland. 


^#^N"t^i|^^l 


R.  F.  C.  HUNTER.  The  well-known  phy- 
sician whose  name  appears  at  tlie  head  of 
this  sketch  impresses  even  those  who  meet 
him  ill  a  casual  way  as  a  man  wlio  luis 
drifted  easily  and  naturally  into  the  medical  pro- 
fession, and  who  realizes  that  he  h.as  made  no  mi,— 
t.ake  in  tlie  choice  of  his  vocation.  Thi^  impres- 
sion is  deepened  on  a  more  intimate  acipiaiiitance, 
and  the  success  which  he  h.as  achieved  is  the  logi- 
cal sequence  of  talent  rightly  used.  His  advent  into 
this  world  took  place  in  Clarke  County.  Ohio.  .Inly 
■1,  1846.  His  father  was  Dr.  JI.  R.  Hunter,  a  native 
of  Clarke  Countv.  Ohio,  of  which  county  his  people 
were  piouL-Kr=.      He  was  graduated   at   the   Cincin- 


nati Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  and  the  most  of  his 
life  has  been  spent  as  a  medical  practitioner  of 
Catawba,  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  of  which  place  he 
Is  still  an  honored  resident.  He  has  attained  con- 
siderable prominence  in  his  profession,  which  repu- 
tation is  the  result  of  intelligence,  energy  and  in- 
dustry never  misapplied. 

Dr.  F.  C.  Hunter  is  the  only  son  of  his  parents, 
and  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  and  in  the  public 
.schools  of  the  same,  has  received  his  education,  giv- 
ing reasonably  close  attention  to  his  studies  there 
until  he  was  eleven  yeai-sof  age,  when  he  was  sent 
to  school  at  Springfield,  afterward  to  Xenia,  and 
still  later  to  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio.  In  18G.3,  when 
Init  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  became  fired  with 
the  spirit  of  patriotism,  and  offered  his  services  tt 
his  country,  enlisting  in  Company  H,  Twentj-- 
fourth  Iowa  Regiment.  His  friends  were  very 
much  opposed  to  his  enlisting  in  the  service,  on  ac- 
count of  his  youtli,  and  to  gain  his  ends  he  ran 
away  from  home  and  went  to  Iowa,  where  he 
joined  the  Union  forces  unmolested.  He  served  un- 
til the  surrender  of  Lee's  army  at  Appomattox,  and 
although  he  was  the  youngest  soldier  of  his  regi- 
ment, he  was  none  the  less  faithful  and  eflicient. 
He  was  with  Gen.  Banks  on  his  Red  River  expedi- 
tion, and  iu  the  engagement  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads 
he  received  a  slight  wound  in  the  left  leg  by  a  gun 
shot.  He  w.as  honorably  discharged  at  Davenport, 
Iowa,  August  3,  180.5,  after  which  he  returned  to 
his  liome  in  Ohio,  and  later  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  worked  in  the  Champion  Machine  Shops. 
His  spare  moments  were  devoted  to  the  study  of 
such  medical  books  as  he  could  obtain,  and  in 
1872  he  w.os  graduated  from  the  Eclectic  Medical 
College  of  Cincinnati. 

In  the  sjiring  of  the  same  year,  our  subject  came 
to  Wapakonota,  and  for  two  years  was  a  faithful 
practitioner  of  this  city.  He  next  took  up  his 
abode  in  Fryburgli,  Ohio,  which  place  was  the 
scene  of  his  labors  for  seven  subsequent  3-ears.  In 
1881.  he  returned  to  Wapakoneta.  and  he  has  been 
a  medical  practitioner  and  a  successful  pharmacist 
of  that  city  up  to  the  present  time.  That  he  en- 
tered upon  his  work  thoroughly  equipped  and 
fully  prepared  lo  meet  any  professional  demands 
that  might  be  made  upon   him,  is  attested    by    the 


/fy-ZooA-a^      Cy.     O^V>c<: 


/'Zi^'Z^ta.^ 


e^^^yi/ 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


281 


fact  that  success  lias  attended  his  efforts  from  tlic 
start.  In  18S4,  his  ability  was  recognized,  and  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  Comity  Coroner,  tlie 
duties  of  which  he  lias  since  continuously  dis- 
charged, lie  is  tlie  present  County  Physician  and 
Infirmary  Physician,  having  held  the  former  office 
for  al)out  eight  yeare.  lie  is  a  member  of  the  An- 
cient Free  and  Accepted  Jlasons,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternities,  in  all  of  which  he  i>  an  honored  and 
prominent  member.  He  wa^  married  in  1873,  to 
Miss  Anna  Ilerlist.  l)y  wliom  he  has  four  children; 
Charles  M.,  Roy  F..  Editli  L.  and  Nellie  .M.  :Mrs. 
Hunter  is  a  worthy  membei'  of  the  (iermaii  Lutli- 
eran  Church. 

Oiir  subject's  father.  M.  1\.  Hunter,  was  married 
to  Nancy  .Tanc  Ooodlove.  This  iini<in  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  twochihlren.  luir  >ulijei-t  and  I\Iarv. 
The  motlier  died  in  18.J0.  and  the  father  in  I8C1 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  ^IcK'i.nikey.  having  three 
children  by  this  union.  JIary,  Fred  and  .Sallie. 


ti^^r^o^i^ 


'J^  H.  L.  >T1':TKR,  .Instice  of  the  Peace.  Xo- 
K^rfe;  tar\-  Public,  auctioneer  and  general  col- 
.X>  lector,  of  New  Bremen,  is  one  of  the  well- 

known  and  highly-esteemed  citizens  of  Auglaize 
County.  Like  many  otlier  prominent  men  of  Liliio, 
he  was  born  in  (■erniany.  at  Hanover,  his  natal 
(lay  being  April  20.  \S.)'J. 

(iarrett  H.  Nieter,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  native  of  the  same  country  as  him^elf.  and  w.as 
foreman  of  seven  teams  hauling  goods  from  Berlin 
to  Hanover.  He  followed  that  Inisiness  until  .Sep- 
tember. 1834.  when  heconcludeil  to  try  his  fortune 
in  the  States.  He  took  pa>.-aL;i-  at  Bremen,  and  at 
the  end  of  tliirteen  weeks  entcn-d  the  harbor  of 
New  Voik.  From  there  he  wmt  by  the  L.-ike-  to 
Toledo,  and  thence  to  New  Bienien  by  ua^^on.... 
making  that  longdistance  principally  thiouL'-h  the 
woods.  At  that  tiiiie  there  were  tliree  log  caliin.- 
in  New  Bremen.  Mr.  Nieter  |)inclia.-ed  forty  acre^. 
and  on    that   laud,   three   years    later,   liuilt  a  rude 


log  cabin.  Eighty  acres  more  were  pnrch.ased  in 
Shelby  County  two  years  later,  and  5Ir.  Nieter  be- 
gan working  on  the  canal  south  of  Troy,  to  earn  a 
living  for  himself  and  family.*  In  1842,  while  at- 
tempting to  place  some  barrels  in  the  loft  in  his 
cabin,  he  fell  to  the  floor  below  and  fractured  his 
skull,  living  only  about  four  hours  after  the  acci- 
dent. He  was  forty-five  years  of  .age  and  had  al- 
w.ays  lieen  strong  and  hearty,  never  having  taken 
any  medicine.  In  his  native  country,  he  had  mar- 
ried Miss  Jlonie  Giisky,  a  native  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  who  died  in  18.50.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  them.  One  died  on  the  ocean,  and  four 
are  now  living. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  the  third  in  or- 
der of  birth  of  these  children  and  w.as  reared  in 
New  Bremen  from  the  age  of  two  rears.  He  at- 
tended the  early  siibscri[)tioii  schools  here,  and  his 
first  teacher  received  §8  per  month  and  boarded 
himself.  The  sehoolhouse  was  a  rude  log  structure 
with  slab  seats  and  all  the  other  lionie-made  furni- 
ture of  that  day.  and  in  that  [jrimitive  building 
he  was  instructed  in  the  Three  R's  until  fourteen 
years  of  age.  The  story  of  the  life  of  this  [lioneer 
is  a  record  of  successful  contest  with  poverty  and 
hardsliips.  and  the  acquisition  of  a  liandsome  prop- 
erty liy  means  of  honest  industry.  He  left  home 
when  fifteen  years  of  age  to  cai've  out  his  own 
fortune,  went  to  Dayton  and  for  six  months 
worked  for  ¥4  jier  month  in  the  .Montgomerv  Ho- 
tel, returning  home  sick  at  the  end  i;>f  that  time. 
.Vfterward.  he  worked  fora  farmerfor  a  sliort  time, 
receiving  ¥8  per  month  for  his  services. 

In  1S48.  Mr.  Nieter  began  learning  the  cooper's 
trade  and  received  -sl.j  for  the  first  year  of  his 
aiipreiiticeship.  On  the  Ib'th  of  August.  l.s|;i.  he 
began  working  for  Fred  Speckman.  who  wa?  then 
engaged  in  the  cooper  business,  and  remained  witii 
him  until  18.'il.  when  he  was  seized  with  the  sjold 
fever.  He  determined  to  go  to  California,  but  be- 
fore he  could  arrange  his  financial  atfair^,  he  was 
taken  >irk  with  typhoid  fever  ami  for  two  nioiiths 
his  life  hung  by  a  threa.l.  Lpon  his  recovery,  he 
was  oliligcd  to  aliandon  liis  plan  of  goin^r  to  Cal- 
ifornia and  aci.'ordingly  embnikeil  in  luisiiiejs  al 
home.  In  1S."j2.  he  |iurcha>ed  the  riK.j.ei-  shop, 
including    the    loidence.    v(      Mr.    Spcrkman     for 


282 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


$1,300,  and   lie   and  that  gentleman  entered  into 

partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  Speelvman  tt 
IS'ieter.  They  manufauU^ed  all  kinds  of  barrels 
until  18(34.  and  met  with  flattering  success.  In 
April  of  the  hust-nientioncd  year,  they  started  a 
small  grocery  store  and  saloon  and  eng.iged  in 
auctioneering,  being  the  only  men  in  that  locality 
who  were  firsl-cl.ass  auctioneers.  They  also  dealt 
in   notes,  etc. 

In  1876.  Jlr.  Speckman  and  his  son  Fred  en- 
gaged in  the  dry-goods  business,  and  in  1881  our 
subject  became  a  partner,  the  firm  name  being 
Speckman.  Son  it  Co.  The  firm  also  dealt  in  grain 
and  pork  and  had  a  very  flourishing  business, 
owning  four  farms,  three  hundred  acres,  in  part- 
nership, beside  the  saloon  property  in  town.  On 
the  26th  of  April,  1855,  Mr.  Nieter  married  Jliss 
Maria  S.  Hellbush,  a  native  of  German  Township, 
Auglaize  County,  and  of  German  paront.age,  her 
parents  coming  from  Hanover,  Germany,  to  this 
country'.  Eleven  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  JMrs.  Meter,  those  living  being  Anna, 
wife  of  Peter  Erb,  an  agricultural  implement 
dealer,  of  Cincinnati;  William,  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Speckman,  GoU  &  Co.;  Clara,  in 
Springfield,  Ohio;  Vallerius,  Ferdinand  and  Emma, 
who  are  at  home.  Four  are  deceased,  the  eldest 
being  two  j'ears  of  age. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Nieter  is  a  stalwart  Democrat, 
and  is  an  influential  man  in  the  ranks  of  his  party. 
He  has  been  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  Probate 
.Judge  and  also  for  Clerk  of  the  Court,  but  w.as 
not  successful,  on  account  of  the  Republican  ma- 
jority in  the  county.  He  was  elected  Recorder 
before  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  served  two 
years  and  was  Mayor  of  the  city  for  five  years. 
He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Pe.ace  for  German 
Township,  and  has  discharged  the  duties  incum- 
bent on  that  office  for  the  past  twenty-seven  years. 
He  was  Clerk  of  tlie  township  for  several  years, 
Assessor  of  the  same  for  three  years.  Treasurer  for 
six  years  and  Secretary  of  the  New  Bremen  School 
Board  for  six  years.  He  was  appointed  Notary 
Public  in  1878,  and  has  filled  that  position  up  to 
the  present  time.  Since  1866,  he  has  been  Secre- 
tary of  the  Willow  Grove  Cen^etery  Association, 
and  has  rtiireseuted  the  Teutonic  Insurance  Com- 


pany of  Dayton.  He  has  stock,  one  hundred  and 
twent^'-five  shares  of  §10  each,  in  the  New  Bremen 
Natural  Gas  Company  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
German  Township  Oil  Company.  He  holds  twenty 
shares  in  the  Tri-County  Fair  Ai^sociation,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  progressive  and  substantial  men 
of  his  .section.  He  and  Jlrs.  Nieter  are  active 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  he  has  been 
Treasurer  for  six  years.  He  has  been  Adminis- 
trator a  great  many  times.  Guardian  and  Assignee, 
etc. 

The  attention  of  the  reailcr  is  invited  to  the 
portraits  of  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Nieter,  presented  else- 
Tvhere  in  this  volume. 


-^r-- 


1^  AVID  THOMAS,  retired  business  man  and 


jjj  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Zanes- 
field,  .Jefferson  Township,  Logan  Count}', 
^  Ohio,  was  bom  in  Bit.  Pleasant,  .Jefferson 

County,  (^hio.  on  the  .3d  of  April,  1813.  His 
father,  .Jesse  Tliomas,  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
and  was  there  reared  to  mature  years  and  married. 
At  a  very  early  date,  he  came  to  Ohio,  in  1802, 
and  locatcil  in  the  village  of  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Jefferson  County,  where  he  followed  the  saddler 
and  harness-m.aker's  trade  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  resided  there  until  his  death,  in  1817.  His 
father  was  Jesse  Thomas,  Sr.,  whose  family  orig- 
inated in  Wales.  The  mother  of  our  subject, 
whose  maiden  name  was  A.  .'^tanton.  was  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina,  where  she  w.as  reared, 
but  her  death  occurred  in  the  Buckeye  State.  Mr. 
and  J[rs.  Thomas  became  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  up  except  one.  Only  one  beside  our  subject 
is  now  living,  Ann  Eliza,  the  widow  of  Joseph 
Robb,  who  is  now  living  with  our  subject. 

David  Thomas  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth 
and  the  fourth  son  of  the  above-mentioned  chil- 
dren. He  was  i-eared  to  manhood  in  his  native 
t(jw[i  and  received  his  schol.astic  advantages  in  the 
subscriiition  schools  of  Mt.   Pleasant,   and    in    the 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOG  RAPID CAL   RECORD. 


district  schools  of  Jefferson  County.  He  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  and  assisted  his  father  on 
the  farm,  the  same  adjoining  the  village  of  Mt. 
Pleasant,  until  1848.  when  he  came  to  Logan 
County.  After  reaching  this  countv,  he  made  his 
home  for  many  years  with  his  brother  .Jonathan, 
who  was  engaged  in  general  farming  in  .Jefferson 
Townshi]).  He  has  met  with  the  best  of  success, 
and  being  an  exceilcnt  manager  and  of  superior 
business  acumen,  is  considered  one  of  the  promi- 
nent moneyed  men  of  the  county,  loaning  large 
and  small  sums. 

Jlr.  Thomas  has  made  what  he  has  liy  his  own 
industry,  has  ever  been  enterprising  and  progres- 
sive, and  is  one  of  the  most  influential  citizens  of 
his  vicinity.  To  all  enterprises  of  a  laudable  na- 
ture, he  gives  his  hearty  support,  contributes  lib- 
erally to  churches,  school?,  etc.,  and  is  in  every 
respect  a  most  honorable  and  upright  citizen. 
Altliough  well  along  in  ^-ears,  he  still  cnjo^-s  good 
health,  and  is  as  active  and  vigorous  as  most  men 
of  fifty.  His  parents  were  (Quakers  in  their  relig- 
ious views,  and  our  subject  has  imbibed  the  same 
ideas.  He  votes  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
his  first  Presidential  vote  was  for  William  Henry 
Harrison  in  1 8  40.  but  he  is  not  an  enthusiast  in  poli- 
tics. He  enjoys  single  blessedness  and  his  only 
living  sister  is  livinij  with  him. 


w 


W'OHX  H.  TnniEKMI-:iSTER.  This  name 
will  be  at  once  recognized  .as  that  of  a  lead- 
ing business  man  of  Auglaize  County,  who 
^^/'  is  probably  brttc>i-  kiKiwn  tiian  any  other 
merchant  within  it>  Ixiunds.  Tlic  i1ry-!_"Mids  estab- 
lishment over  whicli  he  presides  is  the  largest  in 
the  ciiunty.  an<l  is  WfU  titted  and  supplieil  with  a 
complete  line  of  carefully  chosen  goods,  whicli  are 
unsurpassed  in  (juality  and  reasonalile  in  price. 
Mr.  Timmermeister  is  one  of  tliose  men  whose 
energy  and  talents  allow  them  tomigage  in  vari<ius 
branches  of  business  witli  success,  and  hi-  is  actin^r 


at  the  present  time  as  President  of  the  Wapako- 
ueta  Wheel  Factory,  which  establishment  is  in  an 
exceptionally  prosperoui'condition. 

William  and  Margaret  Tinimermeibter,  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  Germany, 
where  also  our  subject  w.as  born,  in  18.31,  in  the 
Province  of  Hanover,  He  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  Fatherland,  where  he  received  an  ex- 
cellent education  in  the  model  schools,  and  when 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself  learned  tlie  tinner's 
trade. 

Having  heard  much  of  the  opportunities  af- 
forded 3'oung  men  in  the  Xew  AVorld,  oursubject, 
in  1850,  determined  to  come  hither,  and  being 
landed  in  New  York  City,  secured  employment  at 
his  trade,  where  he  remained  for  the  succeeding 
five  years.  In  the  spring  of  IS.'i.'i.  he  came  to  W.a- 
pakonela.  locating  here  .July  1.5.  and  engaged  .as 
clerk  for  0.  T.  Dieker.  remaining  with  him  until 
the  spring  of  18.59,  when  he  engaged  in  business 
on  his  own  account,  opening  a  general  store, 
which  w.as  soon  merged  into  his  present  business, 
and.  as  before  stated,  he  is  now  the  proprietor  of 
the  largest  dry -goods  house  in  Auglaize  Countv. 

In  188.5.  Mr.  Timmermeister  erected  his  large 
brick  block,  which  is  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in 
the  city,  and  tlie  second  floor  of  which  is  used  as 
an  opera  hou.se.  On  the  organization  of  the  Wa- 
pakoneta  Wheel  F.aetory.  he  was  made  its  Presi- 
dent, which  position  he  is  .acceptably  filling  at  the 
present  time.  In  addition  to  the  numerous  inter- 
ests just  mentioned,  he  is  a  Director  in  the  First 
Isational  Bank,  holding  a  like  position  in  the  Nat- 
ural Gas  Company,  and  is  ■\'ice-president  and  a 
Director  in  the  .-Vrtificial  Gas  Companv. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  very  liberal-minded 
man.  supporting  all  worthy  enterprises,  amonir 
them  the  J'>vangelical  Lutheran  Cliurch.  He  deals 
fairly  with  everyone,  lives  a  life  of  the  strictest 
integrity,  and  has  gained  not  only  the  respect, 
but  the  highest  esteem,  of  a  wide  circle  i.>f  .acquaint- 
ances. His  remarkable  success  in  woildlv  atfairs 
had,  no  doubt,  for  its  corner-stone  the  economical 
habits  with  wliicli  he  began  life.  Prudence,  ju- 
dicious management  and  honesty,  which  he  ever 
found  to  be  the  best  policy,  were  the  stones  witli 
which  the  rii-h  structure  was  completed.       His   life 


284 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


aflfords  a  lesson  which  younger  men  may  well 
study  with  advantage.  Mr.  Timmermeister  is  no 
longer  engaged  in  the  active  management  of  the 
large  business  his  energy  and  ability  esUiblished, 
the  direct  management  now  devolving  upon  liis 
son.C.  W.  Timmermeister.  and  Ins  son-in-law,  W. 
S.  Rogers. 

Tlie  wife  of  .^Ir.  Tiinniermeister  bi>re  the  maiden 
name  of  Caroline  ^lachetantz.  and  was  l>orn  in 
Facka  in  1837.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Elise  Machetantz.  and  by  her  union  with  our 
subject  has  become  the  mother  of  six  children,  two 
sons  and  four  daughters;  the  eldest  sou.  Christian 
■\V.,  is  a  stockholder  in  the  dry-goods  business,  and 
is  destined  to  follow  m  his  worthy  father's  foot- 
steps and  become  one  of  the  prominent  business 
men  of  the  county.  In  social  matters,  our  subject 
is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church. 


■if'OHJs  McEVOY,  who  is  well  and  favorably 
known  through  his  residence  of  forty  j-ears 
in  St.  Mary's  and  vicinity,  has  been  a  wit- 
'isy  ness  of  much  of  the  growth  of  this  city 
and  has  won  a  high  place  among  its  most  trusted 
business  men  for  honor  and  strict  probity  in  trade. 
He  deals  in  groceries,  provisions,  chinaware, 
lime,  cement,  etc..  and  occupies  a  neat,  two-story 
frame  building  on  Spring  Street,  and  conducts  a 
large  and  profitable  business.  He  is  also  connected 
with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Auglaize  County, 
having  improved  a  tine  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  in  Sus- 
sex County.  N.  J..  April  22,  1832.  His  father.who 
bore  the  name  of  Peter  McEvoy,  was  a  native  of 
County  Lciuth.  Ireland.  He  was  a  weaver  by 
trade.  He  was  first  married,  in  England,  lint  his 
wife  died  young,  leaving  a  son.  He  then  came 
to  America  and  married  ilary  Willits,  a  na- 
tive of  Su^M■x  Ci.iuity.  X.  .1..  l)ecoming  lii.--  wife. 
lie  lived  in  that  .Mate  ^everai  \ears  and  carried  on 


the  trade  of  a  weaver.  In  1835,  he  came  to  Ohio 
and  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  stopped 
in  Newark,  Licking  County',  for  awhile,  and  then 
removed  to  the  country  on  a  farm.  In  1843,  he 
took  up  his  residence  in  Franklin  County  and  was 
engaged  in  that  region  at  farming  until  he  came 
to  St.  JNIary's  in  18.52.  Ho  finally  purchased  a  farm 
near  the  city  and  there  spent  the  closing  days  of  a 
long  and  honorable  life,  dying  in  18(34,  at  the  ven- 
er.aijle  age  of  eighty-six  years.  Both  he  and  his 
good  wife  were  true  Catholics  in  religion.  She, 
too,  lived  to  be  eighty-six  years  old.  They  had 
three  sons,  of  whom  the  eldest  is  deceased. 

John  McEvoy.  in  order  to  obtain  an  education, 
followed  a  path  through  the  woods  in  his  boj'- 
hood  days  to  a  school  taught  on  the  subscrip- 
tion plan  in  an  old  log  house.  He  often  had 
to  work  a  day  to  get  wood  to  burn  in  the  old- 
fashioned  fireplace  in  the  sch(Xilroom.  He  was 
only  three  years  old  when  his  parents  sought  a  new 
home  in  Ohio,  and  he  grew  up  amid  pioneer  scenes, 
the  country  roundabout  his  early  home  being 
new,  with  but  few  settlers,  and  a  life  of  hardship 
and  sacrifice  was  the  common  lot  of  pioneers.  He 
had  nearly"  attained  manhood  when  he  came  to  .St. 
Mary's  with  the  family.  He  found  here  only  a 
small  village,  seated  in  the  midst  of  wild  environ- 
ments. He  remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  old, 
giving  his  fatlier  needed  help  in  carrying  on  his 
farm.  In  1860,  he  assumed  the  responsibilities  of 
married  life,  taking  unto  himself  a  wife  in  the  per- 
son of  Miss  Alice  Ennis,  who  has  been  to  him  a 
cheerful  helpmate  and  a  devoted  companion.  She 
was  born  in  Ireland,  and  after  the  death  of  her 
parents  came  to  this  country  with  a  brother. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  McEvoy  continued  to 
engage  in  farming  until  1866.  when  he  removed  to 
St.  Mary's  and  burned  lime  on  the  canal  a  few  years, 
operating  two  kilns,  .and  manufacturing  a  large 
amount  of  lime.  In  1876,  he  entered  the  grocery 
business,  and  two  years  later  purchased  his  present 
establishment  just  across  from  his  first  location  on 
Spring  Street.  He  carries  a  large  and  varied  stock 
of  the  articles  enumerated  in  the  first  part  of  this 
noliee.  haviiii;  everything  of  the  liejt.  and  he 
comniand>     tin    extensive    trade,  nut    onlv  amoui; 


PORTR.UT  A^D  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


285 


the  city  people,  but  he  is  well  p.itronized  by 
the  country  folks  for  miles  .aiound.  He  is  .an 
excellent  liusiness  man,  tends  closely  to  all  the 
details  in  his  operations,  and  is  alive  to  all  that 
will  promote  his  financial  interests.  He  is  whole- 
souled  and  kind-hearted  as  a  man,  and  is  gener- 
ous and  public-spirited  as  a  citizen,  who  lias  always 
sought  to  benefit  the  city  of  his  adoption  in  every 
possible  way.  He  li.as  been  of  inestimable  service 
as  an  office-holder,  serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
as  a  member  of  the  Council,  etc.  Politic^ly.ho  is 
a  Democrat,  with  sound  views  on  party  rjueslions. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  have  been  very  active  in  the 
upbuilding  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Maiy's, 
of  which  the}'  are  devoted  members,  and  he  li.as 
been  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  society  for 
several  j'ears. 


\l^  UCHI  T.  RIXEHART.  To  this  gentleman 
if  J  and  his  associates,  Auglaize  County  is 
Ai^  largely  indebted  for  the  rapiii  advance  it 
(<?);  li-is  made  in  agriculture  diu-ing  the  past 
half-eontiu'v.  He  is  one  of  the  foremost  farmers 
of  Union  Township  and  occupies  an  important 
place  in  business  circles.  The  homestead,  which 
is  pleasantly  located  on  section  14.  formeily  in- 
cluded eight  hundred  and  forty  acres,  but  since 
^Ir.  Rinehart  has  given  each  of  his  children  a  farm, 
he  has  only  retained  a  quarter-section  for  his  own 
use. 

The  parents  of  our  suljject.  (TCOrgo  ami  Hannah 
(Sibert)  Rinehart.  were  natives  respectively  of  Taze- 
well and  Botetourl  Counties.  Va..  and  both  died 
years  ago.  The  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
lS\-2.  occupying  the  position  of  Captain  of  his  cvm- 
pany.  Grandfather  Rinehart  w.as  killed  by  Indians 
during  the  Revolutionary  "War.  Oursubject,  whois 
the  only  survivor  of  the  parental  family  of  ten 
children,  was  liorn  October  23.  1813,  in  Tazewcli 
County,  \-A..  and  w.as  there  reared  on  a  farm.  His 
mother  dying  when  he  was  four  years  of  age.  his 
father  was  married    a   second    time    .ind    he    w.is 


brought  up  by  his  stepmother  until  attaining  his 
seventeenth  year,  when  he  left  home  and  appren- 
ticed himself  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade. 

The  lady  to  whom  our  subject  was  married  in 
1833  was  .Juliana  Godfrey,  who  w.as  also  born  in 
Tazewell  County,  Va..  November  1.  1813.  Three 
years  after  their  marriage,  the  young  couple  emi- 
grated to  Oliio  and  located  on  what  is  now  the 
present  home  of  our  subject,  but  which  was  then 
in  a  perfectly  wild  state.  Mr.  Rinehart  erected  a 
log  cabin  on  his  new  farm,  which  comprised  eightv 
acres,  and  by  hard  work  and  good  management, 
cleared  and  improved  the  same.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  place  for  fifty-five  years  and  all 
his  children  were  born  on  the  homestead  with  the 
exce[ition  of  two.  Jlrs.  Rinehart  departed  this 
life  .June  13,  1881.  She  was  the  mother  of  eleven 
children,  four  of  wliom  are  living,  viz:  Arnold  P., 
John  A.,  Sarah  C.  (Mrs.  Graham),  and  Adam  F. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  li.as  been  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Ejiiscopal  Church  since  sixteen 
years  of  .age,  during  which  time  he  h.as  been  Circuit 
Steward  for  thirty  years.  Recording  Steward  for 
twenty  years  and  Class-leader  for  twelve  vears. 
He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Grange  for  fif- 
teen yeai-s,  and  during  that  time  served  .as  Master 
for  five  years  and  M.aster  of  the  Subordinate 
Grange  for  three  years.  He  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion in  his  younger  d.ays  and  taught  school  for 
some  time.  His  interest  in  educational  affairs  has 
caused  him  to  be  pl.aced  on  the  .School  Board,  and 
in  the  cap.acity  of  Director  he  li.as  made  many  re- 
forms in  the  school  system  in  his  district.  He  has 
ahv.ays  voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  castina  his 
first  ballot  in  1836.  for  President  A'an  Burcn. 

As  the  following  will  indicate,  Mr.  Rinehart  has 
been  very  prominent  and  ijopular  in  local  atfairs, 
serving  his  fellow-townsmen  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  twelve  years,  and  was  the  fir.--t  Countv 
Commissioner  in  Auglaize  County.  He  was  also 
Chairman  of  the  first  County  Board,  and  at  the 
present  time  is  the  only  survivor  of  that  bod  v. 
Mr.  Rinehart  h.as  been  a  candidate  at  two  different 
times  for  the  State  Legislature,  but  on  both  occa- 
sions was  defeated  by  a  small  majoritv.  During 
the  years  IS.'JO  and  1860.  he  w.as  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Equalization   and  has   been  a  Trus- 


286 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tee,  Clerk  and  Assessor  of  Union  Township  for 
man}-  j'ears.  He  acted  as  Land  Appraiser  while 
this  section  was  still  a  portion  of  Allen  County, 
and  appraised  the  four  eastern  townships  iu  Au- 
glaize County. 

John  Rinehart,  a  son  of  our  subject,  w.os  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  War,  joining  Company  D,  Fifty-fourth 
Ohio  Infantry.  Our  snliject  has  also  held  many 
military  offices,  and  wliile  residing  in  Virginia, 
was  Lieutenant  in  the  State  Militia,  and  in  this 
State  has  served  as  Captain  of  a  company,  and 
was  later  made  Lieutenant  and  Colonel  of  the 
State  militia.  Among  his  lodge  comrades  and  his 
business  acquaintances,  he  is  highly  esteemed  as  a 
man  of  sterling  worth,  and  knowing  that  he  well 
deserves  representation  in  this  volume,  it  is  with 
ple.asure  that  we  present  this  sketch  to  our  readers. 
For  sixteen  years  he  acted  as  Postmaster  in  this 
township,  the  postolfice  being  in  his  own  house. 


^1?  EWIS  KRAMER.  Were  it  necessary  for 
I  {?§)  us  to  include  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Kramer 
JI--W  any  items  pertaining  to  his  skill  and  ability 
as  a  builder,  perhaps  tlie  greatest  compliment  that 
could  be  paid  him  would  be  for  us  to  point  out 
those  monuments  of  his  handiwork  which  now 
gr.ace  so  many  homesteads  in  Logan  County. 

Mr.  Kramer  was  born  near  Bellefontc,  Centre 
County,  Pa.,  on  the  24th  of  .luly,  1818,  and  his 
father,  Joseph  Kramer,  was  also  a  native  of  tliat 
State,  born  in  Lancaster  County.  The  latter  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  following  that  trade  all 
his  life,  lie  came  to  Ohio  at  an  early  date,  loca- 
ted in  Madison  County  near  Plain  City,  and  there 
followed  his  trade.  He  became  the  owner  of  two 
good  farms,  but  after  retiring  from  business  loca- 
ted in  West  Jefferson,  that  county,  where  his 
death  occurred  when  eighty-two  years  of  age. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jlary  Brown, 
was  also  born  in  Centre  County,  Pa.,  and  received 
her  tinal  summons  in  Plain  City,  when  fifty-five 
vears    of    age.     Thirteen    children    were  born  to 


them,  seven  sons  and  six  daughtei-s,  ten  of  whom 
reached  mature  j'ears,  but  only  one,  it  is  thought, 
besides  our  subject,  is  now  living. 

The  eldest  son  and  third  child  in  the  familj-, 
the  original  of  this  notice,  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  his  native  State,  and  received  a  fair  education 
in  Centre  ^'alley.  When  eighteen  yeare  of  age, 
he  began  learning  the  carpenter's  trade  with  Jacob 
Gist,  at  .Spring  Mills,  Centre  Count}',  Pa.,  remained 
with  him  four  years,  and  then  commenced  to  con- 
tract in  Venango  County,  wliere  he  remained  for 
thirteen  years.  He  was  married  in  Xovember, 
1839,  to  Miss  Julia  Ann  Bradley,  a  native  of  Cen- 
tre County,  Pa.,  and  in  IS.'jl  he  and  his  wife  lo- 
cated in  Huntsville,  L(^gan  County,  Ohio,  wliere 
he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  for  three  j'ears. 
From  there,  they  went  to  Bellefontaine,  where  Mr. 
Cramer  was  engaged  in  the  foundry  business  for 
four  J'ears.  He  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Rush- 
sylvania  in  18G0,  and  eng.aged  in  contracting  and 
building,  which  he  carried  on  verv  successfully  un- 
til 1878,  when  he  built  the  Kramer  .Sawmill,  the 
first  in  the  place,  and  operated  this  for  fifteen 
jears.  He  was  verj'  successful  as  a  carpenter  and 
builder  and  was  a  verj'  skillful  and  popular  work- 
man. To  his  first  marriage  were  boi'n  twelve 
children,  seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  who 
were  as  follows:  Marj'  (deceased),  Roljert  (de- 
ceased), Joseph  (deceased),  Amanda  (deceased); 
John,  a  resident  of  Rush  Creek  Township,  this 
countv;  James,  of  Bellefontaine;  Samuel,  of  Find- 
laj';  Imilda.  wife  of  L.  Shaul,  of  Findlay;  Martlia, 
wife  of  James  Goodlove;  Lewis,  of  Findlav,  an 
architect  and  builder;  Barbara,  wife  of  William 
Sherman,  of  Bellefontaine,  and  Charley  (de- 
ceased). The  mother  of  these  children  passed 
aw.ay  on  the  29tli  of  November,  1891.  .she  was  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  in  her  religious  views. 

Mr.  Kramer's  second  marriage  was  to  Jlrs.  Mary 
E.  (PuUins)  Parker,  widow  of  John  Parker,  and  a 
native  of  Illinois,  born  June  16,  1844.  She  was 
brought  to  Champaign  County,  111.,  by  her  parents 
when  two  j'ears  of  age  and  there  she  grew  to  mature 
years.  The  following  children  were  born  to  her 
marriage,  viz.:  Catherine  (deceased);  Charles,  of 
Bellefontaine;  Elmer,  of  Logan  County;  Mary, 
wife  of  I.  Wickersham,   of   Logan    County;    Ella, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


287 


wife  of  Justin  Elliott,  of  Logan  County;  Elvin,of 
Bellefontaine;  Addio,  single,  who  resides  with  her 
sister  Mary;  Perry  (deceased)  and  Ilarrie.  at  home. 
Mr.  Kramer  has  retired  from  the  active  duties  of 
life  and  has  a  comfortable  home  in  this  count\'. 
He  owns  two  dwellings  in  Rushsylvania  and  still 
owns  the  sawmill  operated  by  him  in  former  yeai-s. 
In  politics,  he  votes  the  Prohibition  ticket  and  has 
ever  been  a  stroua:  temperance  man.  He  was 
oi'iginalU-  a  Whig  in  politics,  afterward  a  Republi- 
can, and  in  late  years  has  voted  the  Prohibition 
ticket.  He  has  held  tlie  othce  of  School  Director 
and  Trustee  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church  since  seventeen  yeai-s  of  age. 
He  is  one  of  the  Trustees  of  tlie  same  and  a  man 
highlv  esteemed  in  the  communitv. 


ILIJAM  COUNTS.  The  farming  interests 
'11  of  Dinsnioro  Township  are  well  repre- 
sented b^'  this  gentleman,  who  is  classed 
among  the  most  progressive  and  wide-awake 
young  agriculturists  of  Shelby  County.  He  is  a 
native  of  this  State,  having  been  born  in  Sidney, 
Octol)er  13,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Jona- 
than Counts,  who  was  born  October  19.  1811.  in 
Rockingham  County.  A'a. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  w.is  one  of 
three  brothers  who  .emigrated  to  America  from 
HoU.and  m  the  Colonial  days,  one  of  them  locat- 
ing in  Maryland,  one  in  Pennsylvania,  while  the 
great-grandfather  settled  in  Virginia.  The  pa- 
tronymic was  tlien  spelled  Kuontz.  but  has  since 
been  changed.  The  ancestor  of  our  subject  just 
mentioned  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fijur  years,  and  was  a  large  land-owner, 
the  tobacco  on  bis  plantation  being  cultivated  by 
negro  slaves.  Three  of  his  sons  lived  to  be  over 
ninet\'  ^■eai's  of  age:  one  of  them  w.as  killed  by 
the  Indians  in  A'irginia  in  ITtJG.  and  the  powder 
horn  which  was  found  on  his  person  i^  now  in 
the  possession  of  our  suliject. 

Ad.am   Counts,  the  grandfatlier  of  our   subject, 


came  to  this  State  iu  1816,  and,  locating  in  Madi- 
son County,  made  his  home  there  for  three  vears, 
when  he  came  to  Shelby  County,  and  settled  in 
Salem  Township,  being  one  of  the  first  men  to  take 
up  Government  land  in  this  section.  The  patent 
for  his  land  was  signed  by  President  John  Quiucy 
Adams,  and  is  still  among  the  treasures  of  the  fam- 
ily. The  country  was  then  inhabited  by  Indians, 
who  many  times  camped  on  a  portion  of  his  farm. 
Mr.  Counts  hauled  the  first  load  of  goods  from 
Cincinnati  to  Sidney,  to  which  former  place  he 
conveyed  his  grain  with  a  sis-hoi-se  learn,  receiv- 
ing thirty-three  cents  a  bushel  for  wheat.  He 
cleared  and  improved  his  farm,  upon  which  he  re- 
sided until  his  decease,  which  occurred  in  1850. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  three  times 
married,  there  being  born  of  the  first  union 
four  children,  of  the  second  sis,  and  of  the 
third  four.  Jonathan  Counts,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  the  third  child  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  first  marriage  of  his  father,  and  was  never 
permitted  to  attend  school  more  than  two  }-ears 
during  his  life,  thus  being  self-made  in  all  that  the 
term  implies.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother 
W.IS  Elizabeth  Whitmyer;  she  w.is  a  French  ladv, 
and  was  finely  educated.  He  was  very  studious  in 
his  habits,  a  close  observer,  and  when  reaching  his 
majority  leanied  civil  engineering  and  surveying. 
He  entered  land  for  other  parties,  surveyed  it,  and 
sent  plats  of  the  property  along  with  the  patent. 
The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  Counts  was  married 
early  in  the  '30s  was  Mrs.  Annie  C.  (Travins) 
Worst,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  this 
country  with  her  parents  when  fourteen  years 
of  age.  After  his  marriage,  he  located  in  the  city 
of  Sidney,  and  while  residing  there  w.as  elected 
County  Surveyor,  and  served  in  that  position  for 
twelve  years.  He  w.as  also  Deputy  County  Clerk 
under  C  harles  Wells,  and  w.os  later  elected  County 
Clerk,  serving  a  period  of  three  terms,  in  the 
meantime  acting  as  Probate  Judge  of  the  county. 
He  was  a  man  of  pure  character  and  lofty  prin- 
ciple, who  was  ever  an  inlluence  for  good  in  his 
community. 

April  i,  1862.  the  elder  Mr.  Counts,  with  his 
family,  removed  to  the  old  homestead  in  Salem 
Township,  where   the     father    died    September    2. 


288 


i'ORTRAlT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1885.  He  was  a  Colonel  of  a  company  of  militia, 
and  in  1873  was  elected  to  represent  Shelby 
County  in  the  State  Legislature,  serving  for  a 
term  of  two  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
placed  on  many  important  committees.  Not- 
withstanding the  disadvantages  under  which  he 
labored  in  obtaining  an  education,  the  wide  fund 
of  information  which  he  possesses  is  due  to  his 
own  efforts.  He  displayed  rare  business  cpialifica- 
tions  in  private  afifaii's.  and.  as  a  great  reader,  so 
assimilated  that  which  he  read  and  observed,  that 
he  proved  a  most  entertaining  companion  and  fine 
conversationalist.  At  liis  death,  he  left  a  fine 
library,  which  contained  a  varied  collection  of 
choice  books. 

.Tonathan  Counts  was  twice  selected  as  Land 
Appraiser,,  and  surveyed  the  principal  towns  of 
this  county  and  most  of  the  pikes  in  Shelby  Coun- 
ty, his  first  work  in  tliis  line  being  on  the  canal. 
He  also  surveyed  the  Dayton  Ar  Michigan  and  the 
Big  Four  Railroads.  He  was  also  a  successful  busi- 
ness man,  and  at  his  decease  left  a  comfortable  for- 
tune, he  being  the  owner  of  several  hundred 
acres  of  land,  and  also  property  in  Sidney.  He 
affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  in  whose 
ranks  he  was  an  active  and  influential  worker, 
having  been  delegate  to  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion which  met  at  Cincinnati  in  1860.  His  wife, 
who  is  still  living,  has  attained  her  seventy-second 
vear.  and  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

"William  Counts  of  this  sketch  is  the  fourth 
child  in  the  parental  family  of  twelve  children, 
six  of  whom  are  living.  He  attended  the  schools 
in  Sidney  from  the  age  of  five  to  twelve  years, 
and  supplemented  the  knowledge  gained  therein 
bv  a  course  in  a  select  school  at  Port  Jetferson. 
He  remained  at  linme  until  about  twenty-five 
years  of  age.  working  on  the  public  pikes  for  two 
\-ears. 

Jlarch  11,  1877,  he  moved  ti.i  his  farm  on  sec- 
tion 24,  Dinsmore  Township,  which  has  since  been 
his  place  of  residence,  and  on  March  1,  of  the 
same  year,  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Mowry,  who 
was  born  in  Sidney,  and  was  the  d.aughter  of 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Davis)  Mowry,  the  former 
born  in   Pennsvlvania   in    1820,  and    the   latter  in 


Ohio  in  1830.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Counts  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  this  State  when  thirteen 
years  of  age,  they  locating  in  JIcLean  County. 
On  attaining  his  eighteenth  year,  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  cabinet-maker,  which  he  followed  sev- 
eral years  after  coming  to  Sidney.  Mr.  Mowry 
later  located  on  a  farm  two  miles  north  of  that 
village,  where  he  lived  until  lus  decease,  Septem- 
ber 6,  1874.  He  made  a  specialty  of  breeding 
fine  horses,  and  in  this  way  did  a  great  deal  for 
the  people  of  this  section  by  introducing  into  the 
county  a  fine  grade  of  those  animals.  He  was 
actively  interested  in  every  measure  which  would 
upbuild  his  community,  and  was  prominent  and 
influential  in  local  affairs.  The  mother,  who  was 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Jlethodist  Episcopal 
Church,  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children,  and 
departed  this  life  in  1882. 

To  Mr.  and  3Irs.  Counts  have  been  born  one 
son,  Edward  Milton,  who  was  born  January 
13,  1880.  Our  subject  is  engaged  in  mixed  farm- 
ing, cultivating  one  hundred  and  six  acres  of 
land  on  section  4,  and,  besides  raising  the  cereals, 
breeds  a  fine  grade  of  stock.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  conducts  his  affairs  in  a  business-like 
manner,  so  that  he  enjoys  the  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  deals,  and  is  well  thought  of  in  his 
community.  Mrs.  Counts  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


ii^^t  ^  I  ^  EC^^HI 


<^  IklLLIAM  ESTEY.  Of  the  men  who  are 
\/\'/i  successfully  prosecuting  agricultural  work 
^^i^'  in  Shelby  County,  it  may  well  be  said  that 
their  name  is  legion.  One  who  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated in  .Salem  Township  is  he  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch  and  who  operates  seven  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  good  laud,  raising  all  kinds  of 
stock  besides  the  crops  which  are  best  suited  to  this 
section  of  country. 

David  K^stey,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
July  31,  1702,  in  New  Brunswick,  where  lie  fol- 
lowed the  calling  of  a  farmer.     His  wife  bore  the 


PLANirjG     MILL   OF  WILLIAM     KRAPF^  PARK    5TR  EET^  WAPAKOiM  ETA  ,  AUGLAI  2E  CO. ,  0. 


^isatgais.  au-ag  ~-  jy>;:^3s>js; 


RESIDENCE  OF   VJLLIAM     ESTEY    SEC    8,5A^EM  TP,5hLLBY   CO    0 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


291 


name  of  Aun  Kuoop  and  was  born  March  19,  1792, 
in  Pennsylvania;  she  was  a  dausrliter  of  Michael 
Knoop,  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State.  The 
parents  were  married  in  New  Brunswick  in  July, 
1813,  and,  on  coming  to  Ohio  in  1822,  located  on 
a  wild  farm  in  Lost  Creek  Township,  Miami  County, 
where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  life,  the 
mollier  dying;  in  1865  and  the  father  in  1866.  The 
elder  Mr.  Kstey  was  a  consistent  member  of  tlie 
Baptist  Church,  while  his  good  wife  cast  in  her  lot 
with  tlie  Jlethodists.  Tlie  father  w.ai  a  very 
wealth}-  man,  and  in  addition  to  carrying  on  a 
large  farm  operated  a  sawmill  which  brought  him 
in  a  handsome  income.  lie  was  a  man  of  keen 
business  capacity  and  contributed  liberally  of  his 
means  to  the  prosperity  of  his  adopted  township. 
In  earh'  life,  he  w.as  a  Whig,  but  joined  the  Repub- 
lican party  on  its  organization,  the  interests  of 
which  he  advanced  in  various  w.ays. 

He  of  whom  wc  write  was  one  in  the  parental 
family  of  eleven  children,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. He  was  born  April  6.  1828,  in  Miami 
County,  this  State,  and.  like  other  farmer  lads,  at- 
tended school  held  in  a  log  house  with  its  primi- 
tive furnishings.  He  remained  under  the  parentiil 
roof  until  reaching  his  majority,  when  he  received 
of  his  father  ¥200.  He  later  sold  out  to  his  brother- 
in-law,  H.  G.  DeWeese,  of  Miami  County,  and  going 
to  Indiana,  remained  there  for  a  short  time  and 
then  returned  home  in  time  to  secure  his  wheat 
crop. 

In  September,  1850.  William  Estey  and  ^liss 
Eliz.abeth,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Catherine  (De- 
Weese) Kerr  were  united  in  marriage.  Her  par- 
ents were  residents  of  Jliami  County,  where  her 
birth  occurred.  The  year  of  his  marriage.  Mr.  Es- 
tey removed  to  l(.iwa  and  located  on  a  farm  in 
iluscatine  County,  where  his  wife  died.  ,lune  •'!. 
185-1,  having  become  the  mother  of  two  chihUen. 
one  of  whom  is  living.  .Sarah  C,  Jit's,  .i.  M.  French. 
This  daughter  had  previously  been  married  to  Syl- 
vester Wells,  by  which  union  were  born  live  chil- 
dren. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife,  our  subject  returned 
to  Miami  County,  where,  in  February,  1855,  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Catherine  Hobbins,  nee  Byers.  His 
third   marriage    occ\irred    in    1863,  at  which    time 


jNIiss  Sarah  Dixon,  who  was  born  in  the  above- 
named  county  August  1,  1826,  became  his  wife. 
They  became  the  parents  of  two  children,  both  of  ■ 
whom  are  deceased,  as  is  also  the  wife  and  mothei' 
who  died  March  12,  1877.  The  present  wife  of  Mr. 
Estey,  to  whom  he  was  married  April  7,  1878,  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Nancy  X.  B.aker.  She  is  a  sister 
of  William  JI.  Baker,  of  Van  Buren  Township,  this 
county,  and  the  daughter  of  Moses  E.  and  I.ucretia 
(.leffr.as)  Baker,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
1804,  and  the  latter  in  1806,  in  Butler  County,  this 
State.  Mr.  and  JIi-s.  Baker  after  their  marriage 
moved  to  Cincinnati,  and  in  1835  came  to  Shelby 
County,  and  entered  a  quarter-section  of  land  on 
the  Hardin  and  Wapakoneta  road,  where  thev  were 
residing  at  the  time  of  their  death,  which  occurred 
in  1847  and  1885.  respectively.  Of  their  family  of 
six  children,  five  are  living.  Clarke.I.,  their  son,  who 
served  in  the  Benton  Cadets  during  the  iate  war, 
died  in  the  hospital  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Mrs.  Baker 
w.as  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church, 
and  her  father,  who  w.as  a  very  prominent  man  in 
the  township,  served  as  Justice  of  the  Pe.ace  while 
residing  in  \'an  Buren  Township,  and  in  politics 
was  a  DenK.icrat.  Mrs.  Estey  w:\s  born  November 
20,  1836,  in  the  above-named  township,  and  at- 
tended the  first  school  organized  in  lier  district.  She 
was  first  married  to  I'ranklin  Ddl,  and  they  had  two 
sons.  James  X.  and  Franklin,  both  of  whom  reside 
in  Shelliy  County.  Jlr.  and  Jlrs.  Estey  are  the 
parents  of  one  son.  Clyde,  who  w.os  born  September 
7.  1880. 

Mr.  Estey.  in  1856.  removed  to  Iowa  and  there 
made  his  home  until  1863,  when  he  took  up  his 
abode  on  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Dinsmore 
Town.-hip.  this  county.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  K|iiscopal  Church  and  takes  an  active 
part  in  all  the  meetings  of  that  body.  Socially, 
our  suliject  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  ()dd  Fellows  and  is  also  connected  with  the 
Farmers'  Alliance.  He  occupies  a  high  pl.ace  in 
local  affairs  and  h.as  been  Township  Trustee  of 
Dinsmore  and  Salem  Townships,  in  which  former 
place  he  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Estey 
Grange,  of  which  he  was  Overseer.  He  votes  a 
straight  Republican  ticket  in  politics,  and  is  one  of 
the  stauchest  supjiorters  of  that  party.      His  estate 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  thoroughly  draiued  by  five  thousand  rods  of 
tiling;  the  land  is  admirably  tilled  and  adorned 
with  a  neat  and  substantial  set  of  bnildinu^s  for 
every  needed  purpose. 

On   another  page  a   view  of   the   residence    and 
rural  surroundings  will  be  noticed. 


-^^- 


<X\  &ILLIAM  KRAPF.  The  industrial  inler- 
\/\li/  '^^^^  '^^  Wapakoneta  are  ably  represented 
^^'  by  our  subject,  who  is  the  proprietor  of  a 
planing  mill  and  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
all  kinds  of  doors,  wintlow  frames,  and  porches. 
A  native  of  this  State,  he  was  born  in  Daj-ton, 
February  4,  I80I,  to  Killian  and  Annie  (Will) 
Krapf,  natives  of  Germany. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  after  emigrating  to 
tliis  country,  were  married  in  Little  York,  Pa., 
whence  tliey  came  to  Dayton,  this  State,  and  there 
the  father  prosecuted  his  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker. 
He  was  a  man  of  such  integrity  that  his  promise 
was  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  his  de.ath,  which  oc- 
curred in  1867,  was  keenly  felt  by  the  entire  com- 
munity. The  mother,  who  survived  her  husband 
many  years,  departed  this  life  in  1886.  They  were 
the  parents  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

■William  Krapf,  of  this  sketch,  has  two  sisters 
living,  namely-;  Callie  (Mrs.  Daniel  B.  High),  and 
Katie,  who  resides  in  Dayton.  Our  subject  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  Dayton, 
and  when  ready  to  start  out  in  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count learned  the  trade  of  a  caliinet-maker  from 
his  father.  He  remained  thus  employed  in  Day- 
ton until  1876,  when,  in  January'  of  that  year,  he 
came  to  this  city  and  for  eleven  years  was  engaged 
as  foreman  for  Swink  Bros.  A'  Co.,  furniture  man- 
ufacturers. He  was  well  qualified  to  fill  that  re- 
sponsible position,  for  prior  to  leaving  Dayton  he 
was  for  five  years  foreman  of  the  large  furniture 
establishment  of  Parrott  Ac  Gilbert. 

In  October,  1891,  Mr.  Krapf  leased  his  present 
large  building  and  is  engaged  in  carrying  on  a  lu- 
crative business.     He  is  truly  a  self-made  man  and 


has  met  with  both  friendship  and  financial  success 
in  his  journey  through  life.  There  is  nothing  so 
well  calculated  to  bring  out  all  the  energj-  and  am- 
bition a  man  possesses  as  the  necessity  in  early  life 
of  making  his  own  way.  Our  subject  started  at 
the  bottom  round  of  the  ladder  and  has  climbed 
upward  without  any  other  assistance  than  his 
courteous  manners  and  good  judgment. 

In  1873,  the  original  of  this  sketch  and  Miss 
Josephine  Arnold,  of  Wapakoneta,  were  united  in 
marriagBjand  they  have  become  the  parents  of  five 
sons  and  two  daughters,  viz;  William,  Roman, 
Glenora,  Ethel,  John,  Fred  and  Joseph.  Mr. 
Krapf  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum, and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  He  is  classed  among  the  most  infiuential 
citizens  of  this  place,  and  is  highly  respected  both 
here  and  throughout  tlie   surrounding  country. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  will  be  found  a  view 
of  Mr.  Krapf 's  planing  mill. 


,ips^  QUIRE  J.  N.  Dk  VORE.  Logan  County  is 
^^^^  conspicuous  for  itsm.agnificent  farms,  that 
vV^^i  ^'^  faultless  in  the  wa\'  of  management, 
""  '  and  the  order  in  which  they  are  kept. 
Those  in  Zane  Township  are  especially  advantage- 
ous!}- located,  the  land  being  rolling  and  well 
watered,  fertile  and  productive.  Xo  one  is  to  be 
more  complimented  on  the  perfect  method  and 
order  with  which  his  agricultural  affairs  are  con- 
ducted than  he  whose  name  is  above.  He  is 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  one-half 
mile  northwest  of  West  Middleburgh,  where  he  has 
a  good  home,  the  house  being  commodious  and 
attractive,  and  the  barns  and  granaries  capacious 
and  well-filled.  The  fields  are  wide-siireading  and 
productive.  S(]uire  De  Yore  was  born  in  Cham- 
paign County,  Ohio,  on  the  16th  of  October,  183o, 
and  is  a  son  of  Moses  and  Rachel  (Inskeep)  De 
Yore,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  the  father  born  in 
Champaign,  and  the  mother  in  Logan  Countj-. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RPX'ORD. 


293 


Qui- subject's  grandfatlier,  .Tames  DeVore,  was 
boni  in  Fiance,  and  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man.  settling  first  in  'Washington  County. 
Pa.,  and  afterward  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
wliere  lie  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  lie  was 
married  in  Pennsylvania  to  one  of  that  State's 
fair  daughters,  and  reared  a  large  family  of 
cliildren.  The  fattier  of  our  subject  was  bom  on 
tlie  2'2i\  of  February.  1811,  and  passed  his  bo\'hood 
and  youth  in  his  native  county.  He  married 
Miss  Inskeep,  who  was  reared  in  Logan  County, 
andwho  was  the  daughter  of  .Toslma  Inskeep,  a 
native  of  theOld  Dominion.  Mr.  Inskeep  came 
to  Ohio  at  an  early  day.  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Logan  County,  and  a  prominent  man.  He  was 
a  preacher  in  the  ^lethodist  Church,  waij  also  in 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  built  one 
of  the  first  churches  in  the  township.  He  w.as  also 
engaged  in  the  sawmill  business  for  many  years. 
In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig.  Moses  De  Vore  and 
wife  celebrated  their  nuptials  in  Zane  Township, 
Logan  County.  (_)hio.  in  1833,  and  afterward 
located  in  L'nion  County.  Ohiii.  where  they  im- 
proved a  large  farm  of  four  hundred  .acres.  A 
log  cabin  was  first  erected,  but  this  w.as  subse- 
quently removed  and  a  good,  substantial  frame 
structure  took  its  place.  Tlie  mother  died  when 
about  forty-three  years  of  age.  but  the  father  is 
still  living,  and  resides  on  his  farm  in  Union 
County,  and  although  eighty-one  yeai-s  of  .age. 
time  has  dealt  leniently  with  him,  and  he  is  still 
quite  active  and  vigorous.  He  h.is  remained  on 
this  farm  ever  since  hi?  marriage,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  three  years,  when  he  went  to  take 
care  of  his  father  and  mother. 

C>f  the  nine  children  born  to  this  worthy  couple, 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  but  one  grew  to 
mature  yeai-^.  and  four  sons  and  three  daughters 
still  survive.  Our  subject,  the  second  son  and 
second  child,  was  educated  in  tlie  log  schoolhouse 
of  piiiiieer  days,  wuh  tlie  slab  seats  and  other 
crude  contrivances  in  tlie  way  of  school  furniture, 
and  assisted  his  father  in'cleai'ing  tlie  home  place. 
Before  he  was  of  age.  he  bought  his  time  of 
his  fatlier,  ]iaying  -JliH)  in  c:isli  for  his  services 
from  the  age  of  twenty  until  he  attained  his 
majority.     On  the  23d  of  (Jctoljer.  1855.  he  led  to 


the  altar  Jliss  Marj'  ^Morton,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
in  Columbiana  County,  December  2,  1835.  She 
came  with  her  parents,  Israel  and  Hannali  (Conn) 
^Morton,  to  Logan  Connty,  Ohio,  when  nine  years 
of  .age.  She  was  the  youngest  of  ten  children,  and 
was  left  motherless  when  but  an  infant.  Her 
father  and  mother  were  natives  of  the  Kevstone 
State. 

Following  his  marriage,  our  subject  located  first 
in  Union  County,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Logan  County,  Zane 
Township,  where  he  has  made  his  home  ever  since. 
He  first  settled  in  a  little  log  cabin  of  round  logs, 
18x18  feet,  and  in  this  he  and  his  most  excellent 
and  cultured  wife  resided  for  seventeen  vears, 
gathering  around  them,  by  energy,  industry  and 
good  management,  many  comforts  and  conven- 
iences. They  improved  the  place  in  everv  wav, 
and  in  1875  erected  a  cozy  and  convenient  house 
which  cost  them  51,000.  They  now  have  one 
hundred  and  seventy-one  acres  of  .as  good  Land  as 
is  to  be  found  in  the  county,  and  the  most  of  this 
Mr.  De  Vore  cleared  himself,  it  being  covered  with 
heavy  timber. 

To  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  De  Vore  have  been  bom  seven 
children,  three  daughtei-s  and  four  sons:  Jacob 
A.,  born  October,  1856,  is  at  home;  Rachel  B.  (de- 
ceased): Jennie  L.,  wife  of  F\  X.  Johnson,  of 
■West  Liberty,  is  a  graduate  of  Adrian  College, 
jMichigan;  Moses  G.,  at  home;  Lewis  K.,  attend- 
ing the  State  University  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  tak- 
ing a  course  in  cfvil  engineering;  Laural  M., 
attending  school  at  West  Middleburgh,  is  a  bright 
student,  and  is  much  interested  in  his  studies; 
.Sylvia  A.  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  Mr.  and 
Mi-s.  De  Vore  have  given  their  children  every  ad- 
vantage for  receiving  an  education,  and  have 
every  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  progress  they  have 
made,  for  there  is  not  a  more  intelligent  family  in 
the  county. 

Jlr.  De  Vore  is  an  advocate  of  Democratic 
principles,  and  his  first  Presidential  vote  was  for 
Buchanan  in  185(J.  He  was  Trustee  of  the  town- 
ship for  .about  five  years,  and  held  the  position  of 
School  Director  for  many  years.  There  are  three 
Re|)ublicans  to  one  Democrat  in  the  township, 
but  .Mr.  De  N'cjre.  who  lias  a  host   of   warm   friends 


204 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  both  parties,  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
1884,  and  lias  discharged  the  duties  incumbent 
upon  this  office  in  a  creditable  and  satisfactory 
manner.  He  was  elected  without  his  consent,  and 
there  has  been  but  one  appeal  of  all  the  cases  he 
has  tried.  His  docket  for  the  past  three  years 
shows  one  hundred  and  tliirt}'  sis  cases  settled, 
most  without  suit.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Blue  Lodge  of  East 
Liberty,  and  Bl.azing  Star  Chapter  No.  247,  North 
Lewisburtrh. 


^^EORGE  W.  IIAWVER.  The  life  of  a  far- 
'II  _^  nier  may  be  devoid  of  stirring  events,  but 
^^Al  it  is  none  the  less  a  field  in  which  to  ex- 
ercise good  business  ability,  fine  judgment  and  the 
sterling  traits  of  personal  character.  Tlie  man 
who  can  gain  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  well-set- 
tled sections  of  our  country  must  necessarily 
possess  qualifications  equal  to  those  displayed  by  a 
business  man  in  our  towns,  although  differing  in 
kind.  The  gentleman  above  named  has  prospered 
in  his  efforts  in  life  and  owns  a  considerable 
amount  of  land  in  Jackson  Townsliip,  Slielby 
County.  His  residence,  which  is  located  on  sec- 
tions 28  and  29,  is  a  commodious  structme,  is  ac- 
companied by  adequate  and  substantial  outbuild- 
ings, and  the  land  surounding  it  has  been  brought 
to  a  good  condition  as  regards  its  cultivation  and 
productiveness. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  a  son  of  Christian 
Hawver,  who  was  born  near  Hagerstown,  Md.,  Au- 
gust 2(5,  1817.  He  in  turn  was  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Elizabeth  (Brown)  Hawver,  also  natives  of  tliat 
State.  The  maiden  name  <if  our  subject's  mother 
was  Lucinda  Hughes;  slie  was  born  in  Miami 
County,  this  State,  August  1.  1819,  and  is  a  daugli- 
ter  of  William  Hughes,  an  early  settler  of  that  lo- 
cality'. 

The  father  of  our  suljject  came  to  this  State  as 
early  as  1837  and,  locating- in  !Mianii  County,  was 
there  married,  February  1.  1843.  and  soon  after  that 


event  came  to  this  county,  making  his  home  on 
section  33,  Jackson  Township.  The  land  at  that 
early  day  was  in  its  original  wildness,  and  as 
there  were  no  roads,  the  only  way  in  which  the 
fanul}-  could  find  their  way  about  the  country  was 
by  means  of  blazed  trees, and  even. then  they  very 
frequently  were  lost  in  the  woods.  The  fatlier 
made  his  home  on  that  place  for  forty  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  witnessed  and  aided  greatly  in 
bringing  about  wonderful  improvements.  He  de- 
parted this  life  October  9,  1878,  while  his  good  wife, 
who  still  survives,  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 
i\Ir.  and  iSIrs.  Hawver  were  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, the  brother  of  our  subject  being  Dr.  W.  H. 
Hawver,  who  married  Miss  Maiy  McCormick  and 
makes  his  home  in  Santa  Fe,  Logan  County.  Iii 
religious  affaii-s,  they  always  took  -an  active  part, 
the  father  being  .Steward  and  Class-leader  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  denomina- 
tion his  wife  is  also  a  member.  He  kept  himself 
thoroughly  posted  in  regard  to  politics  and  on  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  joined  its 
ranks.  He  served  in  many  positions  of  trust  and 
honor  in  his  township  and  for  many  years  was  an 
efficient  member  of  the  School  Board. 

Cieorge  W.  Hawver  was  born  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  this  township,  June  1, 1849.  He  was  there 
reared  to  man's  estate  and,  in  addition  to  receiv- 
ing a  thorough  training  by  his  excellent  parents, 
was  given  the  opportuiiit}-  for  obtaining  a  good 
education.  He  aided  his  father  in  carrying  on  the 
estate  until  after  his  marriage,  which  event  oc- 
curred December  11,  1870,  when  Miss  .Sarah  31., 
daughter  of  John  M.  and  Druscilla  (Meranda) 
Burditt  became  his  wife.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Clarke  County,  this  State,  the  father  being  born 
August  23,  1819,  and  the  mother  April  20,  1830. 
Her  father  was  a  son  of  Booth  Burditt,  an  early 
settler  in  Logan  County,  where  he  was  a  local 
preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Hawver  were  New- 
land  and  Hannah  (Lowe)  Meranda,  the  father  born 
December  28.  1804,  in  "Virginia,  in  which  State 
the  mother  also  w.as  born  February  14,  1806. 
Thev  emigrated  to  this  State  in  1827,  making 
their  advent  into  Shelby  County  ten  years  later, 
locating  in  Port  Jefferson.     After  a  residence  there 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIUGRAPIIK'AL   RECORD. 


295 


of  three  yeai's,  Mr.  aufl  Mrs.  JMeranda  made  their 
home  on  section  22.  Jackson  Township,  where  the 
father  died. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Hawver  were  married  in 
J.acl<son  T()wnshi|i,  Novt'niluT  1(5.  1851,  and  then 
located  on  a  farm  where  IVinberton  village  now 
stands.  The  fatlior  dyin-  ,lune  IC.  I^.ji,  Jlrs. 
Burditt  was  married  In  liulla  Klaiul,  liy  whom  slic 
became  the  motlier  of  six  cliildren.  RoUa  Bland 
died  Jl.ay  17,  ISGo,  while  a  iiioniber  of  the  Unicm 
army  in  the  late  war.  and  his  widow  was  married, 
September  1),  ISGy,  to  .hiali  (Jlick,  and  to  them 
w.as  born  one  sou.  Kdiuund  .J.  Mr.  Glick  died 
October  28,  18111,  and  Ills  wife,  who  still  survives, 
makes  her  home  in  Jackson  Center,  this  township. 

;\Irs.  Ilawvcr,  who  w.as  the  only  child  of  her  mo- 
ther's first  marriage,  was  born  October  27, 1852,  in 
thi>  town>lu|).  Iler  parents  were  members  of  the 
3Ietliodist  ICpiscopal  Cluirch,  in  which  body  her 
father  had  been  Class-leader  for  many  yeai-s.  In 
his  political  relations,  he  was  in  sympatliy  with  and 
voted  for  the  candidates  of  the  Whig  party.  The 
wife  of  our  subject  w.as  given  .an  excellent  educa- 
tion, supplementing  the  knowledge  gained  in  dis- 
trict schools  by  a  thorough  course  in  the  High 
.School  at  .Sidne}',  and  after  completing  her  studies 
taught  school  in  this  county. 

After  his  marriage,  our  subject  resided  for  four 
j-ears  on  the  old  home  farm  and  in  1874  removed 
to  his  present  estate,  which  then  bore  but  slight 
improvements.  IIis  jiropcrty  includes  eighty  acres, 
wliich  his  industry  and  good  judgment  have  placed 
under  excellent  tillage  until  it  ranks  among  tlie 
best  in  the  township.  To  himself  and  wife  have 
been  liorn  four  children,  namely:  Frederick  B.. 
who  wa.>  l)urn  September  2,  1873,  died  December  1. 
187.J;  Oliver  C.  was  born  September  30,  187(j; 
Ilarley  II..  January  21.  ISSl.and  Ethel  Dru.-ciUa. 
July  11.  18.-;5. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ihuvver  arc  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Ei)isci>|ial  Churcli  and  take  an  active  part  in 
all  the  workings  of  the  same.  ^Ir.  Ilawvcr  having 
been  Trustee  and  Superintendent  (jf  tlu'  Sunday- 
school,  lie  has  Ijcen  greatly  interested  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  h.as  given  his  children  good  educa- 
tiou'^  and  scrv>-d  as  a  nu-inber  of  tlie  local  and 
township  School  Board  for  l  wche  years,     Socially,    | 


he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which 
order  he  has  been  Secretary,  and  with  his  wife  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Grange.  In  the  latter  or- 
der, our  subject  has  been  Master  and  Mrs.  Hawver 
h.as  been  the  incumbent  of  every  official  position 
to  which  Ladies  arc  entitled  and  at  the  present  tiine 
is  Pomona  in  the  lodge.  A  stanch  Republican  in 
politics,  he  of  whom  we  write  occupies  an  honored 
position  among  his  fellow-townsmen,  whom  he  has 
served  as  Trustee  for  six  years,  and  as  Committee- 
man for  many  terms. 

William  Hughes,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  17'J7.  He 
w.as  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  on  coming  to  this 
State  located  in  Miami  County,  where  he  owned  a 
valu.able  farm  of  eighty  .acres,  which  he  later  sold 
for  18,000.  The  lady  to  whom  he  was  married 
bore  the  name  of  Elizabeth  Hopkins  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children,  who  grew  to  mature  years, 
viz.:  Lucinda,  the  mother  of  ciur  subject;  Eliliu. 
Maria  ami  Dr.  William,  the  latter  of  whom  is  en- 
g.aged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  whither  he  removed  in   1881. 


m^^m^^B 


■  ^  R.  C.  M.  FISHER.  Among  the  people  of 
Logan  County,  .as  well  as  the  surrounding 
counties,  the  name  that  heads  this  sketch  is 
by  no  means  :in  unfamiliar  one.  For  many  years 
ho  has  been  actively  and  successfully  occupied  in 
the  ]irosecution  of  his  chosen  profession,  and  dur- 
ing this  time  his  career  as  a  pr.actitioner  and 
thorough  student  of  medicine  won  for  him  no 
less  a  reputatii.in  than  have  his  personal  charac- 
teristics as  a  citizen  and  neighbor. 

His  father,  John  11.  Fisher,  was- born  in  Berks 
County,  Pa.,  on  the  27th  of  November.  I805,  and 
w;rs  tliere.  reared  to  ra;iture  year^.  and  learned  the 
h;itter"s  trade,  following  that  for  a  series  of 
years  in  Pennsylvaui.a.  He  w:is  married  in  the 
same  county  to  Miss  Elizalieth  .Marshall,  a  native 
of  Schuylkill  County,  Pa.,  born  on  the  I'Jth  of 
August,  1807,  ;uid   in  1834  came  to  .'^tark  County, 


296 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  1836.  From  there 
he  moved  to  Logan  County  of  that  State,  located 
in  Rush  Creek  Township,  and  followed  farming. 
Here  his  death  occurred  ou  the  11th  of  December, 
1871.  .ind  ho  was  followed  to  the  grave  by  his 
wife  on  the  29th  of  M.-iy,  1879.  This  worthy 
couple  had  shared  each  other's  joys  and  sorrows  for 
a  period  of  over  forty-live  yeai-s,  and  had  many 
warm  friends,  for  they  were  upright  and  honor- 
able in  every  walk  of  life.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Disciples  Church,  and  the  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  from  childhood.  He 
was  interested  in  educational  affaii-s,  holding  the 
office  of  .School  Director,  and  in  politics,  he  uiiheld 
the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  and  his 
wife  were  buried  side  by  side  in  New  Salem  ceme- 
tery, this  county. 

Our  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  Henry  Fi-^lier, 
w.as  originally  from  Berks  County,  Pa.,  ami  fol- 
lowed farming  there  until  his  death,  when  quite 
an  aged  man.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  left  the  land  of  his  birth  for  this 
country  wlien  a  young  man.  He  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  there  resided  until  his  death.  The 
maternal  gr.andfather  of  our  subject,  Conrad  Mar- 
shall, w.as  a  native  of  Schuylkill  Count}-,  Pa.,  born 
December  17,  1772,  .and  was  a  farmer.  He  came 
to  Ohio  in  1834,  settling  in  Zanesfield,  Logan 
Count}",  and  kept  hotel  until  he  retired  from  .ac- 
tive life,  his  death  occurring  on  the  10th  of  Feb- 
ru.arj",  18.57,  when  eighty-five  years  of  age.  Ilis 
father,  John  Marshall,  w.as  a  native  of  France, 
and  came  to  America  at  a  period  antedating  the 
Revolutionary  War.  He  served  in  this  war,  .and 
was  (jne  of  the  early  settlei^s  of  Pennsylvania. 

Of  the  four  sons  born  to  his  parents.  Dr.  C.  M. 
Fisher  was  second  in  firder  of  birtii.  Tlie  eldest 
child  died  in  infancy;  .Iiilin  ^M..  another  son. 
was  born  in  Logan  County  on  the  ;31st  of  .Janu- 
ary, 1842.  and  is  now  a  farmer  <jf  Hardin  County, 
Ohio.  Our  subject  fii-st  saw  the  light  of  day  in 
Logan  County,  Rush  Creek  Township.  Ohio,  on 
the  ItJth  of  December.  1839.  and  tliere  grew  to 
manhood.  His  first  scholastics  training  was  in  the 
log  schoolhouse  of  early  d.ays.  and  he  remained  in 
the  s.ame  until  sixteen  years  of  a^i'.  whi'ii  he  at- 
tended   school    at    BellefoMtaiue    fur    four   \  cars. 


graduating  from  the  institution  of  learning  there. 
Being  possessed  of  a  more  than  ordinary  degree  of 
intelligence,  he  began  teaching  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  and  when  twenty  \-ears  of  age  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Cooper,  of 
Bellefontaine.  After  completing  his  course  of 
reading  with  that  physician,  he  attended  the 
Eclectic  Medical  College  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and 
graduated  in  1862,  subseqnenth'  locating  where  he 
now  resides,  in  Rushsylvania,  where  he  has  a  large 
.and  lucrative  practice. 

His  marriixge  with  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Ansley 
occurred  in  Logan  County,  Rush  Creek  Township, 
On  the  3d  of  !March,  1863.  She  w.as  born  on  the 
5th  of  June,  1841.  and  w.as  the  third  child  and 
second  daughter  of  four  children  born  to  George 
and  Deliver.ance  (Johnson)  Ansley,  natives  of  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  the  father  born  on  the  8th  of 
November,  1807,  and  the  mother  ou  the  17th  of 
April  of  the  following  year.  The  parents  moved 
to  Ohio  at  an  earh'  date,  and  both  passed  away 
here,  the  mother  ou  the  2.5th  of  December,  1879, 
and  the  father  on  the  29th  of  August,  1882.  They 
were  well  known  throughout  Logan  County,  and 
were  universally  respected. 

Our  subject  and  wife  became  the  parents  of  five 
children,  two  daughters  and  three  sons:  Frank  A., 
born  J.anuar3-  31,  1864,  and  married  September 
4,  1889,  to  Jliss  Sarah  E.  .Shaw,  now  resides  in 
Rushsylvania;  Anna  JMay,  born  Ma}'  31,  1867, 
is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Fawcett.  of  Rushsylvania,  and 
has  one  son,  Marshall;  Cieorge  E.,  born  March  14, 
1870;  JIary  K..  born  December  25,  1872,  is  the 
wife  of  Horatio  Cline,  of  Belle  Centre,  Ohio;  Allen 
:\rarshall.  born  August  21,  1886,  is  at  home. 

Dr.  Fisher  is  a  member  of  the  National  Medical 
Eclectic  Association,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Ohio  State  Eclectic  Medical  Association.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  successful  physi- 
cians of  the  county,  as  his  many  patients  now 
liyini:  can  testify.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in 
1864  at  Belle  Centre  Lodge  No.  347,  and  is  a 
member  of  LaFayette  Chapter,  of  Bellefontaine, 
Ohio.  Heisalso  a  member  of  Rush  I>odge  No.  381, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  same. 
He  and  Mrs.  Fislier  are  active  workers  in  the  Dis- 
ciples Church,  in  wliicli  they  hold  membership,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPmCAL  RECORD 


29; 


he  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  was  a  member  of 
tlie  Board  of  Education  for  a  period  of  twelve 
3'eai-s,  and  has  held  other  minor  offices  in  the 
township.  In  1887.  he  was  a  candidate  for  Represen- 
tative on  the  Domocratic  ticket,  and  r.an  far  ahead 
of  his  ticket,  but,  on  account  of  the  overwhelming 
majority  of  Republicans,  was  defeated.  lie  was 
elected  Township  Clerk  on  two  occasions,  and  was 
a  member  of  tlie  City  Council  at  various  times, 
lie  is  one  of  the  best-informed  and  most  promi- 
nent citizens  of  the  county,  and  is  thoroughly 
qualified  to  hold  almost  any  position.  He  has 
many  warm  friends,  and  is  popular  with  all  classes. 


■  ILLIAM  KETTLER.  The  stories  of  the 
i\  A///  wonderful  physical  resources  of  America 
V^'^S  and  the  opportunities  afforded  here  for 
personal  aggrandizement,  have  attracted  hither 
m.any  natives  of  the  Lands  .across  the  sea.  The 
agricultural  districts  of  our  country  contain  man}- 
German-American  citizens  who  are,  almost  with- 
out exception,  energetic,  thriftv  and  prosperous. 
In  Shelby  County  this  class  is  represented,  and 
one  of  the  number  is  the  subject  of  tliis  sketch, 
who  is  located  at  Kettlersville,  A'an  Buren  Town- 
ship, and  in  addition  to  superintending  the  opera- 
tions of  his  farm,  is  the  owner  of  a  general  store, 
and  Postmaster  of  the  village.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica without  means,  and  has  in  a  comparatively 
.short  time  accumulated  a  comfortable  fortune. 

Our  subject  was  born  .Tune  17,  1828,  in  Prussia. 
and  is  the  son  of  Christian  and  Anna  Kettler.  al.-o 
natives  of  the  Fatherland,  whence  they  c:\nie  to 
America  in  1847,  and  immediately  located  in  New 
Bremen,  this  State.  There  the  father  purch.ased 
a.  farm  and  lived  for  several  years.  He  subse- 
quently tiiok  up  Ills  al.)iide  in  Van  Burcii  Town- 
ship, this  county,  and  liere  died  in  1883,  when  in 
his  eighty-third  year.  His  good  wife,  who  became 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  died  in  lier  eighty- 
fourth  year. 

He  of  whom  wc  write  w:i;   reared   on    the   liome 


farm  in  Prussia,  and  received  a  good  education  in 
the  model  schools  of  his  native  land.  He  w.as  six- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  set  sail  from  New 
Bremen  and  handed  in  Baltimore,  after  a  tedious 
voyage  of  eleven  weeks  on  the  ocean.  He  came 
direct  to  this  State  and  located  at  IS'e\v  Bremen, 
where  he  worked  for  two  years  on  a  farm.  He 
then  began  clerking,  being  thus  engaged  foraltout 
four  yeai-s,  and  then  launched  out  in  business  on 
his  own  account,  and  was  thus  employed  for  thir- 
teen years,  at  the  expiration  of  wliich  time  he  sold 
his  store  and  came  to  V.an  Buren  Township,  where 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  section  lo.  He 
cleared  and  improved  his  acre.age  and  a  few  years 
ago  erected  a  sawmill  on  his  farm,  from  which 
branch  of  business  he  is  deriving  a  comfortable 
income. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  Kettler  was  married  in 
18.52  was  Miss  Louise  Borner,  of  New  Bremen, 
this  State.  To  them  have  been  granted  a  familv 
of  five  children:  Julius,  Sophi.a,  Matilda,  and  two 
who  died  in  infancy.  A  Democrat  in  politics,  our 
subject  has  served  as  Assessor  of  his  township  and 
as  member  of  the  Council  in  New  Bremen.  With 
his  wife,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  gives  liberally  of  his  means  towards  its  sup- 
port. He  cng.agcd  in  business  in  Kettlersville, 
which  w.as  named  in  his  honor, about  ten  years  ago, 
and  is  conducting  a  successful  business  .as  general 
merchant. 


EORGE  H.  STROH,  one  of  the  practical 
-  and  intelligent  young  farmers  of  Auglaize 
J  County,  has  developed  a  fine  farm  from  a 
tract  of  wild  prairie  land  on  section  7,  Pusheta 
Township,  which  compares  f.avorably  in  point  of 
improvement  and  cultivation  witli  the  best  in  this 
township.  He  is  tlie  son  of  .Tohn  Stroll,  who  was 
born  in  1815  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  where  he 
was  also  a  farmer.  The  father  emigrated  to  the 
New  World  in  18:54,  and.  h)cating  in  Butler 
Count\-,  this  Sl.ite,   was  engaged   in   teaming  for 


298 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


some  time.  Later,  removing  to  tliis  county,  lie 
worked  for  a  sliort  time  on  the  canal  and  then 
settled  in  Washington  Township,  this  county, 
where  he  is  now  living  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-seven  years. 

The  motlier  of  our  subject,  wlio  bore  the  m.Tidon 
name  of  Eliza  Jliller,  was  also  a  native  of  Cier- 
iiiaiiy.  and  by  a  former  marri.ige  had  born  to  hor 
two  children,  onl^'  one  of  whom  is  living.  George 
H.  Stroll  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  but  one 
in  the  family  of  six  children  comprised  in  the 
parental  family.  Lis  birth  occurring  in  Washing- 
ton County,  August  7,  1858.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  scliools,  and  remained  at  home  until 
reaching  his  majority,  when  he  rented  a  farm  for 
two  3'ears. 

In  the  year  1880,  Mr.  Stioh  and  Jliss  Minnie  E., 
daughter  of  Adam  and  JIary  Englehaupt,  were 
united  in  marriage.  Her  parents  were  botli  na- 
tives of  Germany,  tlie  father  being  born  in  1818, 
in  Bavaria,  and  the  mother  in  1822,  in  Hesse-Cas- 
sel.  :Mr.  Englehaupt  emigrated  to  America  .as  early 
as  1 830,  and  coming  directly  to  this  county,  was  en- 
gaged for  four  months  at  his  trade,  that  of  a  shoe- 
maker. He  then  located  on  a  tract  of  land,  which  he 
cleared,  .and  erected  tliereon  a  log  cabin.  Ho  had 
a  hard  struggle  in  tliose  pioneer  times  to  get  a 
start  in  life,  but  by  hard  work  has  succeeded  in 
acquiring  a  comfortable  position  in  life.  Mrs.  . 
Stroh  is  the  only  survivor  of  their  family  of  eight 
children.  They  were  both  members  of  the  St. 
Paul's  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wapakoneta,  toward 
tlie  erection  of  wliich  ^Ir.  Engleliaupt  was  a  lib- 
eral contributor.  In  his  political  relations,  he 
votes  tlie  Democratic  ticket,  and  in  local  affairs 
has  served  for  a  numljer  of  years  as  School  Direc- 
tor. His  farm  at  present  comprises  one  liundred 
and  twenty  acres,  wliich  is  well  stocked  and  im- 
proved Willi  all  the  necessary  buildings  and  farm 
machinery. 

To  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Stroh  have  been  born  twocliil- 
dren,  Ada  and  Nora.  With  his  wife  he  is  a  de- 
voted member  of  St.  Paul's  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  which  he  has  served  as  Elder.  Jlr.  Stroh 
has  given  his  children  good  educations,  and 
on  account  of  his  interest  in  school  .iffairs  has 
been   elected    director.      lie   has  also   lilled  the  re- 


sponsible ofBce  of  Const.able,  and  while  Road 
Supervisor  of  his  township  rendered  valu.able  ser- 
vice to  the  traveling  public.  In  social  matters,  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Bene- 
fit Society. 


-^^^^^  ^  1@'^@I  ^  ^^=^-- 


^  UGU.ST  F.  G.  FRANKE.  The  push  and 
W   I    ^"^''S.y  of  this  gentleman  are  potent  fac- 

///  ii  tors  in  the  business  prosperity  of  AVapa- 
(QJ/  koneta,  and  his  assistance  is  valu.able  in  the 

upbuilding  of  the  place.  Having  determined  to 
pui-sue  the  life  of  a  druggist,  he  has  been  energetic 
and  prosperous  in  his  work,  ever  ready  to  take 
advantage  of  new  ideas  which  promise  to  be 
beneficial. 

Our  subject,  who  w.as  born  in  Osnabruck  Prov- 
ince, Hanover,  Germany,  ;\Iarch  31,  1847,  is  the 
son  of  Carl  and  Johanna  (Cramer)  Franke,  both 
of  whom  were  also  natives  of  the  Fatherland,  and 
are  now  deceased.  August  was  the  only  son 
in  a  familj"  of  five  children,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Germany.  There  it  was 
that  he  learned  his  trade,  and  on  the  12th  of  M.ay, 
1867,  landed  in  New  York  City,  where  he  remained 
about  two  months. 

In  .Tuly  of  the  above-named  year,  our  subject 
came  to  this  city  and  w.as  engaged  as  clerk  in  a 
drug  house  for  thiee  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  opened  up  an  establishment  of  his 
own  in  partnersliip  with  Francis  Fritsch,  now  of 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  The  gentlemen  continued 
in  business  together  for  four  years,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Franke  h.as  carried  on  the  trade  alone. 
He  has  a  certificate  from  the  Ohio  Board  of  Phar- 
macy, of  which  body  he  is  a  member,  and  is  also 
connected  with  the  Ohio  Pharmaceu Ileal  Board. 

The  large  store  of  our  subject  is  well  stocked  with 
drugs,  notions,  etc.,  and  by  his  genial  manner  and 
courteous  conduct  he  has  built  up  one  of  the  largest 
trades  in  his  line  in  the  county.  He  has  a  good 
personal  reputation  as  a  druggist  and  has  always 
been  singularlv  successful   in  ni()ne\ -making,  hav- 


c^ 


C^L 


C^^^T^^^/r-.e^^^^/'^ 


^^L^^D.   t^^}^p^-r-x^     ^^/^'^^^^-^.^(A^^ 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


301 


ing  through  his  own  exoitions  attained  a  high 
stanrliiig  among  the  citizens  of  this  county.  He 
li.as  been  a  member  of  the  P.oard  of  Healtli  of  this 
city  for  a  number  of  years,  and  his  political  lean- 
ing is  indicated  by  the  f.act  that  he  is  connected 
with  the  Lincoln  Republican  Club. 

The  lady  to  whom  >Ir.  Franke  w.is  married  in 
1870  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Caroline  Jloser. 
To  them  have  been  granted  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  three  daughters.  They  are 
both  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
and  have  a  large  circle  of  friends  throughout  this 
section.  Our  subject,  socially,  is  a  member  of  the 
Lidependent  Order  of  Odd  fellows  and  is  a  man 
of  sterling  worth,  and  it  affords  us  pleasure  to  pre- 
sent his  sketch  in  this  volume. 


■S^  LIZl'R  AXDRKWS.  It  is  always  a  pleasure 
|lr«i  to  deal  with  the  history  of  one  of  those 
1^ — 'i  grand  old  families  that  have  for  genera- 
tions been  distinguished  for  patriotism,  the  genuine 
spirit  of  Christianity  and  the  strong  characteristics 
which  have  made  them  men  of  mark.  Mr.  An- 
drews, whose  portrait  accompanies  this  life  sketch, 
comes  of  good  old  fighting  stock,  his  grandfather. 
Francis  Andrews,  having  served  in  the  Continental 
arm\-  during  the  Revi.ilutionary  AVar.  and  his 
father,  .Tamos  Andrews,  having  l)een  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812.  The  latter  served  under  Gen- 
erals Harrison  and  Bell,  and  assisted  in  cutting  out 
Bell's  Trail  from  the  Fast  to  the  Maiimee  River. 
Ho  partici|iated  in  all  the  engagements  of  the  West 
during  that  war  and  wa>  houoiably  dl-^charged  at 
its  close. 

.lames  .-Viidrew^  was  linm  in  York  County.  Pa., 
and  was  one  of  the  pioniMT-  of  A>hland  County,  x't- 
tling  there  as  early  ,-is  IHi:,.  The  country  wa>  a 
wilderness  at  that  time,  wild  animals  almunded. 
and  Indiana  were  frei|Ui'ntly  si'en.  He  married 
Miss   Christina,   d.-iu-hter  cf    .K.hn    1  Iclplirev,  wIh> 

was  a   native    uf   Gertiiaiiy.     s .-ifler  his  iiiar- 

H 


riage,  he  settled  in  the  above-mentioned  count v, 
where  he  and  his  economical  and  thrifts  wife  soon 
developed  a  fine  farm.  They  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Elizur 
and  Francis  S.  Worth\-  and  exemplary  church 
membei-s,  this  worthy  couple  were  highly  respected 
and  honored  by  all.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics. She  received  her  final  summons  in  1829  and 
he  in  IStj:). 

The  original  t>i  this  notice  w.-i.n  born  in  Hieh- 
land,  Ohio,  in  181'.).  and  remained  on  the  home 
place  until  the  age  of  thirty-three,  when  he 
moved  on  the  pl.ace  where  he  now  resides.  \\\ 
1843,  he  married  Miss  Catherine  Ann  Flemino-.  a 
native  of  Penii.sylvania,  and  the  daughter  of  David 
anil  Ann  S.  Fleming,  natives  also  of  the  Kevstone 
St,ate.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Andrews  settled  in 
Ashland  County,  Ohio,  whence,  in  the  fall  of  1852. 
he  removed  to  I  ioshen  Tosvnship.  .Vuglaize  Countv, 
and  h.os  ever  since  resided  on  section  7,  having 
there  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  the  county. 
He  commenced  to  develop  his  farm  at  once  after 
loe4itiiig  iip(./ii  it.  and  although  the  surroimdinu-s 
were  wild  and  neighbors  few,  he  never  became 
discouraged,  but  soon  had  eighty  acres  cleared  and 
ready  for  cultivation.  In  addition  to  his  farm 
labors,  a  great  amount  of  care  fell  upon  himowin'j- 
to  the  fact  that  his  wife  was  a  cripple  for  a  long 
time,  and  for  eleven  yeai-s  prior  to  her  death  was 
unable  to  walk.  She  p.assed  away  August  2, 1878, 
of  puliiKinary  c<iu,-umption.  being  lifty-seven  vears 
old  at  the  time  of  her  decease.  .She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  .Associate  Kefornied  Church,  and  was  a 
woman  of  hively  character,  whose  consistent 
Christian  life  proved  the  sincerity  of  her  religious 
belief,  .six  of  the  eight  children  born  to  .Mr.  and 
Mi>.  .Vniliews.  are  living,  namely:  .lane,  who  mar- 
ried .M:Ltliew  1!,  W  Whetstone,  and  lives  in  Kansas; 
Kniily  C.  wife  of  (».  F.  Wheatley;  Lucinda  F., 
Mrs,  .l(.hn  Ib.ni:  Sarah  U,.  Mis.  Mtu'ris;  O.  F.  ami 
.lanu■^  .\..  all  nl  whom  were  favored  with  <;ood 
pdiK':itii>iKil  advantages. 

The  productive  and  fertile  farm  owyed  and  oc- 
cii|)ie<i  hy  .Mr.  .Vndrews.  coiiipri-es  two  liundred 
acres,  and  is  well  stocked  with  line  horses,  cattle. 
,-liecp  and  ho-..  ,,r  .-IS  lino  l,,-,.,.,]  .,,  i..  to  b,-  f,,iiiid 
in  the  county,  and   many  of   his  blooded  animals 


302 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


have  been  shipped  to  the  East  and  England.  An 
honest,  industrious  man,  he  has  contributed  his 
share  toward  the  advancement  of  the  community, 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  its  most  enterprising 
citizens.  At  the  age  of  seventy-three,  he  is  well- 
preserved  and  active,  and  attends  to  all  his  busi- 
ness affairs  with  the  vim  and  enthusiasm  of  a  man 
of  forty.  In  his  i)olitical  views,  he  h.as  been  a 
life-long  Democrat,  and  his  first  Presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  JMartin  Van  Buren  in  1840.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church, 
which,  in  the  spring  of  1859,  w.as  united  with  the 
Associate  Church,  forming  what  is  now  known  as 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  he  is 
identified. 


^^ 


AVID  A.  CLARK,  editor  of  The  Argus, 
))]  and  JIayor  of  St.  Mary's,  wields  a  wide 
(^Jj^'  influence,  both  personal  and  professional, 
and.  as  a  politician  of  the  best  type,  has 
made  a  m.arked  impress  on  the  public,  political, 
business  and  social  life  of  his  native  city  and 
county.  He  was  born  March  17,  1861,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  H.  Clark,  a  well-known  citizen  of  St. 
Mary's,  who  has  been  identified  with  its  interests 
for  many  years. 

The  father  of  our  suliject  w.as  born  in  Norfolk, 
Va..  in  182.5.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Scot- 
land, and  shortlv  after  his  father's  death  his  mother 
came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Virginia.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  when  young,  be- 
came a  ship-carpenter,  and  made  several  voyages 
across  the  ocean  in  pursuit  of  his  calling.  In 
1848.  he  came  to  St.  Clary's,  tlien  a  hamlet,  and 
cist  in  his  fcirluue  with  the  early  settlers,  and  in 
his  cliaracter  of  carpenter  w:is  an  active  f.actor  in 
its  ui)l)uilding,  carrying  im  his  trade  until  within 
ten  year- ago.  when  he  retired  from  business  in  that 
line,  lie  is  now  Notary  Puljlic  and  a  pension  at- 
torney, lie  was  (ince  appointed  Canal  Collector 
by  the  Stat.'  Heard  of  Piililir  Wmks.  and  mm  vcd 
tlliciently  in  that  capacity  two  years,      He  is  a  man 


of  strong  convictions  and  of  unblemished  charac 
ter,  and  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  has 
been  Deacon  several  years,  finds  in  him  one  of  its 
most  valuable  working  members.  He  married  af- 
ter coming  to  this  State,  Martha,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Barrington,  who  was  born  and  reared  on  a 
farm  near  St.  JIary's.  Her  father,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  was  a  pioneer  farmer  of  Auglaize 
County.  He  married  a  Penn.sylvania  lady,  and  both 
are  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  the  youngest 
son  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  of  whom  only  himself  and  a  sister  are 
living.  He  acquired  a  solid  education  in  the  pub- 
lic .schools  of  his  native  city,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen began  to  prepare  himself  for  the  profession 
which  he  had  decided  to  adopt,  by  entering  upon 
an  apprenticeship  in  the  office  of  the  St.  Mary's 
Free  Press,  then  edited  by  his  brother,  Richard  S. 
Clark,  whose  lamented  death  occurred  in  the  fall 
of  1877.  In  1878,  the  office  was  sold,  and  the 
name  of  the  paper  changed  to  the  St.  Mary's  Ar- 
gus, .lohn  Walkup  &  Co.  becoming  the  proprietors. 
Mr.  Clark  did  not  sever  his  connection  with  the 
office,  but  remained  in  the  employ  of  the  new 
proprietors,  with  tlie  exception  of  six  months,  un- 
til .Inly,  1883.  He  then  purchased  the  paper,  and 
has  since  fitted  up  the  office  witli  new  presses  and 
material,  and  now  has  a  first-class  newspaper  and 
job-printing  establishment. 

The  Argus  is  a  six-column  quarto,  having  a  fine 
typographical  appearance,  and  its  well-written  ed- 
itorials deal  with  all  the  leading  questions  of  the 
day  in  a  clear,  logical  manner,  being  always  pithy 
and  to  the  point;  and  under  Mr.  Clark's  progress- 
ive and  business-like  management  the  paper  has 
become  a  power  in  the  community.  It  enjoys  a 
large  circulation  among  the  people  of  all  classes, 
irrespective  of  party,  for  while  its  editor  is  thor- 
oughlv  loy.al  to  the  Democi'aey,  and  is  a  bold  par- 
tisan, he  is  .always  just  and  fair  to  political  oppo- 
nents of  whatever  creed.  When  he  took  charge  of 
the  pajier  it  was  independent  as  to  politics,  but  he 
h.as  made  it  an  organ  of  the  Democrats. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1890  to  Miss  Amelia 
(icnu'll.  a  native  of  this  city,  and  a  daughter  of 
Charles    tleructt,  ;i   native   of  tiermaiiv,    who  for 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


803 


several  jears  has  been  a  jeweler  in  St.  Mar}''s.  5Ir. 
and  Mrs.  Clark  are  very  popular  in  society,  as  they 
are  gifted  witli  those  fine  attributes  of  charactei' 
tliat  attract  friends,  and  tlieir  home  is  the  centre 
of  a  charming  hospitality. 

Our  suljject's  fellow-citizens,  who  have  known 
liini  from  cliildliood  and  have  watched  his  bril- 
liant career  with  friendly  interest,  have  shown  their 
appreciation  of  his  talentjj  and  aptitude  for  affairs 
by  selecting  him  to  till  responsible  civic  positions. 
For  the  past  seven  years  he  has  been  Clerk  of  St. 
Mary"s  T<:>wnship,  and  in  the  .■-[>ring  nf  IH'J'J  he 
was  honored  by  election  to  the  highest  municipal 
otliee,  that  of  M.-iyor  of  the  city,  lie  pursues  a 
sound,  vigorous,  and  enlightened  policy  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  otiicial  duties,  well  calculated  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  St.  JIary's,  and  his  admin- 
istration is  irrepro.achable  in  every  respect.  Mr- 
Clark  early  evinced  a  remarkal)le  interest  in  poli- 
tics, and  became  an  active  worker  in  the  Demo- 
cratic ranks  even  before  he  attained  his  majority. 
For  four  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic Executive  Committee  of  Auglaize  County, 
and  has  been  of  great  service  to  his  party  in  this 
section  in  that  as  well  as  in  his  editorial  capacity. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Kniffhtsof  Pvtliias. 


ylLLTAM  .T.  Mc:\U"RRAY.  The  well-known 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Auglaize 
Ri'puhlican.  the  leading  newspaper  of  this 
count}-,  h.as  exercised  a  marked  influence  on  the 
affairs  uf  this  section  of  Ohii...  and  even  of  the  en- 
tire State,  not  only  profes.-i(jnall\\  but  :is  a  jjro- 
gressive,  imblic-spirited  citizen,  and  has  aided  in 
guiding  it?  political  de>tiny.  as  well  as  iu  ixuarding 
and  ad\-ancing  it-^  dearest  intere^t<.  materially, 
socially  ami   niiMally. 

Our  subject  w:i-  born  in  Canipliell  County.  Ky.. 
October  I'.i.  ISl'.i.  andi>  the  son  of  Robert  and 
Mary  (Hurst)  Mc.Murray.  both  of  whom  were  born 
in  England.  The  parents  emigrated  to  this  countiy 
when  single,  .Tud  were  married    in  the  Rlue  (irass 


State.  They  had  a  family  of  three  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest.  He  remained 
in  his  native  State  until  reaching  his  eleventh  year, 
when. in  18Gb.  in  company  with  his  mother,  he  came 
to  Wapakoneta,  where  he  attended  the  excellent 
schools  of  the  city.  His  father  having  died  when 
he  was  only  six  months  old,  the  family,  subsequent 
to  the  time  just  mentioned,  moved  to  St.  Marv's, 
where  young  McMurray  further  prosecuted  his 
studies.  He  alw.ays  fully  availed  himself  of  all 
privileges  of  instruction,  and  from  early  life  forced 
himself  to  think    deeply  u|]on  that  which  he  read. 

After  completing  his  education,  our  sul)ject  en- 
tered a  dry-goods  store  in  this  city  as  clerk,  which 
position  he  tilled  for  twelve  years,  and  at  the  ex- 
l)iration  of  that  time  aliandoned  his  clerk^lii[>  and 
spent  the  winter  of  1«80-,HI  in  the  West  Indies, 
princiiially  on  the  Island  of  Culm.  Returning  to  Wa- 
pakoneta, it  wa?  hi.- intention  b>  dispose  of  his  real- 
estate  interests  and  seek  a  new  home  in  the  West, 
which  jiroject  was,  however. abandoned  cm  account 
of  his  being  interviewed  by  many  of  the  leading  Re- 
publicans of  the  county,  and  urged  to  publish  a 
paper  which  would  ex|ire."  their  [lolitical  faith. 
Mr.  McMurray  was  known  to  have  fine  literary 
tastes,  as  he  had  for  some  time  been  a  correspond- 
ent for  various  papers. 

In  partnei-ship  with  Robert  P.  .Sutton,  our  sub- 
ject established  the  Auglaize  Rppublican.  issuing 
the  first  number  in  .Vugust.  1881.  Two  years  later, 
Mr.  ;\IcMinTay  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  plant, 
his  office  being  well  eipiipped  with  jjower  presses 
and  the  best  of  material.  In  1887,  his  business  be- 
came so  extensive  and  pressing  that  he  was  com- 
pelled to  have  more  lielp.  an.d  tciok  in  as  his  part- 
ner Mr.  W.  R.  Duvall.  now  editor  of  the  Circleville 
'  I' nil  III  Jleralil.  The  iJartnershiii  continued  until 
. January  1.  18',n.l.  ?ince  which  time  our  subject  lin- 
managed  the  business  alone.  .\t  the  Fourth  l)i.-- 
trict  Republican  Congressional  Ci.m\ention  held 
in  Lima  on  the  4th  of  May.  18;iJ.  Mr.  Mc.Murray 
wa.- selected  Pre^idential  Elector,  tlie  di-trict  com- 
prising the  Counties  (if  Allen.  Augiai/e,  ^Mercer. 
Darke  and  Shelby. 

The  Republican  ha-  the  laiLTC-t  circulation  of  any 
newspaper  in  the  county,  and  in  addili(.in  to  hi^ 
editorial  busines.-.  he  is  comlucting  a  paying  busi- 


304 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGR^^PHICAL  RECORD. 


ness  as  job  printer,  furnishing  almost  all  the  legal 
printing.  Mr.  McMurray  is  a  splenclict  jouinalist, 
and  his  paper  is  the  official  organ  of  the  Republi- 
can party.  In  social  matters,  he  is  a  member  of  Lin- 
coln Club  and  the  Kniglits  of  Pythias.  He  belongs 
to  the  English  Lutheran  Church,  and  takes  a  great 
interest  in  the  Siind.ay-school,  being  at  the  present 
time  its  cliorister.  As  the  editor  of  a  prominent 
newspaper,  he  wields  a  marked  influence  in  the 
public  and  political  life  of  his  pajjer,  to  the  publi- 
cation of  which  lie  devotes  his  entire  time  and  at- 
tention. 


'  SAAC  N.  ZEARIXG.  This  gentlem.an.in  addi- 
i|'  tion  to  performing  the  duties  of  Postmaster  of 
Bellefontaine,  is  also  engaged  as  a  dealer  in 
merchant's  tailoring  and  men's  furnishing  goods. 
A  native  of  this  State,  he  was  born  near  Gei-man- 
town,. Montgomery  County,  August  27,  181.5,  and 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Moyer)  Zearing,  also 
natives  of  this  State.  The  Zearing  familj'  is  of 
German  origin  and  the  Moyer  family  came  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Cincinnati  with  a  eolony  of  about 
fourteen  families  in  the  j-ear  1806. 

The  fatlier  of  our  subject  was  an  itinerant 
preacher  in  the  L'nited  Brethren  Church  at  the  time 
of  his  deatli.  He  had  a  family  of  three  sons,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  only  survivor,  The  latter 
was  about  eighteen  months  old  when  his  father 
died,  .and  was  given  a  fair  education  in  the  country 
schools  of  his  native  county.  He  remained  on  the' 
home  farm  until  reaching  his  fifteenth  year,  at 
which  time  he  entered  a  general  store  in  Westches- 
ter as  clerk,  in  which  capacity  he  was  employed 
for  three  years.  In  1863.  he  went  to  Dayton  and 
occupied  a  like  positinu  in  the  dry-goods  store  of 
H.  V.  Perrine.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  however, 
he  joined  the  militia,  and  in  M.ay,  1864.  was  called 
out  in  tlie  one  hundred  d.ays'  service  as  a  member 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  Infantry. 
With  his  regiment,  Jlr,  Zeaiing  reported  for  duty 


at  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  they  were  stationed,  and 
after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment  re- 
turned to  Dayton  and  was  again  taken  into  the 
employ  of  the  above-named  firm,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1866.  Our  subject 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles  W.  Snyder 
and  established  the  first  dry-goods  store  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river  at  D.ayton,  which  w.as  then 
called  Miami  City.  They  operated  successfully 
together  for  three  years,  when  Mr.  Zearing  sold 
oiit  his  interest  in  the  business  and  .accepted  a  po- 
sition with  Bunstine,  Moses  ife  Bojer,  wholesale 
dry-goods  merchants,  in  the  interests  of  which  firm 
he  traveled  until  Febru.ary  1,  1875. 

He  of  whom  we  write  came  to  Bellefontaine  o'n 
the  above  date,  and  with  George  W.  Stieg  em- 
barked in  the  merchant  tailoring  .and  men's  fur- 
nishing business  on  Columbus  Street.  The  partner- 
ship continued  for  seven  years,  when  Mr.  Zearing 
bought  out  the  interests  of  Mr.  Stieg  and  has  since 
conducted  affairs  alone.  The  greater  part  of  the 
business,  however,  is  carried  on  by  his  son,  Craig 
W.,  who  is  a  most  proficient  and  progressive 
young  man. 

Mr.  Zearing's  political  career  dates  back  to  his 
eighteenth  year.  In  186.3,  while  living  in  Mont- 
gomery Countv,  he  became  interested  in  politics, 
drilling  the  boys  at  the  polls.  In  1877,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Republican  Executive 
Committee  and  served  as  such  for  several  years. 
Ten  years  later,  he  was  elected  Chairman  of  his 
Committee,  and  in  tlie  campaign  of  the  following 
year,  under  his  administration  the  Republican  ma- 
jority- of  Logan  County,  which  w.as  fifteen  hun- 
dred and  eighty-seven,  was  the  largest  ever  polled. 
He  has  ever  been  a  hard  worker  in  the  ranks  of 
that  party  and  his  labors  in  the  campaign  of  '88 
were  crowned  with  a  victory  which  made  all  the. 
Republicans  rejoice  and  thank  their  representative. 
He  has  always  been  identified  with  State  politics, 
and  w.as  Gen.  Kennedj^'s  Lieutenant  during  his 
campaign  for  Ciovenior  and  Congressman,  and  was 
a  Delegate  to  the  National  Convention  at  Min- 
neapolis. 

Mr.  Zearing  w.as  appointed  Postmaster  of  this 
city  February  17.  IS'.tH,  and  by  his  genial  na- 
ture has  won   many  friends  throughout  this  sec- 


^-U-^rx) 


L/^-^a:?^^ 


'■>C^PT^Uiy'  . 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPmCAL  RFXORD. 


307 


tion.  Socially,  he  is  a  Thii-ty -second  Degree 
Mason,  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  Kninht  of  Pytbias, 
a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  has  been  a  Representa- 
tive to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  Encampment,  and  was  like- 
wise associated  with  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

In  IStJC,  Miss  Roxie  P.  Walker  and  our  subject 
were  united  in  marriage.  The  four  children  who 
were  born  to  them  bear  the  respective  names  of 
Craig  "\V..  Cora  W.,  Charles  W.  and  Susan  E.  The 
parents  are  devoted  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  are  numbered  among  the  substantial 
residents  of  this  city.  Mr.  Zearing  has  been  the 
incumbent  of  nearly  all  the  prominent  offices  in 
the  city,  and  at  one  time  was  Trustee  and  Secretary 
of  the  City  Water-works  during  its  construction, 
was  Gas  Trustee  for  five  years,  Secretar}'  of  the 
Agricultural  Society  for  the  same  length  of  time, 
and  has  always  been  in  favor  of  every  movement 
which  would  advance  the  welfare  of  his  city.  He 
was  President  of  the  Home  Building  and  Loan  As- 
sociation and  acted  as  Vice-president  of  the  Citi- 
zens' Buililing  and  Loan  Association  tor  about 
seven  vears. 


.^.  OLSTOX  L.  DINE.  ~SL  D.  The  profession 
(I!  of  a  plivsician    is    one  of   the  most  impor- 

^^'  tant  to  which  a  man  can  devote  his  life, 
if  followed  by  a  conscientious  and  honorable 
man,  and  that  Dr.  Dine,  of  Minster,  is  such  a 
man  cannot  be  gainsaid.  The  skill  and  t.ilent  dis- 
played in  tlie  practice  of  his  profession  have 
brought  happiness  to  many  households,  but  his 
cheerful  countenance  and  kind  encouragement 
have  also  done  much  to  bring  about  the  conva- 
lescence of  his  patients. 

Dr.  Dine.  whn<e  ixirtrait  accompanies  this  sketch 
of  his  life,  wa^  biuii  in  Seneca  County.  Ohio,  on 
the  11th  of  February,  l.-i,j8.  Ilis  parents.  William 
and  Margaret  (Kennedy)  Dine,  were  natives  of 
the    Kevstone  State,  wliere   tliev    remained    until 


about  1850.  From  there  they  moved  to  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  and  there  the  father  followed  his 
trade,  shoemaking,  until  about  1863,  when  he 
moved  to  Mercer  County,  locating  in  Montezuma. 
Five  jears  later,  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Nep- 
tune, where  he  and  his  estimable  wife  reside  at 
the  present  time,  he  seventy-three  and  she  seventv- 
one  years  of  age.  Both  have  held  membership  in 
the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church  for  manv  years. 
Five  of  tlie  thirteen  children  Iwrn  to  them  are 
now  living,  and  Dr.  C.  L.  is  eighth  in  order  of 
birtli. 

The  early  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  in 
the  district  school  of  Seneca  County,  and  he  sup- 
plemented the  knowledge  thus  gained  bv  two 
tertns  in  the  High  School  at  Celina  and  in  a  priv- 
ate school.  At  the  early  age  of  seventeen,  he  be- 
gan wielding  tlie  ferrule  and  taught  during  the 
winter  seasons  for  nine  years.  While  teachin"-, 
he  .also  attended  school  between  terms,  and  dur- 
ing the  year  1882,  .and  while  teaching,  he  began 
the  study  of  medicine,  his  course  of  studj-  cover- 
ing about  four  years.  In  JMareh,  188(5,  he  was 
graduated  from  the  Ohio  !Medicul  College,  at  Cin- 
cinnati, with  high  honors,  and  received  a  gold 
medal  for  the  best  examination  on  diseases  of  the 
eye.  He  also  received  a  fine  case  of  surgical  in- 
struments, a  prize  offered  to  the  pei-son  presentino- 
the  best  paper  on  final  examination.  He  re- 
ceived this  case  out  of  a  class  of  seventv-eio-ht 
students.  He  located  at  Minster,  Ohio,  on  the  1st 
of  April,  1886,  and  now  has  all  the  practice  to 
which  he  can  possibly  give  his  attention.  The 
Doctor  stands  high  both  in  private  and  profes- 
sional life,  and  all  measures  of  morality,  temper- 
ance, education,  and  others  of  like  nature,  find  in 
him  a  strong  advocate,  and  it  may  with  truth  be 
said  he  is  found  among  the  foremost  patrons  in 
any  reliable,  uplifting  movement. 

Mr.  Dine  has  been  twice  married.  On  the  3d  of 
February,  1881,  he  married  Mi.ss  Elizabeth  Harner. 
who  was  born  in  Centre  Township.  Mercer  Countv, 
Ohio,  where  her  parents  resided  for  manv  vears. 
Her  father,  Michael  Harner,  was  a  soldier,  and 
died  in  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  The  mo- 
ther died  when  comparatively  a  young  woman. 
Mrs.  Dine  received  her   final  summons  on  tlie  7th 


308 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Februai-y,  1889,  nnd  left  the  following  chil- 
dren: Lockie  F.,  Poitiii  F.  and  JIary  I.  On  the 
14th  of  January,  181)0.  the  Doctor  took  for  his 
second  wife  Miss  Josepliine  Herkenholf,  a  native 
of  Minster,  Ohio,  and  two  cliildren  have  blessed 
this  union:  Frank  ^V.,  born  June  7,  1891,  and 
Marg.aret  E.,  June  16,  1892. 

The  original  of  this  notice  is  a  member  of  the 
Northwestern  Ohio  Medical  Association,  the  Shelby 
County  Medical  Society  and  the  Ohio  State  Jled- 
ical  Society.  lie  and  ^Irs.  Dine  are  wortliy  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Churcli.  Tlicy  luive  a  fine 
residence,  one  of  the  best  in  Minster,  and  are  hon- 
or.ible  and  useful  members  of  societv. 


I>^^<^ 


1^  ENRV  IIKLLBrSClI.  Augl.aize  County  is 
ijfjj  an  Eden  of  fine  farms  and  .agricultural 
j\^  tracts.  Thei'C  are  comparatively  few  very 
(^)  small  tracts,  and  each  farmer  tries  to  outdo 
his  neighbor  in  the  cultivation  .and  improvement 
of  his  land.  Of  the  many  fine  attractive  places, 
none  are  more  conspicuous  tlum  that  belonging  to 
our  subject,  and  located  on  section  14,  near  New 
Bremen.  Jlr.  Hellbusch  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  and  has  some  of  tlie  best  stock  in  his 
section. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  this  county,  his  birth 
occurring  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  on  the 
1st  of  July,  1844,  and  he  comes  of  sturdy  German 
stock.  His  father.  Jolin  Hellbusch,  was  born  in 
Oldenburg.  Germany,  in  180j,  and  was  engaged 
in  sheep-herding  in  his  native  countr}-  until  1835, 
when  he  came  to  America.  He  was  nine  weeks  in 
cro.ssing  the  oce.an,  and  he  lauded  in  New  York  on 
the  4tli  of  July  of  that  year.  He  visited  Albany, 
Buffalo,  Cleveland,  Columbus.  Springfield  and 
Dayton,  coming  all  the  way  by  team  from  .Vlbany, 
and  finally  purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land,  foi'ty 
acres  for  ¥130,  near  New  Bremen.  On  this  he 
erected  a  log  house  and  began  his  career  as  a  pio- 
neer. Wild  game  was  plentiful,  some  Indians 
were  btill  in  the   county,  and   settlei-s    live<l   some 


distance  apart.  Mr.  Hellbusch  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  the  townsliip,  and  was  a  man  whose 
honest\-  and  uprightness  won  liim  the  respect  of 
all.  He  died  in  1875.  He  was  a  member  of  St. 
Paul's  Lutlieran  Churcli,  and  was  an  Elder  and 
Trustee  in  the  same.  When  he  started  out  for 
himself,  he  liad  very  little  means,  but  being  indus- 
trious and  entcri)rising,  he  soon  accumulated  a 
comfortable  competence.  His  wife,  a  native  of 
German}',  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Heseker, 
came  with  her  parents  to  America  in  1836,  and  on 
the  29th  of  February,  1838,  she  was  married  to 
Mr.  Hellbusch.  She  died  in  1852.  Mr.  Hellbusch 's 
second  marriage  w.as  to  Mrs.  Charlotta  Fahrnhoart, 
a  widow  and  a  native  of  Prussia.  Slie  died  in 
1880. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  the  only  son  of 
the  first  marriage,  and  was  one  of  five  children, 
only  three  of  whom  now  survive.  He  attended 
the  district  school  in  New  Bremen  and  received  a 
good  education  in  the  German  language.  He  re- 
mained and  assisted  on  the  farm  until  after  the 
death  of  the  father,  when  he  took  charge  of  the 
same  and  has  conducted  it  successfully  ever  since. 
Progressive  and  thorough  in  all  that  he  does,  he 
h.as  met  with  unusual  success  and  is  classed  among 
the  representative  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the 
county.  On  the  18th  of  June,  1868,  he  selected 
Miss  Mary  Neddermann.a  native  of  German  Town- 
ship, this  county,  as  his  companion  in  life.  She  is 
also  of  German  descent,  for  her  f.othcr,  William 
Neddermanii,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  to 
America  in  1848.  He  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  this  country,  and  is  still  living. 

Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Hellbusch  are  the  parents  of  five 
children:  William.  Sophia,  Edward,  Lydia  and 
John  (deceased).  .\  Democrat  in  his  predilections, 
Mr.  Hellbusch  has  ever  voted  with  that  party.  He 
has  been  Township  Trustee  for  the  p.ast  eight  years, 
and  w.ts  Land  Appraiser  in  1890.  He  has  also 
held  other  local  offices,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
countv  and  district  conventions.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizen  and  is  esteemed  and 
honored  in  the  community,  and  is  a  member  of 
St.  Paul's  Church  and  an  active  and  progressive 
worker  in  the  same.  .\t  the  present  time,  he 
is    the    President    of  the  New  Bremen  Tri-County 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RFX'ORD. 


309 


Fair  Association  and  is  a  stockholder  and  Direc- 
tor in  the  same.  He  is  also  the  President  and 
a  stockholder  of  the  Xew  Bremen  Coach  Horse 
Company.  The  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  good 
))roductive  land,  in  connection  with  agricultural 
pursuits,  he  is  also  engaged  in  raising  Short- 
horn cattle.  Mr.  Hellbusch  is  one  of  the  best- 
informed  men  of  tlie  county,  is  thoroughly  posted 
on  all  subjects,  and  is  very  popular. 


^#i#^li-$n^ll 


EdIOMA.S  S.  STlTiGEOX    is  still    living  on 
the  farm  on  section   4,  St.   Mary's   Town- 
.     ship  (now   included   within  the    corporate 

limits  of  the  city  of  St.  Mary's),  where  he  was 
born  November  23,  1842.  He  h.as  risen  to  be  one 
of  the  thrifty,  well-to-do  farmers  of  his  native 
county,  and  his  farm,  which  owes  a  part  of  its 
value  to  its  situation  in  the  oil  region,  compares 
favorably  witli  the  best  in  the  locality. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Sturgeon,  who 
was  one  of  the  fii-st  settlers  of  St.  Mary's  Town- 
ship, and  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  born  in  Mifflin  County,  Pa., 
in  1803.  In  1819,  he  accompanied  his  parents  in 
their  migration  to  Miami  County,  this  State,  and 
in  1829  he  was  married  to  Mary  D.  Ross,  who  was  a 
native  of  the  same  Pennsylvania  county  as  him- 
self. The  following  year,  he  and  his  young  wife 
came  to  St.  Clary's  to  locate  upon  the  quarter  of 
section  4  that  he  had  entered  from  the  Govern- 
ment in  1826.  They  found  the  country  still  in 
all  its  natural  wildness  and  beauty,  with  but  few- 
attempts  at  development,  and  they  led  a  typical 
inoneer  life,  undergoing  all  the  discomforts  and 
trials  incidental  to  life  on  the  frontiers  of  civiliza- 
tion. There  were  no  good  roads,  that  le.iding 
south  to  Piqua.  wliere  they  went  for  Hour  and 
other  articles,  lieing  K-arcelv  more  than  a  rousfli 
pathway  marked  by  blazed  trees.  Indians  still 
lived  in  the  forests  all  the  way  from  Wapakoneta 
to  Oldtown.  where  their  chief  dwelt,  and  would 
frequently  call  at  .Mr.  Sturtfeon's  house  to  ask  for 


food  or  to  exchange  a  haunch  of  venison  for  a 
loaf  of  bread.  Mr.  Sturgeon  would  sometimes 
kill  a  deer,  but  he  did  not  care  for  hunting.  His 
sole  capital  after  he  settled  on  his  farm  was  fifty 
cents,  but  he  was  blessed  with  good  courage  to 
overcome  all  ol)st.acles  that  interfered  with  his 
plans,  and  he  w.as  industrious  in  his  habits,  working 
with  a  stout  heart  to  make  a  home  for  himself 
and  wife,  who  cheerfully  assisted  him.  He  split 
timber  to  make  the  frame  for  his  dwelling,  split 
puncheons  for  the  Boor  thereof,  and  in  that  hum- 
ble abode  he  and  Mrs.  Sturgeon  began  housekeep- 
ing, living  in  it  the  firet  winter  without  its  being 
weather-boarded,  but  with  brush  set  up  around  it  to 
keep  out  the  cold.  Ilis  axe,  drawing  knife,  maul, 
and  wedge  were  the  only  tools  with  which  he  was 
provided  in  building  his  house.  He  was  much 
prospered,  became  one  of  the  solid  men  of  the 
township,  and  died  lamented  at  a  rijie  age.  May 
5.  1875.  He  was  a  quiet,  reserved  man,  of  few 
words,  which  were  alwaj-s  to  the  point,  and  he 
was  strictly  tempeiate  in  all  things.  He  held  va- 
rious local  offices,  and  he  helped  to  organize  the 
Presbyterian  society  at  St.  Mary's,  .acting  as  Elder 
of  the  church  until  his  death.  His  good  wife  died 
before  he  did.  her  demise  occurring  December  5, 
1808.  They  liad  eight  children,  four  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  and  three  are  now  living,  our 
subject  being  the  only  surviving  son.  His  <Tand- 
father,  Moses  Sturgeon,  w.as  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  of  .Scotch-Irish  extraction.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Miami  County,  the  farm  Ih.at  he  hewed  from  the 
wilderness  being  still  in  the  Sturgeon  name. 

Our  subject  first  attended  the  district  school 
nearest  his  home,  and  when  about  fifteen  yeare  old 
was  sent  to  the  village  school  at  .St.  Jlarv's.  He 
aided  his  father  in  carrying  on  the  farm  until  the 
latter  died,  and  he  then  simply  began  where  his 
father  left  off.  coming  into  possession  of  the  farm, 
and  taking  up  the  work  that  he  laid  down.  He 
has  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  acres  of  land  on 
his  farm,  which  is  in  a  fine  condition  as  to  culti- 
vation and  improvement,  and  is  an  attractive 
place  for  a  home.  (Jil  has  been  found  beneath 
the  surface  in  paying  quantities,  and  he  leases  his 
land  at  a  good    price    fur    oil    purjui^es.     He  is  a 


310 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


mau  of  sterling,  loundaboiit  common-seuse,  of  a 
pleasant,  obliging  disposition,  a  generous  neigh- 
bor, and  all  that  a  man  should  he  in  his  domestic 
relations — a  devoted  husband  and  an  affectionate 
father.  He  is  likewise  loval  in  his  citizenship  to 
his  native  towniship  and  county,  and  the  Repub- 
lican party  finds  in  him  a  strong  supporter. 

Mr.  Sturgeon  w.as  married.  May  5,  1881,  to  Miss 
Rebecca  S.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Snod- 
gr.oss)  Crow,  who  were  Virginians  by  birth.  They 
came  to  Ohio  about  1853,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Mercer  County,  where  tlie  father  died  soon  after. 
The  niotlier  is  still  living.  She  w.as  well  educated, 
and  at  one  time  taught  school.  Mrs.  Sturgeon  is 
gifted  with  a  bright,  intelligent,  refined  mind,  and 
has  a  fine  recordasate.acher  of  fourteen  years'  ex- 
perience, entering  upon  the  profession  when  very 
young,  receiving  her  first  certificate  when  she  was 
only  thirteen  years  old.  She  is  a  sincere  Chris- 
tian, and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
ller  marriage  with  our  subject  has  brought  them 
these  three  cliildren:  Mary,  William  T.  and 
Edward  M. 


^S^EV.  WILLI.\M  .MILLER,  an  honore<l  niin- 
\Vf^'  ister  of  the  Lnitcd  Brethren  Church,  has 
^\  been  preaching  the  Gospel  for  a  half-cen- 
"'  tnry.  He  is  a  man  of  true  piety  .and  deep 
religious  convictions,  a  Christian  in  word  and 
deed,  and  has  not  only  done  good  work  in  tlie 
church,  but  has  thrown  the  weiglit  of  his  in- 
fluence on  the  side  of  morality  and  right-living  at 
all  times,  and  h.as  made  the  community  better  for 
his  residing  in  it.  He  owns  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Union  Townsliip.  .\nglaize  County.  He  rents  his 
property  but  is  at  present  residing  on  the  place. 

Daniel  Miller,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  March  29,  1802.  in  Virginia. and  is  the  son  of 
Daniel  Miller,  who  kept  an  hotel  in  Pickaway 
County,  this  State,  during  the  War  of  1812.  The 
maiden    naini'   of  our  subject's  motlior  was  Mary 


Ann  Cole;  she  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1805,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Stephen  Cole,  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. Daniel  Miller,  Jr.,  was  an  infant  when 
brought  to  tliis  State  by  his  parents,  and  here 
grew  to  manliood  in  Pickaway  County.  He  was 
married  December  5,  1822,  in  Fairfield  County, 
and  in  1835  moved  to  tliis  localit}-  and  took  up 
his  abode  in  I'nion  Township,  on  section  17.  Tlie 
land  was  in  a  perfectly  wild  condition  and  Mr. 
Miller  w.as  compelled  to  cut  his  way  through  the 
woods  to  his  new  home.  He  there  erected  a  small 
log  cabin  and  was  residing  on  the  farm  at  the  time 
of  bis  decease,  which  occurred  October  8,  1885. 
His  good  wife,  who  became  the  mother  of  eleven 
children,  followed  him  to  the  better  land  November 
22,  1891.  They  were  zealous  membei-s  of  the 
United  Brethren  Churcli,  in  which  body  the  father 
w.as  Class-leader  for  man}-  years  and  a  prominent 
singer.  In  politics,  lie  joined  tlie  Republican  party 
on  its  organization. 

A  native  of  Pickaway  County,  tiiis  SLate,  our 
subject  was  born  .September  8,  1823,  and,  being 
reared  on  a  farm,  was  given  only  a  common-school 
education.  When  reaching  his  m.ajority,  he  was 
married  November  15,  18-13,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  L., 
daughter  of  .Lames  and  Maria  (Hoffman)  Finlaw, 
n.atives  of  New  Jersey,  the  father  being  born  Jan- 
uary 26,  1799,  and  tlie  motlier  November  8,  1803. 
Mr.  and  jMrs.  Finlaw  emigrated  to  the  Buckej'e 
.State  in  1837,  and  took  up  their  abode  on  a  par- 
tially improved  farm  in  this  township,  where  they 
died  in  1884  and  1880,  respectively.  They  were 
good  Christian  people  and  were  influential  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  though  in 
former  years  they  were  members  of  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination. In  politics,  the  father  voted  with  the 
Republican  party. 

Jlrs.  Jliller.  who  was  tlie  only  child  born  to  her 
parents,  was  born  February  13,  1825,  in  Salem 
Countv,  N.  .L,  wliere  she  was  given  a  fair  educa- 
tion. Her  husband  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  P2piscopal  Church  when  fifteen  years  of 
a£e,  and  five  vears  later  began  preaching.  He  has 
since  cast  his  lot  with  the  United  Brethren  Cliurch 
and  w.as  granted  a  license  to  preach,  September  18, 
1842,  in  a  quarterly  conference,  and  was  given  a 
license  March  31,  1845.  in  the  annual  conference. 


^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


313 


He  has  been  assigned  to  preach  at  different  places, 
and  has  never  missed  a  single  annual  conference 
since  he  has  been  a  member.  llis  ordination 
license  was  granted  January  IS,  1848,  and  during 
the  greater  portion  of  the  time  since  that  date  be 
has  traveled  over  his  district  as  Presiding  Kldcr. 

The  first  year  in  whicli  the  Rev.  Mr.  JMiller 
traveled  as  a  preaclier,  ho  had  twenty-four  ap- 
pointments, and  the  distance  around  the  circuit 
was  three  hundred  miles,  the  entire  journey  being 
made  on  horseback  through  wood  and  marsh,  and 
for  thirteen  years  he  never  missed  a  single  ap- 
pointment. He  lias  taken  an  active  part  in  educii- 
tional  matters,  and  lias  served  as  Trustee  of  im- 
portant institutions. 

Mr.  and  Mi-s.  Miller  luive  never  been  blessed 
with  children  of  tlieir  own.  hut  liave  performed 
the  part  of  parents  to  five  orplians.  tliree  of  whom 
are  now  living.  Until  a  few  years  ago,  our  sub- 
ject has  always  voted  tlie  Ropulilican  ticket,  and 
at  two  different  times  was  c'lndidate  for  Represen- 
tative on  the  Prohibition  ticket,  with  which  party 
he  is  now  identified.  Jlr.  Jliller  is  the  oldest 
minister  in  the  conference,  and  has  preached  more 
funeral  sermons  tlian  any  other  half-dozen  min- 
isters. His  wife  is  also  an  active  worker  in  the 
church  and  whoever  crosses  her  threshold  is  sure 
of  a  cordial  welcome. 


'(€ 


^.|[OHN  GRABIEL,  oneof  Oliio's  native  sons, 
was  born  in  Licking  County,  on  tlie  Ttli  of 
December,  181.'),  and  is  now  residing  two 
miles  southeast  of  Rushsylvania.  wliere  he 
owns  a  very  fine  farm,  and  a  very  pleasant  and 
cozy  lionie.  He  i>  one  of  tlie  pioneer  settlei-s  of 
this  section  and  is  a  man  who  is  strictly  temperate 
in  every  respect.  lie  lia.-^  never  used  tobacco  in 
any  form,  was  never  drunk,  and  has  not  t.asted 
strong  drink  for  forty  years.  He  lias  ahvay-  en- 
joyed the  best  of  liealtli,  owing  no  doulit  to  liis 
temperate  habits,  and  was  never  so  ill  but  that  he 
could  care  for  himself.  He  is  greatly  respected   for 


his  honesty  and  uprightness,  has  a  host  of  warm 
friends  and  not  an  enemy  in  the  world. 

John  Grabiel,  father  of  our  subject,  w.as  a  native 
Virginian,  born  in  Shenandoah  County  in  1797, 
the  only  son  of  Jacob  Grabiel,  who  was  of  German 
descent  and  a  member  of  the  Duukard  Church.  John 
Grabiel  w.as  married  in  the  Old  Dominion  to  Miss 
Jlay  Ha.as,  a  native  of  that  State,  born  in  1708,  and 
also  of  German  descent,  and  directly  afterwards  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  his  native  State,  where  he  re- 
mained until  181.5.  Then  learning  of  the  fertile 
fields  of  Ohio,  he  emigrated  to  this  State  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Licking  County.  He  resided  on 
three  different  farms,  the  last  one  being  three  miles 
Northwest  of  Utica.  and  after  living  there  for  some 
time  moved  to  Utica  where  his  death  occurred  in 
18.52.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat until  1852  when  he  voted  the  Free  Soil  ticket. 
His  wife  died  in  18.5:3,  and  they  are  buried  side  bv 
side  in  I'tica  cemetery. 

Ten  of  the  thirteen  children  born  to  the  parents 
of  our  subject  grew  to  mature"  j-ears,  three  having 
died  in  infancy.  Hannah  married  Shredrick  Goff 
and  died  leaving  four  children;  David  died  in 
1892;  Catherine  is  deceased;  Elizabeth  married 
Jacob  Rabb  and  died  leaving  three  children,  one 
of  whom  died  in  the  army;  John  is  our  subject; 
Margaret  is  the  nest  in  the  family  circle;  Jacob 
resides  in  Rush  Creek  Township;  :Mary  Ann  mar- 
ried John  Deary,  and  died  leaving  one  child: 
George  is  deceased,  and  Aaron  makes  his  home  in 
Rush  Creek  Township. 

Our  subject,  the  fifth  child  and  second  son,  was 
reared  in  his  native  county  and  walked  two  miles 
to  the  subscription  schools,  taught  in  a  log  school- 
house  with  gre.ased  paper  for  windows,  mud  and 
stick  chimney,  and  all  the  other  clumsy  c(_intriv- 
ances  of  early  days.  During  the  latter  part  of  his 
schoolboy  days  he  attended  school  in  a  hewn-log 
house  in  Licking  County.  He  also  attended  night 
school  and  studied  grammar,  thus  havinar  the  ad- 
vantage of  many  of  the  children  of  iiis  dav.  When 
not  attending  school  he  was  activelv  engao-ed  in 
assisting  his  father  ou  the  farm  and  remained  with 
his  parents  unlil  1817,  when  he  came  to  Loiran 
County.     He   and    his   brother  .Jacob  had    bouylit 


314 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


four  huudiecl  aud  forty-eight  acres  in  1846,  in 
Riisli  Creek  Township,  the  farm  where  our 
subject  now  resides,  and  there  were  about  eight 
acres  cleared  at  that  time.  On  tliis  iT*ir  subject 
located  and  began  tlie  work  of  clearriig  and  im- 
luoving.  He  built  a  hewn-log  house,  two  stories 
in  height,  and  worked  on  his  farm,  hoarding  witli 
different  families  for  ten  years. 

.Satisfied  that  he  could  bring  a  wife  to  a  com- 
fortable home,  our  subject  was  married  on  the  31st 
of  December,  1857,  to  Miss  .Sarah  D.  Tharp,  a  n.a- 
tive  of  Jefferson  Townsliip,  Logan  County,  born 
on  the  28th  of  November,  1834,  of  the  union  of 
William  and  Jlary  (P'pley)  Tharp,  natives  respect- 
ively of  Virginia  and  New, Jersey.  3Ir. Tharp  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Logan  County,  was 
Overseer  of  tlie  Poor,  and  a  man  highly  respected 
bv  all.  He  was  an  Elder  in  the  church  for  fifty 
years  and  was  President  at  the  organization  of 
old  Tharp  Run  church  in  Jefferson  Township,  the 
same  being  named  in  honor  of  him.  He  was  the 
father  of  five  children,  Mrs.  Gr.abiel  being  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  honored  and 
esteemed  for  his  many  estimable  qualities,  peace- 
able and  unassuming  in  bis  m.anner,  never  had  a 
lawsuit,  never  took  a  taste  of  intoxicating  liquor 
in  his  life,  and  never  but  one  dose  of  medicine, 
lie  passed  away  when  seveut3'-six  years  of  age. 

Our  subject  brought  his  bride  to  a  good  lujme 
and  on  this  farm  they  have  resided  ever  since,  the 
former  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock 
raising,  at  which  he  excels.  His  union  was  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  nine  cliildren,  six  daughtei-s  and 
three  sons,  viz:  Luthera  Q.  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years;  Mary  E.  died  when  .about  eleven  months 
old;  'William  H.  married  Miss  Bessie  Hopkins,  of 
Pokes  Creek  Township;  ElmaV.  isthe  wifeof  Pi-of. 
C.  S.  D.  Shawan,  professor  of  the  school  at  Utica. 
(The  latter "s  brother  Jacob  is  Superintendent  of  tlie 
schools  of  Columbus).  John  W.  is  Superintendent 
of  the  schools  at  Belle  Centre,  Oliio;  Herman  H. 
married  :Miss  Blancli  Williams;  R.  Olga  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Ansley,  a  photographer,  of  Rushsylvania; 
S.  Libbie,  and  Anna  Lois  are  at  home.  All  were 
born  and  reared  on  the  farm  where  our  suliject  now 
resides.  Mr.  Grabiel  owns  two  luiiidred  and 
twentv-forlv  acres  in  the  homestead,  one  humhed 


and  seventy-eight  acres  in  Bokes  Creek  Township, 
and  one  hundred  and  eight  acres  about  a  mile 
southeast  of  the  home  pl.ace  near  Walnut  Grove, 
five  hundred  and  nine  acres  in  all.  He  has  one  of 
the  very  best  farms  in  the  county,  and  there  is  not 
an  acre  of  the  soil  that  could  not  be  tilled.  In 
connection  with  farming,  lie  h.as  been  quite  exten- 
sively engaged  in  stock-raising  and  has  been  very 
successful.  In  politics,  he  has  been  a  Repblican 
since  the  formation  of  that  part}'  and  is  still  an 
advocate  of  its  principles.  He  and  his  wife  are 
meinl)ers  of  the  Presbyterian  church  m  Rushsyl- 
vania, of  which  he  has  been  a  member  since  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  and  has  been  active  in  all 
church  work,  having  served  as  Elder.  Mrs.  Gr.abiel 
is  a  lady  in  the  true  sense  of  that  term  and  is  one 
of  the  noted  housekeepers  of  her  section. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Grabiel  accompanies  this  sketch 
of  his  life. 


^\M^^^^^ 


\tj'EROME  B.  WALTON  is  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive farmers  and  well-to-do  citizens  of 
^^  I  Union  Township,  Auglaize  County.  He 
^i^f/  operates  one  hundred  and  sixt^'-niue  acres 
of  valuable  land  on  section  5,  which  farm  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  best  in  the  county.  It  is  com- 
plete in  all  its  appointments,  its  arrangements  hav- 
ing been  made  with  an  ej-e  to  convenience,  and  it 
seems  to  be  lacking  in  no  particular. 

.Joseph  B.  and  Susan  (Brintling)  Walton,  the 
parents  of  our  subject,  are  natives  respectively  of 
Marvland  and  Ohio.  The  father  was  bora  in  1805, 
and  was  brought  l)y  his  parents  to  this  State  when 
a  small  boy,  being  reared  to  manhood  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Circleville.  Mrs.  Walton  was  born  in  Pick- 
away Count}',  while  her  parents  hailed  from  Penn- 
sylvania. After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Walton  resided  for  a  time  in  Fairfield  County,  and 
in  1836  took  up  their  abode  in  this  section,  locat- 
ing upon  the  farm  where  our  subject  is  at  pres- 
ent residing.  When  he  arrived  here,  he  had 
but   io    in    money,    a    cow    and    oue    hur;e.      He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


315 


erected  a  round-log  house  on  the  land,  which 
was  in  a  perfectly  wild  state,  and  b_v  hard  work, 
cleared  a  large  portion  of  tlie  place.  They  reared 
a  family  of  nine  children,  only  two  of  whom  arc 
now  living.  The  father  departed  this  life  in 
1853,  being  followed  to  the  better  land  by  his  wife, 
she  dying  in  1870.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walton  were 
conscientious  membei-s  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  being  regular  attendants  and  active 
workers  in  all  the  meetings  of  that  body.  In  his 
political  relations,  the  former  w.os  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat. 

Jerome  B.  Walton  w.as  born  May  27,  1833,  in 
Franklin  County,  this  State,  and  was  three  years 
of  age  when  brought  to  this  county  by  his  parents. 
The  school  advantiges  in  that  early  day  are  noth- 
ing to  be  compared  with  the  opportunities  af- 
forded the  youth  of  the  present  generation,  and. 
like  other  farmer  lads,  our  subject's  education  was 
limited.  Ilis  father  being  in  poor  health,  he  w.as 
comiielled  to  go  to  work  when  quite  young,  to 
aid  in  the  support  of  the  family.  In  1844,  they 
had  the  misfortune  to  all  bo  sick  at  once,  the  farm 
work  suffering  to  such  an  extent  that  not  even  an 
ear  of  corn  was  raised.  After  the  death  of  his 
father,  our  subject  remained  at  home  and  carried 
on  the  estate,  and  later  bought  the  interest  of  tlie 
other  heirs. 

Miss  Susan,  daughter  of  Leonard  and  Elizabeth 
(Wingard)  Sellars,  was  united  in  marriage  with 
our  subject  in  1858,  Mi-s.  Walton,  who  w.as  born 
March  16,  1837,  in  Bucks  Countv,  Pa.,  became  the 
mother  of  six  children,  of  whom  we  make  the  fol- 
lowing mention  of  the  three  living:  Xeola,  now  Mrs. 
J.  C.  Watt,  who  resides  in  this  township,  as  does 
also  Eliza  Ellon.  :\Irs.  Frank  Rigdon;  and  F.  P., 
wlio  married  ^Mi.-^s  Etta  Lusk.and  lives  on  the  home 
place. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Walton  is  engaged  in  gen- 
oral  farming,  having  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  the  estate  under  good  cultivation.  The 
farm  is  adorned  with  all  the  needful  outbuildings, 
and  a  comfortable  residence  m  which  the  family 
reside  was  erected  by  himself.  In  local  affairs,  he 
has  been  School  Director  for  the  past  thirty  years. 
Assessor  four  years  and  Land  Appraiser  in  1880- 
S)0.  He  has  also  been  the  incumbent  of  the  office  of 


Township  Trustee,  and  in  politics  is  a  stanch  ad- 
herent of  the  Democrat  party.  Mrs.  Walton  holds 
membership  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  a  lady 
of  benevolcn'  impulses,  to  whom  the  destitute 
never  ajipeal    or  aid  in  vain. 


^t^  ^f  ILLIAM  T  nx\l  LAND,  who  takes  a  lead- 
ing part  in  the  manufactiu-ing  interests  of 
Hellefontaine,  is  one  of  its  most  public- 
spirited  and  enterprising  citizens,  and  occupies  the 
position  of  Treasurer  of  the  Chichester  A-  Haviland 
Company,  manufacturers  of  chairs  and  settees.  lie 
occupies  a  high  position  among  the  keen  and  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  this  city,  where  he  is  ablv 
conducting  his  extensive  interests. 

The  onginal  of  this  sketch,  who  w.as  born  in 
Dutchess  County,  X.  Y.,  February  23,  1860,  is  tlie 
son  of  .1.  C.  and  Eliz.abeth  (Townsend)  Haviland, 
also  natives  of  that  State.  The  father,  who  has 
been  a  very  successful  business  man.  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  in  Plaintield.  X.  .T.  William  T.,  of 
this  sketch,  w.as  reared  in  his  native  State,  and  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education  in  a  boarding-school. 
When  a  youth,  he  entered  a  store  at  Millbrook, 
N.  Y..  as  a  clerk,  and.  after  being  thus  employed 
for  two  years,  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he 
was  likewise  employed  in  a  carpet  store  for  eis:h- 
teen  months.  Thence  making  his  way  West  to  Chi- 
cago, young  Haviland  opened  a  wholesale  chair 
house,  conducting  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Chichester  A-  Haviland.  They  were  suecessfullv 
engaged  in  tlie  Garden  City  fur  two  years,  and  in 
Septemljer.  188G,  purch.ased  their  present  plant  in 
this  city,  whicli  w.as  then  owned  b}-  Dickinson 
A-   Estey. 

On  becoming  identified  with  the  business  inter- 
ests of  this  city,  our  subject  formed  a  stock  com- 
pany for  the  manufacture  of  chairs,  with  F.  Chiches- 
ter as  President:  F.I.  Chichester.  Vice-president; 
W.  B.  Chichester.  Secretary,  and  W.  T.  Haviland. 
Treasurer.      They  have  latoiv   phiccd   in   their   fac- 


316 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tory  $4,000  worth  of  new  niachineiy  and  have  in 
their  employ  over  two  hundred  men,  women  and 
children,  which  large  force  enables  them  to  turn  out 
an  average  of  three  hundred  chairs  per  day. 

The  Chichester  ct  Haviiand  Company  is  one  of 
the  leading  concerns  in  tlie  State  of  Ohio,  the 
father  of  the  President  having  been  the  first  man 
to  manufacture  chairs  by  machinery  in  the  United 
States.  Our  subject,  who  is  still  a  young  man, 
manifests  great  ability  in  his  present  position,-and 
is  one  of  whom  it  will  be  said  ere  long  that  his 
life  has  been  crowned  with  financial  success.  He 
is  public-spirited  and  takes  pride  in  conscientiously 
fulfilling  the  obligations,  both  great  and  small,  im- 
posed upon  him,  and  is  higlily  esteemed  by  his 
business  associates. 

August  1,  1888,  William  T.  llaviland  and  Miss 
Tempa.  daughter  of  Judge  William  Lawrence,  were 
united  in  marriage.  To  them  have  been  born  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth.  Soci.ally,  our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Kniglits  of  Pythias,  Royal  Arcanum 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party  in  politics, 
and,  tliough  by  no  means  an  otfice-seeker,  is  greatly 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  party. 


ILLIAM  M.  LINN.    The  Democratic  Times. 
iJf    published    at    Wapakoneta.    is   a   journal 


'^^/  well  known  in  Auglaize  County  and  the 
adjoining  country  .as  a  medium  of  information  re- 
garding the  news  of  the  d.ay,  affairs  in  which  the 
people  of  the  locality  are  especially  interested  and 
various  matters  which  pertain  to  the  good  of  all 
humanity.  Of  this  sheet  Mi:  Linn  is  proprietor 
and  editor-in-chief,  and  in  its  control  he  is  adding 
to  an  already  established  reputation  as  a  newspaper 
man.  Although  quite  a  young  man,  he  has  had 
some  years'  experience  in  tlie  fields  of  journalism, 
and  knows  well  how  to  liandle  the  enterprise  he 
has  in  hand. 

Our    subject    was    born  in  Greenfield.  Highland 
Countv.  this  State,  August  5.  1857,  and   is  the  son 


of  William  .S.  and  Jlary  Linn.  His  educational 
advantages  were  very  limited,  he  never  having  en- 
tered a  schoolhousc  for  the  purpose  of  studying 
since  twelve  yeareof  age.  B3' careful  observation, 
however,  and  strict  attention  to  business,  he  has 
acquired  a  good  practical  education,  which  has 
made  him  a  successful  business  man. 

In  1870,  Jlr.  Linn,  in  company  with  his  parents, 
moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  served  as  "printer's 
devil"  in  the  oflfice  of  the  Union  Citj'  Eagle.  In 
1877,  in  partnership  with  Cal  Bidlack,  he  estab- 
lislied  the  Versailles  Policy,  which  they  published 
for  a  short  time.  In  1883,  Mr.  Linn  left  that  city 
and  going  to  Greenville,  this  State,  started  the 
Greenville  Advocate,  which  he  sold  out  five  years 
later,  and,  locating  in  Wapakoneta,  began  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Democratic  Times.  It  is  one  of  the 
leading  papers  in  the  county,  and  has  a  large  cir- 
culation, finding  its  way  into  the  homes  of  the 
best  people  in  this  section,  and  is  well  deserving  of 
the  patronage  which  it  receives.  Mr.  Linn  is  a 
self-m.ade  man  in  the  true  acceptance  of  that  term, 
as  he  started  out  in  life  with  no  capital  whatever, 
and  is  now  at  the  he.ad  of  a  growing  business. 

While  residing  in  Versailles,  Mr.  Linn,  Septem- 
ber 29,  1878,  was   united   in  marriage    with   Miss 
Isabella,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca   Rada- 
baugh,  aud   to  them   have    been    born    four  sons, 
namely,  Willie  J.,  Ernest  Lee,  George  Ward,  and 
Edward  R.     Our  subject  is  a  genial,  quick-witted 
man,  whose  keen  observation  and  habitsof  thought 
afford   him   much  pleasure  as  well  as  form  a  lever 
i    to  advance  his  financial  interests.     He  is  a  promi- 
'    nent  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  votes 
I    the  straight  Democratic  ticket,  having  cast  his  firet 
Presidential  vote  for  Win  field  S.  Hancock. 


y<^'EORGE   F.  FREYMAN.     Were  mention  to 

]i,  be    made    of   the    farmers    of   Duchouquet 

\Vv_Z^  Township,  Auglaize  County,  without  giv- 
ing a  prominent  place  to  this  gentleman,  certainly 
an  injustice  would  be  done  both  to  himself  and 
the  coiiimunitv.     His  excellent  farm  is  located  on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RFXORD. 


3i; 


section  21,  and  contains  a  fine  set  of  farm  build- 
ings well  adapted  to  their  various  uses.  He  has 
introduced  on  his  place  many  improvements,  and 
evidences  of  his  thrifty  management  may  be  seen 
on  every  hand.  He  has  been  very  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  and  for  twelve  years  was  Deputy 
Slieriff  of  this  county,  and  for  one  year  was  tlie 
incumbent  of  tlie  shrievalty. 

.Tohn  Mcirris  Freyman.  tlic  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Bavaria,  liis  birth  occurring  in 
1771.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  served 
for  a  number  of  years  in  the  Austrian  army,  fight- 
ing against  Napoleon  Bonaparte  from  1794  until 
1800,  being  in  active  service  that  entire  period, 
lie  was  an  Aide  to  Gen.  ."^eckendorf.and  in  180G 
was  Aide  to  Gen.  Holienlohe,  also  fighting  against 
Xapoleon  at  tliat  time. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was 
>[arguerctta  Barbara  Mullfinger,  also  a  native  of 
Bavaria,  whence  slie  emigrated  to  America  with 
lier  family  in  182S.  They  settled  first  in  Xorthami)- 
ton  County.  Pa.,  where  her  father  was  engaged  in 
w(3rk,  being  in  very  limited  circumstances.  He 
liad  been  very  wealthy  in  the  old  country-,  but  had 
been  deprived  of  his  possessions  by  the  long-con- 
tinued wars.  After  spending  eighteen  months  in 
tlie  Keystone  .State,  the  parents  of  our  subject 
came  to  Ohio,  wliere  they  located  in  Butler  County, 
and  in  August.  18o.'3.  came  to  Allen,  afterward 
Auglaize  County,  where  the  father  entered  a  tr.act 
of  land  on  section  33.  of  this  township.  The  sur- 
rounding country-  w.as  in  its  primitive  condition, 
and  the  Indians  still  inhabited  this  portion  of  the 
State.  .Mr.  Freyman,  with  his  sons,  set  indus- 
triously about  clearing  and  improving  his  estate, 
on  which  he  was  residing  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  isi;:;.  He  w.as  fi.illowed  to  the  better  land  a 
few  years  later  by  his  wife,  who  died  in  l^6'J. 
They  were  members  in  good  standing  of  the 
I.utheran  Church,  and  were  held  in  high  esteem  by 
their  niinierou;  friends. 

lie  of  whom  we  write  was  the  youngest  in  a 
family  of  eight  cliilihen.  l)eingl)oni  Xnveinber  1 1. 
1828.  in  Pennr-yivania.  He  was  a  lad  of  live  years 
when  he  .accompanied  his  parents  to  this  .State.and 
as  he  was  oliliged  to  aid  in  uperatiiig  ihe  new 
farm. was  permitted  toatl.-ml -chool  Iml  >ix  mouths. 


He  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  homestead,  and  in 
18.5.3  w.as  married  to  Margaret  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Christian  and  Henrietta  Heubuer,  also  natives 
of  Germany. 

The  wife  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1834,  in  Hesse-DarmsUadt,  emigrated  to 
America  in  1854,  and  the  following  year  was  mar- 
ried to  'Mr.  Freyman.  They  located  in  AVapako- 
neta.  where  our  subject  owned  .a  store  a  short  time 
and  then  conducted  an  hotel.  He  later  contracted 
to  build  the  Dayton  it  3Iiehigan  Railroad  to  that 
village,  and  after  its  comiiletion  moved  on  to  a 
farm  in  this  township. 

In  .Inly.  18(32.  Mr.  Freyman  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army,  joining  the  Band  of  Company  I,  Twentieth 
Ohio  Infantry.  He  .acted  in  the  Ambulance  Corps, 
and  was  one  of  ten  who  volunteered  their  ser- 
vices to  go  to  the  front  during  a  battle.  He  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge  after  a  service  of 
two  years.  Mr.  Freyman  then  returned  home,  his 
affaii-s  having  been  ably  conducted  in  the  mean- 
time by  his  efficient  and  intelligent  wife.  In  1865, 
he  removed  to  Hamilton,  this  State,  and  engaged 
with  his  brother  in  the  brewing  business.  Two 
vears  later,  however,  he  returned  to  Wapakoneta 
and  took  the  contr.act  to  build  the  St.  John's  Pike, 
which  was  seven  miles  in  length. 

In  C)clober.  18()8.  Mr.  Freyman  locateil  on  his 
present  farm,  wliich  then  bore  but  little  resem- 
blance to  its  now  prosperous  condition.  In  .lanu- 
ary  of  the  following  year,  he  went  to  California  in 
order  to  settle  the  estate  of  his  brother,  who  liad 
died  there,  ami  returned  home  in  .lune  of  that 
jear.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  two  hundred  acres 
of  excellently  improved  land,  nearly  all  of  which 
is  under  the  best  methods  of  cultivati^m. 

(If  the  twelve  children  born  t(i  Mi.  ami  Mis. 
Freyman.  nine  are  now  living,  namelv:  Fred 
William.  Charles  Theodore,  George  \'alentine. 
Bertha  I-'rederika.  Kmma  Henrietta.  ^Villi:lm  Ed- 
ward, .lohn  Louis,  Louisa  JLatilda.  and  .bilui  M<.ir- 
ris.  The  eldest  son  married  .Samantha  Morris,  and 
makes  his  home  in  Wapakoneta:  Bertha  F.  is  the 
wife  of  Jacob.Johu  Ilaus, and  resides  at  St.  Maiv's. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freyman  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Cliurch.  and  are  active  in  all  the  wurkiiiLis  (if 
that  body.      They  have  ifiven  llieir   cliildieii    L;u(.'d 


318 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RFXORD. 


educations,  and  our  subject  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board.  In  social  affaii-s,  he  is  a 
Giand  Army  man.  and  in  politics  votes  a  straight 
Democratic  ticket,  on  which  he  was  elected  Town- 
ship Trustee.  He  is  one  of  the  most  iuHuential 
citizens  of  his  township,  and  his  life  affords  a 
splendid  illustration  of  the  power  of  patience  and 
perseverance  in  promotinar  the  prosperity  of  the 
individual  and  crowning  his  labors  with  complete 
success. 


'^'  ESSE  JENKINS  is  a  man  whom  Nature 
seems  to  have  especially  designed  to  be  a 
farmer,  for  he  has  met  with  more  than  the 
'\2>'  ordinary  degree  of  success  in  pursuing  that 
calling,  and  owing  to  his  desire  to  keep  out  of  the 
beaten  path,  and  to  his  adoption  of  new  and  im- 
proved methods,  together  with  industry  and  good 
judgment,  he  is  now  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
the  county.  He  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  rich- 
est, most  productive  and  best-kept  farms  in  his 
section,  and  on  this  he  has  a  good  house  and  sub- 
stantial and  commodious  barns  and  outbuildings. 
AVide-awakc  and  enterprising,  he  has  made  all  his 
property  by  his  own  exertions,  and  deserves  much 
credit  for  his  perseverance  and  industry. 

His  immediate  progenitor,  Samuel  Jenkins,  was 
a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  born  June  26, 
1778,  and  came  to  Ross  County,  Ohio,  wlien  a 
young  man.  His  father,  William  Jenkins,  w.as  a 
native  of  Wales,  and  was  a  single  man  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States.  He  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  there  p.ossed  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  Samuel  Jenkins  was  married  in  Ross 
County.  Ohio,  to  Miss  Anna  CiHiney,  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  after  marriage  followed  the  trade 
of  a  whochvriglit  for  some  time.  Later,  lie  came  to 
Logan  Cuunty.  Ohio,  located  on  a  farm  in 
McArthur  Tiiwn<liip.  nicived  from  there  to  North- 
wood.  Logan  County,  thence  to  a  farm  in  Belle 
Centre,  Richland  Township,  this  county,  and 
tinallv  to  Hardin  Cuuntv.   Ohio,  where  his   death 


occurred  in  1860.  The  following  year  the  wife 
followed  him  to  the  grave,  and  they  were  buried 
side  by  side  in  the  Kenton  cemetery.  They  were 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  eight  of  wliora 
reached  manhood  and  womanhood,  and  two  of 
whom  are  now  living,  one  lieside  our  subject, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Lockhart. 

Jesse  Jenkins,  the  eldest  son  and  tliird  child, 
first  saw  the  liglit  of  day  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  on 
the  18th  of  August.  1822,  and  his  early  days  were 
p;issed  in  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  in 
attending  the  primitive  log  sclioolhouse  of  pioneer 
days.  His  first  scholastic  training  was  received  in 
Marion  County,  Ohio,  but  when  his  father  moved 
to  Logan  County,  this  State,  he  conned  his  lessons 
in  a  log  sclioolhouse  with  greased  paper  for 
window  lights,  a  big  fireplace  four  feet  wide,  with 
stick  chimney,  and  like  contrivances  of  tliatpeiiod. 
His  knowledge  of  the  world  was  only  such  as 
could  be  learned  upon  the  home  farm,  and  he  was 
actively  engaged  in  assisting  to  clear  the  home 
pl.ace  until  thirty  years  of  age.  When  twent}-- 
onc  jears  of  age,  he  attended  school  in  a  frame 
house,  and  by  bis  studious  and  careful  attention 
to  his  books  secured  a  fairly  good  education. 

L'ntil  thirty  years  of  age,  all  our  subject's  earn- 
ings went  to  support  the  famil}',  but  about  that 
time  his  brother-in-law  i-ented  a  farm  and  bought 
a  threshing-machine,  which  our  subject  and  he 
operated  for  about  three  years.  When  thirty-five 
years  of  age,  or  in  18,j9,  Mr.  .Jenkins  selected  a 
life  companion  in  the  person  of  Miss  Elizabeth  A. 
Bennett,  a  native  of  Logan  County,  Ohio,  born  in 
1830.  The  result  of  this  union  was  the  birth  of 
seven  children:  Samuel,  Claribel, Marietta.  Will- 
iam, Lizzie  M..  Carrie  M.  (who  died  when  eight 
years  of  age),  and  Amanda  J.,  all  enjoying  single 
blessedness.  The  wife  and  mother  died  June  26. 
1882. 

In  the  same  year  as  his  marriage,  our  subject 
settled  where  he  now  resides,  and  although  his 
first  liome  w.as  a  rude  log  cabin,  and  his  place  had 
very  few  improvements  on  it.  he  went  vigorously 
to  work  to  clear  his  farm  of  the  heavy  timber 
with  which  Nature  bad  covered  it.  Assisted  by 
his  andiitious  and  economical  wife,  who  was  a 
true    helpmate    indeed,  he   began   gradually,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


319 


aftei-  much  bard  work  and  many  privations,  to 
gather  around  liim  many  comforts  and  con- 
veniences, lie  is  n(]W  the  owner  of  one  liundrcd 
and  eif^lity-seven  acres  of  excellent  land,  tlie  most 
of  which  is  under  cultivation,  and  all  of  which  he 
has  cleared  with  his  own  hnnds,  and  besides  has 
cleared  two  other  farms.  He  has  been  an  indefat- 
igable worker,  and  all  his  property  has  been 
.iceumulated  by  strict  attention  to  business  and 
greit  exertion  on  his  part.  lie  is  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  of  Rush  Creek  Township,  and 
one  of  its  m(Jst  worthy  and  upright  citizens.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Disciples  Church.  Formerly  a 
Whig  in  politirs,  his  first  vote  was  for  Henry 
Clay,  liut  he  is  now  a  stanch  Republican  and 
npliolds  the  platform  of  that  part\'.  Aside  from 
his  extensive  farming  interests,  Mr.  Jenkins  is  also 
engaged  in  stock-raising,  and  makes  a  success  of 
this,  as  he  does  of  all  else  he  nndertakes. 


— ^•l">->4*  i. 


(^  ft.ILI.IAM  MILH()LL.\ND,>I.  D..  has  been 
\r\ll  identified  with  the  medical  profession  of 
V^^  Shelby  County  for  sixteen  years,  or  since 
187(3,  and  a  leading  physican  of  .'^idney  for  the 
p.ast  two  years.  He  is  personally  well  suited  to 
the  profession  he  has  clnisen,  and  he  lias  given 
himself  the  Ijcnefit  of  all  the  opportunities  avail- 
able in  tins  country.  He  is  a  very  popular  man, 
both  in  his  profession  and  out  of  it.  and  has  a 
host  11  friends  and  admirers.  The  Doctor  was 
born  ill  Ihitler  County.  Ohio,  on  the  lOth  of  .luly, 
IS.')!!,  t(j  the  marriage  of  tieorge  and  Mary  Ann 
(Meriiig)  Milholland,  the  father  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers  of  Butler  County,  Ohio. 

The  paternal  grandfalher  of  our  suljject.  Thomas 
Milholland.  wa?  a  native  of  the  green  i-^le  <if  I^rin, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  .America  when  but 
a  small  boy.  Tliey  settlc(l  in  Indiana  at  a  very 
early  date,  and  although  tlie  country  where  tliey 
decided  to  locate  was  wild  and  unsettled  and  In- 
dians were  plentiful,  the  grandfather  was  r  g(,iod 
niarkjiuan  and  liad  liulf  tVar.      He  reared  thirteen 


children,  most  of  whom  still  live,  and  became 
prominently  identified  with  that  part  of  tlie  State. 
His  son.  George  Milholland,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Indiana  in  December,  1811,  and  was 
reared  in  Franklin  County  of  that  State.  When 
a  young  man.  he  came  with  an  uncle  to  the  Buck- 
eye State,  and  branched  out  for  himself  as  an  ag- 
riculturist, becoming  a  very  successful  and  prac- 
tical farmer.  He  worked  hard  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1878,  and  was  the  owner 
of  an  excellent  farm.  He  left  a  family  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  .John,  now  a 
physician  of  Winterset.  Iowa;  Charlotte,  wife  of 
Tobias  Sl}eich,  of  .'^utton,  Xeb.;  Thomas,  of  San 
Diego,  Cal.;  our  subject;  Anna,  wife  of  Arnold 
York,  of  Nebraska;  Dr.  David  (who  read  medicine 
with  our  subject),  who  resides  at  Junction,  Ohio; 
and  Eddie,  who  is  on  the  old  f.arm.  The  mother 
of  these  children  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Marv 
Ann  Mering.  and  w.as  a  native  of  Maryland.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Mering,  who  moved 
to  Ohio  at  quite  an  early  date,  and  engaged  in  the 
milling  business  in  Butler  County.  Ohio.  He  was 
killed  b}'  a  horee.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Buttonburg,  was  one  of  the  earlv 
settlers  of  Butler  County,  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  received  his 
early  education  in  Oakland  Academy  in  Butler 
County.  Ohio,  and  later  attended  school  at  New 
London,  or  Paddy's  Run.  as  the  postottice  is 
called.  The  school  ,-it  that  place,  and  the  one  our 
subject  attended,  was  organized  by  the  latter's  fa- 
ther and  others,  who  maintained  it  for  many 
years.  Afterward,  young  Milholland  attended 
the  Ohio  Normal  School  at  Lebanon,  was  then 
with  his  father  for  some  time,  and  subsequentlv 
began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  P.  H.  Brooks, 
now  of  Lima.  He  took  a  course  of  medical  lec- 
tures at  Miami  Jledical  College.  Cincinnati,  in  the 
Classes  of  '7:!,  '7.i.  and  '76.  and  afterward  located 
at  Pemherton,  where  he  practiced  in  the  town  and 
surrounding  Country  for  nearly  twelve  vears.  and 
met  with  the  best  of  succe>s.  After  this,  he  went 
to  Bradford,  where  he  had  property,  remaining 
there  two  years,  but  in  IMS'J  he  returned  ti>  Sid- 
ney, where  he  has  already  built  up  a  ^ood  prac- 
tice, also  retaininir  a   large  share  of   iii;  piactice  in 


3  20 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIICAL  RECORD. 


Pemberton.  He  has  purchased  a  fine  brick  resi- 
dence in  Sidne\',  and  has  his  office  on  Main  Ave- 
nue. At  Bradford,  he  also  owns  a  good  residence, 
and  at  Pemberton  he  owns  considerable  real  estate, 
all  of  which  he  has  made  by  his  practice.  lie  also 
believes  in  life  insurance,  and  is  insured  in  an  old- 
line  company  for  $5,000.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Shelby  Medical  Society,  also  of  the  Ohio 
State  Medical  Society. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1883,  he  married  Miss 
Xettie  M.  Wilkinson,  a  native  of  Pemberton,  Ohio, 
and  the  daughter  of  Jacob  P.  Wilkinson.  Five 
children  have  blessed  this  union:  George  W.,  Olive 
F..  Arnold  Ray,  Pearl  M.ay,  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy.  Although  formerly  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church, Mr. and  Mrs.  MilhoUand  now 
hold  membership  m  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  he  is  chorister  of  the  Sunday-school 
and  director  of  the  choir.  He  has  given  consider- 
able attention  to  music,  especially  vocal,  which  he 
used  to  teach,  and  is  considered  authority  on  all 
musical  subjects.  He  and  Mrs.  MilhoUand  are 
members  of  the  Good  Templars,  and  he  is  Deputy 
of  the  lodge. 

The  Doctor  is  the  owner  of  two  fine  colts  from 
"Kitty  M.,"  of  Morgan  and  Jlambrino  strain  on 
the  dam's  side,  one  sired  by  '•Stockwell,"'  son  of 
"Nutwood." 


J'  1  OIIN  P.  COST,  Suiwrintendcnt  of  the  Belle- 
I  fontaine  Carriage  Body  Company,  is  lecog- 
nized  as  a  man  of  superior  attainments  and 
^^_j;  one  well  calculated  to  be  classed  among  the 
prominent  business  men  of  Logan  County.  He 
was  born  October  25,  1841.  in  Greene  County,  this 
State,  and  is  the  son  of  Anthony  and  Anna  (Gui- 
singer)  Cost,  natives  respectively  of  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania. 

The  ancestors  of  our  subject  were  natives  of 
Germany, and  his  father,  who  came  to  this  State  in 
1838,  when  a  young  man,  was  married  in  Greene 


County.  He  was  a  merchant  in  early  life,  and 
spent  his  latter  days  in  railroading.  He  de- 
parted this  life  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  in  the  year 
1884,  and  his  widow,  who  is  still  living,  makes 
her  home  in  Omaha,  Neb.  Our  subject  was  the 
eldest  in  the  parental  family  of  nine  children,  all 
of  whom  are  living.  He  attended  school  in  Fair- 
field and  Quincy,  this  State,  but  his  advant.ages  for 
securing  an  education  were  limited,  as  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  years  he  left  school,  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  four  years  at  the  trade  of  body- 
making,  with  Emery  Bros.,  of  this  cit^'. 

In  18Gl,on  the  outbreak  of  theCivil  War,  young- 
Cost  enlisted  in  the  three-months  service,  in  Com- 
pany A,  Thirteenth  Ohio  Infantry,  which  was  the 
first  company  to  leave  Logan  County.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  service,  in  September  of 
the  same  year,  he  re-enlisted  in  the  First  Ohio  In- 
fantry, serving  his  country  faithfulh-  and  well 
until  September  9,  1864,  when  he  was  honorably 
discharged  with  the  title  of  Corpor.al.  He  parti- 
cipated in  the  battles  of  Pittsburgh  Landing,  siege 
of  Corinth,  and  Murfreesboro.  He  afterward  served 
with  the  Pioneer  and  Pontoon  Corps,  and  for 
.about  six  months  lay  in  a  hospital,  having  been 
afflicted  with  a  chronic  disease. 

On  being  mustered  out  of  the  service,  Mr.  Cost 
went  to  D.ayton  .and  worked  at  his  trade  until 
18tJ9,  at  which  time  he  came  to  this  city  and  was 
employed  as  foreman  with  the  Miller  Carriage 
Company,  which  position  he  occupied  until  the 
organization  of  the  present  firm,  of  which  he  was 
elected  President.  In  Api'il.  1889,  he  was  made 
Superintendent  of  the  factory,  which  under  his 
supervision  and  management  haa  grown  to  be  one 
of  the  leading  body  works  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
The  institution,  of  which  he  was  the  originator, 
was  started  on  a  small  scale.  He,  as  a  practical 
workman  himself,  employs  none  but  skilled  men, 
whom  tlie  company  pays  well  for  their  services. 

Mr.  Cost  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Heffner,  of  D.ayton, 
were  married  in  1868.  Their  famih'  of  three  chil- 
dren bear  the  respective  names  of  Charles  E.,  Mary 
L.  and  John  II.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  h.as  passed 
all  the  chairs  in  the  ciicam|inient.  lie  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Uoval  Arcanum,  in  which  order  he 


M55  JaME  CORWIN. 


Oliver  Corwin. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


325 


hoUls  tlie  position  of  .Secretary.  A  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Ev.Tugelical  Liitlier.an  Churcli.  lie  lias 
held  the  position  of  Elder  for  the  pa.st  eighteen 
years  and  is  among  its  most  earnest  workers,  lie 
h.as  labored  hard  and  his  success  has  not  been  at- 
tained without  diiHculties.  but  his  life  verities  the 
belief  tliat  e\'erything  is  po.^silile  to  the  man  pos- 
ses'iing  energy  and  good  judgment. 


.  =^^mmm-^-mMmfi^^ 


M\KR   C'ORWIN.      This    iirominent  farmer 

Jj  and  stock-dealer  is  one  of  the  many  who 
have  spent  the  greater  portion  of  their  lives 
in  developing  the  country,  tliat  their  children  and 
children's  children  might  enjoy  the  advantages 
which  they  themselves  were  denied.  In  truth,  we 
of  to-day  are  the  heirs  of  all  ages  and  profit  by  the 
lalior  and  self-denial  of  the  hard-working  classes 
of  times  past.  .Mr.  Cornin  was  born  in  Pickaway 
County.  Ohio,  near  Circleville.  on  the  26th  of  De- 
cember, 1810,  to  the  union  of  P.  and  Mary  M. 
(Dovenbarger)  C'orwin.  native.-,  of  I'enii.-iylvania 
and  (Germany  respectively. 

The  father  attained  to  manhood  in  liis  native 
Slate,  was  married  there, and  many  years  later  went 
to  Indiana,  where  his  death  occurred  five  years  af- 
terwards. Tlie  mother  came  to  .\merica  with  her 
parents  when  but  a  child,  and  her  first  m.-u-riage 
was  to  Thomas  Hall,  by  wlioni  ?lii-  had  two  c_-liildren. 
a  son  and  daughter:  .lohn.  who  died  when  small, 
and  JMargarct,  who  m.irried  (ieorge  .Moots  and 
reared  a  large  family.  I'.y  the  second  marriage. 
Mrs.  C'orwin  became  the  mothei-  of  se\en  cliihlren. 
who  were  named  in  the  order  of  tlieir  births  a> 
follows:  .lohn.  Oliver  (our  >ubjecl ).  Daniel. 
Phineas,  ( leorge  Thomas,  ^lary  .\mi.  and  .lacoh. 
Wlien  the  eldest  child  was  fifteen  ye:irs  of  a;;caiid 
the  yiiun2i-t  lull  >ix  nnuitlis.  the  father  dier].  and 
tlie  iiKjtlier  :iftrrw:ird  reiiioved  witli  her  f:iiiiily  tn 
l.og:in  (_*c>iiiit,\.  Ohi.).  sfltling  ill  .Ietf.'r>nn  'I'owii- 
shiii,  alxuit  on,,  mile  s(Uilh  "f  Z:iiii><field,  whiMv  -he 
rented  :i  riiiiii.  There  llic  f:iiiiily  iniiMiiied  :iIhiiiI 
five  ye:ii>  :uid  the  liiotlier  kept  the  childieii  In- 
l.T 


getlier  until  they  were  gn.iwii  and  married.  She 
lived  to  be  sixty  years  of  .age  and  died  in  Hush 
Creek  Townsliiii.  this  county.  She  w.as  widelv  and 
favorably  known  fiu'  her  many  excellent  and  wo- 
manly qualities  and  was  a  devoted  mother  and  a 
true  and  faithful  friend. 

The  subject  of  thus  .--ketch  i.-  a  self-made  in.in. 
and  all  his  accumulations  are  the  result  of  hard 
work  and  strict  attention  to  business.  From  an 
early  age  he  Ijecame  accustomed  to  hard  labor  and 
tlie  first  money  he  earned  was  in  a  mill  in  Monroe 
Township.  Logan  Couiily.  On  the  28tli  of  Febru- 
ary, 1833,  he  was  united  in  m:uriage  with  Miss 
.lane  Daugherty,  who  waij  born  in  .leflfeixui  Town- 
ship, Logan  County,  Ohio,  on  the  14th  of  .Iiilv, 
18111,  the  eldest  daughter  of  .larvis  and  Hannah 
(Marriinans)  Daughert;-,  the  fathera  native  of  I  Ihio 
and  the  mother  of  .South  Carolina,  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Daugherty  were  the  lii-st settlers  of  Logan  t  ouiitv. 
and  when  they  located  there  Inilian>  and  wild  an- 
imals abounded. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  our  subject  had 
-?120  in  money  and  a  two-year-old  colt.  He  located 
on  a  rented  farm  belonging  to  his  father-in-law,  in 
.lelTerson  Towusliip,  and  on  this  he  remained  for 
about  five  yeai-s.  He  .-ubsequenlly  bought  eiglit\- 
acres  of  wild  land  where  he  now  resides,  and  on  it 
erected  a  lou'  hou>e.  l.Sx20  feet,  with  one  little 
window,  and  inimeiise  fireplace  with  a  stick  and 
mud  chimney.  The  door  had  a  wuoden  latch  with 
.-triiig.  the  roof  was  made  of  cla|)lx)ard>,  and  in 
this  rude  haiiitation  this  hopeful  and  ambiliims 
young  couple  lieg;in  their  struggle  for  a  home. 
His  ax  was  the  tirst  to  elear  the  ground  i.f 
the  heavy  timber  with  which  it  was  covered  and 
his  strong  arms  converted  the  wilderness  into 
a  fertile  and  blooming  tract  of  country.  He  sulj- 
sec|uently  added  to  the  original  tract  sixt\-two 
:icic's  and  continued  adding  to  this  until  he  imw 
owns  line  thousand  acres  in  Rush  Creek  :ind  lioke,-- 
Creek  Townships.  .Mrs.  Corwin  had  her  share  of 
the  hard  w(.rk  aiKi  stood  faithfully  liy  her  hii~b.-ind'- 
side  during  the  nil- and  downs  nf  life.  She  iliil 
her  own  weaving  and  iii.-ide  .-ill  the  c-hillipv  ..viii  ii  li\ 
her  large  family. 

The   childri'U.    fifteen    i il.i'r.    iM>ni     to    Mr. 

and  (  orwin  wrn-  :i-  follou,:  .huvi-  D..  who  -,.|  n  rd 


326 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


four  yeui-s  in  the  Civil  AVar.  escaping  without 
a  w.nuKl.  died  on  tlie  7tli  of  :Mai-cli.  1888: 
:Martha  Ann,  wife  of  George  Brockeruian.  resides 
in  Rushsylvania;  Pliineas.  who  resides  in  Rusli 
Creek  Township;  Henry  at  home  with  our  subject; 
Hannah,  who  died  in  infancv;  Israel,  a  resident  of 
Rush  Creek  Townshiii;  Abi.  .am,  Isaac  and  Jacob, 
triplets,  born  alive  but  who  shortly  afterward  died; 
Joseph  died  in  infancy;  Williain  and  Oliver  D., 
both  residing  in  Kusli  Creek  Township;  Mary  Jane, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years;  Zaclieas.  who 
died  when  five  years  old.  and  Margaret  Ann,  wife 
of  E.  ■\Vickersham,of  Rush  Creek  Township.  Our 
subject  votes  for  the  man  in  local  affairs,  but  his 
Presidential  vote  is  cast  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  was  Supervisor  for  seven  years  and  also  held 
the  position  of  School  Director  for  many  years.  He 
is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stockmen  of  the 
county  and  is  an  honest,  respected  citizen. 

The  portraits  of  IMr.  and  Mrs.   Corwin    are   pre- 
sented elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


<|^1LISHA  R.  FREEMAN.  >r.  D.  The  city  of 
IWj  AVap.akoneta  is  not  without  her  share  of 
i — ■::  membei-s  of  the  le.-vrned  professions,  who  arc 
a  credit  to  the  pursuit  they  have  chosen  and  to  the 
town  itself.  Among  tliose  who  have  taken  up  the 
calling  of  a  medical  practitioner  is  Dr.  Freeman, 
who  devotes  himself  assiduously  to  his  practice 
and  the  scientific  investigations  which  will  enhance 
his  professional  knowledge  and  skill.  IIo  is  well 
established  in  reputation  as  a  physician  and  is  re- 
cognized among  the  ablest  of  AVestcim  Ohio. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Saratoga  County,  X.  Y., 
October  20,  1842.  and  is  a  son  of  I.saac  and  Harriet 


(Knight)    Freemai 
.■^tate.     His  father, 
tii.in.    was  a  man 
versed  in  the   law. 
Justice  of  Ih.-   I'.:i< 


,.  al-o  natives  of  the  Empire 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
of  niui-h  learning,  being  well 
He  occupied  the  position  of 
V  f..r  a  iiuinher  of  \cars  ami  de- 


parted tliis  life  in    IMlii).      .Mr.  ai 


d  .Mrs,  Isaac  F 


man  were  the    parents   of   three   sons   and    three 
daughters,  five  of  whom  are  living. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  beads  this  sketch 
was  the  youngest  son  in  the  parental  family,  and 
received  his  early  training  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  county.  He  later  attended  the  schools 
in  Fairfield,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  prosecuting  his 
studies  on  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war.  Abandon- 
ing his  books,  he  enlisted  in  1861,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  II,  First  New  York  Cavalry, 
which  w.as  disbanded  a  short  time  after  with  thirty 
thousand  men.  Mr.  Freeman  immediately  rc-en- 
listed  in  the  .Seven tj'-seventh  New  Y'ork  Infantry 
and  participated  in  many  of  the  important  battles, 
being  discharged  in  the  winter  of  1863,  having 
been  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  He 
was  sei'iously  hurt  while  crossing  the  pontoon 
bridge  across  Aqua  Creek,  at  which  time  the  bridge 
was  cut  loose  and  Mr.  Freeman  was  struck  with  a 
plank.  He  Lay  for  some  time  at  White  Oak  Church 
and  w.as  then  sent  to  Washington,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge.  During  his  ser- 
vice in  the  cavalry,  he  occupied  the  office  of  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  and  in  the  infantry  acted  as  Cor- 
poral of  his  corap.any. 

For  two  or  three  years  after  returning  from  the 
war,  Jlr.  F'reeman  was  unable  to  do  anj'  manual 
labor,  but  during  that  time  completed  his  educa- 
tion and  began  reading  medicine.  Still  being  in 
ill  health,  he  continued  farming  until  1878,  when, 
going  to  Cincinnati,  he  was  graduated  from  the 
Pulte  Medical  College  with  the  Class  of  '83.  Re- 
turning to  Wapakoneta.  Dr.  Freeman  engaged  in 
the  pr.actice  of  his  profession  and  has  long  been 
considered  a  permanent  member  of  the  fraternity 
here. 

In  1876,  our  subject  visited  the  Western  coun- 
try and  again  in  1800  took  a  pleasure  trip  to  Col- 
orado. He  has  a  fine  collection  of  Indian  relics 
which  he  values  very  highly,  and  which  can  be  seen 
at  his  office.  In  18(i3,  he  w.as  ni.arried  to  Emma  Hatf. 
a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  to  them  were  born 
two  children.  IJUian  and  Alice.  Mrs.  Freeman 
died  111  1872  and  the  Doctor  chose  for  his  sec- 
ond companion,  in  1882,  Miss  Mary  Rathbone.  who 
ha>  iiecoinc  llic  mother  of  one  daughter.  Julia. 
•l'he\   are  l'"lli  diMciled  uicnibers  of   the   .Methodist 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


327 


Episcopal  Church  anrl  are  highly  respected  throiijrh- 
oiit  the  comnuinity.  Amon;;  the  Indian  collec- 
tions which  the  Doctor  has.  is  a  i)ipo  that  once  lie- 
longed  to  Sitting  Bull  and  also  thr  war  chili 
which  was  supposed  to  have  liccn  used  in  killin;: 
C'apt.  'Wallace. 

In  knowledge  and  skill  in  medical  science  and 
all  matters  pertaining  to  llie  lieallli  of  the  body. 
Dr.  Freeman  stands  in  the  front  rank  among  the 
medical  fraternity-.  His  intelligence  in  other  lines 
of  study  and  affairs  and  his  manly  character  alike 
entitle  liim  to  esteem  and  he  i.e  regarded  in  the 
highest  respect,  not  only  throughout  his  commun- 
ity but  in  other  places  where  he  is  known,  having 
an  extended  acquaintance  and  an  .assured  position 
among  the  learned  members  of  his  profession. 


§  tZZJ   <!         >  0 


J^^J-'.onai'.  KO^ISllK  h.as  been  exceedingly 
'|i  - —  prosperous  in  the  pursuit  of  his  calling  as  a 
V_j.4  farmer,  and  is  now  the  fortunate  owner  of 
a  splendid  estate  on  section  6.  Duchouquet  Town- 
ship. Auglaize  County.  He  is  a  son  of  .lustus  and 
Annie  Margaret  (Michel)  Romshe.  natives  uf 
Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  where  tlie  father  was 
born  in  179.5  and  the  niotlier  in  ISiin. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  tailor  by  trade, 
and  in  IH.'iS  emigrated  to  the  New  World,  and 
coming  direct  to  this  State.  li>c:ilcd  im  the  farm 
which  is  the  present  prnperty  (if  i.ur  siiliject.  It 
was  then  in  its  priiniti\('  cnnditinn  and  dinves  (if 
deer  and  wolves  r.ianied  .-ibdut  the  caliin.  The 
fatlier  jiaid  >i4(Hl  fdr  sevcnty-li  ve  acres  of  land, 
which  lie  set  indii^triiiusly  about  clearing  and  im- 
proving. The  niiitlier  was  accidentally  killed  in 
lS,-,l.by  falling  fnuii  a  w.-i-on.  .lu-tn-  Hoin-hc 
lived  until  IST'.l.wlien  he  too.  (lepaileil  this  life 
They  were  c uiscientidus  member-  (if  the  I,uthei:ni 
(  hinch  and  reared  a  faiiiiiy  cf  Iw,,  ihildreii.  l.dlli 
of  wliiim  are  livinir. 

lieurL;!'  lidiii-lie  wa-  l.drn  Nd\ cuiIm-i-  ■>.  ISL'7.  in 
the  Pro\ince  (if  lle<se-l  )arinstadl .  iiciinaiiy.  and 
was  a  lad  of  e]c\en    years    when    lie   uccdiiipanieil 


his  parents  on  their  removal  to  America.  His  sis- 
ter bore  the  name  of  Anna  Maria,  and  is  now  the 
wife  cif  William  Dichl  and  makes  her  lidnie  in 
Springlield.  this  State,  where  she  has  a  fainilv  of 
three  children. 

Our  sidiject  receiveil  a  g(.idd  (iennan  education, 
but  oil  coming  to  thl.-Aew  World,  attended  school 
only  three  months,  his  father  not  being  able  to 
siiaie  him  from  the  farm  duties.  ]',eing  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  he  lias  uiA  only  witnessed, 
but  has.a.-sisted  in.  every  change  which  hsis  worked 
out  the  wonderful  transformation  apparent  in  Au- 
glaize County  to-d.ay.  lie  has  been  a  resident  upon 
his  present  f.-irin  for  lifty-four  years,  ^nd  no  one 
takes  greater  pride  than  he  in  the  jinisperit v  of 
Duchoucpiet  Township,  where  he  stands  among 
the  most  able  and  ])r(igre~sive  men  of  his  class  in 
the  county. 

The  lady  to  whom  our  subject  was  married 
in  IS.id  bore  the  name  of  Marv  McCIintock. 
She  was  Ixun  in  August.  1.S2S.  and  is  a  danuhter 
of  John  and  Barbara  McCIintock,  natives  of  Countv 
Donegal,  Ireland.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Komshe  have 
been  born  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  .bihn.  .lustiis.  .Mniy.  William,  Charles 
and  .laciib.  ilrs.  Mary  KdUishe  departed  this 
life  in  the  year  188.5.  and  the  lady  wluun  our 
subject  chose  as  his  second  companion  November 
•_>.  ISSC.  was  Mrs.  Nancy  (Sprague)  Kitchie,  widow 
of  .\dam  Kitchie.  wlio  came  to  this  section  in  18.'?-). 
Mrs.  K(.inr-lie  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Clar- 
issa (^lartiu)  Spr.ague.  natives  respectively  (if  New 
Y(.irk  and  \  irgmia.  Her  father  was  a  fanner,  and 
died  while  residinu  in  .\rkansas.  in  1S^7;  hisiiddd 
wife,  who  survived  him  a  few  years,  passed  away 
ill  is;)!.  Mrs.  Iiiimshe  was  diie  in  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  and  was  burn  in  Mdrgan  Countv. 
thi- Stale.  .lanuary  7.  I.s31.  ]',y  her  marriage  with 
.Mr.  Kitchie.  she  became  the  nidther  (if  four  chil- 
dren, three  df  whom  are  still    li\  ini:. 

Mv.  and  Mrs.  IJonishi'  are  aetive  uieinliei-  df  the 
Lutheran  Church,  in  wliicli  deiiomi nation  oiir  sub- 
ject lia-  been  a  Deacon  and  Klder  for  .a  nimil.er  of 
years.  He  has  been  very  lilieral  witli  hi-  cliildrcn, 
and  has  di-tribiited  a  tract  of  seven  hundred  acre's 
anionic-  them.  i'.ein::  ^ireall)'  iiilcie-tc(l  in  ,-chool 
affair-,    he    h:i-    ser\-ed      foi      inaii\      vcar-    on     the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Board  as  Director,  in  whicli  position  he  has 
done  efficient  service.  In  politics,  be  votes  with 
the  Democratic  party  and  has  always  been  one  of 
its  stanch  supporters.  In  local  affairs, he  has  been 
the  recipient  of  the  oflice  of  Township  Trustee,  and 
is  deeply  interested  in  whatever  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  his  community,  and  is  always  willing  to 
contribute  his  time  and  money  to  promote  any 
worthy  public  enterprise. 


^^1  UGUSTUS  A.  DAVI.S  is  a  well-known  mer- 
^Ol    chant  of  .lackson  Centre,  and  is  at  present 

i~&  ably  discharging  the  duties  of  Postmaster 
<^J  at  that  place.     lie  is  the  son  of  Lutlier  L. 

Davis,  who  was  born  May  31,  1810,  in  West  Vir- 
ginia. The  latter  was  a  farmer,  and  the  son 
of  .James  Davis,  a  n.ative  of  New  Jersey,  who 
in  turn  was  the  son  of  William  Davis,  a  native  of 
"Wales.  The  latter  emigrated  to  America  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  with  a  brother  served 
in  that  struggle,  in  which  conflict  the  latter  lost 
his  life.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  together 
with  his  brother,  did  valiant  service  in  the  War  of 
1812. 

The  Davis  family  originally  settled  in  New  .ler- 
sey,  where  they  remained  until  after  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  and  then,  moving  to  Virginia,  made 
their  home  in  Harrison  County,  where  they  were 
among  the  earliest  pioneers.  The  mother  of  our 
subject,  who  prior  to  her  marriage  w.as  known  as 
Miss  J.ane  ^Morris,  was  born  in  Clarke  County,  this 
State.  November  23.  1815.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Mary  (Kellar)  Morris,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  serving 
under  (ien.  Hull,  and  was  present  at  tlie  surrender 
of  the  army  at  Detroit.  Mich. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  May 
10,  183.5,  in  Clarke  CoLinty.  this  Stale,  and  after  a 
residence  of  two  years  there,  came  in  September, 
1837,  to  this  ciniiity,  taking  up  their  aljode  on  soi>- 
tini,  17.  ,Jnrks,.n  •^,,^M^^hi|..  Thi-re  wore  i...  r..a.ls 
jij  this  locaUt\   at  llial  tiuie,  settlers  were  very  few 


and  far  between,  and  the  surrounding  country  was 
in  its  primitive  state.  Wild  animals  were  verj- 
numerous,  as  were  also  the  Indians,  who  proved 
themselves  to  be  very  troublesome  by  their  fre- 
quent visits. 

The  elder  Mr.  Davis  located  on  eighty  acres  of 
land,  which  he  cleared  from  the  timber,  and  erected 
thereon  a  round-log  cabin.  He  pl.aced  his  property 
under  excellent  till.age,  and  here  he  w.as  residing  at 
the  time  of  his  decease,  June  14,  1886.  His  death 
was  very  sudden,  he  dropping  dead  while  in  the 
Citizens"  Bank,  .at  Sidney.  His  good  wife,  who 
aided  him  greath'  in  developing  their  new  home 
from  the  forest,  survived  him  a  few  years,  and  died 
February  2,  1891. 

Of  the  parental  family  of  eleven  children,  the 
seven  who  still  survive  bear  the  respective  names 
of  Augustus  A..  Clarissa  McVey,  Israel  L..  Calvin 
M..  Albert  R.,  Rich.ard  W,  and  Edgar  C.  Mr.  and 
]Mrs,  Diivis  were  members  of  the  Seventh-day  Bap- 
tist Church,  in  which  body  they  were  very  active, 
the  father  holding  the  office  of  Deacon.  He  w.as  a 
man  of  marked  character,  strictly  honest,  upriglit 
and  truthful  in  all  his  dealings,  and  was  called 
upon  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  fill  the  offices  of 
Township  Trustee  and  Supervisor.  He  was  a  lib- 
eral supporter  of  churches  and  schools,  and  gave 
his  children  the  best  educations  that  could  be  oli- 
tained  in  this  locality.  He  was  strictly  temperate 
in  every  particular,  and  in  politics,  cast  his  vote 
for  the  man  whom  he  considered  would  best  fill 
the  office,  irrespective  of  party. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  child  in 
his  parents'  family  now  living,  and  was  boi'n  Au- 
gust 11,  1837.  in  Clarke  County.  He  .accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this  county,  when 
six  weeks  old,  .and  was  reared  to  man's  estate  cm 
the  wild  farm.  He  began  teachingschool  in  1860. 
and  was  thus  engaged  for  a  period  of  thirty  years, 
with  the  exception  of  the  lime  spent  in  the  army 
and  in  operating  a  farm.  He  had  been  given  a 
ijood  education,  tiiiishing  his  studies  at  Bellefon- 
taine. 

September  1.  1861,  Mr.  Davis,  of  this  sketch,  en- 
listed in  the  Benton  Cadets,  Gen,  Fremont's  body- 
L;ii:nd.  l.lr  w:i~-ciit  from  Sidney  to  Cincimiati.  and 
lliL-iicL'  toM.  Louis,  luuier  C'apl.  Abnuu  Kaga.  who 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


329 


is  now  deceased.  From  that  place  tliey  went  to  Jef- 
ferson City,  then  to  Springfield.  Mo.,  where  his  com- 
pany participated  in  the  battle  at  tli.at  place.  After 
(ien.  Fremont  was  sujserseded,  the  camp  wais  tem- 
porarih'  under  Gen.  Liggett,  and  was  discharged  in 
.January,  1862.  In  August  of  that  year,  our  sub- 
ject again  enlisted,  this  time  being  appointed  Cor- 
poral of  Company  C,  Ninety-ninth  Ohio  Infantry. 
He  was  later  promoted  to  be  Sergeant,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  discharge  occupied  the  position  of  Or- 
derly-Sergeant of  Company  B.  Fiftietli  Ohio  In- 
fantry. 

On  the  organization  of  the  Ninety-ninth  Infan- 
try, Mr.  Davis  went  to  Cincinnati,  fn^m  there 
crossed  the  river  to  Covington,  Ky.,  and  thence 
went  to  St.  Paris.  After  the  Union  forces  were  de- 
feated at  Lexington  and  driven  to  Covington  to 
await  the  re-organization  of  Buell'sarmyat  Louis- 
ville, the  Ninety-ninth  joined  them  ttiere,  the  bri- 
gade being  commanded  by  Col.  Stanley  Mathews. 
Then  began  the  movement  after  Gen.  Bragg.  Mr. 
Davis  participated  in  the  following  battles:  Perrys- 
ville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, Mission  Ridge,  Rocky-faced  Ridge,  Rcsaca, 
Dallas,  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Pine  Mountain,  At- 
lanta, Jonesboro,  Lovejoy  Station  and  Nashville. 
Our  subject  was  then  made  acting  ordnance  offi- 
cer of  the  Second  Division,  Twenty-third  Army 
Corps,  and  while  thus  detached,  was  present  at  the 
liattles  of  Columbia.  Spring  Hill  and  Franklin,  all 
in  Tennessee.  During  his  arm}'  experience,  he 
>ervcd  under  Gens.  Fremont,  Halleck,  Buell,  Rose- 
craus,  Thomas,  Schofield.  Stanley,  Howard.  Grant 
and  Sherman.  During  his  service  he  w.as  several 
times  hit  by  a  spent  ball,  atone  time  a  bullet  cross- 
ing his  lips,  and  on  another  occasion  he  was  struck 
in  his  left  hip,  which  wound  was  not  sufficient  to 
disable  him  from  duty.  On  Kenesaw  Mountain  the 
regiment  was  transferred  from  the  Fourth  to  the 
Twenty-tliird  Army  Corps,  and  after  the  battle  of 
Nasliville.  they  were  sent  to  Wilmington,  N.  C, 
and  aided  in  driving  out  the  enemy  from  that  sec- 
tion. December  31,  1864.  the  Ninety-ninth  Regi- 
ment was  consolidated  witli  the  Fiftietli  Ohio,  and 
made  the  Fiftieth  Regiment. 

March  4.  1865,  after  a  service  of  tliree  years,  one 
month  and  nine  davs.  !Mr.  Davis  received  his  hon- 


orable discharge,  and  returning  home,  resumed  his 
occupation  of  teaching.  .September  14,  1865.  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Electa  L.,  daughter  of  Jacob 
D.  and  Electa  Maxson,  of  whom  a  further  sketch 
will  be  found  in  the  biography  of  Simeon  JIaxson, 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mi-s.  Davis  w.as  born 
November  23,  1844,  and  after  her  marriage  with 
our  subject,  located  upon  eighty  .acres  of  laud  on 
section  16,  Jackson  Township,  .Shelby  Count\-. 
She  departed  this  life  April  28,  1878,  after  liav- 
ing  become  the  mother  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Lora  B..  Mrs.  Homer  C.  P.orks;  Herbert  S., 
deceased;  Orvil  "W..  Bertha  and  Ethel.  Mrs.  Davis, 
like  her  husband,  was  a  member  of  the  Seventh- 
d.ay  Baptist  Church,  in  which  body  tlie  latter  has 
been  Class-leader  in  the  church,  and  Superintend- 
ent in  the  Sunday-school  for  a  number  of  yeai-s. 

ilr.  Davis  has  alw.ays  been  greatly  interested  in 
educational  affairs,  and  h.as  served  as  President  of 
the  Township  Board  of  Education.  He  has  been 
Assessor  of  his  township  in  a  section  which  is  over- 
whelmingly Democratic.  He  c:ist  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  has  always 
been  a  working  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  received  his  present  appointment  as  Postmaster 
June  3,  1889.  and  that  he  is  nspected  by  those 
who  know  him,  it  is  needless  to  s.iy,  as  his  many 
sincere  friends  testify  to  his  worth  of  character. 
He  has  frequently  represented  his  party  as  a  dele- 
gate to  conventions,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
Central  Committeeman  from  this  precinct.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  the  Ma.sonic  order,  beino- 
M.oster  of  Epler  Lodge  No.  458.  He  is  also  a 
Grand  Army  man.  and  as  such  is  Commander  of 
J.  I.  Smith  Post  No.  61. 


^^f^r^HOMAS  COG  AN,  a  .Miocessful  agriculturist 
//?Sn  of  Auglaize  Counly.  Ohio,  is  the  owner  of 
V^^'  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  excellent 
land  on  sections  17,  19  and  20,  Moulton  Township. 
He    is   of    foreign    nativity.  Ii.ivintr   beeii   born   in 


330 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lieland  in  18o4,  and 
of  botli  liis  p:\rei)  t.<. 
ment  of  lii>  father.  ,111 
charming  collcKiui.il  1 


inherits  the   gracious  nature 

the  intellect  and   good   judg- 

iid  Ihe  quick   perception    and 

wers  (if   his   mother.     Botli 


Ijarents.  John  and  I\I:iry  {Siicridon)  Cogan.  were 
liorn  on  the  green  Isle  of  Kriu.  and  there  they 
passed  their  entire  lives.  They  were  members  of 
tlie  C'atiiolie  Church. 

In  the  year  lf'47,  <iur  subject,  with  an  elder 
brother,  s<.iught  to  belter  his  condition  by  cross- 
ing the  oce.an  to  America,  and  after  reaching  this 
country  the  former  was  engaged  for  some  time  in 
driving  teams  on  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canals. 
This  he  continued  for  about  six  months,  and  after- 
ward for  about  a  year  he  was  engaged  in  repairing 
the  canal.  This  was  his  first  start  in  business  for 
himself.  Altliough  bis  educational  .advantages  had 
been  limited  in  youth,  he  possessed  a  naturally 
bright  mind  and  was  quick  to  pick  uj)  all  new 
methods  and  ideas. 

(^ur  subject  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1850, and  with 
money  he  had  saved  be  bought  eight}-  acres  of 
canal  land  in  Auglaize  County,  Moulton  Township, 
where  he  now  lives.  This  land  was  then  wild  and 
uncultivated,  and  infested  with  wild  animals,  but 
Mr.  Cogan  went  actively  to  work  to  improve  and 
cultivate  his  property.  To  the  original  tract  he 
added  from  time  to  time,  and  soon  became  tlie 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres,  all  well 
improved  and  well  cultivated.  In  l.sOl.oil  was 
discovered  on  Mr.  Cogan 's  farm.  an<I  there  are  now 
live  oil  wells  and  a  gas  well  on  this  farm.  These 
wells  have  yielded  about  ¥.t.000  worth  of  oil  up  to 
date,  and  are  still  in  operation,  liringing  in  .Mr. 
Cogan  al)out  *8(1  per  month. 

I  n  the  beautiful  montli  of  June,  186(>,  ^Ir.  Cogan 
was  wedded  to  Jliss  Margaret  Glynn,  a  native  of 
Ireland  and  the  daughter  of  Owen  (ilynn.  who  was 
also  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  After  this  union, 
our  subject  and  wife  settled  on  their  pre>ent  farm, 
in  Moulton  Township,  and  ln-re  theii  seven  chil- 
dren were  born:  .lohn  ¥..  May  E..  Owen  P..  Anna 
B..  Thom.as  P..  Maggie  T.  and  .Julia  A.  Being  de- 
prived of  good  educational  advantages  in  his  own 
vouth.  Ml'.  Cogan  greatly  desired  that  his  children 
should  be  well  educated  and  gave  them  every  op- 
[lorlunity.     The  eldcstson  ha?  been  ascliool  teacher 


for  four  years,  and  is  very  jiopular  as  an  educator. 
For  the  last  year  he  has  been  a  student  at  Valpa- 
rais(3  (Iiid.)  Normal  School.  Anna  B.  is  also  attend- 
ing the  same  school. 

Jlr.  Cogan  and  wife  have  been  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church  nearly  all  their  lives,  and  are  ac- 
tive in  their  support  of  the  same.  In  his  political 
views,  our  subject  inclines  toward  the  Democratic 
party.  Init  usually  votes  for  the  best  man,  irrespec- 
tive of  party.  His  first  Presidential  vote  w.as  cast 
for  James  Buchanan.  Mr.  Cogan  is  an  industrious 
citizen,  is  on  good  terms  with  .all  his  neighbors, 
has  always  been  hard-working  and  enterprising, 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
county.  The  improvements  on  it  show  years  of 
hard  labor  on  his  part,  but  he  is  now  very  comfort- 
ably fixed  and  is  thoroughly  in  love  with  his 
adopted  country,  and  no  country,  not  even  his  na- 
tive land,  is  quite  equal  to  America  in  his  estima- 
tion. 


•4^ 


-^ 


m 


OHX  W.  ZEDEKEK.  This  gentleman  is 
one  of  the  well-informed  and  progressive 
men  of  Franklin  Township,  Shelby  County, 
_  wlio  from  a  small  beginning  has  built  up 
a  comfortable  fortune  and  is  now  enjoying  the 
results  of  his  industry  and  enterprise.  He  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  E.  Zedeker.  who  was  liorn  Sep- 
tember 18.  1813,  in  Montgomery  County,  this 
State,  anil  who  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Zedeker.  The  great-grandparents  of  our  subject. 
Philip  and  Catherine  (Nave)  Miller,  were  natives 
either  of  Mrginia  or  Maryland.  The  former  was 
a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  and  while  away 
from  home  engaged  in  that  contlict  the  gristmill 
which  he  owned  was  efficiently  carried  on  by  his 
wife.  She  was  a  very  strong  and  robust  woman. 
and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  anil 
six. 

Uur  subject's  mother  liore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mary  Campbell  and  was  a  distant  relative  of  ex- 
Gov.  Campbell.  A  native  of  this  Stale,  ^iie  was 
born    Jauuarv  3(1.  181 1.   in    HiL,dilaiid    Couutv.  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUCGRAlTIlCAL    RECORD. 


331 


Robert  and  Maiy  Campbell.     Tlie  Zedeker  famil3- 

came  to  this  State  in  .'September,  1805,  and  lo- 
cated on  wild  land  in  iloutgomeiT  Count}*,  six 
miles  nortli  of  Dayton.  In  that  early  day,  Indians 
and  wild  animals  were  very  numerous  and  trouble- 
some, and  at  one  time  the  grandfather  killed 
tluee  cub  bears  within  sixty  yards  of  their  cabin, 
lie  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  which  occupation 
he  coml)ined  with  that  of  farming,  his  estate 
being  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family  and  is 
owned  and  occupied  by  our  suljject's  father,  who 
has  always  lived  on  that  farm. 

The  parental  family'  included  nine  children, 
one  of  whom  is  deceased,  as  is  also  the  mother, 
who  departed  this  life  in  1889.  The  elder  ;Mr. 
Zedeker  is  a  member  of  the  Dunkard  Church, 
while  his  good  wife  was  connected  with  the  United 
Brethren  Society.  In  politics,  he  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat,  casting  his  first  ballot  for  Andrew 
.Jackson.  He  has  always  been  actively  interested 
in  local  affairs  and  has  been  called  upon  by  bis 
fellow-townsmen  to  hold  several  ollices  of  trust 
and  responsibility. 

.lolm  W.  Zedeker.  wlio  was  Ijorn  February  18. 
1830,  on  the  old  homestead  in  Montgomei-y  County, 
was  given  a  fair  education  and  remained  at  home 
until  reaching  his  majority,  when  he  was  given  a 
share  of  the  property.  In  1863,  he  w.as  married 
to  .Mary,  daiighter  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Bren- 
ner) Brandenburg.  Her  parents  were  early  settlei-s 
in  Montgomery  County,  and  came  hitlier  in  1839, 
locating  in  .lacksim  Township,  wliere  the  father 
died  about  1844.  and  the  motlier  in  188.3.  Mi-s. 
Zedeker  was  born  July  20.  1836.  and  soon  after 
her  marriage  located  with  our  subject  in  Jlont- 
gomery  County,  where  they  resided  for  several 
years  and  operated  an  improved  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty-nine  acres.  Our  subject  later  cul- 
tivated tiie  old  homestead  for  four  years,  and  iu 
1874  came  to  this  county  and  located  u|xin  his 
present  farm.  His  comfortable  residence  wiv-;  erected 
in  1886,  and  liis  large  barn  in  1887. 

Of  the  one  Innidred  and  forty-eight  acres  in- 
cluded in  the  home  farm.  >Ir.  Zedeker  has  placed 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  under  excellent 
cultivation,  and.  iu  adiiition  to  t'.iat  property, 
owns  eighty  acre.-,   in    Salem  Township.     Tlie   two 


children  born  to  himself  and  wife  are  Oliver  C, 
wlio  married  Maggie  Lawhead.  and  resides  upon 
the  last-named  farm,  and  George  W.,  who  married 
Mattie  West,  and  lives  on  the  hi^me  pl.ace  with  his 
parents. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  a  mcmlier  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  while  his  good  wife  is  connected 
with  the  German  Reformed  denomination.  In 
local  affairs,  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Town- 
ship Board  of  Education  and  also  the  local  Board, 
and  in  politics  votes  the  straight  Democratic 
ticket.  He  has  also  been  Township  Trustee  for 
seven  yeare,  and  performed  all  the  duties  thus  de- 
volving upon  him  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned. 


■j^RANK  McFARLAND,  whose  sketch  now 
trto  claims  attention,  is  one  of  the  representa- 
X  "^  tive  citizens  of  Wapakoneta  and  a  gentle- 
man highly  respected  alike  for  his  good  business 
ipialifications  and  his  upright  character.  He  is 
a  native  of  this  county,  having  been  born  Oc- 
tober 28, 1848,  to  James  E.  and  Rosa  McFarland, 
for  a  further  history  of  whom  the  reader  is  referred 
to  their  sketch  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Mr.  McFarlaud  of  this  sketch  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  county  schools  and  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  where  he  remained  until  reaching  his  twenti- 
eth year.  August  23,  18G9.  he  came  to  this  citj- 
and  for  three  years  worked  at  the  blacksmith's 
ti-ade,  and  September  20,  1872,  engaged  iu  the  liv- 
ery business,  which  he  cari'ied  on  with  good  success 
until  January  14.  1891. 

December  7  of  the  above-named  year,  our  sub- 
ject became  manager  of  the  Home  Milling  Com- 
pany, whose  mill  contains  all  the  modern  machin- 
ery for  turningout  flour  and  emjiloys  tive  men  con- 
tinuously. He  has  a  natural  talent  for  his  business 
and  is  carrying  on  his  labors  with  sound  practical 
aliility.  He  is  a  man  of  many  pleasant  social 
qualities,  of  sterling  habits,  and  is  well  liked  by 
the     entire     communitv.       October     .■>.     1873.     he 


332 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL   RECORD. 


and  Miss  Louise  IIoffra:in  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. They  bec.ime  the  parents  of  two  cliil- 
(iren,  one  of  wlioni,  a  son,  Frederick,  was  born 
October  1,  1886,  and  died  May  5,  1891;  Edith,who 
wab  born  April  11,  1889,  is  a  most  interesting  child 
and  the  joy  of  the  houseliold.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Farland  attend  theEnglisli  Lutheran  Church  and 
their  fnends  arc  among  the  best  people  in  the  city. 


m. 


AMES  W1L.SOX,  .lu.  The  lumber  trade,  in 
which  Mr,  Wilson  is  successfully  engaged, 
employs  large  capital  in  its  conduct,  and 
_  the  flourisliing  character  of  his  business 
amply  demonstrates  the  vigorous  grasp  witli  which 
he  has  seized  and  held  the  trade  in  this  national 
industry.  The  business  w.is  established  in  187.5  by 
.J,  M,  Leiter,  but  since  1884  :Mr.  Wilson  has  been 
man.ager  and  one  of  the  proprietoi-s,  and  it  is  safe 
to  say  that  the  business  is  now  established  on  a 
sound  basis,  Ilis  yards  are  the  largest  in  the 
county,  and  his  success  is  commensurate  with  the 
abilities  he  has  displayed  and  the  high  principles 
and  moral  business  methods  which  have  ever 
formed  the  corner-stone  of  his careeras  a  merchant, 
A  view  of  the  otlice  and  lumber-yards  of  J.  iL 
[.eifer  it  Co.  is  shown  on  another  page. 

A  native  of  the  county  in  which  he  resides,  the 
people  have  had  every  opportunity  to  judge  of 
the  character  and  qualifications  of  Mr,  Wilson,  and 
naught  h.as  ever  been  said  but  in  his  praise.  His 
natal  year  is  1847  and  he  is  a  son  of  James  Wilson, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia,  .lanuary  1,  1810.  From 
the  State  of  his  birth,  he  removed  to  Jliami 
County,  Ohio,  with  his  parents  in  1813,  and  al- 
though the  camp  fires  of  the  Indians  had  not  yet 
died  out  in  that  region,  they  lived  on  very  peaceful 
terms  with  their  red  brethren.  .James  Wilson,  .Sr., 
became  a  disciple  of  Vulcan,  and  after  coming  to 
Auglaize  County  in  184o,  continued  to  follow 
black.smithing  in  St.  JLary's  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  a  man  of  more   than  ordinarv  intelligence. 


and  this  fact  was  recognized  in  1864  by  his  elec- 
tion to  the  responsible  position  of  County  Audi- 
tor, an  otlice  to  which  he  was  honored  by  a  renom- 
ination  for  three  successive  terms.  He  w.as  a  bean 
ideal  public  servant,  etlicient,  punctual,  industrious, 
honest  and  uniformly  courteous  to  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact,  and  made  a  lasting  impression 
in  his  sphere  of  public  duty. 

Mr.  Wilson,  .Sr.,  was  married  three  times,  becom- 
ing the  father  of  two  children  by  his  firet  wife, 
three  by  his  second  and  two  by  his  third.  The  two 
eldest  oflfspring  are  daughters:  Mrs.  Mary  Doty,  of 
St.  M.ary's,  and  Elizalielh,  of  Peoria.  James  Wil- 
son, the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  only  surviv- 
ing member  of  the  second  marriage,  and  Jolin 
A.  C.  Wilson  of  the  third  marriage.  The  father 
died  in  Wap.akoneta  in  August,  1879.  when  atx)ut 
seventy  years  of  age,  leaving  to  his  children  the 
heritage  of  a  well-spent  life  and  an  unsullied  name. 
Upon  attaining  a  suitable  age,  young  James  was 
sent  to  the  public  schools  of  St.  Mary"s,  but  at 
fourteen  yeai-s  of  age  he  laid  aside  his  books  to  take 
up  the  battle  of  life  for  himself,  ami  two  years 
later,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year,  he  enlisted  in  the 
service  of  the  I'nion,  becoming  a  member  of  Com- 
pany C,  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-second  Ohio 
Volunteers  and  serving  until  hostilities  ceased,  a 
period  of  ten  months.  He  was  one  of  the  youngest 
soldiers  of  his  regiment  and  was  a  participant  in 
the  battle  of  IS'.ashville.  He  returned  to  Wapako- 
neta  after  receiving  his  discharge  and  entered  his 
father's  office,  the  latter  being  then  County  Auditor, 
and  served  .as  his  deputy  six  years.  Succeeding 
this,  he  entered  the  Farmers"  Bank  and  served  as 
its  most  efficient  Cashier  for  thirteen  yeai-s.  proving 
himself  a  represent-ative.  thorough-going  and  effi- 
cient official. 

In  1884,  ilr.  Wilson  took  charge  of  the  business 

of  which  he  is  now  one  of  the  proprietors,  having 

purchased  an  interest  in  the  enterprise  while  dis- 

1   charging  the  duties  of  Bank  Cashier,  and   his  len- 

I    ieucy,  fair  dealing  and  honest  integrity  have  won 

j    him   many  warm   friends.     He  is  an  ardent  friend 

;   and  promoter  of  all  public  enterprises,  and  his  zeal 

and   influence   in  everything  affecting  the  general 

weal,  have  made  him  popular  with  all  classes.  He  is 

a  stockholder   and    Director  of  the   First  National 


"ROM  N  W 


OFFICE    AMD     LUMBER    YARD     OF   J  .  M.  LEITER  S.CO.,WAPAK0N  ETA  AUGLAl  ZE  CO-,0. 


''^si.^J^^^^L^^^^^^  ,^^: 


!e£SSs«>»:^a-  ¥ 


PFSIDENClOF  JOHN    REiC  H  ELD  ER  FlR,  SEC  ,33.,DU  CH  OUQU  lT  Trf.AUGLAiZE  CO.,0. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3:;.-) 


Bank;  a  stockholder  and  Director  in  the  AVlieel 
Company  of  Wapakoneta,  and  is  Seoietarv  of  the 
Gas  Light  Cojnpany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic;  the  Ancient,  Free  and  Ae- 
cejited  Jlasons;  the  Knights  of  Pythitv?,  and  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  In  l.S61»,  he  married  Miss  .Sarah, 
daugliter  of  the  late  .Judge  Trimble,  who  was  a  very 
prominent  citizen  of  Auglaize  County-.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wilson  liave  two  daughters  who  are  just 
blooming  into  womanhood.  They  are  attendants 
at  and  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
but  are  liberal  and  charitable  to  all  forms  of  faith 
in  Christ. 


_^.+.j.+^^,^.++^. 


— i-+++  ^®^  -i-i-i-i-r 


m 


,'i'OHN  REICHELDKRFKR,  nlio  is  engaged 
in  agricultural  pui-suits  on  a  farm  located 
on  section  .'53.  Duchouquet  Township,  Au- 
_  glaize  County,  is  a  man  of  industrious 
habits,  who  h.is  won  an  excellent  I'eputation  for 
practical  jkiU  as  a  farmer  and  for  real  ability  to 
handle  his  affairs  so  .as  to  produce  the  best  re- 
sults. In  addition  to  carrying  on  his  splendid 
estate,  Mr.  Reichelderfer  has  twelve  oil  wells  in 
active  operation,  one  of  which  produced  one  hun- 
dred thousand  barrels  of  oil  in  five  yeai-s. 

William  Reichelderfer,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  m  Pickaway  County,  this  .State,  in  1818. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  the  son  of 
Christian  Reichelderfer,  a  native  of  Berks  County, 
Pa.,  and  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  The 
maiden  name  of  tlie  mother  of  our  subject  w.as 
Sarah  .Steppleton.also  a  native  of  Pickaw.ay  County, 
who  was  born  in  181'.)  to  David  and  Elizabeth 
Steppleton.  The  father  came  from  Berks  County, 
Pa.,  to  C>hio  in  an  early  day. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in 
Allen  County,  after  wiiicli  they  located  on  section 
34  of  this  townsliip  and  county.  This  was  in 
1837,  and  here  the  father  improved  a  good  estate 
and  continued  to  reside  thereon  until  his  decease, 
in  187'J.  The  ni(_>ther,  who  is  still  living,  makes 
her    home    in   Cridersville.     The\'    were    member^ 


of  tlie  Evangelical  Luiheran  Church,  in  which 
church  Mr.  Reichelderfer  was  Deacon.  In  his 
political  relations,  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  and 
occupied  a  high  jiosition  in  the  estimation  of  all 
who  knew  him. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  the  eldest  but  one  in 
tlie  parental  family,  and  was  born  March  31,  1841, 
on  the  old  homestead.  Like  many  other  farmer 
lads,  he  w.as  [jcrmitted  to  attend  school  only  three 
months  during  the  year  and.  .as  soon  .as  old  enouoh, 
was  called  upon  to  aid  his  father  in  carrying  on 
the  estate.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  reaching  his  majority,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1862  was  married  to  Susan,  daughter  of  Ephraim 
and  Polly  (l)unkcl)  Crider,  who  located  in  this 
county  ill  18.J4,  and  for  whom  the  vill.age  of 
Cridersville  was  named.  .She  was  born  .January 
26,  1839,  in  Fairfield  County,  and  was  given  a 
fair  education  in  the  common  schools. 

After  his  marriage,  Jlr.  Reichelderfer  lived  on 
rented  farms  until  after  the  Civil  War.  when  he 
purch.ased  property  of  his  own.  He  is  the  father 
of  two  children:  Celestia,  now  Mrs.  John  Denner, 
of  this  township,  and  Edward  1'.,  who  married 
Rosa  DeLong,  and  lives  in  Cridersville.  The  wife 
and  mother  departed  this  life  .July  o,  1884.  The 
lady  whom  our  subject  chose  as  his  second  com- 
panion, March  10,  1887,  w.as  Miss  .Sopha,  daughter 
of  George  and  Elizabeth  Denner.  .She  was  born 
September  22,  1863,  in  Allen  County,  and,  hav- 
ing been  given  an  excellent  education,  taught 
school  prior  to  her  marriage. 

October  2.  1862,  he  of  whom  we  write  enlisted 
in  the  Union  Army,  becoming  a  member  of  Com- 
pany G,  Eighty-first  Ohio  Infantry,  being  mus- 
tered in  as  private,  and  w.as  afterward  promoted 
to  be  Sergeant.  He  joined  his  regiment  October 
20,  1862,  at  Corinth,  Miss.,  and  for  about  six 
months  guarded  the  railroads  in  that  vicinity. 
He  then  went  to  Pocahontas,  Tunn..  where  he  was 
eng.aged  in  similar  w  c;rk  until  the  following  fall, 
when  he  went  into  winter  ipiarters  at  Pulaski,  that 
State.  The  succeeding  spring  he  participated  in 
tlie  Atlanta  campaign,  joining  Sherman's  army  at 
Chattanooga.  The  first  battle  was  fought  at 
Snake  Creek  (iap,  (ia..  then  followed  the  fight  at 
Resaea.  and    our   subject     was   thereafter    engaged 


3:5(; 


PORTRAIT  AXI)  BIOGKAPIIICAL   RECORD. 


Ill  skiriiiishiiig  until  tht  capture  of  Atlauta.  He 
tlieii  went  with  his  company  to  Rome,  that 
State,  and  was  soon  tliereafter  ordered  to  Sa- 
vannah, where  tliey  remained  a  short  time,  and 
then,  breaking  camp,  marched  to  Goldsboro,  K.  C, 
and  witnessed  the  surrender  of  Gen.  J.  K.  John- 
ston to  Gen.  Sherman. 

Mr.  Reichelderfer  later  participated  in  the  Grand 
Review  at  AVashington, and  on  going  to  Louisville, 
Ky.,  was  mustered  out  July  13,  1865,  and  received 
his  honorable  discharge  at  Cincinnati  on  the  20th 
of  that  month.  The  following  ist.akenfrom  the  Ohio 
State  Roster  of  Ohio  troops  from  1861  to  1866: 
"John  Reichelderfer,  twenty-one  yeai-s  old,  enli&ted 
October  2,  1862,  for  three  years;  appointed  Cor- 
poral December  1,  1862;  captured  January  28, 
1864,  in  action  at  Senn's  Mill,Tenn.;  released  and 
returned  to  company  June  29,  1864;  appointed 
Sergeant  July  24,  1864;  mustered  out  with  com- 
pany July  13,  1865." 

On  returning  home  from  tlie  war,  the  original 
of  this  sketch  rented  a  farm  for  a  twelvemonth 
and  then  located  C)n  section  33,  where  he  im- 
proved seventy  acres  of  wild  land  and  resided 
until  1876,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  his  present 
farm.  He  now  has  in  his  possession  two  hundred 
and  seventy-four  acres  of  fine  land,  which  is 
adorned  with  all  the  improvements  to  be  found 
on  the  farm  of  a  progressive  and  enterprising 
gentleman.  A  view  of  his  attractive  home  is 
shown  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He  has  the 
largest  barn  in  the  township,  and,  in  addition  to 
raisins;  cereals,  devotes  considerable  time  to  breed- 
ing Durham  cattle.  He  is  also  engaged  with  his 
son  in  the  grain  business  at  Cridersville,  where 
they  do  an  extensive  trade,  handling  flour,  wheat 
and  feed. 

!Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reichelderfer  are  members  of  the 
Kvangelical  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  body  the 
former  occupies  the  position  of  Deacon.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  AVa- 
pakoneta.  and  for  the  past  nine  years  h.as  been  a 
member  of  the  School  Board,  and  also  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Education  in  tliis  township.  He 
has  been  Township  Trustee  for  seven  years,  Con- 
stable for  two  years,  and  was  County  Commis- 
sioner   for    six   vears.     lie   was  Chairman    of    the 


County  Board  for  two  yeai-s,  his  term  expiring  in 
January.  1891.  He  has  always  been  greatly  in- 
terested in  political  afifairs,  and  has  frequently 
been  chosen  by  the  Democratic  party  as  a  dele- 
gate to  various  conventions.  He  h.as  a  thought- 
ful, intelligent  mind,  h.as  always  been  a  reader, 
and  is  well  informed  on  all  matters  of  general 
interest,  while  the  appearance  of  his  fine  farm 
demonstrates  his  abilitv  as  an  enlitrhtened  farmer. 


'|f[. ^  ENRY     BEELER,    a    farmer     in     Auglaize 

r  )i)  Count}',  is  successfully  managing  prosper- 
/ijv^^  ous  agricultural  interests  in  Duchouquet 
\^§^i  Township,  where  he  makes  his  home  on  a 
finely-improved  fann  on  section  34.  He  occupies  an 
important  place  among  the  farmers  in  this  section, 
where  he  has  been  instrumental  in  developing  one 
of  the  leading  industries  of  the  State.  He  is  a  son  of 
J.acob  and  Rosina  (Gates)  Beeler.  natives  of  Ger- 
many. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to  America 
sixty-two  years  ago  and  located  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  the  father  worked  in  a  coal  mine.  In  1832, 
he  removed  to  this  Slate  and  made  his  home  on  a 
wild  farm  in  Ross  County,  which  he  placed  under 
good  cultivation  and  continued  to  operate  until 
1847,  when  he  made  another  move,  this  time  locat- 
ing near  Cincinnati.  In  1856.  the  elder  Mr.  Beeler 
went  to  Allen  County,  and  in  Shawnee  Township 
became  the  proprietor  of  an  unimproved  farm, 
where  he  was  residing  at  the  time  of  his  de- 
cease, in  186U;  the  mother  died  in  1888.  They 
were  members  in  good  standing  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  and  in  politics  the  father  was  a 
Democrat. 

Of  the  parental  family  of  six  children,  three  are 
now  livbig,  and  of  these  our  subject  is  the 
V(jun2;est.  He  was  born  September  1,  1838,  in 
Ross  County,  and  as  he  began  very  early  to  assist 
his  father  in  conducting  the  home  farm,  he  was 
enabled  to  attend  school  but  a  few  months  in  each 
vear.     He  remained   under  the  parental  roof  until 


PORTRAIT  AND  BKJflRAlTIICAL   RECORD. 


33 


reaching  liis  twentieth  year,  at  wliich  time  lie 
started  out  on  hi>  own  responsibility,  and  in  185*5 
was  married  to  Jliss  Rachael.  daughter  of  Benja- 
min and  Kliz.alieth  (Del.(ing)  Bowsher.  Tliefather 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  >tone-mason 
by  trade  and  aide(i  in  the  erection  of  many  of  the 
public  and  private  buibling?  inthisState.  He  was 
tlie  son  of  William  Bowsher,  a  native  of  I'ennsyl- 
vania,  who  came  to  this  State  in  1808,  and  during 
the  War  of  1812  was  a  soldier  in  that  conflict.  Tke 
mother  of  Mrs.  Beeler  wa>  also  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  .State,  her  birth  occurring  in  18011.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  J.acob  De  Long,  and  after  her 
marriage  in  Ross  County,  this  State,  removed  in 
IS.jt)  to  Allen  County,  locating  on  a  wild  tract  of 
land  in  Shawnee  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bow- 
sher were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children.  The 
father  died  in  1874  and  the  mother  in  1888. 

After  his  marriage,  Henry  Beeler  rented  farms 
iji  Auglaize  County  for  three  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time  he  entered  forty  acres,  whieh  are 
now  included  in  his  present  estate.  His  property 
was  then  in  its  primitive  condition,  but  by  per- 
sistent industry  he  cleared  it,  and  erecting  thereon  a 
lob  cabin,  began  the  cultivation  of  his  [iroperty. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  [ilace  for  the  past 
thirty  years,  and  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  this  section  as  one  of  the  substantial 
and  upright  citizens  of  his  township.  The  home- 
stead now  includes  seventy-four  acres,  which  by  a 
proper  rotation  of  crops  yield  handsome  returns. 
:Mr.  Beeler  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Allen 
Lounly,  fortj-  acres  of  which  lie  later  sold  to  his 
sou.  His  present  residence,  which  was  erected  in 
1887,  is  built  in  a  modern  style  of  architecture  and 
Cost  §1,600.  His  place  is  further  improved  with 
good  buildings  of  every  description,  and  two  acres 
are  devoted  to  a  good  orchard.  Mr.  Beeler  has 
laid  out  fight  hundred  rods  of  tile  on  his  farm  and 
devotes  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  mixed 
husbandry.  He  keeps  some  splendid  animals  on  his 
pUace  and  is  the  proprietor  of  four  oil  wells,  one  of 
which  is  the  largest  between  Lima  and  St.  Mary's. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  departed  this  life  in 
February,  1884,  after  having  become  the  mother 
of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz: 
George    Wa«hiuaton.  Saiah   De  Lous.  Ivn'   Crider. 


Rosetta  De  Long,  Henry  Nelson,  and  Harvy  Ed- 
ward. The  lady  whom  our  subject  chose  as  his 
seci.ind  wife,  in  M.ay,  1887,  was  Elizabeth  Clark,  a 
native  of  this  county.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
George  De  Long,  who  still  makes  his  home  in  this 
township.  She  was  born  in  December,  1849,  and, 
with  her  husband,  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  is  greatly  interested  in 
school  affairs  and  for  a  number  of  3-ears  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Board  in  CridersviUe.  In  political 
sentiment,  Mr.  Beeler  is  a  Democrat  but  has  never 
sought  or  desired  public  ottice.  being  content  to 
devote  his  energies  to  business  interests,  in  which 
he  has  met  with  signal  success. 


m^^m-^^mm^m^ 


R.  P.  P.  OUTLAND.  The  name  of  Out- 
land  is  one  of  the  most  influential  in  Zanes- 
ville.  and  one  of  the  most  respected  bv 
the  community.  Dr.  Outlaud,  who  is  at 
present  the  most  efficient  and  worth}-  Postmaster 
of  the  city,  discharges  the  duties  of  this  office  in  a 
manner  that  meets  the  approval  of  all.  He  was 
born  in  Perry  Township,  Logan  County,  April  10, 
18.') I.  and  as  the  people  have  known  him  all  his 
life,  they  have  had  every  chance  to  judire  of  his 
character  and  qualifications. 

Dr.  (Jutland's  father,  Thom.as  Outland.  a  native 
of  the  Buckeye  Stale,  was  born  in  Zanc  Township. 
Logan  County.  Ohio,  and  was  the  grandson  of  Jo- 
siah  Outland,  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  The 
grandfather  w.is  reared  in  his  native  Stale,  was 
there  married,  and  at  a  very  early  date  came  to 
(Jhio,  settling  in  Zane  Township,  this  counlv, 
where  he  entered  land  from  the  Government.  He 
soon  had  a  comfortable  home  here,  and  on  this  place 
were  born  sixteen  children,  all  of  whom  reached 
mature  years,  married,  and  reared  families  of  their 
own.  (.(Illy  four  of  Ihis  large  family  now  sur- 
vive. 

Thomas  Outland,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the 
eighth  child  and  sixth  son.  He  was  reared  in  his 
native  township  and   was    there   married    to    Miss 


338 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Eliza  Freer,  a  native  of  Wairen  County,  Ohio,  who 

came  to  Logan  Comity,  this  State,  with  her  par- 
ents when  a  small  child.  Aftei-  marriage,  this 
esteemed  couple  settled  on  a  farm  in  Perry  Town- 
ship, near  the  place  where  Mr.  Outland  was  bom, 
and  there  continued  to  reside  until  1857,  when 
they  removed  to  Union  County,  Ohio.  From  there 
they  removed  to  Hardin  County,  and  settled  six 
miles  east  of  Kenton,  where  the  father  passed 
away  January  8,  1876.  The  mother  followed  liim 
to  the  grave  on  the  22d  of  February  of  the  follow- 
ing year.  They  were  excellent  citizens,  none 
better  in  the  countj',  and  their  loss  was  sadly  de- 
plored. Eight  cliildren  were  born  to  them,  as  fol- 
lows: Alonzo;  Dr.  W.  IL;  Salathiel  L.;  Enismus; 
Mary  Jane,  wife  of  E.  E.  Smith,  of  Ilardin  County, 
Ohio;  Dr.  Philander  P.;  George  A.;  and  Laura  F., 
wife  of  George  McClaren,  of  Hardin  County, 
Ohio. 

Dr.  P.  P.  Outland,  the  sixtli  child  and  fifth  son 
of  the  above-mentioned  family,  received  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
L'nion  County,  afterward  in  the  district  schools  of 
Ilardin  County,  Ohio,  and  subsequently  entered 
the  Normal  School  of  Lebanon,  Ohio,  in  the  prepara- 
tory course,  and  then,  like  many  of  the  prominent 
men  of  this  and  other  counties,  he  began  teaching 
school.  He  continued  to  wield  the  ferrule  in  the 
district  schools  of  Hardin  County  for  a  little  over 
two  years,  and  then  began  the  studj-  of  medicine. 
After  three  years  of  hard  application,  he  was  gradu- 
ated at  the  Eclectic  College,  of  Cincinnati,  and 
tlieu  located  in  Zanesfield,  wheie  he  has  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice  among  the  best  people. 
He  is  genial,  cheerful  and  sympathetic,  and  pos- 
sesses all  the  other  characteristics  of  a  successful 
physician. 

On  the  .3d  of  October,  1883,  he  led  to  the  altar 
one  of  Zanestield's  fair  (daughters,  Emma  R.  Pope, 
daughter  of  F.  T.  and  Mary  E.  (Roberts)  Pope, 
her  birth  having  occurred  in  that  city.  One 
daughter  has  blessed  this  union,  Clara,  who  is  at 
liome.  In  his  political  views.  Dr.  Outland  is  an 
ardent  Republican  and  was  appointed  to  the  office 
of  Postmaster  of  Zanesfield  in  July,  1891.  He  is 
also  Clerk  of  Jefferson  Township  and  the  village 
of  Zanesfield,  and  is  a  popular  man  of  the  section. 


He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Medical 
Society,  and  he  is  now  a  member  of  Lodge  Iso. 
424,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  of  Zanesfield,  having  held  all  the 
ollices  in  the  order. 


j/rs^TEPHEN  J.  JOHX.STOX,  a  prominent 
'^^  farmer  of  Washington  Township,  Shelby 
%J-3'  ^''^"°^y^  Ohio,  was  born  in  Mercer  County, 

~  ^  Ohio,  on  the  8th  of  June,  1842.  He  is 
the  son  of  Christopher  Johnston  and  the  grand- 
son of  Stephen  Johnston,  the  latter  a  native  of 
Ireland. 

Stephen  Johnston,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Ireland  and  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade.  He 
came  to  theL'nited  States  in  1807  and  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Pennsylvania  until  1812,  when  he 
went  down  the  Ohio  River  as  far  as  Cincinnati. 
He  became  naturalized  and  then  returned  to  his 
native  country,  where  he  was  engaged  for  several 
years  in  operating  a  small  farm  and  in  working  at 
his  trade.  He  was  married  there  to  Miss  Annie 
Armstrong  and  five  children  were  born  to  them. 
In  1822,  they  crossed  the  ocean  and  settled  at  St. 
John's,  New  Brunswick,  and  later  at  Georgetown, 
remaining  in  these  places  about  nine  years.  In 
1831,  Mr.  Johnston  came  with  his  family  to  the 
.States  and  settled  in  Loraraie  Township,  Shelby 
County',  Ohio,  where  he  entered  eight}'  acres  of 
land  on  section  22,  paying  ¥100  for  it.  He  erected 
a  hewn-log  house  on  this  wild  tract  of  land  and 
here  he  began  tilling  the  soil.  Wild  game  abounded. 
and  in  this  countiy,  amid  the  rude  and  unfamiliar 
scenes,  he  began  clearing  the  land  and  improving 
it  in  every  way. 

In  1835,  he  sold  his  farm  for  §800,  and  in  1837 
moved  to  Mercer  County,  Ohio,  where  he  settled 
in  a  dense  woods  in  Franklin  Township.  lie  had 
to  cut  his  own  road  for  three  miles  and  he  and  his 
sons  cleared  and  improved  the  farm.  In  1803,  he 
sold  out  and  moved  back  to  Washington  Town- 
ship. Shelby  County,  where  he  purchased   a   farm. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAnilC^VL   RECORD. 


On  this  his  death  occurred  in  1S67,  when  ninety 
j'ears  of  age.  He  w.a.s  a  raemher  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  an<l  w,a.s  an  unusiiallv  intelligrent  man. 
His  father,  tlie  great  graudfntlicr  of  oursnhjecl.  Ije- 
longed  to  one  of  tlie  first  familie.-;  of  Ireland,  was 
a  very  large  land-owner,  and  w.as  a  very  prom- 
inent man.  In  tracing  the  ancestors  of  this  fam- 
ily back,  we  find  that  the)'  were  originally  from 
Scotland,  and  wont  with  Cromwell  into  Ireland. 
For  their  services  they  got  a  Large  tract  of  land. 
The  grandmother  of  our  subject  died  in  18.52.  wlieu 
seventy-two  years  of  .age.  She  was  the  mother  of 
six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  tlie 
sons  now  li\-ing  but  the  daughters  deceased. 

Christo[)her  .Tohnston.  father  of  our  subject,  the 
eldest  child,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1814  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  St.  .John's,  Xew  Bruns- 
wick. He  received  his  preliminary  education  near 
(ieorgetown.  where  his  parents  lived  for  some 
time,  and  then  came  with  them  to  the  States,  set- 
tling in  Ohio.  He  Laid  the  foundation  for  his 
subsequent  successful  career  in  Mercer  County, 
where  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  In  1861, 
he  moved  to  Miami  County,  purchased  a  farm 
near  Picjua.  and  has  resided  there  since,  honored 
and  respected  b\-  all.  He  h.as  been  a  memlier  of 
the  Miami  County  Agricultural  Society  and  is  one 
of  the  prominent  and  influential  citizens.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Disciples  Church,  is  an  Elder  in  the 
same,  and  is  prominent  in  all  gixid  work. 

In  183(5.  he  married  Miss  Mary  Peck  and  this 
honored  and  esteemed  couple  have  passed  fifty- 
six  years  of  their  lives  together,  sharing  each  oth- 
er's cares  and  sorrows  and  ministering  to  each 
other's  wants.  She  is  a  native  of  .Shelby  County 
and  her  parents  came  originally  from  Pennsyl- 
vania and  were  early  settlers  in  ()hii).  Seven 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .lohnstun.  all 
of  whom  are  living. 

Stephen  .1.  .Tohnston.  the  third  in  order  of  birlh 
of  these  children,  received  liis  education  in  tlie 
old-fashiiiiii'd  -;i-li(iolliiiu~e  of  pioneer  davs.  and 
:i>  -oon  :i^  he  w:i>  old  enough  he  w:i>  oliliged  ti> 
work.  Ill  Augu>t.  l.S(r.>.  he  enli.-ted  in  tlie  One 
1  111  11  died  and  High ti-e nth  ()hio Regiment.  Company 
('.  iiiidei-  (/ol.  Moll,  and  pai-tieipated  in  the  llattl.■^ 
of    .\1.J^^^    Creek.  I'eiiij..  Kiiowiile.    aiid    in    uiaji\ 


eamp.aigns  and  siege.s.  He  was  wounded  in  the 
left  leg  at  Resaca  and  w.as  in  the  hospital  from 
.May  11,  18(!1.  until  he  was  discharged  in  , June, 
18(;.x  He  was  in  the  hospital  at  Camp  DennLson 
and  Columbus.  Ohio.  After  returning  from  the 
war.  he  remained  at  home  until  about  thirty  years 
of  .age.  and  then  located  on  his  present  farm  in 
AV.ashington  Township.  This  w.as  in  1872.  and  on 
this   he   h.as   made   his  home  ever  since. 

On  the  21st  of  March.  1.872,  he  was  married  to 
.Miss  L.  Kibtons,  a  native  of  Shelby  County,  who 
died  in  1882  leaving  six  children.  In  l.s.s4.  Mr. 
.Tohnston  married  Miss  Mary  .Sandhon,  of  Miami 
County,  Ohio,  and  two  children  have  l)le,-sed  this 
union:  :\Iinnie  and  Elswortli.  In  politics.  Mr. 
.lohnston  afliliates  with  the  Republican  i>arty  and 
he  takes  a  decided  part  in  local  politics.  lie  has 
served  as  Trustee  for  six  years,  !Ui  School  Director 
for  some  time,  and  h.as  held  other  local  positions, 
lie  is  a  member  of  of  the  Disciples  Church  and  his 
wife  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episco[)al 
Church.  Socially,  ho  is  a  menil)er  of  the  Grand 
Army.  Mr  .Tohnston  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
acres  in  the  home  farm  and  seven t}'  two  acres  in 
other  tracts,  all  well  watered  by  Fox  River  and 
near  the  turnpike.  The  soil  on  his  farms  is  rich 
and  [iroductive  and  is  well  drained  with  tile.  He 
is  engaged  quite  extensively  in  stock-raising,  rais- 
ing thoroughbred  Ilolstein  cattle  and  Poland- 
China  hogs.  an<l  is  i;>iio  of  the  foremost  men  of  his 
localilv. 


:^H^i 


\V.  Kl'U.VRT.  editor  of  (he  Iluntsville  Gn- 
zfittP.  was  born  in  Hardin  County.  Ohio,  on 
the  11th  of  October.  1860,  and  is  a  -on  of 
AVilliam  and  Elizabeth  (Pratt)  Kuharl.  b,:.tli 
unlives  of  the  Buckeye  State,  the  mother  horn  in 
Findlay.  The  grandfather.  William.  Sr..  was  a  na- 
tive A'irginian  and  one  of  the  eariie-t  .-ettleis  of 
Ohio,  eoming  .to  tlii-  State  when  In.lian-  were 
plentiful.  He  -ettled  in  I.ou.-in  (.ountv.  about 
tliree    mile?  west    of    IV-lle    (.elilie.  on   w  lial  ij  now 


340 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


known  as  the  Herrod  Farm,  and,  erecting^  a  log  cabin 
in  the  woods,  began  his  career  as  an  early  settler. 
lie  delighted  in  liimting  and  brought  down  many 
a  deer  with  his  old  tiint-lock  guns.  He  improved 
a  f.irni.  but  in  his  old  age  he  and  his  wife  went  to 
live  with  a  son,  Isaac,  in  Hardin  County,  Oliii.).  and 
there  he  passed  away;  she  died  near  Belle  Centre 
several  years  since,  at  tlie  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  They  reared  two  children.  Isaac  and 
AVilliam. 

William  Rubart  was  early  trained  to  tlie  duties 
of  Uie  farm,  but  also  learned  the  wagon-making 
trade,  which  he  followed  at  Belle  Centre  until 
three  years  ago  (1880).  After  this,  he  went  to 
JIuncie.  Ind..  and  there  conducts  a  large  establish- 
ment at  the  present  time.  He  is  an  energetic,  wide- 
awake man  and  one  universally  respected.  By  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Pratt,  he  became  the  father  of 
seven  children,  who  are  named  in  the  order  of  their 
birth  as  follows:  Robert  W..  Amanda,  AVilliam 
E.,  Belle,  Maud,  Martie.  and  Nellie  (deceased). 
Tlie  father  and  mother  have  both  been  members  of 
the  Disciples  Chnrch  for  a  number  of  years, and  he 
is  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  w.as  reared  in  Belle 
Centre,  Ohio,  and  received  a  good  practical  edu- 
cation at  Silver  Creek,  Hardin  County.  He  began 
learning  the  printer's  trade  in  1877.  on  the  Rush- 
sylvania  Slar,a\.  Rushsylvania.  and  continued  there 
eighteen  months,  after  which  he  established  the 
Belle  Centre  GnzHte.  This  he  conducted  for  tlirce 
years,  after  which  he  told  out  and  started  tlie 
Belle  Centre  Bu/letin.  which  he  cairied  on  until 
1883.  After  this,  he  located  in  HuntsviHe  and 
started  the  Huntsville  Ga:iettfi,  which  is  now  thor- 
oughly eslablhshed  and  the  leading  paper  in  tlie 
county.  It  is  a  neat  six-column  folio,  and  iu  ciisp 
and  trenchant  editorials  command  an  ever-widen- 
ing area  of  circulation,  while  tliev  cany  wiili  tliem 
that  weight  and  authority  which  a  deal-,  calm  and 
intelligent  judgment  must  always  secure.  Tlie 
Gazette  is  independent  in  [xilitics  and  ha-  a  paying 
circulation  of  six  hundred  subscriljt>rs.  The  olHce 
is  well  equipped  and  h.as  a  large  patronage  >>(  joli 
work,  not  only  here  but  from  towns  over  tlie  sur- 
roundintr  oountrv. 


Mt.  Rubart  selected  a  wife  in  the  pereon  of  Jliss 
Ida  Ste|)hens.  a  native  of  Hardin  County,  Ohio, 
and  their  nuptials  were  celebrated  in  M.ay  of 
188t).  Two  children  arc  the  fruits  of  this  union, 
Charles  and  Pearl.  Jlr.  Rubart  is  a  member  of 
the  Disciples  Church  and  a  liberal  contributor  to 
all  worthy  enterprises.  He  is  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  His  paper  is  one  of  the  brightest 
and  best  papers  published  in  the  county  and  he  is 
one  of  the  prominent  citizens. 


i^^^II 


"S^  N(K'H  ANDERSON,  one  of  the  old  settlers 
fe)  and  prominent  citizens  of  Shelby  County, 
j}'_ — ^  removed  to  Port  .Teffei-son,  this  count}-,  on 
the  1st  of  April,  1857,  and  to  Sidney  on  the  9th  of 
February,  18.50.  He  is  well  kno>vn  throughout  the 
county,  is  prominent  in  all  good  work,  and  is 
everywhere  respected  for  his  sterling  worth  and 
upright,  honorable  career.  He  began  his  earthly 
career  in  .luniata  County,  Pa..  March  12, 1825.  and 
is  the  son  of  .lames  and  Ruth  (McCann)  Anderson, 
both  of  Irish  descent. 

Our  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  John  Ander- 
son, w.as  born  in  County  Anti'im,  Ireland,  in  1754, 
and  was  married  there  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Brown, 
also  a  native  of  the  green  isle  of  Erin.  After  the 
birth  of  two  of  their  children,  'William  and  Mary, 
they  braved  the  ocean  to  America  and  settled  in 
Pennsylvania.  One  year  after  their  settlement  in 
the  United  States,  they  removed  to  .Tuiiiata  County, 
Pa.. and  their  sou  .lames,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  liorn  in  1701.  There  the  latter  grew  to  man- 
hood and  tliere  he  followed  farming  until  1856, 
when  he  lemoved  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Darke 
Couiitx'.  He  was  married,  in  his  native  county,  to 
Mi~^  McCann.  al~o  a  native  of  that  county,  and 
luoiight  her  with  him  to  the  then  Far  We>t.  They 
purchased  a  f.'irni  in  Monroe  Township.  Darke 
County,  and  there  the  father  died  on  the  2Gth  of 
March.  Is;!').-^.  leaving  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
ilrcn.  >eveii  of  wlioni  are  living:  Samuel,  now  of 
(Jreuon:    Enoch,  our   >ul)ject:    Mary,  wife  of  .1.  H. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


341 


Roiish,  of  Macon,  Ga.:  Ann  A.,  wife  of  Ephraim 
Spitlcr.  of  Montofomerv  County.  Ohio:  AVilliani  E.. 
of  Huntington.  Ind.:  L.  "M..  of  Greenville,  Ohio, 
wlio  has  been  a  Member  of  C<ingre?s.  and  Mnrtlia 
S..  now  on  the  old  home  place. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  principally 
in  the  old  loa:  schoolhouse  of  early  d.ays.  and  at  an 
early  age  he  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
duties  of  the  farm.  He  remained  under  the  paren- 
tal roof  until  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  then 
w(.)rked  in  a  conper  sho)!  for  a  few  years.  After 
this,  he  was  engaged  in  contracting  and  bridge- 
building  for  about  twenty  years  and  built  many 
bridges  through  the  country,  principally  railioad. 
In  ISSl.he  built  the  Wheel  Works  in  Sidney, 
the  main  building  being  llOxOo  feet  and  three 
stories  in  height,  of  brick,  and  the  second  build- 
ing 1011x411  feet,  is  also  of  brick.  The  engine 
and  boiler  room,  .38x.50  feet,  one  story  in  height, 
is  filled  with  the  latest  machinery  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  wheels.  With  his  son.  lie  stocked 
and  operated  the  factory  and  gave  employment 
to  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  men.  In  1890, 
he  sold  this  to  the  American  Wheel  Company, 
which  continued  to  operate  it  until  May  6,  1891, 
when  it  was  burned  down.  Since  .luly  .1.  1800. 
our  subject  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  the  D  Shovel  Handles  at  Union  Citj-,  for,  being 
of  an  industrious  and  energetic  temperament,  he 
C(.)uld  not  long  remain  idle.  All  INIr.  Anderson's 
|>roperty  has  been  the  result  of  perseverance  and 
indomitaljle  energy  on  his  part.  He  erected  a  fine 
large  house  in  1869,  and  has  a  most  pleasant  and 
attractive  home.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  ( )(ld  ?"ellows  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Anderson  selected  lii>  wife  in  the  [lerscui  of 
Mis-  Kliza  Sharrits.  a  native  of  Montgomery 
County.  Ohio,  born  .lanuniy  7.  1827. and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Cliri^toiiher  and  Su-annah  Sharrit.-^.  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  Kirn  ti^  our  subject  and  wife 
and  arc  a-  follow-:  .lame^  M..  .Manager  of  the 
-Vmerican  Wheel  Works  here:  .lohn  W..  a  resident 
of  Dayton.  ( )hio.  who  i,-  ^iiperintendent  of  Bridges, 
for  the  DaytiMi.  Ft.  Waynp  A-  Chicairo  Railroad: 
Charles,  who  died  wlien  Ihiity-three  years  of  age  at 
i^aliiiu.  Ohio,  whuic  he  w:i-  o|jt-r:iliiiL;  :i  wheel  fac- 


tory; Eliza  Jane,  who  became  the  wife  William  Tav- 
lor.  of  Connersville.  Ind.;  Martlia.  who  is  at  home; 
George,  who  died  when  five  or  six  years  of  age.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Anderson  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Jlr.  Anderson  h.as  held  a  num- 
ber of  local  positions  in  the  township, such  as  Cor- 
oner and  Treasurer,  and  is  highly  regarded  in  the 
community  for  his  integrity  and  upright  character. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  .>ubject,  Patrick 
McCann.  w.as  also  from  the  Emerald  Isle,  and 
w.as  married  to  ;Mi^s  .lane  (ireon.  of  Chester 
County,  Pa.,  who  was  a  sister  of  Gen.  (ireen.  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  After  their  marriage,  Mr. 
and  Mi-s.  !McCanu  removed  to  Licking  Creek  Val- 
ley and  there  their  descendants  reside  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  All  the  McCanus  were  Methodists  in 
their  religious  views.  Our  subject's  father-in- 
law,  Christopher  Sharrits,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
his  wife,  Susannah  Boze.  was  born  in  the  vicinitv 
of  Iialtimore,  Md.,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1810  with 
her  jjarents,  settling  with  them  near  Germantiiwn, 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Sharrits  lived  very  haiipily 
together  for  nearlv  sixtv-seven  vears. 


R.  W.  H.  OLTLAND.  The  value  to  any 
community  of  a  professional  man  i?  not 
marked  merely  by  his  learning  and  skill,  his 
proficiency  in  medical  and  surgical  practice,  but 
alMi  by  his  char.aeter.  both  private  and  professional, 
his  lu^ncn-alile  adherence  to  medical  ethics  and  his 
personal  integrity  and  benevolence  of  ])urpose. 
When  a  physician  combines  these  characteristics, 
it  is  with  plea.sure  that  we  record  hi>  life  work, 
and  such  a  man  do  we  find  in  Dr.  Outland. 

Thi-  |ihysician  of  .Ieffei>i:iii  Ti.>wn.-liip.  Logan 
County.  (Jliio.  was  liorii  in  Perrv  Towiuhip.  tli:n 
county,  on  the  2llth  of  .January.  18|-.>.  and 
his  parents.  Thomas  and  Kliza  (Freer)  (,)uthind. 
were  also  natives  of  the  Buckevc  State,  the  fi:>iuier 
of  Logan  and  the  latter  of  Warren  Couiit\-.  The 
Doctor's     paternal     grandfather,    Jo^iah    Uullaud, 


312 


i'ORTRAlT  AXD  HIOrTRAPHTCAL    RECORD. 


was  born  in  Nortli  Carolina  and  was  there  reared 
and  married.  At  an  early  period,  he  came  to  Ohio 
and  settled  in  Zane  Towu.«hip.  this  county,  where 
he  entered  a  large  tract  of  land  from  the  (iovern- 
ment.  He  made  many  improvements  on  this  land 
and  here  reared  his  large  family,  sixteen  children, 
to  mature  _yeai-s.     Only  four  no«'  survive. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  Thom.as  Outland.  was 
the  eighth  child  and  sixth  son.  lie  passed  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  Zane  Township  and  was  married 
there  to  Jliss  Freer,  wlio  came  to  Logan  County 
with  her  parents  when  a  little  girl.  After  mar- 
riage, >Ir.  and  Mrs.  Outlaud  settled  in  Perry  Town- 
ship and  there  tilled  the  soil  until  18.57,  when 
they  moved  to  Union  County,  Ohio.  From  there 
they  moved  to  Hardin  County,  settled  six  miles 
east  of  ICenton.  and  there  the  father's  death  oc- 
curred J.anuary  8.  187(!.  The  mother  received 
her  final  summons  on  the  22d  of  February  of  the 
following  year.  They  were  honest,  upright  citi- 
zens and  were  universally  respected.  Eight  chil- 
dren were  the  fruit  of  this  union,  six  sonsand  two 
daughters,  as  follows:  Alouzo.  Dr.  W.  H.,  Sal- 
athial  L.,  Erasmus  W.;  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  E.  E. 
Smith,  of  Hardin  County.  Ohio;  Dr.  Philander  P., 
George  A.  and  Laura  F.,  wife  of  (George  JlcClaren. 
of  Hardin  County,  Ohio. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  the  second  child  and 
second  son  born  to  the  above-mentioned  couple, 
received  his  primary  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  Perry  Tnwnsliip  and  subse(iuently  en- 
tered the  Normal  School  at  West  Jliddleburgh. 
Logan  County.  In  the  spring  of  1861.  he 
commenced  teaching  in  the  district  school  of 
Zane  Township,  this  county,  and  during  the 
winter  of  that  year  and  tlie  next,  he  taught  in 
Union  County.  Ohio.  During  the  year  186:5.  he 
taught  in  Hardin  County  and  during  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  attended  the  Union  School  nf  West 
Liberty.  lie  began  another  term  ofschtml  in  Har- 
din County,  when  he  was  taken  down  with  the 
smallpox;  after  rt'C<n'ering  he  taught  the  remainder 
of  this  wiutiT  term  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year. 
Xot  one  of  his  scholars  took  the  disease.  During 
the  winter?  of  1864  and  lsi6.5.he  tauglit  in  Har- 
din Countv.  eight  miles  east  of  Kenton,  and  in 
186i;  he  tauiiht  in  District   No.    1.    Dudley    Town- 


ship. In  1867,  he  taught  five  miles  east  of  Kenton 
and  the  same  year  he  commenced  .attending  the 
Union  .School  of  La  Rue,  Marion  County,  Ohio,  re- 
mained in  that  institution  three  months  and  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  and  in  the  following  }-ear 
he  went  back  and  taught  in  District  No.  1,  Dud- 
ley Township.  Hardin  County.  In  the  spring  of 
1868,  he  taught  .again  .and  continued  te.aching  un- 
til 1872.  sixteen  terms  in  all,  and  was  a  very  suc- 
cessful and  competent  educator.  In  1870,  while 
teaching  school,  he  commenced  studying  medicine 
and  continued  this  in  connection  with  teaching 
until  1872.  when  he  went  to  Cincinnati  and  grad- 
uated with  the  Cl.oss  of  February  4,  187.3.  His 
first  case  was  in  Hardin  County,  a  smallpox  case 
in  April,  1873. 

The  Doctor  subsequently  located  at  Mt.  Victory, 
Hardin  County,  Ohio,  in  partnership  with  Dr.  C. 
W.  Morrow,  and  they  continued  together  until 
November  of  the  same  year,  after  which  Dr.  Out- 
land taught  a  district  school  in  Hardin  County, 
nine  miles  etist  of  Kenton,  and  w.as  engaged  in 
teaching  for  three  months.  On  the  1-lth  of  Feb- 
ruary, 187-1,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  to  the  same 
college  he  attended  before,  and  at  the  end  of  six 
weeks  located  in  Zanesfield,  where  he  has  been 
in  active  practice,  with  the  exception  of  three 
winters  when  he  attended  the  Hahnemann  College, 
Chicago,  graduating  with  the  Class  of  '82.  He 
is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Pulte  College  of  Cin- 
cinnati and  has  graduated  from  three  different 
medical  colleges.  He  also  attended  six  terms  of 
medical  lectures  while  at  college. 

On  the  14th  of  October.  1875.  he  led  to  the 
altar  Miss  JIalinda  F.  Thompson,  a  native  of 
Zanesville,  born  December  16.  1848.  and  the  sec- 
ond daughter  of  Amos  and  Ruth  (Rea)  Thomp- 
son. One  child  has  been  liorn  to  this  union,  Ed- 
win Freeman,  born  on  the  6th  of  August.  1876,  who 
is  at  home.  Dr.  ( )utland  is  a  member  of  the  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  .Society  of  Ohio,  and  is  a  very  suc- 
cessful physician  and  surgeon.  He  is  ple.asant  and 
L'cnerou?.  liberal  in  all  his  ideas,  a  protector  of  the 
rights  of.  a  strong  promoter  of  the  welfare  of,  and 
in  deep  sympathv  with,  humanity.  He  was  made 
a  Mason  at  Kenton.  Ohio,  in  186;>.  and  is  now 
a   member  of   l.atliuni    Lodge  No.  I,j4.  and   also    a 


^^,     „-t^^4Wr,^^/ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3-15 


member  of  Bellefonlaine  Lodge  No.  209.  A 
Republican  in  politics,  lie  h.is  held  the  office  of 
Township. lud  Village  Clerk  of  Jefifei-son  Townshij) 
for  seven  ye.irs,  discharging  the  duties  of  that 
office  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner.  The  Doctor 
owns  a  tine  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Paulding 
County,  Ohio,  one  mile  from  the  Court  House, 
and  owns  three  good  dwelling  houses  in  Belle- 
fontaine.  two  good  houses  in  Zanesfield  and  other 
property,  all  the  result  of  his  own  effort*.  Mrs. 
Outland  died  April  19,  1892.  and  was  laid  to  rest 
in  the  Zanesleld  Cemetery.  In  ht'r  death  tlie  com- 
munity lost  a  valued  member  and  the  family  a 
a  devoted  wife  and  lovinij  mother. 


/^,  IIRISTIAN  SCHMIDT.  Among  the  promi- 
[ll  nent.  enterprising  and  successful    citizens 

^^  of  Auglaize  County,  may  be  mentioned  the 
worthy  gentleman  wliose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
and  whose  jiortvait  appears  on  the  opposite  page. 
His  long  life  of  industry  and  usefulness,  .and  his 
record  for  integrity  and  true-hearted  faithfulness 
in  all  the  relations  of  life,  have  given  him  an  in- 
tluence  in  the  community  which  all  might  well  de- 
sire to  sliare.  After  A  long  and  successful  business 
career,  he  has  retired  from  the  active  duties  of 
life  and  is  now  at  his  home  in  New  Kremen  en- 
joying the  accumulations  of  former  yeai-s. 

Horn  in  Hanover,  Giermany.  on  the  1st  of  Janu- 
ary, 181C.  ^Ir.  .Schmidt  is  the  }-oungest  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  his  parents  and  the  ouly  one  now 
living.  He  was  but  six  week>  old  when  btith  his 
parents  died  of  tluit  dread  disea-e.  cholera,  and  lie 
was  left  to  the  lender  mercies  nf  >tiaiii.'er<.  lie 
was  taken  liy  a  farmer,  with  whi.m  lie  reniaiiu-cl 
until  ninitei-u  years  cif  age.  and  fi-nm  the  age  of 
seven  until  fourteen  he  wa^  ki-pl  almo,~t  con- 
>tautlv  ill  -rliool.  After  that,  he  a"i>ted  hi-  kind 
benefactor  on  the  farm  until  Aiigu-t.  ls:',4.  »  hen.  at- 
tracted by  rc|)oiis  of  ailvaiitage-  to  be  derived  fnuii 
a  rcbidcuce  in  tlu'  I'liitcd  State-.  \\v  lo.iU  p.-i--:!-.- 
fcpi-  Ihi- country.  Altera  tempc-iiioiis  vo\ajcof 
I'J 


nine  weeks,  he  landed  in  New  York,  where  he  re- 
mained but  a  short  time, and  then  went  to  Albanv. 
thence  to  Buffalo,  and  from  there  by  the  Lakes  to 
Cleveland  and  by  canal  to  Portsmouth.  Ohio. 
From  there  he  went  by  way  of  the  Ohio  River  to 
Cincinnati  and  then  up  the  canal  to  Dayton,  where 
he  began  searching  for  employment.  He  and  his 
brother  found  work  about  thirteen  miles  east  of 
Dayton,  and  were  engaged  in  dealing  land,  and 
chopping  cord  wooil  at  tweiily-tive  cents  a  cord, 
meanwhile  li(.iardiiig  theiii-elves.  After  this,  our 
subject  worked  for  a  farmer  one  miuilli  at  *li)  a 
month  and  then  liireil  to  another  fanner  for  ¥1 1 
per  month  for  the  >ea>on. 

Tlie  following  winter.  Mr.  Schmidt  entered  a  dis- 
tillery, where  he  remained  four  yeai-s  and  during 
the  last  two  years  was  foreman,  receiving  an  in- 
crease in  w.ages.  In  the  year  1841.  he  led  to  the 
altar  Miss  Mary  Wiemeyer,  who  came  from  Ger- 
many with  her  parents  when  quite  young.  They 
came  over  in  the  same  vessel  with  our  subject  but 
after  reaching  this  country  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Mercer  County.  After  his  marriage.  Mr.  Schmidt 
entered  into  partnership  witli  his  brother,  who  had 
built  a  distillery  near  New  Rremen.  and  this  tliev 
carried  on  for  three  years.  Our  subject  then  be- 
gan distilling  whiskey,  which  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed for  about  four  years  and  then,  in  about 
1849,  started  a  small  grocery  in  New  Premen.  In 
18.ji;.  he  added  dry-goods  to  his  .stock  and  contin- 
ued the  general  merchandising  until  1881.  In 
18.3f;,  he  aljo  embarked  in  the  grain  and  pork  bus- 
iness, built  a  warehouse  on  the  canal  and  bought 
and  shipped  grain  and  packed  |)oi-k  until  1881, 
wh.-ii  he  letiieil  from  .-ictive  work.  He  turned  his 
business  over  to  his  son-.  Hemy  (J.aud  William 
C.  who  !ia\f  -iiice  canidl  on  the  enterprise  under 
the  linn  name  of  Schmidt  1!j-os.  Henry  G.  became 
ai>aitiier  with  his  fatlier  in  I.s7l.  under  the  linn 
name  of  Schmidt  ,(•  Son.  and  seenis  to  be  a  ■•chip 
of  the  old  block."  for  he  ha-  iiiheiiicl  his  father's 
w.indeiful  bn-iness  .■iciinien.  r.oth  suns  ha\e 
won  enviable  leputatious  and  arc  men  of  abilit\-. 
euterpri-e  ami  intcgi  it\-. 

The  original  of  this  notice  lii-i  allijiaied  wilji 
tlie  Dennicrati.-  parte,  liiit  of  l.-ite  ye.-iis  has  liccoine 
an  ardent   l;epul>lic:.ii  .ind  ad vocales  llie  principles 


346 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  that  party.  He  served  as  Mayor  of  New  Bre- 
men cue  term,  has  been  Treasurer  of  the  township 
for  several  ^-ears,  was  Clerk  of  the  village  for  some 
time.  Township  Assessor  for  one  year,  and  is  a 
mernber  of  the  Council,  and  the  School  Board.  He 
and  his  estimable  wife  have  shared  the  jo^'S  and 
sorrows  of  lifty-two  years  of  married  life,  but  time 
has  dealt  leniently  with  them  and  they  are  com- 
paratively strong  and  vigorous.  Both  are  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Reformed  Church  and  for 
twenty-five  years  he  has  been  Treasurer,  also 
serving  as  Elder  for  thirty-live  years,  and  main- 
taining an  active  interest  in  the  Sund.ay-school. 
His  place  in  the  church  is  never  vacant  except 
when  he  is  sick,  and  he  h.is  ever  been  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  religious  causes.  He  and  his  wife  be- 
came the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  the 
following  survive:  Henry  G.,  Anna,  William  C. 
and  Amelia.  I,izzie,  Caroline,  Mary,  .Sophia  and 
an  infant  are  deceased. 

Henry  G.  Schmidt  was  married,  in  1874.  to  Miss 
Rosina.  daughter  of  Hon.  Charles  Boesel,  and  seven 
children  have  blessed  their  union:  Lydia,  Otto, 
Dora,  Bertha,  Rosemond,  Christian  (deceased) 
and  Maria.  "William  C.  Schmidt  married  Miss 
Emma,  daughter  of  Hon.  Charles  Boesel  and  a 
sister  of  .Airs.  Henry  G.  .Schmidt.  Four  children 
are  the  fruits  of  this  union:  Olga  (deceased),  Karl, 
Pauline  and  Hugo.  Anna  Schmidt  became  the 
wife  of  Rev.  William  Dickmann,  a  German  Re- 
formed minister,  and  tliey  now  reside  at  Belvidere, 
Tenn. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  six  acres  in  Franklin  Township, 
Mercer  County.  Ohio.  It  was  only  by  the  strict- 
est economy  and  indii.--try  that  he  saved  the  $180 
with  which  he  first  started  in  business.  When  he 
landed  in  America,  he  owned  $.56,  which  he  had 
borrowed  to  p.ay  his  passage  over,  and  altliough 
the  prospect  was  at  first  rather  depressing,  he  never 
grew  despondent,  but  by  his  industry  and  persever- 
ance soon  began  to  accumulate  monc}-.  with  which 
ho  paid  off  his  indebtedness  and  started  in  busi- 
ness. 

Tlie  firm  of  .'^chmidt  Bros,  retired  from  general 
inercl]:mdi~iiiL;  in  I'^'.H  ,  Ipiit  ruiitinues  the  gi:iiii:Lni| 
pi'ik  businc-b.  They  own  an  elevator,  and  buy  grain 


at  Chickasaw,  Mercer  County.  They  are  also  the 
sole  proprietors  of  the  New  Bremen  Machine  Com- 
pany and  have  a  largo  foundry  and  machine  shop. 
Besides  doing  a  general  line  of  repairing,  they 
manufacture  the  Titus  Steam  Press  Tile  and  Brick 
Machine,  one  of  the  best  now  before  the  public. 
Each  of  the  brothers  owns  stock  in  the  New  Bremen 
Natural  Gas  Companj-  and  the  New  Bremen  Tri- 
Company  Fair  Association,  and  has  a  fifth  share 
in  Boesel  Brothers'  Bank. 


ILLIAM    HENRY     HARRISON     PLUM. 

^P^jjj  The  Plum  family  is  one  of  the  most  prom. 
'^^j  inent  ones  in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  its 
members  are  people  of  wealth  and  intelligence.  In 
tr.acing  the  genealogy  of  this  family,  we  find  that 
the  aneestoi-s  came  originally  from  Holland,  and 
that  they  were  prominent  and  early  settlers  of  that 
grand  old  State,  Virginia.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  John  Plum,  was  born  in  West  Virginia  in 
the  3-ear  1770,  and  in  1795  was  married  to  Miss 
Betsey  Carbill.  He  was  a  farmer  and  trader  by 
occupation,  and  took  the  contract  to  furnish  the 
Government  with  flour  and  wheat  for  the  soldiers 
during  the  War  of  1812.  Having  a  large  supply 
on  hand  at  one  time,  it  became  damaged  and  this, 
together  with  the  rapid  decrease  in  prices  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  caused  him  great  financial  disastei-. 
He  died  in  the  year  1819,  leaving  a  widow  and  ten 
children  in  destitute  circumstances.  The  eldest 
son  of  the  family,  Isaac  Plum,  emigi'ated  to  Ohio 
in  1820,  settled  in  the  wilds  of  Clarke  County,  and 
there  labored  several  yeare  to  earn  sufficient  means 
to  enable  him  to  send  for  the  other  members  of  the 
family.  Grandmother  Plum  never  re-married,  but 
lived  to  rear  the  family  to  maturity.  She  died  in 
this  Stale,  and  is  buried  in  Plum  Cemetery,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Aliami  River,  in  Washington  Town- 
ship, Logan  Countv. 

.Tonathan  Plum,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  \  iii^iniM  <>\\  thr  Stli  i if  February.  1 807.  and  when 
about    tliirleeii    s  uai-;   uf  age.    eume   with   the    re- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


34; 


maindei-  of  tlie  family  to  the  Buckeye  State.  lie 
and  his  brotliei-s  worl<ed  out  until  tliey  had  accumu- 
lated sufficient  moans  t<j  enable  them  to  Ijuy  a  team 
aji<l  the}'  then  renteil  land.  .I(jnatliaii  was  niunied 
there,  and  in  1837  came  to  Lojran  County,  Ohio, 
buying  land  in  Washington  Township. on  whicii  he 
settled  and  immediately  cnininriici'd  improving  it- 
This  place  w.as  practically  a  wildeiiiess  at  that 
time,  wild  animals  aliounded.  and  Indians  woie 
|)leiitiful.  lie  i>uichased  land  on  the  northwest 
([uarter  of  section  2.'!.  M'ttlcd  in  the  \v(jod?.  and 
commenced  clearing  liis  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy -seven  acres,  which  a  nuniljer  of  years  later 
would  hardly  have  been  recoiini/ed  a>  the  same 
place  on  which  he  lirst  settled.  ~o  many  improve- 
ments had  been  made,  lie  wa>  a  hard-working 
man,  and  altlnjugh  his  education  w.is  limited,  he 
w.as  possessed  of  much  natural  aliility.  and  was 
very  successful  in  whate\er  he  undertook.  At 
the  time  of  his  death,  he  owned  aiiout  four- 
teen hundred  acres  of  land,  and,  ,a.-  he  started 
without  a  dollar,  this  was  all  the  result  of  his  own 
industry  and  perseverance,  lie  w.as  a  Methodist 
Protestant  in  his  religious  belief  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  that  church  in  the  county.  He 
was  a  very  liberal  contributor  to  the  church  and 
all  licnevolent  entcrpi'ises.  and  in  the  days  before 
churches  were  built.  |)reaching  was  held  in  his 
house.  He  .always  took  an  interest  in  religion, 
and  his  house  was  the  home  of  the  pre.achers. 
In  his  early  d.ays,  he  was  a  Whig  in  his  politics,  and 
a  strong  Abolition i.-t.  and  Republican,  after  the 
formation  of  that  party.  He  wa>  prominent  in  all 
affairs  of  moment,  held  most  of  the  townshi[)  offi- 
ces, and  was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  were  fa- 
V(.ired  with  his  acipiaintance.  ( )n  the  1  1th  of  .lune. 
187.S.  he  was  called  from  the  >rene.->  of  life,  ami 
thus  |ia.-.sed  away  one  of  the  honest,  upright  citi- 
zens of   Logan  County. 

Mi>s  Sarah  A.  McKinn..ii,  a  dau-hur  of  .ludge 
William  Mid\iiinon.  and  a  native  of  (,'larke  County. 
Oliio.  becanie  Ins  wifi>.  The  inalcrnal  L;raniini.)lher 
of  our  subject  wa>  a  tir-l  cousin  of  I  Jen.  Williani 
Henry  llairison.  for  whom  he  wa-  named,  and  lliey 
reared  eiuhl  of  the  ten  children  i;iven  to  tlieni. 
viz:  Xanr\  ,1.  i  .Mr~.  Mrlh  id.>  1 ;  libzaLcth.  deo-a-.-d  ; 
.loliii  A.  was  Lieuleiianl  of  Company  K.  l''i  fty-scv- 


enth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  Resaca,  Ga.; 
Kittle,  deceased;  AVilliam  H.;  Eliza  A.  (Mi-s.  Brown- 
lie);  Isaac  X.;  W.  Scott;  Milton  and  Lewis  S.  The 
mother  of  these  children  pa,ssed  away  on  the  23d 
of  November,  1873.  She  w.as  one  of  the  first 
church  members  here,  and  w.as  an  active  worker 
in  the  same.  Her  father,  .ludge  William  McKin- 
11011.  w:is  of  Irish  extraction,  but  was  American 
born.  He  w:rs  Circuit  .ludge  in  Clarke  County. 
(Miio.  for  some  time,  and  also  followed  the  occupa- 
tion !•{  a  farmer.  About  18.(.").he  came  to  Logan 
County,  and  here  he  ilied  when  eighty-live  years 
of  age. 

William  H.  I'luni  is  a  native-liorn  resident  of 
this  county,  his  birth  occurring  on  the  18th  of 
I-'eliruary.  lsl."i.  and  he  received  his  education  in 
the  log  schoolhouses  of  this  county.  He  well  re- 
members the  slab  seats  with  pin  legs  and  the  other 
rude  devices  of  early  days,  and  when  not  assisting 
his  father  on  the  farm,  w.as  sitting  on  these  slab 
seats,  very  different  from  the  easy  iiatent  seats  of 
to-day.  He  Worked  in  unison  with  his  father  until 
nineteen  years  of  age.  and  being  then  tilled  with 
a  patriotic  ilesire  to  aid  liis  country's  cau.-c,  he  en- 
listed on  the  2d  of  May.  180L  in  Company  G, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Ohio  Infantry, 
and  was  mustered  in  at  Camp  Cli.ase,  Columbus. 
He  was  sent  to  Washington.  D.  C.  from  there  to 
White  House  Landing,  ^■a.,  and  thence  to  Peters- 
burgh,  where  he  was  on  picket  duly,  and  throwing 
up  breastworks.  He  remained  here  and  near  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  most  of  the  time  during  .service  and 
was  discharged  at  Cam|)  Chase  on  the  lOlh  of 
September.  18G4. 

Returning  home,  young  Plum  was  married  on 
the  r.nh  of  October.  IS60.  to  Miss  Louisa  Kenick. 
a  native  of  this  towiishi|i.  and  the  daughter  of 
.lohii  II.  and  Klizaljeth  ( Uea )  Kenick.  natives  of 
Clarke  County.  Ohio,  born  in  isii)  anci  LsniJ.  re- 
spectively. (For  further  particulars  of  I'arents  see 
sketch  of  .1.  U.  Kenick).  Four  children  have 
l.h— rd  the  union  of  our  sulijecl  and  wife:  t  arrie 
i;..  Fannie  O..  .bjnalliaii  K.  and  Willa  Oiuce.  all  at 
home.  Mr.  Plum  has  three  huiidred  and  sixty- 
seven  acres  of  improved  land,  lanie-  on  mixecl 
farniini;-  and  make-  -omelliing  oi  :i  -poi  iaU\  of 
rai--ing  sheep,      lie  was  formerly  ipiiU'  extensively 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


engaged  in  buying  and  selling  stock  of  all  kinds 
and  shipped  considen\lile  to  New  York.  Buffalo. 
Pittsburgh  and  Alleghany.  lie  superintends  the 
entire  farm,  and  built  the  present  residence,  a  fine 
large  frame,  in  1881.  He  erected  a  large  frame 
barn  in  1872.  and  has  many  other  substantial  and 
neat  outbuildings.  He  has  fine  improvements  on 
his  pl.ace.  and  everything  indicates  him  to  be  a 
man  of  progress  and  enterprise.  He  is  well  known 
all  over  tlic  county,  is  well  liked,  and  has  a  host 
of  warm  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plum  arc  members 
of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Cliurch.  and  are  in- 
terested workers  in  the  same,  ilr.  Plum  being  Su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-school,  lie  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  has  held  most  of  the  offices 
in  the  township. 


Vi^  OAH  MILLER.  Prominent  among  the  suo- 
l[[  ))'  cessful  men  whose  history  forms  the  glory 
/i[^  of  Logan  County,  Ohio,  is  Mr.  Noah  Miller, 
who  is  one  of  the  most,  if  not  the  most,  successful 
farmer  in  the  county.  Although  he  started  with 
limited  means  to  fight  his  own  way  in  life,  and  in 
addition  was  a  cripple,  he  now  h.as  two  as  finely 
improved  farms  as  are  to  be  found  in  this  section, 
lie  is  a  man  possessed  of  more  than  the  ordinary 
intelligence,  has  excellent  judgment  and  good 
common-sense,  and  is  advanced  and  progressive  in 
all  his  ideas. 

Mr.  Jliller  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  St;ite.  born 
in  Harrison  Township,  this  county,  on  the  28th  of 
September,  1844,  to  the  union  of  Jacob  B.  and 
Catherine  (Neer)  ^lillrr.  tlie  father  a  native  of 
Clermont  County.  Ohio,  honi  October  7,  1804, and 
the  mother  a  native  ijf  Virginia,  b(irn  in  180.5. 
The  paternal  grandr.Mtlier.  .Sti'|ilieii  ililler.  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  (Jerinaii  descent, 
lie  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  in  his  na- 
tive State  for  many  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Kentucky,  at  a  vitv  i>ai-ly  date,  l-'rom  lln-ri'  lie 
-ubsequeutly   removed  to  Clermont  Cdiinty.  Ohio, 


and  there  his  wife  died  in  1813.  Shortly  after- 
ward, he  went  to  Jlontgomery  County,  the  same 
State,  improved  a  fine  farm,  and  there  passed  the 
closing  scenes  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in 
I860,  when  over  eighty  years  of  age. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  1828, 
and  the  fruits  of  this  union  were  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  reached  mature  j'ears,  viz:  Annie, 
Mrs.  Neer;  Stephen,  John  N.,  Samuel  and  Noah. 
The  two  deceased  were  Mar}'  and  Daniel.  In  1834, 
Mr.  Miller  moved  his  family  to  Logan  County, 
and  i)urchased  a  farm  on  sections  27  and  28,  of 
Harrison  Township.  He  erected  a  log  cabin,  and 
immediately  began  developing  his  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  acres.  He  was  in  poor  cir- 
cumstances when  he  came  to  this  county,  but  he 
was  iudnstrious  and  ambitious,  and  was  quite  well 
oflf  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  early  life  he  joined 
the  German  Baptist  Church,  and  continued  a  mem- 
ber until  the  war  broke  out,  when  his  church 
adopted  a  rule  preventing  members  from  voting 
or  taking  up  arms.  This  was  contrary  to  JNIr. 
Miller's  belief,  and  his  name  was  taken  from  the 
church  roll.  After  cessation  of  hostilities,  the 
church  discarded  the  rule  against  voting,  but  as  he 
did  not  confess  what  they  considered  his  fault,  his 
name  was  never  replaced.  He  was  a  true  Chris- 
tian in  every  sense  of  that  term,  a  kind,  gentle  and 
.affectionate  father,  and  the  counsel  and  advice  lie 
gave  his  cliildren  have  had  a  lasting  impression 
on  them.  He  died  on  the  1st  of  January,  1885, 
and  his  funeral  was  largely  attended  by  sympa- 
thizing friends.  His  wife  passed  away  on  the  16th 
of  June,  1872,  when  nearly  sixt\'-seven  years  of 
age.  She  w.as  a  verj-  faithful  member  of  the  church. 
Her  people  were  of  German  extraction. 

Our  subject  attended  the  pioneer  log  school- 
house  of  former  days  until  eighteen  \'ears  of  age, 
and  w.as  then  afflicted  with  rheumatism,  which  pre- 
vented him  from  doing  much  farm  work.  Instead, 
he  %v.as  sent  to  AVittenburg  College,  at  Springfield, 
and  here  he  remained  two  years,  taking  select  studies 
and  Latin  and  (ireek.  Later,  he  was  graduated  at 
Bacon's  Commercial  College,  at  Cincinnati.  Ohio, 
after  which  he  taught  several  terms  of  school  in 
llarriM>ii  'rii\vn?bip,  tliis  couutv.  Afterward  he 
embarUfd    in   merchandising   at    Bellel'outaiue    as 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RFX'ORD. 


clerk,  continued  in  this  ODe  jeur,  and  tlien  went 
to  Indianapolis,  where  he  continued  his  former  oc- 
cupation tliree  yeai-s  there,  and  in  branch  stores  of 
the  same  firm  at  Rielimond  and  Shelbyville,  lud. 
Returning  to  liellefontaine,  our  subject  clerked 
there  for  two  years,  and  afterward  entered  into 
partnership  and  opened  a  store  at  Bloom  Centre, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Ilalboth  &  Miller.  They 
dissolved  partnership  at  the  end  of  nine  months, 
and  our  subject  then  came  to  Lewistown,  this  town- 
ship, where  he  started  a  general  merchandising 
store,  continuing  tliis  eight  years,  and  carrying  a 
very  large  and  select  stock.  After  this,  he  pur- 
chased two  farms,  and,  not  caring  to  rear  his  chil- 
dren in  the  vilLage.  he  sold  out  and  settled  on  the 
farm.  He  was  Postmaster  for  nearly  eight  years 
while  in  the  store,  and  held  other  local  positions. 
He  removed  to  one  of  his  farms  in  the  spring  of 
187'J,  when  there  were  very  few  improvements  on 
his  place,  a  thick  willow  swamp  standing  in  front 
of  where  Mr.  Miller's  house  now  stands,  so  that  he 
could  not  see  to  the  road.  He  now  has  the  farm 
thoroughly  tiled  .and  under  a  hiah  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  has  running  w.ater  in  every  field.no  mat- 
ter how  dry  the  season  may  be.  He  is  one  of  the 
mci.-t  thrifty,  industrious  and  progressive  men  in 
the  county,  and  is  recognized  .as  such  by  all. 

On  the  rnh  of  .September.  1«7-.'.  Mr.  Miller  was 
wedded  to  Miss  Sarah  Ilul.iei-,  a  native  of  Bloom- 
field  Township,  tliis  county,  born  .lunc  7.  1848, 
and  they  have  six  interesting  children:  Cora.  Tiry, 
Homer,  Lloyd,  Anna  .and  Lawrence,  all  living. 
Mr.  Jliller  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  acres  of  land,  divided  into  two  farms,  and 
has  all  well  improved  and  well  cultivated.  In  con- 
nection with  farming,  he  is  al.io  engaged  quite  ex- 
tensively in  stock-raising,  and  has  some  very  fine 
animals.  When  he  first  settled  on  tliis  farm.  Mr. 
Miller  had  a  one-^tory  house,  boai'ded  up  and 
dinvn.  Init  he  now  ha.-  (ine  of  the  fine.-t  Iriuscs  m 
the  tijwn^hip.  it  being  erected  in  1^*82.  and  is 
nicely  tuiiiished  and  has  a  good  library,  etc.  His 
large  frame  barn.  42x56  feet,  was  erected  in  1879. 
and  in  1881  he  erected  another  one,  30x56  feet. 
Mr.  and  >Irs.  Miller  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church.  The  former  joined  the  Fii-st 
Baptist  Church,  of  Indianapolis,  and  continued  in 


that  church  until  transferred  to  the  one  here.  In 
politics,  IMr.  Miller  is  a  Republican,  and  served  as 
Township  Clerk  and  Treasurer.  He  saved  his 
money  while  clerking,  was  assisted  a  little  bv  his 
father,  but  the  most  of  his  property  has  been  made 
by  his  own  exertions.  He  owns  the  store  building 
and  seven  lots  in  Lewistown,  and  is  an  exception- 
ally good  lin.ancier.  Although  his  body  was  frail, 
his  mind  w.as  strong  and  vigorous,  and  success  h.as 
attended  his  efforts.  He  has  been  very  liberal  in 
his  gifts  to  churches  of  all  denominations,  and  to 
all  worthy  enterprises,  and  is  one  of  the  county's 
most  respected  and  esteemed  citizens.  He  has  a 
very  t.asty  and  ple.as.ant  residence  on  his  other 
farm,  and  a  new  barn,  36x40  feet.  This  farm  is 
also  well  tiled. 


I?  oris  H.  HEl'SCH,  who  is  next  to  the 
J,  f^  oldest  settler  living  in  .St.  Mary's,  is  among 
i'—^v,  the  foremost  of  the  business  men  who  have 
had  the  making  of  this  city,  where  he  is  now  livino- 
in  retirement  in  one  of  its  many  beautiful  homes, 
in  tlie  enjoyment  of  the  wealth  that  he  h.as  .accumu- 
lated by  honorable  means.  Auglaize  Countj-  has 
profited  by  his  business  energy  in  the  past,  which 
was  potent  in  advancing  its  growth,  and  has  had  the 
benefit  of  his  s.ag.acity  and  enterprise  in  its  public 
life  as  an  incumbent  of  some  of  its  important  civic 
ortices;  and  he  h.as  also  Ixtrne  a  conspicuous  part  in 
the  administration  of  municipal  affairs. 

Mr.  Heusch  was  born  in  Prussia  April  3,  1819, 
and  his  father,  who  bore  the  same  name  .as  himself, 
was  also  a  native  of  that  kingdom  and  of  tliesame 
town  as  his  son,  and  w.as  a  teacher  in  earlv  life. 
He  w.as  a  man  of  fine  pliysiipie,  of  much  mental 
power,  w.as  very  finely  educated,  and  always  held 
some  position  under  the  Government  while  he  re- 
mained in  the  Fatherland.  He  w.as  one  of  the  king's 
guards,  served  in  the  Prussian  army,  and  w.as  pres- 
ent at  the  battle  of  Waterloo.  He  w.as  atone  time 
Superintendent  of  the  manufacture  of  charcoal  for 
the  Government,  and  he  also  saw  tn  the  planting 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  young  timber  where  the  old  trees  had  been  used 
In  1837,  Mr.  Heusch  came  to  America,  and  settled 
at  Isapoleon,  in  Henry  County,  whore  he  died 
shortly  after,  when  only  forty-seven  years  old.  His 
wife  and  family,  with  the  exception  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  had  come  two  years  before,  came  to 
this  country  with  him.  His  widow  and  three  chil- 
dren removed  to  Defiance,  and  there  the  former 
.again  married.  The  family  afterward  settled  on  a 
farm,  and  her  second  husl>aiid  dying,  she  married 
a  third  time.  She  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years. 

Our  suliject  is  tlie  olilot  of  tlie  family,  and  he 
and  the  youngest  are  the  only  survivors.  He  at- 
tended school  in  his  native  land  until  lie  was  four- 
teen years  old.  .\Miliitiou>  to  see  xunethiug  of  the 
world,  and  thinking  that  his  fdrtunes  would  be 
assured  in  the  United  States  of  ,\merica,  he  de- 
termined to  emigrate  to  these  shores.  Accordingly, 
in  lS:i.3.  at  the  age  of  si.xteeii.  he  .-et  out  on  his 
travels.  He  passed  through  a  portion  of  France 
to  P.aris,  and  thence  to  Havre,  where  he  boarded  a 
vessel  bound  for  this  country,  and  thirty-five  days 
later  found  himself  in  New  York,  lie  made  his 
way  from  that  city  to  liuftalo.  where  lie  j-tayed  the 
ensuing  two  years,  working  at  gardening  and  vari- 
ous other  employments.  From  Buffalo,  he  came  to 
Columbus,  in  this  State,  and  was  engaged  in  town 
two  years.  February  5,  1839,  is  an  important  date 
in  his  life,  as  on  that  day  he  first  set  foot  in  St. 
Marv's,  which  he  found  an  insignificant  hamlet  of 
a  few  houses  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  of  the 
same  name,  with  no  bridge,  and  no  dwelling  on  the 
eastern  hank,  while  the  surrounding  country  was 
l)Ut  little  better  than  one  vast,  unpeopled  wilder- 
ness. He  saw  wild  deer  running  through  the  town, 
and  Indians  frequently  passed  by  in  their  canoes 
or  overland  along  their  trails.  The  :\nami  .t 
Erie  C.an.al  had  just  lieen  completed  and  Mr. 
lleuseh  helped  construct  a  lock  Ijetweeii  New  lire- 
men,  which  is  seven  miles  from  St.  Mary's,  and  a 
spot  five  miles  below  the  latter  city,  lie  w.as  given 
a  situation  to  oversee  a  l..t  of  hands  employed  to 
keep  the  canal  in  order. 

In  1841,  our  subject  was  married  to  Frederieke 
Scliweder.  who  had  come  to  Amerira  when  quite 
voun^  with    her    parents,  and  in    the    same    year 


he  started  in  the  grocery  business  on  Main  Street, 
.and  also  kept  boarders,  with  the  able  assistance  of 
his  wife.  He  was  burned  out  in  184.5.  losing  every- 
thing, and  he  had  to  begin  life  anew.  He  resumed 
business  as  sof)u  as  possible  with  good  courage,  and 
continued  in  it  until  ISu.'i,  when  he  embraced  an 
opportunity  to  sell  out  at  a  good  price,  and 
he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  buying  a  farm 
in  St.  Mary's  Township.  He  lived  on  that  place 
a  3'ear  and  eight  months,  and  tlien  disposed  of  it 
at  a  considerable  advance  on  the  cost.  Returning 
to  the  cit}%  lie  again  went  into  the  grocery  busi- 
ness. A  year  or  so  later,  he  purchased  a  large  resi- 
dence on  the  northeast  corner  of  .Spring  and  Main 
Streets.  lie  remodeled  it  so  as  to  fit  up  a  roomy 
store  in  the  lower  part,  and  otherwise  altered  the 
building  to  suit  the  exigencies  of  the  trade,  and 
he  afterward  bought  the  adjoining  lot,  so  that  he 
owned  the  whole  block.  In  an  early  day  he  car- 
ried quite  a  variety  of  goods  besides  groceries,  such 
as  Iwots,  shoes,  hardware,  etc.  He  built  up  a  large 
and  rtourishing  trade,  which  was  by  no  means  con- 
fined to  the  limits  of  the  city,  and  became  one  of 
the  wealthiest  merchants  of  St.  Mary's.  In  1889, 
he  resolved  to  retire  from  active  business,  and  he 
sold  out  to  his  son.  August  F.  Fleusch,  who  is  a 
voung  man  of  great  enterprise,  who  has  already 
made  his  mark  in  the  business  world.  He  h.aslaid 
out  two  additions  to  .St.  JIary's,  owns  a  good  deal 
of  real  est-ate  in  the  city,  has  built  several  houses, 
and  has  sold  a  great  many   lots. 

Mav  14, 188(5.  death  invaded  tlie  home  of  our  sub- 
ject and  took  from  it  the  helpmate  who  had  so  faith- 
fully performed  her  share  in  its  upbuilding,  and 
for  fortv-.seveii  yeare  had  walked  cheerfully  by  his 
side  as  his  truest  friend,  sharing  equally  life's  joys 
and  burdens,  and  filling  in  a  perfect  measure  her 
position  .as  a  wife  and  mother.  Eleven  children 
were  born  of  that  marriage,  of  whom  these  seven 
are  living:  Frederick.  Louis  H.,  William,  .\ugust  IL, 
Thomas  .1..  Emma  and  Doreto. 

Mr.  Tleusch  entered  upon  his  career  when  a  mere 
bov.with  nothing  but  a  good  share  of  native  ability 
and  an  ambitious,  enterprising  spirit  to  depend 
upon.  AVith  these  he  has  pushed  his  w.ay  to  the 
front,  and  made  himself  aninfiuential  and  leading 
citizen  of  this  cit\-  of  his  adoption,  which  lias  been 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL   RECORD. 


3r,l 


his  home  for  fifty-three  years,  and  he  luay  Tvell  be 

proud  that  he  has  had  a  hand  in  bringing  about  its 
present  flourishing  condition  as  a  lively  and  im- 
portant business  centre.  He  has  valuable  interests 
here,  business  property,  houses  and  lots,  and  he 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  he  pur- 
chased m  1857.  It  is  located  in  Noble  Township, 
a  mile  and  a  half  northeast  of  St.  Mary's,  and  he 
has  It  under  his  management,  though  he  continues 
to  live  in  the  city.  It  is  within  the  oil  belt,  and 
there  is  one  fairlj-  good  oil  well  on  it. 

Our  subject  cast  his  first  vote  with  the  Demo- 
crats in  1840,  and  has  ever  since  stood  firmly  by 
that  party.  He  was  elected  Commissioner  of  Au- 
glaize County  in  1870,  and  re-elected  in  1873, 
serving  until  1876.  The  principal  improvements 
carried  on  while  he  was  in  office  were  a  vast  amount 
of  ditching  done  to  facilitate  drainage,  which  the 
Commissioners  had  to  oversee;  the  building  of  a 
great  many  turnpikes;  and  the  erection  of  the 
County  Jail.  In  1877,  Mr.  Ileuseh  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  was  re-elected  to  that  position 
in  1880,  and  held  it  six  yeai-s  in  all.  irehasl)een 
Trustee  of  St.  Mary's  Township,  having  filled  that 
office  fifteen  years  and  more.  In  the  early  days,  he 
was  at  the  head  of  the  municipal  government  as 
JIayor  of  St.  Mar_\'s  for  several  years,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Council  for  some  time,  and  served 
on  the  School  Board.  He  has  likewise  done  much 
to  advance  the  religious,  moral  and  social  interests 
of  the  city  as  an  active  working  member  of  the 
Evengelical  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  an  Elder 
for  many  years,  and  his  wife  of  sainted  memory 
was  also  a  member  of  this  church. 


^f^m-^m^^^ 


T/,-^  EXRY  E.  BEEBE,  M.  D.,  the  oldest  and 
ll  ji;  most  prominent  physician  and  surgeon 
lki<^'  of  the  homeopathic  school  in  Siilney,  en- 
((^  gaged  in  tlie  practice  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession here  in  1873.  Since  locating  here,  nine- 
teen j-ears  ago.  Dr.  Beelje's  practice  has  been  con- 
stantly on   the   increase,  and  tlie  liberal  patronage 


accorded  him  attests  to  his  skill   and  ability  as  a 
!    physician.     He  is  a  student  of  his  profession  and 
keeps  abreast  with  every  new  discovery  or  theory 
connected  with  his  chosen  life  work. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Carey,  Wyandot 
County,  this  State,  July  2-1,  1849,  and  is  the  son  of 
Buel  S.  and  Lucinda  (Kear)  Beebe.  The  father,  who 
w.as  a  farmer  by  occupation,  emigrated  from  New 
York  and  w.as  classed  among  the  earh-  settlers 
of  Wyandot  County.  Ileni-y  E.,  of  tliis  sketch, 
was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  obtained  his 
primary  education  in  the  common  schools  near  his 
home.  He  then  attended  school  at  Carey,  and 
later  took  a  course  of  instruction  in  the  Witten- 
berg College,  at  Springfield,  Ohio.  After  his  liter- 
ary course,  he  began  teaching  school,  during  which 
time  he  carried  on  his  medical  studies  at  Carev, 
under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  A.  S.  Rosenberger, 
now  of  Covington,  Ohio.  He  completed  his 
medical  studies  in  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic 
HospiLal  College,  from  whicli  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  the  Class  of  '73.  and  immediately  lo- 
cated f(jr  practice  in  tliis  place,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  h.as  the  finest  library  and 
the  most  complete  surgical  outfit  of  any  physician 
in  this  section.  He  has  a  high  standing  amono-  the 
medical  fraternity  as  one  who  keeps  well  abreast 
of  the  times,  and  is  quick  to  perceive  the  value 
of  new  methods  and  to  adopt  them  whenever  feasi- 
ble in  his  general  pr.nctice.  He  is  untiring  in  his 
devotion  to  his  profession  and  is  widely  known 
not  only  in  Shelby  County,  bul  far  beyond  its 
limits,  as  a  physician  of  unusual  intelligence  and 
ability  and  his  friends  and  patrons  look  upon  him 
as  pre-eminently  the  best  medical  adviser  in  this 
section. 

Dr.  Beebe  has  been  honored  by  appointment  to 
various  distinguished  positions  in  conection  with 
his  calling  and  h.as  been  Secretary  and  President  of 
the  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  of  Ohio,  is  also 
a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeop- 
athy, the  American  Public  Health  Association  and 
a  number  of  local  medical  societies.  Socially, 
he  is  connected  with  Temperance  Lodge,  F.  it 
A.  M.  and  Sidney  Commandery  No.  46.  K.  T. 
He  stands  high  in  Masonic  circles,  having  taken 
the  Thirty-second  Degree  in  the  Ohio  Consistory,  at 


3o2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Cinciuuati.  As  a  member  of  the  American  Insti- 
tute of  Homeopath 3',  he  has  contributed  many 
articles  to  the  Sanit,aiy  IJureau  of  that  department 
and  has  been  Censor  of  his  Alma  Mater  for  a  num- 
ber of  yeare.  In  1890.  tlie  Doctor  took  a  trip  to 
Europe  and  wliile  there  visited  the  large  medical 
institutions  of  the  leading  cities,  and  on  return- 
ing home  lectured  in  the  college  from  which  he 
was  graduated  and  .nl>o  at  Ihc  I'ultc  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  Cincinnati. 

Miss  Ophelia :McDowell,  of  Carey,  this  .State, be- 
came the  wife  of  our  subject  October  8,  1874,  and 
to  them  h.as  been  granted  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Robert  Wallace,  Laura  E.,  Hugh  and 
Henry.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  regular  at- 
tendants of  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to- 
ward the  support  of  which  denomination  they 
give  liber.ally  of  their  means.  He  of  whom  we 
write  is  one  of  the  Directors  and  stockholders  in 
the  Citizens'  Bank  of  this  place,  and  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  h.-ts  lived  for  so  many  years  has 
identified  himself  with  its  every  interest. 


EVI  .SHROYKR.  The  farming  community 
of  Shelby  County  finds  one  of  its  most 
successful  representatives  in  this  gentle- 
man, who  lias  rendered  eflfeetive  service  in  ad- 
vancing the  agriculturalinterestsof  .I.ickson  Town- 
ship. The  farm  which  he  owns  and  cultivates  con- 
sists of  two  hundred  and  seventy-nine  acres,  of 
which  he  has  cleared  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres  through  his  personal  efforts.  The  place  is 
embellished  with  a  neat  set  of  farm  buildings, 
conspicuous  amon^  which  is  the  sulistantial  and 
tastily  furnislied  residence,  wliirli  w.-is  erected  in 
1.S71. 

During  the  early  part  of  this  century,  .John 
Shroyer.  father  of  our  subject,  emigrated  from  his 
native  .State.  Pennsylvania,  and  made  settlement 
in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio.  There  he  w.as  mar- 
ried  to    Miss    Ellizabeth    .Shonk,  a  native  of  that 


county,  and  a  most  estimable  lady,  who  still  sur- 
vives, in  the  full  possession  of  her  mental  faculties, 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years.  After  his  mar- 
riage, he  settle<l  on  an  unimproved  tr.act  of  land 
near  IXayton.  and  cleared  two  farms  in  that  local- 
ity, where  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1876, 
aged  eighty-four  years. 

Four  of  the  six  children  comprising  the  parental 
family  still  survive,  and  one  son,  Andrew  J., 
served  with  valor  In  the  CivilW.ar.  The  religious 
convictions  of  the  parents  brought  them  into  fel- 
lowship with  the  German  Reformed  Church,  in 
which  he  w.as  prominent  and  influential.  Politi- 
cally, he  was  in  sympathy-  with  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  in  the  local  political 
affairs  was  a  man  of  note. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Jlontgom- 
ery  County,  Ohio,  October  18,  1825,  and  w.as  reared 
upon  his  f.ather's  farm,  which  he  aided  in  clearing 
.IS  soon  as  old  enough  to  be  of  use.  When  ready 
to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  he  w.as  marrie<l, 
April  24,  18.53,  to  Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of  Martin 
Himes,  an  early  settler  of  Montgomery  County. 
Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Shroyer  was  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  December  21,  1831,  and  died  Ma}'  11, 
1870,  mourned  not  only  in  the  immediate  family 
circle,  but  by  the  host  of  warm  friends  whom  she 
had  won  bj'  her  un.ossuming  nobility  of  character 
and  kindness  of  heart. 

Six  of  the  ten  children  born  of  this  union  sur- 
vive, as  follows:  Ziba  C.  married  Matilda  Yhelm, 
and  with  his  wife  and  three  children  resides  in 
Dayton;  Elizabeth  A.  married  S.  I).  Haney,  of 
Port  .lefferson,  and  they  have  five  sons;  Louisa  II., 
the  widow  of  Louis  A.  lininer.  makes  her  home 
with  our  subject,  .as  dn  also  her  two  daughters; 
3Iilton  .T.,  who  is  a  resident  of  Dinsinore  Town- 
ship, married  Elizabetli  Fre}',  and  they  have  two 
sons;  Edward  S.  married  Annie  Carson,  and  they 
m.ake  their  home  in  Carth.agc.  Ohio;  Ida  .1.  is  at 
present  te.aching  in  Dinsinore  Townshi|i.  ^lartha 
Alice  w.as  formerly  the  wife  of  B.  Smith,  but  is 
now  deceased. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Shroyer  united  him 
with  .Jane  M.  Erven,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  died 
December  21),  18:h),  .aged  forty-four  years.  She 
w.as  a  devoted   wife   and   an   affectionate  ini>ther. 


/&r. 


'S^^ 


c-eyC/e</'2:^<Lj^i^^g>c^c<^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


355 


:iiul  at  her  death  left  tno  daughters:,  Nellie  W.  and 
Mabel  L.,  who  are  now  attending  school,  and  are 
bright  and  interesting  children.  Forty  years  have 
come  and  gone  since  Jlr.  Shrover  settled  on  his 
present  farm,  and  he  has  witnessed  startling  trans- 
formations in  the  improvements  of  the  county. 
Altliongh  his  time  is  principally  given  to  his  pri- 
vate duties,  he  maintains  a  deep  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters,  and  h.is  served  as  Director  in  his 
district.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  casts 
Ills  ballut  for  the  candidates  of  that  part}'.  He  has 
served  as  Treasurer  of  the  Grange,  and  is  also 
identified  with  tlie  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
h")W3. 


L-^-^IIKO  B.  STEINEMANN.  In  presenting  to 
//S\  the  readei-s  of  this  volume  the  portrait  and 
V^2/  biography-  of  Jlr.  Steinemann,  we  are  per- 
petuating the  features  and  life  work  of  one  of 
Minster's  most  influential  citizens  and  popular 
merchants.  Excellent  judgment  and  shrewd  fore- 
sight have  contributed  to  his  success,  and  his  ex- 
tensive mercantile,  grain,  lumber  and  pork  inter- 
ests have  brought  to  him  the  .acquaintance  of  the 
most  people  in  this  section  of  the  Suite.  Person- 
ally, he  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  as  a  man  of 
sterling  integrity,  and  is  lionoi-ed  alike  for  his 
business  and  social  standing. 

Before  noting  minutely  the  events  nhicli  have 
given  character  to  the  life  of  our  subject,  it  may 
not  be  amiss  to  narrate  a  few  f.acts  conceniing  his 
parentage.  His  father,  John  Henr_y  Steinemann, 
was  born  in  Holdorff.  Oldenburg.  Germany,  Octo- 
ber 28.  180,s,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
land.  In  1832.  he  emigrated  to  America,  and 
after  a  short  residence  in  Cincinnati,  went  .S(.)uth. 
where  lie  sojourned  about  two  years.  In  18;55.  he 
married  Miss  Catherine  G.  Jleyers.  and  one  year 
later  located  three  miles  west  of  Minster  (then 
known  as  Stallotown).  at  a  time  when  no  roads 
had  been  opened,  blazed  trees  serving  as  guides 
through  the  forest.  After  occupying  that  place 
two  or  tliree  yeai-s.   he   purchased    other   prcjperty 


near  Minster,  where  he  erected  a  residence  and 
spent  his  declining  years.  Soon  after  changing 
his  residence,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  held  that  otlice  witli  little  interruption  until 
his  death. 

In  1837,  John  H.  Steinemann  emliarked  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick,  and  later  w.as  engaged  in 
other  enterprises,  such  .as  merchandising,  real  estate, 
cooper.age  and  grain  dealing.  Ilis  first  enterprises 
were  started  on  a  small  scale,  but  as  his  business 
increased,  he  eulai-ged  his  operations  and  became 
one  of  the  foremost  men  of  tlie  town.  About 
1851).  he  built  a  brick  store  and  warehouse  and 
continued  to  ship  all  kinds  of  produce.  At  the 
same  time,  he  was  eng.aged  in  the  pork-p.acking 
business,  which  he  carried  on  very  successfully. 
Prosjierity  rewarded  his  efforts  and  he  became  the 
owner  of  a  vast  amount  of  property.  His  family 
consisted  of  five  children,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,  as  follows:  .lohn  II.,  Theo  B.,  Frank  J.. 
Charles  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Steineinann  died  on  the 
23d  of  ]M.ay,  1872.  and  Jlr.  Steinemann  followed 
her  to  the  grave  on  the  15th  of  January,  1877. 
They  were  well  respected  in  the  commuuity  in 
which  they  lived  and  were  among  the  most  worthy 
picjneei's. 

Theo  B.  Steinemann  was  born  in  Jackson  Town- 
shii),  Auglaize  County,  January  1,  183"J.  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  until  about  twelve  vears 
of  age.  and  then  began  assisting  his  father  in  busi- 
ness. In  the  fall  of  18H0,  he  entered  St.  JIary's 
College  at  Cincinnati,  remaining  there  about  two 
years,  and  then  returning  home,  engaged  in  busi- 
ness with  his  father  until  the  latter's  death.  lu 
the  division  of  the  estate,  he  became  his  father's 
successor  in  the  extensive  mercantile,  grain  and 
pork  business,  which  h.as  Ijeen  conducted  so  verv 
successfully  for  many  yeai-s.  In  1883,  Jlr.  Steine- 
mann and  his  brother  Charles  purchased  the  Min- 
ster Brewery,  which  they  operated  in  partnership 
for  aliout  eight  years,  and  in  wliicli  tlR-\- were  verv 
successful.  During  that  time,  the  luewery  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  but  the  pre>ent  large  luick  estab- 
li.-hment  was  rebuilt  soon  after.  In  1890.  thev 
sold  out  to  the  Stai-  Brewing  Company,  and  since 
tliat  time  our  subject  has  given  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  his  merchandisiiiLT.  sraiii.  Iuml)er  and  ijork 


3513 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


business.  He  has  a  very  extensive  and  compli- 
cated business,  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  qual- 
ifications and  good  habits,  and  a  citizen  who  has 
the  highest  regard  of  all  who  know  him.  The 
Steinemann  family  occupies  a  leading  position  in 
Minster  society  and  its  members  are  intelligent 
and  cultured  people.  Mr.  Steinemann  buys  any- 
thing a  farmer  has  to  sell  and  is  prepared  to  sell 
him  anything  he  wishes  to  buj-. 

In  the  year  1863,  Mr.  Steinemann  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Wuendeln,  a  native  of 
Minster,  Ohio,  and  nine  children  were  born  to  this 
marriage,  as  follows:  John,  Edward,  Rosy,  Louis, 
Millie,  George,  Elenora,  Luetta  and  Secilla.  A 
Democrat  in  his  political  views,  Mr.  Steinemann 
has  never  sought  ottice.  preferring  instead  to  at- 
tend strictly  to  business.  However,  he  held  the 
office  of  Township  Clerk  for  fouryeai-s  and  Notary 
Public  six  vears.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Church.  Our  subject  is  one 
of  the  most  sulistantial  men  of  the  count_v  and  is 
the  owner  of  extensive  tracts  of  real  estate,  he  and 
his  brother,  John  H.,  owning  in  partnership  eight 
hundred  acres  of  land,  beside  valuable  property 
in  Piqua  and  elsewhere. 


j^ft^®!^ 


^  KRE:\nAIl  .AIILLER,  ex-County  Commis- 
sioner of  Shelby  County,  was  born  January 
7.  1830,  in  Montgomery  County,  this  State. 
Altliough  receiving  only  a  common-school 
eduealion,  his  natural  nient:il  ability  caused  liim 
til  advance  in  wliatever  field  of  labor  he  entered, 
ancl  since  locating  in  Turtle  Creek  Township, 
where  he  is  at  present  residing,  has  been  in  vari- 
ovis  ways  closely  identified  with  the  progress  of  his 
section. 

Frederick  Miller,  the  father  of  our  siihject.  was 
born  in  Berks  County.  Pa.,  and  came  to  Ohio  im- 
mediately after  his  marriage,  locating  on  unim- 
l)roved  land  about  fifteen  miles  from  Dayton,  in 
Montgomery  County.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  that  localitv,  and  followed  farmina-  there 


for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring 
in  1841.  The  Miller  family  was  of  German  de- 
scent, and  the  gi'andfather  of  our  subject,  who  was 
a  farmer  in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Mexican  War. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was 
Catherine  Whitman,  and  she  was  also  a  native  of  the 
above-named  county  and  State.  Like  her  husband, 
she  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  LTnited  Brethren 
Church,  and  departed  this  life  in  1866.  Jeremiah 
of  tliis  sketch  was  the  youngest  in  the  parental  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  of  whom  those  living  are 
Levi,  who  is  married,  and  operating  a  farm  in  Ford 
County,  111.;  and  Elvina,  who  is  the  widow  of  John 
W.  Apple,  and  resides  in  Darke  County. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  and  received  liis  early  education  in  the  pio- 
neer log  schoolhouse,  he  being  permitted  to  attend 
school  onh'  during  the  winter  months.  When  four- 
teen years  of  age,  our  subject  began  working  out 
on  farms  near  his  home,  and  when  sixteen  years  of 
age  received  for  his  services  $9  per  month.  On 
attaining  his  majority,  he  began  teaching  school  in 
the  little  old  house  in  District  No.  8,  Perrj-  Town- 
ship, Montgomery  County.  He  subsequently 
taught  two  terms  of  school  in  Preble  County,  and 
one  term  after  locating  in  this  section.  During 
the  summer  season,  he  w.as  engaged  in  raising  to- 
bacco, which  he  found  to  be  a  very  inofitable  busi- 
ness. 

In  1866,  Jlr.  Miller  purchased  a  farm  in  Jack- 
son Township,  ^lontgomery  County,  wliich  he  sold 
seven  years  later,  and  coming  to  tliis  county,  lo- 
cated on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Loraraie  Town- 
ship, of  wliich  he  became  tlie  owner.  He  resided 
on  that  tract  until  1883,  when  he  came  to  Sidney, 
and  remained  during  the  four  jeai-s  of  his  incum- 
bency of  the  County  Commissioner's  office.  He 
performed  the  duties  of  tliat  position  with  credit 
to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents,  but 
at  tlie  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  lias  since  re- 
fused to  accept  other  public  positions,  as  he  pre- 
fer the  comfort  and  quiet  of  his  fireside  to  the 
turmoil  of  civil  life. 

Mr.  Miller  purchased  his  present  home  in  Turtle 
Creek  Township  in  1891,  .and  since  August  of  that 
vear  has  been  a  resident  thereon.     His  estate  com- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGR^^PHICAL   RECORD. 


357 


pi'ises  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land,  iu  addition  to 
"liieli  lie  owns  one  luindred  and  forty  acres  of  fine 
land  in  Loramie  Township.  Ilis  farnos  bear  splen- 
did improvements  in  tlie  way  of  buildings  and 
machinery,  and  in  addition  to  raising  the  crops 
which  are  best  suited  to  the  soil  and  climate,  Mr. 
Jliller  h.'is  stocked  his  estates  with  good  grades  of 
animals.  In  beginning  his  career,  he  had  no  finan- 
cial backing,  but  was  obliged  to  depend  entirely 
upon  his  natural  abilities  and  strength  of  will  and 
bijily.  Right  -well  as  he  succeeded  in  his  worldly 
affairs,  and  his  standing  among  his  fellow-men  is 
that  of  a  man  of  substance  and  genuine  worth. 

Ml-.  Miller  and  Miss  Anna  Swihart.  a  native  of 
Montgomery  County,  this  State,  were  united  in 
marriage  April  26.  LSfJO.  Tlie  lady  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  .lonathan  and  .Siphia  (Cloyd)  Swihart,  na- 
tives, respective! V.  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 
Her  parents  were  early  settlers  in  this  .State,  and 
the  father,  who  was  a  farmer,  died  in  1877. 

To  our  subject  and  liis  wife  have  been  born 
seven  children,  viz:  Ilarvey  (J.,  who  is  married, 
and  farming  in  Darke  County,  this  .State;  Levi  P.. 
wlio  is  also  married  and  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Loramie  Township;  Lillie  0.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  E.  Coven,  makes  her  home  in  Day- 
ton; Callie  is  deceased,  as  is  also  Nellie  and  the 
eldest  born;  and  William  .S.  is  at  home. 

Our  subject  takes  a  prominent  part  in  political 
affairs,  and  easts  his  vote  and  influence  in  favor  of 
Democratic  principles.  He  h.is  represented  his 
party  .as  delegate  to  county,  district  and  State  con- 
ventions, and  has  served  as  .School  Director  for 
several  years.  While  residing  in  Loramie  Town- 
ship, he  was  elected  Clerk  for  one  term,  and  filled 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  six  years.  Mr. 
Miller  was  elected  Commissioner  of  Shelby  County 
in  the  fall  of  1885,  and  re-elected  to  the  same  po- 
sition the  following  term,  making  a  service  of  six 
years.  While  County  Commissioner,  the  County 
Infirmary  was  erected,  and  many  miles  of  turnpike 
constructed.  He  devoted  almost  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  looking  after  public  business,  and 
as  such  has  a  good  record,  receiving  the  respect 
and  friendship  of  his  felhjw-men.  Mrs.  Miller 
is  a  most  excellent  lady,  and  an  influential  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Churcli.    ()ur  subject  possesses 


that  energy  and  tact  which  invariably  bring  suc- 
cess to  the  owner,  and  is  adding  to  his  popularity, 
and  also  to  his  financial  standing  each  jear,  and 
ranks  high  in  tlie  esteem  of  his  community. 


R.  LANKORD  PRATER.     In   tracing  the 
genealogy  of  the  Prater  family,  we  find 
that   the    great-great-gi-audfather   of  our 
~^  subject  was  a  native  of  Vienna,  and  that 

the  City  Park  of  that  place  was  named  by  some 
of  his  ancestors.  He  came  to  America  at  a  period 
ante-dating  the  Revolutionary  War,  settled  in  Ashe 
County.  N.  C.  and  there  tilled  the  sod  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  about  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolution.  His  son,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  served  all  through  the  Revolution.  He 
also  cultivated  the  soil,  and  made  his  home  in  Vir- 
ginia. His  son,  Newman  Prater,  w.asa  native  of  the 
Old  Dominion.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812, 
had  his  leg  broken  at  Norfolk,  and  was  taken  home, 
where  he  died  a  month  later.  Agricultural  pur- 
suits had  been  his  occupation  in  life,  and  his  son, 
John  Prater,  father  of  our  subject,  was  also  a  suc- 
cessful tiller  of  the  soil. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Prater  was  originally  from 
Floyd  County.  Va..  born  January  1,  1800,  and  re- 
mained there  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  then 
came  to  (^hio.  settled  in  Highland  County,  where 
he  resided  for  about  four  years,  and  afterward  lo- 
cated in  Champaign  County.  Two  \-eai's  later,  he 
made  his  advent  into  Logan  County,  and  settled 
near  ZanesHeld.  He  had  a  patent,  and  took  land 
in  Rush  Creek  Township,  known  .as  the  Marie  Farm. 
Many  Indians  were  then  in  that  county  and  wild 
game  was  to  be  seen  on  every  side.  Mr.  Prater 
moved  from  there  to  another  pl.ace  three  miles 
away  and  kept  a  post-house  ami  wayside  inn  for 
several  years.  From  there  he  moved  to  Rush  Creek 
Lake,  and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of 
land,  on  which  he  made  his  home  for  about  twenty- 
five  years.     After  this,  he    purch:ised  a  farm  near 


:3oS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Jerusalem,  Logau  County,  and  afterward  became 
tbe  owner  of  considei-able  land  along  the  Miami 
River  and  in  Hardin  County.  The  last  twelve 
years  of  his  life,  he  made  his  home  with  our  sub- 
ject and  passed  awa3-  in  1880,  when  eighty  years  of 
age.  He  had  set  out  sixteen  hundred  fruit  trees  in 
the  county  and  was  an  industrious,  thorough-going 
citizen.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
took  an  active  interest  in  all  religious  enterprises, 
and,  in  politics,  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  man 
well  known  all  over  the  county  and  was  univer- 
sally esteemed  and  lespected.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Pope,  a  native  of  Randolph  Countv,  N.  C. 
born  on  the  4tli  of  February,  1800,  and  to  them 
were  born  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to 
mature  years,  namely:  Levi,  Alpheus,  Ensley,  Sv- 
repta  J.,  Samantha,  Lanford  and  Salathial. 

Tlie  mother  of  our  subject  died  on  the  anniver- 
sary of  her  natal  da}-,  Fel)ruary  4,  1879.  She  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Her  father, 
Nathaniel  Pope,  came  from  North  Carolina  to  Ohio 
in  1816,  and  settled  in  Highland  County,  where  he 
remained  for  one  year.  He  then  came  to  Logan 
County  and  made  a  settlement  at  Piekrelltown. 
He  owned  the  land  there  and  assisted  in  starting 
the  town,  he  and  a  Mr.  Pickrell  tossing  up  a  half 
dollar  to  determine  whether  the  town  should  be 
named  Polkville  or  Piekrelltown.  Tliere  he  p.asscd 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  honored  and  esteemed 
by  all.  This  branch  of  the  family  was  of  English 
descent. 

The  original  of  tliis  notice  was  bom  in  Rush 
Creek  Township,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  on  the  1st 
of  August,  1840,  and  remained  on  his  father's  farm 
until  eighteen  years  of  age,  attending  the  public 
schools  taught  in  the  primitive  log  sclioolhouses 
of  pioneer  days  during  the  winter  montlis  and 
working  on  the  home  place  in  the  summer  seasons. 
He  remembers  perfectly  the  large  open  fireplace  in 
the  old  log  schoolhouse,  the  mud  and  stick  chimney, 
the  slab  seats  and  the  log  t.aken  out  along  the  side 
for  a  window,  and  the  many  other  rude  contriv- 
ances of  earlier  days.  He  also  remembers  seeing  the 
greased-paper  window  liglits,  but  not  in  thesclujol- 
liouse  he  attended.  When  eighteen  years  of  age, 
he  entered  the  Normal  School  at  Bellefontaine  and 
wielded  the  ferrule  for  eleven  terms,  there  and  in 


Illinois.  At  one  time  lie  held  three  certificates  to 
teach  in  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  For  one  year 
he  was  in  Livingston  County,  111.,  but  he  returned 
to  his  native  county  to  enter  the  army.  He  enlisted 
in  March,  1862,  in  the  Eighty-fifth  Ohio  Regiment, 
Company  F,  in  the  second  call  for  three-months 
troops  and  was  veteranized,  entering  the  army  as 
Sergeant.  He  was  put  on  detached  duty,  mustered 
out  on  a  descriptive  list  and  recommended  for 
promotion.  He  then  volunteered  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirt3--second  Ohio  National  Guards 
and  was  elected  First  Lieutenant,  but  upon  the 
consolidatou  of  the  troops  was  thrown  out,  after- 
ward going  as  Clerk  for  Capt.  Black.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1865,  he  volunteered  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Ninety-first,  going  out  as  Second  Sergeant. 
After  this  he  was  made  Commissary  and  then  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant.  He  served  his  country  bravely 
and  gallantly  and  w.as  mustered  out  in  September 
of  that  year. 

Our  subject  began  reading  medicine  in  1858, 
with  Dr.  ^IcKinnon,  of  Lewistown,  reading  with 
him  for  some  time,  but  did  not  register  until  1861. 
After  this  he  taught  school  in  Lewistown,  but  still 
continued  his  medical  studies  under  him  until  en- 
tering the  army.  After  cessation  of  hostilities,  our 
subject  attended  lectures  in  Detroit  Medical  Col- 
lege, in  1868,  and  practiced  at  Sweetser's,  Grant 
County,  Ind..  for  three  years.  He  entered  the  In- 
diana Medical  College,  at  Indianapolis,  in  1871, 
and  graduated  from  that  institution  on  the  29th  of 
February,  1872.  After  this,  he  practiced  four  years 
longer  in  Grant  County,  Ind.,  and  then  went  to 
Kokomo,  of  that  State,  where  he  remained  four 
years.  In  1879,  he  came  to  Hunlsville,  Ohio,  and 
practiced  there  until  1885,  when,  in  February  of 
that  3ear,  he  came  to  L.ake  Mew.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  successful  practitioners  of  the  county  and 
his  reputation  is  firmh-  established. 

Dr.  Prater  w.is  married  on  the  5lh  of  March. 
1863,  to  Miss  Isabell  Watson,  a  u.ative  of  County 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  with  her 
parents  when  eight  years  of  age.  This  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  sis  children,  only  four 
now  living:  Charles  (deceased),  Harriet  (deceased), 
Charlotta,  Jennie,  Mintie  and  Lanford.  Mrs. 
Prater  died  on  the  8tli  of  .Vpiil,  1881.  and  on  the 


4^> 


jYG-'9rrv^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  DlOGRArmCAL   RECORD. 


361 


25th  of  April,  1882,  the  Doctor  took  for  his  sec- 
ond wife  Miss  Annie  E.  Kirk,  ;i  native  of  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  born  April  1.  ISIO.  They  liave  no 
children.  Dr.  Prater  an<i  wife  are  members  of  tlie 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  poUtics.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Good  Templars,  Knights  of  Honor  and  Post 
No.  ,519,  G.  A.  R.  IMrs.  Prater  is  an  active  %vorker  in 
the  Relief  Corps  and  is  Conductor  at  the  present 
time.  Dr.  Prater  has  stock  m  the  Gas  and  Petro- 
leum Company  here  and  holds  the  position  of 
Secretary  of  the  company.  He  has  worked  h.-ird  to 
secure  the  railroad  here  and  has  also  t.aken  an  act- 
ive part  to  get  local  option.  He  has  spent 
time  and  money  to  secure  the  road,  and  is  a  public- 
spirited  and  higlil\--estcemed  citizen.  While  at 
Kokonio.  our  subject  started  a  paper,  the  Vanguard. 
an  educational  journal,  which  he  sold  out  after 
running  a  vear.  Later,  he  again  took  control  of  it 
but  only  kept  it  for  a  year. 


\:  OHN  IIARROD,  formerly  Commissioner  of 
Logan  County,  and  a  prominent  farmer  of 
JIcArthur  Township,  was  born  April  8, 
^  1S2.T,  and  died  .lune  I'.l,  1892.  on  the  home- 
stead where  his  entire  life  liad  been  p.ossed.  He 
belonged  to  an  old  and  honored  family  of  Welsh 
extraction,  whose  representatives  for  several  gen- 
erations resided  in  Virginia.  In  that  State,  .lohn 
Ilarrod,  father  of  our  subject,  .and  Thomas  Ilarrod. 
his  grandfather,  were  born.  The  Last-named  culti- 
vated the  soil  for  a  livelihood  and  during  the  lat- 
ter [lart  (if  the  last  century  removed  with  lii> 
family  to  Kentucky,  ^vhele  he  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  while  at  wi>rk  in  his  field.  He  \vas  an  iii- 
tlueiitial  man  in  the  coiumunity  and  served  n> 
Captain  of  the  militia  and  in  various  position-  of 
trust. 

About  17'.H;..Ii,lin  llarriid.  Sr..  came  to  Ohio  and 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Ross  County. 
lli^  experience^  nere  ;iii;ilai   {'.>  those  of  oHilt  pio- 


neers, and  he  often  afterward  related  his  adventures 
with  the  treacherous  savages,  who  were  plentiful 
at  that  early  d.ay,  and  many  narrow  escapes  he  had 
from  f.alling  into  their  hands.  After  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  in  Ross  County,  he  removed  to 
Bloomingburgh,  F.ayette  Couiity,  this  State,  where 
he  bought  a  farm  and  began  making  improvements 
in  the  wilderness. 

Somewhat  later,  Mr.  Ilarrod  removed  to  Cham- 
paign County,  Ohio,  and  purchased  a  faim  on 
Dugan  Praiiie,  six  miles  east  of  L'rbana.  There 
he  remained  .about  two  years,  and  then,  in  1810, 
removed  to  Logan  County,  liuying  a  farm  of  Gov. 
McArthur  and  becoming  the  first  iiermanent  set- 
tler north  of  the  Greenville  Treaty  line.  Ilis  first 
home  was  an  Indian  cabin,  liut  two  yeai-s  after 
settling  here,  he  erected  a  hewcd-log  house.  He 
w.as  on  intimate  terms  with  the  numerous  Indi.ans 
of  the  community,  who  were  frequent  visitors  to 
his  little  cabin.  Wild  animals  were  also  plentiful, 
but  he  cared  very  little  about  hunting,  and.  being 
industrious  and  hard-working,  soon  had  his  farm 
well  improved  and  well  cultivated.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  War  of  1812  as  an  officer,  and  in  pol- 
itics favored  the  Whig  party.  His  death  occuri-ed 
October  14.  1840. 

The  mother  of  our  subjcit  boie  the  maiden  name 
of  Plid'be  Carder,  and  removed  from  her  native 
State,  A'irginia.  to  Kentucky  with  her  parents  and 
afterward  came  to  Ross  County, Ohio.  Her  union 
with  .lohn  Ilarrod  resulted  in  the  birth  of  seven 
children,  live  of  whom  reached  mature  years, 
namely:  Elizabeth  S.,  Samuel  A.,  Sanford,  Thom.as, 
James  M..  .lolin  and  David  I>.  During  the  latter 
part  of  her  life,  the  mother  was  a  member  of  the 
Disciples  Church,  and  her  death  occurred  when  she 
was  eighty-four.  Her  father.  Sanford  Carder,  was 
a  native  of  ^'il•ginia  and  removed  thence  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  from  there  to  ( )hio.  first  settling  in  Ross 
County  and  later  reinoviiii;  to  Fayette  County. 
wln'ii>  he  died  when  nearly  one  liiindred  years  (ild. 
He  was  a  -oldier  in  the  i;c\  ..lutjouary  AVar  and 
the  War  of  1.^12.  I'.y  ocrupatioii.  he  was  a  farmer, 
in  connection  with  which  lie  eiiuaL;ed  in  keeping 
an  hotel.  He  w.as  of  Enudisli  de-./ent  Init  his  wife 
was.of  (ierman  extraction. 

I'lie    subject    of  this    -kcleli   ami    tli.'  ..i  ii^inal  of 


3G2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL   RECORD. 


the  accompanying  portrait  was  reared  in  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  and  received  liis  early  educalion  in 
tlie  log  sclioolhouse  of  pioneer  days,  altlioiigii 
afterward  he  was  taught  in  a  good  frame  building. 
His  attendance  at  seliool  was  limited  to  the  winter 
months.  :w  in  the  summer  he  was  obliged  to  work. 
Vov  several  terms,  he  studied  in  a  select  school  at 
Cherokee.  McArthiir  Township.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  much  of  the  responsibility  of  taking 
care  of  the  family  fell  uiiou  his  shoulders, he  being 
the  eldest  at  home.  AVitli  his  brother,  David  15., 
he  carried  on  the  farm  until  188:5,  when  their  part- 
nership was  dissolved. 

In  1859,  Mr.  Harrod  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
S.  Johnson,  a  native  of  Penn.sylvania,  who  died  in 
March,    186.5,   leaving   two    children,  Carrie    and 
Ralph    L.     In    November,   1868.  Jlr.  Ilarrod  was 
united   in   marriage  with  Jliss  Minerva  Donuel,  a 
native  of  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  born  six  miles  west 
(if  Springfield.     Two  children  were  born  to  them, 
JIamie,  .and   Addie  (deceased).    M.ay  2,   1864,  our   '■ 
subject  enlisted  for  one  hundred  days  .as  a  member   ' 
of  Company  C,  One  Hundred   and  Thirty-second   : 
Ohio  Infantry, and  w.as  mustered  in  at  Camp  Chase,   i 
Columbus.  He  was  sent  with  his  regiment  to  Wash-   1 
ington   and   from  there  down  the  Polom.ac  River   ! 
and  up  to  White  House   Landing.     During   most 
of  the  time  he  was  on  guard  duty  and  w.as  mustered 
out  September  15.  18Gi. 

The  home  farm  formerly  Ijelonging  to  Mr.  Har- 
rod comprises  one  hundred  and  eightv-two  acres 
of  well-improved  land,  where  he  engaged  in  mixed  , 
farming,  as  well  as  in  stock-raising.  His  neat  frame 
residence,  erected  in  1856,  was  remodeled  in  1889, 
and  is  now  a  cozy  and  conveniently  arranged 
home.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Republican  and  w.as  a 
man  of  e.xeellent  judgment  ami  gond  bu>inejs 
qualifications.  In  the  spring  <>f  IS.Sl.  lii>  friends 
insisted  upon  nominating  him  for  County  Com- 
missioiier  and  although  he  at  first  decluu'd.  yet  at 
the  urgent  request  of  tlie  iicoiilc  he  consented 
to  run.  Ill' wa^  n<iniinati'(l.i'Iecte<l.  and  re-elected, 
serving  six  years,  aiul  was  an  ullicer  of  tinii  and 
resolute  mind,  alw.ays  loukiiig  to  tlie  intere>t>  of 
his  constituents.  During  tiie  time  of  liis  term  of 
ollice,  he  was  quite  ill  for  a  year  and  was  nho  be- 
reaved bv  the  death  of   hia   daughter,  Ad. lie.     At 


one  time,  he  sent  in  his  resignation  but  it  was  not 
accepted  and  before  his  time  expired,  he  was 
partially  restored  to  health,  taking  his  pLace  .as  an 
officer  and  doing  whatever  duty  demanded.  So- 
cially, he  was  a  member  of  the  Jl.asonic  fraternity 
at  Bellefontaine,  with  which  lodge  he  w.as  connected 
since  1856.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Post  at  Iluntsville. 

On  the  d.ay  before  his  death,  Mr.  Harrod  was  in 
Bellefontaine  contracting  his  wool  and  came  home 
about  noon.  In  the  afternoon  he  and  his  son 
Ralph  wcnked  among  their  large  flock  of  sheep, 
dividing  them  into  different  pastures,  and  seemed 
to  be  in  his  usual  health.  The  next  morning,  he  arose 
and  while  standing  on  the  Boor  called  to  Mrs. 
Ilarrod.  who  had  not  yet  risen,  to  open  the  door 
and  give  him  air.  She  at  once  did  so  and  did 
everything  for  him  possible,  but  to  no  avail,  for 
in  five  minutes  he  had  passed  into  eternit\-.  He 
was  buried  by  the  Masonic  order, a  procession  more 
than  a  half-mile  in  length,  following  his  remains 
to  the  Ilarrod  Cemetery,  where  they  were  laid  to 
rest. 


^^1  EN.  ROBERT  P.  KENNEDY,  one  of  the 
fjl  ,-— -  prominent  citizens  of  Bellefontaine.  is  a 
X^iA)  native  of  this  city,  having  been  born  .Jan- 
uary 2;j,  1840.  He  is  the  son  of  William  G.  and 
Mary  E.  (Patterson)  Kenned^-,  natives  respectively 
of  Hagerstowi).  Md.,  and  Licking  County,  this 
State.  The  Kennedy  family,  who  are  of  Scotch  de- 
.-^cent,  trace  their  ance^trv  back  to  the  first  repre- 
sentativi.'  in  this  country,  wlio  came  hither  in  the 
seventeenth  century  and  located  in  Ilagerstown. 

.Tames  Kennedy,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
tuliject.  came  to  Ohio  .aboutv,  1801  and  located  in 
I'liion  County,  where  his  decease  occurred.  He 
was  a  well-to-di>  farmer  in  his  locality  and  greatly 
respected  as  an  u]n-ight  and  honest  gentleman. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Robert 
Patterson.  w:i>  lioin  in  Couiily  Deny,  Ireland,  and 
on  comiiii;  to  the  Lulled  ."stales  commanded  a  com- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


363 


pany  of  soldiere  in  the  "Wai-  of  ISI'2.  His  advent 
into  the  Xew  World  was  made  in  1803.  at  which  time 
lie  located  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  five  years  later 
took  up  his  abode  in  Licking  County,  Ohio.  He 
later  removed  to  Mary's  Furnace,  where  he  erected 
and  operated  a  foundry,  manufacturing  ten-plate 
stoves  for  a  number  of  years,  and  being  one  of  the 
first  men  to  engage  in  that  line  of  business  in  the 
West.  About  1828.  Mr.  Patterson  came  to  Belle- 
fontaiue  and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business. 
He  carried  on  a  thriving  trade  and  was  one  of  the 
inQuential  and  progressive  citizens  of  the  place, 
lie  occupied  many  of  the  important  positions  which 
were  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow-citizens  to  be- 
stow and  filled  the  ottices  of  Mayor  an<I  Justice  of 
the  Peace.     He  departed  this  life  in  1867. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  a  dry-goods 
merchant,  having  come  to  Bellefontaine  in  1838. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  Rid- 
dle tt  Kennedy  and  possessed  those  tr.aits  of  char- 
acter that  made  of  him  a  desirable  citizen,  a  good 
neighbor,  sincere  friend  and  a  kind  husband.  He 
was  looked  up  to  by  his  fellow-townsmen  as  a  man 
of  strong  sense  and  clear  brain,  whose  judgment 
in  all  matters  pertaining  to  his  line  of  business  was 
tci  be  depended  upon. 

The  parental  family  of  our  subject  included  two 
sons  and  two  daughtei-s,  of  whom  only  one  son  and 
one  daughter  are  living.  Robert  P.  was  reared  in 
Bellefontaine  and  received  his  early  training  in  the 
public  schools.  He  later  completed  his  studies  in 
the  East,  and  on  the  ITtli  of  April.  1861.  enlisted 
in  the  Union  array  becoming  a  member  of  Com- 
pany F,  Twenty-third  Ohio  Infantry.  He  joined 
his  regiment  as  a  private  but  was  soon  after  pro- 
moted to  be  .Second  Lieutenant  and  later  made  a 
Captain  and  Ac'.ing  Adjutant-I  General  on  tlie  staff 
of  (ion.  E.  P.  Scanimon.  He  was  also  with  Maj.- 
(ien.  (ieorge  Crook,  and  Maj.-Gen.  Kenner  I  iirard. 
being  Adjutant-General  of  .Statf.  He  served 
a  pnrtiim  nf  the  time  in  the  Army  of  West  \\v- 
giiiia  and  later  was  sent  tn  join  the  Army  nf  the 
Futiiinac.  acting  as  Adjutaiit-t.ieneral  in  the  Secuufl 
Kanawha  Division,  and  .-ubsequently  a.>  Adjutant- 
General  (if  the  Second  Cavalry  Division.  Army  of 
the  Cumbrrlaiiil.  ( ;en.  Kciinrdy  w.-i>  also  'Sl-.xyif. 
Lioutcnaul-Cul.iurl  and  I   111.  i  ol  llie   Mali    lu    the 


Army  of  West  Virginia  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
with  Maj.-Gen.  George  Crook,  and  later  was  Ad- 
jutant-General on  the  stntf  of  Gen.  Hancock,  com- 
manding the  Middle  Military  Division.  He  after- 
ward commanded  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninetv- 
sixth  Ohio  Regiment,  was  made  Brevet  Brigadier- 
General  and  had  charge  of  the  forts  about  Balti- 
more. Md..  with  headquarters  at    Ft.  Federal  Hill. 

After  the  close  of  hostilities,  (ien.  Kennedy  re- 
turned to  Bellefontaine  and  read  law  with  Hon. 
W.  H.  West,  being  admitted  to  the  Bar  to  practice 
in  1866.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  two 
gentlemen,  the  firm  .assuming  tlie  name  of  West. 
Walker  A-  Kennedy,  and  was  one  of  the  strongest 
legal  firms  in  the  State.  In  1878.  Gen.  Kennedv 
withdrew  from  the  company,  having  been  appointed 
Collector  of  Intera.al  Revenue,  which  po.iition  he 
occupied  until  1883,  when  his  district  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  Toledo  District. 

In  1885,  Gen.  Kennedy  w.as  nominated  and 
elected  Lieuten.ant-Governor  of  Ohio  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the 
Eighth  District,  having  resigned  his  position  as 
Lieuteutant-Goveraor.  He  was  re-elected  to  Con- 
gress in  1888  and  gerrymandered  out  in  1890.  Since 
that  date  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  successful 
pr.acticc  of  his  profession  in  Bellefontaine.  His 
life,  which  has  Ijeen  a  busy  one,  h:is  been  well  and 
worthily  spent  and  by  good  man.agement  he  has 
acquired  a  handsome  property. 

The  lady  to  whom  our  subject  was  married  in 
186'i  bore  the  name  of  Maria  L.  Gardner,  dau2hlei 
of  Gen.  Is,aac  S.  Gardner.  To  them  have  been  born 
three  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  social  matters 
Gen.  Kennedy  is  a  member  of  the  il.asonic  fratern- 
ity, in  which  order  he  has  taken  the  Thirty-second 
Degree.  He  also  stands  high  in  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  politics  is  a  Repub- 
lican. The  General  is  a  man  of  national  reputa- 
tion and  won  friends  all  over  thecountrv.  He  is 
very  active  in  local  affairs  ami  no  man  in  the 
county  i;  more  ready  to  gi\e  ,uli--tanti:il  encour- 
agement to  all  feasible  plans  foi-  pulilie  improve- 
ment than  he.  He  occupies  a  handsome  losidence 
in  the  city,  which  is  finished  and  furnislied  in 
modern  style,  and  with  hi>  excfllrnt  wife  In;  fre- 
quently entertains  the  best  [leoplc    in    iln-    countw 


56t 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL    RFXORD. 


Mrs.  Kennedy  is  :i  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Chm-ch.  in  llie  faith  of  whicli  she  was  reared 
bj-  pious   parents. 


ICIIAKL   .J.  .MOONEY.  an   esteemed  resi- 
dent of  St.  JMary's,  is  prominent   in  busi- 
ly ness    circles   in    Auglaize    and    adjoininff 
/ll  s  ■>  ~^ 

*  counties  as  one   of  tlie  leading  insurance 

men  of  tliis  section.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  Di- 
rector in  the  Jlichigan  Mutual  Life  Lisurance 
Company,  of  Detroit,  and  Manager  for  Ohio,  West 
Virginia  and  Kentuck}-.  Mr.  Mooue}'  was  born  in 
County  Leitrira,  Ireland,  April  14,  1839.  His  fa- 
ther, whose  given  name  was  William,  was  a  native 
of  the  same  county,  where  he  was  reared  as  a 
farmer.  Ambitious  to  better  his  condition,  he 
came  to  America  with  his  family  in  1847.  In  the 
long  and  tedious  voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  which 
consumed  nine  weeks  and  three  days,  he  had  the 
misfortune  to  lose  his  faithful  wife,  who  had 
bravely  turned  her  back  on  her  dear  old  Irish  home 
to  seek  with  her  husband  and  children  a  new  one 
across  the  waters.  Her  name  w.as  .Sarah  O'Rourke 
in  her  maiden  days.  Both  she  and  her  husband 
remained  true  to  the  faith  of  their  fathers,  and  were 
good  Catholic  Christians  all  tlieir  lives. 

After  landing  on  these  shores,  Mr.  Mooney  set- 
tled in  Chautau(iua  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  en- 
g.aged  in  his  occupation  .as  a  farmer.  In  18.31,  he 
came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Fairlield  County, 
whence  he  removed  lo  Allen  County  in  18.Jo.  and 
located  near  Limn.  In  1«.)8,  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence near  St.  ^Mary's,  in  Auglaize  County,  and  a 
few  years  later  retired  from  active  life.a.s  a  farmer, 
making  his  home  the  remaining  twenty  years  of 
his  life  with  his  son  of  whiiui  we  write,  who  sur- 
rounded his  declining  year:<  with  every  cumfort 
that  heart  could  wish,  and  he  p.assed  serenely  aw.ay 
in  1888.  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-two  years. 
He  had  been  a  hard-working  man  in  his  prime,  and 
w.as  respected  for  his  industrious  haliits,  ami  fur 
tlie  sterling  worth  of  his  cliaracter.     Of  the  seven 


children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  he 
was  father,  but  two  survive,  Michael  J.  and  his 
sister,  Jlrs.  Patrick  Sharkey,  whose  'husband  is  a 
farmer  in  this  county. 

Michael  J.  Mooney  gained  his  education  princi- 
pally in  the  public  schools  of  this  country,  although 
he  had  been  to  school  a  short  time  in  Ireland 
before  coming  here  with  his  father  when  he  was  a 
boy  of  eight  years.  He  lived  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  twenty  years  old,  and  then  sold  goods 
in  the  country  for  four  years.  With  that  experi- 
ence, he  became  traveling  salesman  for  a  wholesale 
house,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  six  years,  fur- 
thering the  interests  of  his  employers  while  on  the 
i-oad,  and  gaining  the  reputation  of  being  one  of 
their  best  salesmen.  In  1868,  5Ir.  Mooney  started 
on  his  career  as  an  insurance  man,  securing  an 
agency  from  several  Are  and  life  insurance  com- 
panies, and  in  1869  he  dropped  all  other  interests 
to  devote  himself  exclusively  to  his  chosen  line 
of  business,  becoming  solicitor  for  the  Michigan 
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company.  He  was  soon 
made  district  agent  of  that  companj-,  and  later 
State  agent  for  Ohio,  and  still  later M.anager  of  tlie 
Ohio  and  West  Virginia,  and  since  then  he  h.as 
been  made  Manager  of  the  Ohio,  West  Virginia 
and  Kentucky.  He  is  also  a  Director  and  stock- 
holder in  the  company.  He  is  active  and  wide- 
awake in  the  performance  of  his  business,  which  is 
very  flourishing  under  his  skillful  direction,  .and 
he  has  not  only  materially  enriched  the  companies 
that  he  represents,  but  he  has  acquired  a  neat  com- 
petency himself.  He  has  six  hundred  acres  of  im- 
proved farming  land  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Mary's, 
a  considerable  [lortion  of  which  is  within  the  oil 
lielt.  He  is  pre-eminently  a  self-made  man.  hav- 
ing had  to  shape  his  own  course  in  life,  and  he  has 
made  the  most  of  his  opportunities.  He  is  warm- 
liearted  and  true-souled,  inheriting  the  genial 
tr.nils  (if  lii>  race,  and  has  many  friends.  His 
■^taniling  as  a  business  man  is  satisfactory,  and 
wlierc  hi>  wind  is  once  passed  in  regard  to  any 
traiisarliou.  n(>l)ond  is  needed.  In  former  days  he 
was  active  in  local  politics,  taking  sides  with  the 
He|)ubUcan-.  luit  for  the  past  few  years  has  atiili- 
ateil  with  the  1  )c'mocrats.  but  does  not  meddle  with 
politics  to  any  extent  at  present,  although  he   has 


(y^.-2-i^a-7(2t  (3^1-^0^  ^^-^^IT^ 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


367, 


been  a  delegate  to  county,  district  and  State  con- 
ventions in  past  times.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers in  high  standing  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
are  very  liberal  in  theii-  contributions  to  all  relig- 
ious and  charitable  objects  that  they  deem  worthy 
of  support. 

Mr.  Mooney  was  happily  married  in  1862  to 
Miss  Catherine  Salmon,  a  native  of  JNIaryland,  who 
came  to  Ohio  with  lier  parents.  She  is  a  woman  of 
many  fine  qualities,  and  ably  performs  her  duties 
as  wife  and  mother.  To  her  and  our  subject  have 
l)een  born  ten  children,  of  whom  three  are  de- 
ceased :  Mary  E.,  Luc}'  M.  and  Aggie.  The  others  are 
William  T.,an  attorn ej'-at-law  at  St.  Mary's,  who  is 
now  the  Democratic  nominee  for  Common  Pleas 
.Tudge  of  the  First  Subdivision  of  the  Third  Judi- 
cial District;  Daniel  F.,  a  clerk;  .John  .J.,  Assistant 
Manager  under  his  father;  Michael  .J..  Jr.,  Teller  in 
the  home  bank  at  St.  Mary's;  and  Cliarles  A.,  Mag- 
gie and  Kittie  at  home.  All  have  been  well  edu- 
cated, and  are  graduates  of  St.  Mary's  High  School, 
except  the  youngest. 


\Tn\.E>'^JAMlX  FRIEKOTT.  Many  scientific 
Jl^v.  writers  have  discussed  the  legislation  with 
'(^JjJ,  reference  to  the  liquor  question,  which  is 
^^^^^  annually  changing  and  crowding  the  stat- 
ute books  with  enactments  only  differing  in  the 
degree  of  their  inipracticabilit\-.  It  is  the  opinion 
of  those  writers  who  approach  the  subject  phil- 
osophically and  without  prejudice,  tliat  if  the 
use  of  malt  and  other  light  liquors  w.as  more  in- 
dulged in,  the  abolition  of  the  stronger  varieties 
would  follow  as  a  natural  sequence.  As  a  forcible 
illustration  of  this  conclusion,  they  point  to  the 
Germans,  a  people  among  whom  the  consumption 
of  lager  beer,  to  the  entire  exclusion  of  other  bev- 
erages, is  as  common  as  tea-drinking  in  other 
nations;  yet  there  are  no  steadier,  more  indus- 
trious or  order-loving  citizens  to  l>e  found  tlian 
are  emliraced  in  our  Teutonic  population.  Human- 
ity lia>  always  ilemanded  stimulants,  and.  it  is 
17 


fairly  argued,  those  engaged  in  offering  a  mild, 
wholesome  form,  to  take  the  place  of  fiery  ex- 
hilarants  of  positive  injury,  should  be  encour- 
aged and  regarded  as  public  benef.actoi-s.  One  of 
the  most  important  industries  that  center  in 
Jlinster  is  the  manufacture  of  lager  beer,  emploj'- 
ing,  .as  it  docs,  a  large  amount  of  capital,  and  giv- 
ing employment,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  more 
people  than  is  done  by  any  otlier  one  interest. 
Tlie  leading  establishment  in  this  line  is  the  Star 
Brewing  Company,  whose  efficient  Secretary  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  the  original  of  the  ac- 
companying portrait. 

Mr.  Frierott  is  a  native  of  Minster.  Ohio,  born 
on  the  3d  of  February,  1S5-1.  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  Frierott.  who  was  born  in  Prussia,  in  1820. 
The  elder  Mr.  Frierott  was  a  farm  laborer  in 
his  native  country,  and  remained  there  until  about 
181.5,  when  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  the  United 
States,  whither  his  father  had  emigrated  a  numbej 
of  years  previously,  tlie  latter  intending  that  the 
family  should  follow  when  a  suitalile  hjcation  had 
been  found.  The  father  of  our  subject  h.as  worked 
at  various  occupations  here  and  is  still  livins'.  He 
married  Mrs.  ^lary  A.  G  rotligan,  whose  fii-st  husband 
was  Mr.  Gerwels,  and  Benjamin  was  the  only  child 
born  of  this  union. 

In  his  boyhood,  our  subject  was  a  pupil  in  the 
schools  of  Minster,  and  after  reaching  the  age  of 
thirteen,  he  attended  the  evening  school  for  about 
two  yeai-s,  thus  laying  the  foundation  for  his  sub- 
sequent prosperous  career.  He  assisted  his  father 
in  his  various  occupations  until  fifteen  yeare  of 
age,  and  then  started  out  to  fight  life's  battles  for 
himself,  but  he  has  ever  since  made  his  home  with 
his  father.  He  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Star 
Brewing  Company  on  the  6th  of  November.  1890, 
and  lias  held  the  position  of  Secretary  ever  since. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  1878,  Mr.  Frierott  married 
Miss  Mary  A.  Knapke,  a  native  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship, this  county,  but  of  German  parentarre,  her 
father  dece.ased,  but  her  mother  now  livine.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Frierott: 
Mary  A.,  John  B..  Anton,  Frances  and  Henrv.  Mr. 
Frierott  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and 
w,a.s  a  member  of  the  Council  one  term,  also  a 
meiiilier  of  the  ^^cliool    Board   one  term.     He  am! 


368 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


wife  aie  membei-s  of  the  Catholic  Church.  They 
occupy  a  comfortalilc  l)i-ick  residence  on  Main 
Street  in  Jlinster,  ami  are  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  wliich  enhance  the  pleasures  of  life. 


<«  WASHINGTON  G.  KISHLER,  M.  D.,  of  St. 
\/\j/i     Mary's,  who  has  recently  retired   from  an 

W^'  extensive  and  lucrative  practice  of  more 
than  forty  years'  duration,  has  had  a  wide  exper- 
ience in  his  profession,  in  which  he  lias  always 
maintained  a  high  standing,  and  his  name  is  famil- 
iar in  many  a  household  in  Auglaize  County  as 
the  loved  physician  who  is  honored  by  the  people 
to  whose  ills  he  so  long  and   tenderly   ministered. 

.  The  Doctor  comes  of  the  sterling  pioneer  stock 
of  Ohio,  and  was  born  in  Perry  County  October 
8,  1824.  His  father,  George  Kishler,  was  born  in 
Mifflin  County,  Pa.,  in  1798,  and  was  a  son  of 
Frederick  Kishler,  who  was  a  farmer  of  that  State 
and  w.as  of  Pennsylvania-German  descent.  In 
1810,  the  latter  removed  with  his  f.amily  to  Ohio 
and  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Perry  County, 
where  he  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  nearly  ninety 
years.  He  reared  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  of  whom  are  dead.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  the  second  son  of  the  f.imily.  He  was  reared 
to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  married  and  settled  in  life,  taking  a  Miss 
Goodwin  as  his  wife.  She  died  at  the  birth  of  our 
subject,  and  her  husband  w.as  twice  married  after- 
ward. He  had  nine  children  by  his  third  wife,  of 
whom  eight  are  living.  Three  of  his  sons  fought  no- 
bly for  the  Union  during  the  late  war.  and  his  son 
■William  gave  up  his  life  for  his  country  at  Stone 
River.  He  was  a  brave  and  efficient  soldier,  who  bore 
a  high  reputation  as  a  man,  and  Kishler  Post  No. 
83.  St.  Mary's,  was  named  in  his  honor.  We  m.a}' 
mention  in  this  connection  that  our  subject  w.is 
very  desirous  to  enter  the  army  when  the  war 
broke  out,  but  the  peojile  here  protested  so 
stronglv  tliat  he  gave  up  tlie  idea,  and  did  his  duty 
manfullv  in  the  home  lit-ld. 


After  his  marriage,  the  father  of  our  subject 
became  the  manager  of  a  country  store,  and  sub- 
sequently w.as  placed  in  charge  of  another  store, 
and  was  made  partner  in  the  business.  A  few 
years  later,  he  purchased  the  store,  and  for  thirt\' 
years  was  successfully  engaged  in  carrying  it  on, 
becoming  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  Perry 
County,  where  he  was  well  known.  He  was  prom- 
inent in  its  public  life,  and  in  training  times  was 
M.ajor  of  a  regiment  of  State  militia.  He  was 
Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Jackson  Township,  Perry 
County,  was  Postmaster  many  years,  and  at  one 
time  w.as  County  Commissioner.  He  affiliated 
with  the  Metliodists  in  his  last  d.ays.  In  the  latter 
part  of  his  life,  he  sold  his  farm  and  store,  and 
removed  to  New  Lexington,  where  he  died  at  a 
venerable  .age  in   1880. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  w.as  cared  for  by 
an  aunt  in  early  childhood  until  his  father  married 
a  second  time.  His  educational  advantages  dur- 
ing his  boyhood  were  limited  to  about  three 
months'  attendance  in  a  little  country  school  that 
was  fully  three  miles  from  his  home,  and  was  held 
in  a  typical  log  schoolhouse  of  pioneer  times.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen,  he  was  sent  to  Zanesville,  to 
the  Mclntyre  High  School,  of  which  he  was  a 
pupil  the  ensuing  three  years.  After  his  return 
home,  he  assisted  his  father  in  his  store  two  j'ears, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  to  prepare  him- 
self for  the  profession  which  he  was  ambitious  to 
enter,  by  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Mason,  of 
New  Lexington,  a  prominent  and  widely  known 
physician  at  that  time,  with  whom  he  studied  four 
years.  Lender  the  instruction  of  that  learned  man. 
our  subject  was  well  fitted  for  the  responsibilities 
of  the  life  that  lay  before  him,  when  he  opened  an 
office  at  Kenton,  in  Hardin  County,  and  took  up 
his  calling  in  the  month  of  June,  1845.  The  path 
before  him  was  not  all  strewn  with  roses,  however, 
as  he  w.as  soon  afflicted  with  chills,  a  disease  he 
had  never  encountered  among  the  breezy  hills  of 
his  native  county,  and  he  suffered  from  them  for 
some  months. 

In  1847,  Dr.  Kishler  enlisted  to  take  part  in  the 
Jlexican  War,  joining  the  reorg.anized  .Second 
Oliio  ReyinuMit.  of  which  he  w.as  made  .Steward. 
He  was  suhjuijuently   taken    sick,   and    was    trans- 


PORTRAIT  AMD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


369 


ferred  to  the  general  hospital,  in  which  he  was 
conflned  six  months.  He  was  discharged  and 
ai-rived  home  in  Febniary.  1S48.  and  in  the  month 
of  May,  that  year,  lie  came  to  this  coiint\-,  and  for 
a  year  was  established  at  Wapakoneta.  Coming 
thence  to  St.  !Mary"s,  he  has  made  this  his  home 
ever  since,  and  has  practiced  his  profession  in  this 
and  adjoining  counties  until  his  retirement  in 
March.  1892.  AVhen  he  came  here,  St.  Mary's  was 
a  small  but  lively  vill.age,  being  quite  a  commer- 
cial and  milling  centre  on  the  new  canal,  and  peo- 
ple came  here  from  the  surround;ng  country  for  u 
distance  of  many  miles  to  mill,  and  the  Doctor 
soon  became  widely  known  and  very  popular,  not 
only  on  account  of  his  ple.osanl  social  qualities, 
but  for  his  success  in  contending  with  the  pre- 
vailing diseases,  which  were  principally  chills, 
bilious  and  intermittent  fevers,  etc.  He  visited 
his  patients  on  horseback  for  many  years,  often 
riding  long  distances  over  rough  roads  or  through 
forest  paths,  and  m.any  a  time  he  h.as  seen  deer  and 
other  wild  animals  not  now  found  in  this  part  of 
the  country.  During  his  long  practice  of  forty- 
five  years,  he  has  had  many  varied  experiences, 
and  has  had  to  deal  with  many  strange  and  ditH- 
cult  cases.  The  young  doctor  of  to-day  can  have 
no  idea  what  the  physicians  of  the  past  had  to  go 
through  with  in  pioneer  times. 

Our  subject  has  been  a  member  of  the  North- 
western Ohio  Medical  Society  for  twenty-five 
years,  has  belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  since  1845,  and  to  the  M.asonic  fra- 
ternity since  1848.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat, 
but  not  a  politician,  and  never  would  accept  an 
otfice.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  is  a  Trustee  thereof. 
He  has  been  Pension  Examiner  for  .'^t.  Mary's  and 
Auglaize  County  since  1862.  The  Doctor  has  been 
fortunate  in  his  investments,  and  is  one  of  the 
wealthy  men  of  the  county.  He  has  fourhundred 
and  seventy  acres  of  valuable  land  in  the  county,  all 
within  four  and  one-half  miles  of  St.  Mary's,  and 
three  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  it  are  in  the  oil 
and  gas  region.  There  are  now  seven  wells  on  his 
land  producing  oil,  from  which  he  derives  a  hand- 
some income,  and  he  is  also  inteiested  in  some 
additions  to  St.  Marv's. 


Dr.  Kishler  was  married  in  1852  to  Miss  Louise 
Ham,  who  is  descended  from  an  old  Maryland 
family,  and  was  born  near  H.agerstown,  tliat  State. 
Her  father  died  when  she  was  nine  years  old,  and 
since  she  was  fifteen  she  has  lived  in  Ohio,  spend- 
ing the  first  few  years  of  her  life  here  at  Sidney, 
in  Shelby  County.  Her  wedded  life  has  been 
one  of  felicity,  and  h.as  been  hallowed  to  them 
by  three  children:  AVillis,  who  is  married,  and 
is  Cashier  in  the  Home  Banking  Company  Bank  at 
St.  Mary's;  Harry,  who  is  a  farmer  at  St.  Mary's; 
and  Belle  Blanche,  wife  of  Michael  DoncUy,  also 
of  St.  Marv's. 


(S^5§,H0MAS  HUBBARD,  proprietor  and  editor 
/^\  of  tlio  WeeMy  Examiner,  at  Bellefontaine 
\^  was  born  in  West  Liberty,  Logan  County, 
.Januarv  6,  1826.  His  father,  Orin  Hubbard,  was 
a  man  of  intelligence  and  much  force  of  character, 
pursuing  the  vocation  of  a  carpenter  and  mill- 
wright. 

Our  subject  is  descended  from  an  old  and  re- 
spected Connecticut  family,  which  h.as  given  to 
the  country  several  prominent  men.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  w.as  Margaret  xvewell.  was  a 
native  of  Harrison  County,  Kv.,  and  of  Irish  and 
German  origin,  her  parents  emigrating  from  her 
native  State  to  this  county  in  1816.  Her  brother, 
Samuel  Newell.  w:is  a  prominent  resident  of  this 
State,  and  took  an  .active  interest  in  public  affairs, 
serving  as  Representative  of  Logan  County  in  the 
Ohio  Legislature  for  two  terms. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  inherited  from  his 
parents  a  good  physical  constitution  and  a  vigor- 
ous mind,  which  has  by  study  and  attention  to 
business  life  been  greatly  strengthened.  Durinir 
his  boyhood,  education.al  facilities  were  not  wliat 
are  offered  the  youth  of  to-day.  and  bis  attendance 
was  confined  to  the  common  Mjhools  supported  on 
the  subscription  plan.  He  was  enabled,  however, 
to  lay  tbe  foiiiidati..n   for  subsequent   literary  dis- 


370 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tinction.  and,  wlioii  twelve  years  of  age,  came  to 
Bellefontaiiie  and  entered  the  printing-office  of 
Iliram  B.  Strotlier.  lie  there  learned  to  set  type 
and  manipulate  a  letter  press,  which  line  of  work 
he  abandoned  eighteen  months  later  and  afterward 
learned  and  put  in  practice  for  several  years  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter.  Although  possessing  the 
happy  faculty  of  adjusting  himself  to  circum- 
stances, this  trade  did  not  satisfy  him,  and  when 
reaching  his  m.ajority,  he  preferably  selected  the 
business  of  a  journalist. 

In  1847,  in  company  with  his  brother  William, 
Mr.  Hubbard  of  this  sketch  purchased  the  Logan 
County  Ga:ette,  which  had  been  establislied  as 
early  as  1836  and  continuously  published  as  the 
leading  paper  of  the  county.  From  that  date 
until  1863, -with  the  exception  of  a  few  months, 
the  brothers  conducted  the  paper  with  much  ability, 
and,  as  its  files  will  show,  the  Gazette  as  a  county 
weekly  journal  had  no  superior  in  the  State. 

The  Know-nothing  party  having  obtained  prom- 
inence and  power  in  Logan  County  in  18.54, 
the  Hubbard  brothers  opposed  its  principles  for 
some  time  with  all  their  power  through  their  jour- 
nal, and  at  a  great  pecuniary  loss.  They  event- 
ually sold  their  plant  to  other  parties,  who  changed 
the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Bellefontaine  Repub- 
lican. Six  months  later,  however,  they  again  pur- 
chased the  property,  which  thcj'  published  under 
its  original  title  until  1863,  when  they  sold  their 
business  to  a  gentleman  who  removed  the  paper  to 
Sidney. 

After  selling  out  the  Gazette,  Hubljard  Bros,  pub- 
lished the  daily  and  weekly  Empire  at  Dayton,  this 
State,  for  something  over  a  year,  in  1863-64.  After 
this,  in  1865,  our  subject  returned  to  Bellefontaine 
and  engaged  in  tlie  establishment  of  the  Weekly 
Examiner,  which  he  still  continues  to  publish. 
About  this  time,  William  Hubbard  accepted  a  po- 
sition as  editor  of  a  paper  in  ilarion,  Ohio,  after- 
ward going  to  Bucyrus,  Crawford  County,  in  a 
like  capacity,  and  still  later  to  Napoleon,  Henry 
County,  where  he  w.as  editing  the  Xurlhv:est 
when  bis  death  occurred  in  1872.  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years.  He  was  a  man  of  much  aliility  as  a 
tnlenled  literary  and  [xiliUcal  writer.  As  a  mark 
of  political  favor,  in    1868   Mr.  Thomas    Hubbard 


was  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket  forSecre- 
tarv  of  State,  hnt  although  running  far  ahead  of 
his  ticket,  w.as  defeated. 

In  November,  18ol,  he  of  whom  we  write  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  B.  jMillei-, 
of  Bellefontaine.  and  a  distinguished  officer  in  the 
regular  army.  He  also  participated  in  the  Mexi- 
can War  and  the  late  Civil  War.  jSIr.  and  Mrs. 
Hubbard  have  a  happy  family  of  six  children: 
Edgar  ().,  Horace  IC,  Mary  J.,  Ada  A.,  Thomas  A., 
and  I'rauk  Mc. 

The  columns  of  the  Examiner  .afford  weeklj-  ex- 
amples of  Mr.  Hubbard's  ability  as  a  writer,  and, 
like  his  brother,  he  often  indulges  in  verse  with 
much  success.  A  man  of  strong  convictions,  he 
never  hesitates,  even  when  his  views  are  unpop- 
ular, to  express  them.  He  opposed  the  war  for  the 
union  of  the  States,  not  as  an  upholder  of  seces- 
sion, but  as  an  opponent  of  war  on  general  prin- 
ciples, the  same  being  in  his  opinion  anti-humani- 
tarian. anti-Christian  and  totalh-  unjustifiable.  He 
is  now,  in  connection  with  his  sons  E.  O.  and 
H.  K.  Hubbard,  publishing  a  daily  and  weekly, 
and  has  a  Large  circulation  for  both  papers  through- 
out this  section  of  the  countrv. 


'^¥r 


^^pf  P.  SHOAFF.  As  an  authority  on  all  music 
(QA-'li  and  musical  implements,  Mr.  Shoaff  occu- 
///  (t  pies  a  pre-eminent  position  in  the  county 
!^  of  Shelby,  and  especially  in  the  town  of 
Sidney.  He  handles  all  kinds  of  musical  instru- 
ments, from  the  smallest  to  the  finest  pianos  and 
h.as  a  thorough  knowledge  of  all  instruments.  He 
has  his  quarters  at  No.  840  Main  Avenue,  where 
he  has  been  located  for  the  past  three  years  and 
where  he  h.as  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  trade. 
He  also  handles  sheet  music  and  music  books,  and 
gives  instruction  on  the  violin,  piano  and  organ. 
Mr.  Shoaff  was  bom  in  Allen  County,  Ind., 
twelve  miles  north  of  Fort  Wayne.  His  parents, 
.Icihn  1'.  and  Friscilla  (Freeman)  Shoaff,  moved 
from  Miami  County,  Ohio,  to  Indiana  in  183G,  and 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


371 


the  former  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Allen 
Count}'  and  represented  his  county  for  eight  jears 
in  the  legislative  bod 3'  of  liis  State.  He  was 
originally  from  Mar_vland.  but  when  a  boy  came 
with  his  parents  to  Jliami  County.  Oliio.  lie  re- 
sided on  a  farm  until  just  ))rior  to  his  death,  when 
he  went  to  Chunibusco, 'Whitley  County,  Ind.,  and 
there  p.assed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  in 
1888,  wlion  eiglity-three  j-ears  of  age.  He  left  a 
family  of  five  sons  and  two  daughtei's. 

The  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
on  the  12th  of  August,  1847,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  at  Ft.  "Wayne,  Ind.  He  supplemented 
a  common-school  education  by  a  coui-se  in  the 
Metliodist  Episcopal  College  and  Commercial  Col- 
lege, and  also  acquired  his  musical  education  at 
Ft.  "Wayne.  Having  a  natural  talent  for  music, 
and  being  a  fine  performer  on  musical  instruments, 
he  is  very  proficient  .is  well  as  successful  in  his 
profession.  He  first  engaged  with  C.  L.  Hill,  of 
Ft.  AVayne,  and  w.as  engaged  in  the  music  busi- 
ness witli  him  for  four  years  and  then  went  to 
Churubu^co.  He  has  very  high  testimonials  from 
Lyon  i  llealy,  of  Cliicago,  as  to  his  strictly  hon- 
orable dealings  in  business.  He  also  h.as  a  vei-y 
high  testimon.al  from  his  counts'  seat,  Columbus 
City,  Ind.,  from  the  leading  men  and  county  offi- 
cials as  to  his  honorable  business  career.  He  has 
reason  to  be  proud  of  these,  for  the^-  were  given 
without  liis  solicitation.  He  has  been  eng.aged  in 
business  in  .Sidney  since  1881),  and  his  customers 
arc  among  the  best  class  of  people,  all  having  im- 
plicit confidence  in  him.  He  gives  liis  entire  at- 
tention to  his  business  and  is  classed  among  the 
progressive,  enterprising  and  very  successful  busi- 
l>o^  men  of  the  place. 

lie  w.as  married  on  the  7lh  of  March,  187(3.  to 
Miss  Alice  M.  "Wamsley,  who  was  born  in  Janies- 
'»>«u.  Greene  County,  Ohio.  The  family  consists 
<^f  four  dauglitei-s.  the  eldest.  Anna  JI.  JIarcie, 
l»dia  and  Ethel  .are  all  at  home.  They  are  fine 
«Ui)  accomplished  musicians. and  all  play  the  piano 
and  violin.  Miss  Anna  is  a  graduate  of  tlie  Ft. 
»'  oyno  Conservatory  of  Music  and  is  now  teaching 
a  Uriiv  class  at  Kondallviile.  Ind.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
ShO)\tY  are  %vorthy  members  of  the  Baptist  Clniruh. 
and  the  former  h.as  been  Trustee   of   tlie  same   fur 


some  time.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  all  worthy 
movements,  and  he  and  his  wife  contribute  liber- 
ally to  all  movements  of  a  laudable  nature.  Mr. 
Shoaff  is  a  gentleman  highly  popular  and  respected 
in  business  and  social  circles,  and  has  won  a  host 
of  friends  by  his  upright  and  honorable  dealings. 
Our  subject  handles  notliing  but  the  l>est  musi- 
cal instruments  on  the  market,  and  will  guarantee 
satisfaction,  or  refund  the  money.  "Square  dealing 
and  kind  treatment"  is  his  motto. 


©^^E!^ 


MLLIAM    CONWAY  is  Pastor  of  St.  Pat- 

\\  ,' ,/'     rick's  Church,  of  Bellefontaine.  which  was 


'^^  organized  about  1851.  and  was  presided 
over  at  different  times  by  Fathei-s  Howard,  Maher 
(who  was  transferred  to  St.  Patrick's  Church  of 
Columbus,  Ohio),  Sheehan  and  Grogran.  There 
w.as  but  a  small  congregation  on  the  establishment 
of  the  church  in  the  city,  and  its  first  resident 
pastor  w.as  Father  McSwcency,  who  was  followed 
by  Fathers  Coppinger,  Fitzgerald  (now  Bishop  of 
Little  Rock,  Ark.),  and  Coveny.  The  latter-named 
gentleman  w;is  killed  by  an  insane  man  during  his 
pastor.ate  and  died  >s'ovember  8,  1869.  He  es- 
tablished the  first  Catholic  school  in  this  city,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  teachers  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death. 

The  church,  which  w.as  erected  in  18,")3,  under 
tlie  supervision  of  Father  Sheehan.  was  remodeled 
by  the  Rev.  N.  R.  Young,  who  also  built  a  parson- 
age, in  1870.  He  was  succeeded  in  1876  by  Fatlier 
Dr.  Henry  Moeller,  the  present  Chancellor  of  the 
diocese.  After  him  came  Father  H.  Bourion,  and 
during  his  charge  of  the  work  the  present  building 
was  erected  and  the  interior  of  the  church  w.as  re- 
modeled and  frescoed.  .\  now  cemetery  w.as  also 
purchased  at  that  time,  the  entire  expenditure  be- 
ing *i5.ono. 

Fatlier  H.  Bourion  was  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's 
Cluirch  from  the  3'ear  1877  to  188i»,  when  the 
Rev,  Father  William  C.  Coiiw.ay  took  charge  of 
tlie    ehuroli   and    congrOLratinn.      This    gentleman 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


was  born  in  Highland  County,  this  State,  April  30, 
1856,  and  is  the  son  of  Hugh  and  Margaret  (Halev) 
Conwaj-,  natives  of  County  Tipperary,  Ireland. 
The  father  emigrated  to  this'countr}'  in  18-19,  and 
was  followed  by  Miss  H.aley  in  1852.  They  were 
married  June  3,  1855,  in  Hillsboro,  this  State,  and 
by  their  union  have  been  born  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living. 

Our  subject,  who  is  the  eldest  in  the  parental 
family',  was  reared  in  Highl.and.  Clinton  and  War- 
ren Counties,  his  education  being  acquired  in  the 
common  schools.  "When  fourteen  years  of  age,  he 
entered  St.  Mary's  School  at  Daj'ton,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  1872.  He  next 
entered  St.  Joseph's  College,  where  he  took  a 
classical  course  and  w.os  graduated  in  1881.  Then 
entering  St.  Marj-'s  Seminary  at  Baltimore,  Md., 
our  subject  took  a  theological  course  and  was 
promoted  to  the  priesthood  May  24,  1883. 

The  first  charge  of  Father  Con  w.ay  was  as  Assist- 
ant to  St.  Raphael's  Church  of  Springfield,  this 
State;  afterwards  he  was  Assistant  to  the  Church  of 
the  Assumption  at  Cincinnati.  Thence  he  went 
to  California  and  spent  eighteen  months  in  min- 
isterial duties,  and  on  his  return  had  charge 
of  St.  Edward's  Church,  of  the  Queen  City,  for 
three  months.  He  was  then  given  the  p.astorate 
over  the  scattered  missions  in  Marion,  Hardin  and 
Union  Counties,  this  State,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  until  his  transfer  to  Belief  on  taine,  February 
15.  1889.  He  has  since  had  charge  of  the  denom- 
ination, which  is  one  of  the  leading  churches  in 
the  county.  Father  Conw.ay  is  well  adapted  to 
his  chosen  profession,  being  a  man  of  culture  and 
education,  and  possessing  those  soci.al  qualities 
which  have  gained  him  man_v  friends  throughout 
this  section.  The  congregation  w.as  in  debt  on 
his  coming  here  to  the  amount  of  §1,500  which 
has  been  reduced  to  §500,  owing  to  the  generous 
contributions  of  his  parishioners.  An  excellent 
school  in  connection  with  the  church  is  taught  by 
the  Sisters  of  Mercy  of  Cincinnati  and  is  in  a  most 
flourishing  condition. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  first  Catholic 
settlers  in  Bellefontaine:  Wm.  Kinsella,  M.  Mori- 
arty.  M.  and  E.  Cantwell,  Patrick  Lyman,  John 
and    J.    and    M.  Breman.    John    Curran.    Patrick 


Fogarty,  Paul  White,  W.  Shea,  John  Hern, 
M.  Galivan,  John  Kirby,  James  M.  and  J.  Dono- 
hue,  Thos.  Hynes,  John  Ilanrahan,  Thos.  Carroll, 
Thos.  O'Connors,  M.  and  J.  Sullivan,  T.  and  J. 
Clifford,  Patrick  and  Dennis  Shughrue,  Michael 
Kelly,  R.  and  T.  Hennessey,  Wm.  Lyman,  Jacob 
H.  Day,  Philip  Cotter,  AVm.  Cotter,  Edmond,  John 
and  Nicholas  JIuIvihill,  Jeremiah  O'Connell,  Den- 
nis Ryaii,  John  and  Thos.  McGrath,  W.  I.  Purcell, 
Martin  Burke,  Micliael  Bray  and  brother,  James 
and  Andrew  Kindel.  Michael  Brellahan,  Wm.  F2ng- 
glish,  Timothy  Connor,  Wm.  English  and  John 
Kennelly. 


(P^  AMUEL  WRIGHTS.  The  farming  interests 
^^^  of  Cynthiana  Township,  Shelby  County, 
\\J_lfl  are  well  represented  by  this  gentleman, 
who  is  cl.assed  among  its  most  progressive 
and  wide-awake  farmers.  He  was  born  near  Ox- 
ford, Butler  County,  this  State,  February  15, 
1818,  and  is  the  son  of  Nichol.as  Wrights,  wlio 
was  born  in  Northumberland  Count}-,  Pa. 

The  father  of  our  subject  took  up  his  residence 
in  this  State  .about  1 808.  locating  in  Butler  County, 
where  he  entered  a  quarter-section  of  land.  He 
cleared  a  farm  in  the  wilderness,  erected  thereon  a 
log  house,  and  into  that  rude  dwelling  moved 
his  family.  There  they  made  their  home  for  a 
number  of  years,  when  Mr.  Wrights  sold  out  and 
purch.ased  a  farm  in  Miami  County,  which  was 
his  home  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1866,  when  in  his  eighty-sixth  year.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  had  a  brother 
who  lost  his  life  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He 
was  an  influential  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church,  and  was  one  of  the  very  early  set- 
tlers in  Southwestern  Ohio. 

Grandfather  Wrights  was  also  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  State,  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  At 
one  time,  he  visited  his  son  in  this  State,  making 
the  journey  hither  on  horseback.  The  maiden 
name  of  our  subject's  mother  was  Margaret  Bres- 


PORTRAIT  A>D  BIOGRAPHK'AL    RECORD. 


373 


ler.  Like  her  husband,  she  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  departed  this  life  in  1861,  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 
The  original  of  this  sketch  was  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth  of  the  parental  family  of  ten.  He 
was  born  in  a  log  cabin  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  primitive  school,  which  was  con- 
ducted in  a  log  cabin,  and  for  the  instruction  re- 
ceived during  tliree  months  of  the  year  the  father 
had  to  pay  fifty  cents  for  each  of  his  children.  He 
of  whom  we  write,  when  starting  out  in  life  for 
himself  at  the  age  of  eighteen  j-eai-s,  learned  the 
trade  of  a  tanner.  Two  ycai-s  later,  he  went 
to  Cincinnati,  where  lie  worked  for  three  months 
without  wages,  it  being  his  desire  to  perfect  him- 
self in  his  chosen  vocation.  Returning  home, 
Mr.  Wrights  opened  up  the  first  tanyard  in  the 
county,  which  was  located  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  which  he  operated  successfulh-  for  five  years. 
In  1847,  our  subject  came  to  this  county  and 
entered  land  ou  section  35,  Cythiana  Township, 
wliich  property  was  then  in  a  wild  state.  Having 
erected  a  comfortable  log  house  on  his  place,  he 
was  iiiairied.  in  182.'),  to  -Miss  Esther,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Susannah  (llobbler)  Leighty,  natives 
of  I'ennsylvania.  Tlie  parents  of  ilrs.  AVrights 
came  to  this  State  in  an  early  day  and  made 
their  home  in  Montgomery  County  until  1824, 
at  which  time  they  took  up  their  abode  in  this 
county,  wlieie  the  father  cleared  and  improved  a 
tract  of  land  in  Cyntliiana  Township.  He  departed 
this  life  in  August,  1801,  when  in  his  si.xty-second 
3-ear.  and  w.as  followed  to  tlie  better  land  by  his 
good  wife,  who  died  six  years  later.  They  were 
devoted  members  of  the  German  Reformed  Church 
and  reared  a  family  of  live  children,  only  three 
of  whom  are  living. 

After  his  marriage.  Mr.  Wrights  entered  at  once 
upon  the  work  of  clearing  and  improving  his 
property,  having  brought  to  his  new  home  two 
yoke  of  oxen.  In  1852.  he  erected  a  tannery  and 
w.as  engaged  at  his  trade  for  over  thirty-six  years, 
his  leather  alwnyj  bringing  the  highest  market 
price  because  of  it-  excellent  quality.  AVhen  lo- 
cating in  this  county,  wild  game  of  all  kinds  was 
plentiful,  but  our  subject  found  no  time  for  hunt- 
ing, as  his  luisiness  interests  occupied  liis  time  and 


attention.  He  made  the  rails  and  built  the  fences 
around  his  farm,  being  unable  to  hire  help,  as  his 
means  were  very  limited.  He  has  been  a  resident 
of  his  present  farm  for  nearly  half  a  century, 
and  in  tilling  the  soil  .and  in  raising  stock  he  is 
very  successful,  thus  demonstrating  his  ability  in 
a  line  very  foreign  to  that  wliich  he  adopted  in 
early  life.  His  estate  beai-s  the  usual  improve- 
ments found  upon  good  farms,  and  he  is  interested 
in  all  movements  which  promise  to  increase  the 
prosperity  of  his  community. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  AVriglits  have  been  born  nine 
children,  namely:  Leander,  who  married  Susannah 
Short;  Martin,  who  married  Eliza  J.  Dcavins; 
Theodore,  who  married  Am.anda  Stump;  Margaret, 
the  wife  of  Dr.  .John  F.  Kinue}-;  and  Samuel, 
Robert,  Charles  and  Albert,  all  at  home.  Susan 
is  deceased. 

Mr.  Wrights  is  a  decided  Democrat  in  his  polit- 
ical sentiments,  having  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  in  1840,  and  represented  his  paity  as  a  dele- 
gate to  various  county  conventions.  He  has  been 
Director  in  his  school  district  for  maiiv  vears,  and 
has  served  on  the  jury  frequently.  He  is  found 
among  the  most  zealous  nieinbei-s  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church,  and  contributes  liberallv  of  his 
means  towards  its  support. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  the  proprietor  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-two  .acres  of  land  located  on 
section  35,  which  has  been  brought  to  its  present 
condition  by  liis  own  efforts,  as  he  has  not  only 
made  the  noticeable  improvements,  but,  as  before 
stated,  did  the  clearing  and  fencing.  The  acquisi- 
tion of  this  fine  property  is  a  standing  monument 
to  the  industry  and  good  judgment  of  the  man, 
who  began  his  work  in  the  world  without  means, 
but  now  stands  upon  a  sound  financial  basis.  In 
addition  to  the  property  above  mentioned,  Mr. 
Wrights  owned  another  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
which  he  gave  to  his  sons.  Leander  and  Martin. 

The  father  of  our  subject  when  a  lad,  and  resid- 
ing in  Pennsylvania,  was  one  day  sent  to  the  mill 
on  horseback.  When  ou  the  wav.  he  was  over- 
taken by  a  man  mounted  on  a  white  horse,  who 
proved  to  be  Gen.  Washington.  The  latter  asked 
the  lad  many  boyish  questions  about  what  his  fa- 
ther thouglit  of  the   bad    man    who   liad  louyiit  so 


374 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


many  battles,  and  in  which  so  many  men  were 
killed.  The  lad  replied  that  his  father  thought 
the  man  was  great  and  good.  The  str.anger  then 
told  him  to  tell  his  father  tliat  he  had  met  Gen. 
Washinafton. 


AMUEL  B.  TITUS.  Among  the  worthiest 
of  the  representative  .agriculturists  of 
Logan  Count}',  is  Jlr.  Titus,  who  is  the 
owner  of  two  iiundred  and  twenty-four 
acres,  of  good  land  in  Rush  Creek  Townsliip,  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  acres  where  he  resides, 
and  seventy-one  acres  one  mile  south.  He  is  a 
man  of  sterling  character  and  reputation,  and  is 
universally  respected.  The  greater  part  of  the 
farm  is  under  cultivation  and  bears  evidence  of 
good  management  and  scientific  treatment.  His 
pleasant  home  is  one  mile  northeast  of  Big  Springs, 
and  is  a  cozy  and  attractive  place,  a  view  of  it 
being  shown  on  another  page. 

Mr.  Titus  is  a  native  of  Warren  County,  N.  J., 
born  Kovember  15,  1825,  and  his  father,  John 
Titus,  was  a  native  of  the  same  State.  The  elder  Mr. 
Titus  was  reared  in  his  native  State,  and  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer  there  until  1838,  when 
he  came  direct  to  Logan  County,  Ohio.  Here  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  married  Miss 
Anna  Freem.an,  also  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  fruits 
of  this  union  were  eleven  children, seven  of  whom 
reached  mature  years.  Our  subject's  paternal 
grandfather,  Andrew  Titus,  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersev,  as  was  also  the  maternal  grandfather,  Henry 
Freeman,  both  p.assing  their  entire  days  in  that 
State. 

The  original  of  tliis  notice  was  the  third  child 
in  order  of  birth,  and  the  second  son  born  to  his 
parents.  At  an  early  age,  he  became  f.amiliar  with 
the  duties  of  the  farm,  and  assisted  his  f.ather  in 
his  native  county  until  about  1838,  when  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Oliio.  In  this  State,  he  grew 
to  manhood,  and  received  liis  education  in  the 
district  school.     When  starting  out  to  fight  life's 


battles  for  himself,  it  was  but  natural  that  he 
should  choose  the  occupation  to  which  he  been 
reared,  farming,  and  this  he  has  continued  to  fol- 
low with  substantial  results  all  his  life. 

Miss  Sarah  Rifenbery,  wliom  Sir.  Titus  married 
in  Rush  Creek  Township,  Logan  County,  in  1850, 
was  the  daughter  of  Barny  Rifenbery,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey.  The  young  couple  began  house- 
keeping in  a  log  house,  18x20  feet,  in  Rush  Creek 
Township,  directly  after  marriage,  and  there  re- 
sided until  1867,  when  they  removed  to  the  present 
commodious  and  substantial  home  occupied  b}' 
our  subject.  They  worked  hard  to  improve  their 
place,  making  all  the  improvements  on  it,  and  al- 
though they  started  with  limited  means,  they 
worked  their  w.ay  up  until  they  enjoyed  a  com- 
fortable competency.  Mr.  Titus  had  the  great 
misfortune  to  lose  his  estimable  wife  in  1884.  Slie 
was  the  mother  of  three  sons  and  one  daughter: 
AVilliam,  John,  Henry  and  Carlila  Ann,  the  latter 
dj-ing  at  the  age  of  eight  ycare.  The  sons  are 
married  and  have  families. 

Aside  from  his  agricultural  interests,  Mr.  Titus 
has  been  engaged  in  other  enterprises  and  owned 
an  interest  in  a  large  sawmill  at  Big  Springs  at 
one  time.  Hs  was  also  a  mason  by  trade,  and 
made  manj'  foundations,  besides  doing  other  work 
of  like  character  in  the  country.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  strong  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  has  alwaj's  voted  with  that 
party  since  its  organization.  He  is  one  of  the 
countv's  representative  citizens,  and  is  well  liked 
bv  all. 


f 


ACOB  HESS.  Among  the  prominent  and 
successful  agriculturists  of  Logan  C'ounty> 
we  take  pleasure  in  introducing  to  our 
readers  the  worthy  subject  of  this  sketch, 
one  of  tlie  most  popular  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zens of  Rush  Creek  Township,  who  resides  nearly 
three  miles  east  of  Rushsylvania. 

The  father  of   our  subject.  Phillip  IIcss.  was  a 


RESIDENCE  OF    JACOB    HESS,  RUSH     CREEK  TR,  LOGAN     CO.,  0. 


-i?«S:^#v 


.3..£^^ 


»'  & 


RESIDENCE  OF  5.    B. TITUS:    RUSH     CREEK  TP, LOGAN    CO.,0. 


PORTRAIT  ASST)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


native  of  that  good  old  State,  Virginia,  and  his 
ancestors  were  from  Germany.  He  was  married 
in  Berkeley  County,  Va.,  to  Miss  Nancy  Spencer, 
also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  .ind  in  1835 
they  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Perry  Township, 
where  the  father  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-eight  years.  The  motlier  died  in  that 
township  when  eighty-six  years  old.  A  large 
family  of  children  were  born  to  this  estimable 
couple,  six  daughters  and  six  sons,  all  of  whom 
reached  mature  years,  and  four  are  living  at  the 
present  time. 

.lacob  Hess  was  born  in  Berkeley  County,  Ya.,  in 
the  year  182(3,  and  was  the  youngest  child  in 
the  family.  He  canie  to  the  Buckeye  State 
with  his  parents  in  l.s.'3,j.  and  remained  on  the 
home  place,  assisting  in  the  arduous  duties  of  the 
farm  until  the  age  of  twenty-three  ycai-s.  In 
1849,  he  selected  for  his  life  companion  Miss  Isa- 
bel JlcCrary,  who  was  burn  iu  Perry  Township, 
Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  he  w.as  very  fortunate  in 
his  selection,  for  Mrs.  Hess  was  one  of  the  most  am- 
iable and  pleasant  of  her  se.x.  After  his  marriage, 
our  subject  rented  a  farm  in  Perry  Township,  and 
there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  three 
years.  Later,  he  returned  to  the  parental  roof  .and 
took  care  of  his  parents  for  one  ye.ar,  after  which 
he  located  on  Squire  Bill  Xewman's  farm  in  Rush 
Creek  Township,  and  w.as  actively  engaged  in 
farming  pursuits  therefor  three  years.  Following 
this,  he  bought  a  farm  of  sixty -three  acres  in  the 
woods  of  Rush  Creek  Township,  which  he  immedi- 
ately commenced  to  clear  and  improve.  After 
clearing  about  twenty  .acres,  he  sold  the  place  in 
1864,  and  bought  his  present  farm,  which  com- 
prises one  hundred  acres  of  excellent  land. 

In  1864.  Mr.  Hess  enlisted  in  Company  K. 
Nineteenth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  in  service  un- 
til the  fall  of  18GJ,  when  he  received  his  discharge 
at  Columbus.  He  participated  in  a  number  of 
engagements  and  was  with  Sherman  in  his  famous 
march  through  Georgia  and  North  Carolina.  After 
cessation  of  hostilities,  he  returned  to  his  home 
and  immediately  began  making  improvements  on 
his  fine  farm.  lie  has  worked  hard  but  has  made 
every  dav's  work  count  ami  is  now  one  of  the 
most  tlirifty   ami   progressive    farmers   in  thi^  sec- 


tion. That  he  has  been  successful,  the  reader  will 
judge  for  himself  upon  glancing  at  the  view  of  his 
home  elsewhere  presented.  He  has  excellent  barns 
and  outbuildings,  and  everything  about  his  place 
shows  him  to  be  a  m.an  of  energy  and  ability. 
Although  he  had  very  limited  educational  advan- 
tages in  youth,  he  is  a  man  of  observation  and 
excellent  judgment,  and  is  perhaps  .as  well  posted 
.as  many  men  who  have  had  much  better  opportun- 
ities for  an  education. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hess  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  two  sons  and  six  daughters,  viz:  Emma, 
wife  of  John  Royer;  Sarah,  who  is  at  home  with 
her  father;  Ella,  wife  of  Thomas  Harrim.an,  of 
Perry  Township,  this  county;  Jennie,  wife  of 
Sanford  Rover,  of  this  county;  Lizzie  and  Ilattie, 
wlio  are  at  home;  James  and  David,  both  deceased. 
Our  subject  is  a  gener.al  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
and  what  he  has  accumulated  in  the  w.ay  of  this 
world's  goods  is  the  result  of  hard  work  and  good 
m.an,agement  on  the  part  of  himself  and  his  worthy 
wife.  The  latter  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Rushsylvania,  and  died  on  the  1st  of 
April,  1890.  Mr.  Hess  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat. 
His  daughter  Sarah  has  been  keeping  house  for 
him  since  the  death  of  his  wife. 


;  OHN  HLBER.  Sr.  Ple.asant  Township,  Lo- 
g.an  County,  Ohio,  h.as  been  the  home  of 
^  ,  our  subject  for  sixty  years.  His  birth  oc- 
V^^/'  currcd  in  Rockingham  County,  Va.,  the 
20th  of  Fet)ruary.  1827.  He  is  a  representative 
pioneer  of  tiie  locality,  and  is  a  man  whose  intelli- 
gence and  ability  are  far  above  the  average,  for  he 
has  been  a  great  student  and  reader  all  his  life. 
He  is  also  classed  among  the  most  successful  agri- 
culturists, and  on  all  subjects  pertaining  to  the 
farm  he  is  considered  authoritv 

His  grandfather,  John   Huber,  w.as  a   native  of 
Pennsylvania,  so  far  as  known,  and   was  a  soldier 


378 


i'ORTRAJT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  tlie  Revolutionary  War.  Tlie  latter's  father, 
the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  killed  at 
Quebec,  in  the  French  wars.  He  was  a  native  of 
Germany.  Graudfatlior  Iluber  w.as  a  miller  by 
trade,  but  in  addition  was  also  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Penusylvania  and  A'irginia.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  ^■irginia.  The  father  of  our  subject, 
Emanuel  Huber,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  boi"n  in 
1796,  and  in  connection  with  the  carpenter  trade, 
which  he  learned  in  youth,  he  followed  the  pur- 
suit of  farming.  He  came  to  this  State  in  October, 
1832,  by  wagon,  and  passed  the  first  winter  in 
Union  Township.  In  the  spring  of  1833,  he 
bought  land  in  Pleasant  Township,  Logan  County, 
and  moved  into  a  log  cabin  on  the  same,  that  being 
about  all  the  improvement  made,  and  then  he 
went  actively  to  work  to  make  a  comfortable 
home.  He  married  Miss  Barbara  Sellers,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  born  in  1795,  and  they  bent  all  their 
energies  toward  improving  the  farm.  The  eight 
children  born  of  their  union  were  named  in  the 
order  of  their  births  as  follows:  Mary  A.,  Tiry, 
Arabella,  John,  Silas,  Adaline,  Jacob,  and  Peter, 
wlio  died  in  childhood.  The  father  died  on  the 
29th  of  March,  1852,  when  fifty-six  years  of  age, 
on  the  farm  where  he  had  spent  the  best  years  of 
his  life.  He  w.as  a  hard  worker,  and  although  he 
had  notliing  to  start  with,  by  his  good  manage- 
ment and  excellent  business  tact  he  became  very 
comfortably  off.  lie  traded  a  team  in  part  pay- 
ment for  tlie  present  farm  at  $5  per  acre,  and  thus 
got  his  first  start.  His  wife,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church,  and  of  German  de- 
scent, died  in  1871,  when  seventy-six  years  of  age. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Germany. 

John  Huber.  Sr.,  was  reared  amid  scenes  of  pio- 
neer life,  and  his  educational  facilities  were  not  of 
the  best,  for  he  attended  a  subscription  school  taught 
in  the  log  schoolhouse  of  those  days.  The  "  three 
R's  "  were  the  principal  branches  taught  and  the 
rod  played  an  important  part  in  instilling  knowl- 
edge. Plenty  of  wild  deer  and  turkey  were  to  be 
found,  as  well  as  other  wild  game.  Our  subject's 
time  was  occupied  in  attending  scliool  and  assist- 
ing his  father  in  clearing  the  farm.  He  renuiined 
at  home  until  his  father's  death,  and  then  he  and 
his  Iirother  Tiry   fanned  the   place  f(ji-  some   time. 


Subsequently,  our  subject  bought  out  all  the  other 
heirs,  except  one,  and  is  now  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  He  has  made  most  of  the 
substantial  improvements  on  the  place,  and,  like 
most  of  his  neighbors,  in  connection  with  farming 
is  also  engaged  in  stock-raising.  He  has  a  fair 
frame  house  and  a  large  frame  barn.  He  has  never 
married.  In  politics,  Mr.  Huber  is  a  Democrat  but 
does  not  aspire  to  ottice  of  any  kind.  He  has  seen 
almost  the  entire  growth  of  the  county,  and  has 
aided  materially  in  its  growth  and  advancement. 
He  has  been  wonderfully  successful  in  all  his 
operations,  and  is  classed  among  the  well-to-do 
.and  prominent  men  of  this  section. 


^^' 


/^^  OL.  CHARLES  F.  BULLOCK,  who  was  a 
(|(     p  distinguished    officer    in    the    Confederate 

^Sw/'  army  during  the  late  war,  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Auglaize  County  Bar,  and  as  .Sec- 
retaiy  and  Treasurer  of  the  Mars  Oil  Company, he 
is  also  classed  among  the  leading  business  men  of 
this  section.  The  Colonel  is  a  native  of  Macon, 
Ga.,  born  January  25,  18-il,andisason  of  the  Hon. 
Uriah  I.  Bullock,  a  native  of  Alabama,  who  was  a 
prominent  and  well-known  man  in  the  South  in 
his  time.  His  ancestors  were  from  jS'orth  Caro- 
lina, the  Bullocks  being  a  numerous  family  in  this 
countrv,  who  figured  among  its  early  Colonists. 

The  father  of  our  subject  %vas  pre-eminent  in 
public  and  military  life.  He  served  in  the  Geor- 
gia Legislature  early  in  the  '40s,  but  lived  for 
many  years  prior  to  his  death  in  Panola  County, 
Miss.,  where  he  owned  a  large  plantation  and  kept 
a  large  number  of  slaves.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth, 
and  of  marked  energy  of  character,  and  when 
Texas  seceded  from  Mexico  and  needed  assistance 
to  maintain  her  indeiiendence,  he  raised  and 
equipped,  with  his  own  means,  a  company  of  men 
known  as  the  Bibb  County  Rifles,  for  her  use.  He 
was  chosen  Captain  of  the  company,  and  served 
with  distinction  in  the  war,  and  w.as  twice  severely 
wounded.     He    belonged    to    the   famous   Fannin 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


379 


and  Ward  coruruaud,  and  be  was  the  only  man 
who  escaped  death  at  the  time  of  the  terrible 
Fannin  and  Ward  massacre.  He  was  a  per- 
sonal friend  of  ex-Governor  Rusk,  later  United 
States  Senator  from  Texas.  The  mother  of  our 
subject,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah 
White,  and  was  also  a  native  of  Georgia,  died  in 
1 870.  He  is  the  eldest  of  her  six  children,  of 
whom  four  are  living. 

Col.  Bullock  is  a  gentleman  of  scholarly  tastes 
and  rare  culture,  as  in  his  youtli  he  w.as  given 
every  advantage  to  secure  a  liberal  education,  of 
wliicli  tlic  preliminaries  were  obtained  in  the  com- 
mon sclujols.  He  subsequently  pursued  a  thor- 
ough literary  coui-se  in  the  University  of  Al.a- 
bama  at  Florence,  and  afterward  attended  the 
University  of  Mississippi  at  Oxford,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preparing  himself  for  the  legal  profession. 
His  law  studies  were  interrupted  by  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war.  He  flung  aside  his  books  to  enter 
the  conflict,  fired  with  the  ardor  of  j^outh  and 
the  enthusiastic  devotion  to  the  cause  so  dear  to 
his  heart  that  characterized  the  Southerner,  and 
enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  when  only 
twenty-  years  old.  Although  he  was  so  j'oung, 
through  the  influence  of  those  high  in  authority, 
his  father's  prominence  in  military  circles,  and  his 
c^wn  reputation  :is  a  bright  and  talented  young  fel- 
low, he  olitained  a  commission  as  Lieuteu.ant  of 
the  First  ^Mississippi  Valley  Regiment.  He  re- 
mained with  his  command  in  the  field  for  about 
six  months,  but  contracted  rheumatism  as  the  re- 
sult of  exposure,  and  was  compelled  to  retire  for 
a  while  to  recuperate.  As  soon  as  he  bad  partly 
recovered,  he  was  assigned  to  light  duty  in  the 
conrmissary  department.  But  he  was  anxious  to 
resume  active  service,  and  as  soon  as  his  health 
permitted,  he  joined  Ballentine's  famous  cavalry, 
and  was  made  Sergeant-M.ajor.  He  had  pieviously 
served  on  the  staff  of  <;en.  John  D.  Martin,  and 
was  one  of  his  Aides  in  the  fight  at  luka.  where 
the  gallant  CTeneral  lost  his  life.  Col.  Bullock 
was  .actively  engaged  in  all  tlie  battles  from  Vicks- 
liuigh  to  Demopolis,  Ala.,  and  subsecjuently  had  a 
hand  in  the  famous  l\ittles  in  tlie  campaign  that 
led  from  Resaca  to  .-Vtlantii.  when  Gen.  Sherman 
was  leadiun-    the    Union  forces  to  the  Sea.     When 


Gen.  Stoneman  made  his  famous  raid  through 
Georgia,  our  subject  was  one  of  his  captives,  but 
he  succeeded  in  escaping  the  clutches  of  the  North- 
ern general.  The  following  d.ay,  the  command  to 
which  the  Colonei  belonged  captured  the  veiy  men 
of  .Stoneman 's  troops  wlio  had  taken  him  prisoner 
the  day  before,  and  he  had  the  pleasure  of  return- 
ing their  courteous  hospitality  b}-  treating  them  to 
a  dinner  at  the  house  of  his  grandmother,  as  they 
had  done  by  him  when  he  w.as  in  their  hands.  He 
w;is  promoted  to  be  Adjutant  of  his  regiment,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  gi'eat  struggle  was  paroled  at 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  after  a  long  and  weary  service 
of  four  years  and  two  months,  in  which  he  had 
shown  himself  to  be  a  gallant  leader,  an  efficient 
ollicer,  and  a  brave  and  generous  foe. 

Wlien  his  military  life  was  ended.  Col.  Bullock 
resumed  his  law  studies  at  ilemphis,  Tenn.,  where 
he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1867.  He  prac- 
ticed his  profession  in  that  citj-  until  October,  1875, 
when  he  accepted  the  position  of  P.aymaster  and 
general  Overseer  in  connection  with  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Columbus,  Hocking  Valley  A-  Toledo 
Railw.ay,  between  Upper  Sandusky  and  Toledo,  in 
this  State,  receiving  his  appointment  at  the  hands 
of  John  W.  Rutherford  i  Co.,  who  were  tlie  con- 
tractors. He  subsequently  entered  the  ofHce  of 
(ien.  Orland  Smitli,  at  Columbus,  where  ho  had 
general  supervision  over  the  construction  of  a 
portion  of  the  same  railw.ay  until  its  final  comple- 
tion. 

In  1878,  Col.  Bullock  came  to  St.  Maiy's,  and 
has  since  been  in  active  practice  here,  where  he  has 
gained  a  higli  reputation  for  legal  attainments  and 
for  his  success  in  the  courts.  In  1890,  a  partner- 
ship w.as  formed  between  himself,  James  Knop- 
penderger,  C.  A.  L.ayton,  and  the  Hon.  M.  D.  Shaw, 
which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  Mais 
Oil  Co.,  of  which  the  Colonel  is  Seeretaiy  and 
Treasurer,  and  his  talent  for  business  affairs,  as 
well  .as  his  name  in  connection  with  it.  has  been 
greatly  instrumental  in  pl.acing  the  company  on  a 
S(5und  fin.ancial  b:\sis.  and  making  it  one  of  the 
leading  enterprises  of  the  county.  Our  subject  is 
a  Democrat  of  the  truest  type,  but  his  busy  life 
does  not  permit  him  to  engage  actively  in  politics. 
He  has,  however,  taken  part  in    tlie   public   life  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  city,  and  as  its  Mayor  four  years,  and  as  At- 
torney of  the  corporation  for  a  like  period,  lie 
looked  carefully  .after  municipal  interests,  encour- 
aging all  plans  for  the  advancement  of  the  city  in 
an}'  way.  lie  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternit}-  since  the  \\av.  He  is  also  prominent  in 
religious  matters,  both  he  and  his  wife  being  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  to  his  efforts, 
perhaps,  more  than  to  any  one  else's,  is  due  the 
credit  for  the  erection,  recently,  of  the  beautiful 
little  chapel  .it  St.  Mary's,  in  which  the  Episco- 
palians now  worship.  He  subscribed  liberalh',  and 
spent  much  time  in  soliciting  funds  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  edifice. 

In  April,  1871,  the  marriage  of  our  subject  with 
Miss  Xaucy  Wheatley,  a  native  of  ^Vhite  Post, 
Clarke  County,  V.a.,  was  solemnized.  She  died  of 
yellow  fever  at  Memphis,  in  1877.  Two  children 
were  born  of  that  marriage:  Betty  V., and  Garland, 
the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased.  April  19,  1882, 
the  Colonel  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  X.  Bald- 
win, a  native  of  i\[t.  Vernon,  Knox  County,  Ohio. 


Sf^.EX.lAMIX  LIXZEE.  .Judge  of  the  Probate 
liyC  Court  of  Auglaize  County,  w.as  born  in 
||5i|V  Athens,  this  Slate.  September  24,  1828.  He 
^^^  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Electa  (Reynolds) 
Linzce,  natives  respectivelv  of  Virginia  and  New 
York  State.  His  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Linzee,  who  w.as  born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  emi- 
grated to  this  country  as  earh-  as  1769,  at  which 
time  he  located  in  Virginia.  He  came  to  this 
countr\-  on  the  same  vessel  as  did  Col.  Crawford, 
the  latter  of  whom  located  in  Pennsylvania. 

AViUiam  Linzee  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  an<l 
had  but  one  brother.  The  father  of  our  subject  came 
to  this  State  in  1792,  and  put  on  the  first  shingled 
roof  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  the  work  being  done 
for  Col.  Putnam  at  Marietta.  He  also  constructed 
the  first  macadamized  idad  in  the  State,  which  w.as 
completed  in  1818  and  led  from  Athens  to  Mar- 
ietta.    At  the    time   of   aceei)tiii^'  the  contract  for 


this  work,  he  was  onl}'  eighteen  j'eais  of  age  but  a 
first-class  carpenter.  \ 

Robert  Linzee,  on  removing  to  Hocking  Valley,  ' 

cleared  up  a  farm  in  that  section,  where  he  resided 
until  October,  1831,  which  was  the  date  of  his  re- 
moval with    his    family    to   St.    Mary's,  Auglaize  i 
County.     Here  he  located  on  the  north  side  of  tlie  l 
Reservoir,  where  he  was  residing  at  the  time  of  his  ' 
decease,  which   occurred   .January   31,   1851.     His 
wife,  who  had  borne  him    five   children,  preceded 
him  to  the  better  land  by  a  number  of  years,  hav- 
ing died  in  February,  1832. 

Judge  Benjamin  Linzee  is  the  eldest  of  the  three 
surviving  children  of  the  parental  familj-,  his 
brother  and  sister  being  Andrew  J.,  and  Ruth, 
Mrs.  Dr.  Riley.  He  w.as  a  lad  of  nine  years  when 
he  was  brought  to  this  county,  and  was  reared  to 
manhood  b}'  his  father,  his  mother  having  died 
when  he  was  quite  young.  He  carried  on  his 
primary  studies  in  the  best  schools  which  that  d.a}- 
afiforded,  supplementing  the  knowledge  gained 
therein,  however,  by  a  course  in  a  select  school  at 
Piqu.a. 

He  of  whom  we  write  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm,  which  he  aided  in  clearing  .and  plac- 
ing under  excellent  tillage.  When  reaching  his 
majority,  he  left  the  parental  roof,  and  when 
twenty-three  years  of  age  was  elected  to  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  Treasurer  of  Mercer  County, 
the  duties  of  which  office  he  performed  most 
acceptably  for  nine  years.  Coming  to  Wapakoneta 
in  1867,  Mr.  Linzee  embarked  in  the  hardware 
business,  which  branch  of  mercantile  trade  he  fol- 
lowed for  three  successive  years.  Then  determin- 
ing to  make  the  profession  of  law  his  calling  in 
life,  he  read  law  under  the  most  eminent  jurists  of 
the  place  and  in  1882  w.as  admitted  to  the  Bar. 
He  practiced  his  profession  successfully  until  1888, 
when  he  w.as  elected  to  his  present  office,  which 
position  he  has  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  sat- 
isfaction to  the  public.  Judge  Linzee  is  one  of 
the  oldest  citizens  in  the  county  and  is  well  and 
favorably  known  throughout  its  bouiidar}'. 

In  1851,  Frances  Timmonds,  who  was  born 
August  4,  1834,  became  the  wife  of  our  subject. 
and  by  their  union  have  been  born  two  children, 
onlv  one  of  whom  is  living,  Catherine,  the  wife  of 


if^>^^^-^ 


rORTR^UT  AND  BIOGRAPillCAL  RECORD. 


3S3 


Dr.  Hall,  of  Kenton.  In  social  matters,  the  Judge 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  being  a  man  of  strong  con- 
victions, does  not  hesitate  to  express  them  freely 
and  frankl\'  with  all  the  vigor  he  can  command. 
The  usual  amount  of  praise  and  fault-finding  has 
been  measured  out  to  him  as  Judge,  but  his  char- 
acter as  a  man  of  honor,  integrity,  and  public- 
spirit  has  never  been  questioned. 


YMAX  >".  .^lEAX.'^.  Lives  of  self-m.ade 
men  usually  contain  incidents  of  interest 
to  those  ivho  study  the  nps  and  downs  of 
existence,  and  without  doubt  this  brief  sketch  of 
the  life  of  Jlr.  Means  will  be  read  by  many  to 
whom  it  will  furnish  an  example  for  emulation,  no 
less  than  admiration.  He  is.  perhaps,  the  most  ex- 
tensive land-owner  in  Auglaize  County,  where 
his  entire  life  h.as  been  passed,  and  where  he  is 
well  known  as  one  of  the  most  successful  business 
men  of  Wapakoneta.  In  former  years,  he  bought 
and  shipped  stock,  but  now  devotes  his  time 
principally  to  farming  pui-suits.  also  operating 
as  a  grain  dealer.  The  attention  of  the  reader  is 
invited  to  his  portrait  on  the  opposite  page,  and 
the  following  facts  in  regard  to  his  personal  his- 
tory: 

A  native  of  the  county  where  he  now  resides, 
our  subject  was  born  July  17,  18-10.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  Virginian,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  the  Old  Dominion.  Robert  L.  G.  and 
Sallie  "\V.  (Xorth)  Cleans  were  born  in  Ohio  and 
Connecticut,  respectively,  and  the  former  resided 
principally  in  Virginia  until  he  reached  the  age 
of  thirteen  years,  when  he  returned  to  his  native 
State  and  made  his  home  in  isewark  with  an 
uncle.  At  the  end  i>f  five  years,  he  went  to  Cham- 
paign County,  was  there  married  and  removed 
thence,  in  the  year  18:1.").  to  Auglaize  County. 
At  that  time,  tlie  country  was  covered  with 
a  dcn-e  fr)re^t.  the  liulians  still  inhaliited  the 
reifiou.  and    the    wond-   niiitaiueil    numerous  wild 


animals.  Robert  Means  settled  on  a  woodland 
farm  in  what  is  now  Goshen  Township,  and 
with  the  energy  which  characterized  the  lives 
of  so  many  of  the  early  pioneers — 

'•He  cut,  he  logged,  he  cleared  his  lot. 
And  into  raanv   a  dismal    spot   he   let  the  litrht  of 
day." 

His  nearest  neighbor  was  fcjur  miles  distant, 
and  the  nearest  flouring-mill  was  at  Springfield, 
a  journey  to  and  from  which  place  occupied  five 
days.  The  farm  which  he  improved  is  now  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  county  and  everything  about 
it  indicates  that  a  man  of  thrift,  energv  and  en- 
lightened views  h.as  had  control  of  affairs.  Of  a 
family  of  ten  cliildren  born  of  his  marriage,  four 
are  living,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
the  eldest.  After  a  career  of  usefulness,  the  father 
w.as  called  from  life  in  September,  1885. 

L.  N.  :Mcans  grew  up  to  a  sturdy  manhood 
upon  terms  of  familiarity  with  all  kinds  of  farm 
labor.  In  his  boyhood,  he  attended  such  schools 
.as  that  day  afforded,  the  rudiments  of  his  educa- 
tion being  obtained  in  a  little  log  cabin  one  and 
one-half  miles  from  his  home,  but  he  w.as  not  per- 
mitted by  the  exigencies  of  his  condition  to  get 
beyond  this  in  his  acquisition  of  knowledge.  On 
the  1st  of  September.  1861.  he  enlisted  in  the 
service  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  1).  Fifty-fourth  Ohio  In- 
fantry, and  serving  until  July  17.  18i32.  when  he 
was  discharged  on  .account  of  a  wound  which  he 
had  received  at  the  battle  of  Sliiloh.  He  returned 
home,  and  after  convalescence,  re-enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  Forty-fifth  Ohio  Infantry,  the  fortunes 
of  which  he  followed  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  the  battle  of  Rockford,  near  Knoxville,  Tenn., 
he  received  a  second  wound,  a  gun-shot  penetrat- 
ing his  right  lung.  He  received  two  other  wounds, 
but  not  of  a  serious  nature.  He  was  commissioned 
Lieutenant,  but  w.as  not  mustered  in.  on  account 
of  the  reduction  of  the  company.  His  career  as  a 
soldier  was  marked  by  strict  adherence  to  duty, 
and  no  braver  soldier  ever  trod  the  crimson  turf 
of  a  battlefield  than  L.  X.  Means. 

■\Vhen  peace  w.os  declared.  ^Ir.  Means  returned 
home  and    farmed    for    one   year,  after   which    he 


38-1 


PORTR..UT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


married  and  moved  to  TVapakoneta,  where  for  fif- 
teen years  his  attention  was  given  to  buying  and 
shipping  stock.  That  occupation  still  receives 
some  of  his  attention,  although  the  most  of  his 
time  is  given  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Through 
his  own  perseverance  and  energy,  he  has  become 
the  owner  of  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Auglaize  Count}'  and  seventeen  hundred  acres 
outside  its  borders.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  both 
the  Artificial  and  Natural  Gas  Companies,  is  a 
Director  and  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
Bank,  besides  being  a  stockholder  in  several  other 
concerns.  He  is  n  member  of  the  Girand  ArmJ-  of 
the  Republic,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Knights  of 
Honor  and   the  Royal  Arcanum. 

In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Means  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Edmiston.  by  whom  he 
has  six  children:  Robert  C,  an  attorney  of  the 
State  of  "Washington;  Guy  D.,  a  medical  student 
of  Cincinnati;  Mamie,  wife  of  Dr.  G.  B.  Nichols; 
Carl,  Edna  and  Harry  L.  Mrs.  Jleans  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


•i-^m-r 


=^^ 


I^AVIDFUSON,  a  prominent  young  farmer 
Jll  and  a  member  of  an  old  family  of  this  section, 

lU^  first  saw  the  light  in  Washington  Township, 
Logan  County,  Ohio,  February  20,  1854.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Isa'iah  Fuson,  was  an 
Englishman  and  came  to  this  country  about  the 
time  of  the  War  of  1812.  He  settled  in  Cham- 
paign County,  Ohio,  in  the  woods,  improved  a 
fine  farm,  and  there  died  when  sixty-five  years  of 
age.  He  was  twice  married,  and  reared  eight 
children  b_v  the  first,  and  three  by  the  last  union. 
Tlie  father  of  our  subject,  Gleorge  Fuson,  was 
born  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  in  1818,  and 
there  reached  mature  years,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  pioneer  schools  there.  In  18.38,  his 
marriage  took  place  in  tliat  county  and  lie  subse- 
quently purchased  eighty  acres,  im  which  was  a 
loc    house.     A    few    acres   were   clcareil   and    Mr. 


Fuson  went  to  work  to  make  improvements  on 
what  remained.  He  soon  became  the  owner  of  a 
fine  farm,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  February 
8,  1887,  he  was  surrounded  by  all  that  makes  life 
pleasant  and  enjoyable.  He  had  been  a  hard 
worker  all  his  life,  and  was  self-educated,  and 
a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and 
good  sense.  He  was  administrator  for  a  number 
of  estates,  was  Trustee  of  the  township  for  seven- 
teen years,  and  was  a  man  well  known  and  well 
liked  by  all.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Republican.  A 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  he  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  that  church  in  this  section,  and 
was  an  active  worker  in  the  same  in  its  beginning. 
He  married  Miss  Virginia  Slagel,  a  native  of  the 
Old  Dominion,  born  in  1828,  and  Ihej'  were  the 
parents  of  twelve  children,  seven  of  whom  they 
reared:  Martha,  now  Mrs.  W.  M.  Swonger;  James 
M.  (deceased);  David;  Nancy,  now  Mrs.  Samuel 
Hanks;  Emma,  now  Mre.  Isaiah  Huber;  Ada  F., 
'Mts.  F..  p.  Hanks,  now  deceased,  and  Minnie,  now 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Corfman.  The  mother  is  still  living 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church.  Her 
father,  David  .Slagcl,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1803, 
and  the  grandfather  was  also  a  native  of  that 
State.  The  father  moved  to  Ohio,  settled  in 
Champaign  County,  and  developed  a  farm  there. 
He  was  a  great  deer  hunter  and  an  extra  good 
shot.  He  died  October  1,  1891,  and  was  of  Ger- 
man descent. 

David  Fuson,  like  the  average  farmer  boy,  di- 
vided his  time  in  youth  between  assisting  on  the 
farm  and  in  attending  the  district  school,  where 
he  received  a  good  practical  education.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age,  he  began  farming  for  him- 
self on  the  home  place,  on  shares,  and  on  the 
18th  of  Jlarch,  1874,  he  married  !MissMary  Hamer, 
a  native  of  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  born  Octo- 
ber G,  1855.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union:  Ora  May,  Otha  F.,  David,  Homer,  James 
and  Edna.  Mr.  Fuson  now  has  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  nearly  all  of  which  has  been  im- 
proved, and  he  is  engaged  in  mixed  farming,  rais- 
ing a  great  many  horses,  cattle  and  hogs.  He  built 
his  present  fine  residence  in  1873,  and  his  large 
and  commodious  barn  two  3'ears  later.  Although 
voung  in  years,  he  is  old  in  experience,  and  is  one 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


385 


of  the  prominent  young  farmers  of  this  section. 
He  has  made  most  of  tlie  improvements  on  his 
place,  and  has  it  well  drained  with  tiling,  .and  by 
hard  work  and  good  management  is  making  a 
snceesi  of  agricultuial  ]iursuits.  lie  is  adminis- 
trator to  several  estates,  and  is  guardian  for  one 
family.  He  and  Mrs.  Fiison  arc  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church,  and  he  afliliatcs  witli  the 
Republican  party  in  politics,  lie  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Agriculture  of  tlie  county,  and 
socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pytliias. 
at  De  Graff. 


m^m-^^mmm^ 


\1l^  ox.  HEZKKTAH  S.  AILES.  Mayor  of  the 
[  J  citv  of  Sidney,  and  also  Justice  of  the 
lky(y'  Peace,  w.as  born  in  Harrison  Countv,  near 
((^  Clarksburgh.  AT.  Va.,  M.ay  19.  1840.  He  is 
the  son  of  Moses  H.  and  Mary  Ann  (Hoffman) 
Ailes,  natives  of  New  .lersey  and  Pennsylvania, 
respectively.  The  father  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  anrl  in  the  fall  of  1842  moved  his  family  to 
this  county,  locating  in  Franklin  Townsliip.  where, 
in  connection  with  carrying  on  his  trade,  he  owned 
and  operated  a  farm. 

Our  subject  was  one  in  a  family  of  fifteen  chil- 
dren, only  five  of  whom  grew  to  mature  \ears, 
namely:  Hoffman  M..  Eli  "\'..  .-Mfred.  Hannali  M. 
and  our  subject,  the  latter  of  wlmm  is  tlie  only  one 
surviving.  The  father  continued  to  reside  on  the 
old  homestead  until  his  decease,  which  occurred 
October  15,  1854,  in  his  sixty-second  year.  He 
w.as  born  in  Xew  .Jersey,  and  w.as  orphaned  by  the 
death  of  his  father  when  six  years  old. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject.  AVilliam  Under- 
wood Ailes,  in  company  with  two  brothers,  emi- 
grated to  this  country  from  Wales  prior  to  the 
Revolutionar\'  War.  They  operated  a  tannery  on 
Long  Island,  whore  the  city  of  Brooklvn  non- 
stands,  and  after  its  destiuctiou  by  the  Britisti.  tlie 
grandfather  moved  to  New  Jer-ey.  There  the 
father  of  our  subject  was  lioni  in  17',i'2,  and  on 
reachine  mature   vcar?   wa>  married  to  Mijs  Marv 


Ann  Hoffman,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1799.  Moses  Ailes  w.as  a  patriot  in  the  War  of 
1812.  and  on  the  close  of  the  war  returned  to 
his  family  in  West  Virginia.  With  his  wife,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Seventh-day  Baptist  Church, 
and  w.as  greatly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  spent  his  lioyhood 
days  on  the  old  farm  and  conducted  his  primarv 
studies  in  tlie  common  schools.  He  later  took  a 
course  at  Port  .Jefferson  .and  subsequentlv  in  the 
Sidney  High  School,  during  which  time  he  taught 
school  in  the  summer  and  prosecuted  his  studies 
in  the  winter  for  three  years.  He  was  engaged  in 
teaching,  however,  two  yeai-s  after  having  finished 
his  education. 

In  August,  18152.  Mr.  .\iles  of  this  sketch  bo- 
came  a  member  of  the  Union  army,  and  enlisted 
in  Comp.any  I.  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth 
Ohio  Infantry,  which  was  commanded  by  Gov. 
Young.  With  his  regiment,  he  joined  the  Armv 
of  the  Ohio  under  Burnside,  and  with  it  went  over 
the  Cumberland  ^Mountains  into  East  Tennessee 
and  formed  a  part  of  Sherman's  army.  They 
operated  in  that  section  until  the  spring  of  1864, 
when  they  joined  Sherman's  main  army  at  Red 
Cl.ay,  Ga..  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  Cam- 
paign. He  also  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Rock}'- 
Faced  Ridge  and  Rcsaca.  in  wliich  latter  strugtrle 
he  w.as  wounded  .May  14,  1864,  and  was  sent  to 
the  field  hospital  at  Chattanooga.  From  there  he 
went  to  Louisville,  thence  to  Camp  Denison,  and 
in  November  of  tliat  year  rejoined  his  regiment 
and  took  part  in  all  the  engagements  wliich  it 
foiiglit.  including  Duck  River,  Franklin  and  Nash- 
ville. After  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Hood.  3Ir.  Ailes 
was  transferred  with  his  regiment  to  North  Caro- 
lina and  rejoined  Sherman's  army  at  Goldsboro. 
that  State.  The  Twenty-third  Army  Corps,  of 
.which  he  was  a  member,  w.as  later  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Schofield.  and  fought  at  Ft.  Ander- 
son. Wilmington.  Goldsboro  and  Raleigh  and  wit- 
nessed the  surrender  of  Gen.  .Johnston. 

AVith  his  regiment,  oursubjeet  was  mustered  out 
at  Salisbury.  N.  C.  on  the  24th  of  .June,  and  start- 
ing home  that  same  day.  was  lioiioralUy  discharged 
at  Cleveland,  .July  9.  iMl.".,  having  .-erved  his 
country    faithfully    and  well  for  three  years,  lack- 


58G 


PORTRAIT  A^T)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ing  a  few  days.  "When  mustered  out,  Mr.  Ailes 
was  Sergeant-Major  of  his  regiment  and  assisted 
Col.  Sowers  in  making  out  his  reports  prior  to  dis- 
banding. On  returning  to  private  life,  he  again 
began  teaching,  and  continued  so  employed  until 
November,  1875.  when  lie  was  appointed  Deputy 
Auditor  of  Shelby  County  and  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity for  Ave  years.  In  the  fall  of  1880,  he  was 
elected  County  Auditor,  and  so  faithfully  did  be 
perform  the  duties  of  that  office  that  he  was  re- 
elected to  the  same  position  in  the  fall  of  1883, 
and  was  the  incumbent  of  the  Auditor's  chair  un- 
til September  1887,  making  .an  honorable  record  of 
lifteen  years  as  Deputy  and  County  Auditor.  Oar 
subject  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  in  the  spring 
of  1890,  and  was  also  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  April,  1890.  On  his  return  from  the  army 
he  served  his  fellow-townsmen  four  years  as 
Clerk  of  Jackson  Township,  having  had  three  re- 
elections  without  opposition.  In  social,  matters, 
he  is  a  member  of  Temperance  Lodge  No.  73,  A.  F. 
i  A.  M.,  and  Sidney  Clnpter  No.  130,  R.  A.M.  He 
is  also  connected  with  Sidney  Commandery  No. 
46,  K.  T.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  is  prominently  identified  with 
the  Union  Veterans'  Union. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  Ailes  was  married  Oc- 
tober 11.  1866,  was  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Jane  (Dill)  Elliott.  To  them  h.as  been 
granted  a  family  of  ten  cliildren,  two  of  whom  are 
deceased,  Sidney  I.  and  Harry  S.  Those  living 
are:  Milton  E.,  Eva  V.,  Ada  E.,  Lulu  M.,  Eugene 
E.,  Olive  v..  Charles  C.  and  Adrian  S.  The  eld- 
est son  is  a  graduate  of  the  Sidney  High  School 
and  also  of  the  National  University  Law  School 
of  Washington,  D.  C,  being  admitted  to  the  Bar 
by  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  district.  He  is  also 
a  prominent  Mason,  having  taken  the  Scottish 
rites  and  consistory  degrees.  He  is  at  the  present 
time  engaged  in  the  Treasury  Department  at 
Washington,  having  worked  up  from  the  position 
of  messenger  boy  to  the  Law  Clerkship.  Milton  E. 
was  married  in  1891  to  Miss  Mary  Gowans,  of 
Washington. 

The  family  of  our  subject  attends  the  Jlethod- 
ist  Episcopal  Church  in  this  city,  and  their  intelli- 
"cuce   and    line  social   qualities    make  tliem  much 


sought  after.  The  Hon.  Mr.  Ailes  is  a  man  of 
pleasant  manners,  and  his  social  powers,  together 
with  his  excellent  character,  win  for  him  the  re- 
spect and  friendship  of  those  who  make  his  ac- 
quaintance. 


p^i  OBERT  B.  GORDON,  Jr.  One  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  among  the  residents  of 
Auglaize  County  is  the  gentleman  above 
\^^  named,  who  occupies  the  responsible  po- 
sition of  Auditor  of  the  county.  He  is  a  man  of 
enterprising  spirit  and  sound  judgment,  and  his 
character  and  ways  are  such  as  to  win  friends 
wherever  he  goes. 

A  native  of  this  county,  our  subject  was  born 
near  St.  Mary's,  August  6,  1855,  to  Robert  B.  and 
Catherine  (Barrington)  Gordon,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  respectively.  The 
parents  emigrated  to  this  State  in  an  earlj'  day  and 
located  at  Piqua,  Miami  County,  Ohio,  and  were 
ranked  among  its  best  citizens.  Our  subject  was 
given  an  excellent  education,  supplementing  the 
knowledge  gained  in  the  common  schools  by  at- 
tendance at  the  St.  Mary's  and  Union  Schools,  from 
which  latter  he  w.as  graduated  in  1872.  He  pos- 
sesses an  observing  eye  and  a  retentive  memory, 
and  has  thus  added  materially  to  his  knowledge 
acquired  from  text  books. 

After  coin[ileting  his  education.  ^Ir.  Gordon  of 
this  sketch  began  work  in  his  father's  flouring 
mill  and  continued  so  employed  until  1886,  when 
he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  St.  Mary's,  under 
President  Cleveland,  and  was  tiie  incumbent  of 
that  office  until  the  incoming  of  tlie  Republican 
parly.  In  1SS9,  he  was  elected  to  his  present 
office  as  County  Auditor  by  a  large  majority,  and 
is  fulfilling  the  duties  of  the  position  in  a  most 
creditable  and  satisfactory  manner. 

Mr.  Gordon,  in  whatever  capacity-  he  may  be 
found,  brings  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  ac- 
compauyiug    it    a    steadf.ast    integrit3-    and    good 


^^pArruL/    ^j.£&rv. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


jiidgmenl  that  have  endeared  him  to  all  with 
whom  he  is  thrown  into  contact.  In  social  matters, 
he  occupies  a  prominent  position  in  tlie  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  all  things  is 
willing  to  add  to  the  best  interests  of  the  town  and 
county. 


:^?^^ 


]|'  AMES  BRADEN,  one  of  the  oldest  living 
residents  of  Logan  County,  and  one  of  it5 
most  prosjierous  farmers,  deserves  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  history  of  this  county, 
not  only  on  account  of  his  pioneer  record,  but 
because  he  has  been  usefully  and  honorably  iden- 
tified with  her  growth  and  prosperity  in  every 
particular.  He  w.as  born  in  Union  Township, 
tliis  county,  on  the  1st  of  .Tuly,  1822,' and  now 
owns  a  large  and  finely  improved  farm  on  section 
29,  Harrison  Township.  His  grandfather,  Samuel 
Braden,  was  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle  and  came 
to  America  when  a  young  man,  settling  on  the 
Licking  River,  in  Harrison  County,  Kv.,  where  he 
oiierated  a  store  for  some  time.  He  was  married 
tlierc,  and  reared  four  children,  a  son  and  three 
daughters.  His  wife  died  in  that  State  and 
about  1810.  he  and  his  brother-in-law,  whose  name 
w.as  Xewell,  went  to  Ohio  to  buy  some  stock. 
They  separated,  each  taking  a  different  route  and 
.agreeing  to  meet  at  a  certain  point.  This  w.as  the 
last  ever  seen  or  heard  of  the  grandfatlier.  and  it 
is  supposed  that  he  w.as  killed  by  the  Indians  or 
waylaid  by  highw.aymen. 

Robert  Braden,  father  of  our  sul)jpct,  was  said 
to  have  been  born  in  a  block-house  wliere  his  par- 
ents had  taken  refuge  from  the  Indians.  After 
the  loss  of  both  parents,  he  was  reared  by  his 
grandfatlier  Newell,  and  in  1817  came  to  Logan 
County  with  his  uncle,  Hugh  Xewell.  the  journey 
from  Kentucky  being  made  by  w.agon.  After 
working  out  for  some  time,  he  accumulated  suffi- 
cient means  to  invest  in  land  and  purchased  a 
tr.act  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  sei'tion  .'),  Union 
T'lwn.-hip.  now  owned  by  the  chiMreii.  Tliere  he 
IS 


made  his  home  in  a  round-log  cabin  in  the  woods 
and  at  once  began  developing  and  improving  his 
place  in  every  way.  He  was  industrious  and  am- 
bitious, and  although  he  labored  under  many  dis- 
advantages, by  good  management  he  achieved 
considerable  success.  He  was  fifty-six  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  politics,  he  was  a 
Whig.  He  married  Miss  Lucinda  McNay,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  born  in  1801,  and  eleven  children  blessed 
their  home,  ten  of  whom  attained  maturity,  viz: 
James,  .Jane.  Mary  A.,  Samuel,  Robert,  John,  Lu- 
cinda, Cynthia,  Elizabeth, and  Henry  Clay.  The 
mother  deserved  much  credit  for  her  pluck  and 
fortitude  in  struggling  through  the  adversities  of 
pioneer  life,  and  was  a  lady  whose  many  estimable 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart  endeared  her  to  all. 
She  died  when  about  seventy  years  of  age,  and 
lies  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband  in  Philadel- 
phia church  cemetery. 

James  Braden  grew  to  manhood  in  Loo-an 
County  and  had  the  thorough  practical  drill  in 
farm  labors  which  was  the  portion  of  the  pioneer 
boys.  He  helped  to  fell  the  trees  and  put  the 
land  in  condition  for  cultivation  and  has  aided  in 
bringing  it  to  its  present  prolific  condition.  The 
log  schoolhouse,  with  all  its  rude  furniture,  fur- 
nished his  early  education,  and  he  well  remembers 
the  yawning  fireplace,  the  uncouth  seats  and 
the  greased  paper  used  for  window  lights.  He  also 
remembers  the  board  laid  on  pegs  driven  into  the 
wall,  on  which  the  children  rested  their  copj-  books 
while  standing  up  to  write.  Bellefontaine  had 
but  few  inhabitants  at  that  time,  and  brush  cov- 
ered what  IS  now  the  courthouse  lawn.  Indians 
were  numerous,  and  deer  filled  the  woods. 

When  he  reached  his  majority,  our  subject 
started  out  to  fight  his  own  w.ay  in  life  and  worked 
out  liy  the  day  until  he  had  accumulated  enough 
means  to  buy  a  team  of  horses,  four  years  beino- 
required  to  raise  this  sum.  In  1847.  he  boug-ht 
forty  acres  of  land  from  his  father,  and  on  this  he 
erected  a  log  cabin,  to  which  he  brought  his  wife 
whom  he  had  married  on  the  3d  of  Decemlier, 
184.3,  and  whose  maiden  name  was  Edith  Spry. 
She  was  a  native  of  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
born  April  7.  182:!.  Here  they  reared  seven  of 
tlie  nine    childreu    Ijoru    to    tliem.    viz:   Marietta. 


390 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


Corwin  F..  Robert,  Matronie,  Abigail,  Laurie  and 
James.  Liicettie,  and  an  infant  unnamed,  died 
young.  Mrs.  Braden  died  on  tlie  4th  of  Februar}- 
1885.  Slie  w,as  a  failliful  .and  devoted  compan- 
ion to  her  husband  and  was  inclined  to  the  Lutli- 
eran  belief  in  religion. 

In  l.Hj.i,  Mr.  Braden  bought  twenty  acres  in 
addition  to  his  farm,  and  in  185S  he  bought  out 
the  heirs  to  eighty  acres  belonging  to  his  father- 
in-law's  estate.  This  he  traded  for  one  hundred 
and  seven  acres,  making  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  acres  in  one  bod3'on  section  12,  Union  Town- 
ship. He  sold  out  here  in  1867,  and  bought  over 
two  h  undred  and  sixty-four  acres  in  Harrison  Town- 
ship, one  mile  north  of  his  present  location,  to 
which  he  soon  added  eighty  acres  more.  In  1881, 
he  sold  that  eighty-acre  tract,  also  sold  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  to  his  two  sons  but  later 
bought  from  a  son  half  of  the  last-named  property. 
He  now  owns  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  acres  of 
as  finely  improved  land  as  there  is  in  the  county, 
all  being  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  except 
thirty-five  acres  of  timber.  He  has  a  fine  large 
frame  residence,  a  good  frame  barn,  82x40,  which 
he  erected  in  1889,  and  h.as  besides  a  bank  barn 
4.5x70  feet.  He  is  a  stalwart  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  served  as  Township  Trustee  during  the 
war.  He  has  been  a  hard-working  n:an  and  this, 
together  with  good  man.agement,  has  contributed 
to  his  success.  Honest  and  upright  in  all  his 
dealings,  he  deserves  much  credit  for  his  progress. 
His  portrait  is  a  valuable  .addition  to  this  volume. 


■fl^i^^^ 


/^>  ONRAI)  KN'ATZ.  who  h.-is  been  for  many 
ll\  I-  years  a  prominent  farmer  and  noted  stock- 
'^^'  raiser  of  Washington  Township,  where  he 
has  reclaimed  a  fine  farm  from  it'i  original  wild- 
ness,  is  a  fine  type  of  the  German  clement  that 
has  been  so  serviceable  in  settling  up  and  improv- 
inir  Auglaize  County.  Our  subject  w.as  born  in 
(Jormany.  August  11.  1820.  His  father,  (ieorgc 
Kiiatz.  who  was  a  fanner,  died  at  the  age  of   liftv- 


three  years.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  w.as 
Anna  E.  Ritz,  survived  him  twentj'  years.  In  ac- 
cordance with  the  laws  of  the  countr}',  he  had 
I  served  two  years  in  the  German  army,  which  he 
left  in  order  to  take  care  of  his  parents  who 
were  old.  He  had  tliree  brothers  who  served  .seven 
years  each. 

Conrad  Knatz  is  the  only  son  of  the  family, and 

i   the  only  survivor,  .as  his  two  sistei-s  are  now  dead. 

I   He    was    well    educated,   attending   the    common 

j   schools  of  his  native  land  until  he  w.as  fourteen, 

afterw.ard    attending   a    higher   school     for   some 

time.     After   leaving  school,  he    became  foreman 

on  a  large  farm,  and  retained  that  position  three 

years,  although  young  for  so  responsible  an  oHice. 

I   He  came  into  possession  of  a  farm  from  his  father's 

i   estate,  which  he  sold,  and  in  the  fall  of  1853  sailed 

from    Bremen  with    his    bride    to    found  a  new 

home  on  American  soil.     After  a  voyage  of  nine 

weeks  and  three  da\'s,  the  young  couple  landed  at 

New  York,  whence   they  came  directly  to  Ohio. 

He  found  employment  on  a   farm  for  a  year,  and 

then   invested   his  money   in  eighty   acres  of   his 

present  farm  on  section  1,  Washington   Township. 

It  was  heaviU'  timbered,  swampy  land,  quite  level, 

and  the  most  of  it  under  water.     AVild  game  was 

very   plentiful,  .as  tlris  region  w.as  only  spai-selj- 

settled,  still   being  in   the  hands  of  the  pioneers 

and  deer   used   to  run    with  his  cattle,  being  so 

bold    that   Mr.  Knatz  often  chased  them  out    of 

the  wheat  field. 

Our  subject's  first  work  was  to  build  a  log  house, 
erecting  it  himself,  and  then  he  entered  witha  will 
upon  the  hard  task  of  clearing  his  land  and  pre- 
paring it  for  cultivation.  By  diligence  and  per- 
severance he  felled  the  trees,  removed  the  stumps, 
and  placed  his  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  drained  it  after  the  most  approved 
methods,  and  now  has  it  well  tiled,  has  a  substantial 
set  of  buildings  on  the  place,  which  are  always 
kept  in  good  order,  and  he  has  increased  the  size 
of  his  farm  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  by 
buving  land  as  his  means  would  permit.  He  has 
always  raised  and  sold  stock,  having  only  the  best 
lirei'ds,  and  his  favorites  among  horses  are  the 
Kirmli  Norman  anil  Clydesdale  breeds,  .'^hort- 
hiinis  being  his  fMViirile  cattle.     He  has  given  up 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BlOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


391 


the  management  of  his  farm  now  to  three  of  his 
sons,  dividing  the  land  between  them,  and  is  en- 
joying life  more  at  leisure  than  formerly,  his  in- 
dustry and  judicious  management  of  his  affairs 
having  brought  him  an  ample  income,  although  he 
entered  u[)ou  his  career  with  no  moneyed  capital, 
l)ut  had  to  depend  on  his  brain  and  hands  for  a 
livelihood.  He  is  a  thorougiily  good  citizen,  takes 
an  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  country, 
and  stands  with  the  Democrats  in  politics. 

Jlr.  Knatz  was  married  in  (lermany  to  Miss 
Anna  E.  Filling  in  18.53.  Her  people  never  came 
to  America.  .She  has  been  a  true  helpmate  to  her 
husband,  who  owes  much  of  his  prosperity  to  her 
active  and  cheerful  co-operation,  and  eoziness  and 
comfort  abide  in  their  home  through  her  watchful 
care  of  her  household.  They  are  blessed  with 
four  sons,  Oeorge,  lleniy,  .lolin  and  Ditnior. 
The  elder  and  two  younger  are  engaged  in  farm- 
ing their  father's  farm,  while  Henry,  the  second 
son,  is  foreman  in  a  large  store  in  Milwaukee. 
Both  Mr.  .and  Mrs.  Knatz  are  membersof  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  Churcli  at  Wapakoneta,  and  in  their 
everyday'  lives  show  themselves  to  be  Christians 
in  word  and  deed. 


ilL^EXRY  IIOLTERMAX  is  the  editor  and 
jfjV  proprietor  of  Die  Post,  published  at  Wapa- 
M/^^  koneta,  Ohio,  which  is  one  of  the  most  suc- 
•■^01  cessful  and  popular  papers  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Iloltermun  posses.«es  those  characteristics 
which  invariably  mark  the  successful  journalist — 
genial  manners,  tact  and  energy — and  during  the 
one  year  that  he  h.as  conducted  his  paper,  he  has 
established  it  on  a  substantial  basis.  ,  It  is  a  breezy 
sheet,  published  in  the  German  Language  in  the 
interests  of  the  community',  and  special  attention 
is  paid  to  local  affairs,  making  it  a  history  of 
events  tliat  transpire  in  this  lurality.  Moreover, 
it  reviews  very  intelligently  and  alily  the  current 
issues  of  the  day,  and  its  adverti-inir    columns  are 


well  filled,  and  show  that  the  citizens  of  Wapa- 
koneta appreciate  it  as  a  medium  for  making 
themselves  known  to  the  public. 

Mr.  Holterman  was  born  in  Brookel,  Province  of 
Hanover,  Germany,  November  15,  1858,  to  John 
H.  and  .Mary  (Luedeman)  Holterman,  who  came 
to  America  in  the  spring  of  1870  and  settled  in 
Henry  County,  Ohio,  where  the  father  unfortu- 
nately died  the  same  year.  His  widow  married 
again  .and  removed  to  Nebraska,  in  which  State 
she  IS  at  present  residing.  She  bore  Mr.  Hol- 
term.an  two  sons  and  three  daughters:  Henrv; 
Jlary;  Anna,  deceased;  Catherine;  and  John,  <le- 
ceased,  and  her  second  union  h.as  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  four  children.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  but  twelve  years  of  age  when  he  became  a 
resident  of  the  Buckeye  State,  .and  although  his 
educational  advant.ages  were  somewliiu  limited,  he 
made  the  most  of  his  opportunities,  and  much  of  his 
knowledge  h.as  been  acquired  by  observation  and 
self-application.  I'ntil  he  was  seventeen  vejirs  of 
age,  he  was  familiar  with  the  duties  of  farm  life, 
at  which  .age  he  entered  a  grocery  .as  clerk,  con- 
tinuing to  follow  this  occupation  for  several  years. 
He  was  next  employed  as  a  salesman  for  the  Do- 
mestic Sewing  ^Machine,  in  which  position  he 
proved  himself  to  be  shrewd,  persu.isive  and  suc- 
cessful. He  received  a  handsome  medal  for  sell- 
ing a  machine  to  one  who  was  considered  the  stin- 
giest man  in  Henry  County,  the  sale  being  made 
notwithstanding  the  threats  of  the  wealthy  tiller 
of  the  soil  to  have  him  arrested  and  forcibly 
ejected  from  his  premises. 

Discontinuing  this  business  after  (our  years  of 
faithful  service,  he  became  .associated  in  the  gro- 
cery business  with  his  uncle,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  one  ye.ar.  In  1885,  he  w.as  appointed 
Treasurer  of  Henry  County,  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term  of  the  Treasurer  elected,  who  failed  to  t'lve 
bond,  but  a  short  time  prior  to  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  office  ho  had  made  negotiations  for  an 
interest  in  the  Henry  County  Demokrat,  a  paper 
publislied  in  the  interests  of  the  German  popula- 
tion. Later,  he  became  the  sole  proprietor  of  the 
paper,  but  after  ]iuhlishing  it  on  his  own  rc-|i<iiisi- 
bility  for  some  time,  he  took  a  partner,  and  C(.'n- 
tinued    il-    pul.ilication    f.jr    two    vear-.       He  then 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sold  his  interest  in  the  plant,  and  invested  his 
moans  in  a  furnitme  store,  which  occupied  his 
time  and  attention  for  one  year.  He  next  started 
the  publication  of  a  German  paper  in  Wood 
County,  which  proved  disastrous  financially;  he  also 
purchased  the  Wood  County  Democml,  which  as 
well  as  the  other  left  him  financially  embar- 
rassed. He  subsequent!}-  sold  his  interest  in  both 
papers  and  went  to  Ottawa,  Ohio,  where  he  jiub- 
llshed  tlie  Putnam  County  Demokrat  for  a  time,  after 
which  ho  sold  out  to  his  brother-in-law.  In  the 
spring;  of  1801,  he  came  to  Wapakoneta,  and  h.as 
since  published  Die  Post,  a  six-column  quarto,  pub- 
lished in  the  interests  of  the  Democratic  party,  of 
which  ho  has  always  been  a  stanch  member.  Sociallj-, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  he 
and  his  wife,  whom  ho  married  September  4,  1881, 
and  whose  name  w.as  Margaret  Stockman,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  They  have 
three  children:  Ernestine,  Edwin  and  Karl. 


Wi'ASOX  H.  MANCHESTER.  Prominent  in 
social,  agricultur.al  and  church  circles  is 
the  family  represented  by  the  name  at  the 
head  of  this  paragraph,  which  h.as  long  been 
identified  with  all  movements  of  importance  in 
this  part  of  Auglaize  County.  Mr.  M.anchester  is 
one  of  the  most  extensive  farmei-s  in  the  Buckeye 
State  and  no  doubt  inherits  many  of  his  excellent 
ideas  of  farm  man.agement  from  his  father,  Phil- 
ander Manchester,  who  was  known  far  and  wide 
for  his  extensive  and  successful  farming  operations. 
The  elder  Mr.  Manchester  w.as  a  native  of  the -'Old 
Bay  State,"  born  at  Dr.acut  in  181.5,  and  he  was  a 
man  of  more  than  tlie  average  intelligence,  having 
graduated  from  Norwicli  University,  Vermont.  He 
wa-s  married  in  1842  to  Mi:-s  Rebecca  Hewitt,  a 
native  of  Pomfret,  Vt.,  and  tlie  same  year  this 
ambitious  young  couple  emigrated  to  Ohio.  They 
settled  in  Fredericktown.  and  Mr.  Manchester  was 
tliere  enaaaretl  in  mercliandi^ing  until  ISfi'i.  wlicn 
lie  sold  mil.     Three  \oars  later,  he  settled  on   an 


unimproved  farm  in  Auglaize  County,  this  State, 
and  immediately  began  clearing  and  improving. 
He  improved  five  hundred  acres  of  this  and  added 
to  the  original  tract  from  time  to  time  until  ho 
owned  about  one  thousand  acres  of  very  produc- 
tive land,  all  of  which  he  soon  had  under  cultiva- 
tion. All  his  fanning  operations  were  conducted 
in  a  manner  showing  liim  to  be  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent judgment,  wide  experience,  and  great  per- 
severance, and  success  crowned  his  efforts.  His 
marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children, 
only  our  subject  now  living.  Both  parents  were 
members  of  the  Christian  Union  Church,  and,  in 
politics,  the  father  advocated  the  platform  of  the 
Republican  party.  His  death  occurred  in  Febru- 
ary, 1889.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  resides 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Goshen  Township. 
Auglaize  Count}',  Ohio. 

J.  H.  Manchester  was  born  at  Newton,  Union 
County,  Ohio,  in  185.3,  and  he  supplemented  a 
good  practical  education  received  in  the  schools 
of  Union  County  by  a  two-3'ears  course  at  the  West 
Randolph  (Vt.)  Normal  School.  After  this,  he 
returned  to  Ohio,  and  having  been  bred  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer  by  his  father,  like  the  majority  of 
boys  he  has  followed  in  his  ancestor's  footsteps, 
and  is  now  prominently  identified  with  the  most 
prominent  agriculturists  of  the  State.  In  1885, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Krebs.  a  native  of 
the  Buckeye  State,  and  a  graduate  of  the  Univer- 
sity at  Ada,  Ohio.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Krebs,  of  Wayncsfield,  Ohio  (see  sketch).  ^Irs. 
Manchester  was  also  a  student  of  medicine  at 
Cincinnati.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manchester  was 
born  one  child,  Hewitt  Krebs,  who  pa;-sed  from 
this  life  when  eighteen  months  old.  We  clip  the 
following  from  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer. 

AX  OHIO   FARM.       - 

J.  II.  ^Manchester,  the  largest  and  wealthiest 
farmer  in  Auglaize  County,  and  one  of  the  largest 
in  Northwestern  Ohio,  has  just  closed  a  deal  with 
Hauss  it  Jacobs,  grain  merch.ants,  for  the  sale  of 
10,000  bushels  of  corn.  This  is  the  largest  grain 
deal  of  any  kind  ever  made  in  Auglaize  Countv. 
Mr.  iManchester  h.as  a  beautiful  farm  of  over 
twelve  hundred  acres  under  cultivation  in  the 
oa^lfiii  part  of  the  county.  His  residence  is 
situated  on  a  knoll,  about  the  center  of    liis   farm, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


395 


:ind  witli  the  aid  of  a  field-glass  he  can  command 
a  view  of  his  entire  farm.  All  of  his  machinery  is 
is  of  the  latest  invention,  and  his  reapei-s,  mow- 
ers, plows,  etc.,  are  all  run  bv  steam.  He  employs 
a  large  force  of  men.  who  are  all  well  disciplined. 
The  farm  is  situated  in  a  very  productive  region, 
and  his  acres  yield  an  abundant  crop.  After  hav- 
ing sold  the  enormous  amount  of  corn  to  the 
grain  dealers,  he  still  has  in  reserve  6,000  or  7,000 
Inishels  which  are  not  yet  ready  for  market.  He 
will  begin  hauling  this  week,  liringing  in  install- 
ments of  800  to  r,000  bushels.  It  will  be  a  regu- 
lar train  of  wagons,  drawn  by  a  road  engine,  a 
very  uncommon  siglit  in  an}-  community. 

Our  subject  has  one  of  the  most  extensive  farms 
in  Ohio;  has  it  well  equipped  with  all  the  modern 
machinery  to  relieve  the  farmer  of  heavy  manual 
labor,  and  he  has  a  very  line  residence,  niceh" 
furnished  and  in  every  way  very  attractive.  In 
the  year  1 8'.H,  this  farm  produced  about  twent}'- 
five  thousand  liushels  of  corn,  seven  thousand 
bushels  of  wheat,  and  four  thousand  bushels  of 
oats.  Mrs.  JIanchester  is  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Methodi-t  Episcopal  Church  and  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  the  s.ime. 


■ifOHN  BRADEX.  The  older  residents  of  a 
community  are  doubly  entitled  to  the  res- 
pect and  esteem  of  their  neighboi's  when 
their  whole  lives  have  been  replete  with 
kindness,  and  their  careers  marked  by  integrity  and 
uprightness.  The  old  resident  and  much  respected 
gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  tlie  head  of  this 
sketch,  and  whose  portrait  adorns  the  opiiosite 
p.age,  makes  his  liome  on  section  12.  Union  Tijwn- 
ship,  Logan  County.  He  w.as  l)orn  on  thi-^  farm 
■Tuly  3 1st.  1834. 

Robert  Braden,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  Kentuekian.  bwjrn  in  the  year  17',i7.  He 
came  to  rnion  Townsliiii.  I.ngan  County,  Ohio, 
when  a  young  man,  or  about  181.3.  There  were 
very  few  settlers  here  at  that  time,  and  more 
Indians  than  white  peo|ile,  hut  he  entered  a  farm 
from  the  (.Tovernmeut  and   beLran    ti)   devehiii   and 


improve  his  place.  To  the  log  cabin  he  had 
erected  on  his  farm  he  brought  his  bride,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Lucinda  McNay,  and  whom  he 
had  married  in  this  county,  and  in  a  very  frugal 
.ind  economical  w.ay  they  began  housekeeping. 
The  woods  were  full  of  game,  deer  and  turkeys 
abounded,  and  the  table  was  always  supplied  with 
fresh  meat. 

This  young  couple  cleared  part  of  their  farm  in 
the  wilderness,  and  as  the  years  p.assed  by  a  larae 
family  of  children  gathered  around  them,  ten  of 
whom  were  reared  to  maturity:  James,  .lane 
(deceased),  Mary  (deceased),  Samuel  (deceased), 
Robert.  .Tohn.  Lucinda,  Cynthia  A.,  Eliz.ibeth 
and  Henry  C.  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Braden  were  hard- 
working and  economical,  and  soon  began  to 
gather  around  them  many  comforts  and 
conveniences.  Their  marketing  was  done  at 
Urbana.  and  although  their  hard  work  and 
energy  brought  its  reward,  very  few  of  the  present 
day  realize  the  hardships  and  privations  experi- 
enced by  tliem  and  other  early  settlers.  At  fii-st 
they  entered  eighty  acres  of  land,  then  another 
eighty  acres,  and  afterward  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  more,  making  a  snug  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres.  The  father  was  a 
Whig  in  politics,  .and  died  in  IS.J.i. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  was  a  devout 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  she  w.as 
an  active  worker,  passed  away  m  1874,  when 
seventy-three  years  of  age.  .she  was  born  in 
Virginia  in  1801,  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Ohio  about  1808.  It  can  be  seen  that  she  had  her 
full  share  of  the  hardships  .as  well  as  the  adventures 
of  pioneer  life.  She  often  related  how  the  Indians 
came  to  her  father's  house  and  slept  in  the  cabin, 
and  she  told  many  interesting  incidents  of  pio- 
neer life.  Her  parents  settled  in  IlaiTison  Town- 
ship, this  count3%  on  land  now  owned  by  ,)ohn 
Newell.  Her  father  was  a  hard-wi.irking  pioneer, 
and  became  a  prominent  and  weaUliy  farmer  of 
this  section. 

.John  Braden,  the  subject  of  tliis  brief  sketch, 
had  the  usual  experiences  of  [)ioneer  life,  attend- 
ing the  subscription  schools  in  the  Ing  school 
house  and  assisting  his  father  in  clearing  the  home 
[ilace.      He  early  adopted  faiininu'  ;is  hi-   vncation 


396 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  after 
the  death  of  his  father,  when  he  conducted  the 
home  place.  On  the  16th  of  Novemher,  1872,  he 
married  Jliss  Mary  A.  Ryan,  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  State,  born  in  185-t,  and  to  them  was 
born  one  child,  Irene.  Mrs.  Braden  died  in  1873, 
and  in  1879  Mr.  Braden  married  Miss  Sarah  Jew- 
ell, who  died  in  1884,  leaving  one  child,  a  son, 
Klmer  J. 

Our  subject  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
fift\-  acres  of  land,  and  all  his  operations  are 
carried  on  with  thoroughness  and  dispatch.  He 
is  engaged  in  mixed  farming,  raising  considerable 
stock,  and  has  one  mile  of  tile  draining.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  with  independent  pro- 
clivities, but  does  not  aspire  to  office.  He  h.as  seen 
the  city  of  Bellefontaine  grow  from  a  village  of 
a  few  houses  to  its  present  proportions,  and  has 
contributed  his  share  toward  the  development  of 
the  countv. 


^^^EORGE  A.HENRY.  Within  the  limits  of 
'II  f— -,  Logan  County,  there  is  no  more  successful 
'^^j  farmer  to  be  found  than  Mr.  Henry,  who 
is  thoroughly  identified  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  the  same.  His  standing  as  a  thorough  and 
progressive  farmer,  as  well  as  a  most  esteemed  .and 
respected  citizen,  is  well  established  in  the  county. 
He  resides  five  miles  east  and  a  little  north  of  Belle- 
fontaine, in  Jefferson  Township,  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  acres,  all  well  improved  and  well  culti- 
vated. Mr.  Henry  h.as  resided  on  this  farm  since 
18-10,  and  was  born  in  this  county  on  tlie  9th  of 
August,  1837,  to  the  union  of  Joel  and  Patience 
(Easton)  Henry,  natives  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky 
respectively,  the  father  born  in  Culpeper  County 
on  the  2-lth  of  June,  1806,  and  the  mother  in 
.Shelby  County,  on  the  24th  of  June,1804. 

The  grandfather.  George  Henry,  was  .also   a  na- 
tive of  the  Old  Dominion   and   there  he   grew   to 


manhood,  married,  and  remained  until  1808,  when 
he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  what  is  now  Logan 
County  and  remaining  there  until  his  death  in 
1836.  He  was  of  English  descent.  The  maternal 
grandparents  of  our  subject.  Redwood  and  Mary 
(McMichael)  Easton,  came  on  horseback  to  Ohio 
in  1806  and  first  settled  in  Wheeling,  where  they 
remained  for  a  short  time.  Erom  there  they  moved 
to  Clarke  County,  Oliio,  and  located  on  a  farm,  but 
later  settled  in  Logan  County  and  from  there  went 
to  Nauvoo,  111.,  where  the  grandfather  died  in 
1840.  The  grandmother  died  in  1837,  in  this 
county. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  celebrated  their  nup- 
tials in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  December  3,  1829, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  Hanes 
Parker.  They  at  once  located  on  a  farm  near 
Zanesfield,  which  thej-  improved  and  on  which 
they  remained  for  a  few  years,  when  the}-  moved 
to  the  place  on  which  our  subject  now  resides. 
Here  the  father  received  his  final  summons  on  the 
30th  of  November,  18.55,  and  the  mother  on  the 
1st  of  November,  1891,  when  eighty-eight  years 
of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
two  sons  and  one  daughter,  as  follows:  Margaret, 
wife  of  S.  D.  Elliott,  of  Milford  Centre,  Union 
Countv,  Ohio;  David,  who  married  Eliza  Gable 
and  resides  on  part  of  the  old  homestead  in  Logan 
County,  and  our  subject,  who  is  the  youngest. 

The  latter  was  fairly  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  Jefferson  Township,  Logan  County,  and. 
being  the  youngest  child,  he  cared  for  and  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  after  their  death. 
He  was  never  away  from  his  mother  but  three 
months.  On  the  22d  of  October,  1863,  ho  was  mar- 
ried in  Jefferson  Township,  Logan  County,  to  Emily 
Robb,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Dr.  G.  L. 
Kalb  (see  sketch).  Mrs.  Henry  is  tliesecojid  daugh- 
ter of  Joshua  and  Sarah  (Nelson)  Robb,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Pennsj'lvania  and  Ohio,  tlio  father 
born  on  the  12th  of  September,  1806,  and  the 
mother  on  the  28th  of  August,  1813.  Mr.  Robb 
came  to  Logan  County,  Ohio,  when  a  young  man 
and  was  here  married  to  Miss  Nelson,  who  was 
reared  in  this  county  and  in   Penns\'lvania. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robb, 
four  daughters  and   five  sous,  sis   of   whom   still 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


397 


survive.  3Irs.  Robb  died  June  -itli,  1892,  in  her 
seventy-mntli  year.  Mr.  Robb  died  on  the  21st 
of   February,  1873. 

After  marriage,  our  subject  and  wife  located  on 
tlie  old  liomestead  where  tliey  reside  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  and  by  their  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment are  possessed  of  a  comfortable  competency. 
Their  liappy  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth 
of  two  children,  both  daughters:  lola  Patience, 
born  Feliruary  14,  1866,  at  home,  and  Sarah  Eva, 
born  June  30,  1869,  also  at  home.  In  connection 
with  farming,  Mr.  Henry  is  also  engaged  in  stock- 
raising  and  lieeps  from  one  luindred  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  head  of  sheep  per  year,  be- 
sides other  stock  of  all  kinds.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
Republican  and  is  correspondent  for  the  Repub- 
lican,  of  Bellefontaine,  Oliio,  and  also  Count}' 
Crop  Correspondent  of  the  Department  of  Ag- 
riculture under  Secretary  Rusk.  He  is  man- 
ager of  the  Logan  Country  Agricultural  Society 
and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  gen- 
ial, whole-souled  gentleman  and  is  well  liked  by 
all.  Ho  is  a  member  of  Silver  Lake  Council  No. 
352,  R(jyal  Arcanum.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  First  Presbyterian   Church    of    Bellefontaine. 


-^#^- 


]}1LLIAM  METZ  occupies  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  his  county,  being  .Superintendent 
^''^  of  the  Infirmary  in  Duchouquet  Township 
Auglaize  Count}-.  He  is  a  son  of  William  Metz. 
Sr.,a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  w.as  a  well- 
to-do  farmer.  The  family  of  that  name  are  of 
(ierman  and  French  extraction,  a  son  of  Jacob 
Metz  having  come  from  (Termany  in  an  early  day 
and  located  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  niaiilen  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was 
Mary  Furray ;  she  was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State  and  a  daughter  of  Valentine  Furray,  who 
hailed  from  France.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were 
married  in  Pennsylvania  and  in  ly-lT  came  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Union  Township.  Auglaize  County,  on 
a  wild  tract  of  laiid.wliich.  at  the  time  of  his  death. 


the  father  had  improved  into  a  good  estate.  They 
reared  a  family  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living.  The  father  died  in  1882,  and  the  mother, 
who  preceded  him  by  a  number  of  years  to  the  bet- 
ter land,  departed  this  life  in  1869.  They  were  both 
devoted  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
held  in  high  esteem  by  their  neighbors  and  ac- 
quaintances. The  father  of  our  subject  in  politics 
alwaj-s  voted  with  the  Democratic  partj'  and  in 
local  affairs  served  his  fellow-townsmen  as  Const.n- 
ble  for  some  time. 

William  Metz,  of  this  sketch,  w.is  born  December 
6,  1826,  in  Columbia  County,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  fair  education.  When  ten  years  of  age. 
he  began  to  work  out,  being  employed  in  the  coal 
mines  of  that  region,  where  he  was  engaged  until 
coming  to  Ohio  in  1847,  since  which  time  he  has 
folowed  agricultural  pursuits.  Two  years  after 
locating  here,  Mr.  Metz  w.as  married  to  Miss  Eliza, 
daughter  of  Amos  Basil,  an  early  settler  of  Union 
Township,  this  county.  Mi's.  Metz  was  born  in  1831, 
in  Licking  County,  and  after  her  marriage  located 
with  our  subject  on  rented  property.  Mr.  Jletz 
at  the  time  of  his  marriage  had  *,j  in  monev  and 
when  his  first  child  was  born  it  w.as  cradled  in  a 
sug.ar-trough.  He  continued  residing  in  Union 
Township,  working  at  whatever  he  could  find  to 
do,  until  his  fellow-townsmen  recognized  in  him 
the  ability  to  manage  the  County  Infirmary,  and 
in  1873  he  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  Super- 
intendent. Thirteen  years  ago,  Mr.  Metz  became 
the  owner  of  an  improved  tract  of  land  in  C'lav 
Township,  this  county,  and  five  years  ago  pur- 
chased another  piece  of  property  in  the  same  town- 
ship, his  landed  estate  now  including  one  hundred 
and  eight3'-six  cultivated  acres. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metz  has  been  granted  a  fam- 
ily of  thirteen  children,  eight  of  whom  arc  living, 
namely:  Oliver.  Granville.  John.  Wesley,  Freder- 
ick, James.  Jane  and  Mary.  They  have  all  been 
given  excellent  educations  and  fitted  to  become  use- 
ful and  intelligent  citizens.  Our  subject  has  alw.ays 
been  interested  in  school  affairs  and  has  done  effi- 
cient service  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 
.Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  h:is  occupied  the  position  of  Junior  Warden  in 
that  order.   In  politics,  he  votes  the  -tiaiijht  Dera- 


398 


PORTRAIT  AND  EIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ocratic  ticket,  on  which  he  was  elected  Township 
Clerk,  Assessor, and  to  many  other  minor  positions. 
In  the  spiing  of  1870,  Mr.  Metz  was  appointed 
Land  Appraiser,  and  three  years  later  was  placed 
in  his  jircsent  position,  of  which  he  has  been  the 
incumbent  since,  with  the  exception  of  two  years. 
Under  his  administration,  a  brick  addition,  42x84 
feet,  h.as  been  added  to  the  main  bnilding,  at 
which  time  also  a  good  barn  and  granary  were  built. 
The  farm  includes  two  hundred  .acres,  nearlj' all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation,  and  the  inmates  of  the 
institution  averagfe  aiiout  twentv-six. 


=«^?^ 


(i^^  OLOMOX  E.  LOFFER,  one  of  the  most 
^^^^  successful  agriculturists  of  Logan  County, 
1|V/^)  is  a  man  whose  excellent  judgment,  strong 
common  sense  and  good  business  .acumen 
.are  recognized  by  all.  He  has  a  fine,  large  brick 
residence  in  the  edge  of  De  Graff,  and  is  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens  of  the  place.  He  was  born  in 
Bloomfield  Township,  this  county,  on  the  14th  of 
Xovember,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Solomon  T.  Loffer, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Pickaway  County',  Ohio, 
in  1814.  This  family  is  of  German  descent  and 
the  name  was  origin.ally  spelled  Laugher.  The 
first  members  tliat  came  to  America  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  became  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful. 

The  father  of  our  suijject,  Solomon  T.  Loffer, 
passed  the  early  part  of  his  life  on  a  farm  in  I'ick- 
away  County,  Ohio,  and  when  old  enough  to 
choose  some  calhng  in  life  very  naturally  chose  tlie 
one  to  which  he  had  been  reared,  farming.  He  cul- 
tivated the  soil  in  Pickaway  County,  where  he 
owned  a  good  farm,  until  1850,  when  he  came  to 
Logan  County  and  purch.ased  three  hundred  and 
fifty-five  acres  on  Rum  Creek,  in  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship. The  land  had  good  improvements  and  he 
began  immediately  the  work  of  cultivation.  On 
tlial  place  his  death  occurred  on  the  22d  of  Octo- 
ber. 1853.  In  politics,  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Susanna  Smith, 


was  bom  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  December  7, 
1815,  and  died  in  1887.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  and  was  of  a  quiet,  retiring  dis- 
position. All  of  the  ten  children  born  to  tliis 
estimable  couple  grew  to  mature  years,  and  were 
named  as  follows:  Sarah  F.,  wife  of  D.  M.  Straycr; 
Annie,  wife  of  F.  W.  Strayer;  Francis  M.,  who 
was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Pittsburgli  Landing; 
Elisha  D.,  a  soldier  in  the  army,  who  died  in  1879, 
Jacob  .S.,  a  soldier  in  the  war,  who  spent  thirteen 
monllis  in  Libby  and  Andersonville  Prisons;  Chris- 
tina, wife  of  Jonathan  Ray;  Ellen  M.,  who  died 
in  1863;  Christian,  a  farmer  of  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship, this  county;  Samuel,  in  Nebraska,  and  .Solo- 
mon. 

Bloomfield  Township  was  the  scene  of  our  sub- 
ject's early  experiences  and  in  it  he  received  liis 
])riraary  education  in  the  district  schools.  Later, 
he  supplemented  this  by  attending  the  public 
schools  of  De  Graff  for  two  terms  and  Wittenberg 
College,  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  one  term.  Subse- 
quently, he  took  a  course  in  business  college  at 
Delaware,  Ohio,  and  then  wielded  the  ferrule  in 
the  schools  of  Bloomfield  Township  for  five  years. 
He  also  taught  one  term  in  Carroll  Countj-,  Mo., 
in  1876.  Evvie  Bunker,  who  became  his  wife  on 
the  27th  of  December,  1877,  was  born  in  Edgar 
County,  111.,  on  tlie  26th  of  August,  1857,  and  her 
father,  lienjamin  Bunker,  was  a  well-to-do  farmer 
of  Bloomfield  Township,  this  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Loffer  are  tlie  parents  of  five  bright  and  in- 
telligent children  as  follows:  Ethel,  Bessie,  Orvil 
K.,  Floyd  B.,  and  Amie. 

Following  his  marriage,  Mr.  Loffer  bought 
ninet^'-six  acres  of  the  home  farm  and  resided  on 
it  until  March.  1886,  when  he  hired  a  man  to  op- 
erate it  and  removed  to  De  Graff.  He  and  his 
brother,  Jacob  S..  formed  a  partnei-ship,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Loffer  Bros.,  to  buj-  .and  ship  stock, 
and  were  quite  extensively  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness venture,  shipping  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  to 
Cleveland  and  Buffalo.  In  1890,  they  opened  an 
agricultural  store  in  De  Graff,  but  after  eighteen 
months  sold  out.  In  two  years'  time  they  sold  one 
hundred  binders  and  mowers. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Loffer  bought  another  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  three   acres  in  Miami   Township,  one 


t- 


^^^^;^:'^5fc!«j5f^^'^v■^^^^^^S^*•'^&'^    V 


•  ..^V?-~'q<'.-.i.--f.ny 


RESIDENCE   OF    5.E.    LOFFER,    DE   GRAFF. 
LOGAr^l  CO.O. 


RE5   OFrM(jo    u     C    ^      iM^T    [^"^^^J    =>   J      -^    ~      MG    HORSES  &.SHOP'  hOR  i   CA^^LEj 
5tC,G.  SALEM    TR,  AUGlAI  ZE  CO.,0. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  one-half  miles  from  town,  upon  which  he  farms 
and  grazes  cattle.  In  April,  1892,  he  bought  the 
present  farm  of  sixty-three  acres,  which  has  a  fine 
brick  residence  and  other  embellishments.  He  still 
buys  and  ships  stock  and  is  one  of  the  shrewd,  far- 
seeing  business  men  of  the  jilace.  He  advocates 
the  platform  of  the  Republican  party,  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  his  father  was  a  Democrat. 
He  has  been  Clerk  of  Bloomfield  Township,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board,  and  is  President  of  the 
same  at  the  present  time.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Free  M;xsons.  He  is  a  .'Stockholder  and 
is  President  of  the  Citizens'  Oil  and  Gas  Com- 
pan}',  and  is  a  Director  of  the  Building  and  Loan 
Association  here.  He  has  been  wonderfully  suc- 
cessful and  attributes  his  present  prosperous  con- 
dition to  his  energy  and  good  management. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  our  reader  will  notice 
a  view  of  Mr.  Loffer's  pleasant  home. 


E^^II-^M^II^i^i 


MOS  J.  GlERHART.     Although    scarcely 

iv.-/-i  l).ast  the  opening  years  of  manliood,  Amos 
J.  Gici'liart,  of  i^alem  Township,  has  al- 
ready won  a  substantial  reputation  as  a 
progressive  farmer  and  stockman  of  unusual  en- 
terprise and  conspicuous  ability.  He  has  pLaced 
himself  well  at  the  front  among  the  thoughtful, 
energetic  and  well-equipped  men  who  are  carrying 
on  the  great  agricultunal  and  stock  intere^ts  of  Au- 
glaize County. 

A  native-born  sou  of  Ohio,  ^Mr.  Gierharfs  birth 
occurred  in  Fairfield  County,  March  19,  1864. 
Henry  M.  Gierhart,  his  father,  was  born  in  ^Mary- 
laiid,  but  wlien  he  was  a  boy  came  to  Ohio  with 
an  uncle.  His  father,  who  was  also  a  native  of 
Maryland,  had  died  when  he  w.is  quite  young. 
When  he  was  only  eighteen  yeai'sold,  Henry  Gier- 
hart began  to  teach  scliool,  having  previously  ol)- 
taincd  a  very  good  education.  He  taught  until 
his  e3'esight  was  affected  b\'  his  close  attention  to 
books,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  learning 
the  saddler's  trade  at  Havensport.  Fairfield  County. 


In  1866,  he  came  to  Auglaize  County,  and  con- 
tinued to  work  at  that  trade  for  a  few  years  in 
.Salem.  He  finalh'  bought  land  in  this  township, 
and  made  this  his  home  until  his  death,  Januar3- 
21, 1888,  at  the  .age  of  sixty-nine  years,  four  months 
and  twenty-one  days.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  re- 
ligious sentiment,  whose  life  was  guided  by  high 
Christian  principles.  In  early  life,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  United  Brethren  Church,  but  after  he 
came  here,  w.as  identified  with  the  Presbyterians. 
The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  is  a  most  excellent 
woman,  and  a  greatly  esteemed  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  is  pleasantly  p.assiug  her  de- 
clining years  in  his  home.  Her  people,  who  were 
origin.ally  from  Maryland,  were  among  the  early 
settlers  in  Fairfield  County,  where  they  located  in 
the  woods,  and  there  she  was  birn  June  7,  1828. 
The  family  came  to  Auglaize  County  quite  earl}- 
in  the  history  of  its  settlement,  and  here  the  father 
died  August  18,  1870, and  the  mother,  February  5, 
1872,  both  being  well  along  in  years.  Three  of 
their  nine  children  are  still  living. 

Mr.  Gierhart  is  the  elder  and  only  survivor  of 
two  children.  He  was  given  fine  educational  ad- 
vantages, which  he  improved,  as  he  was  a  bright, 
quick  .scholar.  After  leaving  the  district  school, 
he  entered  the  Ada  Normal  School  in  1885,  and 
was  a  student  in  that  institution  of  learning  a 
short  time.  His  father's  old  homestead  h.as  been 
his  home  ever  since  he  w.as  small,  and  since  his 
father's  death  he  has  taken  entire  charge  of  the 
farm,  which  is  a  model  in  every  respect,  supplied 
with  modern  buildings,  including  a  large  new 
barn,  and  provided  with  every  convenience  for 
conducting  every  branch  of  agriculture  in  a  proper 
manner,  and  it  is  well  tiled  and  otherwise  im- 
proved. Besides  owning  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  on  sections  5  and  6,  he  has  an  inter- 
est in  one  hundred  and  thirty-tlirce  acres  on 
another  section  of  .'^alem  Township. 

Mr.  Gierhart  is  conspicuous  among  the  men  of 
tliis  locality,  who  are  doing  a  valuable  work  in 
improving  tlie  grade  of  the  stock  raised  in  this 
vicinity.  He  has  been  interested  in  breeding 
Sliort-horn  cattle  for  the  past  seven  years,  and  has 
a  fine-looking  herd  of  this  choice  breed,  from 
wliich  he  often  sells  animals  f(ir  lu-ec<ling  purposes. 


iO-2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


He  likewise  gives  attention  to  standai'd-bred  horses. 
He  is  the  proprietor  of  the  well-known  st.allion, 
"Local,"  which  is  the  pride  of  the  neighborhood, 
and  is  considered  the  best  stock  horse  in  this  part  of 
the  couutr}-.  He  is  a  handsome  dark  bay,  six 
j-ears  old,  sound  in  wind  and  limb,  of  beautiful 
proportions,  and  some  of  the  most  famous  trotting 
blood  in  the  world  coui-ses  in  his  veins,  coming, 
as  he  does,  in  direct  descent  from  the  renowned 
"Lexington."  Mr.  GJierhart  has  had  some  splendid 
exhibits  of  stock  at  fairs,  both  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  h.as  often  received  the  first  premium  on  his 
fine  horse,  as  well  as  on  other  stock. 

Mr.  Gierhart  was  happily  married  in  1887,  to 
Miss  Etta  Lesh,  a  native  of  Wells  County,  Ind., 
and  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Semantha  (Cover) 
Lesh,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  residents  of 
Wells  County,  where  Mr.  Lesh  is  prosperously  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Tliey  are  both  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  their  names  are  .associated 
with  its  every  good  work.  Two  children  round 
out  the  pleasant  home  circle  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife.  In  his  social  relations,  he  is  identified  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  also  with 
Bethel  Girange,  of  which  he  is  becretary,  and  has 
held  other  important  offices.  Politically,  he  is  a 
loyal  Democrat.  His  fellow-citizens  have  watched 
his  career  with  approval,  and,  knowing  him  to  be 
a  young  m.an  of  exemplary  habits,  who  would 
never  betr.ay  a  trust,  and  who  is  keen-witted  and 
prompt  in  business  matters,  the\'  have  elected  him 
to  lie  one  of  the  Township  Trustees,  feeling  that 
local  interests  will  be  promoted  in  his  hands. 


«p5%H0MAS  EMERSON,  M.  D.,  who  stands  in 
(('(^\  the  front  rank  among  the  medical  fraternity 
^\g^'  in  Auglaize  County,  is  also  recognized  .as 
one  of  the  leading  and  inrtuenti.al  business  men  of 
St.  .lohn's.  where,  in  addition  to  following  his  pro- 
fession, he  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of- tile. 
He  is  the  son   of    Adam    and    Nancy  .J.   (Corder) 


Emerson,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  grandfather  of  our  subject  bore  the 
name  of  Thomas  Emerson  and  also  hailed  from 
Virginia,  while  his  wife,  Mrs.  Jane  (Shaw)  Emer- 
son, was  a  native  of  Muskingum  County,  this 
Stale. 

The  maternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  killed  by  the  Indians  when  Mrs.  Jane  Emerson 
was  very  young.  The  grandfather  had  come  to 
this  State  when  a  young  man  and  located  in  Lick- 
ing County  at  an  early  day,  where  he  improved  a 
good  farm.  Cholera  raging  through  that  portion 
of  the  State  carried  off  most  of  his  family.  He 
then  moved  to  Mar^'sville,  thence  to  Clarke  County, 
where  he  rented  a  farm  for  about  six  years,  and 
then  came  to  Shelby  County  and  located  upon  the 
farm  where  the  father  of  our  subject  now  lives. 
He  departed  this  life  in  1860,  and  was  followed  to 
the  belter  land  b_v  his  wife,  who  died  six  years 
later. 

Adam  Emerson  was  born  February  15,  1828,  in 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  received  very  limited 
advantages  for  obtaining  an  education.  He  was 
reared  to  farming  pursuits  and  on  the  death  of  his 
father  took  charge  of  the  home  place.  He  was 
married,  to  Miss  Nancy,  daughter  of  John  Cor- 
der, one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  section.  In- 
dians were  very  numerous  in  that  early  day  and 
Blackhawk,one  of  the  chiefs,  had  his  cabin  located 
upon  his  farm.  Mrs.  Emerson  departed  this  life 
in  1851,  leaving  one  son,  who  bore  the  name  of 
Thomas.  Three  years  later,  the  father  was  married 
to  Jane,  daughter  of  Amos  Arthur,  an  early  settler 
of  this  localit}-  and  a  famous  Indian  hunter.  By 
that  union,  he  became  the  father  of  five  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Levi,  Martha, 
Mary,  Willi.am  and  John. 

The  father  of  our  subject  is  living  a  retired  life 
in  St.  John's,  and  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  acres  of  land  in  Union  Township,  which 
is  adorned  with  a  splendid  brick  residence  erected 
in  1870  at  a  cost  of  83,000.  His  place  is  well 
stocked  with  good  draft  horses  and  all  the  needful 
machinery  which  makes  farming  a  pleasurable  .as 
well  as  profitable  business.  Mr.  Emerson  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  while  his  good 
wife  is  identified   with  the   Methodist   Episcopal 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


denomination.  He  has  always  taken  an  active 
part  in  politics,  and  has  been  elected  to  the  office 
of  School  Director  on  the  Republican  ticket. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  ivas  born  July  21, 
1849,  at  St.  John's,  and  became  orphaned  by  the 
death  of  his  motlier  when  very  young.  He  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  given  a 
good  education  and  when  twenty  ^-eai-s  of  age  be- 
gan life  on  his  own  account  by  engaging  in  the 
mercantile  business  In  St.  John's.  Six  yeai-s  later, 
he  Launched  out  into  the  sewing-machine  business, 
which  line  of  work  he  followed  for  four  years,  and 
then,  going  to  Cincinnati,  attended  the  Physicians' 
Medical  College  during  the  winter  of  1875-76. 
He  then  returned  home  and  for  five  years  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  and  at  tlie  expiration  of  that 
time  he  began  the  manufacture  of  fork  handles,  to 
which  three  years  later  lie  added  the  manuf.icture 
of  tile.  Remaining  thus  employed  for  two  years. 
Dr.  Emerson  again  entered  the  drug  business; 
he  sold  out,  however,  in  six  months  and  oper- 
ated a  flouring-mill.  His  place  of  business  w.as 
destroyed  by  fire  three  months  after  it  came  into 
his  possession  and  as  he  had  no  insurance  he  was 
compelled  to  begin  life  again  at  the  bottom  of 
the  ladder.  Finding  the  manufacture  of  tile  the 
most  profitable  line  of  work,  he  again  took  up  its 
manufacture,  which  he  carries  on  in  connection 
with  his  professional  duties.  He  w.as  graduated 
from  the  Cincinnati  college  in  1889  and  the  liberal 
patronage  accorded  to  him  at  St.  John's  attests  his 
skill  and  ability. 

Dr.  Emerson  and  Miss  Mary  F.,  daughter  of  E. 
H.  Rogers,  were  united  in  marriage  in  October, 
1869.  For  a  full  history  of  Mrs.  Emerson's  par- 
ents, the  reader  is  referred  to  the  sketch  of  her  fa- 
ther found  on  another  page  in  this  volume.  To 
the  Doctor  and  his  wife  has  been  born  a  family 
of  five  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Tipton  (;..  Emma  and  JIaiul.  Emma  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  Bush  and  makes  her  home  in  Cl.ay  Town- 
ship, Auglaize  Comity. 

In  social  affairs,  the  Doctor  occupies  aliigh  posi- 
tion in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in 
this  place,  in  which  lodge  he  is  a  charter  member. 
He  has  occupied  all  the  chairs  in  the  order  and 
has  been  District  Deputy.     He  lias  also  been  a  mem- 


ber of  the  State  Medical  Association,  and  in  politics 
casts  a  straight  Republican  ballot.  He  has  always 
been  interested  in  educational  affairs  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  the 
past  twenty  years,  occupying  the  position  of  Clerk, 
most  of  the  time.  He  is  tlie  proprietor  of  seventy 
.acres  of  good  farming  land  which  is  operated  by  a 
tenant.  Mrs.  Emerson  is  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  with  her  worthy  hus- 
band has  a  wide  cirele  of  acquaintance  throughout 
this  countv. 


^ll'AMES  M.  AVEADUCK.  who  nobly  battled 
for  his  adopted  country  while  yet  a  vouth, 
and  sacrificed  tlie  opening  years  of  his  man- 
hood in  its  defense,  winning  a  bright  mili- 
tary record  of  which  he  and  his  may  well  be 
proud,  IS  a  practical,  wide-awake  farmer  and  stock- 
man, standing  among  the  first  of  his  class  in  Au- 
glaize Count}-,  and  he  owns  a  valuable,  well-ap- 
pointed farm  on  sections  16  and  17,  St.  Mary's 
Township,  which  he  leases  for  oil  purposes,  deriv- 
ing a  goodly  share  of  his  income  from  that  source. 
The  subject  of  this  review  is  tlie  eldest  son  of  a 
prominent  family,  and  is  a  native  of  County  Wex- 
ford, Ireland,  born  March  12, 18-13.  His  father,  Lewis 
AVeadock,  was  also  of  Irish  birth,  and  was  reared 
on  a  farm  in  his  native  island.  He  became  a 
stone  mason,  and  in  early  manhood  did  stone  work 
in  railway-  tunnels  in  Scotland.  In  tlie  season  of 
1847-48,  he  came  to  this  country,  and  in  1850  was 
joined  by  his  family  at  St.  Mary's.  He  h.ad  a  posi- 
tion here  as  Canal  Manager,  having  charge  of  sev- 
eral miles  of  the  canal  for  some  years.  In  1856, 
he  located  on  a  farm  in  Xoble  Township,  which 
he  had  previously  bought  in  a  wild  condition.  He 
built  a  cabin  and  devoted  himself  to  the  improve- 
ment of  his  propert}-,  clearing  away  the  brush  and 
preparing  the  land  for  cultivation.  He  was  doing 
well,  and  had  liis  farm  in  a  good  condition,  wlien 
his  life  of  usefulness  was  brought  to  a  close  in  De- 
cember. 1863.  at  the  age  i>f  f<.iitv-six.  when  scared}- 


40  4 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


past  his  prime.  He  and  his  family  had  suflfered 
greatly-  from  malarial  fever,  so  common  here  in  an 
earlj'  day  when  the  country  was  wild  and  un- 
drained.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Jlary 
Cullura,  and  she  too  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  Her 
age  when  she  died  was  sixty-three  years.  Both 
she  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Churcli,  and  were  highly  respected  by  the 
people  among  whom  they  had  come  to  build  up  a 
new  home.  They  had  seven  children.  Their  son, 
the  Hon.  Thomas  A.  E.  Weadock,  is  a  prominent 
lawyer  at  B.ay  City,  Mich.,  and  is  the  present  Rep- 
resentative of  the  Tenth  District  of  that  State  in 
Congress.  He  tauglit  school  here  in  his  younger 
d.iys,  and  afterwards  ol)tained  his  legal  education 
at  Ann  Arbor  prior  to  locating  at  Bay  City. 
George  AV.  Weadock,  e.x-Mayor  of  Saginaw,  Midi., 
taught  school  in  this  township  iu  his  .youth,  and 
also  in  Lima.  He  studied  law  at  Ann  Arbor,  and 
has  since  attained  prominence  in  his  profession 
and  in  the  public  life  of  Saginaw.  He  has  served 
two  terms  as  Mayor  of  that  city,  and  so  popul.ar  is 
he,  that  the  Republicans  made  no  nomination 
against  him  the  second  time  that  he  ran  for  the 
office.  Lewis  'SV.  Weadock  is  a  well-known  farmer 
of  this  county,,  and  owns  the  old  homestead  in 
Noble  Townsliip.  John  C.  Weadock,  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  of  Bay  City,  in  partnership  with 
his  brother,  began  life  .as  a  teacher  in  Michigan. 

In  his  boyhood,  .lames  JI.  We.adock,  of  whom 
we  write,  was  a  student  in  the  local  scliools  and 
secured  such  an  education  .as  was  obtainable  in  the 
old  log  schoolhouses  of  pioneer  times,  which  had 
not  then  given  way  to  the  modem  sehoolliouse. 
He  was  so  young  when  he  was  brought  to  this 
country,  that  he  can  scarce  have  any  recollections 
of  any  other  home,  and  his  course  during  the  war 
proved  him  to  be  as  loyal  and  patriotic  to  this 
CTOvernment.  under  whose  institutions  he  had  been 
reared,  as  if  he  had  been  "  native  and  to  the  man- 
or born."  He  was  only  nineteen  years  old  when 
he  enlisted,  August  10,  18<12,  in  Company  G,  Fif- 
tieth Ohio  Infantry,  comm.anded  by  Col.  S.  A. 
Strickland,  and  for  nearly  three  years  he  was  at 
the  front,  until  tlie  terril)Ie  war  was  over  and  his 
services  were  no  longer  needed  on  the  battlefield. 
He  fought  in  many  of  Uie  most  important  engage- 


ments of  the  various  campaigns  in  which  his  regi- 
ment took  part.  He  faced  the  enemy  at  Perrys- 
ville,  Ky.,  in  October,  1862,  and  again  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  in  December,  1863.  He  and  his  com- 
rades bore  a  cons])icuous  part  all  through  the  At- 
lanta campaign  from  the  commencement  at  Tun- 
nel Hill,  doing  some  hard  fighting  at  Kingston, 
Dallas,  Lost  Mountain,  Pine  Mountain,  in  the 
siege  and  capture  of  Atlanta,  and  in  the  battles  of 
Columbia,  Franklin,  Nashville  and  Spring  Hill, 
Tenn.  They  were  in  camp  at  R.aleigh,  N.  C,  when 
Johnston  suriendered  to  Sherman.  Mr.  We.adock 
and  others  were  left  to  garrison  Salisbur\-,  N.  C, 
and,  while  there,  he  assisted  in  putting  more  earth 
on  the  graves  of  those  comrades  who  had  fallen  in 
battle  and  had  not  been  half  buried.  He  endured 
with  great  fortitude  the  terrible  hardships  of  mili- 
tary life,  and,  though  he  was  sick  several  times, 
he  pluckily  refused  to  go  to  the  hospital,  prefer- 
ring to  remain  on  duty  as  long  as  he  could  hold 
his  rifle.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Salis- 
bury', N.  C,  .June  2G,  1865,  but  did  not  arrive 
home  until  August. 

After  his  return  from  the  South,  our  subject 
took  charge  of  the  old  homestead  in  Noble  Town- 
ship, and  generously  gave  his  jounger  brothers  a 
chance  to  secure  an  education,  while  he  looked 
carefully  after  their  interests.  In  1868,  he  mar- 
ried and  located  on  a  farm  in  St.  JIary's  Town- 
ship. In  1873,  he  purch.ascd  his  present  farm  in 
the  same  township.  It  was  in  a  wild,  uncultivated 
condition,  and  he  had  to  cut  away  the  brush  to 
clear  a  spot  on  which  to  erect  a  log  house  for  a 
dwelling.  He  labored  with  a  right  good  will,  and 
in  the  period  of  nearly  twent}-  jears  that  has 
elapsed  since  he  took  possession  qf  the  place,  he 
has  wrought  a  great  change,  and  his  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  are  in  a  fine  condition. 
He  raises  a  good  grade  of  stock,  and  does  a  good 
business  in  that  line. 

Our  subject's  domestic  life  is  very  ple.asant.  He 
has  a  cozy  home,  replete  with  comfort,  and  ably 
presided  over  by  his  wife,  who  looks  carefully 
after  her  household  matters.  Mrs.  Weadock's 
maiden  name  was  M.ary  McFarhand,  and  she  is  a 
native  of  Moulton  Township.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  James  E.  and   Rose  (Walker)   McFarland,  wlio 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUC.VL   RECORD. 


405 


were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Auglaize  County, 
her  father  locating  in  Moulton  Township  in  1835. 
He  died  Jul}'  21,  1875,  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weadock  have  eight  children:  Lewis  J., 
Bernard  A.,  George  W..  .lohn  F.,  Edward,  Leo, 
Clara  and  Edith. 

Mr.  Weadock  is  a  man  of  good  mental  ability, 
is  well  informed  in  regard  to  all  matters  of  inter- 
est, is  prompt  and  enterprising  in  the  management 
of  his  affairs,  his  neighbors  find  him  a  sound  and 
safe  counselor,  and  the  value  of  his  citizenship  is 
beyond  question.  Heisindependent  in  home  poli- 
tics, but  is  found  with  the  Democrats  when  na- 
tional issues  are  presented.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  fourteen  years,  holding  a 
school  office  for  twelve  years  successively.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  in  liigh  stand- 
ing of  the  Catholic  Church. 


LLEN  HL'BER.  Every  community  h.as 
among  its  citizens  a  few  men  of  rccog- 
11  nized  influence  and  ability,  who,  by  their 
systematic  .and  careful,  thorough  manner 
of  work,  attain  to  a  success  which  is  justly  de- 
served. Prominent  anning  this  class  is  Mr.  Allen 
Huber.  who  from  boyhood  h.as  given  Ihe  occupa- 
tion of  agriculture  the  principal  part  of  his  time 
and  attention.  In  him  the  community  has  a  faith- 
ful and  unswerving  friend,  ever  ready  to  serve  its 
best  interests,  and  generous  in  his  contributions 
toward  every  movement  tending  to  the  general 
advancement. 

His  father,  jNIan.asses  Hulier,  was  a  native  of 
Rockingham  Count}",  \a..  liorn  in  180(3,  and  his 
grandfather,  .John  Huber,  w.as  born  in  Pennsylva- 
nia. The  great-grandfatlier  came  from  Germany 
to  America  at  an  early  date,  settled  m  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  there  followed  the  trade  of  a  miller.  He 
died  there  when  about  fifty  years  of  age.  and  had 
two  sons  in  the  War  of  181l'.  The  father  of  our 
subject  learned  the  iiiillci'j  Uadf,    but    never   fol- 


lowed it.  He  also  learned  blacksmithing  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  as  this  suited  his  taste  better,  he  followed 
it,  in  connection  with  farming,  for  thirty  j-ears. 
He  came  on  horseb.ack  from  the  Old  Dominion  to 
Ohio  in  18.3.3,  journeying  through  Tennessee, 
where  he  had  a  brother  living,  and  from  there  to 
this  State.  He  made  his  home  with  a  brotlier  near 
DeGraff,  and  worked  at  his  trade,  but  subsequently 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  from 
the  Government  (183.3).  This  was  in  the  woods, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  cut  away  the  brush  and 
trees  to  build  a  log  cabin.  This  country  was  then 
the  hunter's  paradise,  for  wild  game  abounded, 
and  Mr.  Huber  often  trapped  wolves,  otter,  bea- 
ver, etc.  He  followed  blacksmithing  for  a  large 
scope  of  country,  and  also  cleared  up  the  farm,  on 
which  he  soon  made  many  improvements.  He 
started  out  for  himself  with  onl}-  a  horse,  and 
worked  for  his  brother  at  the  blacksmith  trade  for 
$100  per  year.  He  w.as  industrious  and  frugal, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1872,  he  W!is  the  owner  of  seven  luindred  and 
fifteen  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Huber  w.as  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Churcli,  w,as  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
the  same,  and  preaching  was  held  in  his  house  for 
eight  or  ten  years  before  churches  were  built  in 
that  section.  He  was  Chiss-leader  and  Steward 
nearly  all  the  time,  an<i  was  prominent  in  all  af- 
fau'S  of  importance.  He  was  Capt;\in  of  the  Light 
Horse  Infantry  iu  the  Ohio  militia,  and  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  holding  mostof  the  township 
offices.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  MaKenson,  a  na- 
tive of  Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  the  following 
ten  children  were  born  to  them:  Allen,  Margaret, 
Isaiah,  Sarah,  T\Ta  A.,  Elsie  L.,  Elizabeth  (who 
died  when  nineteen  years  of  age),  Marion  (de- 
ceased). Thomas  (deceased),  and  .lohn  (deceajed). 
The  mother  is  still  living.  Her  pa;ents.  .John 
and  Elizabeth  (Walkice)  ^laKenson,  were  natives 
of  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Logan  County,  Ohio, 
in  the  year  1818.  settling  in  Plea-sant  Town- 
ship, where  they  developed  a  good  farm, and  there 
p.assed  away.  (Trandraothcr  JIaKenson's  father 
was  Col.  Walhiee,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and  of 
Irish  descent. 

On  the  farm  in  Logan  Count)',  our  suiijectgrew 


•406 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGR^^rmCAL   RECORD. 


to  manhood,  :ind  in  the  log  schoolliouses  of  that 
county  he  was  taught  the  "three  R"s."  In  the  first 
schoolhouse  he  attended  was  the  open  fireplace 
with  mud  and  stick  chimney',  slab  benches  with 
pin  legs,  etc.,  .Subscription  schools  were  in  vogue 
then,  and  tlie  teacher  boarded  aroun<].  Our 
.-iubjoct  romaiiicd  on  the  home  place  until  the 
death  of  the  father,  and  w.as  married  on  the  14th 
of  June.  1876,  to  Miss  Anna  M.  H.all,  a  native  of 
Stokes  Township,  this  county,  born  on  the  18th  of 
March,  1846.  (For  ancestry  see  sketch  of  David 
Hall  in  this  volume.)  Seven  children  have  blessed 
this  union,  .and  are  named  as'follows:  Delmer  A., 
Sar.ah  L.,  William  T.,  Jlinnie  i\r.,  Charles  S.,  Anna 
P.  and  Forest  M. 

Of  the  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
owned  by  our  subject,  nearly  all  is  improved  and 
under  cultivation.  ]Mr.  Ilubcr  has  made  nearly 
all  the  improvements,  and  cleared  one  hundred 
acres  of  the  land  himself.  He  raises,  buys,  feeds 
and  ships  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep,  and  is  one  of  the 
wide-awake  and  thorough-going  men  of  tlic  coun- 
t\'.  He  built  his  present  residence,  a  ple.asant  and 
commodious  frame  house,  in  1882,  and  his  bams 
and  outbuildings  are  substantial  and  ornamental. 
He  and  Mrs.  Huber  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church  at  Bloom  Centre,  and  lie  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party  in  his  political  views.  He  served 
.as  Trustee  and  Real-estate  Assessor  of  the  town- 
sliip,  and  lias  held  other  local  positions.  He  has 
been  unusually  successful,  and  is  a  man  of  means 
and  prominence  in  his  section. 


i$,EORGE  LITTLE.JOHN,  the  owner  and  oc- 
cupant of  a  finely-improved  farm  in  .lack- 
ii^JX\  son  Township,  SheDiy  County,  and  a  vet- 
eran of  the  late  war,  is  a  well-known  representative 
of  a  patriotic  and  pioneer  family,  whose  members 
have  contributed  to  the  growth  and  development 
of  the  resources  of  the  Buckeye  State.  His  pater- 
nal  grandfather.  Edward   Littlcjohn,  was  a  native 


of  Virginia,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  sei-ved  as 
a  soldier  during  tlie  War  of  1812,  receiving  his 
discharge  on  account  of  a  wound  resultmg  from  a 
tree  falling  upon  him. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Amos  Sutton,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  who  re- 
moved to  Ohio  aliout  the  year  1800,  settling  in 
Greene  County  and  later  removing  to  Clarke  Coun- 
ty, where  he  spent  his  remaining  d.avs.  The  parents 
of  our  subject,  Morris  W.  .and  Sarah  (Sutton)  Lit- 
llejohn,  were  natives  respectively  of  Berkeley 
Count}-,  Va.,  and  Greene  County,  Ohio,  the  father 
born  April  .30,  1813,  and  the  mother,  January  4 
of  the  same  year.  They  were  married  in  Clarke 
Count}',  Ohio,  November  10,  1839,  and  resided  for 
ten  years  thereafter  at  North  Hampton,  that  county, 
removing  thence  in  April,  1849,  to  Port  Jefferson, 
Shelby  County,  w^here  he  worked  at  liis  trade.  In 
185.5,  they  returned  to  Clarke  County  on  account 
of  the  prevalence  of  fever  and  ague  in  the  vicinity 
of  Port  Jefferson,  but  three  years  later  again  came 
to  Shelby  Count}-. 

In  18.56,  the  father  of  our  subject  settled  on  sec- 
tion IB,  Jackson  Township,  on  forty  acres  of  wild 
land,  on  which  he  built  a  log  house  and  cloareil  a 
farm.  Some  years  later,  he  sold  the  place  to  Da- 
rius Glick,  and,  removing  to  section  22.  commenced 
the  cultivation  of  forty  acres  of  partly-improved 
land.  There  he  resided  until  his  death,  August  14, 
1874.  His  wife  survived  until  July  29,  1890.  They 
were  devoted  Cliristians  and  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  thirty-five 
years,  while  his  wife  w.-is  first  identified  with  the 
Seven th-d.ay  Baptist  Chui-ch,  but  joined  the  !Meth- 
odist  Church  in  18.51.  Devoted  to  the  welfare  of 
his  church,  he  served  it  in  various  capacities  and 
was  Class-leader  during  almost  his  entire  active 
life.     Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  ten  children, 
only  three  of  wliom  are  now  living:  our  subject, 
Mrs.  Maggie  Maxson  and  Marion  Omer.  The  first- 
named  was  born  January  2,  1843,  and  p.assed  his 
early  childhood  days  in  his  native  place,  Clarke 
County.  He  received  a  common-school  education 
at  Port  Jeffereon.  whither  he  removed  with  his 
parents  when  a  child  of  six  years.  Wlien  seven- 
teen veal's  old,  he  commenced  to  wurk  for  liis  uncle. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


407 


Joseph  Davis,  on  a  f.irni  in  Clarke  County,  receiv- 
ing $13  per  month,  half  of  which  he  gave  to  his 
father  while  the  remainder  was  u.sed  in  buying  his 
clothes. 

August  0,  1862.  our  subject  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I.  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Ohio  Infantry, 
and  with  his  regiment  marched  to  Parkersburg. 
Va.,  where  he  did  guard  duty  for  two  weeks. 
Thence  he  proceeded  to  Clarksburg,  Va.,  from 
there  to  Kew  Creek,  the  same  State,  and  accompan- 
ied the  expedition  to  Winchester,  where  he  partici- 
pated in  the  engagement  of  June  14,  1863.  He  was 
in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  and  while  repulsing  the 
enemy's  charge  was  twice  wounded,  a  minie-ball 
penetrating  the  left  elbow  and  breaking  the  joint, 
while  another  b.all  cut  a  gash  four  inches  long 
.across  his  body.  Through  a  fierce  fire  of  shot  and 
shell  from  both  sides,  he  walked  one  and  one-half 
miles  to  the  hospital,  which  on  the  following  morn- 
ing fell  into  the  h.ands  of  the  enemy.  Fifty  of  the 
inmates  were  retained  there,  our  subject  among 
the  number,  until  August  l,when  the  hospital  was 
recaptured  by  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 
Our  subject  was  removed  to  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
three  days  later  was  taken  to  the  Jarvis  United 
States  General  Hospital  at  Balitmore,  INId.,  where 
he  remained  until  January  1,  18G4. 

On  being  transferred  to  the  Second  Battalion,Vet- 
eran  Reserve  Corps,  by  a  general  order  dated  March 
23,  18G4,  Mr.  Littlejohn  w.as  put  on  dutj-  at  New- 
ton University  Hospital,  on  the  corner  of  North 
and  Lexington  Streets,  Baltimore,  where  he  re- 
mained until  July  26.  He  was  then  transferred  to 
Annapolis.  Md..  where  he  was  on  duty  as  Acting 
Hospital  Steward  at  the  Naval  Academy  Hospital 
until  M.ay  4, 18G.5,his  special  duty  being  to  receive 
Union  prisoners  from  Andersonville.  L.astly,  Jlr. 
Littlejohn  was  sent  to  the  Hicks  United  States 
General  Hospital  at  Baltimore,  where  he  remained 
.as  Company  Clerk  until  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  service.  After  having  served  with  valor  and 
distinction  for  three  yeai's,one  month  and  twenty- 
four  days,  he  w.as  honorably  discharged.  October 
2,  1865,  and.  returning  to  Ohio,  resumed  farming 
oiierations  in  Clarke  Cfiunty. 

Janu.iry  3.  1S67.  Mr.  Littlejohn  was  married  to 
Miss  Kniily  .V.  Sniilh.  wlm  was  boi'n  in  Champaign 


County,  Ohio,  February-  3,  1815.  Her  parents, 
John  H.  and  Eliz.abeth  (Buraker)  Smith,  were  early 
settlers  of  C)hio,  coming  to  Clarke  County  about 
1835,  and  removing  thence  to  Champaign  County 
and  from  there  to  Jackson  Township,  Shelliy 
County.  By  a  j)revious  marriage,  Jlr.  Smith  was 
the  father  of  nine  children,  and  he  and  his  second 
wife  also  had  a  family  of  nine  children.  Five  of 
his  sons  were  soldiers  m  the  Civil  War,  and  one  of 
them,  David,  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  1864. 
Joseph  was  wounded  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  a 
portion  of  his  skull  being  injured  so  as  to  necessi- 
tate removal  and  the  insertion  of  a  silver  plate  in 
its  stead.  Ten  years  afterward,  he  died  from  the 
effects  of  the  wound.  Mi:  Smith  died  October  20, 
1865,  an<I  his  widow  receives  a  pension  on  account 
of  his  services  in  the  W.ar  of  1812. 

After  their  marriage,  our  subject  and  his  wife 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Green  Township,  Shelby 
County,  but  two  years  later  removed  to  Orange 
Township,  where  they  made  their  home  on  thirty 
acres  of  partly-improved  land.  In  1876.  they  lo- 
cated on  the  homestead  where  they  still  reside  and 
where  they  own  ninety-six  acres  of  good  land. 
Their  nine  children  are  all  living,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Ida,  who  died  when  eleven  months  old. 
Harry,  her  twin  brother,  now  lives  in  California; 
Denton  AV.  is  a  resident  of  Wisconsin;  Luella,  ilrs. 
Marion  F.  Clayton,  resides  in  J.ackson  Township 
and  is  the  mother  of  one  child;  William  Orla,  Ollie 
E.,  Chailie,  Eva  and  Nellie  are  at  home. 

For  fourteen  years,  Mr.  Littlejohn  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
has  served  as  Steward,  Cl.ass-leader  and  Trustee. 
His  wife  has  been  identified  with  the  same  denom- 
ination for  over  thirty  years.  For  sixteen  j-ears, 
he  has  served  as  Director  of 'his  school  district  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Township  Board  of  Edu- 
cation for  the  same  period.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Lodge  No.  458,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  J.ackson  Cen- 
tre, and  has  occupied  the  positions  of  Senior  and 
Junior  Warden,  Treasurer  and  Senior  Deacon.  He 
is  also  identitied  with  Smith  Post  No.  61,  G.  A.  R., 
at  Jackson  Centre,  the  Sons  of  Temperance  and 
the  Grange,  in  which  he  has  served  as  Master.  In 
his  political  lielief,  he  i?  a  Hepulilicau  and  ca?t  his 
tirst  Presidential  ballot  for  .Vbialuun  Lincoln  at  his 


408 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


second  election.  His  fellow-citizens  have  called 
hira  to  several  positions  of  trust,  where  he  lias  been 
able  to  render  effective  service  for  the  community. 
For  three  terms,  he  was  Trustee  of  Orange  Town- 
ship and  for  one  term  filled  the  same  office  in  Jaclt- 
son  Township.  lie  also  served  as  Assessor  for  one 
term,  and  in  addition  has  occupied  other  offices  of  a 
local  nature. 


/^  IIARLES  K.  THOMSON.  There  are  very 
[li  f*""   branches   of  business,   if  any,  that   re- 

^^Jr'  quire  more  consideration  and  sympathetic 
feeling  than  tliat  in  which  our  subject  is  engaged, 
funeral  director  and  emb.alnier.  Their  services  are 
only  called  in  under  the  most  trying  circumstances 
tliat  can  befall  a  family  or  friends,  and  the  utmost 
tact,  coupled  witli  decision  and  perfect,  unostenta- 
tious knowledge  of  the  business,  is  required.  In 
these  points,  Mr.  Thomson,  whose  office  is  at  No. 
824  Jlain  Avenue,  is  well  grounded  by  nature  and 
experience,  and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  in 
his  line  in  tlie  Slate.  He  lias  been  engaged  in  this 
business  here  since  1887,  and  was  tlie  first  era- 
balmer  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

BIr.  Thomson  was  born  in  Troy,  Oliio,  on  the 
16th  of  March,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Joel  T. 
and  Helen  (Gilkerson)  Thomson.  The  grandfather 
was  first  Sheriff  of  Jliami  County,  and  our  subject's 
father  was  born  in  the  jail  residence,  and  was  of 
Scotch  parentage.  The  latter  was  engaged  for  many 
years  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business, 
but  later  in  life  embarked  in  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness alone.  The  original  of  this  notice  was  in  busi- 
ness with  him  for  twelve  j'ears,  and  at  the  time  of 
the  death  of  the  father  they  had  buried  eleven 
thousand  people.  Joel  T.  Thomson  w.as  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cliurch,  and  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  for  many  years.  His  wife  was  a 
native  of  the  Blue  Grass  regions  of  Kentucky, 
and  came  with  her  mother  to  New  Carlisle,  Clarke 
County,  Oliio,  where  she  made  her  home  until 
married.  Eight  children  were  born  to  tliem,  two  of 
whi^m  are  now  deceased. 


Charles  E.  Thomson  received  his  education  in 
the  Union  School  of  Troy,  Ohio,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  an  undertaker  of  his  father,  remaining  with 
hira  for  some  time.  After  doing  common  embalm- 
ing, he  spent  one  year  in  a  medical  college,  per- 
fecting himself  in  arterial  embalming,  and  was  one 
of  the  fii-st  who  followed  practical,  thorough  em- 
balming in  this  State.  Mr.  Thomson  was  with 
his  father  in  the  business  in  Tro}'  until  1887,  and 
owned  a  h.alf- interest  in  the  business  there.  He 
then  disposed  of  this  to  his  brother  at  Troy,  and 
has  since  followed  business  at  Sidney.  He  has 
been  called  to  Cincinnati  and  other  cities  around 
to  do  thorough  embalming,  and  his  territory  ex- 
tends twenty  miles  in  every  direction. 

On  the24tli  of  October,  1877,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Jennie  L.  Armstrong,  of  New  Carlisle,  and 
the  two  children  born  of  this  union,  Jes^sie  and 
Walter,  died  at  the  age  of  five  and  a-half  years 
and  eighteen  months,  respectivel}'.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomson  are  worthy  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Cliurch,  and  are  highly  esteemed  in  the  community. 
Mr.  Thomson  has  shown  his  appreciation  of  secret 
organizations  by  becoming  a  member  of  tlie  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  is  an  active  member  of  both  organi- 
zations. He  has  buried  two  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  people,  and  has  improved  tlie 
business  of  undertaking  in  Sidney  from  the  old 
way  to  the  fine  and  scientific  manner  of  to-day, 
He  has  resided  in  the  Buckeye  State  all  his  life, 
and  is  a  gentleman  highly  esteemed  for  his  many 
intrinsic  qualities. 


PAVID  J.  DAVIS,  Postmaster  of  Wapakoneta, 
is  well  known  in  this  city,  and  greatly 
respected  for  tliose  qualities  of  head  and 
heart  that  have  won  hira  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  all  with  whom  he  associates.  He  is  pop- 
ular in  liis  official  cap.acity,  and  is  discharging  the 
duties  of  his  position  with  characteristic  fidelity 
and  gre.atly  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

A   native  of  this  State,  onr  subject  was  born 
July  '23,  18jO,  in  Spring  Valley,  Greene   County, 


'^^^T^^^^^'^p^-^y^  "^ 


^^^^^^^^.^^^t^^yO^-^^^-^^  P/(^, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Colledge)  Davis, 
both  of  whom  hail  from  England.  They  were 
quite  3'oung  when  they  came  to  the  Tnited  States, 
the  father  taking  up  his  abode  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  lie  was  a  woolen  manufacturer.  Thence  he 
came  to  this  State,  and  in  1807  located  in  AVapa- 
koneta,  where  he  is  now  living  retired  from  the 
active  duties  of  life. 

Young  Davis,  of  this  sketch,  learned  the  trade 
of  a  woolen  manuf.icturer  from  his  father,  which 
line  of  work  he  folloned  until  he  was  aiipointed 
Deputy  Postmaster  in  1876,  lieing  the  incumbent 
of  the  position  for  seven  and  one-half  years. 
Inuring  the  Presidency  of  Mr.  Arthur,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster  and  served  one  term,  then 
engaging  in  the  grocery  business,  he  built  up  a  tine 
trade,  and  continued  so  emiiloycd  until  appointed 
to  his  present  position  by  President  Harrison. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  city  nearly  all  his 
life,  and  has  an  extensive  acquaintjince  through- 
out the  countv. 

Miss  Zidana  L.  L.ayton.  a  native  of  Auglaize 
Countj-,  Ohio,  became  the  wife  of  our  subject  in 
1874,  and  the  two  children  born  of  this  union 
bear  the  respective  names  of  Otho  C.  and  "Wilbur 
L.  The  parents  are  members  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  of  which  denomination  the  two 
sons  are  also  firm  adherents.  Mr.  Davis  is  in 
social  matters  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  having  passed 
all  the  chairs  in  that  order,  and  at  the  present 
time  is  Alternate.  He  is  also  connected  with  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  and  was  Representative  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  two  terms.  He  is  considered  one 
of  the  most  substantial  and  best  respected  resi- 
dents of  this  city,  and  is  a  man  of  much  en- 
ergy, tact  and  business  capacity. 


D. 


The   medical 


^^^HOJLVS  WALKL'P.  M. 
^/'^\N  profession  has  at  all  times  attracted  to  its 
V^'  practice  men  of  brfiad  knowledge  and  ex- 
ceptional abilities.  The  village  of  Loraniie's  has 
been  the  home  of  several  aide  pi-actitioiiers.  aiming 
whom  none  are  held  in   greater    e.-teein    than    tlic 


gentleman  whose  portrait  and  biographical  sketch 
are  here  presented.  He  was  born  in  McLean  Town- 
ship, this  county, November  23, 1858, and  is  theson 
of  -John  Walkup,  who  came  from  his  native  coun- 
try, Ireland,  to  America  with  his  parents  when  quite 
young.  The  latter  located  in  Sidney-,  and  came 
from  there  to  McLean  Township,  where  the  father 
of  our  subject  grew  to  manhood  and  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer.  He  is  still  residing  tliere, 
and  occupies  a  high  position  among  the  agricul- 
turists of  his  community.  For  twenty  3-ears  he 
h.as  held  the  otlice  of  Township  Trustee  and  has 
served  as  County  Commissioner  for  two  terms. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  w.as  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Maiy  Jane  F^dwards  and  by  her 
union  with  ;\Ir.  Walkup  became  the  niijther  of  a 
family  of  six  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
eldest.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  was 
given  a  good  education  in  the  schools  near  his 
home.  He  aided  his  father  in  carrying  on  the 
estate  until  reaching  his  m.ajority,  and  when  start- 
ing out  for  himself  became  a  contractor  and  builder, 
erecting  many  of  the  edifices  in  his  communitv, 
also  building  pikes,  bridges,  etc.  It  was  his  desire 
to  become  a  bridge-builder,  but  he  w.as  obliged  to 
abandon  that  line  of  work  on  .account  of  sickness. 
He  then  decided  to  adopt  the  calling  of  a  physician, 
and  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  1883.  reading 
with  Dr.  E.  B.  H.amer, of  Loramie's.  He  later  took 
a  couree  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute  at  Cin- 
cinnati, from  which  college  he  w.as  giaduated  in 
1887  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine. 

On  receiving  his  diploma.  Dr.  Walkup  located  in 
Minster  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  but  after  re- 
maining there  a  few  weeks,  was  called  to  Loramie's 
by  the  death  of  his  former  instructor,  Dr.  Hamer, 
and  succeeded  to  his  large  practice.  He  is  public- 
spirited,  progressive  and  influential  in  all  matters 
connected  with  his  community,  and  enjovs  thecon- 
fiiience  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  is  connected 
in  business.as  well  as  the  aflfection  of  his  more  inti- 
mate .associates.  His  practice  is  constantiv  increas- 
ing and  he  is  deserving  of  all  the  u'lMid  fortune 
that  may  be  allotted  to  him. 

Dr.  Walkup  and  :^Iis.s  Mary,  daughter  of  CleiiK^its 
r)roes.  were  uiiilerl  m  marriatre  in  1MS7.  llcr  father 
is  a  native  of  this  State  ;iiid  is  en:.'ai;ed  at  his  trade 


41-2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  a  carriage-maker  at  Minster.  To  the  Doctor 
and  bis  wife  lias  been  born  a  daughter,  Helen.  Mrs. 
"VValkup  is  a  Catholic  in  religious  matters.  In  poli- 
tics, the  Doctor  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Village  Board  for  some  time.  He  is 
connected  with  the  Minster  Building  and  Savings 
Company,  and  is  alw.ays  willing  to  contribute  his 
time  and  money  to  promote  any  worthy  public 
enterprise. 


<^LKXANDER  MARTIN.  Among  the  in- 
I^O     fliuential    and    representative    citizens    of 

/|nii  Monroe  Township,  Logan  County,  Ohio, 
&J  Mr.    Martin    stands    pre-eminent,    and    a 

short  sketch  of  his  life  will  no  doubt  prove  inter- 
esting. He  was  born  in  this  township,  Februarj- 
20,  1834:,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  Martin,  and 
the  grandson  of  Rev.  George  Martin,  a  native  of 
Germany,  it  is  supposed,  who  was  a  preacher  in 
the  Ornish  Church,  The  latter  came  to  Ohio  some 
time  in  the  \ear  1800,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Champaign  County.  He  had  a  son 
Daniel,  who  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  died 
in  his  ninety-second  year.  Another  son,  Abram, 
and  a  daughter,  Polly,  are  still  living  .and  have 
been  residents  of  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  for 
the  past  seventy  ye.ars.  Neither  have  ever  married 
and  Abram  is  about  eight3'-one  years  of  age  and 
Polly  about  eighty-eight  years, 

Benjamin  Martin,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  near  Harrisburgh,  Pa.,  and  when  but  a 
small  bi>y  came  with  liis  parents  to  Ohio.  lie  sub- 
sequently made  his  home  in  Logan  County,  and  w.as 
married  there  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Burnside,  a  native 
of  the  Old  Dominion,  born  in  1808,  She  was  but 
ei'^ht  vears  of  age  when  she  came  with  her  parents, 
Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Gillin)  Burnside, to  Ohio, 
and  in  the  Buckeye  State  she  passed  her  girlhood. 
She  is  now  living  and  enjo\-s  comparatively  good 
health  for  her  eighty-f'^ur  years.  Tlie  father  died 
uiien  liftv-nine  Years  old.  They  were  the  parents  of 


seven  children,  three  daughters  and  four  sons,  all 
but  one  now  living, and  all  born  in  Logan  County. 
They  were  as  follows:  Harriet,  wife  of  David 
Short;  Mary,  Mrs.  Underbill,  of  Logan  County; 
Gabriel,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  with 
his  mother;  Alexander,  our  subject;  Abram,  a 
farmer  of  Davis  County,  Iowa;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Harrison  Pellet,  of  Fort  Scott,  Kan.,  and  Benjamin 
who  died  in  the  service  of  his  country  in  1862. 

Alexander  Martin  was  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birtb  of  the  above-mentioned  children  and  his  first 
and  only  schooling  was  received  in  Monroe  Town- 
ship, this  county.  Until  twenty-eight  years  of  age, 
he  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  in 
18.55,  he  and  his  two  brothers,  Gabriel  .and  Abram, 
took  a  $5,000  contract  on  the  Bellefontaine  ik  Dela- 
ware Railroad,  and  after  accomplishing  about 
82.500  worth  of  work  the  railroad  company  failed. 
He  .and  his  brothei-s  took  property  in  Bellefon- 
taine for  pay  and  traded  this  for  land  in  the  town- 
ship. They  received  no  pay  from  the  company 
and  of  course  lost  considerable.  On  the  10th  of 
March,  1864,  our  subject  was  married  in  Jefferson 
Township,  Logan  Count\-,  Ohio,  to  Jliss  Rachel  J., 
daughter  of  James  A,  and  Louisa  (Jacobs)  "Wilgus, 
and  a  native  of  Logan  County,  Ohio,  bom  on  the 
8th  of  April,  1844. 

Following  his  marriage,  Jlr.  Martin  located 
in  Rush  Creek  Township,  Logan  Count}',  Ohio, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  his  present  property, 
where  he  has  continued  ever  since.  Although 
]Mr,  and  ]Mrs,  Martin  have  no  children  of  their 
own,  they  have  reared  five  children.  Our  subject 
has  a  farm  of  sixty-five  acres  and  has  a  good  breed 
of  stock  on  his  farm.  He  is  enterprising  and 
progressive  and  makes  every  acre  pay.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  socially  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  424.,  I,  O,  O.  F.,  at  Zanesfield.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Friends'  Church  of  Westland,  Mon- 
roe Township,  and  gives  liberally  of  his  means  to 
further  its  interests.  He  comes  of  a  long-lived 
stock  and  has  an  uncle  who,  although  ninety-two 
yeare  old,  does  a  man's  work.  Another  uncle  re- 
sidinir  in  Davenport.  Iowa,  is  over  eighty  years 
of  aee.  The  longevity  of  the  Burnside  family  is 
nlxi  unusual,  gi-andfather  Burnside  having  lived 
to  be  iiinetv-nino  vears  of  aae.     The  latter  had  an 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


■113 


Hint  who  reached  the  marvelous  age  of  one  hun- 
Ired  and  fifteen  years.  She  was  a  Virginian  and 
;t  is  said  that  at  ninety  years  of  age  she  could 
-land  on  the  ground  and  jump  on  the  back  of  a 
ommon  horse. 


R.KV.  GEORGE  W.  HAMILTON.  For  more 
than  seventeen  j'ears  this  gentk^iian  has 
been  aiding  in  the  spread  of  the  Gospel, 
devoting  himself  with  assiduity  and  loving 
zeal  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  The  center  of 
his  present  field  of  Labor  is  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  the  city  of  Bellefontaine, 
\vhere  he  has  held  pastorate  for  four  years.  He  is 
a  man  of  broad  intelligence,  decided  literary  abil- 
ity, and  the  dignified,  yet  winning,  manners  so 
thoroughly  in  keeping  with  his  profession. 

(')ur  subject  was  born  in  Xew  "Wilmington,  Pa.. 
March  I,  1848.  and  is  the  son  of  George  and  Re- 
Ijecca  (Strain)  Hamilton,  both  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone State  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  The 
grandfather,  James  Hamilton,  came  to  America  in 
1792.  and  located  in  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  where 
he  carried  on  his  occupation  of  a  farmer.  He  had 
two  sons  who  participated  in  the  "U'ar  of  1812. 

George  Hamilton,  Sr.,  was  also  a  farmer  and 
took  consider.able  interest  in  local  affairs,  being 
the  incumbent  of  many  county  offices.  He  emi- 
grated to  Iowa  in  middle  life,  where  his  decease 
occurred.  He  was  the  father  of  a  family  includ- 
ing seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  The  latter 
completed  his  education  in  the  Monmouth  (111.) 
College,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  1872.  Having  decided  to  follow  the  ministry, 
lie  pursued  his  theological  studies  at  Xenia.  this 
State,  and  also  took  a  coui-se  at  the  Northwestern 
Theological  Seminary  at  Chicago,  under  the  in- 
struction of  Dr.  Y.  L.  Patton,  D.  D. 

Mr.  Hamilton,  of  thi^  sketcOi.  w:i.>  licensed  to 
preach  in  .Tune.  IST.'j.aml  was  ordaiiu-d  and  given 
:i  chnige  at  Elviin.  biwa.   in    Maicli.  1>;77.     Three 


yeare  later,  he  became  pastor  of  a  church  at  Little 
York,  111.,  and  in  1886  w.as  engaged  in  organizing 
missions  m  the  Northwest,  after  which  he  acted 
as  representative  and  financial  agent  of  the  Mon- 
mouth College  for  about  eighteen  months.  Mr. 
Hamilton  next  assumed  the  p.astorate  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  of  this  place,  taking  up  his 
residence  here  in  December,  1888,  just  after  the 
completion  of  the  new  and  elegant  church  edifice. 
The  growth  of  the  congregation  during  his  resi- 
dence here  has  been  gratifying,  and  the  good 
which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hamilton  has  accomplished  in 
the  uplifting  of  humanitj-  can  only  be  measured 
when  time  shall  be  no  more.  The  church  is  one 
of  the  oldest  organizations  in  the  city,  it  hav- 
ing been  established  with  the  settlement  of  the 
country. 

Mr.  H.amilton  of  this  sketch  and  ^liss  Anna  C. 
Young  were  united  in  marriage  in  1878.  His  wife 
dying,  our  subject  in  1890  chose  for  his  second 
companion  Mrs.  Ella  (Howenstine)  Miller.  Mrs. 
Hamilton  i^  the  mother  of  three  children  bv  her 
first  marriage,  and  by  her  second  marriage  one 
child,  Helen.  Our  suliject  is  a  member  of  the 
College  Board  of  his  Alma  Mater,  and  is  one  of 
the  representative  ministers  of   his   denomination. 


SiS^^^S'-^ 


m^^m-^m^^ 


ILLIAM  TSCHUDIN,  a  prominent  citizen 


faithfully  in  the  late  unpleasantness  be- 
tween the  North  and  .S(juth.  was  born  in  the  pic- 
turesque and  lovely  mountains  of  Switzerland  on 
the  16lh  of  November.  1844,  and  his  boyhood 
days  were  passed  in  the  city  of  Basle,  where  his 
birth  occurred.  His  father.  Jacob  Tschudin.  was 
also  a  native  of  Switzerland  and  a  silk  weaver  bv 
trade,  working  in  the  factories  where  silk  ribbons 
were  made.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  brouirht  our  sub- 
ject to  tliis  ciiuiilry.  ami  here  pas.-ed  the  remainder 
of  her  (lays,  dying  ,m  the  .Id  of  Jaiiuaiy.  1885. 
when  in  her  >eveiil\'-lir^t  vear. 


414 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  subject  of  tliis  sketch  received  a  good  prac- 
tienl  education  in  the  scliools  of  his  native  town, 
and  was  about  tliirteeu  years  of  age  when  lie  came 
t<i  tliis  country  with  his  niothei'.  Tliis  was  in 
18.37.  They  sailed  from  Havre,  France,  and  in 
crossing  the  ocean,  young  Tschudin  w.as  very  sick, 
only  recovering  when  he  reached  American  soil. 
Immediately  after  landing,  he  came  direct  to  Cin- 
cinnati, where  he  attended  school  for  a  short  time, 
lie  then  learned  tlie  shoemaker's  trade,  but  aban- 
doned it  for  a  short  time,  and  in  the  spring  of 
18G1,  while  in  Cincinnati,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
D.  Twenty-eight.  Ohio,  for  three  years,  under 
Col.  .\.  Moore.  On  the  lOth  of  September  of  that 
year,  he  p.articipated  iu  the  battle  of  Cannibick's 
Ferry  (W.  Va.),  then  Princeton  (Va.),  South 
Mountain,  Antielam,  Piedmont  and  others.  He 
was  discharged  at  Cincinnati  at  the  expiration  of 
his  three  years  of  service.  In  1862,  he  w.as  sick 
for  some  time  and  was  given  a  furlough  to  come 
home,  bnt  later,  on  the  31st  of  Blay,  1868,  he  re- 
enlisted  in  the  regular  service,  and  -was  assigned 
to  the  Eighth  United  States  Cavalry,  being  sent  to 
Oregon.  He  went  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  from 
New  York,  and  served  five  years,  participating  in 
several  Indian  expeditions  and  seeing  much  of 
AVestern  life.  He  was  on  duty  at  Camp  Logan 
(Ore.),  Camp  JIcDermit  (Nev.),  and  Ft.  Union, 
( N.  :M.).  From  there  he  w.as  sent  on  a  scouting  ex- 
pedition to  Arizona  and  was  thus  engaged  most  of 
the  time.  He  was  in  most  of  the  Territories,  was 
m  many  encounters  with  the  Indians,  and  had  his 
liorse  shot  from  under  him.  In  1872,  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Ft.  Garland,  Colo.,  having  been  pro- 
moted to  be  Sergeant  in  the  regular  service. 

Returning  to  New  Bremen,  Mr.  Tschudin  en- 
o-aii-ed  in  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  this  continued 
up  to  about  1886,  since  wliich  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  house  painting.  He  has  been  twice 
married,  first  on  the  Snth  of  October.  1873,  to  Mrs. 
Margaret  (Entrees)  Wachtler,  who  was  .also  twice 
married.  She  passed  away  on  the  9tli  of  August, 
1887.  leaving  no  issue.  On  the  22d  of  November. 
188'.),  Mr.  Tscluidin  united  his  fortune  witli  that 
of  Mi."  Louisa  Weimbnrg,  a  native  of  tJermany. 
wild  caiiif  with  her  parents.  Frederick  and  Dora 
WeimburL;.  Iiolli    natives  of   Ihi'   Old    tounU_\.   to 


America  in  1849,  and  located  with  them  in  Cincin- 
nati. There  her  father  followed  the  trade  of  a 
wagon-maker  for  some  time,  but  moved  to  Ports- 
mouth and  lived  in  variousother  places  until  1859, 
when  he  came  to  New  Bremen  and  here  worked  at 
his  trade  until  his  death,  when  forty-two  years  of 
age.  The  mother  is  now  living  and  finds  a  com- 
fortable home  with  our  subject.  Mrs.  Tschudin  is 
the  only  daughter  of  four  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living,  and  she  w.as  educated  in  the  schools  of 
New  Bremen.  Mr.  Tschudin  is  a  Republican  in  his 
political  views,  but  has  never  aspired  to  any  poli- 
tical position.  He  and  wife  hold  membership  in 
the  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  church,  and  he  is  a  Trustee 
and  Treasurer  of  the  same.  Jlrs.  Tschudin  has 
stock  in  the  New  Bremen  Natural  Gas  Company, 
and  also  owns  stock  in  the  Piqua  National  Bank. 
They  have  a  fine  residence  on  Franklin  Street, 
New  Bremen. 


/  *^-!-^-5- 


"jll  S.  BUTCHER.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  we 
recount  the  experiences  of  those  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  who  came 
here  in  the  early  d.ays,  and  underwent  hard- 
ships and  privations  that  they  might  develop  the 
rich  resources  of  this  region  and  bring  about  the 
condition  which  we  see  to-day.  Among  these  brave 
and  hardy  men  was  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, .James  Butcher,  who  was  a  descendant  of  an  old 
and  prominent  Virginia  family.  He  was  born  in  the 
Old  Dominion,  and  at  a  very  early  day  emigrated 
to  Licking  County,  Ohio,  then  an  almost  unbroken 
wilderness,  and  there  set  about  clearing  and  im- 
proving a  farm.  On  this  fine  tract,  which  he  im- 
proved in  eveiy  way.  he  remained  until  about  sev- 
enty yeai-s  of  .age, and  then  moved  to  Indiana,  and 
died  in  that  State  in  1868,  when  ninety  years  of 
age.  He  had  married  Miss  May  Cowden.  a  native 
also  of  that  grand  old  State,  A'irginia.  and  she 
aUo  pas-i'd  away  in  Indiana,  about  18.)0,  when 
scvcnt\-live  \cars  of  ai{e. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIITCAL    RECORD. 


415 


Tlieii-  son,  X.atlian  Butcher,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, first  saw  the  liirht  of  day  in  Virginia,  and 
was  but  a  boy  wlien  liis  parents  emigrated  to  the 
far  West.  He  .assisted  his  fatlier  in  clearing  the 
farm,  and  in  lf<l.'?,  when  but  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  lie  toolv  a  deed  for  the  farm.  He  married  Jliss 
Elizalieth  Sillins,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  came 
to  Liclving  County,  Ohio,  witli  her  parents  when 
luit  seven  years  of  age.  Wlien  twenty-eiglit 
years  of  age.  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Nathan 
Butcher,  and  went  with  him  on  the  before-men- 
tioned farm.  Slie  was  a  devoted  wife  and  mother, 
a  true  and  faitliful  friend,  and  a  woman  widely 
an<l  favorably  known  for  her  many  excellent  and 
womanly  qualities.  .She  died  in  188.3.  Mr.  Butcher 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

The  original  of  this  notice  w.as  born  in  Licking 
County.  Ohio,  in  1838.  and  received  a  common- 
school  education,  as  good  as  tliL  time  and  circum- 
stances would  admit.  At  the  early  age  of  fifteen, 
he  started  out  to  fight  his  own  way  in  life,  and 
first  went  to  live  with  his  grandmother,  whose  farm 
he  worked  until  nineleon  years  of  age,  wlien  the 
grandmother  died.  He  then  farmed  this  for  the 
heirs  two  years  longer,  and  then  entered  a  farm  in 
Knox  County,  on  which  he  remained  until  18G1. 
From  there  lie  pioved  to  his  present  farm,  and 
cleared  it  of  the  wood  and  brush  covering  it.  This 
tract  (if  land  consisted  of  eighty  acres  at  that  time, 
and  w.as  in  Logan  Township.  Since  then.  Mr. 
liutcher  has  added  to  the  original  tr.ict  until  he 
now  owns  one  hundred  and  sixt\'  acres  of  as  good 
land  as  is  to  be  foun<l  in  the  section.  It  is  nearly 
all  improved,  is  ornamented  with  good,  substan- 
tial buildings,  and.  being  progressive  and  wide- 
awake, he  lias  all  the  modern  farm  appliances  to 
operate  it. 

Jliss  Catherine  Crotinger,  who  became  his  wife 
in  1859,  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  in 
1840,  and  her  father  w.as  Henry  Crotinger,  of  Lick- 
ing County,  Ohio.  3Ir.  and  !Mrs.  Butcher's  union 
was  blessed  liy  the  birth  of  eight  children,  all  liv- 
ing: William  Henry,  Sarah,  Alice,  Ellen.  Martha, 
Ciira.  .lames,  and  Clarence.  Four  are  married  and 
three  of  them  are  residing  in  Buckland.  this 
county,  anil  one  resides  in  W.aynesfield.  These 
children  are  all  well  eiliicated.  and  are  bright   and 


intelligent.  Mr.  and  Airs.  Butcher  are  prominent 
and  active  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Disci- 
ples, and  in  politics  the  former  is  a  strict  Democrat. 
He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  last 
twentj'-two  years,  and  has  a  large  legal  business  at 
his  office.  Ho  is  a  jnishing.  enterprising  farmer, 
and  has  manv  warm  friends. 


Sj^^       IVILLIAM  W.  IIAMER.  M.  D.,  a  wide-awake 


and  progressive  physician  of  Belief on- 
taine,  was  born  in  Logan  County,  March 
;>,  18.51,  and  h.as  been  well  fitted  for  his  life  work. 
In  the  State  of  his  nativity  he  beg.in  his  school 
life,  and  his  early  training  w.as  supplemented  bv  a 
regular  collegiate  course.  When  it  came  time  to 
make  a  choice  of  some  business  which  he  would 
wish  to  make  his  life  work,  he  determined  to  en- 
g.age  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  with  this  end 
in  view,  entered  the  medical  department  of  the 
Butler  University  .at  Indianapolis.  Ind.,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  1881,  after  havin>^ 
pursued  a  thorough  course. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Char- 
lotte (Spellman)  Hamer,  natives,  respectively,  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  The  family  is  of  Ger- 
man extraction,  and  the  parents  came  to  C)hio  in 
an  early  day.  Three  brothers  emigrated  from 
Pennsylvania  to  this  State  in  1828.  and  were 
among  the  prominent  professional  men  of  this  sec- 
tion. The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer  by 
vocation, .and  died  while  residing  in  Logan  County. 

Dr.  Hamer  of  this  sketch  was  the  only  son  born 
to  his  parents,  and  supplemented  the  knowledge 
gained  in  the  public  schools  l.iy  an  attend.ance  of 
one  year  at  Delaware.  Ohio.  After  completing  his 
studies,  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at  Urbana 
and  De  Ciraff  for  some  time,  and  later  on.  remov- 
ing to  Fowler,  Ind..  also  purchased  a  stock  of 
drugs,  in  the  retailing  of  which  he  was  employed 
for  three  years.  In  the  meantime,  having  read 
medicine,  he  entered  the  Butler  Universitv  at  In- 
dianapolis, and  was  graduated  theiefniin   in    I.SSI. 


416 


PORTRAIT  A'SD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


After  receiving  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medi- 
cine, our  subject  practiced  for  two  yeare  at  Quincj-, 
tins  State,  and  eight  years  at  De  Graff.  In  April 
of  1891,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Bellefontaiiie, 
where  he  has  built  up  an  extensive  practice.  He 
started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  without  a 
dollar  in  money,  and  worked  his  own  way  through 
college.  He  is  to-day  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
has  a°n  office  fnll^  equipped  with  all  the  appliances 
necessary  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  also  has  a 
nice  residence  in  the  city. 

In  1875,  Dr.  Hamer  and  Miss  Anna  E.  Hender- 
son were  united  in  marriage.  He  takes  an  active 
part  in  medical  societies,  being  identified  with  the 
American  Medical  Association  and  the  Logan 
County  Medical  Society.  He  also  holds  a  certifi- 
cate from  the  Chicago  Polyclinic  School,  which  he 
attended  for  one  term  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  ti,e  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
is  a  man  of  broad  knowledge  and  exceptional  abil- 
ities, and  among  the  many  able  practitioners  of 
this  city  occupies  a  very  prominent  position. 


•SI^IS^^ 


OYRL'S  MAKEMSON.  It  is  with  pleasure 
that  we  present  to  our  readere  a  life  sketch 
^_  '  of  the  oldest  resident  of  Pleasant  Township, 
and  possibly  the  oldest  m  Logan  County.  We 
mean  oldest  in  that  he  made  his  home  here  at 
an  earlier  date  than  any  other  of  our  pioneers  who 
still  survive.  He  was  born  in  this  county,  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives,  July  26,  1820,  and  in- 
herits Scotch  blood  from  both  tlie  paternal  and 
maternal  sides  of  the  house.  His  father,  John 
Makemson,  was  born  in  the  Blue  Grass  regions  of 
Kentucky  in  1781,  and  there  followed  farming 
until  1806,  when  he  decided  to  locate  in  Ohio.  He 
made  the  journey  by  ox-team,  and  camped  out  on 
the  -way.  He  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  our 
subject,  one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres,  from  the 
Government,  and  was  the  first  wliite  settler  in  tlie 
township.  Indians  were  very  numerous,  and  he 
was  on  intimate    terms   with 'the   friendly  Indians. 


traded  with  them,  and  often  assisted  them  in  con- 
structing tlieir  rude  log  cabins.  Deer,  bears,  wild 
liogs  and  other  animals  abounded,  but  Mr.  Makem- 
son eared  very  little  for  hunting,  preferring  to 
spend  his  time  in  improving  and  clearing  his  place. 
His  brother  Tliomas,  however,  was  a  great  hunter 
and  killed  a  great  many  bears  and  deer.  Mr.  Ma- 
kemson had  to  do  all  his  trading  at  Urbana,a  small 
place  with  only  a  few  log  cabins,  and  during  sev- 
eral Indian  raids  he  and  his  family-,  as  well  as  his 
neighbors,  would  go  to  Urbana  and  seek  safety  in 
the  block-house.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 
His  cabin  here  was  made  of  round  logs,  with  an 
open  fireplace,  mud  and  stick  chimney,  etc.,  an<l 
here  he  passed  the  closing  scenes  of  his  life,  dying 
in  1843.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist Chuich,  and  a  Whig  in  politics. 

By  his  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  Lindsey,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  seven  children  were  born,  as  fol- 
lows: Vincent, deceased;  Elizabeth, deceased;  John, 
deceased;  Lindsey;  Mary  (Mrs.  Henderson);  Cj'rus 
and  James,  deceased.  The  mother  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  Church,  and  died  in  1875,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years.  Her 
people  were  of  Scotch  descent.  Our  subject  was 
reared  in  this  county  and  passed  his  youthful  days 
in  assisting  on  the  farm,  attending  school,  taught 
in  the  primitive  log  schoolhousc  of  pioneer  days, 
and  in  playing  witli  tlie  Indian  children,  with 
whom  he  was  on  intimate  terms.  The  log  school- 
house  of  his  remembrance  had  greased  paper  for 
window  lights,  a  large  open  fireplace  capable  of 
taking  in  immense  logs,  mud  and  stick  chimney, 
and  slab  benches.  All  were  subscription  schools 
then.  Our  subject  used  to  go  on  horseback  to  market 
and,  as  there  were  no  roads,  he  followed  a  path 
through  the  woods.  lie  saw  lots  of  deer  and 
wild  turkeys,  but  he  never  hunted  much.  Assisting 
in  clearing  the  farm  was  his  chief  employment  in 
youth  and  for  recreation  he  would  go  to  log-roll- 
ings, spelling  "matches,  etc. 

After  the  death  of  the  father,  our  suliject  took 
charge  of  the  farm  and  eventually  bought  out  the 
other  heii-s  to  it.  In  1845,  he  married  Miss  Ara- 
bella Huber.  a  native  of  A'irginia.  born  in  1825, 
and  the  fruits  of  this  union  were  six  children  :  Eman- 
uel. John,  Mary  (Mrs.  Pool).  Margaret  (:\Irs.  Horn), 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


41^ 


Barbara  (Mrs.  Kenan),  anti  Winfielci.  Mrs.  Makem- 
son  passed  awa_v  in  1^90.  Mr.Makemson  is  the  owner 
of  three  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  land,  nearly 
all  improved,  the  most  of  which  lie  has  done  him- 
self. In  connection  with  farming,  he  is  engaged 
in  stock-raising,  and  has  fattened  a  great  many 
cattle,  making  a  specialty  of  that  kind  of  stock. 
He  built  Ills  present  large  brick  residence  in  1871, 
and  his  substantial  b.arn  in  1861.  Our  subject  is  a 
Methodist,  as  was  also  his  wife,  and  is  alwaj-s  a 
liberal  supporter  of  his  church.  In  politics,  he 
sides  with  the  Republicans,  and  has  held  a  number 
of  township  otlices.  He  h.as  been  very  successful, 
and  has  made  nearly  all  his  wealth  by  industry 
and  perseverance,  lie  has  seen  the  entire  growth 
of  the  county  and  h.as  done  his  share  toward  its 
progress  and  development.  He  has  one  of  the 
finest  places  m  the  townshi|>,  is  one  of  its  repre- 
sentative citizens,  and  has  many  l  lends  and  few, 
if  anv,  enemies. 


^p^ICHOLAS  .STALEY  is  one  of  the  successful 
I  )/,  farmers  and  stock-raisei-s  of  Slielby  County, 
II\.jC^,  owning  a  tine  farm  in  Perry  Township, 
where  he  is  held  in  high  consideration  as  a  citizen, 
who  earnestly  strives  to  advance  its  best  interests. 
He  is  the  son  of  .Jo-seph  and  Catherine  (Cobel) 
.Staley,  natives  of  North  Carolina,  the  father's  birth 
occurring  in  1780  and  the  mother's  about  1782_ 
Tlie  latter  died  in  1817  and  Mr.  .Sttiley  was  again 
married  and.  coming  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day,  lo- 
cated on  a  new  farm  nine  miles  north  of  D.ayton. 
in  Montgomery  County.  There  his  death  occurred 
in  1867.  By  his  second  marriage  three  children 
were  Ijorn.  cnly  one  of  whom  is  now  living.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  l)y  occupation,  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  voted  the  Democratic 
ticket. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  survivor 
of  the  family  of  seven  children. his  l)irth  occurring 
3Iay  14.  ISIO,  on  the  old  homestead  in  the  above- 


named  county*.  He  received  a  limited  education 
and  when  thirteen  3-ears  of  .age  w.<is  bound  out  to 
■Tohn  .Staley  until  reaching  his  m.ajority.  When 
starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  he  had  S7o  in 
money  and  worked  out  for  the  farmers  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  home,  making  rails  at  twenty-five 
cents  per  hundred. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  Staley  was  married  Octo- 
ber 5,  1837,  w.as  Miss  Mary,  sister  of  David  Baker, 
whose  sketch  will  be  found  on  another  p.age  in  this 
volume.  She  was  born  !Marcli  8,  1819,  and  re- 
ceived a  thorough  training  by  her  excellent  par- 
ents. In  1831,  our  subject  came  to  this  count}' 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
on  section  8,  Salem  Township,  for  which  he  paid 
the  United  States  Government  ?1.2.5  per  acre.  The 
land  and  surrounding  countiy  in  that  earlv  da^' 
were  in  their  primitive  state  and  the  Indians  and 
wild  animals,  which  were  very  numerous,  often 
proved  troublesome  in  the  extreme.  Mr.  Staley 
killed  flfty-two  turkeys  in  two  weeks,  which  gives 
us  some  idea  of  the  wildness  of  the  region. 

On  locating  in  this  State,  he  of  whom  we  write 
entered  five  or  six  different  pieces  of  land  from 
the  Government,  having  to  go  on  foot  to  the  land- 
office  at  Piqua.  His  good  wife  died  February  11, 
1884,  they  having  become  the  p.arents  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  the  following  are  living:  Mar- 
garet Ann  is  the  wife  of  John  Bruner  and  lives  on 
the  old  Staley  homestead;  Henr^'  married  Priscilla 
Dingman  and  lives  in  Green  Township;  John  T. 
married  Jennie  Cargill  and  makes  his  home  in  Salem 
Township:  S;n-ah  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Port  Blue  and 
makes  her  home  in  Henry  County;  Susan  D.  mar- 
ried John  Ward  and  resides  in  Perry  Township; 
Squire  X.  married  Tena  Brendel  and  is  located 
in  Perry  Township. 

Mr.  Stale_v  has  been  a  member  of  the  Cliristian 
Church  for  fortv  veal's  and  h.as  always  been  a  reg- 
ular attendant  and  taken  an  active  part  in  all  the 
meetings  of  that  body,  having  served  as  Deacon 
for  some  time.  In  local  affairs,  he  has  Ijeen  School 
Director  and  .as  an  adherent  of  the  Democratic 
party  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  fur  Andrew 
Jackson,  by  whom  his  patent  for  Land  in  this  region 
was  signed.  He  h.as  rendered  efficient  service  to 
the  traveling  pulilic   while    Supervisor   of    Roads. 


418 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


and  now  in  his  eighty-second   year   is    hale    and 
hearty. 

Our  subject  has  been  tlie  architect  of  his  own 
fortune,  liis  fine  property  being  the  result  of  his 
savings.  Besides  tlie  old  homestead,  which  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  thirty-one  acres,  he  owns 
eighty  acres  in  this  towusliip,  nearly  all  of  which 
he  has  cleared  himself.  He  now  occupies  a  good 
residence  and  has  on  his  place  a  ten-acre  locust 
grove,  every  tree  of  which  he  set  out  himself.  Our 
subject  has  given  to  his  children  a  share  of  his  land 
as  well  as  a  start  with  other  assistance. 


i^-^^<^ 


"fl'OHN  SMITH,  a  prominent  old  settler  and 
large  landowner  on  section  G,  Harrison 
Township,  Logan  County,  was  born  at  the 
_^  head-waters  of  Yellow  Creek,  in  -Tefferson 
(now  Carroll)  County,  Ohio,  :\Iarch  15, 1816.  His 
father,  Michael  .Smith,  w.as  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  on  the  Susquehanna  River,  and  his 
grandfather,  Martin  Smith,  was  born  in  Germany, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  a  livelihood. 

Tlie  father  of  our  subject  came  to  this  country 
at  an  early  date  and,  in  1802,  settled  in  Jeffeison 
County,  Ohio,  having  bouglit  land  from  tlie  Gov- 
ernment. He  built  a  log  cabin  in  the  wilderness, 
and  being  a  good  shot,  many  deer  and  other  ani- 
mals fell  at  the  crack  of  his  rifle.  tn  183.3,  he 
moved  to  Logan  County,  settled  on  a  farm  in 
what  is  now  Lake  Township,  and  there  tilled  tlie 
soil  for  many  years,  enduring  the  hardships  of 
pioneer  life.  He  became  the  owner  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  before  his  death,  whicli  oc- 
curred when  he  was  in  his  eighty-third  year.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutlieran 
Church.  The  lady  wliom  he  selected  as  his  com- 
panion in  life,  and  wlio  stood  faithfully  by  his 
side  in  all  the  trials  and  privations  of  pioneer  life, 
was  Miss  Mary  Beard,  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State,  also  born  on  the  Susquehanna  River.  The 
eight  children  resulting  from  this  union  reached 
mature  years,  and  are  as  follows:   Elizabeth.  Mich- 


ael, Catherine,  Barbara,  John  (our  subject),  Mary, 
Margaret  and  Eva,  all  of  whom  became  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  The  mother  lived  to  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years.  Her  father, 
Jacob  Beard,  w.as  born  in  Germany,  and  served 
through  the  entire  Revolutionary  War.  He  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  died  in  Pennsylvania, 
when  nearh'  one  hundred  years  old. 

John  Smith  secured  a  ratlier  limited  education 
in  the  pioneer  log  schoolhouse  of  his  da^',  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Logan  County  on  the 
10th  of  April,  1833.  They  made  the  journe}' 
overland  and  camped  in  their  wagon  until  they 
could  build  a  log  cabin.  "When  twenty-two  years 
of  age,  our  subject  started  out  for  himself  and  agri- 
culture has  been  his  principal  calling  in  life. 
When  he  first  located  in  Logan  Count}-,  Bellefon- 
taine  was  a  village  of  a  few  cabins,  and  settlers 
were  few  and  far  between.  He  often  assisted  at 
log-rollings  and  cabin-raisings.  To  market  and 
trade,  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  Dajton. 

On  the  IGtli  of  September,  1838,  Miss  Indiana 
TuUis  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Smith.  She  was 
born  in  Bellefontaine  on  the  loth  of  January, 
1816.  Eleven  children  were  the  fruit  of  this 
union,  viz:  Samuel,  Jlichael,  David,  Rebecca, 
Mary  A.,  James,  John  W.,  Elias,  George  W.,  Laura 
and  Robert  R.  Michael,  David,  Mary  A.,  Elias, 
Laura  and  Robert  R.  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Smith, 
who  was  a  most  exemplary  and  worthy  member  of 
the  Mctliodist  Church  for  many  j-ears.  joined  witli 
the  Lutherans  during  tlie  latter  part  of  her  life  and 
died  in  that  faith  on  tlie  Uth  of  July.  1864.  After 
his  marriage,  our  subject  located  in  a  rude  log 
cabin  in  Logan  County,  but  three  years  later 
erected  a  fine  frame  residence.  He  has  made 
nearly  all  the  improvements  on  his  place  and  now 
has  probablv  the  finest  farm  in  Harrison  Town- 
ship. All  his  buildings  are  substantial  and  com- 
modious and  would  be  ornaments  to  any  farm. 
He  has  three  hundred  and  twenty-one  acres  in  a 
bodv  witli  roads  all  around  it,  and  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  is  a  splendid  rep- 
resentation of  the  typical  Ohio  farmer,  and  posses- 
ses to  a  marked  degree  the  regard  whicli  is  given 
to  the  pioneers  of  this  section.  For  some  time,  lie 
was  actively  ensased  in  raising  Sliort-horn  cattle 


John      Smith 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD 


421 


.ind  is  now  interested  in  sheep-raising.  In  1HG8, 
lie  erected  a  fine  frame  residence,  a  view  of  wliicli 
is  shown  on  another  page.  He  has  two  large  barns 
on  his  i)laee,  one  erected  in  1875  and  the  other  in 
1879. 

The  second  marri.age  of  our  subject  occurred  on 
the  16th  of  .September,  1886.  to  IMiss  Clara  E. 
Roberts,  a  native  of  Union  County,  Ohio,  born 
August  8,  1865,  and  the  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Sar.ah  (Latson)  Roberts,  natives  respectively  of 
Union  and  Knox  Counties.  Ohio.  Her  father  w.as 
a  farmer  and  died  in  Union  County  when  fifty- 
nine  years  of  age.  Afterward,  tlie  motlier  married 
again  and  moved  to  Harrison  Township,  this 
county.  P.V  lier  fii-st  marriage,  she  became  the 
mother  of  two  children,  Mrs.  Smith,  and  Hezeki.ah, 
who  died  when  eight  months  old.  To  Mr.  and 
Mi-s.  .Smith  has  been  born  one  child.  Jlyrtle  Fern, 
whose  birth  occurred  on  the  2.'!d  of  February^ 
1890.  Both  our  subject  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Churcli.  Mr.  .Smith  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  althougli  his  father  and  brothers  were 
all  Democrats.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
campaign  of  1840,  for  AVilliam  H.  Harrison, 
assisted  in  building  log  cabins  to  carry  around  on 
wagons  in  the  parades  during  that  campaign,  also 
split  rails  on  wagons  during  the  Lincoln  campaign 
in  1860,  and  h.as  great  faith  in  the  election  of 
Benjamin  Harrison  this  fall  (1892).  He  has  held 
a  number  of  local  positions,  but  lias  never  been  an 
olHce-seekcr. 


r„  IRAM  JOIIN.STOX,  residing  one  and  .a- 
\l  )1,  quarter  miles  west  of  East  Liberty,  Logan 
Jil^  County.  Ohio,  is  one  of  the  substantial  and 
i^J  much-esteemed  citizens  of  the  county.  He 
was  born  in  Richland  Co\nUy.  ()liio.  on  the  11th 
of  August.  1824.  and  i^  the  son  of  Robert  and 
Catherine  ( Harris)  .lohnston.  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  father  having  been  born  in  liutler 
County  on  the  18tli  of  April.  1800,  and  the  mother 
in  Niivcniber.  18(12.     The  paternal   grandfatlier  of 


our  subject,  William  Johnston,  wxs  born  in  the 
Knierald  Isle,  but  came  to  America  when"  a  young 
man  and  located  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  met 
and  married  his  wife.  About  1815,  he  decided  to 
locate  in  Ohio,  and  came  to  this  State,  where  he 
made  a  settlement  in  Knox  County,  taking  up 
Government  land.  There  lie  made  his  home  until 
his  death,  when  about  eighty-seven  ^-eai-s  of  age. 
He  T,-.as  a  strict  member  of  what  is  now  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  and  was  deeply  interested  in 
all  religious  work.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  McCanless, 
was  also  bom  in  Ireland,  and  died  on  the  old 
homestead,  in  Knox  County. 

C)ur  siil)ject's  maternal  grandfather,  Warren 
Harris,  was  a  native. of  Virginia,  and  in  that  State 
grew  to  3-ears  of  discretion.  lie  was  married  in 
Pennsylvania  and  in  1811  came  to  Ohio,  settling 
in  Wayne  County,  where  he  took  up  land  from 
the  CTOvernment.  There  he  received  his  final  sum- 
mons, when  sixt^'-six  j-ears  of  age.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  was  interested 
in  all  worthy  enterprises.  He  was  the  father  of 
fifteen  children,  twelve  of  wliom  readied  mature 
years. 

Robert  .lohnston.  father  of  our  subject,  was  but 
a  small  lad  when  he  came  with  liis  parents  to  Ohio, 
and  in  tliis  State  he  p.assed  his  boyhood  and  youth. 
He  was  married  in  W.ayne  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Harris,  and  afterward  located  in  Richland  County, 
this  State,  near  Perryville,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  sickle-making  and  blaoksmithing  for  about 
three  years.  He  then  returned  to  Wayne  County. 
Ohio,  and  remained  there  engaged  in  farming  and 
bl.acksmi thing  until  1836,  when  he  moved  to  Ken- 
ton, Hardin  County,  Ohio,  when  the  country  was 
wild  and  unsettled.  He  located  in  the  citv  of 
Kenton,  engaged  in  merchandising  and  hauled  his 
goods  from  Cincinnati  with  teams.  His  was  the 
second  store  started  in  Kenton  and  he  remained 
there  abiiut  two  years.  From  there  he  went  to 
Gaiion,  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  was  engasred  in 
general  merchandising  there  for  about  three  years. 
an<l  then  traded  his  store  for  a  farm  in  Richhind 
County.  Oliio.  Later,  he  traded  this  farm  for  one 
in  Shelby  County.  III.,  and  resided  on  this  less 
than  two  years,  when  lie  moved   to   Muncie.  Dela- 


4 -2  2 


PORTRAIT  A'ST)  BIOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


ware  County,  Ind.,  and  located  on  a  farm.  Fiom 
there  he  moved  to  Bellefontaine,  Lake  Township, 
Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  there  died  in  1866.  In 
polities,  he"  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  later  a 
Republican,  and  voted  with  that  part3'  until  his 
death.  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  his  last  days  and  took  an  active  part  in  all  relig- 
ious work.  His  wife  died  in  Bellefontaine  in  1872. 
They  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  six  sons 
and  two  d.augliters  growing  to  mature  3"oai-s,  and 
five  sons  and  one  daughter  now  living.  The 
children  who  lived  to  be  grown  are  as  follows: 
Hiram,  our  subject;  Solomon,  of  Michigan;  Will- 
iam, of  Logan  County,  Ohio;  John  C,  of  Marion 
County,  Ohio;  Robert  F.,  who  w.as  killed  at  Pitts- 
burg Landing  on  the  15th  of  Jane,  18G4,  when 
fighting  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes;  Allen  M.,  who  is 
a  blacksmith  of  Bellefontaine;  Mary  G.,  widow  of 
Samuel  Amsmoker,  of  East  Liberty;  and  Sarah 
Jane,  deeeaseil. 

Hiram  Johnston,  the  eldest  son  and  second  child, 
received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  in  the 
town  of  Orville,  in  a  little  log  sclioolhouse  which 
he  attended  two  years,  and  then  finished  his  schol- 
astic training  in  Richland  County,  Ohio.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  then  began  working  bj-  the  month,  re- 
ceiving as  compensation  $8  per  month.  The  spring 
he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  he  rented  his  first  farm 
in  Richland  County,  and  everything  was  furnishefl 
him.  He  carried  on  the  farm  for  three  jears,  and 
was  married  the  second  year  he  rented  his  farm, 
or  in  1845,  to  Miss  Caroline  Pollock,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Richland  County.  A  year  later,  he 
rented  another  farm  in  the  same  township  and 
remained  there  until  1849,  when  he  located  one 
mile  north  of  Zanesfield  on  a  rented  farm.  A  few 
years  later,  he  bought  a  farm  of  sixtj'-two  acres  in 
Union  County,  Ohio,  in  the  woods,  but  subse- 
quently traded  it  for  sixty-four  acres  now  owned 
by  George  Grubbs.  erected  a  house  on  this  and 
there  made  his  liomc  for  four  years.  After  tliis, 
he  sold  out  and  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Jefferson  Townshiii,-  this  county,  but 
shortly  afterward  sold  this  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  one  mile  north  in  the  same 
Uiwnsliip.     In  Marcli.  l.HGt.he  bnught  one  hundred 


and  thirty-seven  acres  three  miles  north  of  Belle- 
fontaine, and  located  on  it  in  July  of  that  year; 
but  again  he  sold  out  and  then  bought  the  prop- 
erty lie  now  owns,  which  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty -six  and  one-half  acres,  nearly  all  under 
cultivation.  Here  he  has  resided  ever  since  and  is 
one  of  the  progressive  and  enterprising  agricul- 
turists and  stock-raisers  of  the  county.  He  is  a 
great  trader  in  stock  and  is  now  engaged  .as  agent 
for  the  Laudenbak  Fertilizer  Co.,  Urbana,  Ohio. 

^Ir.  and  Mi-s.  Johnston  are  the  parents  of  ten 
children:  Charles  M.,  deceased;  Marietta,  at  home; 
Delia  M.,  wife  of  D.  O.  Marquis,  of  Lexington 
Ky.;  James  R.,  deceased;  Elmer  E.;  Emma  V.,  at 
home;  Robert  F.,  at  home;  one,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Henry,  deceased;  and  Irene,  wife  of  Charles  Cron- 
kleton,  of  Perry  Township,  this  county.  Mr.  John- 
ston h.as  a  very  pleasant  home,  is  surrounded  with 
every  comfort  and  convenience,  and  is  also  the 
owner  of  several  lots  in  town.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  he  has  held  the  office  of 
Trustee  of  Perry  Township.  All  the  improve- 
ments of  his  farm  have  been  madeb3-  Mr.  Johnston 
and  family,  and  although  when  he  first  came  to  this 
county  he  had  but  #34,  he  is  now  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  county.  When  he  first  came 
here  he  cut  cord-wood  for  thirty-seven  .ind  one- 
half  cents  per  cord  and  boarded  himself  the  first 
year.  He  shocked  corn  for  fifty  cents  per  day  and 
cut  four  acres  of  wheat  with  a  cradle  for  §1  a  day. 
He  is  a  self-made  man  in  every  sense  of  that  much- 
abused  term  and  merits  the  respect  of  all. 


,ips^  AMUEL  DETRICK.  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
^^^  tlei"s  and  most  substantial  f.armers  of  Un- 
IflAjlj  ion  Township,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Rockingham  County*,  Va.,  in  the 
Shen.andoah  'N'alley,  eleven  miles  north  of  Harris- 
burg,  on  the  11th  of  July,  1827,  and  comes  of  a 
prominent  and  influential  family  of  that  State. 
His  parents,  Peter  and  Susan  (Coffniaii)  Detrick, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


423 


vrere  Yirginifins,  and  both  of  German  extrac- 
tion. They  were  married  in  their  native  State, 
and  in  1S.30.  tempted  by  the  fertile  soil  of  the 
Buckeye  State,  they  determined  to  make  a  settle- 
ment within  its  bordere.  The  journey  was  made 
with  a  four-horse  team  over  the  mountains,  and 
they  were  several  weeks  on  the  way.  They  finally 
reached  Clarke  County,  where  Mr.  Detrick  had  two 
sisters  living,  and  remaineil  with  them  about  a 
month,  after  which  tliey  came  on  to  Logan  County, 
settling  on  what  is  now  known  .as  the  Rover  Farm, 
about  one  mile  southwest  of  Bellefontaine.  There 
the  winter  was  p.ossed,  and  early  the  following 
spring  tliey  moved  one  mile  west,  and  located  on 
what  is  now  the  County  Farm,  but  only  remained 
there  until  1832.  One  hundred  and  sixty  .acres 
were  then  purchased  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
Union  Township,  this  county,  on  section  2,  and  al- 
thougli  only  two  .acres  had  been  cleared,  and  only 
a  little  round-log  cabin  erected  on  tlie  place,  this 
young  couple  fearlessly  faced  the  privations  and 
hardships  likely  to  come.  Deer  often  came  about 
tlie  cabin,  and  as  they  had  to  depend  on  the  llesh 
of  wild  anim.als  for  food  to  a  great  extent,  Mr. 
Detrick  could  kill  one  at  almost  any  time.  'Wild 
turkeys  and  squirrels  were  verv  numerous,  wild 
cats  were  frequently  seen,  and  occasionally  Bruin 
made  his  appearance. 

This  farm  was  cleared  and  developed,  and  on  it 
this  bard-working  and  ambitious  couple  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  days,  the  father  d\"ing  at 
the  age  of  about  sixty-eight,  and  the  mother  when 
sevent3--thrce  yeare  of  age.  Both  were  active 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  Church  for  a  great 
many  years.  Services  were  frequently  held  in 
their  house  in  the  pioneer  days,  for  there  were  no 
churches,  and  Mr.  Detrick  officiated  as  a  preacher 
for  about  twenty-five  years  before  his  death.  He 
never  took  an  active  part  in  elections  other  than 
those  pertaining  to  schools.  lie  w.as  a  very  hard- 
working man.  and  all  he  had  when  coming  to 
Logan  County  w.as  a  team  (a  poor  one  at  that"), 
a  few  household  effects,  and  twenty-five  cents  in 
money.  His  marriage  resulted  in  the  birlh  of  ten 
children,  nine  of  whom  were  reared:  Sarah  (de- 
ceased), David.  Catherine  (deceased).  .Samuel. 
John.  Susan.  Barbara.  Elizaljeth.  Lv<iia.  and  Peter. 


The  original  of  this  notice  w.as  but  little  over 
three  yeare  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Ohio,  and  ha^s  very  little  recollection  of  the 
journey,  except  of  an  incident  that  occurred  at  his 
aunt's  in  Clarke  Countv.  His  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  pioneer  log  schoolhouse  of  Union 
Township,  the  firet  one  being  an  old  abandoned 
log  cabin  that  had  at  one  time  been  used  as  a 
dwelling.  It  had  the  wide,  old-fashioned  fireplace, 
capable  of  taking  in  immense  logs,  with  mud  and 
stick  chimney,  the  floor  being  made  of  puncheons, 
and  the  seals  of  slabs  witli  pin  legs,  and  greased 
paper  taking  the  place  of  window  lights.  Part  of 
the  time  our  subject  attended  scliool  in  a  cabin 
with  an  earthern  floor,  and  schools  were  conducted 
on  the  subscription  pLan  altogether,  the  teacher 
boarding  around.  The  first  teacher  our  subject 
went  to  received  ¥10  per  month  and  boarded 
around,  the  second  one  received  $12,  and  boarded 
himself  and  kept  his  family. 

Our  subject  never  attended  school  in  summer, 
for  his  services  were  too  valuable  on  the  farm.  He 
used  to  tramp  the  wheat  out,  and  haul  itbv  wagon 
to  .Sandusky  City,  a  distance  of  about  one  hun- 
dred miles.  Part  of  the  farm  produce  was  also 
hauled  to  Dayton.  Mr.  Detrick  remembers  reap- 
ing with  a  sickle,  and  has  seen  forty  men  with 
sickles  in  one  field.  He  has  seen  all  the  improve- 
ments in  farm  machinery,  the  self-binder,  etc.,  and 
has  also  witnessed  the  gradual  improvement  of  tlie 
country.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  began 
for  himself  .is  a  farmer,  and  jmt  in  a  crop.  He  then 
made  a  trip  to  Iowa,  remained  there  six  months, 
butalthougli  he  liked  the  country,  he  did  not  care 
to  be  so  far  awa}"  from  home. 

On  the  10th  of  August.  18.51,  he  married  Miss 
Anna  M.  .Shawber,  who  was  born  in  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  November  19,  1833,  and  whose  par- 
ents, ,Iohn  and  Rebecca  (Rinehart)  Shawber,  were 
also  natives  of  that  State.  Thev  were  farmers, 
and  both  died  in  Wapakoneta,  Ohio,  whither  they 
had  moved  in  their  old  age.  To  !Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Detrick  liave  been  born  twelve  children,  all  living 
l)at  one:  Joseph  E.,  John  S.,  Susan  I'.,  Marv  E.. 
Rcliecca.  Eiuma.  Ida.  SanuK'l.  Calvin.  Laura.  Jlav 
and  Ann:i.  Abraham  L.  died  when  eighteen 
months  obi.     Our  subject  iMuiglit  the  jire^enl  farm 


424 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


before  his  marriage,  but  for  a  few  years  resided  on 
anotlier.  until  he  could  build  on  his  own  farm. 
Only  one  acre  had  been  cleared,  and  since  then 
our  subject  has  cleared  and  improved  the  balance. 
He  is  now  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-five 
acres  liere.  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
"W.ashiiigton  Township.  He  started  here  with  only 
eighty  acres,  and  h.as  been  very  successful.  Hard 
work  and  good  management  have  brought  him  in 
big  returns,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous and  successful  men  of  his  section.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming,  and  keeps  a  great 
man}-  sheep,  cattle,  horses  and  hogs.  He  first  built 
a  small  frame  house,  with  o.ak  weather-boards,  and 
liis  present  large  frame  in  18(J0.  His  large  frame 
liarn  was  erected  in  1857.  His  wife,  who  was  u 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  died  on  the  24th 
of  April,  1880.  Mr.  Dotrick  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  Church.  He  has  seen  all  the  im- 
provements in  the  country,  and  remembers  when 
Bellefontaine  w.is  but  a  village,  with  less  than  a 
dozen  houses. 

AVhen  our  subject  was  eiglit  years  old,  deer  were 
plentiful.  One  day  he  saw  some  near  the  cabin,  and 
prevailed  on  his  mother  to  let  him  take  the  gun.  She 
finally  did  so,  and  our  subject  followed  them  for 
some  time.  At  Last,  slipping  up  within  twenty 
feet  of  them,  he  pulled  the  trigger,  and  found  the 
gun  was  not  loaded.  His  mother  probably  knew 
this  when  she  gave  him  permission  to  take  it,  but 
a  very  di>gusted  boy  returned  to  the  house.  He 
often  saw  from  one  to  twenty  deer  on  his  way  to 
school. 


'jf'OHN  Q.  A.  Ca:\IPP.ELL.  the  well-known 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Bellefontaine 
liepublk-an.  the  leading  paper  of  Logan 
//  County,  has  exercised  a  marked  intluence 
on  the  .affaire  of  this  section  of  Ohio,  and  even  of 
the  entire  .State,  not  only  professionally,  but  as  a 
progressive,  public-spirited  citizen,  who  has  aided 
ni  suidins  its  political  destiny,  as  well  a*  in  guard- 


ing its  dearest  interests,  materially,  socially  and 
morally. 

A  native  of  this  State,  our  subject  was  bom  in 
Brown  County,  September  28,  1838,  and  is  a  son 
of  Charles  F.  and  Harriet  E.  (Kephart)  Campbell, 
natives  respectively  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania, 
of  German  descent  on  the  mother's  side  and  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry  on  the  father's  side.  The 
paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionarj-  War,  and  was  one  of 
the  foundei'S  of  'Washington  College  at  Lexington, 
Va.  The  direct  progenitor  of  our  subject  came  to 
this  State  in  1828,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Keji- 
hart,  who  had  accompanied  her  parents  here  as 
early  as  1818  in  Ripley,  Brown  County.  There 
the  father  passed  the  remainder  of  his  d.ays,  while 
the  mother,  who  is  still  living,  has  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty  j-ears.  During  the  late  war, 
Charles  K.  Campbell  was  Probate  Judge  of  Brown 
Count\-.  He  was  a  lawyei-  of  some  note  and  was 
also  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Ripley  Bee  for 
fourteen  years.  He  ranked  high  as  a  lawyer,  and 
fortune  having  smiled  upon  his  efforts,  he  was 
numbered  among  the  well-to-do  citizens  of  Ripley. 
He  was  tlie  parent  of  five  .sons,  all  of  whom  be- 
came editors,  and  of  one  daughter. 

.J.  Q.  A.  Campbell  was  reared  in  Ripley,  where 
he  received  a  good  pr.actical  education,  and  when 
old  enough  to  choose  a  life  occupation,  learned  •■  the 
art  preservative  "  in  his  father's  office.  Prior  to  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Campbell  went  to 
Newton,  Iowa,  wliere  he  published  the  Newton 
Free  Press,  in  company  with  his  brother  Angus  K. 
They  were  thus  engaged  a  short  time,  when  our 
snbject  abandoned  his  business  interests  and  of- 
fered his  services  as  a  volunteer  in  the  Union 
army,  enlisting  under  Lincoln's  first  call  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  B,  Fifth  Iowa  Infantry.  He 
served  in  that  regiment  for  a  period  of  three  years, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  was  transferred  with 
the  veterans  of  his  regiment  to  Company  I,  Fifth 
Iowa  Cavalry.  He  was  popular  with  the  "boys." 
and  indeed  with  the  officers,  and  served  in  the  po- 
sitions of  Second  Lieutenant,  Captain  and  Adju- 
tant of  the  regiment,  and  as  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General  of  his  brigade.  Mr.  Campbell  was  on  the 
field  of  battle  during  the  entire  period  of  war.  dur- 


PORTILUT  AM)  BlGGKAl'inCAL   RECORD. 


425 


ing  which  time  he  saw  much  hard  fighting,  par- 
ticipating in  many  of  the  most  important  battles 
in  the  West,  serving  with  his  regiment  in  Missouri, 
Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Tennessee,  Keu- 
tucliy,  Ahibama  and  Georgia,  and  participating  in 
the  battles  of  New  Madrid,  Island  No.  10,  Cor- 
inth, luka,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hill, 
Vicksburg  and  Mission  Ridge. 

Near  the  close  of  hostilities,  Mr.  Campbell  re- 
turned to  Riplej-  in  order  to  settle  up  the  estate  of 
his  father,  who  had  died  during  his  absence.  In 
18G5,  he  found  a  good  opening  for  a  live  news- 
paper in  Bellefontaine,  and  purchased  the  Repub- 
lican, which  was  the  first  paper  to  appear  .as  a  Re- 
publican paper,  setting  furth  the  principles  of  that 
party  in  the  United  .States.  At  the  time  of  its 
establishment  in  1854,  it  was  edited  by  Judge  "W. 
II.  AVest.  Under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Campbell 
it  is  now  one  of  the  leading  papers  in  Ohio.  The 
Republican  is  a  semi-weekly,  20x40,  has  a  circula- 
tion of  twenty-two  hundred,  and  is  a  sound  family 
newspaper  supplied  with  solid  and  useful  informa- 
tion, as  well  .as  with  lighter  matter;  it  keeps  its 
readers  well  informed  on  current  topics  and  the 
affairs  of  this  and  other  countries,  and  one  of  its 
interesting  features  is  the  correspondence  from 
various  localities  in  the  county.  It  has  been  noted 
for  its  independence,  its  advocacy  of  right  and  its 
rejection  of  everything  unworth\-  and  unclean 
from  its  columns.  Mr.  Campbell  is  a  pr.aetical 
printer  himself,  and  has  devoted  his  best  energies 
to  the  work  of  making  a  paper  that  should  be  a 
potent  factor  in  the  upliuilding of  city  and  county. 
His  office  is  supplied  with  power  press  and  all  the 
modern  machinery,  and  his  editorials  have  been 
copied  from  Maine  to  California,  in  sucli  leading 
papers  as  the  Ciucinnati  Commercial  Gazelle,  Chi- 
cago Tribune.  San  Fancisco  Chronicle,  New  York 
Tribune,  New  York  Punt  and  Bangor  Wliig  and 
Courier.  The  usual  amount  of  praise  and  fault- 
finding has  been  measured  out  to  him  as  an  ed- 
itor, but  his  char.acter  as  a  man  of  honor,  integrity 
and  public  spirit  has  never  been  questioned. 

Mr.  Cami)l)ell  was  married  in  18(56  to  Miss  Isa- 
bella Dorwin.  liy  wh.ini  liu  became  the  father  of  one 
son,  Wilfred  B..  ii..w  a  clerk  for  Marshall  Field  & 
Co..  Chicagij.     Mi>.  Cauipl.ell  departed  this  life  in 


1866,  and  our  subject  in  April.  1872,  w.as  married 
to  Estelle  Hoge.  To  them  have  been  born  two 
daughters.  Bertha  E.  and  Claire  G.  Our  subject  is 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Army,  and  in  religious 
matters  is  Elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  this 
place. 


W' 


^y,  OIIN  KEY.  The  e.-cample  of  one  man  who 
has  ma<k'  an  honorable  record  is  wortli 
more  than  all  the  precepts  with  which  the 
mind  of  youth  can  be  stored.  It  is  there- 
fore with  pleasure  that  the  biographicid  writer 
presents  to  the  readers  of  this  Rkloko  the  life  liis- 
tory  of  a  gentleman  who,  beginning  his  personal 
career  without  means,  and  with  what  at  this  age  of 
the  worid  would  be  considered  a  limited  educa- 
tion, is  now  the  possessorof  sufficient  means  to  en- 
able him  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  life.  This  is 
John  Kev,  who  is  now  residing  in  Perry  Town- 
shi|).  Shelby  County,  and  is  a  man  to  whom  this 
section  is  indebted  for  his  aid  in  her  growth  and 
progress. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  John  and  Pha-be  (Ak- 
ers)  Key.  his  mother  Ijeing  the  daughter  of  Will- 
iam  Akers.  The  father  died  in  ISl,';,  just  six 
months  anil  six  days  prior  to  the  birth  of  owv  sub- 
ject. The  family  later  came  to  tliis  State,  and  lo- 
cated in  Montgomery  County,  just  south  of  Da\- 
ton.  when  that  now  jn-osperous  city  contained  but 
one  house.  After  the  death  of  her  husband.  Mrs. 
Key,  by  hard  work,  kept  her  little  family  together, 
and  remained  a  widow  until  her  decease,  which 
occurred  in  July,  1861.  .^he  was  the  mother 
of  live  children.  Our  subject  was  burn  April  22. 
ISlC,  in  Montgomery  County.  He  was  onl\-  per- 
mitted to  attend  the  common  schools  a  short 
time.  as.  when  old  enough  to  earn  a  dime,  he  worked 
out  by  the  day.  thus  aiding  his  mother  in  tlie  sup- 
p<^rt  of  the  family. 

In  1841.  John  Key  and  Mi-s  l.illie.  daughter  of 
.lohn  and  Lillie  (Mudaris)  Luca-.  were  united  in 
marriagi-.    llei-  parents  were  early  settlers  of  Mielb\- 


42G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


County,  and  were  well-to-do.  He  of  whom  we 
write,  on  locating  here  in  the  year  183.i,  en- 
tered from  the  Government  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Jackson  Township,  Shelby  County,  upon  which  he 
erected  a  house  which  served  as  a  home  for  him- 
self and  mother.  After  his  marriage,  he  rented  a 
farm  in  Perry  Towiuliii)  from  .Samuel  JIaxwell, 
and  there  made  his  home  for  two  yeai's,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which 
contained  a  very  poor  log  cabin  and  stable.  There 
the  wife  and  mother  died  in  .Tuly,  18iG,  having 
become  tlie  mother  of  two  sons;  John,  who  mar- 
ried Catherine  Lane;  and  Xorman.  who  became 
the  husband  of  Sarah  Rike. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Key  chose  as  his  second  wife, 
April  18,  1847,  w.asMiss  Annie,  daughter  of  Abram 
and  Catherine  (Bretz)Rinehart, supposed  to  be  n.a- 
tivos  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively. 
Her  parents  were  married  in  Fairfield  County,  this 
State,  and  on  coming  to  this  county  in  1830,  lo- 
cated in  Sidney',  where  Mr.  Rinchart  was  eng.aged 
in  the  butcher's  business.  He  also  owned  a  farm 
north  of  that  vill.age,  and  later  removed  to  Peni- 
berton,  where  he  died  in  1877.  His  wife  had  de- 
parted this  life  in  1836,  and  b}-  a  second  marriage 
he  became  the  father  of  six  children. 

Jlrs.  Key,  who  was  born  September  21,  1827,  in 
Fairfield  County,  this  State,  was  a  member  of  the 
family  born  of  her  father's  first  marriage.  With 
her  husband  she  has  resided  upon  their  present 
estate  for  the  past  forty-five  years,  and  has  reared 
a  family  of  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: Amanda,  Mrs.  AVilliam  De  AVeese;  Rachael,  the 
wife  of  Dr.  David  Whitraer;  Margaret  Elizabeth, 
Jlrs.  John  J.  Maxwell;  Jlartha  Jane,  Jlre.  Fr.ank- 
lin  jMarrs;  David  R.,  who  married  JIaggie  Heffner; 
Aln-ain  Sherman,  who  married  Ida  Hoover;  and 
Orlando  Berton.  The  deceased  child.  Thom.as  L., 
died  when  two  years  of  age. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  the  projirietor  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land.  and.  with  the 
exception  of  the  j-oungest  son,  has  given  each  of 
his  children  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and 
forty-one  acres,  and  has  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  for  the  youngest  son  when  he  himself  is 
done  witli  it.  He  has  lieen  very  succe>sful  in  life, 
and    is  now    one  of   the   wealthv   land-owners    in 


Shelby  County.  His  two  eldest  sons  served  as  sol- 
diers in  the  late  war,  in  which  struggle  they  ac- 
quitted themselves  bravely  and  honorably.  Mr. 
Key  has  been  School  Director  of  his  district,  and 
in  politics,  votes  with  the  Republican  party,  cast- 
ing his  first  Presidential  ballot  for  Ayilliara  Henry 
Harrison.  With  his  wife,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  toward  the  support  of 
which  he  is  a  liberal  contributor.  His  home  is  sup- 
plied with  ever}'  comfort,  and  he  and  his  wife 
have  dr.awn  around  them  a  fine  circle  of  friends, 
while  winning  the  regard  of  all  to  whom  they  are 
known. 


W:  OWS  T.  KELSEY  has  made  himself  a  thor- 
ough master  of  his  calling  as  a  farmer,  con- 
ducts his  farming  interests  in  a  systematic 
and  business-like  way,  and  his  farm  on  sec- 
tion 3,  Franklin  Township,  Shelby  County,  com- 
pares favorably  with  other  fine  estates  in  its  vicin- 
it}-.  It  comprises  an  area  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  soil,  that  is  very  fertile  and  produces 
abundantly  of  all  the  crops  that  are  commonly 
raised  in  this  climate,  and  its  improvements  are 
first-class. 

Curtis  Kclsey.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  March  4,  1808,  in  Vermont,  and  was  a  son  of 
Parson  Kelsey,  who  was  also  born  in  Vermont,  in 
October,  1768.  The  latter  gentleman  was  married 
in  1793,  U)  Aliss  Lucinda  Ames,  of  Rutland,  that 
State,  soon  after  which  event  they  made  their 
home  in  West  Haven,  where  the  grandfather  died 
in  1822.  His  family  comprised  the  following- 
named  children:  Chauncy,  Lyman,  Katie,  Guy  C, 
Caroline.  Curtis  and  Calvin.  Only  two  of  the  faui- 
ilv  are  now  living:  Guy  C,  who  has  attained  the 
advanced  .age  of  eighty-eight  years;  and  the  father 
of  ijur  subject. 

Curtis  Kelsey  came  West  in  184.5,  bringing  with 
him  Ids  wife  and  family,  he  having  been  married 
in  1820,  in  his  native  State,  to  Miss  Lucy,  daugh- 
ter  of  Jonas  Nelson,   win)  was  a   mason   hv  trade. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


On  taking  up  their  residence  in  the  Buckeye  State. 

they  located  in  Turtle  Creek  Township,  .Shelby 
County,  on  a  farm  owned  by  John  Stevens,  and 
which  place  is  still  in  their  possession.  In  1857,  the 
father  came  to  Clinton  Township,  and  is  now  resid- 
ing in  this  county  in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  He  has 
been  very  active  in  the  Republican  party  since  its 
organization,  and  previous  to  that  time  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
Vermont.  He  has  also  served  in  the  responsible 
position  of  County  Commissioner,  and,  possessing 
the  genial  and  hospitable  disposition  which  wins 
and  retains  friends,  he  occupies  a  high  pl.ace  in  the 
regard  of  the  people  of  Franklin  Township  and 
surrounding  country.  He  had  the  honor  of  intro- 
ducing the  first  fine-wool  sheep  ever  brought  to 
this  county. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest  in 
the  parental  family  of  three  children,  all  of  whom 
are  now  living,  his,  sister  being  Mrs.  Hiram  "Wil- 
son, and  brother,  G.  C.  John  T.  was  born  ^larch 
16,  1836,  in  AVL'St  Haven,  \t..  and  was  a  lad 
of  nine  years  wlien  his  parents  came  to  the 
West.  Like  other  youths  of  that  period,  he  was 
given  a  common-school  education,  and  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  nineteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  "West  with  a  surveying  party  to  Ne- 
braska, being  gone  thirteen  months.  October  12. 
1858,  Elizabeth  Jane,  d.aughter  of  '\A"illiam  and 
Nancy  (Lamb)  Russell  became  his  wife.  Her  fatlier 
was  born  in  Virginia,  December  17,  1805,  and  her 
mother  in  Greene  County.  Ohio,  January  18,  1813. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  took  up  their  abode  in  this 
county  in  1839,  and  after  rearing  a  f.amily  of 
seven  children,  departed  this  life,  .Tanuary  24.  1891, 
and  August  21  of  the  same  year,  respectively. 

Mrs.  Kelsey.  wlio  was  born  in  this  township  July 
18,  1841,  was  given  a  fair  education,  and  after  her 
marriage  settled  with  our  subject  on  a  farm  in 
Turtle  Creek  Township,  where  they  made  their 
home  until  18G3,  and  then  became  residents  of 
their  present  farm,  which  w.os  partially  improved. 
His  estate,  whicli  comprises  a  quarter-section,  is 
thoroughly  drained  with  nine  miles  of  tiling,  and 
in  addition  to  the  numerous  needful  buildings  is 
embellished  with  a  comfortable  farm  residence 
which  was  ereete.l  in    IST'i.  and    cost    *1,2U0.      lie 


also  has  on  his  place  a  large  barn,  which  cost  $700. 
In  addition  to  raising  the  cereals,  he  m.ikes  a  spe- 
cialty of  breeding  fine-wool  Spanish-Merino  sheep, 
and  by  his  wise  forethought,  .active  enterprise  and 
practical  skill  in  conducting  the  business  of  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  is  a  valu.ahie  agent  in  de- 
veloping the  .agricultural  resources  of  this  part  of 
Ohio. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelsey  are  members  of  the  Jleth- 
odist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  body  our  subject 
has  been  Trustee.  He  has  also  been  Treasurer  of 
the  Township  School  Board  for  fourteen  yeai-s.and 
as  a  member  of  the  Grange  h.as  held  some  promi- 
nent offices  in  that  order.  For  a  number  of  vears 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Agricultur.al  Board,  in 
which"he  has  acted  ,as  President  and  Vice-presi- 
dent. He  has  been  the  incumbent  of  the  positions 
of  Township  Trustee  for  four  j-ears.  Township 
Treasurer  fourteen  years,  and,  .as  an  adherent  of 
the  Democratic  party,  has  been  frequently  sent  .as 
a  deleirate  to  various  conventions. 


BENJAMIN  F.  HOWELL.  Tlie  improve- 
ments whicli  have  Ijeen  pLaced  upon  the 
farm  belonging  to  this  gentleman  prove 
- — -  beyond  a  doubt  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 
His  attention  is  closely  devoted  to  the  cultivation 
of  the  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  which  com- 
prise his  estate,  and  he  h.as  been  successful  in  gain- 
ing a  prominent  place  among  the  influential  farm- 
ers of  Jackson  Township.  Shelby  County.  The 
buildings  upon  the  farm  are  first-class  in  ever\'  re- 
spect, and  include  the  necessary  outbuildings  .Tiid 
a  commodious  residence. 

xV  few  words  with  reference  to  our  subject  will 
prove  interesting  to  our  readers.  Thev  were  Jon- 
athan and  Elizabeth  (Maxon)  Howell,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Belmont  C'ount\-.  Ohio.and  Viririnia. 
(jrandfather  Benjamin  Howell  was  descended  from 
Welsli  ancestors,  and  early  settled  in  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  until    his    career    was    terminated   b\- 


428 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


deatb.  Jonathan  Howell  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  having 
settled  in  Claike  County,  Ohio,  in  18:31.  After 
remaininjT  there  for  eight  years,  and  engaging  in 
improving  his  farm,  he  removed  to  Jackson  Town- 
sliii),  Shelby  County,  and  from  there,  in  a  short 
time,  moved  to  Jackson  Centre,  where  his  life  was 
brought  to  a  close  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  eight^'- 
four  \ears.  Plis  wife  survived  him  twelve  years, 
and  passed  from  earth  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven 
years. 

Fourteen  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of 
our  subject,  six  of  whom  are  now  living.  The 
father  was  a  man  of  deep  religious  convictions, 
and  familiar  with  the  Scriptures,  in  which  he  care- 
fully instructed  his  children.  Ills  mcm"l)ership 
was  with  the  First-day  Baptist  Church,  while  his 
wife  belonged  to  the  Seventh-day  Baptists.  The 
eighth  child  in  the  family  is  our  subject.  He  was 
born  in  West  Virginia  Janua)y  22,  1820.  When 
six  years  of  age,  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Ohio,  where  he  received  a  limited  education  in  the 
log  schoolhouses  of  the  community.  He  remained 
at  liome  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-six, 
and  early  became  familiar  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits, to  which  he  has  ever  devoted   his  attention. 

June  28.  1851,  ^Ir.  Howell  was  married  to  Miss 
Phuebe  Jane  AVatkin,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylva- 
nia April  U,  1833.  Mrs.  Howell  is  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Sarah  (David)  Watkin,  the  father  born 
in  !JIaryland  in  1798,  and  the  mother,  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  State,  born  in  1800.  They  came  to 
Ohio  in  1835,  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  unimproved 
land  in  Clinton  Countv,  whence,  five  years  later, 
they  removed  to  Shelby  County,  clearing  up  a 
farm  in  Salem  Township.  The  father  died  in  18(36, 
and  the  mother  in  1884.  Religiously,  they  were 
members  of  the  Seventh-dav  Baptist  Church.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  strong  Republican,  and  cast  the 
first  Republican  ballot  ever  deposited  in  Salem 
Township.  He  served  etheiently  as  School  Di- 
rector and  Township  Trustee.  Seven  of  his  nine 
children  are  now  living,  and  every  memlier  (;f  the 
family  lived  to  be  at  least  fifty  years  old. 

After  their  marriage,  Jlr.  and  3Irs.  Ib.iwoli  set- 
tleil  on  an  unimproved  farm  in  Jackson  'I'dwu^hiii. 
which  he  cleared  and  cultivated.      In    I  81)2,  he  lo- 


cated upon  his  present  farm,  which  is  now  num- 
bered among  the  best  in  Jackson  Township.  Unto 
him  and  his  wife  have  been  born  eleven  children, 
nine  of  whom  survive,  namely:  Albert  O.,  who 
married  Lizzie  Hall,  and  is  at  present  Trustee  of 
Salem  Township;  Samantha  A.,  wife  of  Noah  Ell- 
iott; Jonathan  F.,  who  married  Phyllis  Wones,and 
is  the  father  of  three  children;  Rodolphus  A.,  who 
married  Leona  Stiles,  and  they  have  two  children; 
Margaret  J.  (Mrs.  M.  Cochlin),  who  is  the  mother 
of  two  children;  John  Milton,  who  chose  as  his 
wife  Miss  Alice  Ludlum;  Rosalee,  Afton  E.,  and 
Nevada  F.  The  children  have  all  received  the 
advantages  of  good  educations,  and  are  filling 
honorable  positions  in  their  various  communities. 
Politically,  Mr.  Howell  is  in  sympathy  with  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  of  which  his 
sons  are  also  adherents.  In  his  religious  convic- 
tions, he  is  identified 'with  the  Christian  Church, 
and  is  a  generous,  whole-souled  man,  whose  influ- 
ence is  always  in  behalf  of  principles  of  justice 
and  right. 


I^+ 


ILLIAM  STOCGII.  This  well-known  and 
-^yj/  higlily  respected  citizen  of  Bellefontaine 
"J/^  is  at  present  occupying  the  honorable 
position  of  Recorder  of  Logan  County.  A  native 
of  this  State,  he  was  born  in  Richland  County, 
January  3,  1840,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Sn}'der)  Stough,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  came  to  this  State  in  1830,  and  made  a  loca- 
tion in  the  above-named  county.  The  elder  Mr. 
Stough  was  a  farmer  and  mechanic  by  occupation, 
devoting  the  greater  part  of  his  life  to  the  latter 
pursuit. 

The  parents  of  our  sulgect.  who  are  both  de- 
ceased, reared  a  family  of  six  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  four  are  living,  our  subject  being 
tlie  \-onngest  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  reared  in 
Richland  County,  where  he  received  a  good  edu- 
catiiin  and  remained  until  September  9,  1861, 
when  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  joining  Com- 


-^y-^vz^    X'yM^r^j^- 


PORTRAIT  AND  lUOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


431 


pany  G,  Fifteentli  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  his 
country  faithfully'  and  well  as  a  private  soldier 
for  over  four  years.  Mr.  Stougli  participated  in 
many  of  the  important  battles  of  that  period, 
among  which  were  Shiloh,  Stone  River,  Liberty 
Gap,  Chickamauga.  Missionary  Ridge,  Atlanta, 
Nashville  and  Franklin.  During  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign he  was  wounded  at  Res.aca  in  the  head,  but 
was  soon  enabled  to  reiiort  for  duly. 

On  being  mustered  out  of  the  service,  he  of 
whom  we  write  returned  home,  and  June  21, 
186(3,  w.as  united  in  marriage  to  Jliss  Sarah  Post. 
The  young  couple  came  to  this  place  in  the  fall 
of  that  year,  where  Mr.  Stougli  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  horse  collars,  in  which  trade  he 
continued  for  some  yeai'S,  and  tlien  embarked  in 
the  mercantile  business,  which  he  conducted  suc- 
cessfully until  he  was  elected  to  his  present  office 
in  November,  1890. 

Mr.  Stough  has  been  a  resident  of  this  city  for 
a  number  of  j'ears,  and  has  always  taken  a  very 
•active  and  prominent  part  in  local  affairs.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  Grand  Arm\'  man.  and  served  his 
post  one  year  as  Commander.  Jlrs.  Stough,  who 
is  a  very  intelligent  and  efficient  woman,  be- 
longs to  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  witli 
which  denomination  her  husband  has  long  been 
identified  and  is  one  of  its  most  zealous  workers. 
They  have  a  family  of  two  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter: Gcorg'  0.,  Luther  and  Mary  E.  Our  sul)- 
ject  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Logan  County, 
in  whom  his  fellow-citizens  know  they  can  place 
their  reliance  at  all  times  and  under  all  circum- 
stances, and  he  is  esteemed  accordingly. 


li-^  EXRY  SIIROYEH.  So  successful  has  tliis 
\l  "jll  gentleman  been  in  his  farming  operations 
i4i/  that  he  is  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
{\£)J  and  forty-three  acres  of  fine  land  in  Salem 
Township,  Shelby  County.  Among  tlie  represen- 
tative and  infliientiul  farmers  of  th<'  community, 
he  occupies  a  prominent  place,  and  a.-  an  exam|ile 
20 


of  a  self-made  man,  who  has  acquired  his  exten- 
sive possessions  through  his  unaided  toil,  the  rec- 
ord of  his  life  is  worthy  the  perusal  and  emula- 
tion of  the  young.  Ilis  portrait  is  also  presented 
to  our  readers. 

.Tosepli  Sh  rover,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Maryland,  of  German  descent, and  was  orphaned 
wlien  quite  young.  In  1820,  he  removed  "West  to 
Ohio  and  commenced  to  clear  a  small  tract  of 
land  in  Miami  County,  where  he  was  married  to 
jNI.ary  Shroyer,  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  In 
1835,  he  located  in  Shelby  County,  upon  the  old 
homestead  in  the  northern  part  of  Salem  Town- 
ship. At  that  time  the  land  w.as  heavily  timbered 
and  roads  had  not  yet  been  opened,  while  Indians 
and  wild  animals  roamed  at  will  through  the  dense 
forests.  Few  people  had  penetrated  the  wilder- 
ness in  an  endeavor  to  convert  the  far-reaching 
wooded  land  into  habitable  homesteads.  Piqua 
was  the  nearest  market  and  depot  of  supplies, 
and  thither  the  early  pioneers  were  accustomed 
to  go  iu  order  to  purch.ase  provisions. 

Gradually  the  woodman's  axe  penetrated  the 
forests,  wild  animals  became  less  numerous,  the 
Indians  sought  distant  homes  on  the  broad  prai- 
ries of  the  West,  and  where  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject had  originally  entered  a  claim  of  apparentlv 
valueless  land,  fifty  years  later  tlie  site  was  marked 
by  a  beautiful  homestead,  adorned  with  orchards 
and  embellished  with  farm  buildings.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  clearing  one  hundred  acres  (twentv- 
eight  acres  being  yet  in  timber),  and  was  a  haid- 
working,  enterprising  farmer.  In  church  work, 
he  was  equally  zealous,  and  for  many  years  re- 
ligious services  were  held  at  his  home.  He  aided 
substantially  in  the  erection  of  two  churches,  and 
presented  each  of  them  with  an  acre  of  land  on 
which  to  build.  His  membership  was  in  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  served  as 
Elder  until  his  death  in  1880.  So  popular  was 
he,  that  he  had  not  an  enemy  in  the  community, 
but  everyone  w.as  his  friend  and  well-wisher. 

The  fifth  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  our  sub- 
ject w.as  born  August  2().  1834.  in  Miami  Cmintv, 
this  State.  His  educational  advantnuo  wei-f  lim- 
ited to  the  suli>cri|itii>ii  sclic.nN  lA'  tlii-  county, 
.■iiid    his    time  wa-    |iiinri|ially   devcifoii    to   tillintr 


432 


PORTRAIT  A>T>  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  soil  on  his  father's  farm.  Ma}-  18,  18()5,  be 
was  marrieil  to  Jliss  IMary,  dangliter  of  Gottlieb 
and  Elizabeth  (Clapper)  Strahlen,  natives  respec- 
tively of  the  city  of  Breslau,  Germany,  and  Ohio. 

Mr.  Stralilpii  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  eighteen  years  old.  making  the  voyage  in 
a  sailing-vessel  and  spending  twenty-eight  weeks 
on  the  ocean.  He  had  left  his  native  country  in 
order  to  avoid  being  pressed  into  the  array  to 
tight  Js'apoleon  Bonaparte.  By  trade  he  was  a 
piano  and  organ  builder,  but  after  coming  to 
America  followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer.  His 
marri.age  took  place  in  Fairfield  County,  where  he 
cultivated  a  farm  twenty  acres  in  extent.  After 
the  birtli  of  four  children,  lie  and  liis  wife  re- 
moved to  .'^helby  County  and  entered  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  unimproved  land  on  sec- 
tion :i.j,  Salem  Township.  There  thej-  resided 
until  their  death,  5Ir.  Strahlen  dying  in  1863, 
and  his  wife  in  1889.  Politically-,  lie  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party.  In  his  religious  ad- 
herence, he  was  a  Lutheran,  while  his  wife  held 
membership  in  the  Reformed  Church.  Four  of 
their  nine  children  now  survive. 

:Mrs.  Shroyer  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Salem  Township  May  18,  184.5,  and  was  there 
reared  to  womanhood,  meanwhile  receiving  a  lim- 
ited schooling.  After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Jlrs.  Sliroyer  resided  on  the  Strahlen  homestead 
for  one  year,  then  spent  the  ensuing  twelve  months 
on  the  farm  of  her  brotlier,  after  which  they  re- 
mained with  another  brother  for  two  years.  At 
tliat  time,  Mr.  Shroyer  commenced  for  himself  on 
an  eighty-.acre  farm  jnst  west  of  the  John  F. 
Shroyer  place,  and  there  he  engaged  in  general 
farming  until  188.5,  when  he  settled  on  his  present 
estate. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shroyer  consists  of 
six  children,  .as  follows:  Clara,  wife  of  William 
Rubert.  of  Salem  Township;  Eliza  Ellen,  who  is 
Jlrs.  .John  Wones,  also  a  resident  of  Salem  Town- 
ship; Hattie.  who  married  George  Rose,  of  Salem 
Tiiwn>liip:  F.lmer.  Nelson  C.  and  Harrison  W. 
:\Ir.  Sliroyer  ha^c  always  devoted  himself  exclu- 
sivelv  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  h.as  cleared 
and  improved  one  hundred  and  twenty-live  acres 
i.f  Ills  place.      He   is    a    wliole-liearteil.    freu-soiiled 


man,  frank  in  the  expression  of  his  convictions 
and  firm  in  his  adherence  to  the  principles  of 
truth  and  justice.  In  him  the  German  Reformed 
Church  has  one  of  its  most  active  members  and 
the  Democratic  party  one  of  its  strongest  ad- 
herents. 


\|[OIIN  H.  BOSCHE,  merchant  and  grain- 
I  dealer,  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
substantial  men  of  New  Bremen,  Auglaize 
County,  Ohio,  and  has  accumulated  all  his 
wealth  by  his  own  exertions,  for  he  started  out  to 
figlit  life's  battles  for  himself  with  little  or  no 
means.  Like  many  of  the  foremost  men  of  the 
county,  he  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  has  inher- 
ited all  the  sterling  principles  of  his  ancestors, 
among  which  m.ay  be  mentioned  unswerving  hon- 
esty, industry  and  frugality.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Hanover,  on  the  29th  of  April,  1831,  and  his 
father,  John  H.  Bosche,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
place.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Louisa  (Schroder)  Bosche,  was  also  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  in  that  country  both  par- 
ents passed  their  entire  lives,  the  father  dying  in 
1833,  when  our  subject  w.as  about  two  years  old, 
and  the  mother  passing  away  in  1866.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Two  children 
were  born  to  this  union,  but  only  our  subject  is 
living.  The  other  child,  Sopliia,  grew  to  mature 
years,  married,  and  died  in  1859,  leaving  two 
children. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  our  subject  re- 
mained with  his  mother  until  twelve  j-ears  of  age, 
and  attended  the  schools  in  his  native  country.  In 
1845,  when  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  came  to 
America  witii  some  relatives  with  whom  he  had 
been  living  for  about  two  years,  and  was  nine 
weeks  and  three  days  in  crossing  the  ocean.  The 
vessel  on  which  he  took  passage  w.as  given  up  as 
lost  at  one  time,  for  the  Captain  informed  the  pas- 
sengers that  she  w.-us  doomed.  She  drifted  far  out 
of   her  course,  and    for  tlirec  d.ays  the    passengers 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


433 


were  without  food  and  exposed  to  the  fury  of  the 
gale.  They  expected  every  moment  to  be  sent  to 
the  bottom,  but  she  brought  tliem  through  .ill  right 
and  a  very  thankful  lot  of  passengers  landed  at 
Baltimore  in  the  fall  of  184.5.  Word  had  reached 
Germany  that  the  vessel  had  been  lost,  and  the 
mother  had  given  her  boy  up  .as  drowned,  when 
other  news  reached  her. 

From  Baltimore,  our  subject  pushed  on  to  Cin- 
cinnati, where  he  immediately  entered  a  school, 
and  there  remained  for  two  yeai-s.  After  this,  he 
secured  a  position  in  hotels  and  restaurants,  w.as 
thus  engaged  for  two  years,  and  in  1849  he  came 
to  New  Bremen,  where  he  secured  a  position  as 
clerk  in  a  general  store  owned  by  his  uncle,  John 
F.  Bosche.  In  18.52,  he  started  a  sm.ill  business 
for  himself  at  ilontezuma.  Mercer  County,  re- 
mained there  two  yeai-s.  and  in  18.5.5  he  purchased 
property  in  New  Bremen,  vhere  he  engaged  in 
general  merchandising.  Later,  he  embarked  in  the 
grain  and  pork  business,  which  he  has  continued 
up  to  the  present,  and  which  has  brought  him  in 
big  returns.  Being  very  industrious  and  econom- 
ical, he  saved  his  monej-,  and  although  he  made 
no  big  display  of  his  wealth,  he  soon  became  well 
known  .as  one  of  the  most  s.ag.acious  and  thorough- 
going business  men  and  a  man  of  superior  judg- 
ment. He  often  sent  money  to  liis  mother  in 
Germany,  and  was  also  liberal  in  his  contributions 
to  all  worthy  enterprises.  In  former  years,  more 
than  at  the  present  time,  he  had  a  thriving  pork- 
packing  business  and  wouhi  keep  his  produce  until 
the  market  suited  him. 

Mr.  Bosche  married  Louisa  Neitert,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  but  of  German  parentage,  her  parents  com- 
ing to  this  country  about  1830.  Nine  children  have 
liecn  born  to  our  subject  and  wife,  and  are  .as 
follows:  Alvina,  who  is  married  and  resides  in 
>'e\^Brenien;  Lafayette  is  married,  and  resides  at 
Ft.  Recovery.  Ohio:  Herman:  Pulaski  and  Edward, 
biith  in  Western  Kansasin  business:  Franklin:  Fenl- 
inand.  deceased:  Felix  and  Clara,  all  of  wh.Mn 
were  given  excellent  educational  advantatres.  Mr. 
Bosche  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  held 
tlie  iiosition  of  Clerk  of  the  School  l?oard  for  ju~t 
eight  years.  He  has  ever  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
local  school  niattei-s.  .as  well  as  in  all  oilier  ni:itter= 


of  moment.  He  w.as  a  member  of  the  Town  Coun- 
cil for  several  years,  and  served  as  Vill.age  Re- 
corder for  some  time.  Mr.  Bosclie  owns  eightv 
acres  of  land  near  New  lirenien.  and  he  also  owns 
his  pl.ace  of  business  in  tli:it  town.  He  is  well 
known  all  over  the  county,  and  is  universally  re- 
spected. 


)  LINTON  .s.  BRKWKR.  who  was  born  on 
the  old  Brewer  homestead  in  Noble  Town- 
JJ  ship,  November  7,  1852,  is  numbered  among 
the  sons  of  the  pioneers  of  Auglaize  County,  who 
have  stepped  to  the  front  of  lat«  years  to  carry 
forward  the  woik  so  well  begun  \sy  their  fathers. 
He  is  a  competent  and  wide-awake  farmer  of  his 
township,  and  one  of  its  most  iLiportant  civic 
officials. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Nicholas  Brewer,  ex- 
County  Commissioner,  and  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Noble  Township.  He  obtained  his  first 
schooling  in  an  old  log  house,  that  was  rudely 
furnished  with  sl.ab  seats,  and  was  afterward  re- 
placed by  a  frame  schoolhouse.  His  boyhood 
days  were  p.ossed  on  the  farm  which  was  his  birth- 
place, and  theic  he  leceived  a  thorough  training 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  worked  on  the  old 
homestead  until  he  attained  his  m.ajority,  and  then 
he  began  farming  on  his  present  farm,  which  com- 
prises eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  24,  Noble 
Township,  lying  along  the  Amanda  Turnpike,  and 
watered  by  Two  Mile  Creek.  Mr.  Brewer  has  his 
land  under  excellent  tillage,  has  his  farm  well 
stocked  with  all  kinds  of  stock  of  good  breeds, 
and  the  buildings  are  neat  and  well  ordered. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Brewer  with  Miss  Minnie 
A.  Teunnerman,  of  Darke  County,  occurred  in 
the  year  1874.  Mrs.  Brewer's  parents  were  from 
German^-,  and  they  settled  in  Ohio  after  coming 
to  this  country,  the  father  pursuing  his  c-alling  .as 
a  fanner  until  his  death.  The  mother  is  also  dead. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brewer  had  thr-.'  rhildien:  Hoena  E.. 
Claude  Klton.  and  orje  that  died  in  infancv.      Mi'S. 


434 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Brewer,   who   is   a  woman   of  sincere   piety,  is   a 
Seventh-day  Adventist  in  religion. 

Our  subject  is  a  young  man  of  good  habits, 
possesses  a  clear,  active  brain,  and  has  a  fine  repu- 
tation as  a  farmer  and  business  man.  He  is  influ- 
ential in  politics  as  one  of  the  prominent  local 
Democrats,  and  he  has  been  a  delegate  to  county, 
district  and  State  conventions.  His  fellow-citi- 
zens have  at  various  times  placed  him  in  charge 
of  offices  of  trust,  and  for  ten  years  he  has 
held  the  responsible  position  of  Treasurer  of  the 
Township,  discharging  his  duties  to  the  perfect 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned,  of  whatever  political 
creed.  .Mr.  Brewer  is  noted  for  his  prowess  as  a 
hunter,  who  handles  a  ritle  with  unusual  skill,  and 
he  is  very  fond  of  the  pleasures  of  the  chase.  In 
pursuit  of  this  pastime,  he  goes  every  fall  to 
Northern  "Wisconsin,  Arkans.is,  Michigan  and  Col- 
orado, and  kills  every  kind  of  game  to  be  found 
in  those  Slates.  He  has  killed  as  many  as  four 
deer  in  one  d.ay,  and  has  many  trophies  of  the 
hunt  to  remind  him  of  the  various  excursions  he 
has  made. 


Wl  OHN  H.  GOCHENOUR,  One  of  the  finest 
farms  in  Logan  Township  is  owned  by  Jlr. 
John  H.  Gochenour,  and  is  situated  on  sec- 
_  tion  10,  This  tract  of  land  consists  of  four 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  nearly  all  of  which  is  im- 
proved, and  is  the  result  of  industry  and  persever- 
ance. Our  subject  is  a  native  Virginian,  born  in 
Shenandoah  County,  as  were  also  his  parents, 
Abraham  and  Catherine  (Neff)  Gochenour,  Both 
li.arents  were  esteemed  members  of  the  Lutlieran 
Church  and  died  in  that  f.aith,  the  fatlier  in  1839, 
a  \d  the  mother  in  18')1.  They  were  honorable. 
Christian  people,  and  were  classed  among  the  best 
citizens  of  their  community.  After  the  death  of 
the  father,  the  mother  married  .lolui  Dingledine,  a 
native  of  the  Old  Dominion. 

The  uriL;iiinl  of  this  iKitice  was  l»ini  in  llic  yc'ar 
is;):,,  and  wlicn  lint  a  cliild  was  left  fathcrle^.-.    lie 


was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Shenan- 
doah County  and  ra.ade  his  home  with  his  mother 
and  step-father  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  In 
1849,  he  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  began  learning 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  Champaign  County.  He 
selected  his  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Sarah  C. 
Weaver,  and  their  nupti.als  were  celebrated  in 
1858.  Her  father,  Willi.am  Weaver,  was  a  native 
of  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  After  their  marriage, 
Mr,  and  Mrs,  Gochenour  moved  to  Logan  Town- 
ship, Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our  subject.  This  land  was 
then  very  different  from  the  fertile  and  cultivated 
fields  of  the  present  d.ay,  for  it  was  covered  with 
wood  and  very  few  improvements  had  been  made, 
Mr.  Gochenour  erected  a  log  cabin,  and  in  this  he 
and  his  ambitious  and  economical  young  wife  be- 
gan their  career  as  pioneers.  Mr.  Gochenour 
cleared  seventy-five  .acres  of  this  farm,  and  in 
1861  he  erected  a  good,substanti.al  frame  house,  in 
which  he  is  now  living.  Year  by  year,  as  his 
means  allowed,  he  added  to  the  original  tract  of 
land,  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  excellent  land,  all  the  fruits  of 
his  exertions,  coupled  with  that  of  his  esteemed 
and  agreeable  helpmate. 

Their  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four 
children,  onl\-  two  now  living,  ElVa  A.  and  Jean- 
etta,  both  of  whom  were  thoroughly  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  in  colleges.  The  former 
is  living  on  a  farm  near  the  old  home,  and  the 
latter  resides  at  Versailles,  Darke  County,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Gochenour  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Union  Church,  and  are  zealous  and  active 
workers  In  the  same.  In  his  political  career,  our 
subject  has  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat  and  his 
first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  James  Bu- 
chanan. He  has  been  Township  Clerk  for  several 
years,  has  also  held  the  position  of  Land  App^iser 
and  Supervisor,  and,  in  fact,  has  held  all  the  oflices 
of  the  township,  discharging  the  duties,  of  each 
and  all  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  evident 
satisfaction  of  the  people. 

Although  he  began  his  career  in  Auglaize 
Count}-  a  poor  boy,  all  enterprises  prospered  in  his 
li:iii(l>.  and  uspocially  witli  agricultural  pui-suits  did 
111'  seem  exactly  suited.     With  care  and   persever- 


c^<-t^    /fe^-^-<^^^'^ 


PORTRAIT  Am)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


437 


ance  has  he  attended  to  his  adopted  avocation  and 
witli  energy  and  thoroughness,  until  successful  re- 
sults have  been  reaped,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the 
■wealthy  and  substantial  men  of  the  county.  He 
has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  neighbors  to 
an  unliiiiited  degree  and  is  universally  liked. 


W  EWIS  C.  BREWER  is  prominent  as  a 
Ij  /f^i  fanner,  influential  as  a  local  politician  of 
/l—'v,  the  Democratic  party,  and  a  leader  in  church 
matters  in  Noble  Township,  of  which  lie  isa  native, 
his  birth  having  taken  place  here  on  the  old  Brewer 
homestead  June  2G,  1848.  His  father,  Xicholas 
Brewer,  cx-Countj'  Commissioner,  and  a  prominent 
pioneer  of  Auglaize  County,  who  is  still  living 
within  its  borders,  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

When  our  subject  first  attended  school,  he  went 
to  a  log  schoolhouse  for  about  three  months,  the 
building  being  of  jMoneer  construction,  with  a 
huge  fireplace  for  heating  purposes,  and  furnished 
with  slab  seats.  He  lived  at  home  until  he  was 
twenty-one.  helping  his  fatlier  in  the  farm  work. 
He  began  his  independent  career  as  a  farmer  in 
1871,  in  !N'oble  Townshij).  locating  on  his  present 
farm  that  year,  and  went  to  work  with  character- 
istic energy  to  clear  away  the. timber  with  which 
his  land  was  mostly  covered,  drained  the  soil  where 
it  was  necessary,  and  h.as  brought  it  into  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  besides  providing  it  witli  a 
roomy  and  substantial  set  of  farm  buildings.  He 
and  his  wife  togctlier  have  two  hundred  and  fift\' 
acres  of  as  fine  farming  land  as  is  to  be  found  in  this 
part  of  the  county,  pleasantly  situated  on  sections 
22,  23.  13  and  14.  Noble  Township. 

Mr.  Brewer  was  married,  in  1871.  to  Jliss  Harriet 
E.  Shipman.  a  native  of  Noble  Township,  and  a 
daughter  of  .b)hn  L.  Shipman.  Her  father,  a  native 
of  Hamilton  County,  came  to  Auglaize  County  at 
an  early  day.  and  die<l  here  in  iJ^^il.  leaving  a 
good  record  as  a    pioneer  and   as  a  siildier  in    tlie 


late  war,  in  which  he  served  from  the  time  of  his 
enlistment,  in  1864,  until  the  cessation  of  hostili- 
ties. He  w.as  a  miller  by  trade,  but  afterward 
adopted  the  calling  of  a  farmer.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ann  B.artlette,  s\irviyes  him. 
Mrs.  Brewer  is  the  only  daughter  of  the  family, 
but  there  were  three  sons,  of  whom  one  is  yet 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brewer  have  been  blessed 
in  their  pleasant  wedded  life  by  six  children: 
Wilshire,  Bertie  L.,  Von  Hallen  Annie,  Charles 
K.,  and  Ettie. 

Our  subject  h.as  a  well-poised,  well-equipped 
mind,  and  his  standing  as  a  man  of  honor  and 
unswerving  probit\-  is  of  the  highest.  His  sterling 
traits  of  character  have  brought  him  into  promi- 
nence in  the  public  life  of  the  communit}-,  and  he 
h.as  done  good  service  in  various  official  capacities. 
He  has  been  Township  Trustee  for  fourteen  vears, 
.and  has  been  School  Director  and  w:xs  Constable 
for  eight  years.  As  a  good  citizen  should,  he  in- 
terests himself  in  politics,  and  the  Democratic 
party  finds  in  him  a  zealous  .and  intelligent  worker, 
who  has  been  of  good  use  as  delegate  to  county, 
district  and  State  conventions.  His  social  relations 
are  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Religiously, 
both  he  and  liis  wife  arc  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  is  Trustee,  Steward 
and  Class-leader,  and  be  is  Superintendent  of  the 
.Sund.ay-ichool. 

On  another  p.age  will  be  noticed  a  pi>rtrait  of 
Mr.  Brewer. 


ARTIN  V.  ROWAND,  a  native-born  resi- 
dent of  Harrison  Township,  Logan  Count\-. 
A  Ohio,  his  birth  occurring  on  the  farm 
wliere  he  now  lives  Septenilier  17,  1836. 
is  a  prominent  farmer  and  breeder  of  draft  ami 
standard-bred  horses,  also  the  pr(jiirietor  of 
Springdale  Stock  Farm,  situated  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  30.  He  is  a  son  of  William  B. 
Rowand,  the  grandson  of  .Toseph  Rowand  and  the 
great-srandson   of  Alexamler  l.'owimd.  wlio  was  a 


438 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Welshman  ami  tlie  first  of  the  Rowand  family 
to  settle  in  Aiiicrioa.  He  first  locateil  in  Penn- 
sylvania, wlioro  the  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  born,  but  diil  not  remain  there  long,  after- 
ward settling  in  A'irginia,  where  he  started  an 
iron  forge  near  Morganstown,  which  he  operated 
the  lemamder  of  his  dajs.  He  died  when  about 
middle  age.  lie  was  twice  married,  and  had  three 
children  by  his  first  union,  John,  Joseph  and 
Nancy,  and  four  by  the  second  marriage,  Alex- 
ander, Edward,  McCauley  and  'William. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Joseph  Rowand, 
learned  the  tailor's  trade  when  quite  young  and 
followed  it  more  oi'  less  during  his  entire  life.  He 
was  married  in  Virginia,  and  in  180!)  moved  by 
team  and  wagon  to  Urbana,  Chami)aign  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  resided  one  year,  there  being  at 
that  time  but  a  few  round-log  cabins  on  the  site  of 
that  present  thriving  city.  He  rented  a  farm  near 
Urliana  for  a  short  time  and  later  rented  land 
in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until 
after  tlie  War  of  1812.  After  this  he  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  of  timber  land 
in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  settled  upon  this,  and 
partially  developed  it.  He  was  killed,  when  forty- 
five  years  of  age,  by  falling  timber  at  a  barn-rais- 
ing in  Madison  County.  He  was  an  honest,  hard- 
working man,  and  in  politics  was  a  Jackson-Dem- 
ocrat. His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of -Rachel 
Clemens,  and  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  so  far  as 
known.  They  reared  four  children:  William,  John, 
Lucy  A.  and  Catherine.  The  two  sons  are  living. 
The  mother  died  when  about  fifty  years  of  age. 

William  B.  Rowand,  father  of  our  subject,  is  a 
native  Virginian,  born  on  the  22d  of  JIarch,  1805, 
and  nou-  makes  his  home  with  our  subject.  Al- 
though in  the  eighty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  time 
has  dealt  leniently  with  him  and  he  is  still  quite 
strong  and  vigorous.  He  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Ohio,  liaving  entered  the  State  in  1809,  when  four 
years  of  age,  and  he  recollects  m.any  of  the  inci- 
dents of  the  journey  from  Virginia  to  Ohio.  He  has 
witnessed  the  wonderful  development  made  in  the 
country  in  the  last  fifty  years,  and  delights  in  tell- 
ing stories  and  adventures  of  pioneer  days.  He 
was  educated  in  the  early  log  schoolhouses  of 
Oliio,  and   the   first   he    remembers  attending   was 


built  of  round  logs,  having  five  sides,  the  rear  end 
being  built  in  the  form  of  a  V  and  devoted  en- 
tirely to  a  fireplace.  The  scats  were  puncheons 
with  pin  legs  and  ran  around  the  room,  and  the 
windows  were  of  greased  paper.  This  was  in 
Clarke  County,  Ohio.  At  an  early  age,  his  muscles 
were  toughened  and  hardened  by  hard  work  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  he  assisted  in  clearing  and 
improving  the  home  place  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  when  he  started  out  on  his  own  account. 

He  was  married  in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  and 
in  18.31  came  to  this  county,  where  he  bought  his 
present  farm,  paying  S3  per  acre  for  it.  This  land 
was  then  covered  with  a  dense  forest  and  not  a 
stick  had  been  cut.  He  first  rented  a  farm  near 
West  Liberty,  and  raised  a  crop  so  that  he  would 
have  enough  to  live  on  until  he  could  build  a  log 
cabin  and  clear  a  patch  of  land  on  his  own  place. 
He  settled  on  this  farm  permanently  in  the  winter 
of  1831-32,  and  here  he  has  m.ade  his  home  ever 
since.  Indians  from  the  reservation  used  fre- 
quently to  call  at  his  house  to  trade,  and  the  woods 
swarmed  with  deer,  bears,  wild  cats  and  wolves. 
Industrious  and  ambitious,  ho  soon  cleared  up  his 
farm,  and  bought  additional  land,  until  he  at  one 
time  owned  two  hundred  and  eight}'  acres,  most  of 
which  he  had  cleared  himself.  He  selected  his  life 
companion  in  the  person  of  Miss  Matilda  GrafTort, 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1808,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Hornbeck)  Graflfort,  of 
Virginia,  who  came  to  Madison  County,  Ohio,  in 
1825.  Of  the  seven  children  born  to  them,  six 
grew  to  mature  3"ears  and  were  named  as  follows: 
Joseph  (deceased),  Eliz.abeth  (Mrs.  Wood),  Martin, 
Benjamin,  Kittle  (^Irs.  .'^pellman),  and  Alfred,  who 
died  in  the  late  war.  The  mother  was  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  died 
in  1883.  Mr.  Rowand  is  also  a  member  of  that 
church.  He  was  reared  a  Democrat,  but  li.as  been 
a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  that  party. 

Martin  V.  Rowand,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  and 
w.as  educated  in  the  log  schoolhouse  witli  open 
fireplace,  sl.ab  seats,  a  log  taken  out  for  a  window, 
and  other  rude  contrivances  of  that  day.  These 
were  subscription  schools,  and  in  them  he  was 
taught  the"  three  R's."  He  remembers  seeing  plentj' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


439 


of  deer  and  wild  turkeys  during  his  boyliood  and 
jouth,  but  mucli  of  liis  time  was  employed  in  as- 
sisting his  father  in  clearing  the  home  place.  On 
the  2Uth  of  February,  1858.  he  wedded  Miss 
Rebecca  Coulter,  a  native  of  Clarke  County.  Ohio, 
and  one  child,  Jessie,  was  born  to  them.  She  is 
now  the  wife  of  William  Thompson  and  resides  in 
Bellefontaine.  JMrs.  Rowand  died  in  the  year  1869, 
and  on  the  20th  of  April,  1871,  Mr.  Rowand  took 
fiir  his  second  wife  Jlrs.  Pha-be  A.  Harris,  a 
native  uf  Clarke  County,  and  daughter  of  Thom.as 
and  Jlarlha  (Haramon)  Harris,  natives  of  A'irgiuia 
and  Pennsylvania,  respectively,  who  bore  him  three 
children:  Urie  M..  Edwin  M.  and  Ktliel  M..  all  at 
home. 

Our  subject  has  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  all  nicely  improved,  and  is  actively  eng.aged 
in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  is  just  starting 
in  the  horse-breeding  business,  with  evidences  of 
unusual  success.  He  annually  r.iises  a  great  many 
hogs.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowand  hold  membership  in 
the  Methodist  P^iiscopal  Church,  and  are  active 
workers  in  the  same.  In  politics,  he  is  a  lU'pub- 
lican.  but  does  not  .aspire  to  odice.  He  h.as  been 
School  Director  for  manj-  years,  and  is  one  of  the 
county's  most  prosperous  and  substanti.al  citizens. 


<^  J//  ^'-  BLAKELEY,  attorney  and  solicitor  of 
\\rj//  '^'•■^''fs,  Wapakoneta,  Ohio.  Among  the 
^^\{/  many  prominent  legal  lights  of  Wapakon- 
eta,  Ohio,  stands  the  name  of  Vi'.  H.  Blakeley, 
who  is  a  highly  reputable  citizen.  Ohio  is  his  na- 
ti\e  State,  and  he  was  born  in  Shelby  County,  on 
the  12lli  of  JIarch.  1»:3.3.  His  parents,  Samuel  and 
Eli/.alietli  (  Luttrell)  Blakeley,  were  natives  of  Hv- 
huid  and  (  Unci,  respectively,  the  mother  fiorn  in 
Highland  County.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
that  grand  old  State.  Virginia,  and  came  of  pruin- 
inent  families  there. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  twenty-two  yeai-s 
of  age  when  he  decided  to  cross  the  ocean  to  Amer- 
ica, liut  pre\ii>us  to  that  he  had  learned    the  weav- 


er's trade  in  Enniskillen,  County  Fermanagh, 
which  cit^-  is  located  on  one  of  the  three  hundred 
and  sixty-Kve  islands  which  comprise  this  county, 
and  is  situated  in  Lough  Erne.  He  w.as  born  in 
1797,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1819,  im- 
mediately locating  in  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  at 
Lockington,  where  he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  a 
professional  weaver.  He  was  the  first  hand-weaver 
in  this  country,  and  could  weave  sixteen  yards  of 
jeans  in  a  d.ay  by  hand.  He  w.as  an  expert  at  this, 
and  accumulated  considerable  means  in  this  wav. 
In  April,  183a,  lie  removed  to  Auglaize  County, 
Ohio,  settled  alx)Ut  si.x  miles  west  of  Wapakoneta, 
and  there  made  his  home  for  many  years,  being 
classed  among  the  representative  citizens  of  the 
county.  His  family  consisted  of  five  sons  and 
three  daugliters.  si.x  of  whom  are  now  living. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  but  three  weeks 
old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Auglaize  County, 
Ohio,  .and  he  received  his  bcholastic  training  in  the 
public  schools.  He  became  familiar  with  the  du- 
ties of  the  farm  at  an  early  .age,  and  when  little 
more  than  a  boy  began  wielding  the  ferrule.  Ho 
taught  sixt}'  terms  of  school  in  Auglaize  and  Van 
Wert  Counties,  twenty-two  terms  in  one  school- 
building,  and  twelve  terms  in  the  ])ublic  schools  of 
Wapakoneta.  His  record  as  an  e(iucator  stands 
second  to  none  in  the  county. 

When  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded,  on  the  4th  of 
September,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  One 
Hundred  and  Eightieth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  a 
commissioned  ofticer  during  his  whole  service, 
holding  the  rank  of  First  and  Second  Lieutenant, 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Kingston,  X.  C,  on  the  8th,  9th  and  10th 
of  March,  ISOo.  and  was  discliarged  at  Charlotte, 
that  State,  on  the  12tli  of  .Uily,  ]S(3.",.  He  was 
sick  in  the  hospital  at  that  time,  and  did  not  reach 
home  until  September  3,  isi;.').  IK-  was  enoaijed 
in  teaching  school  after  tliis  until  about  1883, 
when  he  branched  out  in  clerical  work.  In  March, 
1887.  he  emliarked  in  hi>  pn-seiU  business,  and  has 
lieen  unusually  successful  as  a  claim  agent. 

Socially,  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  Union  Veterans'  Union,  and  the  Givand 
.\rmy  of  the  Republic.  On  the  14tli  of  Novem- 
ber. 18.j8.  he  was  united  in    iiiarria^'t'    lu  Miss  Lu- 


440 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cinda  Lacy,  a  native  of  Auglaize  County,  and 
the  foliowiag  children  were  the  fruits  of  this 
union:  Sarah  C,  wife  of  William  Moneysmith;  Sam- 
uel Le  Roy;  Cora  M.,  wife  of  L..J.  Sullivan;  Forest 
jVI.,  U.  S.  G.,  Edward,  Stella  A.  (deceased),  and  Jen- 
nie Joanna.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blakeley  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  are 
prominent  and  much-esteemed  citizens. 


y^^^mm^^^^Mi 


"ifOSEPrT  COPELAND,  whose  sketch  now  in- 
vites attention,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  Auglaize  County.  In  the  course 
%^'  of  his  long  life  he  has  witnessed  many 
changes  and  an  immense  amount  of  progi'ess  in 
this  State,  and  has  also  accumulated  considerable 
wealth.  He  is  now  engaged  in  farming  on  section 
23,  Union  Township,  where  he  owns  and  operates 
an  estate  of  six  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  a  son  of  Abner  and 
JNIargaret  (Morgan)  Copeland,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  1790,  in  Xorth  Carolina,  and  tlie  latter 
in  Virginia.  Abner  Copeland  emigrated  to  Ohio 
prior  to  the  AVar  of  1812,  and,  locating  in  Greene 
County,  was  there  married,  and  ranked  among  the 
early  settlers  in  that  vicinity.  In  1836,  he  came  to 
this  county  with  his  family,  and  located  on  section 
22,  Union  Township,  when  it  w.as  in  its  primitive 
condition,  there  being  no  roads  near  his  home. 
He  located  upon  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
and  there  erected  a  little  cabin  and  resided  until 
his  decease,  which  occurred  m  1874.  His  good 
wife,  who  followed  him  to  the  better  land  two 
years  later,  was  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  now  living.  The  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  were  held  in  high 
repute  for  their  many  excellent  traits  of  character. 
In  his  political  relations,  the  father  w.os  in  earh' 
life  a  Democrat,  but  later  voted  with  the  Republi- 
can party.  He  was  the  incumbent  of  several 
township  ottices,  among  them  being  those  of  Trustee 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

•loseph  Copeland,  who  was  the  eldest  member  of 


liis  father's  family,  was  born  February  5,  1818,  in 
Creene  County,  this  State,  and  was  eighteen  years 
of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  this  township.  He  was  given  a  fair 
education  in  the  subscription  schools  of  that  period 
and  being  trained  to  farm  pursuits,  remained  un- 
der the  parental  roof  until  reaching  his  twenty- 
third  year,  in  the  meantime  aiding  his  father  in 
clearing  and  placing  under  cultivation  the  home 
farm. 

The  lady  whom  our  subject  married  October  4, 
1840,  was  Miss  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Fennemore)  P^nglish,  natives  of  New 
Jersey-,  who,  on  coming  to  Ohio  in  1833,  made 
their  home  in  Fi-anklin  County.  Several  years 
later,  they  took  up  their  abode  in  Auglaize  Countj' 
and  located  on  section  22,  where  they  were  resid- 
ing at  the  time  of  their  decease.  The  father  was 
totally  blind  for  many  years  before  his  death, 
but  prior  to  that  .affliction,  he  was  one  of  the 
progressive  agriculturists  of  the  community.  Mrs. 
Copeland  was  born  May  22,  1832,  in  New  Jersej-, 
.and  after  her  marriage  located  with  our  subject 
on  a  wild  tract  of  land  in  Clay  Township,  this 
county,  upon  which  they  made  their  home  for 
three  years,  and  then  removed  to  this  townshij^, 
and  located  on  section  27,  where  their  son  John 
A.  now  resides.  Mr.  Copeland  made  his  home  on 
that  property  until  1841,  when  he  chose  as  his  fu- 
ture home  section  23.  His  estate  comprises  six 
hundred  and  sixtj'-six  broad  acres,  over  one  hun- 
dred of  which  he  li.is  cleared  himself.  His  com- 
fortable residence  was  erected  in  18G1,  and  among 
the  improvements  of  the  place  are  substantial  out- 
buildings and  all  the  appointments  in  the  waj'  of 
machinery,  which  stamp  him  as  a  model  farmer. 
A  view  of  this  pleasant  homestead  is  presented  on 
another  page. 

Of  the  Ave  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife  four  are  now  living:  Margaret  E.,  who  mar- 
ried ]")aniel  Lee,  and  has  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren, makes  her  home  in  Franklin  County,  this 
State;  John  A.,  who  married  Cyntliia  B.  Lusk,  re- 
sides in  this  township,  and  is  the  father  of  eight 
children;  .Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of  Jed  Allen, 
lives  in  Clay  Township,  and  is  the  motlier  of  four 
children;  Phebe  Isadora,  Mrs.  U.  T.  Lusk.   makes 


RE5.  OF  WILLIAM  J.    H  ASTl  NG ,  SlC.Z,  DUCHOUQU  ET  TP,  AUGLAIZZ  CO.,0. 


R     J    JL        ^Ur     J^S 


v-g.a;ze  CO  ,  Ohio 


PORTRAIT  AJsD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


443 


licr  home  in  this  township,  and  has  a  family  of  five 
children.  The  wife  and  mothei-  died  February  9, 
1891,  firm  iu  the  faith  of  the  :\Iethodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

He  of  whom  we  write  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  local  School  Board  for  a  numl)er  of  years, 
and  has  occupied  the  positions  of  Steward  and  Trus- 
tee in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  has 
always  been  a  stanch  Republican  politically,  cast- 
ing his  first  vote  for  William  Henry  Harrib<^n.  lie 
has  been  called  upon  bj-  his  fellow-townsmen  to  till 
the  office  of  Trustee  for  sever.al  years,  and  also 
served  as  Road  Supervisor  for  many  terms.  His 
life  work  has  always  been  farming,  of  which  calling 
he  h.as  made  a  success.  He  is  what  may  be  termed 
a  self-made  man,  as  his  present  high  standing  in 
the  agricultural  community  has  been  attained 
through  his  own  untiring  efforts  and  good  judg- 
ment. He  is  a  good  manager  and  stands  well  iu 
the  couimunit}-,  both  financialh'  and  socially. 


ILL!  AM  .1.  HASTIXn.  Among  those 
who  have  contributed  to  make  A\iglaize 
^''^  Count}-  one  of  the  richest  and  best  devel- 
oped farming  regions  in  the  State  is  !Mr.  Hasting, 
who  forms  the  subject  of  this  biographical  review. 
Duchouquet  Township  counts  him  as  one  of  its 
most  prosperous  farmers,  and  his  est.itc.  which  is 
located  on  sections  5  and  7,  is  comjiarable  iu  all 
p(jints  with  the  best  in  this  vicinity.  • 

Tlie  parents  of  our  subject.  Rol.iert  and  Isabella 
(McClintock)  ILasting.  were  natives  of  Ireland, 
whence  they  came  to  America  as  early  as  183  4. 
The}-  made  their  home  for  three  years  in  New 
Brunswick,  at  the  end  of  which  time  they  came  to 
Miami  Countv,  this  State,  and  located  on  a  wild 
farm  ten  miles  east  of  Piqua.  There  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  ISoO,  when  the  father  came 
to  this  township  and  located  upon  section  6,  where 
he  cleaied  and  improved  a  valual)le  farm  .and  made 
his  home  until  his  decease,  wliicli  occurred'in  1809; 


his  good  wife,  who  survived  him  many  years,  died 
in  1889.  The  mother,  in  later  life,  joined  the 
Lutheran  Church,  but  previously  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination, 
of  which  body  her  husband  was  .also  a  member. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  the  eldest  in  a  family 
of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  with  one 
exception.  He  was  born  May  2,  1834,  in  the 
Emerald  Isle,  and  was  an  infant  of  three  weeks 
when  his  parents  emigrated  to  the  New  World.  He 
made  the  best  of  his  limited  advantages  for  obtain- 
ing an  education,  and  fitting  himself  for  a  teacher, 
taught  his  first  school  in  18.55  in  this  county.  The 
lady  to  whom  Mi-.  Hasting  w.as  married  Decem- 
ber 29,  18.37,  w.as  IClizabetli,  daughter  of  George 
Shappell.  .She  is  a  native  of  this  State,  having 
been  born  in  Fairfield.  November  3,  1833. 

After  his  marriage.  Mr.  Hosting  located  on  sec- 
tion .').  Duchoucpiet  Ti^wnship,  when  it  was  in  a 
perfectly  wild  state.  He  erected  on  his  estate  a 
small  frame  house,  and  continued  to  reside  there 
until  1873,  which  was  the  date  of  his  removal  to 
his  present  farm.  Six  yeai-s  ago,  Mr.  Hasting 
erected  a  comfortable  residence  which  cost  61.500, 
and  a  view  of  which  is  elsewhere  shown.  He  has 
further  improved  his  farm  by  building  thereon  a 
large  barn  and  all  the  necessary  structm-es  needed 
for  carrying  on  a  first-class  estate.  His  property 
includes  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres,  most  of 
w-hicli  are  under  excellent  cultivation,  .and  in  addi- 
tion to  farming,  he  receives  a  royalty  on  ten  oil 
wells  which  are  located  on  his  farm.  The  firet  well 
on  his  farm,  which  was  also  the  fii-st  well  in  the 
towmhip.  w.as  bored  in  .lanuary.  1887. 

Ten  children  have  been  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife,  eight  of  whom  are  living:  Alfred,  who 
marricil  Nora  Archer,  h.as  two  children;  Edith, 
Mrs.  Amos  Nefford,  is  the  mother  of  one  child: 
the  other  memliers  of  the  family  bear  the  respective 
names  of  .John.  Annaljel,  William.  Albert  and  Al- 
bin  (twins)  and  Emma  F.  Jlr.  Hasting  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  in  which  denom- 
ination he  is  Trnsteo  and  Deacon,  and  h.as  held  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  the  Pioard.  He  has  alwavs 
been  greatly  interested  in  the  Sunday-school  and 
has  served  in  the  capacity  of  Superintendent  for 
some  time.     In  liis  political  relations,  he  votes  the 


444 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sti'aight  Democratic  ticket,  and  is  one  of  the  truest 
adherents  of  that  party  in  tlie  township. 

Mr.  Hasting  is  trul^-  a  self-raade  man,  having 
received  no  assistance  whatever  in  starting  out  for 
himself,  and  during  the  years  which  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Auglaize  County  has  rendered  invalua- 
ble aid  in  reclaiming  a  portion  of  it  from  the  wil- 
derness. He  cleared  one  hundred  acres  of  his 
estate  himself  and  has  done  a  great  deal  of  that 
kind  of  work  for  other  parties.  Mr.  Hasting  made 
quite  an  extended  visit  to  the  West,  but  returned 
to  his  old  home  fully  satisfied  that  he  lives  in  one 
of  the  best  States  in  the  Union.  He  is  not  only 
one  of  the  most  substantial  citizens  in  his  township, 
but  is  a  man  who  is  held  in  universal  respect  for 
his  true  manliness  and  upright  bearing  in  all  the 
relations  that  he  sustains  toward  others. 


'  LBEP.T  AVILSON,  31.  D.,  the  oldest  prac- 
ticing physician  in  the  city  of  Sidney, 
it  having  been  engaged  in  his  profession 
here  for  forty  years,  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  the  county',  both  in  his 
professional  character  and  as  a  private  citizen.  A 
native  of  this  county,  he  w.is  born  in  Washington 
Township  September  14,  182(3,  and  is  the  son  of 
Jesse  H.  and  Abigail  (Brodrick  AV^lson. 

John  AVilson,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  lo- 
cated on  the  banks  of  Turtle  Creek,  W.ashington 
Township,  in  1807,  having  come  hither  from  War- 
ren County,  this  State.  He  was,  however,  roared 
in  Virginia,  and  came  to  the  above-named  county 
in  1801.  Prior  to  his  coming  to  Ohio,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Anna  Webb,  who  was  a  native  of  Georgia. 
The  grandfather  located  land  in  the  above-named 
township,  which  has  since  been  in  possession  of 
the  family.  There  the  father  of  our  subject  grew 
to  maturity,  and  continued  to  reside  on  the  farm 
until  his  decease,  which  occurred  in  1881.  He  was 
a  Colonel  in  the  State  militia,  and  took  a  promi- 
nent part  in  local  affairs  in  his  community. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  the   fourth   in    order 


of  birth  of  the  parental  family  of  twelve  children, 
his  brother  and  sistei-s  being  Alfred  D.,  John  B., 
Anna,  Robert,  Hiram,  Mark,  Henry  C,  Mahala 
(now  deceased),  Theodore  G.,  Cassius  C.  and  Louisa, 
who  died  when  four  years  of  age.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1801,  and 
was  four  years  of  age  when  she  accompanied  her 
parents  on  their  remov.al  to  Butler  County,  this 
State.  Her  father  later  moved  to  Wapakoneta, 
where  he  served  as  Government  blacksmith  to  the 
Indians.  The  parents  subsequently  came  to  Har- 
din, this  county-,  where  they  made  their  home  until 
1833,  when  Mr.  Brodrick  went  to  Elkhart,  Ind., 
and  there  spent  his  last  days  on  a  farm. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  after  complet- 
ing his  studies  taught  school  for  a  number  of 
terms.  Having  decided  to  follow  the  practice  of 
medicine,  he  began  reading  under  Dr.  H.  S.  Conk- 
lin,  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  this  section, 
and  continued  with  him  for  three  years,  when  he 
took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Ohio  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Cincinnati,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  1851.  After  completing  the  exam- 
ination, he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Internes  of 
the  Commercial  Hospital  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  which 
position  he  filled  for  a  twelvemonth,  and  then 
took  up  his  abode  in  Sidney,  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  active  practice,  with  the  exception 
of  four  years,  when  he  served  .as  Surgeon  in  the 
army. 

Dr.  Wilson  was  the  first  man  to  join  the  armj' 
from  this  city,  being  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon 
for  the  Flret  Ohio  Infantry,  AprU  18, 1861.  He  waa 
present  with  his  regiment  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  and  after  three  months  was  appointed  Assis- 
tant Surgeon  of  the  First  Ohio  Infantry,  with 
%vhlch  he  remained  until  1863,  being  then  ap- 
pointed Surgeon  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thir- 
teenth Ohio  Infantry.  He  remained  with  that 
regiment  as  Field  Surgeon  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  during  his  last  year  had  charge  of  the 
division  hospitals  of  his  division.  After  the  bat- 
tle of  Stone  River,  Dr.  Wilson  had  oversight  of 
the  field  hospital  of  the  division  for  two  months, 
and,  with  that  exception,  was  always  at  the  front. 

Dr.    Wilson    received    his   honorable    discharge 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


445 


July  6,  1865,  and,  returning  to  Sidney,  resumed 
the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  now  is 
ranked  among  tlie  finest  physicians  in  tlie  State. 
For  seventeen  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
served  as  Pension  Examiner  for  this  county,  and 
for  the  past  two  j-ears  has  been  President  of  the 
Examining  Board  of  Pensioners  for  Sidney.  Dr. 
AVilson,  in  addition  to  carrying  on  his  extensive 
practice,  has  a  finely-equipped  drug  store,  from 
which  branch  of  business  he  reaps  a  handsome  in- 
ci:)rac.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  the  Shelbj-  County  Medical  .Society.  He 
is  a  frequent  contributor  to  medical  journals,  giv- 
ing accurate  expression  to  his  opinions,  making 
wise  queries,  and  placing  clearly  before  other 
readers  any  experiment  or  incident  that  has  a 
bearing  upon  their  work.  Ho  has  built  up  a  large 
and  lucrative  pr.actice,  and  during  his  residence 
here  performed  some  of  the  most  difficult  surgical 
operations. 

October  2G,  1871,  Dr.  "Wilson  and  Miss  Irene 
Ayres  were  united  in  marriaire.  The  lady  was 
born  at  AVapakoneta,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jere- 
miah and  R.aehel  (Baker)  Ayres.  To  them  has 
been  given  a  daughter,  Jessie,  who  is  now  finishing 
her  education  in  the  College  of  Music  at  Cincinnati. 
The  Doctor  erected  a  handsome  brick  residence  in 
1871,  which  is  pleasantly  located  at  No.  911  Main 
Avenue.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion, 
and  is  a  Grand  Armv  man. 


-^^^^^^H-^sl^l^^^^ 


■^jj'OHX  ARXETT.  An  honorable  place  among 
the  men  to  whose  elTorts  Shelby  County  is 
indebted  for  its  i)resent  high  state  of  ma- 
^J  terial  development  and  civilization  is  due 
to  Mr.  Arnett,  who  h.as  been  identified  with  the  in- 
terests of  Jackson  Township  for  many  years.  He 
is  descended  from  families  in  whose  veins  ran 
sturdy  blood,  and  by  heritage  and  early  training 
is  possessed  of  those  traits  of  character  and  habits 
of  life  which  are  needful  to  all  who  would  estab- 
lish a  home  in  a   new  countrv.  and  without  wliich 


one  can  scarcely  succeed  in  older  settlements.  Mr. 
Arnett  was  fortunate  in  having  secured  for  his 
wife  a  woman  who  was  strong  to  endure  privations 
and  hardships,  and  to  her  he  owes  much  of  his  suc- 
cess, and  with  her  is  now  enjoying  the  comforts  of 
a  happy  and  well-furnished  home. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  the  son  of  William 
Arnett.  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  son  of  Seth 
Arnett,  also  of  that  State,  who  w.as  a  soldier  of  the 
War  of  1812.  Our  subject's  mother  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Mary  Furrow;  she  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  the  daughter  of  John  Furrow,  who  hailed  from 
A'irginia.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married 
in  this  State,  and  made  their  home  for  a  number 
of  years  on  a  farm  in  Clarke  County.  In  1828, 
they  removed  farther  AVest  to  Indiana,  where  they 
were  residing  at  tlie  date  of  the  father's  death, 
which  occurred  in  1835.  His  widow  and  children 
returned  to  this  State,  and  again  resided  in  Clarke 
County,  where  the  mother's  death  occurred  in 
1869,  when  in  her  sistj^-fifth  year.  She  reared  a 
family  of  five  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
only  survivor.  She  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  while  her  husband  \v.as  con- 
nected with  the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  denomin.a- 
tion.  In  politics,  the  latter  was  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat, and  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  tlie  local 
aflfaii-s  of  his  community. 

John  Aniett  was  born  in  Clarke  County,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1828,  and  was  trained  to  a  full  knowl- 
edge of  farm  pui-suits.  When  nine  years  of  age, 
he  worked  out  by  the  month  during  the  summer, 
receiving  as  consideration  for  his  services  ¥3  a 
month,  which  money  he  gave  his  mother  to  aid  in 
the  support  of  the  family.  Being  compelled  to 
look  out  for  himself  so  early  in  life,  he  received 
but  limited  advantages  for  an  education,  and  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age  learned  the  trade  of  a 
chair-maker,  and  later  was  eng.aged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  spinning- w-heels  and  pumps. 

November  28,  1852.  Jlr.  Arnett  and  Miss  Eliza 
Ann.  daughter  of  Jonatlian  and  Mary  Ann  (Red- 
iubo)  Nichols,  were  united  in  marriage.  Her  par- 
ents were  natives,  respectively,  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  fatlit-r  was  a  patriot  in  the 
A\\ar  of  1812.  The  Redinlio  family  made  their  ad- 
vent into  this  Stale  as  earlv  a;  17'.».s,  at  which  time 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


they  located  near  Cincinnati.  After  their  ni.Tr- 
riage,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Arnett  took  up  their 
abode  in  Green  Township,  where  the  father 
cleared  and  improved  a  tract  of  wild  land,  and  in 
1840  came  to  Jackson  Township  and  resided  on 
section  30.  lie  departed  this  life  in  1850,  and  was 
followed  to  the  better  land  b^-  his  wife  ten  years 
later.  The  latter  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Christian  Clnircli,  and  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living.  Jlrs.  Arnett  is 
a  native  of  this  county,  having  been  born  in  Green 
Township,  May  31,  1832.  She  was  given  a  good 
education  in  the  schools  of  her  neighborhood. 

After  his  marriage,  our  subject  made  his  home 
in  this  section  for  a  twelvemonth,  then  rented  a 
farm  for  three  years  in  Champaign  County.  In 
the  year  1856,  he  removed  with  his  brother  to 
Iowa,  and  located  on  a  prairie  farm  in  Tama 
County,  which  he  placed  under  good  tillage.  He 
remained  in  the  Hawkeye  State  until  18G0,  then, 
returning  to  Oliio,  lived  for  one  year  in  Miami 
County,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  made  perma- 
nent settlement  on  his  present  farm.  His  estate, 
which  comprises  one  liundred  and  eighty  acres,  is 
•almost  all  under  good  cultivation,  and  supplied 
with  all  the  farm  buildings  and  machinery  which 
are  necessary  for  carrying  on  a  first-class  estate. 

Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  i\Irs.  Ar- 
nett, five  are  now  living:  Melissa  Ellen,  the 
wife  of  jMartin  Smith,  makes  her  home  in  this 
township;  .Jonathan  F.  married  Ada  Gaines,  and 
lives  in  Sidney;  Mary  Ann,Mrs.  RodolphusMaxon, 
makes  her  home  in  J.aekson  Township,  as  does  also 
William,  wlio  married  Frances  Foster;  and  Frank 
F..,  who  married  Etta  Miranda.  Of  the  two  chil- 
dren who  are  deceased,  Jlinnie  Clara  was  a  young 
lady  when  she  departed  this  life.  The  other,  Ed- 
gar, died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

With  his  wife,  our  subject  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  :Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
body  he  has  filled  the  otlices  of  Trustee.  Steward, 
Class-leader  and  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  He  has  given  his  children  the  best  educa- 
tional advant.ages  to  be  had  in  this  section,  and  h.as 
rendered  efficient  service  as  a  member  of  tlie  School 
Board.  Previous  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War. 
he  voteil  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  during  that 


struggle  found  suflicient  cause  for  changing  his  po- 
litical views,  and  is  now  a  working  member  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Republicans.  He  has  been  the  incum- 
bent of  the  office  of  Township  Trustee,  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  men  to  bring  about  local  op- 
tion in  his  community. 


<|  ftlLLIAM  II.  SlIAW,  M.  D.  The  profes- 
\/^j//  sional  career  of  a  skilled  and  devoted  phy- 
V7\y  sician  ever  furnishes  material  of  great  in- 
terest to  all  readers,  and  the  life  narrative  of  Dr. 
William  H.  Shaw  is  no  exception  to  this  general 
statement.  He  was  named  after  the  President, 
William  II.  Harrison,  who  was  au  intimate  friend 
of  our  subject's  father,  William  Shaw,  tlie  latter  a 
native  of  Bourbon  County,  K\-. 

The  father  emigrated  to  Shelby  County,  Ohio, 
in  1831,  located  his  land,  and  removed  there  in 
1833.  He  passed  his  days  in  improving  and  de- 
veloping his  farm,  and  here  died  in  the  year 
1864.  He  married  a  widow,  Mrs.  Sarah  Ware, 
net  Parker,  and  she  died  at  our  subject's  home  in 
Plattsville,  this  county,  in  1873,  leaving  a  family  of 
three  children,  our  subject  and  two  daughters. 
One  daughter,  Martha  M..  married  T.  J.  Proctor, 
of  Piqua;  and  the  other  daughter,  Frances  11.,  be- 
aime  the  wife  of  N.  S.  Lovett,  of  Green  Town- 
ship. One  son,  John  S.,  enlisted  in  the  army  in 
1861,  in  Companj'  F,  Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry,  and 
re-enlisted  as  a  veteran.  He  w.as  killed  at  .Savan- 
nah, Ga. 

Dr.  William  H.  Shaw  was  born  in  Green  Town- 
ship, this  county,  on  the  18tli  of  April,  1842.  and 
remained  on  tlie  farm  and  under  the  parental  roof 
until  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded,  when  he  enlisted, 
in  April,  1861,  for  three  months,  in  the  Fifteenth 
Ohio  Infantry.  Ills  company  was  the  third  which 
enlisted  from  Shelby  County,  and  he  was  in  .active 
service  in  West  Virginia.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Phillipi.but  the  balance  of  the  time  he  w.as  guard- 
ing railroads  and    bridges.     At   the   expiration   of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL    RFXORD. 


447 


liis  term  of  service,  he  went  out  in  tlie  Ninetj'- 
ninth  Ohio  Infantry,  Company  C,  as  a  private,  but 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant.  lie 
was  in  tlie  Aim\-  of  the  Cumberland,  and  served 
in  many  engagements,  the  most  prominent  being 
Phillip!,  Nashville,  Perrysville,  Mission  Ridge, 
Lookout  Mountain,  Resaca,  Stone  River,  Chicka- 
mauga,  Kingston,  Tunnel  Hill,  Nashville,  Wil- 
mington and  Goldsboro,and  the  Atlanta  campaign 
liattles.  From  Nashville  his  command  joined 
Sherman's  "dashing  Union  Boys"  at  Goldsboro, 
N.  C,  and  our  subject  remained  with  his  gallant 
leader  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  w.is  in  active 
service  for  four  years  and  three  months  in  field  ser- 
vice, except  four  months  when  he  was  in  Libby 
Prison,  having  been  captured  on  the  2d  of  January, 
1SG3,  at  the  last  charge  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River.  The  four  months  spent  inside  the  walls  of 
Lil]by  worked  greater  havoc  with  his  constitution 
than  all  his  other  service.  He  came  out  of  that 
horrible  death-trap  .almost  a  wreck,  physically.  The 
direct  result  of  his  devotion  and  bravery  to  the 
Union  cause  was  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
First  Lieutenant. 

Returning  to  the  farm,  our  subject  tilled  the  soil 
for  a  sliort  time,  and  then  began  reading  medicine 
with  Dr.  J.  C.  Leedora,  of  Tawawa,  tliis  county. 
Later,  he  attended  medical  lectures  at  the  .Starling 
Medical  College,  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  graduated 
at  that  institution  in  1^70.  He  subscipiently  lo- 
cated at  Plattsville,  this  county,  where  he  pr.acticcd 
until  the  fall  of  1882,  when  his  health  failed  and 
he  w:is  obliged  to  abandon  his  practice.  After  this 
he  moved  to  Sidney,  and  here  for  two  years,  hav- 
ing in  a  measure  regained  his  healtli.  lie  lias  been 
engaged  in  office  practice  only.  lie  was  appointed 
Pensioner  Examiner  in  .July,  1889,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Surgeons  for 
Sidney.  lie  has  a  delightful  home  at  No.  627 
Fiaiiklin  Street,  and  his  lionie  circle  is  a  very  happy 

11110. 

On  tlie  25tli  of  September,  18i)7,  occurred  his 
marriage  with  Jliss  Rose  F^lma  Leedoni,  a  daughter 
of  James  IL  Leedom.  of  Brooks  County,  P,a.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union,  .as  follows: 
Elma  E..  deceased;  Howanl  I...  wlio  i<  engaged  in 
the    furniture    bu^iiie.-s    in    Sidiie\  ;    Cora  A.,  and 


Ernest  V.,  who  is  eng.aged  in  the  furniture  business 
with  his  brother.  Mrs.  .Shaw  was  bora  on  the  25th 
of  December,  1839,  and  died  on  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1881.  .She  was  a  faithful  and  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  Doctor  is 
also  a  member  of  that  church.  He  is  a  member  of 
Social  Lodge,  A.  F"  &  A.  JI.,  of  Lena,  Miami 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  Post  .Surgeon  of  Neal  Post 
No.  62,  G.  A.  R.,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Health  of  Sidney. 


M"5-  <3S^»*-5-++r 


i-M-M-^^P  •{••{••{-{• 


VT|  ONATIIAN  F.  EMERT  is  one  of  the  noble 
I  veterans  of  the  late  Civil  War,  in  which  con- 
^:^\  ■  flict  he  fought  long  and  well  for  his  adopted 
\5^^'  country.  Since  those  tr^-ing  times,  lie  has 
done  good  work  in  helping  to  carry  forward  the 
duties  of  his  country  as  a  prominent  fanner  of  Shel- 
by County,  residing  in  C\-nthiana  Township.  He  is 
a  native  of  this  county,  having  been  born  in  Lor- 
amie  Township,  M.a\-  13,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of 
Benjamin  Emert,  who  was  born  in  1795,  in 
Berks  County,  Pa.,  and  who  in  turn  was  the  son 
of  Martin  F^nicrt,  a  native  of  Germany.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  after  emigrating  to 
this  country,  was  a  fanner  in  the  Keystone  State 
and  reared  a  family  of  seven  cliildren. 

Benjamin  Emert  in  early  life  learned  the  trade 
of  a  tanner,  which  occupation  he  soon  ab.andoned, 
however,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  emigrated 
to  Jlontgoiner)' Countv,  this  State,  in  1806,  where 
he  .again  took  up  his  trade  of  a  tanner  and  prose- 
cuted it  until  coming  to  Shelb}-  County  in  1839, 
at  which  time  he  located  in  Loramie  Township, 
and  cleared  a  good  farm  from  the  timber.  He 
was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  departed  this  life  in  1856.  The  lady  to  whom 
he  was  married  in  1830  was  known  in  her  maiden- 
hood as  Mary  M.  Mettard,  of  Maryland.  .She  was 
a  daughter  of  George  Mettard,  whom  she  accom- 
panied on  his  removal  to  this  Stale  in  1808.  Like 
her  husband,  she  was  also  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  and  died  in  1882. 


448 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


Jonathan  F.  Emert  is  the  youngest  of  the  par- 
ental family  of  four  children  who  grew  to  mature 
j-ears,  and  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  He 
attended  the  district  schools  until  sixteen  years  of 
age,  and  in  September,  1861,  on  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Benton 
Cadets,  of  Missouri.  Gen.  Fremont  had  called  for 
three  companies  of  infantry  to  serve  as  body- 
guards, two  of  which  were  raised  in  this  county, 
and  to  one  of  which  Mr.  Emert  belonged.  With 
his  compan}',  he  served  under  that  general  until 
the  latter  was  superseded,  during  the  entire 
time  operating  in  Missouri.  In  February-,  1862, 
he  was  honorably  discharged  at  St.  Louis,  and 
August  1  of  that  year  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
Fiftieth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  participated  in  the 
following-named  battles:  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Dal- 
las, Lost  ^fountain,  Pine  Mountain,  Atlanta,  Col- 
umbia, Franklin,  Nashville  and  Spring  Hill  Grove. 
At  the  battle  of  Frnnklin,  his  company  were  all 
captured,  with  the  exception  of  himself  and  two 
comrades,  who  broke  through  the  Rebel  lines. 
Soon  after,  he  was  sent  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
being  taken  with  the  pleurisy  he  was  sent  to  the 
hospital,  where  he  remained  from  February  until 
June,  1865,  when  he  returned  home  to  this  county 
and  engaged  in  farming  on  what  is  now  his  present 
farm. 

November  1,  1866,  he  of  whom  we  write  and 
Jliss  Elniira,  daughter  of  Eliphalet  Blancliard, 
were  united  in  marriage.  Her  father  was  an  earl}- 
settler  of  this  township,  and  died  in  1887.  jNIrs. 
Blauchard.  who  bore  the  name  of  JIary  J.  Penrod, 
is  still  living.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emert  five  chil- 
dren Iiave  been  born,  namely:  George  I.,  Eliphalet 
B.,  ^lartin  .\.,  John  A.,  and  Frederick  J.,  tlie  latter 
of  whom  is  deceased.  The  second  son,  who  is  a 
most  intelligent  young  man,  is  t,aking  a  business 
course   in    tlie   Ohio   College  at  Cleveland. 

In  his  political  relations,  our  subject  has  always 
been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Republican  party 
and  has  represented  it  as  a  delegate  to  various 
county  and  district  conventions.  He  has  served 
two  terms  as  Trustee  of  liis  township,  and  w.as 
nominated  for  representative  in  the  fall  of  IS'.il, 
but  could  not  overcome  tlie  large  Democratic  iiia- 
joritv.     Suci:illy,  he  is  a  member  of  Neal  Post  No. 


62,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Sidney.  His  good  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church,  in  which  body  she 
occupies  a  prominent  place  among  its  worthv 
members. 

Mr.  Emert  is  what  may  be  termed  a  self-made 
man,  as  he  started  out  in  life  with  no  aid  whatever 
and  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  an  estate  which 
comprises  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres. 
His  place  is  adorned  with  the  various  farm  build- 
ings, not  the  least  among  which  is  his  large  frame 
residence  where  they  entertain  their  many  friends. 
He  has  laid  sixteen  hundred  rods  of  tile  on  his 
place,  and  in  addition  to  raising  the  cereals  breeds 
a  good  grade  of  stock. 


^^HO.MAS  LONGWORTH  is  a  son  of  one  of 
((f^S\  the  first  families  to  penetrate  the  forest 
^^^y  wilds  of  what  is  now  Auglaize  County  to 
found  a  home  within  its  borders,  and  as  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  section,  who  is  still  living  among 
us,  and  is  honored  for  his  solid  worth  as  a  man 
and  a  citizen,  it  gives  us  great  pleasure  to  place 
upon  these  pages  the  record  of  his  well-spent  life. 
The  old  homestead  in  St.  Maiy's  Township  that 
was  originally  owned  by  his  father,  Jonathan  Long- 
worth,  is  now  his,  and  has  been  his  home  for  sixtj'- 
four  yeai-s.  It  is  one  of  the  choicest  and  most  fer- 
tile farms  in  the  county,  and  a  large  natural  gas 
supply,  which  yields  a  fine  income,  is  found  beneath 
its  surface. 

Our  subject  w.as  born  in  Virginia,  January  18, 
1812,  and  his  father  was  born  in  that  State  October 
1."),  1781.  The  latter  was  a  son  of  Thom.as  Long- 
worth,  who  was  a  German  b^'  birth.  He  came  to 
Oliio  s6on  after  the  close  of  the  War  of  1812,  set- 
tled in  Pickaway  County,  and  subsequently  died 
in  Circleville.  Jonathan  Longworth,  our  sub- 
ject's father,  was  one  of  seven  children,  and  was  in 
the  War  of  1812.  In  April,  1828,  he  left  his  old 
home  to  seek  another  with  his  family  in  the  wilder- 
ness   bevond   the  iiK^uii tains   in   Ohid.      His   elder 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIUGUAPHICAL  RECORD. 


449 


brother,  Samuel,  had  come  to  this  section  of  the 
country  at  a  very  early  day.  and  had  purch.ased  a 
larofe  tract  of  Government  land  in  what  is  now 
St.  Arary's  Township,  and  .Jonathan,  huj'ing  that 
land,  became  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  re- 
gion, lie  built  a  cabin  and  cleared  considerable  of 
his  land  before  his  death,  which  occurred  at  the 
age  of  sixty-tliree  years.  He  was  a  truly  pious 
man.  and  for  many  years  w.as  a  valued  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried. Ilis  first  wife,  Catherine  Weaver,  a  native  of 
A'irginia.  died  in  1828,  leaving  oneson,  our  subject. 
He  married  again  and  had  five  children,  two  of 
whom  are  still  living. 

Thomas  Longworth,  of  this  bic>gi'a])hical  review, 
was  thirteen  years  old  when  liis  father  took  up  his 
abode  in  ,St.  Mary's  Township,  and  he  had  a  full 
experience  of  frontier  life  far  beyond  the  bounds 
of  civilization.  Thecountry  w.as  nearly  all  heavily 
wooded,  the  forests  were  full  of  Indians,  and  for 
a  few  years  thej-  were  frequent  callei-s  at  the  cabin 
of  the  Longworths,  where  they  enjoyed  many  a 
meal  with  the  family,  whether  invited  to  partake 
or  not.  The  woods  abounded  in  wild  game,  and 
it  was  our  subject's  chief  delight  to  hunt,  and  he 
became  noted  for  his  prowess  in  that  line,  proving 
a  veritable  Daniel  Boone,  and  having  but  few 
equals  as  a  marksman  in  all  the  country  around. 
The  Indians  were  often  his  companions  in  his 
hunting  trips,  and  taught  him  many  useful  tricks 
and  accomplishments  in  woodcraft.  His  expedi- 
tions led  him  up  and  down  the  Anglaize  and  St. 
Mary's  Rivers,  and  sometimes  he  would  not  re- 
turn home  foi  a  week,  but  would  camp  bv  a  bright 
lire  lieneath  the  forest  trees.  The  State  offered  a 
royalty  of  S2..50  for  every  wolf  scalp  taken,  and 
many  a  dollar  fell  into  Mr.  Longworth's  purse 
from  that  source,  and  he  has  killed  beside  hundreds 
of  deer," many  beai-s  and  panthers  and  lesser  game. 

The  newness  of  the  country  and  the  need  of  his 
help  at  home  gave  our  subject  no  opportunity  to 
go  to  school  after  he  came  here,  and  the  death  of 
his  father  a  few  yeare  later  threw  the  burden  of 
the  suppiirt  of  five  orphan  brothers  and  sisters 
upon  his  shoulders.  He  nuMy  did  his  duty  by 
them  until  tlicy  were  old  en'.iigli  ti,.  suiipi.irt  tlieiii- 
selves.    managing    the    farm    and    Cuiitinuinu    the 


improvements  his  father  had  begun,  the  home- 
stead becoming  his.  It  comprises  two  hundred 
acres  of  the  best  farming  land  in  Auglaize  Countv, 
the  soil  being  very  fertile  and  easy  of  cultiv.ation, 
and  the  buildings  are  of  a  good  el.ass,  everything 
aliout  the  place  indicating  good  care.  There  are 
two  productive  gas  wells  in  operation,  wliich  are 
leased  to  the  Lima  Natural  Gas  Company-,  tlie 
gas  being  piped  to  Lima.  There  is  a  fine  bed  of 
a  choice  variety  of  gravel  on  the  farm,  from  which 
material  has  been  obtained  for  the  construction 
of  twenty-five  miles  of  turnpike,  and  Mr.  Long- 
worth  has  refused  §10.000  for  a  single  .acre  of  it. 
He  has  another  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Paulding  County. 

Mr.  Longworth  h.as  always  had  an  aptitude  for 
handling  tools  and  machinery,  and  in  his  early 
d.ays  he  worked  considerably  at  carpentering. 
When  the  !Miami  A-  Erie  Canal  w.as  built  through 
this  section  of  the  country,  ho  did  a  great  deal  of 
work  upon  it  in  the  way  of  building  locks,  etc.. 
he  and  a  contractor  doing  business  together  in 
that  line.  Mr.  Longworth  is  a  stanch  Democrat 
in  politics,  but  is  no  office-seeker.  He  is  a  veri- 
table Christian,  who  has  alw.ays  walked  uprightly 
in  the  sight  of  his  fellow-men.  and  a  kindlv, 
charitable  spirit,  showing  itself  in  many  acts  of 
friendliness  and  true  neighborliness,  has  always 
been  manifest  in  his  daily  intercourse  with  them. 
Forty  j-ears  ago  he  and  his  wife  of  sainted  memory 
joined  the  L'niled  Brethren  Church,  and  he  is  still 
one  of  its  most  consistent  and  active  members. 
He  h.as  always  given  liberally  of  his  means  towards 
its  upbuilding,  and  to  further  other  good  causes 
that  would  in  any  way  benefit  the  communitv. 

In  .Tuly.  1843,  our  subject  was  married  to  Ellen, 
daughter  of  .lames  Wilkins,  who  is  mentioned 
elsewliere  in  this  volume.  For  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury she  walked  by  his  side,  strengthening  him  by 
her  counsel  and  cheerful  help.  "She  brightened  all 
the  jiiys  of  life,  she  softened  ever^-  frown."  ^larch 
19.  18t)l.she  fell  into  that  sleep  that  knows  no 
waking  this  side  of  the  grave.  Her  iiu'inrny  is 
tenderly  cherished  l>y  those  who  loved  her.  Her 
marriage  with  our  siilijeet  was  hallowed  t(itheni 
by  the  liirth  of  four  children,  as  follow-:  The  eld- 
est, a    daughter,  is  the  wife  of   Samuel  lloflauui.  a 


450 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPraCAL   RECORD. 


farmer  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio,  and  they  liave 
five  children;  James,  the  eldest  son,  who  farms  on 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  is  married  and  has 
five  cliildren;  John,  who  lives  on  the  old  home 
place,  is  married  and  has  ten  children,  and  Nancy 
T.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years. 


iT/_^^ENRY  KOOP  is  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
JjV:  of  much  enterprise  and  practical  ability, 
'IL^'  who  stands  among  the  first  of  his  calling  in 
(^)  Auglaize  County.  His  farm,  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  the  Piqua  and  St.  Mary's  Turnpike,  is 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  all  St.  Mary's  Township. 
Its  improvements, are  of  a  high  order,  its  rich  har- 
vest fields  neatly  fenced,  well  tiled,  and  cultivated 
after  the  most  approved  modern  methods  of  agri- 
culture, and  the  large  supply  of  gas  found  beneath 
its  surface  has  increased  its  value. 

Mr.  Koop  is  a  native-born  citizen  of  the  town- 
ship in  -which  he  still  lives,  his  binh  occurring 
March  10,  1841,  in  one  of  the  earliest  homes  es- 
tablished here.  His  father,  John  F.  Koop,  was 
born  in  Germany  in  1801,  and  became  a  miller  in 
early  manhood.  In  1832,  he  emigrated  to  this 
country  and  for  a  while  lived  among  his  compa- 
triots who  dwelt  in  Cincinnati.  In  1834,  lie  pene- 
trated the  forest  wilds  of  the  interior  of  Ohio,  and 
making  his  waj-  to  what  is  now  Auglaize  County, 
he  bought  land  in  St.  Mary's  Township  on  the 
Piqua  Road,  which  waS  the  great  highway  of  travel 
to  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  to 
settle  in  this  locality.  He  built  a  log  house  and 
lived  on  his  land  for  the  lengthy  period  of  fifty- 
eight  3-ears,  and  then  death  came  to  him  when  he 
was  a  very  old  man,  having  passed  the  niuety-first 
milestone  on  life's  journey,  his  demise  occurring 
January  20,  1892.  He  kept  an  hotel  on  his  farm 
for  many  years  and  entertained  many  a  weary 
traveler  who  had  come  to  this  region  to  select  a 
suitable  location  for  a  home.  He  experienced 
many  of  the  hardships  incidental  to  frontier  life, 
but   he  succeeded   in  accumulating  a  comfortable 


property  and  was  classed  among  the  most  useful 
pioneers  of  this  section.  Wapakoneta  was  an  Ind- 
ian town  when  he  came  here,  and  the  forests 
abounded  in  deer,  wolves,  bears  and  other  wild  an- 
imals that  have  long  since  disappeared  from  this 
part  of  the  country,  which  he  lived  to  see  trans- 
formed from  a  howling  wilderness  to  its  present 
advanced  state  of  development.  His  wife,  ^Martha 
Wilen brook,  whom  he  married  in  Cincinnati,  and 
with  whom  he  lived  in  peace  and  happiness  for 
fiftj^-eight  years,  or  until  death  severed  the  bond 
that  united  them,  was  born  in  Germany  seventy- 
seven  years  ago,  came  to  America  in  1831,  and  is 
now  serenely'  passing  the  sunset  of  life  in  the  home 
of  her  son  Henry,  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts 
that  filial  love  can  devise.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  her  husband 
also  belonged. 

Henry  Koop  is  the  third  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  six  are  living.  His  scliooling  was  mostly 
confined  to  the  winter  terms,  after  he  became  large 
enough  to  be  of  any  use,  and  was  obtained  in  an 
old  log  schoolhouse.  He  remained  on  the  home 
place  until  of  age,  and  then  rented  the  farm  of  his 
father  for  several  years.  He  bought  the  farm 
that  he  now  occupies  on  section  15,  St.  Mary's 
Township,  two  miles  south  of  the  city  of  St.  Mary's, 
in  1881.  He  has  greatly  improved  it  since  it  came 
into  his  possession  and  it  is  now  one  of  the  most 
attractive  and  most  desirable  farms  along  the  fa- 
mous old  turnpike  between  Piqua  and  St.  Mary's 
that  was  cut  out  by  Gen.  Wayne  in  an  earl3'  day. 
It  comprises  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land, 
highly  cultivated,  and  watered  by  the  west  branch 
of  the  St.  Mary's  River  and  three  fine  fountains, 
obtained  at  a  depth  of  four  hundred  feet  while 
drilling  for  gas.  The  gas  wells  are  eight  in  num- 
ber and  supply  much  of  the  gas  used  in  .St.  Mary's. 
A  fine  set  of  buildings  of  a  modern  and  appro- 
priate style  of  architecture  adorn  the  place,  in- 
cluding an  elegant  and  handsomely  appointed 
frame  residence,  erected  in  1890,  and  a  large  and 
conveniently  arranged  frame  barn.  Mr.  Koop  is 
one  of  the  leading  stockmen  of  this  section,  bav- 
ins bought  and  shipped  live  stock  extensively  for 
several  years. 

Mr.  Koop  was  married  in  1870   to  Jliss  Caroline 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


453 


Maikus,  a  Geiman  by  birth,  who  came  to  this 
countiT  with  her  parents  when  a  ihlld.  She  has 
contributed  materially  to  her  husband's  success  in 
life  b\-  her  thrifty  and  skillful  management  of 
household  affairs,  and  is  a  truly  estimable  woman 
in  every  sense.  She  is  the  mother  of  five  children: 
Fredonia,  Jlinnie,  Wilson,  Louella  and  Allen. 

Our  subject  is  a  sterling  representative  of  the 
Republicans  of  this  vicinity  and  is  firm  in  his  sup- 
port of  his  part\-.  His  fellow-citizens,  recognizing 
the  fact  that  he  would  make  a  fine  civic  ollicer,  as 
he  is  a  man  of  strong  sense,  keen  discernment  in 
nionej-  matters,  and  is  very  capable  in  every  way, 
liave  called  upon  liini  to  help  in  the  administration 
(if  public  affairs.  In  1884,  he  was  elected  Com- 
missioner of  Auglaize  County,  but  after  serving 
two  years,  devoting  his  best  energies  to  the  dis- 
charge of  his  official  duties,  he  resigned  the  posi- 
tion as  his  private  business  demanded  his  exclusive 
attention.  He  was  elected  in  the  face  of  a  very 
large  Democratic  majority,  although  he  never  asked 
a  man  to  vote  or  work  for  him  a  single  day  or 
use  his  influence  to  secure  his  election.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  in  high  standing  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  in  their  everyday  lives 
manifest  a  true  Christian  spirit  in  neigliborly  acts 
of  kindness. 


■j^)  DWARD  FLICKrS'GER,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stock-breeder,  is  proprietor  of  the 
Pleasant  Grove  Stock  Farm,  which  consists 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  finely-improved 
land  on  section  30,  Harrison  Township,  Logan 
County.  He  inherits  the  thrift,  energy  and  excel- 
lent business  acumen  of  a  long  line  of  German  an- 
cestors, each  of  whom  was  noted  for  his  sturdy 
traits  of  character  and  mental  capacity.  The  orig- 
inal of  tliis  notice  was  born  in  Hamilton.  But- 
ler County,  Ohio,  on  the  12th  of  August.  1847,  and 
is  a  son  of  Henry  Flickinger.  a  native  of  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  Ijorn  in  1819.  and  the  grandson  of 
Jacob  Flickinger,  who  was  originally  from  Lancas- 
21 


ter    County,  Pa.,  where   his  birth  occurred  shortly 

I   after  the  Revolutionary  War. 

j  The  first  member  of  this  family  to  come  to 
America  was  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  who 
emigrated  from  Switzerland  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  yeai-s  ago,  settling  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  davs. 
He  erected  the  first  building  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and 
this  is  standing  at  the  present  time.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  a  pre.aclier  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church  and  was  well  educated  for  the 
time  in  which  he  lived.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1810, 
located  at  Hamilton,  Butler  County,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  esUiblishing  the  church  in  that  sec- 
tion of  the  St-ate  in  pioneer  d.ays.  His  entire  life 
was  devoted  to  the  cause  of  Christianity,  and 
though  he  has  been  dead  many  years,  the  work  he 
so  nobly  accomplished  still  lives  and  will  continue 
to  bear  fruit  through  all  eternit\-.  His  death  oc- 
curred near  Hamilton,  when  he  w.as  quite  aged. 
His  companion  through  life  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Hannah  Kumler  and  w.as  the  daughter  of 
the  noted  Bishop  Henry  Kumler,  who  was  so  active 
in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  in  its  infancy.  She  was  an  ardent  Christian 
worker  and  was  witli  her  Imsband  in  his  ministerial 
labors  during  the  early  history  of  the  church  in 
Butler  County.  She  died  in  February,  1892,  at  tlie 
advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  previous  to  her  death,  she  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  family  reunions  held  annuallv  at 
the  Butler  Countv  Fair  Grounds,  at  which  time 
there  would  be  from  three  to  four  hundred  mem- 
bers in  attendance. 

Henry  Flickinger.  father  of  our  sul>ject.  followeil 
farming  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  became  the 
owner  of  a  well-improved  farm  of  two  hundred 
.acres.  He  was  an  industrious,  enterprising  m.nn, 
an  excellent  manager  and  an  .active  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1891,  when  seventy  years  of  age.  In 
cliaracter,  he  was  generous,  free  and  frank,  and  as 
lie  was  keenly  alive  to  the  sufferings  and  misfor- 
tunes of  othere,  no  one  ever  appealed  to  him  in 
vain  for  aid  or  consolation.  In  politics,  he  was 
for  some  time  identified  with  theWhitrs  and  after- 
ward   ailvcx-ated    the   principles  of  tlic  Republican 


454 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


party.  His  wife,  whose  m.iiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Farlow,  was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  in  1819  and 
came  to  Butler  County,  Ohio,  with  her  parents 
when  a  mere  chihi.  She  reared  eight  children  to 
mature  years,  viz:  Amos,  who  w.os  killed  in  the 
battle  of  .Stone  River;  Matilda  and  Noah,  deceased; 
Edward,  Anna  (Mrs.  Home),  Enoch,  Laudis,  and 
Susan.  The  mother  is  still  living  .and  makes  her 
home  at  Seven  Mile,  Ohio.  She  has  been  a  work- 
ing member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  the 
greater  part  of  her  life  and  is  widely  .and  favorably 
known  for  her  man\-  excellent  and  womanly  qual- 
ities. Her  father.  .John  Farlow,  the  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  w.as  a  n.ative  of  Berks 
County,  Pa.,  and  came  to  Butler  County.  Ohio,  at 
a  very  early  day,  developing  a  farm  from  the  wil- 
derness. There  he  died  when  eighty  years  of  age. 
In  religion,  he  w.as  a  Lutheran,  and  in  politics  a 
stanch  Democrat.     He  was  of  German  descent. 

Until  sixteen  years  of  age,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  and  attended 
the  district  schools  of  his  section.  At  that  age,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Sixt}-- 
seventh  Ohio  Infantry  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Hamilton,  Ohio,  or- 
dered to  Virginia  and  was  eng.aged  in  that  St.ate 
and  in  "West  Virginia  until  the  spring  of  1865. 
Returning  home,  he  began  manufacturing  buggy 
wlieels  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  in  1868,  and  gradually 
increased  the  business  until  1880,  when  he  removed 
the  plant  to  Kalamazoo,  Mich.  He  there  erected 
the  present  large  and  commodious  factory  building 
and  engaged  in  business  more  extensively  than 
before,  making  a  stock  company,  of  which  he  was 
President  until  May,  1890,  when  the  establishment 
was  sold  to  the  Buggy  Wheel  Trust  Company.  His 
excellent  business  capacity  in  this  enterprise 
proved  that  as  a  shrewd,  far-seeing  business  man 
he  had  few  equals,  and  his  profits  were  enormous. 
At  present  (1892),  he  is  erecting  a  large  wheel 
factory  at  Gallon.  Ohio,  to  which  he  intends  to 
give  his  entire  attention  as  m.anager. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Flickinger  bought  a  pai-t  of  his  pres- 
ent farm  and  after  selling  out  at  Kalamazoo.  Mich., 
settled  in  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  in  the  summer  of 
IS'.Hi.  buvina;  additional  land,  until  he  now  owns  a 
tine  tract  nf  two  liundred  and  lifly  acres,     lie  lias 


conducted  general  farming  and  for  a  time  was  en- 
gaged in  breeding  fine  draft  and  French  coach 
horses,  but  recently  sold  his  entire  stock  on  account 
of  the  les.sening  demand  for  the  former.  He  has  a 
neat  and  tasty  residence  and  four  very  large  barns 
near  the  center  of  his  farm,  with  a  driveway  back 
from  the  pike  tlirough  an  attractive  grove,  from 
which  Ills  farm  derives  its  name.  Pleasant  Grove. 

Mr.  Flickinger  h.as  been  twice  married.  In  1872, 
he  married  Miss  Emma,  daughter  of  .Judge  Mc- 
Cuiloch,  of  this  county.  This  union  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  two  children,  one  onh'of  whom  is  now 
living,  Frank,  who  is  attending  school  at  Gambler, 
Ohio.  Edna  died  when  three  yeare  of  age.  Mrs. 
Flickinger  died  in  1882,  and  in  1884  our  subject 
wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  Colley,  of  Sanduskj',  Ohio. 
They  have  two  interesting  children,  Edwanl  and 
Hazel.  Mr.  Flickinger  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 
Republican  principles,  and  socially  is  a  JIason,  a 
member  of  the  lodge  at  Bellefontaine,  the  Knights 
Templar  at  Urbana,  and  the  Elks  at  Bellefontaine. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Flickinger  is  presented  on 
another  page. 


^  OnX  R.  REXICK.  One  of  the  largest,  rich- 
est and  best  kept  farms  in  the  county  is 
that  owned  by  Mr.  .John  R.  Renick,  who  is 
lji&7'  one  of  the  wealthy  and  prominent  farmers 
of  the  section.  Being  a  native  of  the  Bucke3'e 
State,  he  has  advanced  ideas  as  to  how  a  farm 
should  be  conducted,  and  endeavors  to  combine 
the  practical  with  the  theoretical  in  its  manage- 
ment. Born  in  AV.asliington  Township,  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  on  the  25tli  of  April,  1846,  he  traces 
his  ancestry  back  to  good  old  German  stock.  The 
first  settlement  of  the  family  in  this  country  was 
in  Virginia  in  the  seventeenth  century,  six  gen- 
erations ago.  and  the  name  w.as  firet  spelled  "Ren- 
wick."  afterward  "Uennick."  and  finally  "Renick." 
I'ho  srandfather  of  our  subject.  R<i1iert  Renick, 
wa.-.  a  native  of  the  Did    Dominion,  and    he    fol- 


PORTRAIT  A>T)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


455 


lowed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  in  Greenbrier 
County,  that  State,  until  about  the  year  1800, 
when  he  came  to  Clarke  County,  Ohio.  He  entered 
land  from  the  Government,  and  at  one  time  owned 
thirteen  hundred  acres  on  the  site  of  the  city  of 
Sprinyffield,  Ohio,  but  traded  it  for  Wosteru  land, 
.-ill  of  which  he  lost,  lie  improved  a  farm,  and 
operated  a  large  still-house  and  gristmill  on 
Buck  Creek.  Grandmother  lienick.  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Hamilton,  and  whom  he  married 
on  the  23d  of  December,  17;iO.  w.-xs  a  native  of 
Greenbrier  County,  Va.  The}- reared  seven  chil- 
dren. After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Reuick 
married  !Miss  Elizabeth  Knight,  on  the  21st  of 
Ainil,  1813,  but  no  children  were  born  to  this 
union.  Mr.  Renick  died  on  the  23d  of  October, 
1828.  He  was  a  man  of  excellent  judgment  and 
unusual  business  acumen. 

His  son  and  the  father  of  our  subject.  John  H. 
Renick.  was  born  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  on  the 
4th  of  .January-,  1804,  and  in  this  county  he  was 
reared,  passing  much  of  his  boyhood  and  ^-outh  in 
his  father's  mills.  After  reaching  man's  estate,  he 
came  to  Logan  Countj-,  Ohio,  and  on  the  16th  of 
October,  1835,  bought  land  from  the  Government. 
This  farm  was  in  the  woods,  and  not  a  stick  had  been 
cut  except  where  the  Indians  had  cut  trails,  and 
amid  these  wild  surroundings  and  far  from  neigh- 
bors, he  began  in  true  pioneer  style.  He  married 
3Iiss  Elizabeth  Rea,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
in  1806,  and  the  young  couple  began  housekeep- 
ing in  a  very  primitive  and  economical  w.ay. 
Manv  and  vast  were  the  improvements  made  on 
this  land,  and  both  worked  hard  to  make  a  pleas- 
ant and  comfortable  home.  Indians  were  numer- 
o\is  for  the  first  few  years,  and  deer,  wolves,  and 
turkeys  were  very  common.  To  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Ren- 
ick were  born  ten  children,  wlio  were  named  in 
the  order  of  their  birtijs:  .Tames  H.  (deceased), 
William  A.  (deceased).  Xancy  .1..  Robert  H.  (de- 
ceased), Mary  I.  (deceased).  Mary  E.,  Louisa  J.,. 7ohn 
R.,  one  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Sarah  (deceased). 
At  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
31st  of  March.  1886.  'Sir.  Renick  was  the  owner  of 
tw<.>  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well-improved 
land.  lie  had  removecl  to  Ihuitsville,  retired 
fnim  the  active   duties  of   life,  and   there  received 


his  final  summons.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  an  Elder  for 
forty  years.  A  "Whig  at  first  in  politics,  he  be- 
came a  Republican,  and  held  a  number  of  town- 
ship offices.  His  wife,  who  was  also  an  .active 
member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
passed  away  on  the  12th  of  October,  1876. 

Our  subject,  like  the  average  boy  of  his  d.ay,  di- 
vided his  time  between  assisting  in  the  farm  and 
in  attending  the  district  schools,  where  he  received 
a  good  practical  education.  He  remembers  when 
the  country  w.as  a  wilderness,  and  when  deer  were 
quite  plentiful.  When  twent3'-three  years  of  age, 
he  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  life,  and 
was  married  on  the  2d  of  February,  1869,  to 
Miss  Selina  Reed,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Five  children 
blessed  this  union:  Josie  E.  (Mrs.  Smith),  Robert  H., 
Edward  E.,  Euphemia  M.,and  Mattie  Fern.  Mre. 
Renick  died  in  the  year  187!),  and  our  subject's 
second  marriage  occurred  on  the  6th  of  Januar}-. 
1880,  to  Miss  Mary  Fulton.  One  child,  Mary  B., 
has  been  born  of  this  union.  Mr.  Renick  is  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine,  pro- 
ductive land,  which  was  the  original  land  settled 
by  his  father,  and  which  he  purchased  from  the  heirs. 
jNIixed  farming  and  stock-raising  have  been  his 
principal  occupations,  and  he  has  met  with  the  best 
of  success.  He  and  Mrs.  Renick  are  members  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Churcii  at  lluntsville,and 
he  has  been  an  Elder  in  the  same  for  a  number  of 
years.  Like  his  father,  he  6U|)ports  the  principles 
of  the  Repulilican  party,  is  now  Township  Treas- 
urer, and  has  held  the  position  of  Township 
Trustee. 


m^^i^^^i^^^m 


yTLLIAM  BOWSHEK.  In  this  volume  may 
be  found  the  biography  of  many  intluen- 
,  ^  tial  citizens  who  have  plodded  up  the 
steeps  of  honor  and  prosperity  with  remarkable 
energy  and  success.  The  life  of  Mr.  l^iwsher  fur- 
nishes another  example  of  tlii,~  kind,  as  he  is  nnw 
the  owner  of  eighty   acres    of   imiu-oved   land.  In- 


451) 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cited  on  section  32,  Duchouquet  Township,  Au- 
glaize County,  and  thereupon  is  devoting  his  en- 
ergies to  agricultural  pursuits.  Progressive  in 
every  way.  he  is  well  known  and  highly  esteemed 
as  one  of  the  enterprising  farmei-s  who  have  done 
so  much  to  render  this  county  one  of  the  well- 
improved  portions  of  the  Buckeye  Stjite. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Benjamin  Bowsher, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  stone- 
mason and  brick-layer  by  trade,  but  after  coming 
to  Ohio  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  He 
aided  in  the  erection  of  the  Burnett  House,  in 
"Wapakoueta,  and  also  the  old  court  house  in  Lima, 
William  Bowsher,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
also  hailed  from  Pennsylvania,  and  during  the 
War  of  1812  was  one  of  the  patriots  in  that  strug- 
gle. He  came  to  Ross  County,  this  State,  in  1808, 
where  he  w.as  ranked  among  the  very  earliest  set- 
tlers. The  great-grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
natives  of  Germany. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Elizabeth  He  Long;  she  w.as  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1809,  and  w.as  a  daughter  of  Jacob  De- 
Long,  also  a  native  of  that  State,  and  of  German 
parents.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Bowsher  located  in 
Allen  County,  this  .State,  in  18.36,  making  their 
home  in  Shawnee  Township,  just  three  miles  from 
the  present  home  of  our  subject.  The  farm  w.as  a 
wild  tract  of  timber  land,  and  their  only  neigh- 
bors were  three  and  four  miles  distant.  Indians 
and  wild  animals  were  numerous,and  often  proved 
verv  troublesome.  The  father,  however,  being 
very  fond  of  hunting,  often  went  on  trips  with 
the  red  men,  and  in  this  way  jirovided  his  familv 
with  tlie  necessities  of  life.  The  elder  Mr.  Bow- 
sher cleared  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  and 
departeil  this  life  in  1874.  His  good  wife,  who 
survived  him  several  years,  followed  him  to  the 
better  land  in  1888.  They  were  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living  at  the 
prcbcnt  time.  In  religions  affairs,  they  were  zeal- 
ous members  of  the  Luthei-an  Church,  in  which 
denomination  the  father  held  many  of  the  promi- 
nent ottices.  In  politics,  he  voted  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party. 

"William  n..w<lier  was  born  Ortolicr  17.  !>:'.  I.  in 
!!•»>   CViuiilv.  this   Slate,  and    was    an    infant  i>f 


eighteen  months  when  taken  by  his  parents  to  Al- 
len County.  There  he  grew  to  mature  years,  and 
was  given  no  opportunity  for  receiving  an  educa- 
tion until  reaching  his  tenth  year,  when  he  at- 
tended a  subscription  school  two  months  in  each 
year.  After  the  establishment  of  free  schools  in 
his  district,  he  was  enabled  to  attend  three  months 
out  of  each  year  for  ten  years.  He  earlj'  began  to 
assist  his  father  in  carrying  on  the  home  farm,  and 
when  ready  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own  chose 
agriculture  as  his  life  occupation. 

He  of  whom  we  write  rem.ained  at  home  until 
reaching  his  majorit}',  when  he  began  working  out 
for  other  parties  clearing  land,  for  which  he  re- 
ceived §10  per  acre.  In  November,  1858,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  George  and 
Mary  (Wriggle)  Shappell,  natives  of  Pennsylv.a- 
nia,  whence  they  removed,  when  young,  to  this 
.State.  The  parents  were  married  in  Ross  Count}', 
and  in  1855  came  to  this  county  and  located  on 
section  32,  Duchouquet  Township,  where  their  de- 
cease occurred  in  1856  and  1889  respectively.  The 
parents'  famih-  included  eleven  children,  ten  of 
whom  are  still  living.  Three  sons,  George,  D.aniel, 
and  Nelson,  served  in  the  Union  armj-  during  the 
late  war,  the  latter  of  whom  was  taken  prisoner, 
but  was  soon  paroled.  Mrs.  Bowsher  was  born 
May  27,  183G,  in  Fairfield  County,  this  State,  and 
after  her  marriage  with  our  subject  located  on  what 
is  now  their  present  farm.  Mr.  Bowsher  was  com- 
pelled to  go  in  debt  in  purchasing  his  estate,  but 
being  industrious  and  economical,  and  aided  by 
the  good  advice  of  his  wife,  he  was  soon  enabled 
to  pay  off  the  incumbrance  on  his  land,  which,  by 
its  neat  appearance,  indicates  the  thrift  and  enter- 
prise of  its  owner. 

Of  the  nine  children  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  we  make  the  following  mention  of  the  seven 
who  are  living:  Missouri  married  J.acob  DeLong, 
and  has  one  child:  Nelson  married  .Susan  Culp. 
and  is  the  father  of  two  children;  George  married 
Sophia  Wieselnieyer,  and  h.as  a  family  of  two  chil- 
dren; Solomon,  Rufus,  Mollie,  and  Emma  are  all 
unmarried.  With  their  children,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
P.owsher  are  intluential  members  of  the  Evangeli- 
rai  Church.  Dur  subject  is  a  sensible,  well-in- 
formed   man.  luauly  and  straightforward     in     his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


457 


character,  and,  as  a  loyal  cilizL-ii  should,  takes  a 
fairly  active  part  in  politics,  throwing  the  weight 
of  his  influence  with  the  Democratic  party,  of 
whicli  he  has  been  a  devoted  adherent  for  many 
years. 

_:^®-______5^SE3-_j____^_frfi. 


PAMKL  AV.  KoCII.  To  tlie  person  who 
J  closely  applies  himself  to  an}-  occupation 
which  be  has  chosen  as  his  calling  in  life, 
there  can  only  come  oue  result — that  of  success 
and  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  those  among 
whom  he  has  made  his  home,  and  Mr.  Koch  is  no 
exception  to  the  rule,  for  it  has  only  been  by  in- 
dustry and  strict  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits 
since  185.5  that  lie  has  attained  to  the  position  that 
he  now  enjoys. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  .Jacob  Koch, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  or  was  born  in  Ger- 
many just  before  his  father  came  to  America,  and 
the  latter's  wife's  father  w.as  a  soldier  m  the  IJev- 
olutionary  War.  .Taeob  Koch  was  a  farmer  and 
carried  on  his  farming  operations  in  Pennsylvania 
until  his  death,  when  forty  years  of  age. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  Daniel  Koch,  was 
born  in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1803,  and 
when  growing  up  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
which  he  followed  until  1837,  when  he  became 
Superintendent  of  iron  works  in  Cumberland  and 
Perry  Counties,  Pa., and  thus  continued  until  1855. 
He  then  came  to  Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  located 
in  De  Gratf,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil.  He  was  a  hard- 
working man  and  a  good  manager.  He  died  in 
1882.  A  Lutheran  in  his  religious  views,  he  li_)ok 
a  great  deal  iif  interest  in  church  work  and  was 
also  active  in  all  (ither  enterprises  of  a  worthy  na- 
ture. He  was  at  one  time  a  Whig  in  polities,  and 
later  in  life  became  a  Republican,  but  his  brothers 
were  all  Democrats.  He  married  Miss  Susan  Man- 
miller,  a  native  of  Berks  County;  Pa.,  born  in  1808, 
and  to  them  were  liorn  five  children, namely:  .Jacob, 
Daniel  (our  suliject),  Barbara  Ann,  Ann  Caroline, 
and  Catherine.     ()iilv   two   are   now  livinir.     Tlie 


mother  died  in  September,  18'J0,  when  eighty-two 
years  of  age.  She  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religion, 
and  took  a  deep  interest  in  her  church  and  all  other 
good  work.  Her  father.  David  Manmiller,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  followed  various  occu- 
pations for  a  livelihood,  running  a  dye-shop  for 
some  time  and  farming  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
died  when  sixty-flve  years  of  age  and  was  also  of 
German  descent. 

Daniel  W.  Koch  was  born  in  Schuylkill  County, 
I'a.,  in  October.  1829,  and  remembers  distinctly 
the  pioneer  log  schoolhouse  where  he  received  his 
education,  the  split  logs  for  benches,  the  rude 
writing-desk  and  other  inventions  of  back-woods 
d.ays,  but  he  subsequently  attended  one  season  at 
Reading,  Pa.,  and  later  two  terms  at  Bloomfield 
Ac.tdemy.  When  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  clerked 
for  one  year  in  a  dry-goods  store  at  Petersbur;:. 
Perry  County,  Pa.,  and  then  took  charge  of  the 
books  in  the  iron  works  atFio  Forge,  Perrv  County, 
and  at  Laurel.  Cumberlaml  County,  Pa.,  and  also 
one  year  at  Mt.  Holly  Iron  Works.  In  1854.  he 
became  Superintendent  under  his  father  and  kept 
books  for  several  years.  In  1852,  the  gold  fever 
came  over  him  and  he  went  to  California  via  the 
Isthmus,  and  was  eng.iged  in  mining  there  for 
eighteen  months.  In  1853,  he  retimied  to  the 
E.ast  and  in   April.  1855.  bought  his  present  farm. 

In  1857,  Miss  .Susan  Ilensinger,  a  native  of 
Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  born  on  the  10th  of  No- 
vember, 1822,  became  his  wife  and,  although  they 
had  no  children  of  their  own,  they  reared  a  o-irl, 
Jennie,  from  the  age  of  two  years,  and  became  very 
much  attached  to  lier.  She  married  Jacob  A.  Shaw,  a 
Superintendent  of  the  Columbus  (Ohio),  public 
schools.  They  gave  her  an  excellent  education, 
sent  her  three  years  to  Oberlin  College,  and  she  is 
a  very  fine  musician.  Mr.  Koch  has  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  just  outside  the  corpora- 
tion of  DeGrarT.  and  is  engaged  in  fanning  and 
stock-raising.  He  has  made  a  complete  success  of 
this  occupation  and  is  one  of  the  prominent 
.and  substantial  men  of  tlie  county.  He  has  made 
many  improvements  on  his  place,  h.is  a  good  resi- 
dence and  frame  liam.  and  lately  built  a  tenant 
house.  He  is  a  Methodist  and  his  wife  is  a  meni- 
l)er.jf  the  Church  r,f  C.d. 


458 


PORTRAIT  ANT)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  politics,  he  advocates  tlie  principles  of  the 
Republican  partly,  was  Clerk  of  the  township  for 
twelve  years  anci  also  Trustee  for  many  years.  In 
May,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-second  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was 
made  Second  Lieutenant  of  his  company.  He  was 
sent  to  Petersburghandattaclied  to  the  Eighteenth 
and  Tenth  Army  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac. On  the  10th  of  September,  1804,  he  was 
mustered  out  at  Camp  Chase.  Mr.  Koch  has  shown 
his  appreciation  of  secret  organizations  by  becom- 
ing a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grand  Arraj'  of 
the  Republic  and  was  Commander  of  the  first  post 
organized  in  Dc  Graff.  He  is  now  serving  his 
twenty-fifth  year  .as  Secretary  of  the  Jlasonic  order. 
He  has  also  filled  all  the  chairs  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  and  has  been  per- 
manent secretary  for  ten  years.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  Knights  of  Honor.  He  is  a  stockholder  and 
one  of  the  Directors  of  the  gas  well.  Mrs.  Koch 
is  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah  Lodge. 


zl^^* 


/f^\  C.  PEPPLE.  It  is  a  great  pleasure  to  trace 
(I!  ^^  the  history  of  those  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
^^J  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  who  have  perse- 
vered through  trials  and  hardships  and  have  at 
last  reached  a  point  where  they  can  enjoy  the 
wealtli  and  prosperity  which  rightly  belongs  to 
them.  In  the  life  of  the  parents  of  our  subject, 
AVilliam  and  Rebecca  (Miller)  Pepple,  we  find  such 
a  history,  and  the  popularity  that  belongs  to  such 
people  is  the  just  meed  which  neighbors  are  glad 
to  pay  to  their  worth  and  work. 

The  father  was  born  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood.  About  1832,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Miller,  a  native  of  Champaign 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  John  Miller, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  that  county.  About  1838, 
Mr.  Pepple  and  family  moved  to  Auglaize  County, 
and  cleared  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on  section 


19,  Wayne  Township,  and  on  this  the  father  has 
resideil  ever  since.  When  they  first  located  on  this 
farm  there  were  very  few  settlers,  scouting  parties 
of  Indians  made  their  ai)pearance  quite  frequentlyi 
and  wild  animals  were  plentiful.  jNIr.  Pepple  first 
built  a  round-log  cabin  but  supplemented  this  by 
a  hewn-log  structure  a  few  yeare  later  and  then  a 
good  substantial  frame  building  was  erected.  He 
worked  hard  to  clear  and  improve  his  farm,  and 
although  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers  in  his  section, 
he  still  enjo^'S  comparatively  good  health,  and  his 
fine  farm  shows  the  indisputable  proofs  of  the 
hand  of  a  thorough  and  SNStcmatic  farmer.  Five 
of  the  seven  children  born  to  his  marriage  are 
now  living,  viz.:  C.  C,  John,  P.,  M.  R.  and  Lydia. 
These  children  were  given  the  advantages  of  a 
good  common-school  education  and  two  of  them, 
C.C.  and  Mary  J.  (who  is  deceased)  have  been  school 
teachers.  One  child,  P.  Pepple,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  late  war,  enlisting  in  Company  B,  Forty-fifth 
Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  three  years,  or  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  In  several  engagements,  when 
nearly  all  his  company  were  taken  prisoners,  he 
escaped  by  lying  among  the  dead  until  the  enemy 
had  passed.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  The  mother  of  these  children 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  died 
in  that  faith  in  1880.  Mr.  Pepple  is  still  living 
and  is  in  his  eighty-second  ye.ar.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  Democrat,  and  his  first  Presidential  vote  was  for 
Jackson. 

The  original  of  this  notice,  C.  C.  Pepple,  first 
saw  the  light  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  in  1834^ 
and,  like  the  average  farmer's  boy,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  after  his  marriage,  in  1855,  he  started  out 
for  himself  as  a  farmer  in  Auglaize  Countj'.  He 
cleared  a  wild  piece  of  land  in  "Wayne  Township, 
and  although  he  began  life  with  limited  means,  he 
is  now  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  the  county, 
and  is  the  owner  of  four  hundred  and  sixty-five 
acres  of  well-improved  and  well-cultivated  land. 
He  has  a  cozy  and  comfortable  home,  and  is  verj- 
pleasantly  situated  indeed.  He  married  Bliss 
Catherine  Gilroy,  a  daughter  of  John  Gilroy,  and 
a  native   of  Auglaize  County,  Ohio.     Eight   cliil- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


459 


dren  have  been  born  to  tbis  union,  but  only  five 
are  now  living,  viz.:  Sarali  Jane,  Arnold  O.,  .Tames, 
John  W.  and  Minnie  Blanch.  All  tliese  children 
have  received  good  educational  advantages,  and 
Arnold  is  a  school  teacher.  The  eldest  son,  Riley, 
■was  killed  by  a  horee  falling  on  him  when  seven- 
teen 3-ears  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pepple  are  worthy  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  he  has  been  Trustee  and 
Steward  in  the  same.  At  the  present  time  he  is 
Secretary.  Lilve  his  father,  he  is  a  stron»  advo- 
cate of  Democratic  principles,  and  lias  held  the 
office  of  Township  Treasurer  for  eleven  years.  He 
also  held  the  office  of  County  Treasurer,  being  ap- 
pointed to  that  position  by  commissioners  after  the 
defalcation  of  Treasurer  Lucas.  He  finished  out 
the  term  of  Lucas,  and  afterward  served  one  term, 
serving  in  that  capacity-  with  credit  and  ability. 
During  the  war,  he  was  drafted  into  the  army  and 
made  an'angeraents  to  enter  service.  However,  his 
services  were  not  needed. 


\T[_^  OX.  WILLIAJI  H.  WP:ST.  A  volume  of 
J  jl  this  chaiacter  would  be  incomplete  did  it 
i^i^'  not  contain  a  biographical  sketch  of  Judge 
((®)  West,  whose  life  has  been  such  as  to  com- 
mand tlie  respect  and  admiration  even  of  his  po- 
lititiil  op|JOnenls.  An  eminent  jurist,  lie  w.os 
chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  and 
served  efficiently  in  that  capacity  until  failing 
siglit  forced  liira  to  resign.  As  the  most  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Bellefontaine,  and  one  of  the  intlu- 
ential  men  of  his  party  in  the  State,  a  few  facts 
with  regard  to  his  personal  career  may  encourage 
many  of  our  readers  to  greater  elf  orts  for  success  in 
life,  and  others  will  lie  stirred  to  noble  deeds  of 
generosity  for  the  public  weal. 

Born  at  Millsborough,  'W.ashington  County.  Pa.. 
February  d.  1821.  our  subject  is  the  son  of  Samuel 
and  :Mary  (Clear)  West.  As  early  as  l!:*:]!).  he  ac- 
companied his  father  to  Knox  County.  Ohio, 
where   he   aided    in   developing   a   farm    fruiii    the 


wilderness.  Perhaps  his  early  struggles  .assisted  in 
developing  the  characteristics  of  firmness  and  de- 
termination which  ever  afterward  were  firmlv  im- 
planted in  his  nature.  In  ISlti,  lie  was  graduated 
from  Jefferson  College,  in  Penns^-lvania.  dividing 
the  honore  with  Cien.  A.  B.  Sharpe.  During  the 
two  ensuing  years,  he  taught  school  in  Kentucky, 
and  later  accepted  a  tutorship  in  Jefferson  College. 
After  filling  that  position  with  marked  ability  for 
one  year,  he  accepted  an  adjunct  professorship  at 
Hampden  Sidne\'  (Va.)  College. 

Having  resolved  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  law, 
our  subject  commeueed  his  legal  studies  in  the 
office  of  Judge  William  Lawrence,  of  Bellefontaine, 
witli  whom  he  formed  a  partnership  upon  his  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar.  From  the  first,  he  w.as  recoo'- 
nized  as  an  able  attorney  and  it  was  not  hina- 
before  he  worked  his  way  to  the  foremost  ranks 
among  the  brethren  of  the  legal  fraternity.  Two 
characteristics  were  especially  noticeable  .as  mental 
attributes,  and  these  were  his  capacity  to  .assim- 
ilate his  legal  studies  to  his  remarkable  intellec- 
tual qualities,  and  an  unusual  facility  of  utterance. 
When  to  these  we  add  the  delicate  organization 
that  seemed  to  vibrate  to  the  touch  of  p.ossion.  we 
have  the  powerful  advocate  %vho  in  court  con- 
.vinced  the  judge  and' won  the  jury,  and  became 
known  throughout  the  nation  as  "the  Blind  Mau 
Eloquent.'" 

In  the  legal  fraternity  of  the  West,  the  position 
occupied  by  Judge  West  has  been  most  conspic- 
uous and  influential.  He  is  a  recognized  author- 
it\-  on  civil  and  corporate  law,  and  in  familiarity 
with  these  departments  is  equaled  by  few  and  sur- 
passed by  none.  While  on  the  Supreme  Bench  of 
Ohio,  he  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose  his  si-rht, 
but  with  it  came  no  loss  of  power.  His  trained 
mind  and  wonderful  memory  enabled  him  to  dis- 
pense with  his  eyes,  and  for  years  it  has  been  a 
spectacle  of  great  interest  to  the  Bar  to  witness 
his  conduct  in  charge  of  a  case  in  court.  Without 
the  le.ast  aid  from  anyone,  without  the  sliijhtest 
pause  in  the  jirocuedings.  .and  without  perceptible 
hesitation,  he  unravels  intricate  facts  and  quotes 
the  law  applicable  to  tlieni. 

In  1854,  Judge  West  joined  in  an  appeal  to  all 
parties  after  the   rejieal   of   the    .■\li--i.iii-i    Cuuipro- 


4G0 


i'ORTRAlT  A^'D  BIOGRArmCAL  RECORD. 


raise,  th:it  vesulted  in  .1  convention  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  one  of  the  prominent  speak- 
ers. He  has  always  been  influential  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Republican  party,  ami  has  been  one  of  its 
leaders  in  the  State.  In  I8.")7  and  18G1,  be  was  a 
member  of  the  St.ate  Legislature,  serving  in  the 
House,  and  in  1863  was  elected  to  the  Senate.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Presidential  convention 
held  at  Chicago,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  w.as  nom- 
inated for  the  highest  position  in  the  gift  of  the 
people.  In  1865,  he  was  chosen  Attorne^'-General 
of  Ohio,  re-elected  in  18G7  to  the  same  office,  and, 
in  1869,  was  tendered,  although  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept, the  position  of  Consul  to  Rio  Janeiro.  In 
1871,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Ohio,  which  he  held  until  1873. 

Doubtless  the  most  important  event  in  the  pub- 
lic life  of  Judge  "West  occurred  in  1877,  when  his 
part}-  nominated  him  for  Governor  of  Ohio.  At 
that  time,  a  grave  crisis  was  at  hand;  the  great 
railroad  strikes  bad  arrested  the  wheels  of  nearly 
all  the  locomotives  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  miles  of  operating  railroads,  and  the 
newly-named  candidate  for  governor  had  to  meet 
the  issue  involved  in  the  conflict.  The  issues  be- 
tween capital  and  labor  had  been  carefully  studied 

'  by  Judge  West,  and  he  recognized  then  what  the 
whole  world  appreciates  now,  that  this  is  the  great 
issue  of  civilization  and  must  be  solved  before  the 
wheels  of  progress  will  again  revolve.  In  his  first 
address  after  his  nomination,  he  uttered  .•\dvanced 
views  on  the  subject  for  whicli  public  opinion  was 
not  then  prepared,  but  whicli  are  now  conceded 
to  be  correct.  His  defeat  naturally  resulted.  He 
lust  the  eminent  position  to  wliich  he  otherwise 
would  have  arisen,  l)ut  he  carried  b.ack  to  private 
life  the  honor  that  comes  of  a  courageous  defense 
of  principle. 

Judge  West  was  twice  married.  His  firet  wife, 
wliose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Williams,  died 
in  1K71,  leaving  the  following  children:  Will- 
iam A..  John  E.  and  .Samuel  A.  He  w.as  after- 
ward married  to  Clara  G.  Gorton,  who  has  been  his 
devoted  helpmate  during  the  years  that  have  come 
and  gone.  Although  in  feeble  healtli,  he  still  con- 
tinues the  practice  of  his  profession,  more  espec- 
ially on  account  of  his  sons.  William  A.  and  John 


E.,  who  inherit  much  of  his  ability  and  have  the 
promise  of  eminent  positions  in  future  ■<  .,is.  In 
his  pleasant  home  at  Bellefontaine,  loved  and  re- 
vered by  all  who  know  him,  the  "Blind  Man  Elo- 
quent" is  passing  the  twilight  of  his  life.  Mr. 
West  was  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1872,  of  which  the  late  Chief  Jus- 
tice Waite  was  presiding  officer.  In  1884,  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Republican  Xation.al  Convention 
at  Chicago,  and  put  in  nomination  James  G. 
Blaine. 

The  liiographer  acknowledges  valuable  assist- 
ance received  by  a  perusal  of  a  sketch  of  Judge 
West  in  the  "Historical  Collections  of  Oliio." 


W^  V.  SHAW.  The  furniture  trade  in  Sidney, 
[^  like  every  other  staple  branch  of  business, 
iL^^'  comprises  every  class  of  dealer,  with  corres- 
ponding notions  of  value  and  excellence.  As  in 
everything  else,  it  pays  to  get  the  best,  and  an 
establishment  which  has  gained  an  excellent  repu- 
tation for  just  methods  is  that  conducted  by  Shaw 
Bros.,  located  at  No.  826  Slain  Avenue,  where  the_v 
opened  for  business  on  the  12th  of  October,  1891. 
They  carry  the  best-selected  and  most  extensive 
assortment  of  medium  and  the  finest  giade  of 
goods  in  this  section  of  the  State.  Only  really 
reliable  goods  are  handled  and  the  trade  of  the 
house  extends  throughout  the  county.  The  indi- 
vidual members  of  the  firm  are  E.  \.  and  H.  L. 
Shaw,  thorough-going  and  practical  business  men. 
who  enjoy  the  confidence  of  all  having  dealings 
with  them. 

Tlie  original  of  this  notice  was  born  in  tiiis 
county  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  W.  II.  Shaw.  His  birth 
occurred  at  IMattsville,  seven  miles  southeast  of 
the  city,  on  tlie  8th  of  June,  1871.  and  he  there  re- 
ceived his  primary  education.  Later,  he  supple- 
mented this  by  a  course  in  the  High  School  and 
then  entered  the  grocery  store  of  Piper  Bros.,  where 
he  remained  six  years,  thus  laying  the  foundation 


^'(aUt^   cJ^-^ 


-^^:^'€^r/. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


for  his  subsequent  prosperous  career.     Enterpris- 
ing and  thorouglily  alive  to  all  imiiroved  business 
methods,  ^oungShaw  could  hardly  fail  in  making 
a  success  of  whatever  he  undertook  and  his  career   i 
tlius    far    has   been  a   very    successful   one.     The   j 
brother,  H.  L.  .Shaw,  was  for  a  time  manager  of  the   j 
dry-goods  store  of  A.  D.  Graham  and  was   then  in    I 
Piper's  dr\--goods  store  until  the  establishment  of   ■ 
the  firm  of  Shaw  Bros.,  in  IfSOl.     Our  subject  is  an 
enterprising  business    ni.an  and   is   building  up  a 
widespread  and  enviable  patronage  for  the  com-   1 
pany  he  so  fittingly  represents.  lie  .ind  hisbrotlier 
make  their  home  with  the  father.     H.  L.  w.as  born    | 
on  tlie  17th  of  September,  1^68,  and  has  shown  his 
appreciation  of  secret  organizations  by  becoming  a   ( 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows    ' 
and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.     Like  his  brother,  he 
seems  to  have  the  natural  faculty  for  a  successful 
business  career.  For  a  more  extended  biography  of 
him  the  reader  is  referred  to  Dr.  W.  H.  Shaw's  biog- 
raphy on  another  ]iage  of  tliis  voiume. 


di^^i'  ^  a  ^  i^^i 


■il'OHN  Jir.SSER.  Among  the  many  enter- 
prising foreigners  who  at  an  early  d.ay 
emigrated  to  the  Land  of  the  Free  with  a 

view  to  bettering   their  condition  was  the 

paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  emigrated 
from  Switzerland  and  settled  in  Maryland  about 
17.50.  Being  progressive  and  enterprising  to  a 
marked  degree, he  was  not  satisfied  to  remain  long 
in  JLaryland  when  the  yet  unexplored  West  w.is 
before  him.  and  he  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  settled 
in  Fairfield  County.  Although  the  land  was  wild 
upon  which  he  settled,  the  soil  was  rich  .and  pro- 
ductive, and  as  the  work  of  clearing  progressed  and 
tlie  seed  was  planted,  it  yiekled  a  rich  return.  He 
w.as  the  fatlier  of  seven  cliildren.  In  religion,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Germ.an  Reformed  Church, 
and  died  in  lliat  faith  about  1822. 

Tlieobald  Musser,  son  of  tlie  above  and  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Fredericktown,  Md.,  and 
there  p.assed  histioyhood  and  youtii.   In  that  place. 


he  married  Miss  Christine,  daughter  of  Christopher 
Binkley,  of  ILagerstown,  Md.  After  marriage,  this 
worthy  couple  settled  in  Elizabethtown,  Pa.,  but  a 
few  yeai-s  later  removed  to  Fairfield  County,  Ohio, 
and  there  the  father  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  Both  were  membei's  of  tlie 
Reformed  Lutlieran  Church  and  the  father  was 
a  Whig  in  politics.  He  died  .about  1847,  and  she 
passed  aw.ay  in  1853.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to 
their  marriage,  tlu-ee  are  now  living:  Jolin,  David 
and  Daniel. 

.John  JIusser,  tlie  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
at  Elizabethtown,  Pa.,  in  the  ycav  1799.  Now  in 
his  ninety-third  year,  he  is  the  oldest  man  in  Au- 
glaize County  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being 
its  oldest  surviving  settler.  Having  p.assed  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  here,  he  is  thoroughly 
identified  with  its  interest  in  every  worthy  par- 
ticular and  recognized  bj-  all  as  one  of  its  repre- 
sentative and  mo^t  highly  esteemed,  ,as  well  .as 
venerable  citizens.  He  was  brought  by  his  parents 
to  Ohio  in  1801,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Auglaize 
County,  where  he  received  a  limited  education. 

When  Mr.  Musser  started  out  to  battle  in  life  for 
himself,  he  w.as  entirely  without  means,  but  pos- 
sessed a  great  deal  of  energy  .and  push  and  a  pair 
of  strong  and  willing  hands.  He  began  clearino- 
tlic  farm  in  Moulton  Township,  Auglaize  County, 
where  lie  lives  at  the  present  time,  and  by  his  in- 
dustry and  economy  became  the  owner  of  one 
luindred  and  sixty  .acres  of  land,  nearly  all  of 
which  has  been  improved.  After  reaching  man's 
estate,  he  attended  school  and.  being  naturallv  a 
man  of  clear  judgment  and  more  than  ordinary 
ability,  became  much  better  informed  than  the 
average. 

In  regard  to  the  military  record  of  Mr.  Musser, 
he  wa-?  in  the  State  militia  for  seven  ^-ears  and  was 
commissioned,  in  turn.  First  Lieuten.ant,  Captain, 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Ohio  Reg-- 
iment.  In  his  political  views,  he  is  a  stanch  and 
faithful  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  In  religion,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbytc.-ian  Church,  in  wliich  he  served  as  De.acon. 
He  was  married  in  Perry  County.  Ohio,  in  182G, 
to  Mrs.  Rachel  McCullom.  who  passed  from  eartli 
August  20,  l.'^Gl.     She  was  a  wmnaii  possessing  the 


464 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


noble  attributes  which  endeared  her  to  her  acquaint- 
ances, and  was  a  devoted  mother  to  their  children, 
of  whom  there  were  ten.  Five  now  survive  and 
are  lesiding  in  Aua^laize  and  Hancoelv  Counties, 
this  State.  They  are:  Eliza,  who  devotedly  cares 
for  her  fath(,T  in  his  declining  yeare;  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  Crow;  Frederick,  who  served  in  the  Civil 
War,  as  a  member  of  Company  I,  Sixteenth  Ohio 
Infantry,  and  was  a  prisoner  for  four  months; 
Susan,  nowMre.  Sillins;  and  Christine,  Mi-s  Rue. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  is  invited  to  a  por- 
trait of  this  aged  and  liighly  esteemed  pioneer, 
which  is  shown  on  another  page. 


J<^^  MOS  COPELAN'D  has  been  exceedingly 
/lI  prospered  in  the  pursuit  of  his  calling  as 
/  iL  a  farmer,  and  is  now  living  retired  in  St. 
John's.  He  h.-is  taken  a  conspicuous  part 
in  the  upbuilding  of  Auglaize  County,  and  by 
prudence  and  wise  economy  saved  money,  invest- 
ing it  in  property  in  Union  Township,  which  he  so 
managed  as  to  bring  him  in  a  comfortable  compe- 
tency'. 

.John  Copeland,  the  father  of  our  subject,  w.is 
born  August  26,  1770,  in  North  Carolina.  His 
father,  who  also  bore  the  name  of  John,  was  a 
patriot  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  enemy  at  the  battle  of  Cowpens. 
Our  subject  is  of  the  fifth  generation  of  the  family 
in  America,  tlie  first  representatives  in  this  coun- 
try being  two  brothers  who  came  from  England 
and  located  in  North  Carolina.  Two  uncles  of  our 
subject  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  during  which 
conflict  the  grandfather  came  to  this  Slate. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  CvnthiaScroggs.  Slie  was  also  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  and  tlie  daughter  of  Jeremiah  .Soroggs. 
She  was  born  August  28,  1788.  and  was  mariiod 
to  Mr.  CopeLand  November  2.3.  1804.  Four  yeai-s 
later,  they  came  to  this  State,  and  crossing  the 
Ohio  River  at  a  time  when  it  was  a  very  danger- 
ous proceeding,  located  in  Clinton  Cuiinty.     This 


was  on  Christmas  Day,  and  at  the  first  house  which 
they  reached  in  the  new  State  they  were  offered  by 
its  inmates  a  free  dinner.  The  parents  were  very 
poor,  and  for  one  winter  after  making  their  home 
here  onl3'  had  one  pair  of  shoes  between  them. 

The  first  property  which  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject owned  w.as  located  on  what  was  then  Silver 
Creek  Township,  Greene  County.  He  cleared 
ninety-two  acres  of  his  farm,  and  in  1836  located 
on  section  6,  Clay  Township,  Auglaize  County, 
but  which  at  that  time  formed  a  part  of  Allen 
County.  The  property  was  all  wild  land,  and 
on  it  stood  an  Indian  cabin  formerly  occupied 
by  Du  Chien,  son-in-law  of  the  Chief  Blackhoof ; 
that  same  cabin  still  stands  on  the  farm.  This  es- 
tate, which  included  three  hundred  and  thirty-six 
acres,  was  his  permanent  home,  his  decease  occur- 
ring there  October  5,  1844.  Mrs.  Copeland  became 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  and  also  departed  this 
life  on  the  home  farm ,  October  5,  1861.  Only  two 
children  beside  our  subject  are  now  surviving: 
Jeremiah,  who  lives  in  Iowa,  and  Ruth,  who  still 
resides  on  the  old  home  farm.  One  son,  Allen, 
served  in  the  late  war,  in  which  condict  liis  son, 
who  bore  the  name  of  Wesley,  died.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  were  devoted  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  in  which  body  the  'father  served  as 
De.acon  and  Trustee.  He  was  in  early  life  a  Whig, 
and  later  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  for  several 
years  was  Trustee  of  Clay  Township. 

Amos  Copeland,  who  was  born  August  10,  1816, 
in  Greene  County-,  this  State,  was  twenty  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  took  up  their  abode  in  this 
county.  He  attended  school  during  the  winter 
months,  being  compelled  to  walk  three  miles 
through  the  woods  to  the  temple  of  learning.  He 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  reaching 
his  twenty-third  year,  when  he  established  a  home 
of  his  own,  and  November  23,  1839,  was  married 
to  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  William  M.  and  Anna 
(Baker)  I^yton,  natives  respectively  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  New  Jersey,  the  father  being  born  Mav 
21,  1789,  and  the  mother  November  1 1.  1797. 

Grandfather  Layton  located  near  Cincinnati 
prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  and  located 
in  Clarke  County  in  1804,  while  Grandfather  Baker 
moved   within   its  limits  in    1802.     The  father  of 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGKAPHICAL   RECORD. 


465 


Mrs.  Copeland  served  in  the  Wai-of  1812,  in  which 
conflict  one  of  his  brotliers,  Artliur,  was  Colonel  of 
the  Ohio  State  Militia.  Another  brother,  Joseph, 
was  Judge  of  the  County  Court  in  Clarke  County. 
In  February,  1837,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Copeland 
moved  to  tliis  county,  where  the  father  entered 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  18,  Union  Town- 
ship. Later,  he  toolv  up  his  abode  on  section  32, 
the  same  township,  which  was  his  permanent  abid- 
ing-place and  which  contained  a  celebrated  Indian 
spring.  Mr.  Layton  departed  this  life  November 
6,  18G0,  while  his  good  wife,  who  survived  him  a 
number  of  years,  died  March  .5,  1877.  They  were 
both  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  reared 
a  family  of  five  cliildren,  of  whom  Mrs.  Copeland 
is  the  only  survivor.  She  was  born  May  31, 1821, 
in  Clarke  County,  and  was  given  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  district  school. 

After  his  marriage,  our  subject  located  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  3,  Clay  Township, 
this  county,  on  which  was  situated  a  log  cabin. 
There  they  continued  to  reside  for  six  3"ears,  when 
he  exclianged  the  tract  for  an  improved  piece  of 
land  on  section  4.  He  operated  that  farm  for 
twent}--four  years,  during  which  time  he  cleared 
over  one  hundred  acres  and  added  two  hundred 
acres  to  his  orfginal  purchase.  The  estate  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  IMessrs.  Reuben  Brackney  and 
Adam  Lenhart.  After  disposing  of  the  above- 
named  farm,  Jlr.  Copeland  purchased  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  acres  on  section  32,  this  township, 
which  he  cultivated  most  profitably  for  six  years, 
and  in  the  fall  of  187.5  moved  to  his  present  home 
in  St.  John's,  wliere  he  is  living  a  retired  life. 

Of  the  nine  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mre.  Cope- 
land. we  make  the  following  mention  of  the  six 
who  are  living:  George,  who  married  Eva  Gra- 
ham, resides  in  Allen  County;  Julia,  Mrs.  .Samuel 
Brackney:  Willi.am  N.,  who  married  Ellen  Robin- 
son; Elza  Baker,  who  married  Anna  Herring; 
Meriam,  the  wife  of  Catper  N.  Chenoweth;  Scott 
W..  who  married  Emma  Chambers.  Two  sons, 
John  and  Geoi'ge,  served  in  the  late  war.  the  latter 
being  killed  in  the  battle  of  Resaca. 

Mr.  and  ilrs.  Copeland  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  in  which  body  the  former  is  Deacon 
and  Trustee.     He  h.as  also  served  as  School  Direc- 


m 


tor  for  many  yeai-s,  has  been  Trusteeof  Clay  Town- 
ship, and  in  politics  votes  with  the  Republican 
party.  R.  C.  Layton,  a  brotlier  of  Mre.  Copeland, 
was  the  incumbent  of  the  office  of  Justice  of  tlie 
Peace  for  thirtv-six  consecutive  vears. 


rJfev^i?-^.. 


J.  COXXAUGHTON  is  Recorder  of  Au- 
glaize County,  Ohio,  which  has  long  been 
well  and  justly  noted  for  the  sterling  honesty 
and  superior  capabilit}'  of  her  public  ollicials, 
and  this  enviable  reputation  is  fully  susLained  by 
Mr.  Connaughton.  His  office  is  a  model  of  neat- 
ness and  order,  and  in  every  detail  is  manifested 
the  most  perfect  arrangement,  showing  the  work- 
ings of  an  intelligent,  well-directed  mind.  He 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
Xovember  27,  185.5,  his  p.arents,  Michael  and  Cor- 
delia (Birne)  Connaughton,  having  been  born  in 
County  Roscommon,  Ireland.  While  still  unmar- 
ried, they  came  to  America,  were  married  in  this 
country,  and  first  located  on  a  farm  in  Butler 
County,  Ohio,  in  1855,  but  in  1871  removed  to 
Auglaize  County  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
in  Moulton  Township,  on  which  they  still  reside, 
in  the  enjoyment  of  a  good  income.  He  is  a 
thrifty,  practical  and  successful  farmer  and  all  his 
operations  have  been  carried  on  according  to  the 
most  advanced  and  progressive  ideas,  and  have  not 
only  resulted  in  his  own  good,  but  in  the  benefit- 
of  those  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  He 
has  some  valuable  oil  wells  on  his  property-  and 
his  residence  is  supplied  with  natural  gas.  Five 
sons  and  three  daughters  were  born  to  his  union, 
but  onlv  five  membei:s  of  the  familv  are   now  liv- 


.1.  J.  Connaughton  was  the  eldest  child  born  to 
his  parents  and  inherited  the  best  qualities  of  in- 
dustry and  energy  from  these  two  hardy  and  pat- 
riotic people.  He  wai  not  only  given  the  advan- 
tages of  tlie  common  schools  but  was  an  attendant 
of  the  public  schoijls  of  Wapakoneta  also,  during 
which  time  he  imliihed  sulticient  learning   to    war- 


46G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


rant  liis  entering  upon  the  career  of  a  teacher,  an 
occupation  wliicb  received  his  attention  for  a  few 
years.  In  1879,  he  entered  the  National  Normal 
Univer.sit)-,  of  Lebanon,  Ohio,  at  which  institution 
he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.  in  1880.  He 
was  almost  immediately  employed  as  Principal  of 
Rockford,  Mercer  County,  schools  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  entered  the  store  of  E.  F.  Decker  <fe 
Bro.,  of  St.  JIary's,  Ohio,  remaining  in  their  em- 
ploy two  years.  October  30,  1883,  he  won  for  his 
•wife  MissLana  Jacobs,  of  Wapakoneta,  from  which 
time  until  1887  they  resided  on  a  farm  near  Glynn- 
wood.  In  that  year,  Mr.  Connaughton  was  elected 
Recorder  of  Auglaize  County,  and  so  ably  and  effi- 
ciently were  his  duties  discharged  that  he  was  hon- 
ored by  a  re-election  in  November,  1890.  He  is 
now  in  the  fifth  year  of  his  incumbency  and  has 
shown  himself  to  be  industrious,  honest  and  uni- 
formly courteous  to  all  whom  he  has  been  called 
upon  to  meet.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church,  and  there  is  probably  no  man 
who  is  a  more  earnest  advocate  of  the  principles 
of  his  religion  than  Mr.  Connaughton.  Person- 
ally, he  is  liberal,  generous  and  high-minded  and 
his  reputation  for  honesty  has  been  tried  and  not 
found  wanting;  his  business  ability  has  been  more 
than  once  put  to  the  test,  but  never  without  credit 
to  himself,  and  his  social  qualities  are  well  known 
and  appreciated.  To  his  union  two  children  have 
been  born:  Eleanor  and  Marie. 


II^^R.  C.  B.  CIIESIIKR  is  a  druggist  and  physi- 
1  J)  cian  of  West  Middleburgh,  Logan  County, 
^^  Ohio.  For  alleviation  of  pain  and  sickness 
it  is  to  the  druggist  that  sufferhig  humanity  turns. 
The  physician  may  successfully  diagnose,  but  it  is 
tlie  chemist  who  prepares  the  rem.edy.  When, 
therefore,  as  in  the  case  of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  forms  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  two 
professions,  namely  that  of  the  physician  and 
druggist,  are  combined,  how  doubly  important  be- 
comes the  establisliment  C(_inclueted  liv  Dr.  Cheshcr. 


A  native-born  resident  of  this  county  and 
Zane  Township,  where  he  lias  passed  almost  his  en-, 
tire  life.  Dr.  Chesher  is  well  known  and  justly 
appreciated.  He  was  born  June  2."),  1853,  and  his 
parents,  Tenison  and  Rebecca  (Euans)  Chesher, 
were  natives  of  Virginia  and  Ohio,  respectiveh', 
the  mother  born  in  Logan  County.  Our  subject's 
paternal  grandfather,  John  Chesher,  was  a  native 
Virginian  and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his 
maternal  grandfather  was  William  Euans.  Teni- 
son Chesher  remained  in  the  Old  Dominion  until 
twelve  years  of  age  and  then  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Ohio,  where  he  completed  his  growth.  He 
was  a  millwright  by  trade  and  owned  a  mill  in 
Zane  Township,  this  county,  which  he  operated  suc- 
cessfully until  his  death,  in  1888.  He  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat during  his  early  d.ays,  but  during  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  he  was  a  strict  Prohibitionist.  His 
wife  passed  her  last  days  in  Logan  County,  and 
there  died  when  fifty-three  yeare  of  age. 

Dr.  C.  B.  Chesher  was  one  of  seven  children 
born  to  his  estimable  parents,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  and  his  educational  advantages  were 
confined  to  the  common  schools.  When  seventeen 
years  of  age,  he  became  convinced  that  medicine 
was  the  profession  set  aside  for  him, and  he  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  W.  T.  Sharp,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  four  years.  After  this,  he  entered  the 
Cincinnati  Jledical  and  Surgical  College,  where  he 
remained  for  one  year,  afterward  returning  to 
West  Middleburgh,  where  he  practiced  successfully 
for  a  year  and  a  half.  From  there  he  went  to 
Paulding,  Ohio,  practiced  there  for  some  time  dud 
then  located  in  Newburgh,  Ohio.  In  January,  1891, 
he  took  charge  of  the  Cleveland  (Ohio)  Insane 
Asylum,  having  seven  hundred  and  twenty-five 
patients  under  his  care,  but  on  account  of  politi- 
cal differences  he  resigned  in  August  of  the  same 
year.  While  in  charge  of  the  above-mentioned 
institution,  the  expense  of  operating  it  was  re- 
duced many  thousand  dollars.  His  wife  was  ma- 
tron and  filled  that  position  with  great  efficiency. 

After  handing  in  his  resignation.  Dr.  Chesher 
bought  a  drug  store  in  West  Middleburgh,  this 
county,  and  in  connection  with  this  is  practicing 
his  profession.  He  has  a  ple.isant  home  in  this  city 
and  is  one  of  tlie  representative  citizens.     By  his 


POIITRAIT  A>D  BlOGlLVrmCAL   KECORD. 


467 


larriage,  which  occurred  in  1874,  to  Miss  Augusta 
uster,  a  native  of  Logan  County,  C)hio,  born  in 
.-^53,  two  children  have  been  born:  Franlc  Forest 
nd  Arthur  L.,  aged  sixteen  and  thirteen,  respect- 
.  eiy.  Dr.  Clicsher  is  a  stanch  sujjporter  of  Dem- 
cratic  principles,  has  been  a  worker  in  his  party, 
lid  was  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
'aulding  County,  Ohio,  for  eight  years.  He  was 
member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
lasons.  He  and  his  wife  attended  the  Society  of 
•  ledical  Superintendents  of  the  Insane  of  the 
'nited  States,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


ERRY  FISK,  a  dealer  in  agricultural  im- 
plements at  St.  jSIary's,  is  a  stirring,  keen- 
witted business  man,  who  is  an  important 
factor  in  carrying  forward  and  extending 
tlie  mercantile  interests  of  this  his  native  city. 
He  was  bom  April  13.  18-16,  and  is  a  son  of  Atter- 
-on  Fisk,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in 
1808,  coming  of  a  good  old  New  England  family 
and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  St.  Mary's.  His 
father  w.as  Samuel  Fisk,  also  a  native  of  the  Granite 
State. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  in  the  vigor  of  early 
manhood,  left  his  native  hills  to  try  life  in  the 
AVestern  wilds,  and  made  his  way  to  this  State. 
In  1844,  he  came  to  St.  Mary's,  which  was  then  an 
insignificant  hamlet,  with  but  a  few  log  houses, 
and  he  became  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  the 
place,  establishing  himself  in  the  grocery  busuiess. 
As  the  town  grew  larger,  he  opened  a  book-store, 
which  was  a  profitable  venture,  as  there  was  a 
demand  for  literature,  school  books,  etc.,  among 
the  intelligent  class  of  people  who  had  settled  in 
this  vicinity.  He  lirouglit  the  first  two-wheeled 
dray  to  St.  Mary's  tliat  was  ever  on  the  streets, 
and  which  was  (piite  a  curiosity  to  the  residents. 
He  also  brought  and  operated  the  first  wheat 
threshing-machine  u.-ed  in  this  place,  an<l  which 
was  known  .as  a  Chaff  riler  Machine,  the  power 
being  supplied  by  li'irses  or  oxen,   wiiicln-ver   w.as 


the  most  convenient.  The  machine  is  now  in  the 
posession  of  Perry  Fisk  and  is  quite  a  curiosity,  as 
it  was  manufactured  in  Piqua,  Ohio,  fifty  years 
ago.  Sir.  Fisk  subsequently  purchased  a  farm  in 
Noble  Township,  and  in  1850  went  to  farmin"-. 
He  afterward  sold  that  farm  and  bought  land,  which 
is  now  included  in  the  corporate  limits  of  St. 
Mary's  and  is  ver}'  valuable.  He  came  here  with 
no  means,  and  had  to  face  the  trials  of  pioneer  life 
when  the  couutrj-  was  scarcely'  better  than  a  wil- 
derness, in  which  deer  and  other  wild  game 
abounded,  but  he  cheerfully  bore  all  hardships  and 
privations  common  to  tlie  lot  of  the  early  settlers, 
and  in  time  accumulated  a  comfortable  property, 
so  that  he  died  comparatively  rich,  his  death  occur- 
ring in  1871.  His  wife  survives  him,  and  is  p.ass- 
ing  her  declining  d.ays  at  St.  Mary's,  with  the  se- 
renity- and  calm  happiness  that  is  the  result  of  a 
well-spent  life  that  number  seventj^-two  years.  She 
is  a  native  of  D.ayton,  of  which  place  her  parents, 
who  came  from  Pennsylvania,  were  early  settlers, 
and  her  maiden  name  w.as  Catherine  Lehman.  She 
has  been  a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  for  many  years.  Her  husband,  who 
was  a  generous,  warm-hearted  man,  contributed 
liberally  towards  the  uj^buiirling  of  churches  and 
for  all  worthy  objects  that  came  under  his  notice, 
but  he  never  joined  a  church. 

Perry  Fisk,  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written,  is 
the  second  of  six  children,  of  whom  three  are 
living.  His  education  was  conducted  in  the  early 
schools  of  St.  Mary's,  the  first  that  he  attended 
being  kept  inthe  old  Baptist  Church.  He  was  a 
bright  scholar,  acquired  a  good  practical  education 
that  enabled  him  to  enter  the  teacher's  profession, 
and  he  taught  eight  winter  terms  in  the  surround- 
ing country.  He  earned  his  first  monev  in  that 
way,  and  he  then  worked  for  his  father  on  the 
farm,  of  which  he  took  cliarge  after  the  hitter's 
death.  He  did  well  at  farming,  but  having  a  de- 
cided taste  for  mercantile  pursuits,  he  decided  to 
abandon  agriculture  to  give  his  attention  to  the 
agricultural  implement  business,  establishing:  him- 
self in  that  line  at  St.  Mary's  in  18SG,  and  he  has 
built  u[i  a  fine  trade.  His  store  is  commodious 
and  well  fitted  up  and  he  carries  a  heavy  >t<.ick  of 
every  kind  of  niacliiue  or  imi)leiiieiil   used    by    the 


468 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farmers  of  Auglaize  County,  including  the  famous 
binders  made  by  the  Farmers'  Manufacturing  Co., 
and  by  the  D.  E.  5IcSherr\-  Co.;  and  he  also  han- 
dles threshers,  wagons,  carriages,  etc. 

^Ir.  Fisk  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  his  native 
county,  financially  speaking  as  well  as  otherwise. 
Besides  considerable  town  propertj-,  he  h.as  twenty- 
eight  acres  of  land  near  St.  Mary's,  which  he 
leases  to  the  corporation  for  gas  purposes;  and  he 
has  a  half-interest  in  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Mercer  County.  He  is  a  stalwart  Republican  in 
politics.  He  has  figured  in  public  life  .as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Council  two  j-ears,  and  always 
warmh"  advocates  .all  plans  calculated  to  advance 
the  gi'owth  or  prosperity  of  this  city  of  his  birth, 
of  which  he  is  rightly  proud,  as  being  one  of  the 
liveliest  and  most  flourishing  cities  of  its  size  in 
the  State.  Mr.  Fisk  is  now  President  of  Niagara 
Fire  Company  No.  1,  of  St.  Mary's,  Ohio,  this 
companj'  being  the  oldest  volunteer  fire  com- 
pany in  the  city,  and  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythi.os,  and  h.as  been 
active  in  promoting  its  organization  and  growth. 

Our  subject  was  first  married  in  1879  to  Miss 
INIary  A.  Doute,  also  a  native  of  St.  Mary's,  who 
died  in  1881  after  a  brief  and  happy  wedded  life. 
In  1887,  Mr.  Fisk  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  J. 
Baker,  a  most  estimable  young  lady,  who  is  a  na- 
tive of  Noble  Township,  and  a  daughtei-  of  John 
AY.  Baker,  a  prosperous  farmer,  who  has  carried 
on  his  occupation  in  that  township  several  j-ears. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisk  have  been  blessed  in  their 
pleasant  married  life  with  two  cliildren.  Oriel  and 
May. 


W  D.  LAMB  is  an  intelligent  farmer,  who 
keeps  abreast  of  the  times  in  the  iinprove- 
^f=Ji  i  nients  and  progress  made  in  his  calling. 
^^fj  Although  a  self-made  man.  he  is  well  in- 
formed on  all  the  current  topics  of  the  day  and 
converses  with  intelligence  and  judgment  mi  lead- 
ing    subjects.      He  has  been    familiar    witli    fai'ui 


work  from  early  youth  and  is  now  ranked  among 
the  prosperous  and  substantial  farmers  of  Logan 
Count}-.  His  career  has  ever  been  both  honorable 
and  successful,  and  he  is  highly  esteemed  by  all. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Lake  Township,  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  July  2G,  1840,  .and  his  parents,  John 
H.  and  Nancy  (Duvall)  Lamb,  were  natives  of  the 
Buckej'e  State,  where  the  mother  p.assed  her  entire 
life.  The  father  makes  his  lionie  with  our  sub- 
ject and  is  eight\'-five  years  old.  Of  the  eight 
children  born  to  this  union,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  our  subject  is  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth.  Such  time  as  lie  could  command  from 
his  labors  on  the  farm  he  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Lake  Township,  where  he  received 
a  good  practical  education,  and  then  finished  in 
the  schools  of  Bellefontaine,  where  he  was  thor- 
oughly drilled. 

When  but  a  stripling  of  fifteen,  he  started  out 
to  fight  his  own  battles  in  life,  and  in  this  struggle 
for  a  livelihood  laid  the  foundation  for  the  pros- 
perous career  before  him.  He  first  selected  work 
in  a  brickyard,  remained  thus  eng.aged  for  some 
time,  .<ind  then  started  out  in  farm  work  and  other 
occupations.  He  spent  about  two  yeai-s  in  Cham- 
paign County,  111.,  and  then  returned  to  his 
native  county,  where,  in  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H,  Ninety-sixth  Ohio  Infantry.  After  one 
j-ear  of  service,  he  was  discharged  and  returned  to 
Log.an  County,  where  he  immediatelj'  began  farm- 
ing. Agricultural  pursuits  have  continued  to  be 
his  chosen  occupation,  and  the  manner  in  which 
he  has  acquired  his  present  estate  shows  him  to 
be  an  energetic,  successful  and  progressive  tiller 
of  the  soil. 

On  the  2.5th  of  April,  1872,  our  subject  was 
married  in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Harris,  a  native  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  born  August 
22,  18.50,  and  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  J.  G.  and 
.Sarah  Harris,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio 
respectively.  The  father  being  a  Lutheran  preacher, 
was  moving  around  a  great  deal,  but  finally  set- 
tled in  this  county,  two  miles  northwest  of  Belle- 
fountaine,  Ohio,  where  they  reside  at  the  present 
time. 

After  his  marriage.  Mr.  Lamb  located  first  two 
miles  north  of   Dellcfuntaine    on   a   farm   that   he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


•169 


Miltivated  two  ^-ears.  He  then  bought  his  pres- 
I'lit  farm,  in  partnership  with  liis  brother,  and 
ihey  own  one  hundred  and  forty-three  acres,  a 
i.niod  brick  buiUling:.  and  substantial  bams  and 
cuitbuildmgs.  Mr.  and  3Irs.  Lamb  became  the 
happy  parents  of  four  bright  cliildren,  as  follows: 
Clarence  E.  and  O.  C.  both  deceased;  Edith  E. 
and  Harris  J.  In  politics  a  Rt'iiuljlican  and  in 
religion  a  Lutheran,  Mr.  Lamb  is  classed  among 
tlio  excellent  citizens  of  the  county. 


^^®— 


1^^  AMT'EL  YOUNG.  The  f.irniing  interests 
^^^  of  Perry  Township.  Shelliy  Count\-,are  well 
(IL/__m)  represented  b\'  this  gentleman,  an  energetic, 
practical  fanner,  whose  experience  in  agi'i- 
cultural  pursuits  h.as  placed  him  among  the  most 
prosperous  men  of  his  calling  in  this  section  of 
Shelby  County.  He  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  acres  of  land  in  the  township  men- 
tioned, which  is  under  good  cultivation  and  sup- 
plied with  improvements  of  the  highest  order,  the 
buildings  being  commodious  and  of  a  fitting  style 
of  architecture.  William  and  Annie  (Stoner) 
Young,  the  parents  of  our  subject,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  mother  being  the  daughter  of 
John  Stoner.  They  both  .accompanied  their  re- 
spective parents  to  this  .State  when  young,  and  lo- 
cated with  them  upon  unimproved  farms.  Grand- 
father Stoner,  who  was  a  Dunkard  preacher  .and  a 
prominent  man  in  his  day.  lived  to  an  advanced 
age. 

The  fatlier  of  our  suliject  was  a  soldier  under 
Gen.  St.  Clair,  fighting  the  Indians  on  the  Maumee. 
He  was  married  in  Montgomery  County,  and  lo- 
cated (in  a  wild  farm  on  the  Big  Twin,  which  he 
redeemed  fr<jni  its  original  wildness.  and  resided 
upon  until  his  decease  in  LSl'.t.  'ITie  mother,  who 
was  again  married,  came  with  her  family  to  Shelby 
County  in  1.^33.  locating  upon  an  unimprovad 
farm  on  section  21.  Perry  Township:  she  departed 
this  life  in  ISSL 

Tlie  origiiKil  ..f  this  sketch  hcgan  in  life  for  liini- 


self  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  meantime  hav- 
ing received  but  limited  advantages  for  an  educa- 
tion. He  was  first  engaged  to  work  in  the  mills  at 
Xenia,  where  he  remained  one  winter,  .ind  then, 
going  to  .Springfield,  worked  on  a  farm  near  tliat 
city  for  a  twelvemonth.  His  next  camping-ground 
w.as  Urbana.  where  he  w.as  employed  bv  .James 
Reed  for  a  year,  and  then  worked  for  the  son-in- 
law  of  that  gentleman  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
Returning  to  .Shelby  County,  Mr.  Young  worked 
out  on  farms  until  his  marriage,  in  1840,  to  Eliza 
.Jane,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Nancy  (McCoy) 
Johnston. 

After  his  marriage,  our  subject  rented  the  old 
home  farm  on  section  21,  which  he  operated  for 
three  years.  Previously,  however,  he  had  pur- 
ch.ased  eighty  acres  of  wild  land  on  section  L5.  and 
at  the  expiration  of  the  time  above  mentioned, 
moved  upon  that  farm  and  placed  fiftj-  acres  un- 
der tillage.  He  erected  thereon  a  good  house  and 
barn,  set  out  an  orchard,  and  remained  there  for 
the  following  six  3'ears,  when  he  sold  out.  and,  go- 
ing to  Wab.ash  County,  Ind..  became  the  proprietor 
of  a  farm  on  the  Eel  River.  While  there,  his  house 
and  all  his  possessions  were  destroyed  by  fire,  which 
dis.aster  occurred  March  4,  18.57.  He  immediately 
rebuilt  the  farm  buildings,  borrowing  the  money 
to  do  so,  and,  selling  out.  returned  to  this  county, 
which  has  since  been  his  place  of  residence. 

On  returning  from  the  Iloosicr  State,  Mr.  Youn"' 
located  on  one  hundred  and  twentj-  acres  on  sec- 
tion "21.  this  t(nvnsliip.  which  he  cultivated  for 
nine  years.  He  then  purchased  the  old  Charles 
Johnston  homestead,  and  after  residing  there  ten 
yeare,  bought  where  he  now  lives.  His  good  wife, 
who  became  the  mother  of  ten  children,  departed 
this  life  in  1880.  Mr.  Young,  in  1863  or  1864.  en- 
listed in  the  I'nion  army,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Thirtv-fourtli  Ohio 
National  Guards,  but  was  discharged  just  before 
engaging  in  active  service. 

Of  the  children  who  are  living  in  the  fam- 
ily of  our  suliject.  we  make  llie  foUiiwing  men- 
tion: Lucinda  is  the  wife  of  .John  Long,  and  lives 
in  this  township:  Sarah  Ellen  married  John  ^Vy- 
rick,  and  resides  in  Nebraska:  Elizalieth.  Mrs.  Coi- 
iielius  (uithrie,  make?  her    home    in    Sidiiex-;  M;ir- 


4  70 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


garet,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Johnston,  is  living  in 
Perry  Township;  Retta,  Mrs.  Frank  Chambers,  re- 
sides in  Sidney;  James,  the  liusband  of  Josepliine 
Stoker,  is  living  in  Pemberton;  Frank,  who  mar- 
ried Clara  Cniinbaugli,  is  living  in  this  township; 
and  JS'anov,  Mrs.  Samuel  ^liller,  also  lives  in  this 
township. 

In  1S90,  !JIr.  Young  was  married  to  Jlrs. 
Ximrod  Lefevre.  They  are  both  members  of  the 
United  Bretliren  Church,  which  place  of  wor- 
sliip  is  built  on  his  farm,  he  contributing  tlie 
necessary  land.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Cirand  Army  post  in  Sidney,  and  in  politics  is  a 
straightforward  Republican.  lie  has  served  in  the 
office  as  School  Director,  and  has  been  otherwise 
connected  with  educational  interests  in  his  locality. 


^  SAAC  BETTS.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  at 
■  the  present  time  reaping  the  fruits  of  a  life  of 
/li  early  activity.  He  is  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness life,  and  is  living  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  fine 
property.  Mr.  Bctts  was  born  in  Washington 
Township,  Shelby  County,  December  27,  1842.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Phabe  (Kelly)  Betts,  the  fa- 
ther being  a  member  of  an  old  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  family,  and  the  mother  of  Irish  stock.  John 
Betts  came  to  Centre  in  1797,  being  brought  here 
by  his  father  when  only  two  yeare  of  age.  The 
farm  whicli  his  father  then  purchased  covered  the 
space  now  bounded  by  Centre  Avenue,  John,  Clin- 
ton, Hopkins,  Clark  and  Bctts  Streets.  Our  sub- 
ject's grandparents  remained  at  that  place  as  long 
as  Ihey  lived.  There  were  then  plentj'  of  Indians, 
and  although  they  were  in  the  main  friendh',  their 
treacherous  nature  was  sn  well  known  that  the 
white  people  were  coiislautly  on  guard  against 
them. 

After  his  marriage,  John  lletts,  our  suliject's  fa- 
ther, removed  to  Shelby  County,  coming  here  in 
1H41.  He  had,  however,  been  on  a  prospecting 
tuur  prior  to   that  time,  ami  had  made   a  purchase 


of  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives.  Here  he 
made  a  home  for  his  family  and  remained  upon' 
the  place  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred September  21,  1869.  He  left  the  follow- 
ing children,  whose  names  are:  Mary  J.,  Ann 
]\Iaria,  Isaac,  Oliver  C,  Caroline  and  Adelia.  Mary 
J.  is  the  wife  of  W.  O.  Cowan,  of  this  city,  while 
the  second  daughter  married  Levi  Gump;  Caroline 
is  the  wife  of  V.  C.  Lenox,  while  Adelia  married 
II.  V.  "Wilson,  of  Turtle  Creek  Township,  this 
county. 

Isaac  Betts  received  a  good  practical  education 
in  the  country  schools.  On  attaining  years  of 
manhood,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Aurelia  R.  Wil- 
son, daughter  of  H.  J.  Wilson,  the  nuptials 
being  solemnized  on  the  31st  of  August,  1862. 
They  immediately  afterward  went  to  farming 
for  themselves,  and  in  addition  to  his  old  farm, 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  active  agricultural  la- 
bors he  owned  and  operated  the  old  homestead. 
He  continued  farming  there  until  1869,  when,  in 
the  month  of  March  of  that  year,  he  removed  to 
Hardin  Station,  where  he  became  proprietor  of  a 
general  store,  and  manipulated  the  grain  business, 
he  having  the  exclusive  control  of  that  business 
there.  He  continued  thus  successfully  employed 
until  1875,  when  he  returned  to  the  home  farm, 
which  he  had  controlled  and  managed  in  connec- 
tion with  his  other  interests.  From  that  time  on 
he  gave  it  his  exclusive  attention  until  moving  to 
Sidney. 

On  coming  to  this  place,  our  subject  launched 
into  the  funiiture  business,  in  1884,  continuing  in 
that  for  fourteen  months,  and  then  moved  back  to 
the  farm.  He  finally  sold  his  farm  and  purchased 
a  fine  brick  residence  at  No.  914  Forest  Street.  It 
has  a  beautiful  location,  and  both  in  its  exterior  and 
interior  is  found  everything  to  gratify  the  senses 
and  please  the  taste.  For  three  and  a  lialf  years 
Mr.  Betts  was  engaged  in  the  spoke  and  rim  busi- 
ness, continuing  liis  connection  with  it  until  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1891.  when  the  American  Wheel  Company 
liouglit  him  out.  Since  that  time  he  has  retired 
from  active  business.  Mr.  Betts  was  one  of  the 
gallant  soldiei-s  during  the  war.  He  enlisted  in 
.September  of  1 86 l,an<l  joined  the  Twentieth  Ohio 
Infantry.     His  regiment  w.is  assigned   to  duty   in 


Qj^  ^^  Si^c^ey^ 


PORTRAIT  A^'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Arm^-  of  the  Tennessee.  After  being  at  Ft. 
Donelson  and  Shiloli,  he  was  discharged  because  of 
disability'.  lie  is  now  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  3Iis.  Iietts  was  born  in 
"Washington  Township,  Shelby  County,  April  4, 
1842.  They  have  five  living  children,  whose  names 
are:  P^dna  A.,  Charles E.,  Isaac  Smith,  Anna  C.  and 
Will,  respectively. 


i<   1   >EL 


'  ACOB  H.  BABCOCK,  an  entcrplsing  farmer 
of  Jackson  Township,  Shelby  County,  is 
one  of  five  children  born  to  William  and 
Rebecca  (Loofbourrow)  Babcock,  natives  of 
"West  "S'irgmia.  Three  of  the  family  alone  sur- 
vive: Davis,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Brandenburg,  and  our 
subject.  The  last-named  was  born  in  Clarke 
County,  Ohio,  April  14,  1822.  and  was  reared  on 
the  farm  of  Jude  Liyton  in  Clarke  County.  His 
educational  opportunities  were  exceedingly  lim- 
ited, for  when  he  was  quite  young  his  mother  was 
widowed  and  the  orphaned  children  became  self- 
supporting  at  an  early  age. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Baljcock  came  to  Shelby  County 
and  for  some  time  followed  any  honorable  occupa- 
tion whereby  he  could  support  himself  and  aid  his 
mother.  Meanwhile,  he  attended  a  pioneer  school 
and  availed  himself  to  the  utmost  of  every  advan- 
tage offered  him  for  acquiring  knowledge.  So 
successful  was  he  in  his  efforts  at  self-culture,  that 
after  attending  the  .Sidney  school  for  eight  weeks, 
he  was  examined  for  a  teacher's  certitieate.and  re- 
ceiving the  same,  commenced  to  teach — a  profes- 
sion which  he  followed  for  foiu-  years  in  the  same 
district,  conimenciugat  a  salary  of  ¥13  per  month, 
receiving  ^Lj  the  second  ye:ir.  and  afterward  -?18. 
His  average  attendance  was  ,-ixty  pupils,  some 
five  or  six  of  whom  receive<l  certificates  after 
leaving  his  preceptorship  and  engaged  in  teach- 
ing. Of  tlie  teachers  who  were  at  that  time  fol- 
lowing their  profession  in  Shelby  Cciunty.  Mr. 
Babcock  alone  is  left,  and  few  of  his  pui)ils  re- 
main liere.  many  having  removed   to  other  pl.nces. 


ami  some  having  i):issed  into  the  great  school  of 
eternity. 

"When  Mr.  Babcock,  accompanied  by  his  brother, 
came  to  .Shelby  County,  it  was  sparsely  settled, 
and  they  at  fii-st  camped  in  an  old  Indian  shanty. 
It  remained  his  custom  for  four  years  to  return  to 
Clarke  County  during  the  summer  and  work  there 
on  farms  in  order  to  procure  the  money  to  pay 
for  his  land.  In  1848,  he  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Davis,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of 
.lephtha  Davis,  whose  birthplace  was  in  "West  Vir- 
ginia. Their  happy  wedded  life  of  thirty-two 
years  was  brought  to  a  close  by  the  death  of  the 
wife,  February  22,  1880,  five  diildren  surviving 
her.  Ruelma  is  the  wife  of  George  F.  Randolph, 
of  .Tackson  Centre;  Thatima  married  James  A. 
Hughes,  of  J.ickson  Centre,  and  they  ai-e  the  par- 
ents of  five  children;  Athalia  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Edgar  Davis,  a  farmer  on  section  10,  Jackson 
Township,  and  they  have  one  cliild;  Emma  E.,  the 
widow  of  A.  Cargill,  resides  in  J.ackson  Centre 
and  has  two  children;  Cleophas  F.  II.  is  now  at- 
tending college  and  expects  to  take  a  full  col- 
legiate course. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Babcock  settled  on  a. 
small  farm  on  section  14,  his  home  being  in  a  locr 
cabin  in  the  woods.  During  the  pioneer  days  he 
was  accustomed  to  haul  wheat  to  the  city  of  San- 
dusky, one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant,  the 
trip  requiring  fourteen  days  and  night;?,  and  the 
wheat  selling  for  fifty-sis  cents  per  bushel.  In 
186.5,  he  removed  to  his  present  homestead,  where 
he  has  improved  a  fine  estate  and  devotes  his  at- 
tention to  general  farming.  He  owns  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-two  acres  in  three  farms,  all  of 
which  he  has  cleared  by  his  unaided  personal  ex- 
ertions. Aside  from  what  he  still  owns,  he  has 
assisted  his  children  by  gifts  of  money  and  land, 
and  has  given  each  child  $700  upon  becoming  of 
age.  Ills  aged  mother  received  from  him  the 
most  devoted  care  and  everv  comfort  that  would 
mcre.ase  her  happiness  until  her  death,  which  oc- 
curred June  11,  1870. 

The  estimable  lady  who  ])resides  over  Mr.  Bab- 
cock's  home  was.  prior  to  becoming  his  wife  June 
l.T.  lS8r,,  Miss  Ph.cbe  M.  Bowen.  and  was  horn  in 
Rnpi.N.     Ni.ngara    County.    X.    Y.,   December    22. 


474 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1857.  The  only  child  born  of  this  union  is  now 
deceased.  In  their  I'eligious  opinions,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Babcock  are  Sabliatarians,  and  he  has  served  as 
Deacon  in  his  church  for  many  years  and  is  active 
in  Sabbath-school  work.  In  the  education  of  the 
young  he  is  deeply  interested,  and  h.as  tilled  the 
position  of  Director  of  his  school  district.  Through- 
out his  entire  life  he  has  been  firm  in  his  adher- 
ence to  temperance  principles,  and  now  in  his 
old  age  is  justly  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  has 
never  tasted  a  drop  of  liquor,  never  used  tobacco 
in  any  form,  nor  ever  uttered  a  profane  word  in 
his  life.  Formerly  lie  was  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, but  now  casts  his  ballot  and  influence  for  the 
cause  of  Prohibition.  His  life  furnishes  a  splen- 
did example  for  the  emulation  of  the  young,  for 
it  proves  what  industry  and  economy  will  accom- 
plish when  combined  with  business  judgment  and 
unflinching  probity. 

The  portrait   of    Mr.  Babcock  is    presented    on 
another  page. 


l^^^^ 


;  0P:L  ALSPArOII.  Auglaize  County  can 
name  no  man  whose  successes  in  life  are 
more  thoroughly  of  his  own  making  than 
y^i^'  Joel  Alspaugh,  of  Logan  Township,  that 
county.  He  is  self-made  in  every  sense  of  the 
word,  and  his  accomplishments  are  such  of  which 
any  man  might  well  feel  proud.  As  a  citizen  he 
is  honored  and  respected  by  all.  lie  was  born  in 
Fairfield  County,  this  State,  in  1830,  and  was  one 
of  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  born  to  John 
and  Catherine  (Benson)  Alspaugh,  natives  respect- 
ively of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland. 

Becoming  convinced  that  better  f.aeilities  for 
acquiring  wealth  were  to  be  found  in  the  far  West, 
the  father  of  our  subject  emigrated  towards  the 
setting  sun  and  located  within  the  borders  of 
Fairfield  County,  Ohio.  He  settled  on  a  wild  farm 
in  the  woods,  and  with  great  industry  and  perse- 
verance began  clor.riiig  it  of  the  w<i(]d  and  brush 
with  which  it   was  covered.     This    was  -at  a  very 


early  period,  and  for  some  time  their  nearest  neigh- 
bors were  Indians  and  wild  animals,  one  about  as 
much  dre.aded  as  the  other.  After  residing  on  this 
farm  for  a  few  years,  Mr.  Alspaugh  and  family 
moved  to  Marion  County ,Ohio,  and  bought  another 
tract  of  unimproved  land.  He  cleared  a  small  spot, 
erected  a  log  cabin  and  on  this  farm  made  his 
home  until  1848,  when  he  sold  it  and  moved  on 
another  piece  of  wild  Land,  in  Clay  Township, 
Auglaize  Count3',  and  a  little  later  on  still  another 
but  the  last  an  improved  tract.  Here  he  p.assed 
the  remainder  of  his  da^-s,  dying  in  the  ye.ar  1877. 
The  mother  had  received  her  final  summons  in 
1849.  Both  were  nieinbei-s  of  the  Jlethodist 
Church  and  he  was  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views.  The  six  children  now  living  are  as  follows: 
Joel,  Susan,  Irving,  Sarah,  John  and  Daniel. 

Joel  Alspaugh  received  his  scholastic  training 
in  the  common  schools  of  Fairfield  County  and 
was  early  trained  to  hard  work.  In  1849,  he  began 
farming  for  himself  and  was  also  eng.aged  in  chop- 
ping wood  and  making  railroad  ties.  He  alone 
made  over  six  thousand  ties  along  the  Lake  Erie 
Canal.  He  chose  as  his  companion  in  life  Miss 
Elizabeth  Yestin,  daughter  of  John  H.  Yestin,  of 
Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  and  after  marriage  they 
settled  on  a  leased  farm  in  Logan  Township,  Au- 
glaize Count}-,  Ohio.  A  little  over  a  year  later, 
they  moved  to  Allen  County.  Ohio,  settled  on  and 
cleared  a  wild  piece  of  land  of  eighty  acres,  in 
Amanda  Township,  and  on  this  resided  for  some 
time.  Later,  he  sold  this  and  bought  another  tract 
of  eighty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Logan  Township, 
Auglaize  County,  and  on  this  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  has  worked  hard  to  clear  and  improve 
this  farm  and  that  he  has  been  successful  it  needs 
but  a  glance  over  his  fine  farm  to  determine.  He  is 
now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
as  good  land  as  is  to  be  found  in  his  section  and  he 
has  it  nearly  all  improved.  All  his  farming  opera- 
tions are  conducted  in  a  manner  showing  him  to 
be  a  man  of  more  than  usual  good  judgment  and 
sense. 

His  marriage  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  survive,  viz:  Henry, 
l.<Mi:i.  William,  Caroline,  James  and  Wilson.  These 
children  have  all  been  well  educated   in    the    pub- 


PORTRAIT  A^'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


475 


lie  schools  and  are  all  members  of  the  church. 
Mr.  Alspaugh  is  also  an  active  worker  in  the 
church  and  holds  membership  in  the  Christian 
■  Union  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  Class-leader 
for  some  time.  lie  lost  his  estimable  wife  in  the 
year  1888,  and  is  still  a  widower.  In  poli- 
ties, he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  the  ofBce  of 
.Supervisor  of  the  township  for  three  terms. 

In  1884,  on  account  of  the  health  of  his  family, 
he  moved  to  Kentucky  and  remained  there  several 
mouths,  returing  to  Logan  Township  in  1885. 
He  has  ever  been  hardworking  and  industrious 
and  is  a  man  whose  honesty  and  uprightness  have 
ever  been  above  reproach.  He  commenced  life 
without  capital,  and  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder, 
but  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  comfortable 
fortune,  all  the  result  of  his  own  energy.  His 
pleasant  home  and  blight  and  intelligent  family 
of  children  make  life  ver}-  enjoyable  to  him,  and 
the  family  is  one  of  the  most  esteemed  and  re- 
spected in  the  neighborhood. 


QUIRE  ABRAHAM  A.  DUXSON.  There 
<^^  are  few  prettier  rural  abodes  to  be  found 
P/j))  within  the  limits  of  Shelby  County  than 
the  elegant  brick  residence  in  Salem  Town- 
ship erecteil  and  occupied  by  Squire  Dunson. 
Built  in  1877,  at  a  cost  of  §o.Ol)n.  it  contains 
many  modern  improvements  and  is  furaished 
throughout  with  the  most  refined  taste.  The  sur- 
roundings are  attractive  and  inviting,  and  alto- 
gether the  view  is  one  not  soon  to  be  forgotten. 
Stretching  off  in  the  distance  are  the  one  hundred 
and  sixt3'-eight  acres  which  comprise  the  farm,  of 
whi';h  one  hundred  and  twenty  are  cleared  and 
cultivated. 

As  early  as  18.'M.  the  parents  of  our  subject, 
Abraham  and  Margaret  (Iludloel  Dunson,  re- 
moved from  their  native  St-ate.  A'irginia,  to  Ohio, 
where  they  settled  in  Montgomery  County.  One 
vear    later,  thev  came    to  Shelbv   Countv  and  set- 


tled about  one  mile  ea.st  of  Port  Jefferson,  where 
the  father  began  to  cultivate  a  farm.  Prior  to  re- 
moving to  Ohio,  he  had  been  engaged  in  milling, 
but  after  taking  up  his  residence  in  the  Buckeve 
State  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  in  1839.  His  widow  long  survived  him, 
and  died  in  1888,  at  a  good  old  age. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  seven  children, 
all  but  one  of  whom  are  now  living,  namelv: 
Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  Maxwell;  Preston  Edward;  Mrs. 
Margaret  Jane  John;  our  subject;  Minerva,  de- 
ce.ased;  Mrs.  Ellen  Osborn,  and  3Irs.  Amanda  Car- 
oline Rail.  Our  subject  was  born  in  Rockingham 
County,  Va.,  January  22,  1831,  and  w.as  therefore 
only  three  ycare  old  when  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since. 
He  w.as  reared  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
eighteen  yeare  of  age,  and  then  commenced  to 
learn  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  twent3'-five  j-ears. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Dunson  was  married  to  Miss 
Rachel,  daughter  of  James  McA'ey.  a  pioneer  of 
Shelby  County.-  :Mrs.  Rachel  Dunson  died  in 
March,  1859.  Three  years  after,  our  subject  was 
again  married,  choosing  as  his  wife  Miss  Rosanna 
Lodge,  a  native  of  Montgomery  County.  Oliio. 
This  estimable  and  beloved  lady  died  February  3, 
1890,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren to  mourn  the  loss  of  an  affectionate  mother. 
They  are:  John  IC,  who  married  Jliss  Ella  Hubert 
and  is  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Maplewood, 
Shelby  County;  Luella,  wife  of  Frank  Poole,  of 
Maplewood,  and  the  mother  of  one  child;  O.  J., 
who  is  in  the  tile  business  at  Maplewood;  Bonnie 
Estella,  wife  of  Bert  Rust,  of  Jackson  Township, 
and  the  mother  of  one  child;  Ellwood,  who  is  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  0.  J.  in  the  tile  busi- 
ness; and  Bessie,  who  keeps  house  for  her  father. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Dunson  settled  upon  the  G.  J. 
Mitchell  farm  in  Salem  Township,  but  four  jears 
later  removed  to  the  farm  which  he  h:is  since  occu- 
pied. He  is  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  the 
community,  and  as  School  Director  for  many 
yeai-sh.TS  been  instrumental  in  advancing  the  edu- 
cational interests  of  the  district.  Ills  father  was 
a  stanch  Democrat,  and  until  18S8  he  w.as  equally 
fiiin   in   his  suiipc.it  nf  the  Republican   party,  but 


47G 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


since  that  date  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
People's  iiai-ty.  For  a  hmg  period  lie  has  served 
as  Trustee  of  Salem  Township,  and  for  six  years 
he  filled  the  position  of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He 
has  frequently  served  as  a  delegate  tocon  ventions, 
and  has  always  re|iresented  his  fellow-citizens 
with  credit  to  liiniself  and  to  the  general  satisfac- 
tion. Formerly,  he  was  actively  identified  with 
the  .Sons  of  Temperance,  and  his  principles  are 
still  in  that  direction.  His  life  h.as  been  one  of 
ceaseless  activity',  and  his  success  is  shown  in  the 
possession  of  his  splendid  estate. 


\r^^IP:LDEiS'  .JOHNSTOX.  The  immediate  an- 
»^^'  cestiy  of  our  subject  is  as  follows:  He 
/li  "  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Nancy  (JlcC'oy) 
Johnston,  the  former  born  near  Richmond,  Ky., 
September  25,  1790.  The  latter  was  a  native 
of  the  same  State  and  was  born  in  January,  1796. 
Charles  Johnston  was  but  a  youth  of  twenty-two 
when  his  father  had  him  enlist  in  the  War  of  1812. 
That  father  was  Silas  Johnston,  of  Kentucky. 

Charles  Johnston  came  to  Ohio  about  the  year 
1800  with  liis  father.  They  settled  in  Johnston 
Township,  Champaign  County,  and  were  the  first 
in  that  locality,  the  township  being  named  for  the 
senior  member  of  the  family.  There  were  many 
Indians  in  the  country  at  tlie  time,  and, 
although  they  were  friendly  in  general,  their 
treacherous  nature  kept  our  subject's  grandparents 
in  a  constant  state  of  suspense  and  watchfulness. 
Indeed,  Silas  Johnston  was  obliged  to  leave  the 
country  for  a  time  as  a  result  of  having  knocked 
an  Indian  down  during  an  altercation.  On  his 
return,  he  enlisted  the  assistance  of  his  sons  in 
making  a  permanent  home.  They  cleared  up  a 
farm,  and  there  our  subject's  father  w.as  reared, 

Silas  Johnston  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  and  to  show  the  simplicity  of  the 
financial  transactions  of  tlie  enimtry,  the  foUfiw- 
ing  anecdote  is  related:  A  man  rocU-  up  to  llii' 
Johnston    c:ililii,    telliu;;'    the    owner    that    he   was 


collecting  taxes,  Mr,  Johnston  took  down  from 
the  rear  of  his  cabin  five  coon  skins  and  handed 
them  to  the  man,  who  said,  "  All  right,  when  I  get 
b.ack  to  Urbana  I  can  get  twenty-five  cents  apiece 
for  tliem."  That  paid  the  taxes  on  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land.  There  were  a  few  horses, 
some  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  upon  the  place. 

(_)ur  subject's  mother's  family  came  to  Ohio  al- 
most simultaneously  with  his  father.  After  the  mar- 
riage of  his  parents,  they  settled  in  Periy  Town- 
ship, on  section  21,  where  Charles  entered  Ciovern- 
nient  land,  building,  without  help,  a  log  cabin  on 
the  banks  of  a  creek.  Game  was  abundant  at  that 
time,  and  consequently  there  were  many  Indians, 
who  stayed  here  .as  long  as  tlie\'  could  provide  for 
themselves.  After  a  long  and  useful  life,  our  sub- 
ject's father  died  May  15,  18G5.  His  wife  had 
p.assed  away  March  20,  18G2.  They  were  the 
parents  of  fourteen  children,  six  of  whom  still 
survive. 

For  fifteen  years  in  the  early  history  of  the 
country,  Charles  Johnston's  home  served  not  only 
as  a  stopping  place  for  preachers,  but  also  as  a 
meeting-house,  both  parents  being  very  devoted 
Methodists.  Democratic  in  political  principles, 
the  old  gentlem.an  was  the  soul  of  honor.  He  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Pe.ace,  in  -which  capacity  he 
ofliciated  for  fifteen  years.  He  also  served  as 
Trustee  of  the  township  for  a  couple  of  terms.  At 
a  time  when  money  was  worth  much  more  than  it 
is  now,  he  contributed  ^600  as  a  bonus  to  induce 
the  Big  Four  Railroad  to  come  this  wa}-.  He  also 
contributed  money  to  get  Sidney  located  where  it 
now  is. 

Fielden  Johnston  was  the  twelfth  child  in  order 
of  birth  born  to  his  parents.  He  was  born  July 
9,  1835,  his  birthplace  being  a  log  cabin  on 
the  old  homestead.  There  he  was  reared  to  man- 
hood, receiving  a  common-school  education.  In 
1857,  he  was  married  to  Rebecca  Stephenson,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Rachel  (Johnson)  Stephen- 
son, early  settlers  here,  Jlrs,  Johnston  w.as  born 
December  15,  1836,  in  Logan  County. 

Iinmediateh'  after  marriage,  our  subject  and  his 
wife  settled  for  a  time  on  .tlie  old  homestead.  He 
then  purchased  forty  acres,  and  later  his  present 
tariii.     lie   h:is    lived  on  the  site  where  his  [iresent 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


47: 


home  is  for  tweiiU'-seven  yeai-s,  aud  is  now  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-two  acres  of 
land,  having  cleared  thirty  acres  by  himself.  His 
residence  was  erected  in  1878,  and  is  a  subtantial 
and  comfortable  dwelling.  His  other  buildings 
were  put  up  in  1887,  and  here  he  carries  on 
general  farming. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  the  father  of  four 
cluldren,  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  They 
are:  Nancy  Alice,  wife  of  Lewis  W.  Deweese; 
Charles  Alburn  and  "William  Albert,  who  are 
twins.  The  latter  is  married  to  Delia  Wagner  and 
lives  at  home.  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  .Johnston  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  which 
they  arc  efficient  workers.  Mr.  Johnston  has  been 
School  Director  for  six  years.  Although  he  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  views,  he  has  held  the  oftice 
of  Trustee  in  a  Republican  Township  for  six  years. 


^^j  V,'.  B.  HARBOUR.  JL  D.  Dr.  Harbour  is 
f|!  p  one  of  the  popular  and  able  physicians  of 
^^<-'  Anna.  Shelby  County,  whose  ability  is  re- 
cognized in  a  fine  practice,  which  comprises  a  large 
scope  of  adjacent  countr}'.  The  Doctor  is  a  na- 
tive of  Pemberton,  Shelby  County,  where  he  was 
born  October  16,  18G1.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Rachel  E.  (Persinger)  Harbour,  both  of  Ohio. 
Grandfather  William  Harbour  was  a  Virginian,  of 
English  descent,  his  father  having  come  from  the 
Old  Country  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  W^ill- 
iam  Harbour  migrated  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in 
1818,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  in 
Shelby  Count}-. 

The  father  of  our  subject  w.as  a  farmer.  During 
the  late  war,  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Ohio  Regiment,  and 
so  valiant  was  he  in  sustaining  the  hard  militarv 
life  uncomplainingly  that  he  has  ever  since  been  a 
sufferer  from  the  effects  of  injury  received  in  ser- 
vice, lie  al  jiresent  resides  in  Perry  Township, 
where  he  is  a  prosperous  and  contented  farmer. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted   .Methodists. 


Dr.  Harbour  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  five 
children.  The  only  daughter  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years.  The  rudiments  of  his  education  were 
acquired  in  the  common  district  school,  and  in 
1877  he  entered  the  Ada  (Ohio)  Normal  College, 
devoting  his  attention  to  the  academic  course. 
Having  determined  upon  the  profession  of  medi- 
cine as  his  future  calling,  he  entered  the  Miami 
Medical  College  at  Cincinnati  in  1880,  and  there 
spent  four  yoare  preparatory  to  his  professional 
life.  After  a  most  satisf.actor^'  course,  in  which 
he  applied  himself  most  diligently,  he  graduated  in 
1885.  During  the  last  year  spent  in  college,  our  sub- 
ject was  permitted  to  pr.actice  in  a  special  district 
in  the  city  under  the  directoi-ship  of  Prof.  W.  N. 
Taylor  and  Prof.  U.  P.  Dandridge.  This  was  pe- 
culiarh'  advantageous. 

Immediately  after  finishing  his  medical  course, 
the  Doctor  lijcated  at  Anna,  and  has  since  en ofau-ed 
in  a  very  satisfactory  pr.actiee.  In  1883,  he  was 
married  to  ^liss  Ora  E.,  daughter  of  Judge  Davis 
Bowers.acks,  a  native  of  this  county,  and  educated 
in  the  Sidney  High  School.  Her  father  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ciermanj-.  He  h.os  for  many  j-ears  been  a 
prominent  citizen  of  this  county.  Thev  have  one 
child,  whose  name  is  Georgia.  Ur.  Harbour  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  a  member  of  the  VilLio'e 
Council.  He  is  a  M.ason,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythi.as.  His  memljorship  with  the 
Shelby  C'ount3'  Medical  Society  is  both  pleasant  and 
profitable  to  him. 


f ,  UGH  JELLV.     Our  suliject  is  a  prominent 

K  jl,  and  successful  farmer,  who  has  a  most  hon- 
iiU^  orable  ancestrj-  of  Scotch  and  Irish  mix- 
(^)  ture.  He  w.os  born  March  4,  1824.  His 
parents  were  Hugh  and  ^lary  (McCfiuless)  Jelly, 
the  former  a  native  of  Irelaml  and  tlie  latter  born 
three  miles  from  Glasgow,  .Scotland.  The  family 
emigrated  to  America  in  1828.  and  after  a  voyage 
on  a  sail intr- vessel    lastiiiir  fiT    tliirtv  weeks,  thev 


478 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


located  four  miles  out  of  Baltimore  upon  a  farm 
In  1838,  they  moved  to  Da_vton,  Ohio,  and  one 
3-ear  later  proceeded  to  Shelbj-  Countj-,  and  set- 
tled in  Van  Burcn  Township,  wliere  the  father 
purchased  land.  lie  died  in  18.59,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  j-ears.  Our  subject's  mother  passed 
away  in  1845. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  eight 
children  born  to  his  parents,  only  three  of  whom 
live  at  the  present  time.  He  is  the  seventh  in 
order  of  birth,  and  was  a  child  of  four  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  crossed  the  ocean  to  make  a 
liome  in  the  Union.  He  w.is  reared  on  the  farm 
near  Baltimore,  and  in  his  boj'hood  days  was 
obliged  to  go  three  miles  in  order  to  reach  school. 
The  subscription  schools  were  then  in  order,  and  it 
cost  his  father  $.3  for  e.ach  of  his  children  for  three 
months'  schooling.  After  coming  to  Ohio,  he 
prosecuted  his  studies  in  a  little  log  sclioolhouse 
with  slab  benches. 

At  the  age  of  twent}',  Hugh  .Jelly  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  and  was  employed  in  it  at 
Hardin,  Lockport,  and  Tippecanoe.  He  also 
worked  in  St.  Louis  in  1850.  On  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  he  enlisted  in  August,  1862, 
in  the  jS'inety-ninth  Ohio  Inf.antry,  and  was  a  par- 
ticipant in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Lookout 
^Mountain,  Resaca,  Nashville,  Boonesbore,  and  At- 
lanta, besides  in  minor  engagements.  He  received 
his  discharge  in  1865,  but  not  until  he  was  badly 
crippled,  as  a  result  of  exposure  and  hardship. 
He  was  detailed  to  duty  as  Director  of  the  black- 
smithing  department,  and  often  had  a  dozen  hands 
working  under  him.  After  the  war,  he  resumed 
his  farming  operations,  continuing  the  work  of 
improving  his  present  place. 

Mr.  Jelly  was  married  in  1856  to  Eliza  Ann 
Ta3'Ior,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where  they 
now  live,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Maria 
Taylor.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  our 
subject  and  his  wife.  They  are  "William  A., 
James,  and  Annie.  The  eldest  son  is  married, 
and  lives  on  the  old  farm.  In  his  political  predi- 
lections, he  is  a  Democrat,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  He 
served  on  the  committee  that  took  charge  of  the 
buildina;  on  the  erection  of  the  new  church.     Mr. 


Jelly  is  the  o^-ner  of  three  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  land,  which  is  for  the  most  part  on  sec- 
tion 26  and  some  on  section  35.  He  has  a  very 
comfortable  and  pleasant  residence,  which  is  built 
of  brick  upon  his  farm.  Here  he  raises  all  kinds 
of  stock,  in  dealing  in  which  he  has  been  very 
successful. 


=^^^m^^^-^^m 


/^)  ^'OUGH  BROS.  The  large  tile  manufactory, 
(l(  ^  situated  one-half  mile  north  of  the  thriving 
^g/  village  of  Rushsylvania,  is  owned  and  op- 
erated bj'  Clough  Bros.,  wide-awake,  thorough-go- 
ing business  men.  They  started  this  business  on 
a  very  small  capital,  but  the  superior  quality  of 
their  tiling  soon  became  apparent,  and  they  are 
now  doing  a  thriving  and  paying  business. 

The  father  of  these  brothers,  David  Clough,  was 
born  in  Waj-ne  County,  Pa.,  in  1812,  and  was  a 
tanner  by  trade,  although  his  principal  occupation 
was  farming.  His  father,  John  Clough,  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  Hampshire,  but  when  about  eighteen 
years  of  age,  he  went  to  Pennsylvania  and  located 
in  Wayne  County,  where  he  passed  the  closing 
scenes  of  his  life,  dying  at  a  good  old  age.  David 
Clough  married  Miss  D.  King,  a  native  of  W.ayne 
County,  Pa.,  born  in  1808,  and  the  daughter  of 
Benjamin  King,  Esq.,  who  was  originally  from 
Rhode  Island.  Mr.  King  was  supposed  to  be  a  de- 
scendant of  Scotch  ancestors.  After  their  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  about  1835,  Mr.  Clough  and 
wife  settled  in  their  native  State,  became  prominent 
and  respected  citizens,  and  there  died,  the  mother 
in  1852  and  the  father  in  1872.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters: ilaliuda  M..  dece.Tsed;  Robert  C;  Henrv  H., 
of  "Wisconsin:  Ann.  wife  of  Alfred  Long, of  Find- 
l.a}',  Ohio,  and  Benjamin  F. 

Robert  C.  Clough,  the  second  child  and  eldest 
son,  like  many  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Logan 
County, Ohio,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  Wayne 
County,  December  12,  1838,  and  there  received  his 
education    in   the  district  schools.     He   remained 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmC.VL   RECORD. 


479 


with  his  parents  until  twenty-one  years  of  age, but 
when  al)out  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  commenced 
working  in  a  sawmill  and  continued  at  this  until 
the  jear  1SG7,  when  he  was  married  in  Wayne 
County,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Julia  E.  Dix.  She  was  born 
in  Preston  Township,  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  in  1841, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  David  Dix,  also  of  that 
county.  After  marriage,  our  subject  and  wife  re- 
mained in  their  native  county,  where  the  former 
followed  farming  until  18(38,  when  they  were 
tempted  to  try  their  fortune  in  the  Buckeye  State. 
The}'  first  located  at  Woodstock,  in  Champaign 
County,  and  Robert  C.  worked  in  a  tile  factory  for 
David  Ken  field  one  year.  After  this,  he  came  to 
Logan  Countj',  this  State,  and  started  the  tile  fac- 
tory which  he  and  his  brother  now  own.  They 
have  been  in  the  business  for  twenty-two  3'ears  in 
the  .same  place,  and  are  honorable,  reliable  men  of 
business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clough  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  they  took  the  little  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Clough,  a  brother  of  our  subject,  and  she 
is  now  a  bright  little  girl  of  five  years.  Her  name 
is  IletUe  .Julia. 

Benjamin  F.  Clough.  in  partnersliip  with  his 
brother,  and  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born 
in  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  September  30,  IS.iO.  He 
was  educated  in  his  native  county  and  was  mar- 
ried there  tlie  first  time,  December  31,  1874,  to 
Mi^s  Ilettie  M.  Spencer,  also  of  Wayne  County, 
Pa.  He  and  his  wife  subsequently  located  on  a 
farm  in  their  native  county,  and  there  made  tlieir 
home  until  1 871).  when  they  came  to  Logan  County, 
and  Benjamin  F.  worked  for  his  brother  in  the  tile 
factory  by  the  month  for  three  j'eare.  He  then 
became  a  partner  in  the  business  and  has  since  con- 
tinued in  that  capacity.  His  firet  wife  died  in  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  in  188(j.  leaving  three  children,  two 
daughters  and  a  son:  Anna  K..  Raymond  E.  and 
Hettie  .Tulia.  jNIr.  Clough  took  for  his  second  wife 
Miss  Eflie  M.  Ensley,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Leroy. 

Robert  C.  Clough  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
he  is  Trustee,  and  is  a  strong  Prohibitionist  in 
his  political  views.  Benjamin  F.  is  also  a  mem- 
ber   of    the  ^Iethiidi>t  Ei)isciipal    Church,  and    is 


Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  at  Rushsyl- 
vania.  He  is  also  a  strong  Prohibitionist,  and 
while  residing  in  Pennsj-lvania  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  The 
factor}'  belonging  to  these  brothers  is  thought  to 
be  the  largest  and  oldest  in  the  county.  They  burn 
twenty-six  kilns  per  season  and  ship  to  all  parts  of 
the  country.  The  kiln  is  situated  on  fort}'  acres  of 
land,  owned  by  these  brothers,  and  Robert  C.  owns 
and  carries  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  in  addition 
to  his  tiling  business.  Their  works  have  a  ca- 
pacity of  about  six  thousand  per  day. 


l##^i-^"i^llM#^i 


^  J.  >'.  ENGLISH,  attoi-ney  and  solicitor  of 
r  ((§;  Government  claims  at  Wapakoncta,  Ohio, 
,1— \  was  born  in  Stark  County,  this  State,  on 
the  22d  of  May,  1847,  and  h.as  spent  the  principal 
part  of  his  days  right  here.  During  this  time  he 
has  not  only  won  an  enviable  reputation  in  the 
legal  fields,  but  .as  an  lionoralile,  upright  citizen, 
he  has  gathered  around  liiin  a  host  of  warm 
friends. 

His  immediate  progenitor,  Daniel  S,  English, 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  w.as  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Severn,  who  was  originally  from 
Maryland,  At  an  early  date,  the  fertile  soil  of 
Ohio  tempted  them  to  settle  within  its  borders, 
and  in  1837  they  located  in  Stark  County.  Tliere 
the  father  cultivated  the  soil  and  p.assed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  He  was  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  the  county  and  was  universally 
respected,  being  enterprising  and  progressive.  He 
died  in  1864.  His  wife  died  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  in  1877.  They  were  the  parents 
of  thirteen  children,  six  sons  and  seven  daughters. 
The  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  up 
to  sturdy  manhood  upon  terms  of  familiarity 
with  all  kinds  of  farm  labor,  and  was  receiving  a 
liberal  education  when  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded 
to  arms.  In  1861.  he  enlisted  in  the  three-months 
service,  Company  H.  Nineteenth  Ohio  Infan- 
try,   and     at     tlie     expiration     of     liis      term     of 


480 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


enlistment  he  re-enlisted  in  Company  I,  Nine- 
teenth Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  faithfully  and 
creditably  until  the  23d  of  June,  1865.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  and  was  in  all  the 
battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga  by  a  baj'onet,  and 
again  severely  at  Lovejo}',  .September  1, 186-1,  by  a 
gunshot.  After  receiving  his  discharge,  he  re- 
turned home  and  engaged  in  railroading  on  the 
Pitt-sburgh,  Ft.  Wayne  <t  Chicago  Railroad.  This 
lie  followed  for  about  two  ye:iYS  and  then 
began  running  a  notion  wagon,  wliich  ho  contin- 
ued for  two  years. 

In  ISO!),  lie  came  to  Auglaize  County,  Ohio, 
and  for  eleven  years  was  engaged  in  scliool-teach- 
ing  at  St.  John's,  this  county.  In  April,  1880,  he 
embarked  in  his  present  business,  and  has  been 
\ery  successful  in  prosecuting  all  claims  that  came 
to  hand.  lie  has  never  aspired  to  office,  but 
adheres  closely  to  his  business  affairs  and  has  made 
a  success  of  whatever  he  has  undertaken.  He  is  a 
m.an  possessed  of  good  sound  judgment,  excellent 
business  acumen,  and  the  success  which  he  has 
achieved  has  been  due  in  a  large  measure  to  his 
energy  and  pei'severance.  He  was  married  in 
1872  to  Miss  Cynthia  E.  Miller,  and  sis  children 
have  been  horn  of  this  union.  Mr.  English  is  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 


"■^  r* 


'^/  NDRKW  MADER.  It  is  a  source  of  inspir- 
(@/lJ||     ation   to   brave-doing  an<l    endurance    to 

I  i)  learn  the  history  of  those  who  have, 
^  through  hardship  and  privation,  won   for 

themselves  a  home  in  this  Western  world,  and 
we  delight  in  telling  the  story  of  Mr.  JIader.  who 
is  one  of  the  prominent,  intelligent  and  worthy  pio- 
neers of  Loraraie  Township,  Shelby  County.  He 
was  born  in  Germany,  November  2.1,  1826,  of  the 
union  of  Frederick  C.and  Anna  M.  (Kruspe)  Mader, 
natives  of  the  Old  Country.  Our  subject  remained 


in  his  natp  V.  i,ountry  until  1844,  or  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  wlien  he  sailed  for  America,  preced- 
ing his  parents  to  this  country  about  two  years. 
A  revolution  was  threatened  in  Germany  at  that 
time,  and  as  he  did  not  care  to  be  detained  there, 
no  telling  how  long,  if  war  actually  broke  out,  he 
determined  to  leave  for  the  "Land  of  the  Free  and 
the  Home  of  the  Brave,"  and  make  his  fortune 
there.  Altliough  he  had  some  ditticultj-  in  secur- 
ing a  pass,  he  was  finalh'  successful,  and  took  pass- 
age at  Bremen. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  crossed  the  ocean  to 
America  in  1846,  and  located  in  the  woods  of  Lor- 
amie  Township,  Shelby  County,  where  they  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  raw  land,  built  a  rude  log 
cabin  and  began  their  career  as  pioneers.  On  this 
farm  the  father  died,  in  1878,  when  eighty-two 
years  of  age.  He  had  always  been  a  very  strong 
man,  and  was  sick  only  two  days.  He  served  in 
the  German  army  eight  years,  and  took  part  in  the 
war  between  France  and  Germany  in  1813.  While 
a  resident  of  his  native  country,  he  followed  farm- 
ing, and  after  coming  to  the  United  States  was 
perfectly  satisfied  to  remain  here.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  wife  died  in 
1872,  when  sixty-two  years  of  age.  Six  of  the 
nine  children  born  to  them  are  now  living. 

Andrew  Mader,  the  eldest  of  these  children, 
passed  his  boyhood  d.aj's  in  assisting  his  father  on 
the  farm  and  attending  school.  After  passing  his 
fourteenth  birtliday  he  worked  on  a  farm,  and  in 
1844  concluded  to  come  to  the  United  States. 
After  an  ocean  voyage  of  sixty-seven  days,  he 
landed  in  New  York  Cit\',  but  shortly  afterward 
came  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  eigh- 
teen montlis.  In  1846,  after  the  arrival  of  his  par- 
ents, he  came  to  Shelby  Count\',  and  for  a  few 
years  worked  out,  receiving  .about  SIO  a  month  for 
his  services.  In  1857,  he  bought  twenty  .acres  of 
partlj'  cleared  land,  and  began  clearing  and  im- 
proving. Deer  and  other  animals  were  still  quite 
plentiful,  and  Mr.  Mader  killed  a  good  man}'.  He 
has  resided  on  his  present  farm  since  the  spring  of 
1846,  and  anyone  viewing  his  well  cultivated  and 
productive  fields  could  hardly  realize  tliat  it  was 
at  one  time  covered  with  a  forest  and  that  filled 
with  wild  animals. 


RESIDENCE  OF   ANDREW    MADER,  SEC.  2A.,  LORAMI  E  TP, SHELBY  CO.,0 


PES   DENCl   of    a    a     SVliTH  ,  5:C  3  ,  Sr  IVAP^S   ~=  AUCLA  Zl    CO    0 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


483 


In  1857,  Elizabeth  Barbara  Brelira,  a  native  of 
Shelby  County,  Ohio,  and  whose  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Gernian\-,  became  tlie  wife  of  our  subject. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maderare  tlie  parents  of  ten  children 
as  follows:  Frederick  W.,  Mary  Elizabeth.  Edward 
C,  Matilda  A.,  Minnie  R.,  Emma  C,  .Tolin  A., 
Franklin  A.,  Harrison  N..  and  Clara  I.,  respec- 
tively. ;\Ir.  ;\Iader  is  independent  in  his  political 
views,  and  votes  for  the  best  man  irrespective  of 
party.  He  was  Assessor  for  four  3'ears,  Land  Ap- 
praiser in  1890,  Trustee  for  three  years,  and  has 
been  Scliool  Director  for  many  years.  In  religion, 
he  and  Mrs.  Madcr  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Cliuroli.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty-four 
acres  on  section  24.  all  improved,  on  whieli  he  h.is 
a  fine  new  house  and  barn.  He  rai.scs  all  kinds  of 
stock,  has  been  as  successful  in  this  as  farming, 
and  IS  a  man  of  excellent  judgment,  well  liked  in 
his  community.  A  view  of  liis  homestead  will  be 
noticed  on  another  page. 


ARON  A.  SMITH  is  a  farmer  of  more  than 
I'M  ordinar}'  practical  ability  and  progressivc- 
(i  ncss,  who  has  ke[]t  well  abreast  of  the 
times  in  his  calling,  and  has  one  of  the 
best  managed  and  finest  improved  farms  in  all  this 
region,  pleasantiv  located  on  section  9,  St.  Marj-'s 
Township,  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  citj- 
of  St.  Mary's,  .and  valuable  alike  for  its  fertilit}', 
and  as  the  site  of  some  half  dozen  oil  wells,  of 
which  five  are  good  producers.  A  view  of  this 
estate  is  elsewhere  shown.  Both  our  subject  and 
his  estimable  wife  are  among  the  earliest  native- 
born  citizens  of  Auglaize  County,  their  parents  be- 
ing among  its  very  first  settlers,  and  they  them- 
selves are  classed  with  its  pioneers,  who  have  lieen 
potent  in  its  upbuilding  and  in  advancing  its  in- 
terests socially,  morally  and  rcligionslj"  by  the  ex- 
ample of  upright  Christian  lives. 

Mr.  Smith  was  bora  December  14.  1824.  in  one 
of  the  first  pioneer  homes  established  in  the  town- 
ship of  St.  Mary's,  that   of  Henry  A.  Smith,  a   na- 


tive of  Delaware,  who  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
mother  when  a  boy,  and  lived  near  Cincinnati 
until  his  marriage.  In  1821,  he  came  to  Auglaize 
County  and  settled  at  St.  Mary's  among  the  In- 
dians, and  thus  w.as  one  of  the  very  first  to  settle 
in  the  county.  He  had  to  cut  his  way  tlu'ough  the 
country,  which  was  new,  with  scarcely-  a  white  in- 
habitant within  its  l)orders,  when  he  selected  a 
suitable  location  for  a  farm.  He  was  a  skillful 
hunter,  and  killed  many  a  deer,  wild  turkey  and 
bear  to  snpph'  the  family  larder.  He  cleared  con- 
siderable land,  and  I)ought  and  sold  several  tracts, 
being  a  man  of  much  enterprise,  and  with  a  good 
faculty  for  making  money.  He  endured  numerous 
hardships  incidental  to  the  times,  but  struggled 
bravely  and  cheerfully  with  all  obstacles  to  success, 
and  was  doing  fairly  well  financially  when  death 
terminated  his  busy  career  in  1843,  at  the  age  of 
forty-four  years,  while  his  life  was  still  in  its  prime. 
He  was  a  religious  man,  and  one  of  the  prime  mov- 
ers in  establishing  the  Jlethodist  faith  in  his  com- 
munitj-.  He  had  one  of  the  largest  dwellings  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  divine  worship  was  gener- 
ally held  in  his  house. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Elizabeth  A.  Hinkle,  and  was  born  at  Mill 
Creek,  near  Cincinnati.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Asa  Hinkle,  who  was  Captain  of  a  company  of  sol- 
diei-s  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  with  his  com- 
mand visited  the  present  site  of  St.  Mary's  at  some 
time  during  that  period.  He  was  so  much  pleased 
with  the  country  that  he  bought  considerable  land 
in  this  locality,  which  he  afterwards  gave  to  his 
children,  .and  later  in  life  settled  here,  making  it 
his  home  from  that  time  until  his  death.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1850,  aged  fifty-three 
years.  She  was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  actively  co-operated  with 
her  husband  and  their  fellow-pioneei-s  in  its  up- 
building. She  was  the  mother  of  eleven  children, 
of  wliom  seven  are  still  living.  The  eldest  child, 
Asa  H.,  was  the  first  white  child  born  within  the 
limits  of  this  county,  so  far  .as  known. 

Aaron  A.  Smith,  of  whom  this  biography  is 
written,  is  the  third  child  of  the  fami'n-.  lie  is 
familiar  with  every  phase  of  pioneer  life,  and  can 
well    remember    when    the    ci>untr\'    w.as   scarceh' 


484 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


more  than  an  unbroken  wilderness, and  when  there 
were  few  or  no  roads,  the  people  traveling  mostly 
on  horseback  over  Indian  trails  or  bridle  paths 
through  the  woods  from  place  to  place.  Those 
earlv  settlers  were  home-livei-s,  subsisting  on  what 
they  could  raise  from  theii  land  and  on  the  game 
that  was  so  abundant,  and  even  the  very  clothes 
that  they  wore  were  of  home-spun,  manufactured  by 
the  wives,  mothers  and  daughters  from  tlax  grown 
at  their  doors,  and  from  wool  from  their  sheep.  In 
his  boyhood  and  early  manhood,  our  subject  farmed 
with  the  clumsy  implements  of  the  olden  times, 
turning  the  sod  with  wooden  mould-board  plows, 
and  stirring  the  soil  with  wooden  teeth  harrows. 
He  helped  his  father  clear  his  land  and  sow  and  reap 
the  harvests,  and  in  the  winter  time  went  to  school, 
which  was  only  open  then,  and  was  conducted 
by  subscription.  The  schoolhouse  was  a  rude 
structure  of  logs,  primitively  furnished  with  slab 
se.ats,  and  a  slab  placed  against  the  wall  served  as 
a  writing-desk  for  the  scholars,  while  an  old-fash- 
ioned fireplace,  extending  across  one  end  of  the 
room,  served  for  heating  i)urposes,  the  large  boys 
being  required  to  bring  in  a  big  back-log  to  be 
used  for  the  fire  the  succeeding  day. 

The  Indians,  who  formerly  owned  this  section  of 
the  country,  had  their  homes  here  until  Mr.  Smith 
w.as  ten  years  old,  when  they  were  removed  further 
Westward  by  the  Government.  Our  subject  re- 
late:^ an  incident  which  occurred  within  half  a 
mile  of  his  present  residence.  A  man  named 
Murray,  who  traded  witli  the  Indi.ans  in  an  early 
day,  sold  them  whisky,  and  the  result  was  that  they 
became  intoxicated,  and  one  Indian  cut  the  throat 
of  a  comrade;  another  cut  his  throat,  and  he  in  turn 
was  killed  in  the  same  way  by  the  chief.  An  eye- 
witness of  the  scene  saw  the  three  lying  side  by 
side,  dead. 

In  1832.  the  fatlier  of  our  subject  went  to  New 
Bremen  to  live,  and  was  a  resident  of  that  place 
two  yeare.  When  there,  the  cholera  broke  out 
among  the  Germans  who  had  just  emigrated  to 
that  locality  from  the  Old  Country,  and  a  number 
of  them  died,  and  in  this  emergency  the  elder  Mr. 
•Smith  kindly  gave  the  planks  from  the  It^ft  of  liis 
house  to  make  coffins  for  the  victims.  During  llic 
cholera  epidemic  of  1849.  both  our  suliject  and  his 


wife  suffered  from  the  dread  disease,  and  were 
among  the  few  who  recovered. 

Mr.  Smith  w.as  married,  in  1845,  toMissRachael 
Smith,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  and  was  one  of  his  schoolmates. 
Their  families  were  not  related,  although  bearing 
the  same  name.  Iler  parents  were  Charles  and 
Elizabeth  Smith,  who  were  bom,  respectively,  near 
Dayton  and  in  Virginia.  His  people  came  from 
New  York,  and  his  father  kept  tlie  firet  store  at 
St.  Mary's,  being  one  of  the  first  pioneers  of  this 
section.  Mrs.  Smith's  father  died  in  1830,  and  her 
mother  died  in  1849,  aged  fifty-three  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  daughters  and  one  son, 
and  five  of  tlieir  children  are  still  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  began  housekeeping  on  sec- 
tion 27,  St.  Mary's  Township,  building  a  hewn-log 
house,  in  which  they  dwelt  in  comfort  thirty-five 
years.  Their  furniture,  especially  in  the  kitchen, 
was  of  the  plainest  kind.  The  cupboard  w.as  made 
of  clapboards  that  had  been  split,  and  the  shelves 
were  so  warped  that  the  dishes  would  not  stand 
level.  In  the  fall  of  1880,  Mr.  Smith  removed  to 
their  present  farm  on  section  9,  within  city  limits, 
and  in  1890  he  built  the  fine  frame  residence  now 
occupied  bj'  the  family.  lie  takes  great  pride  in 
keeping  his  farm  in  the  best  possible  condition, 
has  his  fields  carefully  tilled,  under  a  good  system 
of  drainage,  fences  always  in  repair,  buildings  neat 
and  well-appointed,  .and  he  is  constantly  making 
valuable  improvements.  His  example  has  also 
wrought  a  change  in  the  neighborhood,  as  his 
neighbors  have  caught  the  same  spirit,  and  have 
creatly  improved  their  places  since  he  settled 
among  them.  He  h.as  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
two  and  one-half  acres  of  land,  which  lie  in  the 
oil  belt,  and  the  first  well  on  his  place  was  bored 
February  28,  1891.  Mr.  Smith  devoted  his  farm 
to  dairy  purposes  for  ten  yeai-s,  selling  milk  in  the 
cit}-,  but  for  tlie  p.ast  year  has  abandoned  that 
business.  For  two  years  he  burned  brick  on  his 
farm,  and  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  mo- 
Lasses  several  years,  making  ten  thous.and  gallons. 

ilr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  blessed  with  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  Charles,  who  is  raaiTied  and  lives  on 
a  farm  near  by;  Jane,  wife  of  Charles  P.  McKee,  a 
farmer  in   this  neigliborhood;  F.lz}',   who  lives  at 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


485 


home  with  his  parents;  Mary,  wife  of  J.  C.  Dowty, 
a  residerit  of  Middletown;  Loretta,  at  liome  with 
her  parents;  and  Flora,  wife  of  L.  J.  Berry,  who 
lives  at  Troy,  Oliio.  Botli  our  subject  and  his  wife 
are  very  influential  membere  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
co|)al  Church  at  St.  Mary's,  of  which  he  is  Trustee. 
!Mr.  Smith  is  a  firm  ally  of  the  Democratic  party. 
lie  has  borne  an  active  part  in  the  administration  of 
local  affairs  as  Trustee  of  St.  Mary's  Townsliip  for 
several  years,  and  in  whatever  position  in  life  he 
has  been  placed  has  alw.ays  fulfilled  his  duty  man- 
full  v. 


^T^^RKDERICK  SPKCKMAN.  a  retired  nierch- 
j[^^^  ant,  but  formerly  one  of  the  most  successful 
(I3  and  prominent  grain  and  pork  dealers  in 
Isew  Bremen,  has  accumulated  all  his  wealth  by 
industry  and  good  management  and  by  shrewd, 
jiractical  business  principles,  for  he  started  out  on 
his  own  responsibility  with  very  little  means.  No 
man  in  the  town  is  better  respected  or  more  highly 
esteemed  tlian  Mr.  Speckman  and  he  h.as  a  very 
ple.T«ant  and  comfortable  home  here.  He  w.-is  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  October  28, 1824,  and  comes 
of  ver}-  long-lived  families  on  both  sides  of  the 
house,  the  longevity  of  some  of  his  ancestors  being 
remarkable.  His  father,  Henry  Speckman,  lived 
to  be  ninet\--four  years  of  age,  the  grandfather 
was  niuetv-seven  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  our 
subject's  nialernal  grandmother  lived  to  the  very 
unusual  age  of  one  liunilred  and  five  years.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years. 

Tlie  [)arents  were  originally  from  Germany  and 
both  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children.  <m\y  two  of 
whom  are  now  living.  The  eldest  son.  Henry,  is 
now  residing  in  the  Fatherland  and  is  engaged  in 
cultivating  the  soil.  He  is  very  successful  in  this 
occupation  and  is  now  seventv-four  years  of  age. 
Our  suliject  and  one  sister  were  the  only  ones  who 


came  to  the  United  States.  The  former  p.assed  his 
boyliood  days  engaged  in  .agricultural  pui-suits  on 
his  father's  farm  and  in  attending  the  common 
district  schools  in  his  native  country.  "When 
seventeen  years  of  .age,  he  became  convinced  that 
lie  could  better  his  condition  in  the  New  World 
and  his  parents  at  first  objected  to  his  leaving 
home.  When  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  was  given 
charge  of  a  flock  of  sheep  and  he  managed  to  get 
a  few  of  his  own.  In  three  j-ears'  time,  his  own 
flock  had  incre.ased  so  that  when  he  sold  them  and 
had  received  the  wages  due  him  he  had  enough 
money  to  bring  him  to  America. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1811,  he  sailed  from  Bre- 
men, and  after  being  on  the  ocean  seventy  days 
and  experiencing  some  severe  storms,  he  landed  in 
New  Orleans,  about  two  weeks  before  Christmas. 
He  came  up  the  liver  to  Cincinnati  and  there 
found  emplo3-ment,  and  learned  the  cooper's  trade. 
After  residing  there  for  about  six  yeai-s,  or  until 
the  spring  of  1817,  he  came  to  New  Bremen,  Ohio, 
where  lie  had  relatives  and  friends  living,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  here  for  about  fifteen  years, 
opening  a  shop  of  his  own  about  the  first  thing. 
When  he  first  settled  here.  New  Bremen  was  quite 
a  small  village  and  the  surrounding  countiy  w.as 
wild  and  unsettled.  Mr.  Speckman  manufactured 
various  kinds  of  barrels,  for  which  he  found  a 
ready  market  either  at  home  or  in  Cincinnati. 

In  1863,  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business 
and  finally  added  dry-giX)ds,  etc.,  until,  when  he 
retired,  in  1889,  the  business  was  conducted  in  a 
double-store  building.  His  partner,  F.  H.  L.  Nei- 
ter,  had  been  associated  with  him  from  the  verv 
first.  Mr.  Speckman  w.as  twice  married,  first  in 
1846,  to  Miss  Catherine  Johnson,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  with  her  parents  to  this  countr}- 
when  quite  young.  She  died  in  1862.  Nine  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union,  all  deceased  exce|it 
Fred  B.,  who  has  now  succeeded  his  father  in  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Speckman 's  second  marriage  took  place 
in  1866,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Polsderfer,  a  native  of  Han- 
over. Germany.  Three  children  were  the  fruits  of 
tliis  union:  Wilhelmina  (dece.ased),  John  and 
Alvena,  botli  at  home.  .John  is  .associated  with  liis 
elder  brother  in  business. 

When  Jlr.  Speckman  first  engaged    in    the   dry- 


4S6 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


goods  business,  Ills  son  Fretl  B.  was  associated  with 
him  and  the  firm  finally  became  Speckman,  Sou  it 
Co.  A  few  yeare  afterward,  the  firm  engaged  in 
the  grain  and  pork  business  and  were  very  success- 
ful in  this.  In  1889,  both  Mr.  Speckman  and  Mr. 
Neiter  retired  from  business,  the  successors  being 
Speckm.an,  GoU  &  Co.,  tlie  two  eldest  sons  of  Mr. 
Speckman  being  at  the  head  of  the  business.  Jlr. 
Speckman  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  served 
two  terms  in  the  Village  Council.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  School  Board  eleven  j-ears  and 
served  several  j'ears  as  a  member  of  the  Pioneer 
Fire  Company,  being  President  of  the  same  for 
some  time.  Both  he  and  Jlrs.  Speckman  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Our  subject  and  Mr.  Neiter  own  three  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  partnership  besides  considerable 
town  propert}-.  He  has  stock  in  the  Natural  Gas 
Company  and  is  one  of  the  Directors.  When  he 
first  came  to  this  country,  he  had  but  a  few  dollars, 
and  about  two  weeks  after  arriving  here  he  was 
taken  sick  and  upon  recovering  was  SlO  in  debt. 
By  industrj',  economy  and  good  management,  he 
has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  considerable 
amount  of  this  world's  goods  and  can  pass  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  in  peace  and  plenty. 


'jf  ES.SE  L.  DICIvENSIIKETS.  Although  he  has 
not  yet  completed  the  ascent  of  the  sunny 
side  of  tlie  hill  of  life,  tliis  gentleman  has 
risen  to  a  |)osition  of  considerable  promi- 
nence in  Slielby  County,  being  one  of  those  who 
reach  out  Ijeyond  the  walls  of  their  own  home  in 
advancing  the  public  weal.  Having  determined 
to  pursue  the  life  of  a  newspaper  man,  lie  has  been 
energetic  and  prosperous  in  his  work,  and  is  now 
manager  and  editor  of  the  Sidney  Gazette,  which 
paper  w.as  first  issued  March  G,  1891. 

Our  subject  was  bom  in  Sidney,  March  1.").  18(33, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  D.  and  .lennie  K.  (Fish) 
DickensUeets.  The  father  is  an  old  resident  of 
this  citv,  liaving  come  here  in  l.si!7.  and   has   been 


identified  with  the  interests  of  the  countj'  for  over 
a  half-century.  He  is  a  contractor  and  builder  by 
trade,  and  was  born  in  New  .lersey,  January  24, 
1832.  When  about  four  years  of  age,  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this 
county.  They  were  David  and  Mary  Dicken- 
sheets,  and  located  first  in  the  western  part  of 
this  county.  They  later  removed  to  another  por- 
tion of  the  county,  where  the  grandfather  lived 
on  a  farm  until  one  year  before  his  death,  when 
he  made  his  home  with  the  fatlier  of  our  subject. 

Our  subject's  mother  w.as  born  in  England, 
March  8,  1838,  and  was  brought  by  her  parents  to 
this  countr}'  in  18.53.  With  her  husband,  she  is  still 
living,  making  her  home  in  Sidney,  where  they 
arc  prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  They  reared  a  familj-  of  three  children, 
of  whom  Fred  O.  is  in  Denver,  Colo.,  and  Ida  M., 
Mrs.  G.  R.  Londonback,  is  residing  in  Sidnej-. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  city  and  High  Schools,  and  was 
also  given  private  instruction.  When  starting  out 
to  do  for  himself,  he  found  emploj-mcnt  in  the 
Journal  office  at  Sidney,  where  he  remained  for 
five  j"ears,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  going  to 
Springfield,  was  employed  for  two  jears  with  the 
Globe  Printing  and  Publishing  Company.  He 
was  then  successively  connected  with  the  Cham- 
pion City  Times  for  one  j'ear,  the  Cleveland 
Leader,  the  Wintei-s  Art  Lithographing  Company 
at  Springfield,  and  in  December,  1889,  went  to 
Denver  and  accepted  a  reportorial  position  on  the 
Denver  Republican.  After  a  residence  there  of 
two  years,  Mr.  Dickensheets  returned  to  Sidney 
and  established  the  Sidney  Gazette.  The  paper  is 
Republican  in  politics,  and  is  doing  some  effective 
work  for  that  party.  The  entire  management  of 
the  paper  devolves  upon  our  subject,  who  succeeds 
once  a  week  in  giving  to  the  people  of  Shelby 
County  a  clean,  newsy  sheet,  of  which  the  com- 
munity as  well  as  the  proprietor  can  justly  feel 
proud.  It  is  an  eight-page,  six-column  paper,  and 
li.as  a  circulation  of  thirteen  hundred. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  Dickensheets  w.as  mar- 
ried November  22,  1889,  was  Miss  Jennie  E., 
daughter  of  Robert  McCastin,  D.  I).,  of  this  city. 
Sociallv,   ^Ir.   Dickensheets    is    a    memlier    of    the 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Kniglits  of  Pythias,  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  The  social 
qualities  of  our  subject,  his  general  intelligence  and 
manly  character,  gives  him  the  respect  of  those  who 
make  his  acquaintance,  and  he  and  his  wife  enjoy 
the  friendship  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  town. 


m 


■mm^ 


'^rnai:  ^^'.  C.  WY:MAX.  There  are  few 
men,  if  any,  who  have  occupied  a  more 
prominent  position,  or  contributed  more 
to  the  development  of  the  resources  of 
Shelby  County,  Ohio,  than  Judge  Wyman,  a  man 
whose  history  has  been  so  intimately  connected 
with  the  affairs  of  this  county,  that  to  mention 
one  necessitates  a  sketch  of  the  other. 

Like  many  other  representative  citizens  of  the 
county.  .Tudge  TVyraan  is  of  foreign  birth,  born 
in  Killennick.  County  Wexford,  Ireland,  on  the 
29th  of  September,  1832,  and  remained  with  his 
parents  until  his  eleventh  year.  About  that  time, 
a  brother  whom  he  had  never  seen,  but  whom  he 
had  often  lie.ird  mentioned,  a  sea-faring  man, 
came  home  after  an  absence  of  eighteen  vears. 
Young  Wyman  was  at  that  time  attending  school 
at  the  National  School,  and  the  brother  went 
to  that  institution  to  make  imiuiries  about  the 
family.  Our  subject  had  no  idea  who  the  gen- 
tleman was  >intil  he  had  lonked  into  his  counte- 
nance, and  then  the  remarkable  resemblance  of 
this  son  to  the  father  was  so  marked  that  he  im- 
mediately noticed  it.  "Without  waiting  to  inquire 
who  he  was,  young  Wyman  hastened  home  with 
the  glad  tidings,  which  nearly  overwhelmed  his 
parents.  The  scene  of  jov  that  followed  can 
scarcely  be  imagined.  The  sailor  was  First  Mate 
under  Capt.  Geoi-ge  H.  Flanders,  of  the  brig  '-Kev- 
mg."  belonging  to  Cushing.  of  Newbui-yport.  Mass., 
and  he  wanted  his  brother  to  go  with  him  to  his 
vessel,  then  lying  in  Liverpool  Harbor.  The  par- 
ents agreed  to  this,  and  W.  C.  Wyman  was  duly 
installed  as  cabin-boy  on  board  that  brig.  Two 
yeuis  later.  Ihey  left  I.ivei  |ii>i.'l    for    Xewburyport 


with  a  cargo  of  salt,  and  reached  their  destination 
in  safety.  There  the  brothers  parted,  John,  the 
sailor,  going  to  Norfolk,  Va..  and  our  subject  re- 
maining in  Newburyport,  where  he  attended  the 
West  Male  Grammar  .School.  The  brothers  never" 
met  again. 

After  a  certain  length  of  time.  W.  C.  Wvman 
was  taken  to  Beverly  and  placed  as  cabin-boy  on 
the  brig  '-Ark,"  commanded  by  Capt.  Johnston, 
bound  for  Charleston.  .'^.  C.  When  off  Cape  Hat- 
teras  the  brig  encountered  a  severe  storm  and  our 
subject  resolved  that  if  he  ever  reached  land  again 
he  would  give  up  the  se.a.  However,  Charleston 
w.as  reached  iu  safety  with  the  loss  of  m.asts,  bul- 
warks, etc..  and  there  our  subject  applied  for  work 
in  1844.  But  he  w.is  confronted  by  the  slavery 
question,  a  question  which  the  young  Irish  boy- 
had  never  dreamed  of.  and  one  which  he  contem- 
plated with  hatred.  That  hatred,  did  not  die  out, 
and  so,  when  the  great  issue  came,  although  a 
Democrat,  he  gave  his  vote  to  the  author  of  the 
Emancipation,  and  througli  Capt.  Black,  of  Charles- 
ton, lie  obtained  a  jKJsition  as  c.abin-bov  on  the 
'■.Sarah  Pewerington,"  of  Bath,  bound  to  Liver- 
pool, and  under  comm.and  of  Capt.  A.  W.  Pewer- 
ington. While  returning  from  Liverpool,  in  a 
dead  calm  off  the  Island  of  Cuba,  he  first  heard  of 
Cincinnati,  to  which  some  p.assengers  were  bound, 
and  what  he  heard  of  this  city  made  him  resolve 
to  seek  it  and  leave  the  ocean   forever,  if  possible. 

On  arriving  at  New  Orleans  he  w.as  confronted 
again  by  tliat  great  cui-se.  slavery;  but  still  he 
thought  of  Cincinnati  and  soon  made  his  wav  to 
that  city.  (.)n  his  arrival  his  first  friend  was  of 
the  despised  race,  a  free  negro,  who  secured  him  a 
position  in  a  grocery  store.  Soon  after,  he  learned 
the  plasterer's  trade,  and  in  1853  he  left  Cincin- 
nati for  Sidney,  Ohio.  Being  well  pleased  with 
the  latter  place,  he  decided  to  m.ake  it  his  future 
home.  In  the  year  18.36,  he  married  Miss  Ellen 
E.  Ryan,  who  was  born  in  Springfield,  Mass., 
November  1.  1834.  and  who  came  with  her  fatlier. 
John  S.  Rj'an,  to  Sidney.  Ohio,  in  18.")  1.  To 
Judge  and  Mrs.  Wyman  were  born  eight  children, 
but  two  are  deceased.  Those  living  are  Jlollie; 
Nellie:  Cecilia,  a  teacher  in  the  pulilic  schools  of 
Sidney:      KNau,     engaged    in     tin-     uiiuel     works; 


488 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Charles,  a  student  Id  the  High  School;  and  Sidle\-, 
assistant  librarian  and  student. 

lu  187-1,  Judge  Wyinan  was  elected  Township 
Trustee,  and  in  1875  lie  was  elected  Probate  Judge 
of  .Shelby  County,  Ohio,  to  which  office  he  w:is  re- 
elected in  1878.  His  official  career  was  highly 
satisfactory  to  his  constituents  .and  very  gratifying 
to  his  host  of  friends.  In  1884,  he  was  elected 
Mayor  of  Sidney,  and  the  following  year  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  1876,  he  was 
elected  Librarian  of  the  public  library.  He  also 
represents  tlie  Liverpool,  London  and  Globe  Fire 
Insurance  Companies,  .and  is  Secret.ary  of  the  Board 
of.  Health.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church  .and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat.  His  brother, 
after  becoming  M.aster  of  one  of  Capt.  Cushing's 
vessels,  of  Newburyport,  died  in  Virginia,  leaving 
a  widow  and  daughter,  both  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, his  only  son  having  died  in  1863.  The  father 
of  our  subject  died  in  Ireland  in  1870,  .aged  ninety 
years,  and  the  mother  in  1877,  when  ninety-five 
years  of  .age.  Only  two  of  their  nine  children  are 
now  living.  Judge  'Wj'man's  sentiments  are  em- 
bodied in  the  following  lines: 

"When  I  clasp  a  friendly  hand. 

In  greeting  or  farewell. 
Thoughts  of  an  eternal  home 

Within  my  bosom  swell; 
A  pr.ayer  to  meet  in  Heaven  at  last. 

Where  all  the  ransomed  come. 
And  there  eternal  ages  still 

Shall  find  us  all  at  home." 


,,ILLIAM  KRL'SE.  wlio  resides  on  section 
\\\/^y/  ^■''  ^^^isl^ngton  Townshii),  is  one  of  the 
^f^'  oldest  settlers  of  this  locality,  and  one  of 
our  best-known  citizens,  who  is  cl.assed  among  the 
most  practical  and  successful  farmers  and  business 
men  of  Auglaize  County.  He  was  bora  in  Prussia, 
Germany.  ]Mareh  3,  1829.  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
(Cook)  Kruse  were  his  parents,  and  tliey  also  wore 
uf  German  birth.     His   father  was  a  faimer  by  oc- 


cupation. In  1833,  he  and  his  wife,  with  the  son 
that  had  been  born  to  them  in  the  Old  Country, 
our  subject,  emigrated  to  America,  sailing  from 
Bremen  and  landing  at  New  York  after  a  voy.age 
of  twelve  weeks.  From  there  the}-  came  by  lake 
and  canals  to  this  section  of  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Kruse 
bouglit  forty  acres  of  land,  at  $1.25  an  acre,  in 
W.ashington  Town.ship,  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  the  woods.  He  built  a  typical  pioneer  log  liouse, 
and  in  the  winter  time  gathered  moss  from  the 
trees  to  fill  the  cracks  to  keep  out  the  cold.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  Settlers  in  this  section  of  the 
country,  which  he  found  in  all  its  original  wild- 
ness,  except  where  clearings  had  been  made  here 
and  there  bj'  some  venturesome  pioneer.  At  night 
wolves  broke  the  silence  of  the  forests  by  their 
howls,  and  would  sometimes  venture  into  the  very 
door-yard  in  searcli  of  prey,  while  deer  and  other 
wild  game  afforded  excellent  fare  when  prepared 
for  the  table.  Jlr.  Kruse  worked  with  untiring 
diligence,  and  in  time  cleared  considerable  land, 
and  proved  a  verj-  useful  pioneer,  who  was  greatly 
missed  when  his  untimely  death  occurred  in  his 
fiftieth  jear.  He  was  originally  a  man  of  strong 
constitution,  who  did  not  know  what  it  was  to  be 
sick.  He  bore  a  good  name  wherever  he  went,  and 
was  truly  respected  for  his  mor.al  worth.  His  wife 
survived  him  many  years,  and  when  death  came  to 
her  was  quite  old. 

Our  subject  is  tlie  eldest  of  five  children,  of 
whom  he  and  his  brother  Henry,  of  Arkansas,  are 
the  only  ones  living.  His  early  school  advantages 
were  not  of  the  best,  lie  went  to  an  old  log  house 
that  was  rudelv  furnished  with  slab  seats,  and  there 
learned  his  first  lesions  from  books.  The  school 
that  he  attended  at  New  Knoxville  was  taught  by 
a  German  te.acher,  who  received  twenty-five  cents 
a  d.ay  .as  salary,  and  German  w.as  the  language 
used.  Mr.  Krnse,  being  the  eldest  child,  was  early 
set  to  work  to  help  his  father  in  improving  the 
land,  and  after  he  was  twelve  years  old  he  only 
went  to  school  when  he  could  be  spared  from  his 
labors.  He  was  married  in  1850,  and,  as  his  father 
was  de.ad,  he  continued  to  live  with  his  mother 
the  ensuing  four  years  to  assist  in  the  manage- 
ment of  tlie  farm.  He  located  on  his  own  farm  in 
Washin"ton  Township,  on  which  he  is  still  living, 


PORTRAIT  A2sD  BlOGRATinCxVL   RECORD. 


489 


in  1854.  The  farm  was  entirely-  covered  with 
forest,  and  he  built  a  house  among  the  trees,  after 
first  clearing  a  space  upon  which  to  place  it.  lie 
then  set  energetically  to  worli  to  cut  off  the  re- 
maining timber,  and  has  cleared  a  good  deal  of 
land  in  liis  day.  His  liouie-place  comprises  one 
liuiidred  and  eiglity  acres  of  surp.assing  fertility 
and  productiveness,  and  amply  supplied  with  good 
buildings;  and  he  has  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land  besides  in  this  township.  He  has 
always  made  it  a  point  to  raise  good  stock,  and 
has  made  quite  a  business  of  it.  He  has  also  been 
cxtensivel_y  engaged  in  tlireshing,  being  a  threslier 
of  thii'ty-five  years'  standing,  the  oldest  one  in  tlie 
county.  He  is  regarded  as  an  expert  in  this  branch, 
lias  a  complete  outfit  of  the  best  modern  machin- 
ery, and  thoroughly  understands  every  part  of  it, 
and  the  best  way  to  operate  it. 

lu  his  busy  career,  Mr.  Kruse  has  shown  himself 
to  be  a  man  of  versatile  enterprise,  and  among 
other  interests  he  conducted  a  large  produce  busi- 
ness, from  which  he  retired  a  year  ago.  after  an  ex- 
perience of  twentj'-five  j-ears  in  that  line,  in  which 
he  shipped  to  the  leading  cities  of  the  E.ast.  He 
gained  a  well-deserved  reputation  as  an  exceeding!}- 
prompt  and  trustworthy  business  man,  who  was 
alw.ays  on  time,  never  allowing  the  weather,  even 
at  its  woi'st,  to  interfere  with  his  movements,  and 
the  market  men  who  depended  upon  him  for  sup- 
plies knew  just  when  to  expect  a  shipment,  and 
were  never  disappointed.  These  fine  business 
qualifications,  together  with  his  unswerving  recti- 
tude in  all  his  transactions,  have  made  him  an  in- 
valuable citizen  of  Washington  Township,  as  he 
has  often  been  selected  to  fill  various  responsible 
offices,  whose  duties  he  has  performed  with  the 
same  ability  and  clear  judgment  that  have  char- 
acterized his-  administration  of  his  own  affairs. 
Fi.ir  fourteen  years  he  w.as  a  Trustee  of  the  Town- 
ship, and  he  has  served  in  other  public  capacities. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican  first,  last  and  always. 
He  is  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  Methodist 
Church,  which  he  joined  when  he  was  fifteen  years 
old.  He  has  Ijeen  Class-leader  sixteen  years,  Stew- 
ard and  Trustee  f^n-  many  years,  and  for  several 
years  was  Superiiitendcnl  (>(  the  Sunday-school. 
Mr.  Kru^c's    first  wile,  who  \»n\-  the  maiden   name 


of  Elizabeth  Katterhenry,  was  born  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  when 
she  was  eight  years  old.  She  departed  this  life  in 
the  fall  of  1882,  after  a  pleasant  marri,age  of 
thirty-two  ye.are,  which  was  blessed  with  the  birth 
of  the  following  children:  Louise,  Louis,  Annie, 
"Wesley  and  Harmon.  In  1883,  Mr.  Kruse  w.as 
married  to  his  present  amiable  wife,  formerly  Mena 
Mullenk.amp,  who  is  also  of  German  birth. 


,*^(jrH;E  ^V.  DcjWTY  is  honored  as  a  pio- 
^!^  neer  farmer  of  Auglaize  County,  who  has 
:(j/j),  met  with  merited  sdecess  in  his  calling, 
~  '''  which  places  him  among  the  most  substan- 
tial citizens  of  St.  Mary's  Township,  where  he  has 
valuable  farming  and  gas  interests,  and  one  of  the 
most  comfortable  homes,  pleasantly  situated  on 
section  27.  Mr.  Dowty  is  of  pioneer  parentage, 
and  was  born  jSovember  26,  1820,  amid  primitive 
environments,  in  one  of  the  early  frontier  homes 
of  Wayne  Count}-.  His  father,  whose  given  name 
was  Joseph,  was  born  in  .South  Carolina  in  1786. 
He  came  to  Ohio  in  the  early  part  of  this  century, 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  A'inton  County,  near 
Athens  County,  for  some  time.  He  subsequently 
settled  in  Wayne  County,  where  he  lived  until  he 
came  in  1826  to  what  is  now  Augiaize  Countv, 
which  then  formed  a  part  of  Mercer  County.  There 
were  only  a  few  families  living  w-ithin  the  borders 
of  this  county,  which  was  mostl}'  covered  with 
forests,  in  which  the  Indians  lived,  subsisting 
mostly  on  the  game  that  w.as  so  plentiful.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  one  of  the  first  to  locate 
in  St.  Jlary's  Townsliij^,  w-liere,  in  the  course  of 
time,  he  cleared  a  goodly  farm  liy  dint  of  hard 
labor,  although  he  underwent  many  hardships  and 
had  but  few  compensations.  He  had  to  pound 
corn  in  a  log,  hollowed  for  the  purpose,  to  olitain 
meal  when  he  w.as  too  bu.sy  to  go  to  the  mill,  which 
was  a  long  way  off.  He  rounded  out  an  honest 
upright  life  in  lsi;0.  in  his  eiglilicth  year,  lie  w-as 
a   man    of   true   piety,   and   a    faitlifid    member    of 


-100 


PORTR.UT  AXD  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


the  United  Brethren  Church.  His  wife,  Elizabeth 
Jones,  died  several  je:irs  before  he  did,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-six.  Of  their  twelve  children,  but  two  are 
living. 

He  of  whom  we  write  w.as  six  ve.irs  old  when 
liis  parents  sought  a  new  home  in  this  county,  and 
he  was  reared  here  under  pioneer  influences  to  a 
stalwart,  vigorous  manhood.  Tliere  were  at  first 
no  schools  for  him  to  attend,  but  after  a  while  a 
log  cabin  was  built  on  the  Dowty  place,  in  which 
to  hold  a  subscription  school.  It  was  lieated  by  a 
rude  fireplace,  and  the  furniture  was  made  of  slabs. 
Our  subject  saw  many  an  Indian  in  his  boyhood, 
as  the  red  men  were  fi-equent  callers  at  the  Dowty 
liome.  Among  his  chief  pleasures,  when  he  was 
young,  w.as  hunting,  and  lie  has  Ivilled  a  good 
many  doer,  and  one  bear  fell  a  victim  to  his  true 
aim  on  one  of  his  expeditions.  In  1847,  he  began 
life  for  himself,  and  farmed  tlie  old  home  place  for 
a  few  years.  He  h.as  always  lived  in  this  vicinity, 
except  one  year,  when  he  dwelt  in  Shelby  Count\'. 
He  h.as  done  a  great  deal  of  clearing,  has  helised 
raise  many  a  log  house  and  barn  in  the  earl3'  daj's, 
and  has  attended  many  log-roliings.  "When  he 
entered  upon  his  career,  his  only  capital  was  brain 
and  muscle,  but  he  used  them  to  such  good  effect  that 
he  was  greatly  prospered  in  his  undertakings,  and 
has  collected  a  valuable  property.  He  has  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in  his  homestead  on 
section  27,  and  has  three  or  four  other  farms,  m.ak- 
ing  three  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  in  all.  His 
home  farm,  wliich  is  highly  improved,  is  situated 
within  the  gas  belt,  has  a  good  gas  well,  and  is 
leased  to  the  Lima  Natural  Gas  Company-.  He  h.as 
other  land  in  the  oil  region,  and  drilling  is  now 
going  on  on  one  of  his  farms. 

In  1817,  Mr.  Dowty  was  married  to  Miss  R.ich- 
aei  Majors,  a  native  of  German  Township,  and  to 
her  untiring  assistance  and  watchful  care  of  their 
household  interests  he  owes  much.  They  began 
housekeeping  with  roughly-constructed,  home- 
made furniture,  and  lived  in  true  pioneer  stjie. 
Her  father  was  Hamilton  Jl.ajors,  who  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  in  1802.  He  married  Charity  Updike, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  New  .lersev,  and  early  in 
tlie  '2Us  tiiey  became  pioneei-s  of  this  county. 
Later  in  life,  thev  removed  to  Iowa. and  there  died. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dowty  have  been  blessed  in  their 
marriage  with  two  children,  William  A.  and  Eliza- 
beth. Both  our  subject  and  his  wife  are  consistent 
Christians,  who  are  kind,  considerate  and  neigli- 
borly  with  all  about  them,  and  are  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  by  the  entire  community.  Thej' 
are  among  the  leading  membere  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  have  been  influential  in  its  up- 
building, and  Mr.  Dowty  is  serving  it  ably  as 
Stewart  and  Trustee.  In  politics,  he  is  a  strict  ad- 
herent of  the  Democratic  party. 


^•5-4-5-J-  ISi^-J^-t+r 


-5"!"i^-^',^'-i-5~i-+? 


a  J.  McCUNE  is  one  of  the  leading  business 
.  men  of  Bellefontaine  and  one  of  the  most 
'  enterprising.  He  was  bom  in  Ellsworth 
County,  Kan.,  December  25,  1869,  to  John  and 
Margaret  (McKeogh)  MoCune,  natives  of  Ireland, 
the  father  being  born  in  County  Waterford  and 
the  mother  in  County  Tipperary.  The  parents 
emigrated  to  America  and  were  married  in  Jlusca- 
tine,  Iowa,  soon  after  which  event  they  took  up 
their  abode  in  Atchison,  Kan.  From  that  place 
they  went  to  Leadville,  Colo.,  where  the  father  de- 
parted this  life  in  1883.  He  was  a  butcher  by 
trade,  and  a  very  successful  business  man,  but  on 
going  to  Colorado  he  was  compelled  to  give  up 
his  business  on  account  of  a  severe  attack  of  rheu- 
matism. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  on  the  death  of  her 
husband,  moved  to  Springfield  Countj-,  this  State, 
thence  to  this  city  in  the  year  1885.  Her  four 
sons,  wlio  were  included  in  the  family,  were 
John  A.,  C.  J.,  V>'.  A.  and  E.  S.  On  the  taking 
up  of  his  residence  in  this  city,  our  subject  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  in  which  he  has 
since  been  engaged,  he  having  the  entire  manage- 
ment of  two  large  storerooms  located  on  Colum- 
bus Street.  His  establishment  contains  a  well- 
selected  assortment  of  dry-goods,  millinery, stoves, 
etc..  and  is  one  of  the  most  reliable  houses  in  Logan 
Couiitv.  i^Ir.  McCune,  although  still  a  young  man, 
has  a  thorough  knowledge  of  business  principles. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


and  is  carrying  on  his  affairs  after  the  most  ap- 
proved methods.  He  is  courteous  and  gentlemanly 
in  his  treatment  of  customers,  and  is  well  deserv- 
ing of  mention  among  the  representative  men  of 
Logan  County. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  received  a  practical 
education  and  was  reared  in  the  home  of  an  uncle 
in  Springfield,  .and  his  remarkably  successful 
worldly  affairs  are  undoubtedly  b.ased  upon  the 
corner-stone  of  the  economical  habits  with  which  he 
began  life.  He  is  a  conscientious  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and,  in  social  affairs,  is  President  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  and  Secretary  of 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and 
a  member  of  tlie  C.  T.  A.  He  sustains  a  most 
enviable  reputation  for  strict  integrity  and  firm- 
ness of  purpose,  and  in  his  chosen  field  of  labor 
has  not  onl\-  gained  a  good  income,  but  the  good 
will  of  the  coramunitv  at  larije. 


'T^^DWARD  M.  PIPER,  President  of  the  First 
bi  National  Bank  at  St.  Mary's,  is  one  of  the 
j' — ^  representative  men  of  Auglaize  Count}-, 
who  lias  assisted  b}'  his  large  enterprise  and  finan- 
cial ability  in  pushing  this  city,  on  whose  outskirts 
he  has  a  beautiful  home,  to  the  front  .as  an  impor- 
tant business  centre.  He  was  born  in  Franklin 
County.  Pa.,  November  18.  1818,  a  son  of  John 
Piper,  who  was  also  a  Pennsylvanian  by  l)irtli.  He 
was  a  millwright,  and  wliile  in  tlic  successful  pur- 
suit of  his  trade  died  in  1827.  in  the  prime  of  life. 
His  father.  Adam  Piper,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
but  was  of  (ierman  blood.  Tlie  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Ann  McVitty.  a  nativq  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  of  Scotch  descent.  After  her  husband 
died,  she  remained  a  widow  until  her  death  in 
1887,  at  the  age  of  nearly  eighty  years.  Slie 
adopted  the  religious  faith  of  her  .Scottish  fore- 
fathers, and  w.as  for  many  years  a  devoteil  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  luit  after  her  renidval 
to  Illinois,  joined  tiie  Muth..di-t  Kpiscdpal  Church. 


The  gentleman  whose  portrait  and  biography 
are  here  presented  is  the  eldest  of  sis  children,  of 
whom  five  are  living.  By  the  father's  early  death, 
when  the  children  were  small,  the  family  was  left 
poor  and  each  one  had  to  "hoe  his  own  row."  but 
all  have  acquired  wealth.  The  deceased  brother, 
John,  was  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow  in  California, 
and  on  a  certain  calm  day,  when  he  and  another 
memljer  of  the  organization  were  riding  to  see  a 
sick  brother,  a  sudden  whirlwind  struck  them,  and 
he  was  hurled  to  the  ground  with  such  violence 
that  his  death  ensued  in  a  day  or  two,  from  inju- 
ries then  received.  Oliver,  who  is  next  to  our 
subject  in  order  of  birth,  went  to  Illinois  in  earlv 
life,  settled  on  a  farm  in  Lawrence  County,  and  is 
now  wealthy.  William,  who  settled  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, became  a  real-estate  dealer  and  is  a  million- 
aire. He  represented  the  First  California  District 
in  Congress  one  term.  Amanda  became  the  wife 
of  Abram  Piper,  of  Laurence  County,  who  died, 
leaving  her  well-to-do.  Robert,  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  a  farmer,  is  a  wealthy  resident  of  the 
same  county. 

Edward  Piper  received  a  limited  education,  as 
there  was  no  free  school  in  his  day  in  his  native 
county,  and  when  he  could  go  to  school  he  had  to 
attend  a  subscription  school,  taught  in  an  old  log 
house,  that  w.as  rudely  furnished  with  slab  seats, 
and  had  gre.osed  paper  for  window  lights.  At  the 
youthful  age  of  eleven  yeai-s,  he  began  life  for 
himself  in  earnest,  as  he  then  became  self-support- 
ing, working  on  a  farm  for  ?2  a  month  and  his 
board  for  six  months,  rcturnins:  home  during  a 
few  months  in  the  winter  season  to  obtain  what 
schooling  he  could  get.  As  he  grew  older,  his 
wages  were  increased  a  little  more  each  year.  He 
finally  turned  his  attention  to  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter, at  which  he  worked  two  and  a  half  vears 
in  his  native  county,  from  the  time  he  was  sixteen 
until  he  w.as  nineteen  years  olil. 

At  the  latter  age,  in  the  winter  of  1837,  the 
brave  young  fellow  resolutely  delermined  to  seek 
his  fortunes  further  Westward,  and  packing  his 
possessions  in  a  bundle,  he  set  forth  to  face  the 
trials  .and  dangers  rif  life  in  a  regiim  that  was  \  et 
in  the  hands  of  the  |iioiioer<.  He  ci-o-scd  the  Alle- 
glianv  Moiiiilain-  on  f(«,it.  and    piirsueil   his    jonr- 


-194 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


ney  in  the  same  manner  across  the  State  of  Ohio, 
stopping  at  nightfall  where  he  coulrt  best  obtain 
shelter,  an<l  one  niglit  sleeping  by  the  roots  of  a 
large  tree.  AVlieu  he  arrived  in  Mercer  County, 
on  the  western  line  of  the  State,  he  was  so  favor- 
ably impressed  with  the  country  that  he  resolved 
to  tiike  up  some  land  there,  and  entered  eighty 
acres  of  timber  from  the  Government.  There 
were  then  only  a  few  settlers  in  the  county,  which 
was  in  all  its  original  wildness  .and  primeval 
beauty.  The  big  reservoir  was  being  constructed, 
and  as  .Mr.  Piper  thought  that  he  could  get  rich 
on  the  wages  (¥18  a  -month)  paid  the  hands,  he 
hired  out  to  the  contractors  to  run  a  wheelbarrow. 
lie  boarded  with  a  lot  of  Irishmen  in  a  shanty, 
sleeping  in  a  bunk.  In  a  few  months  lie  became 
sick  with  chills  and  fever,  and  went  to  an  uncle's 
house,  where  he  remained  until  his  recovery.  He 
then  learned  that  the  contractor  had  failed,  and 
he  was  thrown  out  of  a  job  without  having  been 
paid  for  what  he  had  done.  After  be  had  siitti- 
ciently  recovered  from  his  sickness,  he  did  some 
carpenter  work,  and  paid  his  doctor's  bill  by  work- 
ing for  the  doctor.  For  about  a  year,  he  deadened 
timber  and  otherwise  prepared  his  land  for  culti- 
vation. 

In  1831),  Mr.  Piper  went  to  Springtield,  and 
was  engaged  in  carpentering  there  for  a  time.  In 
1840.  he  .accompanied  a  man  to  Kentucky  to  help 
drive  a  herd  of  forty  horses  to  that  Slate,  where 
they  were  exchanged  for  Durham  cattle.  lie  liked 
that  part  of  the  country,  and  remained  there  for  a 
time.  In  1842,  he  was  married  in  Harrison  County, 
Ind.,  and  renting  a  small  farm,  commenced  raising 
vegetables,  which  he  shipped  to  New  Orleans.  He 
was  thus  profitably  engaged  four  years,  and  in 
that  way  made  a  good  start.  In  1845,  he  returned 
to  Mercer  County  to  locate  on  his  land,  building 
a  log  house  and  stable  the  first  thing,  ere  he  at- 
tempted to  further  develop  the  farm.  He  pur- 
chased additional  land,  and  now  has  one  of  the 
finest  farms  of  its  size,  in  p  int  of  improvement 
and  cultivation,  in  Jlercer  County.  It  comprises 
two  hundred  .acres,  advantageously  situated  eight 
miles  from  St.  Mary's,  where  he  has  forty-one. acres 
in  an  addition  to  the  i-ity.  When  ho  took  p(is>es- 
sion  of  his  homestead   fort^'-seven  years    ayo,    the 


surrounding  country  w.as  scarcely  better  than  a 
wilderness,  with  human  h.abitations  few  and  far 
between,  there  being  but  one  dwelling  between  St. 
Jlary's  and  Neptune,  a  distance  of  eight  miles. 
Wild  game  was  very  plentiful, and  Mr.  Pi[)er  killed 
some  deer,  altliough  he  did  not  care  much  for 
hunting,  generally  being  too  busy  in  his  various 
enterprises.  He  removed  to  town  in  1879,  but 
still  continues  to  superintend  the  man.agement  of 
his  farm,  besides  looking  closely  after  his  other 
interests.  His  home  is  a  large  frame  residence,  of 
an  attractive  style  of  architecture,  standing  just 
outside  the  city  limits,  with  pleasant  .and  well- 
kept  grounds,  and  surrounded  by  a  natural  grove 
of  fine  old  trees  of  primeval  growth. 

Some  time  prior  to  his  remov.al  to  St.  Mary's, 
our  subject  purchased  an  interest  in  the  woolen 
mills,  with  wliich  he  was  connected  sixteen  years. 
He  lias  also  been  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  estab- 
lishing monetary  institutions  in  the  city.  He  w.as 
one  of  three  men  who  organized  the  first  bank  in 
St.  Mary's,  which  was  started  as  a  private  concern. 
In  February,  1890,  he  and  Mr.  Frederick  Decker 
reorganized  the  institution  as  a  national  bank,  of 
which  he  became  President,  and  his  colleague  Vice- 
president.  Mr.  Piper  is  an  exceedingly  s.agacious 
financier,  and  h.as  been  quick  to  seize  all  legiti- 
mate modes  of  making  money.  He  h.os  dealt  quite 
extensively  in  stock,  and  during  the  war  bought 
and  sold  mules  for  the  Government,  and  has  had 
a  hand  in  various  other  business  schemes  whereby 
he  h.TS  added  to  his  wealth:  but  throughout  his 
long  career  he  has  kept  his  name  free  from  taint 
or  suspicion  of  dishonesty,  every  dollar  he  has 
made  coming  to  him  through  lawful  channels  and 
by  perfectly  honor.able  dealings,  and  no  man  in  the 
State  stands  higher  in  the  confidence  of  the  busi- 
ness men  than  he.  He  has  never  wilfully  de- 
frauded anyone,  has  invariably  paid  his  bills 
promptly,  so  that  "duns"  are  unknown  to  him, 
and  he  h.as  never  had  a  law  suit.  Politically,  he 
was  originally  a  Whig,  and  voted  for  William 
Henry  Harrison  in  1840.  Since  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  part}-,  he  has  been  one  of  its 
strongest  supporters  in  this  part  of  Ohio,  and  has 
been  a  deletrate  to  State  and  other  conventions. 
Ill  188(j,  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPIUCAL   RECORD. 


495 


Legislature,  to  represent  Auglaize  County,  and 
reduced  tlie  Democratic  majority  of  tlie  previous 
campaign  from  twenty-four  hundred  to  six  hun- 
dred. He  has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  several  jears  during  l)is  residence  in 
Mercer  County.  In  his  social  relations,  he  has 
been  a  Mason  for  more  than  forty  years. 

Jlr.  Piper  w.as  first  married  in  1842,  to  Miss 
America  Gl.asgow,  a  most  estimable  lady,  whose 
parents  were  from  .Scotland.  She  died  in  1842, 
leaving  no  children.  Our  subject  was  married 
again  in  1858,  taking  as  his  wife  !Mrs.  Rebecca 
(Gates)  McSherry,  a  native  of  Ohio,  to  whose  de- 
votion to  his  interests  he  is  greatly  indebted  for 
mucli  of  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  life.  Their 
pleasant  union  has  been  hallowed  to  them  by  four 
children:  Ella  and  Leroy  (twins),  Anna  and  John 
W.,  who  have  been  carefully  trained  under  whole- 
some home  influences,  and  have  been  given  fine 
educational  privileges. 


AJ.  JOSEPH  SWISHER,  former  Superin- 
tendent  of    Public    Schools    at  De  Graff, 
Logan  County,  Ohio,  now  Deputy  Treas- 
^  nrer  of  Logan  County,  is  prominent  among 

the  leading  men  of  the  county,  and  deserves  special 
notice  for  his  public  spirit  and  energ}'.  He  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  P.a..  on  the  1st  of 
December,  1831,  and  is  of  German  descent,  the  first 
representative  of  this  family  in  America  coming 
to  this  country  from  Germany  and  settling  in  Xcw 
Jersey  during  llie  seventeenth  century.  JIaj. 
Swisher's  grandfather,  Joseph  Swisher,  was  born  in 
the  City  of  Brotherly  Love  in  1775,  and  being  an 
agriculturist  by  occupation,  cultivated  the  soil 
there  until  18o3.  At  that  date,  he  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  located  on  a  farm  in  Champaign  County,  and 
there  his  death  occurred  when  sixty-five  years  of 
age.  A  Democrat  in  polities,  he  was  firm  and  de- 
cided in  his  views,  .and  was  a  man  who  wielded 
considerable  influence  m  the  comniunitu-s  where 
he  made  his  home  at    different    li]|le^.      He    was    a 


!  soldier  in  the  W.ar  of  1812,  fought  the  British  with 
great  valor,  and  the  cover  of  the  knapsack  that  he 
carried  with  him  during  that  memorable  struggle 
is  in  the  possession  of  our  subject. 

Abraham  Swisher,  father  of  M.aj.  Swisher,  w.as 
born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  in  1803,  and,  like 
his  ancestors  before  him,  followed  the  occupati(jn 
of  a  farmer.  He  came  to  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
in  1833,  cultivated  one  hundred  .acres,  .and  there 
received  his  final  summons  on  the  12th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1843,  when  forty  years  of  age.  He  leaned 
toward  the  Presbyterian  faith  but  was  not  a  mem- 
ber of  .any  church.  Although  born  a  ]>emocrat, 
during  the  Harrison  campaign,  in  1810,  he  trans- 
ferred his  allegiance  to  the  Whig  partv  and  con- 
tinued with  that  the  rest  of  his  days.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  w.as  Rebecca  Wattei-s;  she  was  also 
a  native  of  W.ashington  Countv,  Pa.,  born  in 
the  year  1807.  They  reared  six  of  the  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  them:  John,  Joseph,  Henry,  Richard, 
Temperance  (Mrs.  Williams),  Abraham,  Malinda 
(deceased),  Rebecca  (deceased),  and  one  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  mother  of  these  children  passed 
away  in  February,  18G5,  when  fifty-eight  years  of 
.age.  She  w.as  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
until  four  years  before  her  death  and  then,  on  ac- 
count of  there  not  being  a  Baptist  Church  where 
she  lived,  joined  the  Methodist.  Her  father,  John 
Watters,  w.as  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa., 
and  died  at  Xewiiort,  Ky.,  when  quite  an  old 
man.  He  w.as  of  Irish-German  descent  and  w.as 
a  farmer.  His  wife.  Luellen.  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  and  they  reared  a  large  family. 
The  mother  died  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,when 
well  along  in  years. 

Maj.  Joseiih  Swisher  w.as  roared  on  the  farm  in 
(_  hampaigu  County,  Ohio,  and  his  primary  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  pioneer  log  schoolhouso 
with  immense  open  fireplace,  mud  and  stick  chim- 
neys, puncheon  floor,  slab  seals,  etc.  In  1851.  he 
began  teaching  in  a  log  schoolhouse,  the  d.ay  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age,  and  continued  teaching 
in  the  winter  and  farming  in  the  summer  until  the 
breaking  out  of  hostilities  between  the  North  and 
Suutli.  On  the  15Lh  uf  August,  1S(;2.  he  donned 
his  suit  (if  blue.siiouldered  his  musket,  and  enlisted 
ill   Cunii.nny   K.    One    Iluiidicd    and    Thirteenth 


496 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Regiment  Ohio  Infantry,  being  mustered  in  at 
Zanesvillo,  Oliio.  He  went  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
tliere  joinoii  a  divi^itm  midor  Gen.  Gilbert  and 
went  down  the  river  ami  up  tlie  Cumberland  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.  .lust  before  stepi)ing  off  tlie  boat  at 
Nashville,  he  was  eomniissioned  Second  Lieutenant, 
and  went  from  there  to  Franklin,  Tenn.,  where  he 
w.as  put  on  the  reserve  corps  under  Gen.  Granger. 
This  became  the  right  wing  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  commanded  by  Gen.  Roseorans.  Here 
our  subject  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieu- 
tenant and  made  Quartermaster  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirteenth  Regiment.  Jl.aj.  Swisher  par- 
ticipated in  the  TuUahoma  campaign  with  his 
regiment  and  was  afterward  in  the  campaign 
of  Chickamauga.  lie  was  on  staflf  duty  for  tliree 
d.ays  for  Col.  John  G.  Mitchell,  who  commanded 
the  Second  Brigade  Reserve  Corps  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland,  during  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
in  which  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  men  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Regiment  were  killed 
and  wounded,  and  seventeen  hundred  of  the  divis- 
ion killed  and  wounded.  Our  subject  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  just  after  the  reor- 
ganization of  the  arm}-  under  Gen.  Grant.  He  after- 
ward went  on  the  campaign  for  the  relief  of  Burn- 
side,  at  Knoxville,  acting  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
Beaty,  and  collected  supplies  to  feed  six  thousand 
soldiers  as  they  marched  along. 

Aftei-  the  relief  of  Gen.  Burnside  at  Knoxville 
Maj.  Swisher  returned  to  Chattanooga  and  re- 
mained in  winter  quarters  until  May,  1864.  He 
was  here  detailed  as  Quartermaster  of  the  Second 
Brigade,  Second  Division  of  the  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  subse- 
quently went  on  the  campaign  from  Chattanooga 
to  Atlanta,  being  under  fire  one  hundred  days.  At 
the  fall  of  Atlanta  our  subject  was  commissioned 
Captain  and  was  sent  back  with  the  division  to 
Florence,  Ala.,  to  drive  Gen.  Forest  out  of  Tenn- 
essee, and  returning  met  Gen.  Sherman's  army  at 
Gaylesville.  Ala.  He  then  turned  toward  Atlanta, 
stopping  at  Kingston,  (ia.,  at  which  place  they  sev- 
ered communication  with  the  outside  world  and 
started  with  Sherman  to  the  .-ea,  burning  Atlanta  on 
the  wav.  .\fter  arriving  at  Savannah,  Maj.  Swisher 
Lfol  leave  of  al)sence  for  twenty  days,  and  remained 


home  during  that  brief  rest  from  the  turmoils  of 
war.  I^ater  he  joined  Gen.  Sherman  at  Savannah 
and  |)articipated  in  the  memorable  campaigns 
through  the  Carolinas,  taking  part  in  the  battles  of 
Averysborough  and  Bentonville.  At  the  last-named 
place  he  was  breveted  Major  of  the  United  States 
.Staff  Deijartment  for  long  continued  and  meritor- 
ious service.  He  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  .lohnston's  army  and  then  started  for  home, 
marching  through  Richmond  and  over  the  battle 
fields  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  joined  in 
the  Grand  Review  of  the  army  at  AVashington  City 
and  w.as  mustered  out  there  on  the  14th  of  June, 
186.T,  having  served  two  j'ears,  nine  months  and 
twenty-nine  days. 

The  Major  followed  agriculture  in  Champaign 
County,  Ohio,  until  1877,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  activeh'  engaged  as  an  educator.  He  was 
married  JNIay  27, 18.52,  to  Miss  Amanda  Bamberger, 
a  native  of  Harrisburgh,  Pa.,  born  in  1833,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living:  Argus  H.,  now  a  physician  at  Jlarysville, 
Ohio;  Isolina  D.  V.,  now  Mn.  Edward  Fudger,  re- 
siding near  Median icsburgh,  Ohio:  Malinda,  Mrs. 
Mitchell,  of  Leroy,  Kan.,  and  'William  B.,  a  clothier 
of  ]\Iar_vsville,  Ohio.  Mrs.  .Swisher  w.as  an  active 
worker  in  the  Jlethodist  Church,  in  which  she  held 
memberehip,  and  died  in  that  faith  on  the  12th  of 
May,  1871.  The  Major's  second  marriage  occurred 
on  the  lltli  of  September,  1873,  to  Mrs.  Henrietta 
.Scott,  a  native  of  Lima,  Ohio,  born  February  17, 
1837.  Her  fii-st  husband  was  in  our  subject's  com- 
pany and  was  killed  at  Kenesaw  Mountain.  She 
had  one  child  living  by  her  first  husband,  Andrew 
J.  Scott,  who  is  now  engaged  in  merchandising  at 
Marvsville,  Ohio.  Major  and  Mrs.  Swisher  became 
the  parents  of  one  child,  Don  Byron,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  public  schools  of  De  Graff  and  is 
Deputy  Postm.aster  at  this  place. 

The  original  of  this  notice  taught  school  near 
Cable,  Ohio,  in  1877  and  1878,  and  then  taught 
seven  yeai-s  at  North  Lewisburgh.  Ohio,  where 
he  Superintended  the  graded  school  for  seven 
years.  He  came  from  there  to  this  place  in 
1887  and  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  school 
hi're  since.  This  is  the  Last  term  of  school 
here,    for    M:ii.    Swisher    will    enter    the    County 


PORTRAIT  A>T)  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


497 


Treasurer's  office  at  Belk'fonlaine  as  Deputy 
Treasurer.  Ill's.  Swiolier  li.as  been  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  for  forty  years.  In  politics,  the 
Major  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  served  as  Assessor 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace  iu  his  township  in  Cham- 
paign County.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  post  and  has  served  as 
ciininiauder  of  it. 


"jT^RAXK  A.  RICHAKDSOX.  M.  D.  Our  sub- 
ll^fe  ject,  who  is  one  of  the  active  young  doc- 
ile tors  of  Iluntsville,  Logan  County,  comes  of 
a  family  of  physicians,  and  has  a  natural  bent  for 
doctoring.  lie  was  born  at  Ft.  Recovery,  fiercer 
County,  Oliio,  July  1,  l.s.'ib.  and  is  a  son  of  K. 
Bruce  Ricliardjon,  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  was 
born  in  1830.  His  paternal  grandsire  was  Richard 
S.  Richardson,  a  native  of  the  Empire  .Stjite,  who 
was  a  shoemaker  in  early  life,  devoting  his  time  in 
later  years  to  farming.  He  came  to  Ohio  about 
1820,  and  settled  in  Union  Countv,  where  he  de- 
veloped a  farm,  reclaiming  it  from  the  wilderness 
and  making  of  it  a  finely  improved  place.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  yeai-s.  He  w.os  of 
English-Scotch  extraction. 

Our  subject's  father,  although  reared  on  a  farm, 
chose  the  profession  of  a  doctor,  as  did  five  of  his 
brothers,  namely:  John,  William,  Robert,  Jackson, 
and  Syreuus.  Of  these,  William's  two  sous  are 
physicians.  One  of  .Tackson's  sons  devotes  him- 
self to  the  healing  art.  Two  of  John's  boys  are 
d<.>cti.irs,  and  including  our  siiliject  there  are  twelve 
physicians  in  the  family. 

R.  Bruce  Richardson,  our  subject's  father,  was 
graduated  from  Starling  Medical  College  at  Colum- 
bus, and  located  at  Ft.  Recovery,  Mercer  County, 
where  he  enjoyed  an  extensive  practice  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  180.').  He  was  a  Douglas 
Democrat  in  politics.  He  married  America  Clay- 
pool,  who  was  born  in  Ohin  in  is:):).      Our  sulijcct 


was  the  only  child  of  this  union,  and  his  mother 
died  at  the  .age  of  twenty  years.  His  father  con- 
tracted a  second  marriage  this  union  being  with 
Marietta  Mitligan,  by  whom  he  had  one  cliild, 
Arthur,  now  a  druggist  at  Salina,  Ohio.  The 
maternal  side  of  our  subject's  family  is  of  English 
origin. 

Reared  .at  Ft.  Recovery,  Dr.  Richardson  first  at- 
tended the  public  schools  there,  and,  when  did 
enough,  beg.an  to  read  medicine  under  his  uncle. 
Dr.  John  Richardson,  of  that  cit}'.  He  later  be- 
came a  student  at  the  Ohio  Medical  College  of 
Cincinnati,  and  graduated  therefrom  in  1880.  In 
the  spring  of  1884,  our  subject  located  where  he 
now  is.  There  were  at  the  time  six  other  phvsi- 
cians  residing  here,  only  one  of  whom  now  re- 
mains, he  being  Dr.  Elder.  Our  subject  has  the 
largest  practice  here,  and  his  country  pr.actice  ne- 
cessitates long  drives.  He  is  a  student  of  marked 
ability  and  gives  each  of  his  cases  careful  study, 
which  has  resulted  in  his  remarkable  success  as  a 
practitioner. 

Dr.  Richardson  was  marric<l  Julv  2(3,  1884,  to 
jMiss  Alice  Campbell,  who  was  born  at  Round 
Head,  Ohio,  July  20.1800.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, whose  names  are  Ethel  and  Ivel.  Mrs. 
Richard.son  is  a  member  of  the  ^Methodist  Cliurch. 
Politically,  the  Doctor  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  County  Jledical  Association,  in 
which  he  is  an  active  member. 


^OHN  CARTLEY.  It  is  doubtful  if  a  man 
can  be  found  in  the  liuiuids  of  Shelbv 
County  who  has  made  a  better  lecmd  than 
l^g/  the  gentleman  above  named.  wIk.)  is  ex- 
County  Commissioner.  aii<l  the  owner  of  a  splendid 
estate  in  Loraniie  Township.  His  excellent  repu- 
Ijition  does  not  depend  upon  the  solidity  of  his 
finances,  but  upon  his  personal  char.acter  .and  the 
favorable  knowledge  his  acipiaint.auces  have  of  his 
i.'<Mieriisilv.  iiite^n-it\-  and  irUaliilitv. 


498 


PORTR.\IT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  our  subject  was  born 
in  "Westmoreland  County,  October  2,  1827,  and  is 
a  son  of  George  Cartley,  who  was  born  on  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  while  his  parents  were  en  route  to 
this  countrj-  from  Ireland  in  1792.  The  grand- 
parents located  in  Westmoreland  Countj%  Pa., 
where  they  bore  an  important  part  in  pioneer  work 
as  farmers,  and  where  also  they  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days. 

George  Cartley  came  to  Fayette  County,  this 
State  in  1834,  he  having  located  tlie  land  some 
time  previous  to_  coming  here.  In  1837,  he  tooli 
up  his  .abode  in  this  county,  making  his  home  on 
section  22,  Loramie  Township,  which  is  the  pres- 
ent farm  of  our  subject.  His  property  consisted 
of  eighty  acres  of  partly  improved  land,  on  which 
w.as  erected  a  log  house.  He  broke  much  of  the 
sod  on  his  farm,  and  by  dint  of  industrious  and 
well-directed  efforts,  rose  to  a  good  position  among 
the  pioneers  of  his  loc.alitj-.  He  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  War  of  1812,  and  filled  the  position  of 
Trustee  of  Loramie  Township  for  some  time.  He 
w.as  an  Episcopalian  in  religion,  and  died  JIarch 
15,  1871.  His  wife,  who,  prior  to  her  marriage, 
was  Rebecca  Berisford,  was  also  born  in  Ireland, 
and  came  to  America  when  a  young  woman.  At 
her  death,  whicli  occurred  in  1844,  she  left  a  f.am- 
ily  of  five  sons,  one  of  whom  di  'd  in  the  Mexican 
War,  three  d.ays  after  the  battle  of  Monterey,  and 
two  have  later  p.assed  to  the  land  beyond.  The 
j-oungest  son  is  residing  in  California,  where  he  is 
a  prominent  merchant  in  Martinez. 

John  C,artle3%  of  this  sketch,  had  poor  advantages 
for  obtaining  an  education,  being  only  permitted 
to  attend  scliool  a  few  months  in  the  winter.  Be- 
ing ambitious  to  learn,  however,  he  made  the  best 
of  his  opportunities,  and  is  to-d.ay  well-read  and 
keeps  thoroughly  informed  on  current  events.  Mr. 
Cartley  enlisted  in  1847  in  the  Mexican  War,  but 
the  company  wliich  he  joined  was  not  accepted, 
and  on  returning  home  from  Cincinnati,  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which 
occupation  he  followed  for  eight  years.  In  18.T.i, 
he  took  up  his  residence  on  the  old  liomestead, 
which  he  operated,  caring  for  liis  fatlier  until 
the  death  of  the  latter. 

The  ladv  who  iK'came  tlie  wife  of  our  subject. 


November  7,  1850,  was  Miss  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  (Houston)  Flinn,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Jliami  County,  this  State,  in 
1785.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Cartley  was  the 
daughter  of  Robert  Houston,  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
and  one  of  tlie  first  settlers  in  Loramie  Township, 
in  whose  honor  the  village  of  Houston  was  named. 
William  Flinn  was  a  farmer  b\'  occupation,  and 
died  in  1854;  liis  wife,  who  survived  him  until 
1870,  died  in  tlie  faith  of  the  Christian  Church. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  is  one  in  a  familj'  of 
eight  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living;  her 
sister,  Mrs.  Andrew  Cartley,  resides  in  Sidney. 
Grandfather  Flinn  emigrated  from  Ireland  in  an 
early  day,  and  located  in  Cincinnati.  He  was 
Captain  of  a  company  during  the  War  of  1812^ 
and  died  at  Ft.  Loramie.  Of  the  six  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cartley,  we  make  the  follow- 
ing mention;  Harriet  is  deceased;  Hudson  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  Sidney,  where  he  is  Teller  in 
the  German-American  Bank;  Mary  is  deceased; 
Maggie  F.  married  P.  C.  Zemer,  who  is  Snperin- 
tendent  of  the  High  School  at  Ansonia,  Darke 
County,  this  State;  Georgia  is  the  wife  of  S.  I. 
Zemer,  and  also  makes  her  home  in  Ansonia,  where 
her  husband  is  engaged  in  the  milling  and  grain 
business;  Edgar  is  deceased. 

A  Democrat  in  politics,  during  his  younger 
years,  our  suljject  was  active  in  local  affairs,  and 
has  represented  his  party  as  delegate  to  county  .and 
congressional  conventions.  He  served  as  Trustee 
of  his  township  for  several  years,  was  Clerk  for 
some  time,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  period  of 
six  years.  In  the  fall  of  18(35,  he  was  elected 
Commissioner  of  Shelby  County  and  served  for 
three  \'ears,  during  which  time  the  land  was 
purch.ased  for  the  County  Poor  Farm,  and  the 
necessary  buildings  erected.  The  first  free  pike 
roads  in  the  county  were  constructed  during  his 
incumbency  of  that  position  and  numerous  iron 
bridges  built,  and  the  interest  which  he  has  taken 
in  public  affairs  places  him  among  the  prominent 
men  of  the  township,  and  indeed  of  the  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cartley  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
bvterian  Church,  which  denomination  tliey  joined 
in  1857.  Our  subject  is  one  of  the  Trustees  in 
that  bo<ly,   and   h.as   contriluited   liborallv    of    his 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


499 


means  toward  the  erection  of  tlie  present  neat 
church,  known  as  Port  Jefferson  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  eighty-five  acres 
of  land  on  section  22,  whicli  is  made  remunerative 
by  careful  and  intelligent  cultivation,  and  has 
l)een  supplied  with  all  needful  structures  and 
many  improvements,  both  useful  and  beautiful, 
lie  has  a  neat  frame  residence  on  his  farm,  and  the 
estate  is  drained  with  two  thousand  rods  of  tile. 
During  the  late  war,  our  suliject  operated  a  mo- 
lasses factory,  manufacturing  many  gallons  of  cane 
molasses.  During  the  fall  of  each  year,  he  takes  a 
trip  to  Nortliern  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  on  a 
liunting  expedition,  of  which  he  is  very  fond,  and 
is  considereii  by  his  fellow-sportsmen  a  good  shot. 


ll/  OSEPH  S.  HEST(  )X.  Auglaize  County  con- 
tains many  fine  farms,  and  among  them 
pei'liaps  none  is  more  highly  improved 
than  the  estate  of  Mr.  Hestiin,  wliicli  is  lo- 
cated on  section  29,  Union  Townshi|>.  Tlie  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  are  devoted  to  gencr.al 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  with  tlie  excep- 
tion of  forty-five  acres,  the  entire  place  is  under 
excellent  cultivation.  Mr.  Heston  makes  a  speci- 
alty of  fine  horses,  Durham  cows  and  fanc\'  poul- 
try, and  is  known  as  the  owner  of  tlie  fine  trotting 
stallions,  "Red  Bird"  and  "Lolas."  also  "Faurot's 
Hylas,"  "Doll"  and  "Lucy." 

The  father  of  our  suliject,  .Tosliua  Heston.  was 
burn  in  Bucks  County.  Pa.,  and  w.as  for  a  time 
engaged  as  a  butcher  in  Pliiladeli)hia,  and  later 
fcillowed  fnrming  until  liis  death  in  18S:i.  Tlie 
UKitlier  of  our  subject,  kmiwn  in  her  mnidenlinnd 
as  Cornelia  McMastei's,  was  a  native  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  died  in  1S71.  leaving  nine  children, 
all  of  whom  are  miw  living',  lii  lier  religious 
convictions,  she  was  a  Presbyterian.  The  father 
was  a  Quaker,  and  in  his  political  atliliations  was 
a  Republican. 

The  second  cliild  in  the  parental  family  is  our 
subject,  who  was  born  in  Bucks  (.'(uinty.  Pa.,  .liily 


8,  1837.  He  grew  to  mature  years  in  his  native 
place,  received  his  early  education  in  the  common 
scliOOls  of  the  district  and  the  academv  at  Norris- 
town ;  from  there  he  went  to  Greenwood  Dell,  Ches- 
ter County,  Pa.,  and  later  was  a  student  at  the  col- 
lege in  Ft.  Edwards,  N.  Y.  Afterward,  he  took  a 
course  in  the  commercial  college  of  Samuel  Crit- 
tenden, at  Phil.adelphia,  from  wliich  institution  he 
w,as  graduated  in  1860. 

August  8,  ISGl.  Mr.  Heston  became  a  member  of 
Company  F,  Fourth  New  Jersey  Infantry,  enlist- 
ing .as  a  private  at  Trenton  and  joining  his  regi- 
men I  at  Arlington  Heights.  The  winter  of  1861-62 
w.as  p.assed  at  Run  Point,  after  which  the  regi- 
ment marched  to  Yorktown,  under  Gen.  McC'lel- 
lan,  afterward  went  to  Fair  Oaks,  and  thence 
returned  to  Harrison's  L.anding.  Mr.  Heston  par- 
ticipated in  the  Peninsular  Campaign,  and  while 
under  Gen.  Burnside  at  Fredericksburg  gained  his 
first  active  experience  of  the  horrors  of  war  under 
the  enemy's  fire.  He  was  a  niemlier  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  and  served  under  Gen.  Joseph 
Hooker. 

At  tlie  expiration  of  his  term.  Mr.  Heston  re- 
enlisted  in  his  country's  service  and  to<jk  part  in 
the  following  engagements:  Antietani,  Fredericks- 
burg, Yorktown,  l^avage  .Station,  Harper's  Ferry, 
Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  Malvern  Hill,  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  Chancellorsville,  Gettvsbur"', 
the  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania.  December  13, 
1862,  he  w.as  wounded  In  the  foot  and  limb;  again, 
Jlay  i,  1 864,  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  a  ball 
struck  him  behind  his  right  ear  and  passed  down- 
ward through  his  neck.  Later,  he  w.as  taken  pris- 
oner at  Spottsylvania,  while  still  bleeding  from  his 
wound,  and  was  taken  to  Danville,  marching  on 
foot  all  day.  During  the  march,  ho  took  a  jiiece 
of  chicken  from    the  table  of   (Jen.  Robert  K.  Lee. 

Arriving  at  Danville.  Mr.  lleston  wa^  ke[)t  in  a 
cattle  pen  for  several  days,  whence  he  was  sent  to 
Andersonville,  and  later  to  ^lacon.  where  he  re- 
mained in  a  stockade.  For  a  month  he  was  kept 
at  Savannah,  then  went  to  Cllal■le^toll.  and  was 
afterward  removed  to  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  and  upon 
his  release  from  that  pl.acc  went  to  Annapolis, 
Md..  and  from  there  to  his  homo.  His  sufferings 
hail    be,-n    tenilile  and   his  liealtli  was    uiideriniiied 


500 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


by  exposure  and  harsh  treatment.  Ilis  pluck,  how- 
ever, iudiieed  him  to  rejoin  his  regiment,  with 
■svhich  he  remained  until  his  discharge,  taking  part 
meanwhile  in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington. 
He  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier  and  afterward 
served  as  Commissary  Sergeant;  was  appointed 
Second  Lieutenant  October  22,  1862;  First  Lieu- 
tenant of  Company  F,  Jlay  14,  1863;  Captain  of 
Company  F,  June  4,  186.i,  and  was  mustered  out 
in  that  capacity  July  9,  1865,  at  Hall's  Hill,  Va. 

After  a  short  visit  at  home,  Mr.  Ileston  proceeded 
to  the  Argentine  Confederation,  South  America, 
where  he  purchased  one  thousand  head  of  sheep 
and  remained  one  and  one-half  3-ears,  engaged  in 
the  sheep  business.  While  there,  he  had  a  narrow 
escape  from  death,  his  horse  running  off  with  him 
and  dragging  him  by  the  lariat,  inflicting  a  pain- 
ful wound.  In  1867,  he  returned  to  the  United 
States,  and  in  June  of  that  year  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  upon  the  farm  of  R.  L.  G.  Means,  in  Union 
Township,  which  he  leased. 

February  6,  1868,  Mr.  Heston  was  married  to 
Jlrs.  Annie  E.  Allen.  Her  former  husband,  James 
Whiting  Allen,  was  a  private  in  Company  B, 
Fortj'-fifth  Ohio  Mounted  Infantry,  and  died  in 
Andersonville  Prison  in  May,  1864,  leaving  to 
mourn  his  loss  a  wife  and  one  child,  Martha  H. 
Mrs.  Ileston  was  born  October  16,  1842,  in  Ben- 
ton County,  Mo.,  and  is  a  lady  of  many  virtues 
and  rare  intelligence.  She  is  a  devoted  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a  kind  friend 
and  generous  neighbor.  Since  they  settled  on 
their  present  farm,  in  December,  1873,  they  have 
eained  a  warm  place  in  tlie  confidence  of  their 
fellow-citizens,  and  are  universally  respected. 
Tlieir  tastes  are  refined,  and  they  found  much  to 
interest  them  while  attending  the  Centennial  at 
Philadelphia. 

The  fatlier  of  Mrs.  Ileston,  Samuel  Pipjiin,  died 
when  she  was  four  weeks  old.  and  her  motlier, 
Minerva  (Lusk)  Pippin,  died  when  she  was  six 
months  old.  She  was  an  infant  when  brought  to 
Ohio  by  William  Lusk.  ni>w  a  resident  of  St. 
John's,  with  whom  she  remained  until  eiglit  years 
of  age.  She  then  spent  (Mie  winter  with  James 
H.  Lusk,  of  Clay  Townshi)).  and  afterward  made 
her  home  with  lier  guardian  until  tliirteen.     From 


that  age  until  her  marriage  to  James  W.  Allen,  in 
1860,  she  resided  with  the  family  of  Joseph  Harden. 
Hsrl3'  orphaned,  she  had  few  advantages  in  her  girl- 
hood, and  her  education  was  mainly  self-acquired. 
Jliss  Allen,  a  young  lady  of  unusual  ability  and 
many  accomplishments,  is  a  graduate  of  the  High 
School  of  Wapakoneta  in  the  Class  of  '78;  also  of 
the  Lima  High  School  in  1882,  receiving  the 
highest  honoi-s  in  mathematics.  She  taught  her 
first  term  of  school  in  1876,  when  onlj-  fourteen 
years  old;  in  1884,  she  was  Second  Assistant  High 
School  teacher  at  Lima,  and  w.as  engaged  for  four 
j'cars  as  a  teacher  in  that  city. 


'^^^l 


3M^^ 


PSIEVERDUS'G.     So  man3- .are  the  German- 
)  American  citizens   throughout  our  States, 
^_^  that  it  has  been  found  necessary  to   estab- 

lish political  and  literary  organs  that  appeal  di- 
rectly to  them,  being  written  in  their  own  lan- 
guage. Our  subject  is  the  editor  .and  proprietor  of 
one  of  these  German  papers,  which  is  widely 
known  throughout  the  county  as  the  Shelby 
County  Auzeiger,  and  was  established  in  August, 
1891.  Although  so  young  in  yeai's,  it  is  very  pre- 
cocious in  growth,  and  already  has  a  large  and 
growing  circulation  in  Shelbj'  County,  and,  in- 
deed, in  adjoining  counties.  It  is  an  eight-page 
weekh',  and  besides  containing  an  exeellentlv  re- 
produced digest  of  the  news  of  the  week,  its  edi- 
torials are  to  the  point  and  noticeable  for  their 
frank  candor  in  dealing  with  the  subjects  handled. 
Mr.  Sieverding  was  bont  in  the  northern  part  of 
Germanv,  July  30,  1848.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  his  native  land,  having  been  trained  for  the 
work  of  a  teacher  in  the  seminary  at  Veelita.  He 
came  to  America  in  1871  and  first  located  at  Lou- 
isville, K}'.,  in  which  city  he  was  engaged  as  a 
teacher  in  the  parochial  and  St.  Boniface  Schools 
for  four  years.  Subsequently,  he  held  a  position  in 
the  parochial  schools  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  To  these 
laboi-s  he  united  the  editoi-ship  of  the  German  paper 
of  Davton,  a  sheet  which  was  known  as  tlie    Vo!ks 


LA^tJl/) 


c£^A  y^-^^-^f^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


503 


Zeitung.  Ou  severing  his  connection  with  this  paper 
ho  was  engaged  as  a  book-keeper  for  Peter  Lenz, 
remaining  with  liitn  for  one  year.  He  then  came 
to  New  Bremen  and  was  engaged  as  a  teacher  of 
both  German  and  English  in  the  public  schools  for 
a  period  of  four  years.  After  editing  the  German 
paper  in  Salina,  The  Mercer  County  Btjte,  for  four 
months,  he  assumed  the  editorship  of  the  Lima 
Courier,  remaining  with  that  for  five  weeks. 

Jlr.  Sieverdmg  was  fii-st  engaged  as  a  teacher  on 
coming;  to  this  county-,  being  employed  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  at  Rhine,  where  he  remained  for  six 
years.  He  then  established  the  paper  to  which  he 
now  gives  his  attention.  Since  he  has  assumed  the 
proprietorship,  its  subscription  list  has  increased  to 
eight  hundred  and  fifty,  and  in  addition  to  this, 
he  has  worked  up  a  good  advertising  business. 

Our  subject  married  Miss  Mary  Reineke,  of 
Rhine,  in  188.5.  Their  four  children  are  .as  fol- 
lows: ^latilda.  Frances,  Amanda  and  Harry.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  .Sieverding  are  both  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Angels  (Catholic),  of  this 
citv. 


jl^^RANK  HERKENHOFF.  The  ricliest  hori- 
|Ht(g);  tage  of  American  youth  is  the  example  of 
iL  their  country's  brain  and   brawn    wrought 

into  lives  of  noble  character,  splendid  fealty  and 
tireless  industry.  The  annals  of  such  a  life  are 
briefly  told  by  one  who  h.as  known  him  long  and 
well.  Frank  Ilerkenhoff,  of  Minster,  whose  portrait 
is  noticed  on  the  opposite  page,  was  born  in  this 
village  on  the  l.)th  of  Deceml)er,  1838,  and  in- 
herits all  the  enterprise  and  push  of  his  Teutonic 
ancestors. 

The  fatlier  of  our  subject  was  l)orn  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  and  in  his  youth  learned  the  trade  of  a 
baker,  which  he  followed  after  reaching  man's  es- 
tate. In  1832.  he  decided  to  emigrate  to  America, 
and  with  his  family  crossed  the  ocean  during  that 
year.  He  settled  in  this  section  in  Auglaize 
County,  and  intended  to  follow  hi^  trade  here,  but 


died  before  his  business  w.as  started.  The  mother 
afterward  married  again,  and  died  in  1892,  when 
eighty  jears  of  age.  By  the  first  union  she  became 
the  mother  of  two  children,  both  sons,  our  subject 
being  the  only  one  now  living.  Six  children  were 
born  to  the  second  union,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living. 

The  educational  advantages  of  our  subject  wei'e 
limited  to  a  few  months  in  tlie  common  schools 
e.ach  3'ear,  and  when  eighteen  jears of  age  he  began 
learning  the  trade  of  a  cooper  in  Minster.  After 
continuing  this  one  year,  he  went  to  Cincinnati 
worked  there  for  six  months,  and  then  returned  to 
Minster,  where  he  clerked  for  two  years.  Subse- 
quently, he  spent  a  short  time  at  Tippecanoe  Citv, 
and  tlien  .again  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  re- 
mained until  tlie  spring  of  1861.  From  there  he 
came  to  ^linster.  where  he  managed  a  cooper-shop 
for  his  stepfather  until  1864,  when  he  purchased 
tiic  shop.  In  186-3.  he  bought  m.achinery  (liav- 
ing,  previous  to  that  time,  made  barrels  bv 
liand),  and  conducted  an  extensive  business  until 
the  fall  of  1890,  when  he  sold  out.  About  the 
same  time,  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Minster 
Star  Brewing  Company.  He  is  now  stockholder. 
Director  and  President  of  the  Citizens'  B.ank  of 
Minster,  and  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  and 
wealth}-  men  of  the  place,  every  enterprise  he  has 
ever  undertaken  having  prospered  under  his  supe- 
rior mau.agemeut.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  con- 
siderable town  propertj-,  and  h.as  aided  in  various 
ways  the  progress  of  Minster.  During  the  twenty- 
nine  3'eai-s  he  was  in  the  cooperage  business,  he 
gave  employment  to  many  hands  and  had  a  steady 
contr.act  to  furnish  Armour  i-  Co.,  of  Chicago, 
with  barrels. 

In  the  year  1864.  Mary  Gausepohl.  a  native  of 
Minster,  Ohio,  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Herkenhoff. 
Her  parents  were  originally  from  Germany  ami 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Auglaize  County, 
but  are  now  deceased.  Eight  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herkenhoff,  namely:  Charles, 
now  in  the  grocery  business  in  Minster  and  a 
wide-awake  young  business  man;' .Josephine,  wife 
of  Dr.  C.  L.  Dine  (see  sketch);  Carrie,  wife  of  Fred 
Kramer,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Minster;  Tony 
and  Dilla,  at  home;   Frances.  Alice  and  ,\nna  (de- 


504 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ceased).  The  political  affiliations  of  our  subject 
are  with  the  Democratic  party,  and,  although  he 
has  never  sought  an  office  of  an}'  kind,  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  fill  various  positions  of  trust.  He 
has  served  as  Township  Trustee  for  six  vears,  was 
a  member  of  the  Council  two  terms,  and  did  effi- 
cient work  on  the  School  Board  for  twelve  years. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  Tliey  give  a  hearty,  cheerful,  helping 
hand  to  all  religious,  educational  and  benevolent 
efforts  and  enterprises  in  the  community,  and  are 
classed  among  the  prominent  citizens. 


=^>-^^<# 


>^  AMPSON  R.  IIUBBELL.  A  history  of 
5^^  any  conimunit}-,  large  or  small,  is  made 
Tl(/2)))  "P  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  of  the 
lives  of  its  citizens,  and  it  is  apparent 
to  any  intelligent  observer  that  the  history 
of  Logan  County  is  only  such  as  has  been 
made  by  those  who  have  been  identified  with  its 
development  from  an  early  period.  Among  that 
class  of  pioneers  wo  cannot  fail  to  mention  Samp- 
son R.  Ilubbell,  who  is  now  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  his  section. 

So  far  as  known,  the  gi-andfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, on  the  paternal  side,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  came  to  America  with  two  brothers  at 
a  period  antedating  the  Revolutionary  War.  He 
settled  in  New  Jersey,  another  brother  located  in 
New  York,  and  the  other  came  West.  All  three 
were  soldiei-s  in  the  Revolution.  Grandfather 
Hubbell  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  in 
New  .Tersey  for  some  time,  but  subsequently 
moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  had  some  idea  of 
locating.  Instead,  however,  he  went  to  Lexing- 
ton, K}-.,  and  after  a  residence  there  of  one  year 
settled  near  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  his  death 
occurred  about  the  year  1801). 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Sampson  Hubbell, 
Si'.,  w.as  born  on  the  loth  of  January,  178.^,  and 
was  about  sixteen  j-ears  of  age  when  he  came 
AVest  with  his  parents.     He  reniembers  that    they 


were  offered  one  block  in  the  citj' of  Sprmgfield  if 
they  would  build  and  locate  there.  He  was  educated 
in  the  rude  log  schoolhouse  of  pioneer  days  and 
at  the  fireside  at  home  during  the  long  winter 
evenings.  He  was  a  man  possessed  of  much  nat- 
ural ability  and  was  well  po=ted  on  all  important 
subjects.  He  followed  the  trade  of  a  hatter  dur- 
ing his  entire  life,  but  also  carried  on  farming  in 
a  small  way.  He  owned  a  little  farm  near  Spring- 
field, spent  his  entire  life  there,  was  very  indus- 
trious and  a  good  manager,  and  accumulated  about 
§17,000  worth  of  proi»rty,  but  lost  it  by  going 
security  for  another  party.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  took  an  interest  in  all  i-e- 
ligious  enterprises,  as  well  as  other  enterprises  of  a 
worthy  nature.  He  w.as  a  worker  for  the  college 
at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  and  took  stock  in  it  when 
it  was  first  built.  In  politics,  he  was  an  old-line 
Whig,  and  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  such  as 
Assessor,  etc. 

Mr.  Hubbell  married  Miss  Mary  Rosencrantz,  a 
native  of  New  Jerse}-,  bom  October  15,  1791,  and 
of  German  descent.  She  came  with  her  parents 
to  Ohio  at  an  earlj'  period,  prior  to  the  year  1800, 
and  here  resided  until  her  death.  She  was  re- 
lated to  Gen.  Rosencrantz.  Six  of  the  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbell  grew  to  mature 
years,  viz:  Richard,  Rachel,  .John.  Mary,  Eliza 
and  Sampson.  The  father  of  these  children  passed 
awav  in  March,  1852,  on  his  small  farm,  and  the 
mother  received  her  final  summons  on  the  18th  of 
October,  1864.  She  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  w.as  very  decided  in  her  views 
and  opinions  and  very  energetic.  She  experi- 
enced many  hardships  during  pioneer  dajs  and 
spun  and  wove  clothing  for  the  family,  which  was 
no  small  t.ask  in  those  days. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  reared  in  the 
citv  of  Springfield,  near  which  city  his  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  7th  of  April,  18.30,  and  here  he  re- 
ceived a  good  practical  education.  He  learned 
the  baker's  and  confectioner's  trade,  and  worked 
at  it  three  years  in  Springfield,  and  then  spent 
a  number  of  years  in  traveling  and  working 
at  the  trade  in  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  After  his 
marriage  in  Springfield,  he  stai'ted  a  b.akery  and 
confectionerv    store    there,    and    carried     this    on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RFXORD. 


505 


until  the  year  1861,  when  he  moved  to  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  and  bought  his  present  property. 
At  that  time  there  was  but  a  log  cabin  on  this 
farm  and  only  a  few  acres  cleared,  but  since  then 
Jlr.  Hubbell  has  cleared  it  and  made  many  im- 
provements. One  year  after  moving  onto  his 
farm,  !Mr.  llul)bell  and  his  family  returned  to 
Springfield,  but  after  residing  there  nearly  three 
years,  returned  to  the  farm  in  Logan  County, 
and  here  made  a  permanent  settlement. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Emily 
Gridle\-.  a  native  of  Green  Township,  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  born  November  22,  1838,  was  sol- 
emnized on  the  21st  of  April,  1857.  Her  parents, 
Chester  P.  and  Elizabeth  (Farroll)  Gridley,  were 
born  in  England,  but  came  to  the  United  States 
and  resided  in  Covington,  Ky.,  and  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  for  some  time.  Later,  they  came  to  Spring- 
field, Ohio.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  and  also 
worked  a  little  at  the  tailor's  trade.  He  is  now 
living  in  Cleveland,  but  his  wife  died  in  her 
forty-third  year.  Our  subject  had  bora  to  his 
marriage  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living: 
George,  a  graduate  of  Antioch  College,  is  now 
Superintendent  of  the  Fairfield  High  School; 
Belle,  now  teaching  in  tlie  Children's  Home  of 
Logan  County,  has  been  teaching  for  six  years; 
Frank  is  a  teacher  of  Clarke  County.  Ohio,  and 
has  commenced  the  scientific  course  in  Antioch 
College;  JIary  E.,  who  is  now  at  home,  has 
spent  one  jear  in  Antioch  College,  and  expects 
to  complete  her  course  and  commence  teach- 
ing; Harve\-.  on  the  farm  at  home;  Louisa,  in 
the  High  School  at  Fairfield;  Alfred  E.  and  Charles 
C.  at  home.  Jlr.  and  Jlrs.  Hubbell  have  spent 
much  time  and  money  in  educating  their  chil- 
dren and  can  justly  be  pniud  of  the  result,  for  the 
family  is  well  known  tlirougliout  tlie  communitv 
as  one  of  unusual  intelligence.  Mrs.  Hubljell  is 
a  lady  possessed  of  more  than  the  ordinary  intel- 
lect and  is  cultured  and  refined. 

Mr.  Hubbell  is  the  owner  of  about  one  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  acres  of  good,  productive  land, 
and  he  and  his  sons  have  cleared  it  all.  ^lucli 
hard  work  has  been  spent  on  this  place,  and  he 
and  liis  bo3-s  used  to  rise  in  the  morning  as 
early  as  three  o'clock   and    Inirn   brush,  roll    logs 


or  plow  corn  until  school  time,  when  the  bo3's 
were  started  off.  After  school,  they  began  where 
they  left  ofl',  and  would  not  leave  work  until 
nine  o'clock  at  night.  Aside  from  general  fann- 
ing, Mr.  Hubbell  is  engaged  quite  extensively  in 
stock-raising,  and  annually  sells  many  cattle.  He 
and  his  wife  and  children  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  all  take  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  its  workings.  Our  subject  has  re- 
mained more  or  less  independent  in  political 
views  and  has  voted  all  tickets.  He  is,  however, 
a  Prohibitionist  in  principle. 


\||OHN  K  JHLLER.  No  worthy  reference 
I  to  the  .agricultural  affairs  of  the  county- 
^  I  would  be  complete  without  mentioning  Mr. 
l^^'  Miller,  who,  among  others,  is  eng.aged  in 
tilling  the  soil.  Besides  enjoying  to  an  unlimited 
extent  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  know 
him,  he  comes  of  an  old  and  honored  family.  He 
has  a  fine  farm,  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
2:5.  and  a  very  comfortable  and  pleasant  home. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  one  mile  south  of  his  pres- 
ent residence,  in  Harrison  Township,  Lo»an 
County,  on  the  2t3tli  of  October,  1838.  and  is  a 
son  of  .Tacoband  Catharine  (Neer)  Miller,  natives 
of  Ohio  and  Virginia  respectively,  the  father  born 
111  Clermont  County  on  the  7th  of  October,  1804, 
and  the  mother  in  1805.  The  grandfather,  Stephen 
Miller,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Ger- 
man origin.  He  cultivated  the  soil  in  his  native 
State  for  many  years,  but  later  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  from  there  to  Clermont,  Ohio,  where 
he  lost  his  wife  in  1813.  Sliortly  afterward,  he 
moved  to  Montgomery  County.  Ohio,  improved  .a 
fine  farm  there,  and  there  his  death  took  place  in 
1865,  when  eighty  ^-ears  of  age. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  .Jacob  ^liller.  resided 
with  his  parents,  in  Montgomery  County,  until  of 
age,  and  in  1828  was  married  to  Miss  Catharine 
Neer,  who  had  come  with  her  parents  from  'V'ir- 
giniivto  Oliio  in     1S17.     To    their    marria-re  were 


506 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


born  seven  children,  five  of  whom  giew  to  mature 
years,  as  follows:  Annie  (JIi-s.  Necr),  Stephen,  John 
N.,  Samuel,  and  Koali.  The  two  deceased  were 
Mary  and  Daniel.  In  1S34.  Mr.  JliUer  moved  lo 
Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  purchased  a  farm  on  sec- 
tions 27  and  28,  of  Harrison  Township,  all  in  the 
woods.  lie  erected  a  log  cabin  on  this,  and  began 
clearing  and  developing  a  fine  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eiglity  acres.  A  poor  man  when  he 
started  out  for  himself,  by  iudustrj'  and  persever- 
ance he  was  quite  a  wealthy  man  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  1st  of  January, 
1S85.  In  early  life  he  joined  the  German  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  continued  a  member  until  the 
opening  of  the  war,  when  his  church  adopted  a 
rule  preventing  members  from  voting  or  taking  up 
arms.  This  was  contrary  to  Mr.  Miller's  belief, 
and  he  refused  to  abide  liy  it,  for  which  his  name 
w.as  removed  from  the  chureh  roll.  After  the  war, 
the  church  discarded  the  rule  against  voting  but, 
as  he  did  not  confess  his  fault,  his  name  w.as  never 
replaced.  He  continued  an  earnest  Christi.an  all 
his  life,  and  was  honorable  and  upright  in  all  trans- 
actions. His  wife  died  on  the  16th  of  June,  1872, 
when  sixlj-'Six  jears,  nine  montlis  and  twenty-one 
daj-s  old.  She  was  a  very  worthy  and  exemplary 
member  of  the  church,  and  w.as  beloved  by  all  for 
her  man}'  excellent  qualities.  She  was  a  descend- 
ant of  German  ancestors. 

John  N.  Miller  attended  the  log  schoolhouse  at 
home  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  then  for  five 
years  received  his  scholastic  training  in  a  frame 
house,  working  during  the  summer  and  attending 
school  during  the  winter  months.  The  log  school- 
house  was  furnished  with  all  the  rude  furniture  of 
those  days,  and  on  the  slab  benches  then  in  vogue 
young  ^Miller  studied  "readin", 'ritin',  and  'rith- 
metic."  When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  our  sub- 
ject started  out  to  fight  his  own  way  in  life,  and 
began  working  by  the  month  for  his  father,  with 
whom  he  continued  for  two  years.  During  this 
time  he  split  rails,  chopped  wood,  etc.,  and  later, 
farmed  on  shares.  (.)n  tlie  .'jd  of  April,  1862,  lie 
wedded  Miss  Catherine  Ijrenncr. a  native  of  Harri- 
son Township,  Logan  County,  Oliio.  born  February 
2.5,  1842.  and  the  daughter  of  Christopher  and 
Anna  (Shenk)   lircnner,   natives  »(  I'eniisylvania. 


The  parents  came  to  this  county  in  a  wagon  in 
1835,  and,  after  developing  a  small  farm,  died  here. 
Both  fatiier  and  mother  were  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  Church. 

Eight  children  have  been  born  to  our  subject 
and  wife,  and  are  as  follows:  MoUie  E.,  mar- 
ried John  L.  Shawver,  a  farmer  of  this  town- 
sliip  and  a  school  teacher;  Effie  S.,  m.arried  Will- 
iam L.  Parish,  a  farmer  of  this  township;  Elmer 
J.,  now  with  an  uncle  in  Pennsylvania;  Anna  S., 
Frank  B.,  Mark  L.,  Earl,  and  Carrie,  at  home. 
Shortl}'  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Miller  located  on 
the  home  farm,  i-cmained  there  for  some  time,  and 
then,  in  1866,  bought  his  present  property.  He 
first  purchased  seventy-eight  acres  of  land,  but 
now  has  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres, 
nearly  all  of  which  are  improved.  He  is  engaged 
in  general  farming,  and  has  a  neat  house,  which 
he  has  remodeled  and  built  over  until  it  is  very 
convenient  and  comfortable.  All  his  outbuild- 
ings are  substantial  and  ornamental.  A  Republi- 
can in  his  political  views,  Jlr.  Miller  is  now  serv- 
ing his  seventh  year  .as  Township  Trustee.  He  is 
a  devout  member  of  the  German  Baptist  Church. 


^  ERRY  IIARROD.  Of  the  m,any  representa- 
1  tive  citizens  of  Auglaize  Count}-,  Ohio, 
now  prominent  in  their  different  callings, 
none  have  been  more  successful,  or  dis- 
played better  judgment  and  good  sound  sense  in 
the  management  of  their  .affairs,  tlian  this  substantial 
and  progressive  agriculturist,  Perry  Harrod.  He 
is  one  of  the  pioneere  of  Ohio,  and  comes  of  a  fam- 
ilr  of  pioneers,  for  his  parents,  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Biggs)  Ilarrod,  were  natives  of  Knox  County, 
this  State,  and  his  grandparents  on  both  sides  were 
early  settlers  of  tlie  Buckeye  State. 

Our  subject's  parents  were  married  in  their  na- 
tive State  in  1821,  and  shortly  afterward  settled 
on  a  wild  and  unimproved  farm  in  their  native 
cuuntv.     Tliere  they  went  to  work  with  much   en- 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIUGRAPIIKAL    RECORD. 


507 


crgy  and  peiseverance  to  clear  the  land  and  to 
found  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  home.  Hard 
work  and  good  management  triumphed,  and  their 
latter  days  were  passed  in  comparative  ease.  They 
began  housekeeping  in  a  rude  log  cabin,  but  this 
gave  place  in  time  to  a  good  substantial  building, 
and  other  impi'ovements  in  keeping  with  the  times 
were  made.  On  this  farm  the  parents  died.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  zealous  work- 
ers in  the  same,  and  he  was  Deacon  for  years.  In 
politics,  the  father  upheld  the  platform  of  the 
Democratic  part\'.  Of  the  eight  children  born  to 
them,  six  are  now  living  as  follows:  Samuel,  Perry, 
James,  John,  Lj'dia  and  Levi,  all  of  whom  received 
good  common-school  educations. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Knox 
County,  Ohio,  in  1830,  and  with  the  other  children 
of  the  family  enjoj'ed  the  advantages  of  a  good 
common-school  education.  In  1852,  he  left  the 
parental  roof,  and  came  to  Auglaize  Count}-,  this 
State,  where  he  sett-led  upon  an  unimproved  tract 
of  land  in  the  woods,  entered  by  his  father.  This 
tract  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and 
not  a  single  improvement  had  been  made  on  this. 
lie  began  at  once  to  clear  this,  and  soon  had  a 
comfortable  log  cabin  erected.  In  18.").'),  he  mar- 
ried Jliss  Louisa  Ann  Copeland,  a  native  of  Au- 
glaize County,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Abner 
Copeland,  and  to  his  pioneer  home  he  brought  his 
bride.  Both  were  ambitious  to  have  a  good  home, 
and  they  went  to  work  with  great  earnestness  to 
improve  and  beautify  their  place.  Mr.  Ilarrod 
cleared  all  this  land,  added  sixty  acres  to  it.  and 
now  has  three  hundred  acres  of  well  improved 
and  finely  cultivated  land.  In  1874,  he  erected  a 
tast}'  and  commodious  frame  dwelling,  .and  soon 
after  barns  and  other  buildings  made  their  appear- 
ance. Everything  about  the  place  indicates  that  a 
thrifty  and  practiced  haml  is  at  the  helm. 

The  fruits  of  their  union  are  four  interesting 
children,  only  three  now  living:  Frank,  Edie  and 
Ertie.  These  children  have  had  the  advantages  of 
the  common  schools,  and  arc  unusually  bright  and 
intelligent.  The  two  eldest  are  married  and  are 
residing  in  Goshen  Town^hi|l.  this  county,  near 
the  old  home.  Mrs.  IhirriMl  is  a  worthy  member 
of    the    Baptist   Church,   and    Mi.   Ilarrod,   like  his 


father,  supports  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party,  with  which  he  has  been  connected  all  his 
life.  He  and  his  wife  are  highly  esteemed  in  the 
community,  and  are  among  the  representative  citi- 
zens. 


■^f^^  DWIX  A.  SWAN,  M.  D.,  stands  in  the  front 
l^  rank  of  the  medical  profession  of  Logan 
l}}z^'  County,  and  the  liberal  patronage  that  is 
accorded  him  attests  his  skill  and  ability.  He  was 
born  in  'Woodstock,  Ontario,  Canada,  November 
17,  18o3,  and  is  the  son  of  Charles  G.  and  Lucrctia 
(Perry)  Swan,  the  former  of  whom  w.as  also  a  na- 
tive of  Canada.  The  mother  was  born  in  Canada 
and  was  a  second  cousin  of  Commodore  Perr}'. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  in 
a  faniih'  of  two  sons  and  four  daughters  born  to 
his  parents.  He  was  reared  to  man's  estate  in  hia 
native  town  and  received  a  thorough  literary  edu- 
cation. He  began  the  study  of  medicine  when 
quite  young,  and,  determining  to  make  that  his  life 
vocation,  was  graduated  from  the  University  of 
Michigan  in  1875.  Locating  for  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Ray,  Ind.,  Dr.  Swan  remained 
there  for  one  year,  during  which  time  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Kate  C.  Fulton.  Then  locating  in 
Petersburg,  Mich.,  our  subject  was  a  resident  there 
for  six  years,  and  in  1882  came  to  Bellefontaine, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  active  jiractice. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  electrical  treatment 
of  disease  and  has  his  office  thoroughly  equipped 
for  giving  electric  baths,  etc.  The  appliances  have 
been  l)Ut  in  at  considerable  expense.  Dr.  Swan 
having  a  Law  Batter}-,  consisting  of  fifty  cells,  with 
whicli  apparatus  he  has  made  many  cures. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Swan  have  had  born  to  them  two 
sons,  Guj-  and  Lawrence.  Mrs.  Swan  has  quite  a 
reputation    as  a  vocalist   and    takes  a  prominent 

ijart  in  all  the  leading    entertainments    siven    in 
1 
I    this   city.     "With  her  husband,  she  is  a  niemlier  of 

I    the  L'nited  Presbyterian  Church,  ami  moves  in  the 

best  circles  in  this  county.     The  Doctoi-.  sociallv.  is 

a  member  of  the  Logan   Ci.iuiity   Medical    Society, 


508 


yORTKAIT  AND  HIOGRArillCAL   RECORD. 


and  is  also  connected-  with  the  Royal  Arcanum. 
As  a  lo^al  citizen  should,  he  takes  a  fairly  active 
part  in  politics,  throwing  the  weight  of  his  influ- 
ence in  favor  of  the  Republican  party.  lie  is  a 
well-informed  gentleman,  irreproachable  in  his 
habits,  frank,  manly  and  straightforward  in  his 
character,  and  just,  kindly  and  considerate  in  his 
dealings  and  intercourse  with  others,  and  these 
traits  place  him  high  in  the  regard  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 


-=&? 


■jf'AME.S  E.  AVAY,  Prosecuting  Attorney  of 
Shelby  County,  h.os  been  prominently  and 
^=A  j  variously  identified  with  the  interests  of 
1{^^  this  section  for  many  years,  and  his  name 
will  always  be  associated  with  its  history  as  one 
who  has  contributed  greatly  to  the  extension  of 
its  wealth  and  its  material  prosperity.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  native  of  this  State,  having  been  born  in 
Union  Township,  Washington  County,  April  9, 
1851,  and  is  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Lucinda 
(Bishop)  Waj-.  The  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  was  born  in  JIaryland  in  1809,  and 
came  to  Belmont  County,  this  State,  whonayoung 
man;  the  mother  was  a  native  of  Marietta,  this 
State. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  m.arried  in 
■Washington  County,  where  they  resided  for  a  few 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Monroe  County,  which 
is  the  present  home  of  the  father.  Mi-s.  Way  de- 
parted this  life  in  1881,  greatly  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  her.  The  original  of  this  sketch  received 
his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  Monroe  and 
Noble  Counties,  completing  his  studies  at  the 
Caldwell  High  School.  lie  soon  thereafter  began 
reading  law  in  Marietta,  under  the  preceptorship 
of  Oldham  lI-  Way,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
admitted  to  the  Bar  of  the  District  Court  in  1875. 

James  E.  Way  located  for  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Monroe  County,  where  he  w.as  thus 
successfully  engaged  for  a  short  time,  and  then,  re- 
turning to  Marietta,  formed  a  ixirtiiership  with  liis 


brother  W.  G.,  the  firm  name  being  AVay  &  Way. 
Our  subject  at  the  same  time  had  a  branch  office 
in  Beverly,  which  he  conducted  until  1881,  the 
date  of  his  coming  to  this  county.  Locating  in 
Sidney,  Mr.  Way  opened  a  law  office,  and  prac- 
ticed law  alone  until  his  election  as  City  Solicitor 
of  Sidney  in  1885.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
position  the  following  term,  which  office  he  held 
until  his  resignation  in  the  spring  of  1888,  in 
order  to  run  for  Prosecuting  Attorney.  He  was 
elected  to  that  responsible  position  in  the  fall  of 
1888,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and,  having  per- 
formed all  the  duties  of  the  position  with  credit 
to  himself  and  acceptance  to  the  people,  was  re- 
elected in  1891,  and  is  still  the  incumbent  of  the 
office. 

Sir.  Way  devotes  a  portion  of  his  time  to  his 
private  practice,  and  is  interested  in  various  en- 
terprises that  are  calculated  to  build  up  the  city 
and  county.  In  him  is  seen  that  rare  and  harmo- 
nious development  of  a  well-biilanced  mind,  acute 
intellect,  and  good  sense.  Accurate  judgment  in 
all  business  matters  and  sagacious  foresight  are 
traits  of  his  character  that  have  not  only  brought 
him  success  in  his  private  pureuits  but  have  made 
him  peculiarly  valuable  as  an  official  in  the  vari- 
ous high  positions  to  which  he  has  been  called 
from  time  to  time  by  his  admiring  and  appreciat- 
ive fellow-citizens. 

The  lady  to  whom  our  subject  was  married,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1878,  was  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 
Iddo  and  ]Mary  (Smith)  Hanson.  To  them  has 
been  granted  a  family-  of  four  children:  Clara, 
Ethel,  James  II.,  and  George  A.  The  gi-and- 
parents  of  our  subject  on  his  maternal  side  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Marietta,  this  State. 
The  grandfather,  who  bore  the  name  of  Nath.aniel 
Bishop,  hailed  from  New  York  State,  and  his  wife 
who,  prior  to  her  marriage,  was  known  as  Eliza- 
beth Giles,  w.as  a  native  of  Maine.  The  Giles  fam- 
ily also  came  to  this  State  at  a  very  early  period 
in  its  history,  and  were  classed  among  its  well-to- 
do  and  highly  respected  citizens.  The  grand- 
mother died  in  iMeigs  County,  this  State,  Decem- 
ber 31.  1891.  having  reached  the  advanced  age  of 
nearly  niuoly-live  yeare.  She  could  relate  many 
a    lale    of    liioneer    life,  and  of    how  at  the  outset 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


they  were  subjected  to  all  the  inconveniences  and 
privations  of  pioneering  in  a  new  country.  She 
retained  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  historical 
Blannerliassetts,  as  well  as  many  other  notable 
persons  whose  names  illuminate  the  early  history 
of  Ohio. 

The  brothers  and  sisters  of  our  suliject  were 
Charles  B.,  a  blacksmith  by  occupation,  who 
faithfully  seivcd  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion; 
( ieorge  A.,  a  practicing  physician  of  Caldwell,  was 
also  in  the  war;  William  G.,  attorney-at-law,  at 
Marietta,  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
lature  from  Washington  County;  Thomas  A.,  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Monroe  County;  and  Clara, 
the  wife  of  James  R.  Ilarman,  of  Monroe  County. 
The  f.ather  of  these  children  is  still  living,  and 
makes  his  home  iu  Monroe  County,  this  State,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.  lie  has 
held  the  various  township  offices  within  tlie  gift 
of  the  people  to  bestow,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  and  prominent  citizens  of  his  commu- 
nitv. 

Jlr.  AVay  of  this  sketch  has  always  t;iken  a  very 
prominent  part  in  politics,  and  has  represented 
the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he  is  a  member, 
as  delegate  to  the  district  and  State  conventions. 
In  social  matters,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has  many  warm 
and  steadfast  friends  in  that  order.  He  is  true  in 
all  things  to  the  oliligations  imposed  upon  him  as 
a  man  and  a  citizen,  and  his  success  in  life  is  all 
due  to  his  own  efforts,  and  his  prosperity  is  richly 
merited. 


)]!  ACOB  II.  RITCHIE.  Section  8,  Dncliouquet 
Township,  xVuglaize  County,  is  the  location 
of  the  line  farm  owned  by  our  subject.  He 
is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Eve  (Fulk)  Ritchie, 
both  natives  of  Mrginia.  The  former  was  born  in 
1806,  and  all  his  life  w.as  spent  as  a  farmer.  Our 
sulijecl's  parents  began  their  married  life  in  Vir- 
ginia, and    lived  there    until  the  time   of  their  de- 


cease, which    occurred  in    1890  and  1891,    respec- 
tively.    Both  were  of  Pennsylvani.a-Dutch   stock. 

Of  the  fifteen  children  born  to  our  subject's 
parents,  thirteen  still  live.  He  of  whom  we  write 
is  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  His  natal  dav 
was  November  1.5,  1833,  and  his  native  county 
that  of  Rockingham.  There  he  was  reared  to  man- 
hood, and  although  early  becoming  wise  in  matters 
pertaining  to  agricultural  life,  had  little  oppor- 
tunity to  acquire  much  of  an  education. 

Mr.  Ritchie  came  to  Ohio  iu  the  spring  of  18.54, 
and  was  first  employed  by  his  uncle,  Adam  Ritchie, 
now  deceased,  but  at  that  time  a  farmer  in  this 
township.  In  18.57,  our  subject  took  upon  himself 
domestic  obligations.  Ho  was  married  to  Hannah 
Sprague,  a  sister  of  3Irs.  George  Romshe.  The 
young  people  settled  upon  a  farm  of  forty  acres 
which  he  had  purchased  of  his  uncle,  and  which 
forms  a  part  of  his  pleasant  pl.ace.  The  tract  w.as 
at  the  time  perfectly  new.  Tiiey  built  a  cabin  of 
logs  and  began  the  work  of  improving  their  pos- 
sessions. 

In  1859,  Mr.  Ritchie,  witli  his  family,  moved  to 
Kansas.  They  remained  there  only  a  year,  and  on 
their  return  purchased  twenty  acres,  sold  it  and 
subsequently  repurchased  tlie  original  forty  acres. 
Thereafter  they  settled  down  to  hard  work,  and 
da\-s  being  too  short  to  .accomplish  all  that  was  to  be 
done,  they  encroached  on  both  ends  of  the  night. 
AVorn  out  with  the  hard  labor  that  she  ambitiously 
endeavored  to  finish,  Mrs.  Ritchie  passed  away 
from  this  life  in  1875.  Of  the  four  children  born 
of  that  marri.age  two  are  still  living.  The  elder, 
Philip  I.,  married  Sarah  Meyers  and  lives  in  Plain 
Township,  this  county.  They  are  the  parents  of 
four  children.  Charles  W.  married  Lydia  Bowsher, 
and  lives  in  Allen  County. 

The  oilginal  of  our  sketch  married  again  in 
1S77,  his  second  wife  being  Mary  D.  Swan,  a  na- 
tive of  Philadelphia  and  a  daughter  of  Nelson 
Swan,  who  now  lives  in  Lima.  ;Mrs.  Ritchie  was 
horn  in  1853.  By  this  marriage  there  are  four 
children,  whose  names  are:  Nelson  B..  Frank  D., 
E<ldie  (J.  and  Roy  H..  respectively. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  twelve  acres  of  land,  which  is  all  im- 
proved, with  the  exception  of  twelye  acre=.    Sixty 


510 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


acres  of  this  he  cleared  himself.  He  gives  his  at- 
tention exclusively  to  farmins;.  He,  with  the  mem- 
bers of  his  famil}',  are  worehippers  at  the  Christian 
Church.  They  are  also  enthusiastic  Sund.ay-school 
worliei-s.  Mr.  Ritchie  h.as  given  his  children  good 
educational  advantigcs,  of  wliieh  he  is  very  api)re- 
ciative.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  Supervisor  of  his  townsliip.  Beginning 
in  life  a  poor  man,  his  energj'  and  ambition  have 
constantly  urged  him  forward,  and  by  hard  work 
he  lias  secured  for  himself  and  family  acomfort.able 
home  and  means  to  keep  it  uji. 


EZRA  BROWN,  a  successful  and  prominent 
farmer  of  Logan  County,  Ohio,  was  born 
"  in  Jefferson  Township,  of  this  county,  on 
the  30th  of  March,  1831,  and  now  resides  two  and 
one-half  miles  southeast  of  Zanesfield,  in  this 
township.  His  father,  Ira  Brown,  was  also  born 
in  the  Buckeye  State,  December  27,  1806,  but 
the  grandfather,  Aaron  Brown,  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina.  The  latter  was  twice  married, 
the  first  time  to  Miss  Mary  Howard,  who  bore 
him  three  children,  only  one,  Horton,  living  to 
mature  years.  His  second  marriage  w.as  to  Miss 
Annie  Stanton,  and  the  fruits  of  this  union  were 
eleven  children.  The  grandfather  came  to  Oliio 
in  1802,  and  to  Logan  County  in  1818,  settling 
in  Jefferson  Township.  This  family  w.ns  one  of 
the  first  in  the  county,  the  grandfather  having 
bought  land  one  and  one-half  miles  e.ast  of  Zanes- 
field in  1814.  This  ho  improved  and  erected  a 
brick  house  in  the  year  1823,  the  same  still 
standing.  He  was  a  Quaker  and  active  in  church 
work.     His  death  occurred  in  1840. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  motlier  was 
Rebecca  Rea;  she  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  born 
January  2,  1809,  and  came  witli  her  parents  to 
Ohio  when  a  girl.  She  is  still  living  and  resides  in 
Zanesfield.  She  h;i5  been  twice  married,  first  to 
our  subject's  father  on   tlie  28th  of  April.  183u, 


with  whom  she  located  on  the  farm  improved  by 
our  subject's  grandfather,  Aaron  Brown.  There 
Ira  Brown  died  in  1834.  Twelve  years  later,  Mrs. 
Brown  married  Enoch  ]M.  Scott,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  Febru.ary  28,  1810,  and  afterward  located 
witli  him  in  Rusli  Creek  Township,  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  where  they  remained  twenty-five  years. 
From  there  they  removed  to  Jefferson  Township, 
of  this  countj-,  and  there  Mi's.  Scott  is  residing 
in  Zanesfield.  On  the  20th  of  July,  1880,  Mr. 
Scott  was  injured  by  a  runaway  team,  and  died  on 
the  22d  of  the  same  month.  Two  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  liv- 
ing, Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Henry,  of  Jefferson  Town- 
sliip. To  the  first  marriage  of  our  subject's  mo- 
ther were  bora  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter: 
Elizabeth  R.,  who  was  born  December  14,  1832, 
and  died  October  10,  1840,  and  Ezra. 

Our  subject  shortly  after  the  death  of  his  father 
went  to  live  with  his  grandfather,  Aaron  Brown, 
and  his  primary  education  was  received  in  a  log 
schoolhouse.  He  remained  with  his  grandparents 
until  his  marriage  on  the  17th  of  April,  18.53, 
in  Perry  Township,  Logan  County,  to  Miss  Ra- 
chel, daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  A.  (Taylor) 
Outland,  and  a  native  of  that  county  and  town- 
ship, born  on  tlie  9th  of  April,  1833.  After  their 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  settled  on  the  old 
Brown  homestead,  and  Mr.  Brown  tilled  the  soil 
on  this  for  two  years.  From  there  he  moved  to 
his  father's  place,  one  and  one-half  miles  north- 
east of  Z.anesfield.  and  there  he  remained  engaged 
in  farm  labor  for  four  years.  In  1858,  he  bought 
his  present  farm,  there  being  but  a  little  log  house 
on  it  at  that  time,  began  making  improvements 
and  now  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county. 
He  is  wide-aw.ake  and  thorough-going,  and  has 
many  modern  improvements  on  his  place.  He 
has  a  tasty  and  pleasant  residence,  ample  barns, 
and  good  and  substantial  outbuildings  of  all 
kinds. 

In  politics.  Mr.  Ihown  advocates  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  never  voted  in 
anv  other  way.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  424.  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Zanesfield.  and  in  religion 
is  a  Jletliodist.  Our  subject's  union  w.as  blessed  by 
the  birtli  of   tlu'ce  children,   a    dauijhter   and    two 


^X^Jcl^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAITIICAL  RECORD. 


513 


sons:  Charley  F.,born  February  22,  1856,  who  died 
September  22,  1863;  Frank  S..  born  September  26, 
1861,  and  died  September  21,  1863;  and  Cora 
Emma,  born  October  31,  1864,  tlic  wife  of  A.  T. 
Fancett.  Tlie  latter  malce  their  home  with  our 
subject  and  his  wife. 


S^H^[ 


\ir--,y-'RAKK  KOEHL,  a  pioneer  merchant  of  St. 
Uii^  IMary's,  witli  whose  growth  lie  has  been 
/ll  closely  identified  ever  since  it  was  a  small 
village,  is  one  of  the  solid  and  wealthy  men  of 
Auglaize  County,  having  various  business  and 
property  interests  within  its  precincts.  He  has 
been  a  valued  member  of  the  municipal  govern- 
ment, having  held  responsible  positions  of  trust 
almost  'from  the  time  he  took  up  his  residence 
here,  nearly  fort}'  years  ago. 

j\Ir.  Koehl  was  born  January  30,  1830,  in  the 
province  of  Alsace,  Germany.  His  father,  Peter 
Koehl,  a  farmer  and  also  a  musician  of  some  local 
note,  was  born  in  the  same  place  as  himself  in  the 
year  1800,  and  died  in  1868.  His  first  wife, 
mother  of  our  subject,  whose  name  was  Mary  Rid- 
ing, died  in  1838,  leaving  eight  chOdren.  The 
father  was  again  married,  but  had  no  more  chil- 
dren. 

Our  subject's  education  was  conducted  in  the 
excellent  public  schools  of  his  native  land,  which 
he  attended  until  he  was  fourteen  j'ears  old.  He 
then  learned  the  shoe-making  trade,  and  worked  at 
it  until  he  was  seventeen  j'ears  old.  At  that  age, 
ambitious  to  see  more  of  life  and  to  Ijetter  his  for- 
tunes, he  embarked  for  America  in  the  month  of 
February,  1847,  sailing  from  Havre  on  a  vessel 
bound  for  New  Orleans,  at  which  city  ho  arrived 
after  a  voyage  of  fifty-four  days.  From  the  Cres- 
cent City,  he  came  up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio 
Rivers  on  a  boat  to  Cincinnati,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  there  until  1851.  In  tlie  fall  of  that  year, 
he  came  to  St.  3Iar3''s,  and  was  emplo3'ed  at  his 
calling  two  year.s  at  this  place,  which  w.as  then  but 
a  hamlet. 
24 


In  1853,  Mr.  Koehl  established  himself  in  the 
grocery  business  on  a  small  scale  in  a  little  frame 
building  on  Main  .Street,  and  from  that  insignifi- 
cant beginning  h.as  built  up  his  present  large  and 
nourishing  trade.  In  1855,  so  rapidly  did  his 
business  increase,  he  was  obliged  to  erect  a  large 
frame  store  on  an  adjoining  lot,  and  occupied  that 
four  yeai-s.  In  those  d.ays,  his  custom  extended 
far  into  the  country,  people  coming  even  from 
over  the  line  in  Indiana,  and  from  as  far  away  as 
Lima,  to  purchase  goods  of  him.  In  1859,  he  built 
his  present  substantial  two-story  brick  block  on 
the  corner  of  Blain  and  Spring  Streets.  He  has 
had  his  headquarters  here  thirty-three  years,  and 
has  a  well  fitted  up  establishment,  stocked  with 
ever\'thing  to  be  found  in  a  complete  grocerv  and 
provision  store.  In  1880,  he  began  doing  a  whole- 
sale business  in  handling  the  famous  beer  of  the 
Windisch-Muhlhauser  Brewing  Co.,  and  he  also 
erected  ice-bouses  for  the  storage  of  ice,  which  he 
sells  at  wholesale.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Elm- 
Pcalcs  Oil  Co.,  which  has  six  valuable  oil  wells  near 
Portland,  Ind.,  already  put  down,  and  all  good 
producers,  and  he  has  interests  in  tlie  oil  fields 
here,  besides  being  one  of  the  Natural  G.as  Trustees 
for  the  City  of  St.  Mary's.  He  has  invested 
money  judiciously  in  real  estate,  and  has  consider- 
able property  in  that  line. 

Our  subject  was  married,  in  1851,  to  I\Iiss  Cather- 
ine Smith,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  German^',  who 
came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  when  a  child. 
She  died  in  1862,  leaving  four  children:  Frank, 
Emma,  Louis,  and  Kate.  Mr.  Koehl  was  again 
married  in  1863,  his  wife  being  Miss  Louisa  Schroe- 
der,  and  to  them  have  been  bom  five  children, 
Maggie,  Gleorge  (deceased),  Carl,  Pearlasky;  and 
Louise  (deceased). 

The  citizenship  of  our  subject  has  been  of  great 
value  to  the  city  of  his  adoption,  as  he  has  used 
his  infiuence  among  his  fellow-citizens  to  further 
its  interests,  and  has-  borne  a  conspicuous  part  in 
its  public  life.  He  was  Mayor  of  St.  Marv's  two 
years,  a  member  of  the  City  Council  six  years,  and 
was  City  Treasurer  eight  years,  also  holding  th.at 
office  for  the  township  several  years,  besides  being 
Township  Trustee  for  a  long  time.  He  has  been 
an  active  factor  in  politics,  being  a  firm  adherent 


5U 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  attended  numer- 
ous county  and  State  conventions.  He  was 
appointed  County  Tre.asurer  of  Auglaize  County 
by  the  County  Commissioners  in  1882.  but  declined 
to  serve.  Socially,  he  has  been  a  Mason  since 
1855.  He  contributes  liberally  to  religious  and 
(•haritable  objects,  giving  generously  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  Luther.an  Church,  of  which  his  esti- 
mable wife  is  a  member. 

A  lithographic   portrait  of  Mr.  Koehl  is  shown 
on  another  page. 


H^^\ 


\ll ^^ENRY  COCJK.   tlie   popular    Postmaster   at 

\\^]  New  Knoxvillc,  whose  first  term  of  service 
Ih;^'  in  that  office  dates  back  many  years,  also 
(^  one  of  the  substantial  business  men  of  the 
village,  and  proprietor  of  a  general  store,  is  a  son 
of  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  pioneers  to  brave  the 
hardships  of  frontier  life  to  found  a  home  in  Au- 
glaize County.  This  county  is  also  the  birthplace 
of  our  subject,  who  was  bom  at  New  Bremen 
August  6,  1835. 

William  Cook,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Westphalia,  Germany,  in  1810.  Hebecame 
a  carpenter  in  his  youth,  and  after  marriage  he 
sailed  for  America  with  his  bride,  to  build  up  a 
home  in  this  country,  where  he  deemed  he  could 
better  his  fortunes.  He  landed  at  Baltimore,  and 
came  directly  to  Ohio,  making  his  way  hither  on 
foot  in  company  with  a  colony.  He  and  his  fel- 
low-travelers sought  work  in  Cincinnati,  and  not 
being  successful,  continued  Northward  along  the 
route  of  the  ^lianii  A  Erie  Canal  that  had  just 
been  surveyed.  They  finally  arrived  at  New 
Bremen,  and  from  there  went  to  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind., 
before  employment  was  found.  Six  months  later, 
Mr.  Cook  returned  to  the  site  of  New  Bremen,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  to  locate  there.  He  worked 
on  the  locks  and  did  other  work  about  the  canal 
until  it  was  completed.  About  that  time  he  re- 
moved to  Wa^hingtMii  Township,  and  settled  on 
hind   that  he   purchased  of  his  father-in-law,  who 


had  just  come  over  from  Germany.  That  land 
was  bought  of  the  Government  at  $1.25  an  acre 
and  w.as  in  the  midst  of  a  country  that  was  all  new. 
Deer  were  so  plentiful  that  they  frequently  came 
into  the  yard,  and  sometimes  were  shot  from  an 
open  window.  Wolves  were  abundant,  and  many  a 
night  the  slumbei's  of  the  tired  pioneers  were  dis- 
turbed by  their  howls.  Indians  were  frequent 
passers,  and  there  were  remnants  of  the  old  tribes 
still  left  here  in  those  early  days.  Mr.  Cook  re- 
deemed his  land  from  the  wilderness,  and  in  due 
time  the  worthy  pioneer  rounded  out  a  goodly  life 
of  seventy  years  by  a  peaceful  death.  He  was  a 
sincere  Christian,  who  clung  to  the  faith  of  his 
fathei-s,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Luth- 
eran Reformed  Society  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
Elizabeth  Elederjohn  was  the  maiden  name  of  his 
first  wife,  who  died  in  1850,  leaving  five  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest,  and  three  of 
them  are  living.  The  father  married  Elizabeth 
Bumsman  for  his  second  wife,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  living. 

Henry  Cook  did  not  have  very  good  school  ad- 
vantages in  his  younger  days,  as  the  schools,  which 
were  taught  on  the  subscription  plan,  were  only 
open  one  or  two  months  a  year.  They  were  held 
in  rude  log  buildings,  and  had  furniture  of  the 
roughest  description,  slabs  serving  as  seats,  and  a 
board  placed  against  the  wall  was  the  onl^'  desk 
for  the  scholars  to  write  upon.  Our  subject  helped 
his  father  clear  his  farm  until  he  was  fifteen  j-ears 
old,  and  then  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter. He  worked  with  his  father,  who  was  a 
skilled  mechanic,  and  was  the  only  carpenter  in 
the  locality  at  that  time.  His  father  used  to  take 
contracts,  and  after  our  subject  had  thoroughly 
mastered  the  trade,  he  did  the  work.  He  con- 
tinued thus  engaged  for  fifteen  years,  and  he  put 
up  a  number  of  buildings  in  this  vicinity,  which 
are  still  standing. 

When  he  abandoned  carpentering,  Mr.  Cook  en- 
tered the  mercantile  business  with  liis  father-in- 
law,  Henry  Feunemane,  at  New  Knoxville.  After 
Mr.  Fennemane's  death,  in  1882,  Mr.  Cook  took 
entire  control  of  the  business,  and  has  been  carry- 
ing' it  nil  by  liimself  ever  since.  He  h.as  a  general 
store,  in  wjiich  may  be  found  dry  goods  of  every 


PORTRAIT  A>T>  BIOGRATHICAL  RECORD. 


515 


description,  beside  groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  and 
everything  that  is  usually  sold  in  such  a  store. 
He  has  a  neat,  well-arranged  establishment,  and 
commands  a  large  custom.  Beside  this  valuable 
property,  he  has  a  quarter-section  of  land  in  Wash- 
ington Township  and  eighty  acres  in  Van  Buren 
Township,  Shelby  County,  and  his  real  estate  yields 
him  a  good  income.  He  w.as  appointed  to  the 
rostniastership  of  this  village  shortly  after  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  was  elected  to  the  Presidency,  and 
he  has  held  that  otHce  ever  since,  excepting  when 
Cleveland  was  in  the  Presidential  chair,  and  dis- 
charges the  duties  incumbent  upon  him  in  a  man- 
ner entirely  satisfactory  to  all  concerned.  He  is  a 
good  Republican  in  politics.  He  has  held  respon- 
sible public  offices,  and  was  Treasurer  of  Wash- 
ington Township  eight  years.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  among  the  most  valued  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Reformed  Church,  and  they  stand  high 
in  the  estimation  of  the  entire  community. 

Mr.  Cook  w.as  married  in  1860  to  "Jliss  Eliza- 
beth Fennemaue,  who  is  of  German  birth  but  has 
p.assed  the  most  of  her  life  in  this  country,  whither 
she  came  with  her  parents  when  eighteen  months 
old.  Her  father  located  on  a  farm  just  north  of 
Knoxville,  cleared  and  improved  his  land,  and  he 
also  engaged  in  keeping  store  with  our  subject 
seven  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  have  three  chil- 
dren living:  Sarah,  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth.  Tlieir 
two  eldest  died. 


»TLLIAM  RABE.  In  few  branches  of  trade 
the  march  of  progress  wrought  such  a 
^''^  veritable  revolution  as  in  the  hardware 
business.  What  with  invention,  improvement  and 
the  development  of  skill,  something  closely  akin 
to  perfection  has  been  reachediu  this  department 
of  industrial  activity.  A  popular  ami  prosperous 
establishment  in  this  line  in  New  Bremen  is  tliat  of 
William  Rabe,  who  has  been  most  fortunate  in  es- 
tablishing and  maintaining  a  high  reputation. 


Like  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  county-,  he 
is  a  native  of  Prussia,  born  on  the  6th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1828,  and  the  second  of  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  ai-e  living,  born  to  John  and  Eliza  (Wilder- 
brant)  R.abe,  natives  also  of  Prussia,  the  father 
born  in  1804.  Jcjhn  Rate  came  with  his  family  to 
America  in  1817  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Mercer 
County,  when  he  began  clearing  his  land  of  the 
shrubs  and  trees  with  which  it  w.as  covered.  He 
bought  eighty  acres,  erected  a  log  cabin,  and  there 
began  his  career  as  a  pioneer.  His  death  occurred 
in  1890,  when  eightv-sis  j-ears  of  age.  While  in 
his  native  land  he  had  served  three  years  in  the 
Prussian  army.  He  was  an  upright,  honorable  gen- 
tleman and  was  well  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  ;i  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  as 
was  also  his  wife,  who  died  wlien  sixty-four -years 
of  age. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  eighteen  years  of 
.age  wlien  he  came  to  America  with  his  parents. 
He  enjoyed  ejicellent  educational  advantages  in 
his  youth  and  was  early  trained  to  the  duties  of 
the  farm,  having  p.assed  his  entire  life  while  in 
Germany  on  a  farm.  He  took  passage  for  the 
L'nited  Stales  from  Hamburg,  and  at  the  end  of 
eleven  weeks  landed  in  Jsew  Orleans.  Soon  after- 
ward he  came  up  the  river  to  Cincinnati  and 
tlience  by  canal  to  fiercer  County.  He  assisted 
his  father  in  clearing  the  home  place  but  found 
time  to  try  his  skill  as  a  marksman  on  the  deer  and 
turkeys  then  so  |)lentiful. 

In  18.52,  he  came  to  New  Bremen  and  worked 
out  by  the  day  for  four  years,  thus  learning  that 
in  a  large  measure  he  must  depend  upon  himself. 
In  18.j6,  he  branched  out  in  the  hardware  and 
grocery  business  in  partnerehip  with  his  brother 
Henry,  and  tbey  continued  together  for  three 
years.  After  this,  our  subject  pnrch.ased  afarm  in 
this  township,  and  resided  on  it  for  al»ut  two 
years,  but  in  18(30  he  abandoned  agricultural  pur- 
suiLs  and  bought  the  entire  hardware  business  of 
his  brother,  continuing  the  business  by  himself  up  ■ 
to  the  present  time.  In  1880.  he  purchased  .a  large 
planing-mill  and  lumber  yard,  and  is  eiig.aged  in 
manufacturing  ddnrs.  sashes,  etc.  He  deals  in  all 
kinds  of  lumber,  and  as  liis facilities  for  transacting 
business  are  of   an    unusually  complete  character, 


516 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGR^U'mCAL  RECORD. 


lie  is  enabled  to  offer  special  advantages  to  cus- 
tomers and  to  fill  all  orders  in  the  promptest  and 
most  satisfactory  manner.  He  owns  a  large  busi- 
ness block  of  two  stories,  26x80  feet,  on  W.ashington 
Street,  and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  business 
men  of  New  Bremen. 

In  1855,  Miss  Louisa  Greive,  a  native  of  this 
county,  became  his  wife.  Iler  parents  came  to 
America  from  Germany  in  1837.  Three  children 
were  born  to  this  union:  Minnie,  August  and 
3ilatilda.  Mrs.  Rabe  died  in  18G9,  and  in  1870 
Mr.  Rabe  married  Miss  Mary  Shawe.  a  native  of 
Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  who  was  born  in  1852,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  four  children:  Olivia, 
Ida.  Frod  and  Lillie.  Mr.  Rabe  is,  and  alw.ays  has 
been,  a  Democrat.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
City  Council  several  terms,  also  City  Treasurer,  and 
has  held  other  positions.  He  and  Mrs.  R.abe  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  has  been 
Trustee  of  the  same  for  some  time.  He  owns  a 
large  brick  residence  near  his  business  block,  and 
has  a  very  comfortable  and  pleasant  home. 


^^^l,^  *?^^^'M"M*t 


Ti-5"^-^  SS® -i-i"!-!-? 


^1  AMES  S.  HOOVER.  There  are  few  more  suc- 
cessful farmers  in  Logan  County  than  the 
gentleman  whose  name  is  found  above.  He 
'  is  fortunate  in  many  respects,  having  a  fine 
wife,  a  charming  family  and  a  beautiful  home.  He 
was  born  in  Franklin  County,  November  11,  1845, 
and  is  a  son  of  .'^amuel  Hoover,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Our  subject's  paternal  grandsire,  .John 
Hoover,  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  of 
German  parentage.  He  removed  to  Ohio  when 
our  subject's  father  was  onlj'  a  boy,  and  settled  in 
Franklin  County,  where  he  was  numbered  among 
the  pioneers. 

Residing  in  the  locality  above-mentioned  for 
some  yeare,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming, 
.John  Hoover  removed  to  "Wisconsin,  and  there  died 
past  middle  age.  His  son  was  variously  engaged  in 
Franklin  County.  He  was  engaged  in  brick-mak- 
ing for  several  years,  later  ran  an  hotel  at  Albany, 


and  finally  purchased  a  farm.  He  removed  to  Lo- 
gan County  in  1852,  and  purchased  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land,  which  was  at  that  time  al- 
most unbroken  woods.  He  worked  hard  develop- 
ing his  farm,  and  being  a  good  manager,  amassed 
a  competency,  owning  at  one  time  four  hundred 
acres  of  fine  land.  He  died  February  8,  1891, 
when  in  his  eighty-first  year.  He  was  a  Methodist 
in  his  religions  belief,  and  a  Democrat  in   politics. 

Our  subject's  father  married  Ruth  A.  Steadman, 
who  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Bear)  SteadnLin,  both  of  whom 
were  of  Scotch  descent,  and  early  settlers  in  that 
locality.  The  original  of  this  sketch  is  one  of 
four  children  that  his  mother  reared.  They  are: 
George  W.,  Clara  L.,  .James  and  .Samuel  L.  The 
mother  still  survives,  and  resides  in  Bloomfield 
Township.  Only  eight  years  old  when  his  family 
removed  to  this  count}',  James  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  log  sehoolhouse,  with  puncheon  benches 
and  pin  legs. 

Game  both  large  and  small  was  plentiful,  and  the 
tender-eyed  deer  could  be  encountered  on  the  way 
to  and  from  school.  When  twenty-one,  the  young 
man  started  out  for  himself.  His  father  gave  him  a 
fifty-acre  tract  of  land,  and  this  he  did  his  best  to 
thoroughly  improve.  On  it  he  married  October  2-1, 
1869,  his  bride  being  Miss  Marinda  S.  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  December  21,  1848. 
Her  parents  were  Moses  and  Margaret  (Smith) 
Smith,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover 
have  been  blessed  bj'  the  advent  of  three  children 
who  are  living,  and  another  little  one  who  was 
taken  away  in  babyhood.  Their  names  are  respec- 
tively: Nora,  Eliza  O.  and  Orlando  L.,  the  deceased 
child  being  James  W. 

Our  subject  owns  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  fine  land,  nearly  all  of  which  is  well  improved. 
It  is  thoroughly  drained,  having  many  hundred 
feet  of  tile.  The  owner  of  the  place  gives  atten- 
tion to  mixed  farming,  raising  stock  and  grain. 
He  has  been  particularly  successful  in  raising  hogs 
for  foreign  markets.  The  family  occupy  a  fine 
frame  dwelling  which  was  erected  in  1888.  It  is 
comfortable  and  tasteful,  well  adapted  to  the  use 
of  the  family.  In  politics.  ]Mr.  Hoover  is  a  Demo- 
crat.    For  three  years  he  served  as  Township  Trus- 


PORTEATT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


5i: 


tee,  and  for  a  good  many  years  as  Supervisor  of 
Roads.  He  attributes  his  success  wliolly  to  tlie 
fact  that  lie  has  been  constant  in  attention  to  his 
business,  savin<r  himself  in  no  instance. 


■^jf^  IIl'D  TURNER.  Agricultural  pursuits  have 
fel  formed  the  chief  occupation  of  thisgentlo- 
/' — ^  man,  and  the  wide-aw.ake  and  thorough 
manner  in  which  he  h.is  taken  advantage  of  every 
method  and  idea  tending  towards  enhancing  the 
value  of  his  property  has  had  considerable  to  do 
with  his  success  in  life.  In  tracing  the  genealogy 
of  tlie  Turner  family,  we  find  that  thej'  came  orig- 
inally from  that  fine  old  State,  Virginia,  and  that 
our  subject  comes  of  Revolutionary  stock. 

Ills  parents,  Lott  and  JIary  (Davison)  Turner, 
were  natives  respectively  of  A'irginia  and  Cham- 
paign County,  Ohio.  Her  father  was  Daniel 
Davison.  Lott  Turner  remained  in  his  native 
State  until  grown,  and  then  emigrated  to  the  Ruck- 
cye  .State,  settled  in  Champaign  County,  and  there 
met  and  married  Jliss  Davison.  After  a  short  res- 
idence in  that  county,  they  moved  to  Allen 
County,  that  St.ate,  and  there  reared  a  family  of 
five  children,  three  of  whom  arc  now  living,  as 
follows:  .Tosepli,  Lee,  and  Ehud.  The  parents  set- 
tled on  an  unimproved  farm  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  d.ays  in  cultivating  and  improv- 
ing this.  Thcj-  educated  their  children  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  early  trained  them  to  be  self-re- 
liant and  industrious,  tr.aits  of  character  that  will 
seldom  fail  of  success.  Mr.  Turner  and  wife  em- 
br.aced  the  Christian  religion,  and  were  worthy  and 
exemplary  church  members.  jNIr.  Turner  was  at 
one  time  a  AVhig  in  politics,  but  he  later  became  a 
firm  adherent  of  the  principles  of,  the  Republican 
party.     lie  and  his  wife  have  both  passed  aw.ay. 

Ehud  Turner  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Ohio, 
June  20,  1851,  and  remained  at  home,  assisting 
his  father  in  cultivating  the  farm  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age.     lie  attended  the  common  sch<M>ls  of 


the  district  during  the  winter  months,  and  in  this 
way  obtained  a  good  education.  One  3-ear  before 
he  was  of  age,  he  began  fanning  for  himself,  and 
in  186-1  he  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Sarah  Jlonfort,  a 
native  of  Allen  Count}-,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter 
of  Henry  Monfort,  also  of  Ohio.  After  marriage, 
our  subject  settled  on  Niekells  Pike,  Wayne  Town- 
ship, Auglaize  Count}-,  Ohio,  and  cultivated  a  farm 
there  for  fifteen  years.  Erom  there  he  moved  to 
his  present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  one  acres  on 
section  11,  W.ayne  Township.  This  farm  w-as  par- 
tially improved,  and  he  immediately  began  to  de- 
velop and  clear  the  remainder.  They  soon  gath- 
ered around  them  many  comforts  and  convenien- 
ces, and  now  have  a  desirable  and  attractive  place. 
Both  are  members  of  the  B;\ptist  Church,  and  ear- 
nest workere  in  the  same.  Like  his  father,  Mr.  Tur- 
ner is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  held  the  otlice 
of  Township  Assessor  for  one  terra.  Five  children 
resulted  from  this  union,  and  fourare  now  living: 
A.  R.,  ^YilIiam  G.,  Ida,  and  Edgar  N.  These  chil- 
dren have  all  received  good  educational  advan- 
tages. 

The  eldest  son,  A.  R.,  is  now  Justice  of  the 
Peace  of  W.aj-ne  Township,  and  w.as  elected  to  that 
oflice  in  tlie  spring  of  1890.  The  duties  of  this 
position  he  discharges  in  a  very  satisfactory  and 
efficient  manner,  and  as  he  is  oiih'  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  he  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  young- 
est, if  not  the  youngest.  Justice  the  county  has 
ever  had.  During  his  time  of  office  ho  has  united 
nine  couples  in  marriage,  and  is  one  of  the  bright- 
est, most  capable  j-ouug  men  of  the  county. 


>-^m-mm^^^-i^^m 


tF^  EV.  PHILIP  .L  MILLIIOEE.  The  biograph- 
lILs^'  ical  writer  is  alw.ays  pleased  to  note  the 
^  \  worldly  prosperity  and  good  re]nitation  of 
"  a  man  with  whose  history  he  has  to  do,  and 
takes  great  delight  in  recording  the  quiet  pur- 
suance of  duty  and  the  honorable  conduct  of  bus- 
iness affairs.  If  there  is  one  thing  more  than  an- 
other in  a  man's  life  that   tills   the   heart   with   ad- 


518 


PORTRAIT  AND  EIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


miration,  it  is  to  know  that  he  has  been  a  valiant 
soldier — not  because  be  enjoyed  carnage,  but  be- 
cause of  bis  devotion  to  the  principles  at  stake. 
In  niakin;^  a  brief  mention  of  the  important  facts 
in  the  life  of  Mr.  Millhoff,  the  biographical  writer 
has  a  pleasant  task,  as  our  suliject  has  made  an 
honorable  record  as  a  Union  soldier,  an  agricultur- 
ist and  a  prosperous  citizen.  His  name  will  be 
recognized  by  many  of  our  readers,  as  he  has  been 
engaged  in  preaching  the  Gospel  for  forty  years, 
and  has  earnestly  endeavored  not  only  to  speak 
the  truth,  but  to  present  an  example  which  shall 
be  as  a  light  to  those  around  him. 

The  original  of  this  sketcli,  who  was  born  in 
Franklin  County,  Pa.,  September  5,  183.3,  is  the 
son  of  Philip  Millhoff,who  was  born  in  1796,  in  Lan- 
caster County,  the  same  .State.  The  latter  was  en- 
gaged as  a  farmer,  and  in  1840  came  to  Ohio, 
where  lie  was  r.anked  among  tlie  early  settlers  of 
Montgomer}-  Count}-.  After  a  residence  there  of 
twelve  years,  in  18.52  lie  came  to  this  county  and, 
purchasing  a  farm  in  Cj-nthiana  To\raship,  there 
resided  until  his  decease,  which  occurred  in  186.5. 
He  was  an  Elder  in  the  Evangelical  Church  for 
about  fort}'  j'ears,  and  always  took  an  active  inter- 
est in  religious  affairs. 

Philip  J.  Millhoff,  the  grandfather  of  our  sul)- 
ject,  was  a  native  of  France  and  emigrated  to 
this  country  with  his  parents  in  Colonial  times. 
He  fought  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  for  his  brave  and  etlicient  service  w.as  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant.  He  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  took  up  a  home- 
stead claim  of  a  quarter-section  of  land  in  Penn- 
sylvania, on  which  he  resided  until  his  decease. 
The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was 
Mary  M.  ^linnick.  and  she  w.as  born  in  Franklin 
County,  Pa.,  in  ISUl.  She  was  of  German  extrac- 
tion, and  departed  tliis  life  in  1871.  firm  in  the 
faith  of  tlie  Evangelical  C'liurch. 

lie  of  wliom  we  write  was  the  fourtli  in  order 
of  birth  of  the  parental  family  of  seven  children, 
only  one  of  whom  is  deceased.  He  received  a  fair 
education  in  tlie  common  schools,  and  w.as  a  lad  of 
eiglit  years  when  his  parents  came  to  Montgomery 
County,  this  State.  Wlien  re.aching  his  twentieth 
year,  he  took  a  course  in  the  Wittenberg  College 


at  Springfield,  and  after  leaving  that  institution, 
he  began  the  study  of  the  ministry,  which  profession 

1   he  had  decided  to  follow  when  nine  3'eai's  of  age. 

!  He  took  a  tliorougli  scientific  and  theological 
course  and  began  preacliing  the  Gospel  in  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  his  license  being  granted 
by  Bisliop  Henry  Cumler  in  18.50. 

Mr.  Millhoff  was  actively  engaged  in  cliurch 
work  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he 
enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  G,  Fourth  Ohio 
Cavalry,  being  mustered  in  as  Sergeant  and  serv- 
ing on  detachment  duty.  He  was  given  his 
honor.able  discharge  in  1862,  and  returning  home, 
remained  for  a  short  time,  and  in  August  of  that 
year  re-enlisted  as  a  member  of  Companv  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Eiglitecnth  Ohio  Infantry,  under 
Capt.  Stone.  In  April,  1863,  while  at  Cynthiana, 
Ky.,  he  was  stricken  down  with  paralysis  and 
was  confined  for  three  months  in  the  liospital.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  again  reported  for 
duty,  and  the  following  year  returned  home  on  a 
furlough,  at  wliich  time  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Snow,  a  native  of  this  State.  In  liis 
second  enlistment  he  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Sweet  Water,  Tenn.,  Cumberland  Gap,  Bull's  Gap, 
tlie  first  and  second  fight  at  Mossy  Creek.  Again 
joining  the  army,  our  subject,  while  at  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  was  ordered  to  the  front  and  with  his  regi- 
ment went  to  Wilmington,  N.  C.  At  Goldsboro, 
they  joined  Gen.  Sherman's  army,  and  going  back 
to  Kingston,  our  subject  w.is  taken  sick  with  tlie 
fever  and  sent  to  Kew  York  City.  From  there  he 
was  taken  to  David  Island  Hospital  and  discharged 
June  26,  1865. 

On  again  entering  upon  the  duties  of  civil  life, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Millhoff  engaged  in  farming  in  Cyn- 
thiana Township,  and  soon  after  united  with  the 
Christian  Church.  In  1868,  he  removed  to  Mont- 
gomery County  and  located  in  Harrison  Township, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  fourteen  years.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  returned  to  this 
county  .and  township,  wliicli  h.as  since  been  his 
place  of  residence  and  wliere  he  ranks  among  its 
prominent  and  intluential  citizens. 

The  five  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Jlillhoff 
bear  the  respective  names  of  Cieorge,  Annie, 
Charles,    Katie  and   Bertha.     Annie  is  the  wife  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


519 


John  Kelch  and  makes  her  home  in  Sidney,  where 
they  have  two  cliildren,  Roy  and  Elva.  Our  sub- 
ject has  always  given  liis  allegiance  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  during  tlie  Presidential  campaign 
of  1888  made  speeches  throughout  this  section. 
A  visitor  to  liis  beautiful  estate  of  eiglity  acres 
couhl  not  fail  to  be  strucli  with  admiration  for  the 
enterprise  and  industry  by  which  it  was  acquired 
and  brought  to  its  present  condition,  and  if  any- 
thing beyond  the  appearance  of  the  place  were 
needed  to  heighten  the  respect  for  its  owner,  it 
would  be  tlie  f.act  that  he  was  a  poor  boj'  when  he 
started  out  in  life,  and  is  now  ranked  among  the 
progressive  .agriculturists  of  Shelby  County.  In 
addition  to  raising  tlie  cereals,  Mr.  Millhoff  breeds 
a  good  grade  of  slock,  and,  as  .agent  for  the  Cham- 
pion Reapers  and  Binders,  derives  a  handsome  in- 
come from  tliat  brancli  of  business.  Our  subject  is 
a  member  of  IS'eal  Post  No.  (32,  G.  A.  R.,  and  ex- 
pects to  take  an  active  interest  in  the  present  cam- 
paign on  tlie  stump  in  behalf  of  his  party. 


^1  OSIAH  D.  EMERSON.  The  following  is  a 
brief  sketch  of  the  career  of  Mr.  Emerson, 
wliose   present  substantial   position  among 

the  ci  tizens  of  Belief  on  taine  has  been  reached 

entirely  through  his  own  perseverance,  and  whose 
life  shows  what  can  be  .accomplished  by  a  person 
with  courage  and  enlightened  views.  He  is  a 
railroad  contractor  in  this  city,  and  was  born  in 
West  Mansfield,  Logan  County,  May  9,  1840,  being 
the  eldest  son  of  Moses  Emerson,  who  located  in 
Bokes  Creek  Township,  of  the  above  county, 
about  1835. 

The  father  of  our  subject  w.as  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  became  a  resident  of  the  Buckeye  State 
in  his  youth.  His  wife  prior  to  her  marriage  was 
Miss  Caroline  Webster,  a  native  of  Connecticut. 
The  young  couple  located  in  what  is  now  West 
Mansfield,  this  county,  in  the  pioneer  days,  when 
the  country  round  about  was  little  more  than  a 
wilderness,   with   a   heavy  growth  of   timber  and 


thick  shrubs.  Moses  Emerson  was  finely  educated, 
having  been  given  a  partial  collegiate  course  of 
training,  but  was  compelled  to  leave  college  on 
account  of  failing  health,  when  he  began  to  open  up 
a  farm  in  the  wilds  of  this  county  as  above  stated. 
He  was  very  prominent  in  local  affairs,  and  in  1844 
made  the  race  for  Congress  on  the  Abolition  ticket. 
He  is  still  living  at  Lewisburgh,  Champaign  County, 
Ohio,  having  attained  the  advanced  age  of  eiijhtv 
years. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  until  seventeen  j'e.ars  of  age,  in  the  mean- 
time attending  the  district  school.  In  1857,  he 
entered  the  Hillsdale  (Michigan)  College,  and  on 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  abandoned  his 
books  and  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Fourth  Michi- 
gan Infantry  in  the  three-months  service.  When 
the  call  was  made  for  more  men,  his  company  was 
enlisted  for  three  years  and  went  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  to  report  for  duty.  Jlr.  Emerson  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Yorktown,  and  later  in  the 
battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  where  he  was  shot  in  the 
left  shoulder  and  taken  to  the  West  Philadelphia 
Hospital,  where  he  lay  for  four  months.  After 
convalescing,  be  rejoined  his  regiment  and  was 
commissioned  as  Second  Lieutenant,  and  later  pro- 
moted to  be  Captain  of  his  compan}-.  Mr.  Emer- 
son was  again  wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  May  8, 
1864,  this  time  in  the  right  hip,  the  ball  passing 
through  his  thigh.  He  was  taken  to  the  hospital 
at  Georgetown,  D.  C,  and  the  injury  was  found  to 
be  so  serious  that  he  was  not  able  to  rejoin  his 
regiment  During  his  entire  period  of  service,  he 
participated  in  twenty-five  or  thirty  battles.  Mr. 
Emerson  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Brigade, 
First  Division  and  Fifth  Army  Corps. 

On  being  mustered  out  of  the  service,  our  sub- 
ject returned  home,  and  in  the  winter  of  1865-6(3 
attended  the  Law  School  in  Cincinnati.  In  the 
spring  of  the  latter  year,  he  went  to  Michigan, 
where  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Hillsdale  Countv, 
and  held  that  office  for  two  years.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time,  he  went  to  Independence,  Kan., 
where  he  helped  to  lay  out  the  town  and  was  the 
first  Probate  Judge  of  the  county,  and  w.as  one  of 
the  managers  of  the  town.  Remaining  there  for 
five  years,  Mr.  Emerson   in    1875   entraCTed   in    the 


520 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RFX'ORD. 


mail  service  in  Louisiana  and  Texas.  This  neces- 
sitated liis  moving  bis  familj'  Soutli,  where  be 
made  bis  residence  until   1882. 

In  January,  1882,  our  subject  removed  to  this 
city  with  his  family,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  is  still  in  the  mail  service,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  railroad  contracting. 

In  December,  18G4,  Miss  Mary  Allen  became  the 
wife  of  our  subject,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two 
children,  Charles  A.  and  Dixie.  Mr.  Emerson  has 
been  a  conspicuous  Grand  Army  man  and  is  Com- 
mander of  Eugene  Reynolds  Post  No.  441.  He 
also  holds  membership  in   the   Masonic  fraternity. 


yt-^^^ ON.  CHARLES  M.  WANZER,  M.  D.  Among 
r  jf  the  prominent  and  inlUiential  citizens  of 
1^^^  Logan  County,  we  take  pleasure  in  in- 
(jis)/  troducing  to  our  readers  the  Hon.  Charles 
M.  AVanzer,  the  distinguished  and  popular  Rep- 
resentative of  the  Sixty-ninth  General  Assembly 
from  tills  county,  who  now  resides  in  Zanesfield. 
He  was  elected  to  this  office  in  1889,  and  bis 
measures  and  tactics  adopted  in  a  public  capacity 
have  been  so  satisfactory,  not  onl}-  to  his  constitu- 
ents, but  to  the  people  at  large,  whom  be  repre- 
sents, that  be  w.as  again  a  successful  candidate  for 
the  office  in  1891.  Mr.  Wanzer  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son Township,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  bis  birth  occur- 
ring on  the  7th  of  September,  1857,  and  there  he 
grew  to  manhood.  He  has  been  known  by  the 
people  of  this  community  from  infancj-,  and  the 
people  have  had  ever3-  opportunity  to  judge  of  his 
character  and  qualiflcatiou,  and  this  confidence  in 
him  is  intelligently  placed. 

Mr.  Wanzcr  is  the  son  of  Aliram  and  Ilannali 
(Pickrell)  Wanzer,  natives  respectively  of  New 
Yiirk  and  Ohio.  Tlie  f(.)rnier  was  born  in  Dutchess 
County  on  the  27tli  of  October,  18.'54,  and  the  lat- 
ter in  Monroe  Township,  Logan  County,  in  the 
viHage  of  Pickrelltown  (named  in  honor  of  the 
Pickrell  family).  August  22,  180G.  Our  subject's 
paternal  grandfather,  Michael  AVanzer.  was  a  na- 


tive of  New  Fairfield,  Fairfield  County,  Conn., 
born  on  the  lOtb  of  July,  1801,  and  went  from 
there  to  New  York  when  a  young  man.  Late  in 
life,  be  moved  to  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  there 
passed  away  on  the  13th  of  February,  1890.  He 
bad  followed  the  pursuit  of  farming,  but  in  con- 
nection w.os  also  engaged  in  school  teaching  the 
principal  part  of  his  life.  His  father,  Zebulon  Far- 
ris  AVanzer,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Nutmeg  State, 
and  was  a  Quaker  in  his  religious  views,  .as  were 
all  our  subject's  ancestors  on  the  paternal  side. 
The  gre.at-great  grandfather,  it  is  supposed,  was 
born  in  Germany,  but  none  of  the  ancestors,  so  far 
as  known,  spoke  the  German  language. 

The  matern.al  grandfather  of  Hon.  Charles  M. 
AVanzer,  M.ahlon  Pickrell,  was  born  in  A'irginia  in 
October,  1810,  and  his  father  w.as  also  a  native  of 
that  gr.and  old  State,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1811, 
locating  at  what  is  now  Pickrelltown,  Monroe 
Township,  this  count3',  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  He  was  also  a  Quaker,  and 
came  of  a  Quaker  family.  IMahlon  Pickrell  is  still 
living  and  resides  in  Monroe  Township,  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  has  made  his  home  since 
the  age  of  one  year,  having  been  brought  here  by 
his  parents  in   1811. 

Al)ram  AVanzer  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio 
in  18.50,  when  a  stripling  of  sixteen,  and  grew  to 
manhood  in  Logan  County.  Here  he  was  married 
on  tlie  23d  of  October,  1856,  to  Miss  Pickrell,  who 
had  also  been  reared  in  Logan  Countv,  and  they 
afterward  located  in  Z.anesfield,  Jefferson  Town- 
ship, where  Mr.  AVanzer  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising and  in  connection  also  taught  school. 
He  died  June  19,  18G7.  The  mother  afterward 
married  Mr.  Miles  V.  Blackborn,  and  now  resides 
in  Zanesfield,  Jefferson  Township,  this  count}-. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  the  elder  of  two 
children,  both  sons,  born  to  his  parents.  The  other 
child,  Edwin  P.,  was  born  May  31,  18G3,  and  is 
nowaprominentlawyer  of  Armour,  S.  Dak.  Charles 
:M.  AVanzer  received  his  first  schooling  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Z.anesfield,  his  native  place,  but  in  1872 
he  entered  the  seminary  at  Raisin  A'allcy,  Mich., 
and  remained  there  two  years.  In  1874,  he  went 
to  jMt.  Union  College,  remained  there  two  years, 
and  then  entered  the  Medical  College  of  Oliio,  at 


^^e 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


523 


Cincinnati,  graduating  from  that  well-known  in- 
stitution in  Jlarcb,  1883.  Later,  lie  located  in 
Zanesfiekl,  and  has  been  in  active  practice  ever 
since.  He  is  well  posted  on  all  medical  subjects 
and  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 
In  politics,  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  was  elected  Township  Clerk  in  1884,  holding 
that  olHce  until  1890.  He  was  ahso  a  member  of 
the  School  Board  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  all 
educational  matters.  In  1890,  Mr.  Wanzer  was 
sent  to  represent  Logan  County  in  the  Sixty-ninth 
Gener.al  Assembly,  and  holds  that  position  at  the 
present  time. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  1879,  he  w.as  married 
in  Delaware  Countv,  Ohio,  to  j\Iiss  Amanda  R. 
Cratty,  the  eldest  daugliter  of  D.  G.  and  Martha 
J.  (Grain)  Cratty,  botli  natives  of  Delaware  County, 
Ohio.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cratty:  0.  L.,  Nellie,  the  wife  of  C.  L.  Bell,  and 
Blrs.  Wanzer.  Our  subject  and  wife  have  two  in- 
teresting children:  Hann.ah  Martha,  born  June  18, 
1881  (named  after  her  two  grandmothers),  and 
Jlary  Emily,  born  May  IC,  188G.  Dr.Wanzerwas 
at  one  time  Secretary  of  the  Logan  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  and  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  424, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Zanesfield,  being  Past  Grand  of  the 
same.  He  is  also  a  meml>er  of  Wilford  Lodge  No. 
67,  K.  P.,  of  Eellefontaine. 


I 


OUIS  nUENKE,  an  enterprising  j-ouug 
5)  farmer,  extensively  engaged  in  the  cream- 
ery business  and  the  raising  of  poultry,  was 
born  in  St.  JIary's  Township,  Auglaize  Count}',  on 
the  3d  of  December,  1854.  His  father,  Henry 
Huenke.  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  born 
in  the  year  1812,  and  inherited  .all  the  thrift  and 
energy  of  the  Teutrmic  race.  He  emigrated  to 
America  when  a  young  man,  located  at  New  Bre- 
men, where  he  w.as  one  of  the  tirst  settlei-s,  and  be- 
gan keeping  hotel.  Shortly  afterward,  he  purchase<l 
land  in  German  Township,  on  which  he  settled. 


and  at  once  commenced  improving  it.  Later,  he  lo- 
cated in  St.  M.ary's  Township,  and  there  made  his 
home  for  nearly  fortj-  yeai-s,  and  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  31st  of  .lanuaiy,  1892,  at 
the  age  of  eighty  yeare. 

A  prominent  man  and  one  in  whom  the  commu- 
nity had  a  faithful  and  unswerving  friend,  Henry 
Huenke  was  ever  alert  to  serve  its  best  inter- 
ests, and  generous  in  his  contributions  toward  every 
movement  tending  to  the  general  advancement. 
He  began  for  himself  without  means,  but  through 
industry  became  the  owner  at  one  time  of  three 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  left  each  of  his  nine 
children,  a  comfortable  home.  He  was  a  member 
of  tlie  Lutheran  Churcli,  as  was  also  his  estim.able 
wife,  a  native  of  Germany,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Louisa  Strafer.  She  came  witli  her  parents  to 
America,  and  although  now  sixty-eight  years  of 
age,  is  still  in  the  enjo\'ment  of  comparativelv 
good  health. 

Louis  Huenke,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  above-mentioned  children,  attended  the  district 
school  up  to  the  age  of  about  thirteen,  and  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  about  twenty-seven 
yeai-s  of  age.  He  then  commenced  farming  in  St. 
M.ary's  Township,  but  six  months  later  located  on 
land  near  New  Bremen,  just  outside  the  corpora- 
tion, where  he  has  resided  since.  He  selected  his 
wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Emma  "Wulffeck,  a  na- 
tive of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  their  union  was 
solemnized  on  the  2d  of  November,  1881.  Her  f.a- 
ther,  Victor  Wulffeck,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  has  resided  in  Cincinnati  ever  since  coniincr 
to  America,  when  a  young  man.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Huenke  are  the  parents  of  an  interesting  family  of 
three  children:  Clifford,  Gertie  and  Howard. 

Jlr.  Huenke  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and,  like  his  father,  is  active  in  pro- 
moting .all  enterprises  for  the  good  of  the  count}-. 
He  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres 
of  land  adjoining  the  corporation  of  New  Bremen, 
on  section  15,  .and  on  this  he  began  the  creamery 
business  on  the  1st  of  March,  1886.  Since  its  in- 
ce|)tion,  he  has  greatly  enlarged  the  business,  and 
now  manufactures  on  an  average  about  one  thou- 
sand pounds  of  butter  per  day.  He  gathers  cream 
from   a   wide  scope   of  territory,  and    has    twelve 


524 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


wa°:ons  constantly  on  the  road.  This  is  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  enterprises  in  the  county,  and  Mr. 
Iluenke  is  in  every  waj'  suited  to  the  business.  He 
started  a  wholesale  and  retail  butter  store  in  Cin- 
cinnati, in  1802,  and  has  already  realized  consider- 
able from  that  venture,  his  principal  market  being 
in  New  York  City.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in 
breeding  fine  stock,  and  owns  some  Short-born 
cattle,  also  a  herd  of  Aberdeen  Angus.  Lately  he 
commenced  to  engage  in  the  breeding  of  chickens, 
and  has  all  the  modern  appliances  (incubators, 
etc.),  for  making  a  success  of  this  business,  and  al- 
ready has  fourteen  varieties  of  chickens.  He  sells 
for  breeding  purposes,  and  keeps  all  the  famous 
varieties.  A  wide-awake,  enterprising  young  man, 
prosperity  is  attending  his  efforts,  and  he  is  de- 
servedly successful. 

A  litliographic  portrait  of  Mr.   Huenke   will  be 
noticed  on  another  page. 


l^-i^l 


Wl  OHN  F.  SHROYER.  Tlie  owner  of  a  finely- 
cultivated  farm  of  one  liundred  acres  in 
<^  I  Salem  Township,  and  one  of  the  represen- 
^5^!^  tative  agriculturists  of  Shelby  County,  this 
gentleman  is  deserving  of  considerable  mention  in 
the  Rix'oitn.  On  tlie  patei'nal  side,  he  is  descended 
from  German  ancestors,  who  emigrated  to  tlic 
United  States  at  an  early  day,  and  made  settle- 
ment in  Maryland.  In  that  State,  Grandfather 
Jacob  Shroyer  was  born,  reared  and  married,  and 
there,  too,  he  remained  until  near  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  Miami  County,  Ohio. 

Tlie  parents  of  our  subject,  Thomas  and  Cath- 
erine (Fry)  Shroyer,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
anil  Maryland,  respectively,  both  born  about  180G. 
After  their  marriage,  wliich  occurred  in  Miami 
County,  Ohio,  the3'  removed  to  Shelliy  County  in 
1837,  and  settled  on  section  36,  Salem  Township. 
The  surrounding  country  wasa  wilderness,  the  land 
wholly  unimproved,  and  the  nearest  neiglibor  one 
and  one-half  miles  distant.  Mr.  Slwover  assisted 
in  clearing   the    first    road    in   the  township,  and 


built  one  of  the  first  log  houses  ever  erected  within 
its  limits.  The  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
laud  which  he  purchased  were  heavily  timbered, 
and  it  required  the  most  arduous  exertions  during 
a  number  of  years  to  clear  the  land  and  prepare 
the  soil  for  cultivation.  The  nearest  market  for 
supplies  w.as  at  Sidney,  then  a  mere  hamlet. 

For  forty  j-ears,  Tliom.as  Shroyer  lived  and 
labored  on  the  farm,  and  the  large  measure  of  suc- 
cess wliich  crowned  his  efforts  was  due  to  his  faith- 
ful and  persistent  labors.  He  was  bereaved  by  the 
death  of  his  devoted  wife  in  April,  1879,  and  dur- 
ing the  following  August  he  closed  his  eyes  to  the 
scenes  of  earth,  and  passed  to  the  Great  Bej'ond. 
Fourteen  children  had  been  born  of  this  marriage, 
nine  of  whom  still  survive — honorable  men  and 
women,  who  are  filling  responsible  positions  in 
their  various  communities.  One  son,  Thomas, 
served  as  a  teamster  in  the  Civil  War.  The  pa- 
rents were  faithful  members  of  the  Dunkard 
Church,  in  which  the  father  was  officially  promi- 
nent. In  his  political  belief,  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  earnest  in  his  support  of  the  party  of  his 
choice. 

On  the  farm  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  September 
9,  1833,  our  subject  was  born — one  of  a  pair  of 
twins,  the  other  of  whom  was  accidentally  killed  a 
few  j-ears  since,  while  digging  a  well.  At  the  .age 
of  four  years,  our  subject  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Shelby  County,  where  he  attended  school  in  a 
primitive  log  building — the  first  sclioolhouse  in 
Salem  Township.  The  furnishiugs  were  of  the 
pioneer  order,  and  the  method  of  instruction 
equally  crude,  but  our  subject  gained  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  "  three  R"s,"  and  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  the  broad  education  which  he  afterward 
acquired  through  reading  and  observation. 

Having  been  reared  upon  a  farm,  our  subject 
naturally  chose  agriculture  for  his  life  pursuit,  and, 
at  tlie  age  of  twent\'-one,  commenced  for  himself 
by  renting  land,  wliich  he  cultivated.  In  1858,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Hudlow,  who  was 
born  in  Shelbj'  Count}-,  Ohio.  Her  father,  Jolin 
Hudlow,  was  an  carl}' settler  of  this  county,  and 
she  also  spent  her  entire  life  here,  dying 
in  1886,  at  the  .age  of  forty-three  years.  Eight  of 
her  eleven  children  are  now  living:     John  Henry, 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


525 


who  is  married,  and  lives  in  Logan  County;  Emery, 
Edward  D.,  Samuel  J.,  Alonzo,  Myrtie,  Rose  L., 
and  Benjamin  L. 

June  9,  1887,  Mr.  Sbroyer  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Margaret  Shroyer,  who  was  bora  in  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Martha  (Collins) 
Moore,  the  former  born  in  Maryland  in  1808,  and 
the  latter  in  Pennsylvania  in  1813.  The  latter 
married  in  Belmont  Count}",  Ohio,  whence  they 
removed  to  Logan  County,  and  from  tliere  to 
Union  Count}'  in  1852.  In  1865,  they  came  to 
Shelby  County,  and  settled  in  Jackson  Township, 
where  they  resided  until  near  the  time  of  their 
decease.  Jlrs.  Moore  died  in  June,  1886,  and  her 
husband  passed  from  earth  December  5,  1891. 
Their  family  consisted  of  eleven  children,  six  of 
wliom  are  now  (1892)  living.  One  of  the  sons, 
Samuel,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  serving  in 
defense  of  the  Union. 

Mrs.  Shroyer  was  born  in  Logan  County,  Ohio, 
January  10,  1846,  and  accompanied  her  parents  to 
Union  County  when  a  child.  By  a  former  mar- 
riage she  is  the  mother  of  four  children:  Laura 
D.,  wife  of  Luther  French;  Ada  E.,  who  is  Mrs. 
Edward  Dukeshire;  Walter  and  Emma,  who  are 
with  their  mother.  Mrs.  Shroyer  is  a  lady  of  no- 
ble character  and  a  devoted  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church. 

When  Mr.  Shroyer  settled  upon  his  present 
estate  in  1865,  it  was  a  tangle  of  saplings,  and  the 
ground  was  entirely  covered  witli  water.  He  in- 
troduced a  thorough  and  effective  system  of  tiling, 
by  means  of  which  the  value  of  the  property  has 
been  considerably  enhanced.  Through  his  un- 
aided efforts,  he  has  gained  a  competency,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  most  prosperous  farmers  in  Slieiby 
County.  The  cozy  residence  which  he  now  occu- 
pies was  erected  in  188.5.  and  he  has  added  other 
buildings  as  they  have  been  needed.  His  interest 
in  educational  matters  has  alw.-iys  been  deep,  and 
through  his  exertions  the  present  brick  school- 
house  in  his  district  was  erected.  Realizing  that 
his  success  was  retarded  by  lack  of  education,  it 
has  been  his  constant  endeavor  to  procure  the;  best 
educational  adv.antages  for  his  children  and  in 
every  way  to  qu.alify  them  for  usefulness  in  life. 
Politicallv.  he  is  a  standi    Democrat,  a    leader    in 


local  politics,  and  a  man  of  note  in  the  community. 
He  has  served  as  Road  Supervisor  for  several 
terms,  besides   occupying  other  positions  of  trust. 


^ts^II 


lEUT.  JACOB  D.  FIKE.  Auglaize  County 
tfjj  numbers  among  its  best  and  most  hon- 
ored citizens  many  who  did  conspicuous 
service  in  the  late  war,  and  rose  from  the  ranks 
to  important  official  positions  in  their  regiments. 
Lieut.  J.acob  D.  Fike  is  a  representative  of  this 
class  of  men.  He  is  now  a  farmer  in  Isoble 
Township,  residing  on  section  8,  and  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  judiciary  of  this  part  of  the  State, 
having  served  with  ability  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  many  years. 

Lieut.  Fike  was  born  in  Washington  Township, 
October  29,  1840,  his  father,  Benjamin  Fike,  a 
Pcnnsylvanian,  having  been  a  pioneer  of  that 
part  of  Auglaize  County.  He  had  come  to  Ohio 
in  the  early  years  of  its  settlement,  and  for  a  few 
years  lived  at  Dayton,  whence  he  finally  came  to 
Auglaize  County  and  settled  in  Washington 
Township  when  the  surrounding  country  was  yet 
new  and  but  little  inhabited.  He  purchased  a 
tract  of  wild  land,  cleared  it  and  lived  to  see  a 
fine,  productive  farm  where  once  a  dense  forest 
stood.  He  contributed  his  quota  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county,  and  his  name  is  cherished 
among  its  pioneere.  He  died  in  1855,  and  his  wife 
in  1849.  They  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  six 
are  living,  three  daughtere   and  three  sons. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  son  of  his  worthy- 
parents.  His  growth  was  commensurate  with  that 
of  the  county,  which  was  scarcely  more  than  a 
wilderness  when  he  w.as  a  boy.  The  firet  school 
that  he  attended  w.is  taught  in  a  little  log  cabin, 
whicli  stood  some  distance  from  the  road,  and  was 
surrounded  by  a  dense  gro%vth  of  underbrush, 
through  which  a  path  led  to  the  door  of  the  prim- 
itive institution  of  learning.  The  furniture  therein 
was  of  the  rudest  description,  and  the  educational 
advantages  offered  to  the  scholare  were  not  to  be 


526 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


compared  with  those  enjoyed  by  the  youth  of  to- 
day. Our  subject  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  bis 
mother  ^Yhenhe  w.as  n i ne  years  old,  and  his  boj'hood 
after  that  was  passed  mostly  among  strangers,  and 
he  had  to  work  to  earn  his  board  and  clothes. 
After  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  he  wag  given 
small  wages  in  addition. 

In  April,  1861,  Lieut.  Fike  determined  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  but  he  liad  hardly  com- 
menced to  serve  his  apprenticesliip  when  Ft. 
Sumter  was  fired  upon  by  Soutliern  insurgents, 
and  President  Lincoln  issued  his  famous  call  for 
seventy-five  thousand  troops  to  serve  for  three 
months  to  put  down  the  Rebellion.  Our  subject's 
patriotism  was  aroused,  and,  though  but  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  he  was  among  the  first  to  respond 
to  the  call,  and  his  name  was  enrolled  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry.  His  regi- 
ment was  dispatched  to  the  front  and  took  a 
lively  part  in  some  exciting  skirmishes  with  the 
enemy  and  in  some  forced  marches  in  Virginia  and 
Jlaryland.  His  term  of  enlistment  expired  in 
August  .and  the  Lieutenant  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, but  he  .again  enlisted  for  three  j-ears, 
becoming  a  member  of  Company  D,  Seventy-first 
Oluo  Infantr}',  which  w.as  comm.anded  bj'  Col. 
Mason.  His  first  real  experience  of  a  battle  was 
at  Shiloh,  April  6  and  7,  1862,  and  he  showed  him- 
self to  be  possessed  of  fine  soldierly  qualities, 
whicli  won  him  promotion  from  time  to  time,  and 
he  held  various  ranks  from  that  of  Corporal  to 
Second  Lieutenant,  which  latter  commission  he  still 
holds. 

The  Seventy-first  Ohio  was  disp.atched  to 
Clarkcsville,  Va.,  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh  to 
watch  Gen.  Hood's  movements,  and  while  there 
our  subject  and  many  otliers  were  captured.  A 
month  later  he  was  paroled.  He  subsequently 
saw  service  in  Tennessee,  where  he  remained  until 
his  regiment  was  ordered  to  Atlanta,  arriving 
there  after  the  capture  of  that  city  by  Gen.  Sher- 
man's forces.  Tlie  Lieutenant  and  his  men  were 
in  close  quarters  at  Jonesborough,  but  fought  well 
in  their  encounter  with  the  enemy.  Thej'  lay  in 
camp  at  Atlanta  ag.ain  some  time,  and  then  were 
sent  to  drive  Hood  back  to  Nashville,  where  they 
did  some  desperate  figliting.  ( )ur  sul)jrct  liad   also 


taken  part  in  the  hard  struggle  at  Pulaski,  just  be- 
fore re.aching  Nashville.  Just  before  the  close  of 
the  w.ar,  he  w.as  ordered  with  his  regiment  to  Texas, 
and  during  the  long  and  hot  summer  that  followed 
he  and  his  men  saw  some  hard  service  in  that 
State,  but  they  did  their  dutj'  nobly,  and  were 
fin.ally  discharged  at  San  Antonio  in  November, 
1865.  During  the  four  years  .and  a  half  that  he 
was  so  bravely  upholding  the  honor  of  the  old 
fl.ag  on  many  a  bloody  battlefield,  the  Lieutenant 
experienced  most  of  the  vicissitudes  and  dangers 
inseparable  from  a  soldier's  life,  and  ho  had  sev- 
eral narrow  escapes  from  death.  Once  a  sharp- 
shooter in  a  tree  some  distance  from  him  selected 
Iiim  as  a  target,  but  luckily  a  small  pine  sapling 
just  in  front  of  him  received  the  bullet  intended 
for  him. 

When  his  military  career  was  ended,  Lieut. 
Fike  returned  home,  and  tlie  following  year  after 
his  marriage  bought  property'  in  St.  Mary's,  and 
resided  there  nearly  a  year,  being  employed  in  a 
mill.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  he  purchased  his 
farm  on  section  8,  Noble  Township,  .and  immedi- 
ately located  on  it.  He  found  it  a  wilderness,  the 
only  attempt  at  improvement  being  a  small  log 
house,  in  which  he  lived  until  he  replaced  it  by  a 
more  roomj-  and  comfortable  dwelling.  He  now 
has  a  finely  improved  farm  .as  the  result  of  per- 
sistent and  intelligent  labor,  in  which  he  has  re- 
ceived the  cheerful  co-operation  of  his  wife.  His 
place  contains  eighty  acres  of  land  of  much  fertil- 
ity, the  buildings  are  neat  and  well  built,  and 
ever3'thing  is  in  an  orderly  condition. 

November  29,  1866,  is  the  date  of  the  marriage 
of  our  subject  with  Miss  Cynthia  A.  IMcDonald,  a 
native  of  Fairfield  County  and  a  daughter  of  a 
pioneer  family  of  Auglaize  County.  Her  paternal 
grandfather  w.as  born  in  Ireland  and  was  an  emi- 
grant to  this  country.  Her  parents  located  in 
.Salem  Township,  and  were  among  its  early  pio- 
neers. Both  are  now  deceased.  The  happy  wedded 
life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fike  h.as  been  blessed  to  tliem 
by  the  birth  of  five  children:  Samuel  B.,  Mary 
L.  (deceased),  Isora  R.,  Otto  W.  and  .John  E. 

Lieut.  Fike  has  proved  .as  good  a  citizen  at 
home  in  his  capacity  as  a  public  otlicial  .as  on  the 
battlefields     of     tlie    Soutli.       He     has   served    as 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RFX'ORD. 


527 


Treasurer  of  his  township  three  years,  and  in  two 
more  years  he  will  have  licld  the  i-esponsible  oflice 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace  twenty-one  yeare.  This 
ofHce  is  by  no  means  a  sinecure,  as  there  are  many 
duties  attached  to  it,  and  he  has  had  to  try  many 
cases  and  to  transact  a  good  deal  of  law  business, 
besides  frequently  performing  the  marriage  cere- 
mony for  happy  couples.  The  duties  of  his  otfiee 
have  been  discharged  by  him  with  wisdom,  discre- 
tion and  unshaken  fidelity,  and  in  all  his  experi- 
ence the  judgments  that  he  lias  passed  have  only 
been  reversed  by  a  higher  court  in  one  or  two  in- 
stances, as  the  people  have  felt  that  there  was  no 
appeal  from  the  soundness  and  fairness  of  his  de- 
cisions. He  is  not  only  well  informed  in  legal 
matters,  but  he  has  a  good  fund  of  general  knowl- 
edge. The  Lieutenant  was  chosen  Land  Appraiser 
in  this  township  in  1880,  and  in  1890  wsis  ap- 
pointed Census  Enumerator.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and 
takes  great  interest  in  it.  He  is  an  Elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members. 


'\fjOHX  A.  WERST.  If  the  Old  World  had  not 
contributed  to  the  population  of  the  New, 
Ohio  would  not  have  reached  its  i)resent 
high  state  of  development.  Germany  h.as 
furnished  her  full  quota  of  excellent  men,  and 
among  the  prominent  families  who  at  an  early  day 
emigrated  from  tliat  country  to  this,  with  a  view 
to  bettering  their  condition,  was  the  Werst  family, 
an  honored  representative  of  whom  was  our  sul> 
ject's  father,  Andrew  Werst.  He  had  been  in  the 
army  in  his  native  land  for  many  3"ears,  and  held 
an  otticial  position  when  he  came  to  America.  He 
braved  Neptune's  tender  mercies  in  1833,  and 
after  reaching  the  American  Continent,  came  im- 
mediateh'  to  Ohio,  where  he  entered  eighty  acres 
of  land  the  following  ^-ear.  He  had  been  married  in 
hib   native  couutr\',  but    after  being   in  this  coun- 


try about  a  ye.ar,  his  wife  died.  He  then  removed 
to  Troy,  Ohio,  remaining  there  for  several  years, 
but  finally  moved  back  to  this  township,  and 
was  married  to  a  widow,  Mrs.  Catherine  Walck, 
also  a  native  of  the  Fatherland,  and  they  reared 
a  family  of  two  children,  our  subject  and  Su- 
sannah, who  died  when  eight  years  old.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  he  was 
a  Democrat,  in  politics.  The  father  died  in  1870, 
hut  the  mother  is  still  living,  and  is  probably  the 
oldest  lady  in  Auglaize  County,  being  now  in  her 
ninety-fourth  year. 

It  was  in  18-tO,  in  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  that 
our  subject  began  his  eartlily  career.  His  scholas- 
tic advantages  were  such  as  the  common  schools 
afforded,  and  his  early  training  on  the  farm  fitted 
him  for  his  subsequent  career  as  an  agriculturist. 
It  was  in  1861,  when  about  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  that  our  subject  decided  to  take  unto  himself 
a  wife.  He  marrie<l  Jliss  Eliz.abeth  Wagner,  a  na- 
tive of  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter 
of  Methius  W.agner,  and  immediately  afterward 
located  on  the  farm  where  they  now  reside.  The^- 
started  with  one  hundred  and  tweutj-  acres,  but 
this  has  since  been  increased  to  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  all  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  They 
have  a  good  residence,  with  all  the  modem  im- 
provements, and  the  outbuildings  are  all  substan- 
tial and  commodious.  His  farming  implements  are 
all  of  the  latest  and  best  make,  and  all  his  farming 
operations  are  conducted  on  the  most  thorough 
and  systematic  principles. 

To  this  marri.age  six  children  were  given,  as  fol- 
lows: Henry  J.,  George  A.,  William  E.,  Amelia  M., 
Ella  E.  and  Olena  C.  Henry  J.  married  JNIiss  Ida 
Dicker,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  busi- 
ness at  Wapakoneta,  Ohio;  George  A.  married  Miss 
Mary  Fre^-er,  daughter  of  William  Freyer,  and  is  a 
farmer  of  this  township;  and  William  E.  married 
aiiss  Laura  Bush,  daughter  of  .Joseph  Bush,  of  this 
county,  and  is  now  a  farmer  of  this  eountv.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Werst  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  in  politics,  he  lias  ever  upheld  the 
platform  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  Township  Trustee.  .Tuslice  of  the  Peace, 
Commissioner,  and  has  held  other  local  positions. 
He  is  at  present  Justice   of  the  Peace,  and   is  dis- 


o2S 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


charging  the  duties  of  that  office  in  an  able  and 
superior  manner.  lie  is  one  of  the  representative 
men  of  Auglaize  County,  is  an  excellent  business 
man,  and  thoroughly  understands  managing  a 
farm.  His  children  have  all  been  well  educated, 
and  he  has  ever  takeu  a  deep  interest  in  church 
and  school  work. 


I>^r<^=^ 


^^EORGE  R.  DA\^S.  This  talented  young 
(II  ^——_  lawyer  has  achieved  a  high  reputation  for 
^^Jlj  legal  ability  at  the  Wapakoneta  and  other 
Bare.  He  w.as  born  at  Huntsville,  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  December  13,  1861.  He,  the  second  scion 
of  his  father's  house,  was  reared  in  Auglaize 
County,  and  received  the  best  of  all  training — a 
thorough  course  in  the  public  schools  of  Wapako- 
neta— and  in  time  graduated  from  the  High  School 
of  that  place.  When  still  but  a  youth,  he  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Marshall  it  Broth- 
erton,  of  Wapakoneta,  and  in  July,  1883,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar.  With  characteristic  self-reliance, 
he  opened  an  office  in  the  town  where  he  had 
grown  to  manhood,  and  in  the  midst  of  able  and 
experienced  competition,  lie  is  enjoying  the  re- 
ward of  close  aiiplioatiou  and  diligent  pursuit  of 
his  studies. 

Mr.  Davis  is  not  so  dee|)Iy  immersed  in  his  pro- 
fession that  he  has  lust  all  interest  in  public  affairs; 
on  the  contrary,  he  is  keenly  alive  to  the  current 
issues  of  the  d.ay,  and  h.is  advanced  liberal  and 
progressive  ideas  on  all  current  topics.  As  Presi- 
dent of  the  Citizens'  Building  &  Loan  Company, 
Director  in  the  People's  National  Bank,  Director 
in  the  Wapakoneta  Natural  Gas  Company,  and 
Director  of  the  Home  Milling  Company,  he  com- 
mands the  highest  respect  and  admiration  of  his 
associates  many  years  older  in  experience  than 
himself.  He  has  shown  his  approval  of  secret  or- 
ganizations by  becoming  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  Although  he  never  sought  nor  held 
public  office. lie  takes  an  active  interest  in  p<:)litical 
matters;  has    been    Chairman    of    the    Republican 


Central  and  Executive  Committees  of  his  county, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Central 
Committee  of  Ohio.  He  was  one  of  the  organi- 
zers and  first  President  of  the  Lincoln  Club,  of 
Wapakoneta. 

On  December  21,  188G,  he  was  married  to  Jliss 
Emma  .J.  Davis,  of  Wapakoneta,  but  after  a  brief, 
yet  happy,  wedded  life,  his  wife's  death  occurred, 
July  1,  1889.  His  second  matrimonial  alliance 
w.as  formed  on  the  16th  of  October,  1890,  Miss 
Katharine  Scovil,  of  Circleville,  Ohio,  becoming 
his  wife.  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Davis  are  active  members 
of  the  Presb3-terian  Church,  in  which  he  is  an 
Elder.  In  the  domestic  circle  Mr.  Davis  is  a  model 
husband  and  father,  and  loves  his  family  with  ex- 
treme devotion,  making  their  happiness  and  com- 
fort the  chief  aim  and  object  of  his  life.  When 
the  toils  of  the  day  are  over,  he  can  almost  invari- 
ably be  found  at  his  cozy  and  comfortable  home, 
where  generous  and  true-hearted,  yet  unostenta- 
tious, hospitality  is  displayed  to  the  delight  of  the 
many  ft  lends  who  gather  beneath  their  roof. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Davis,  James  and  Mary  (Col- 
ledge)  Davis,  were  both  born  in  England,  but  came 
to  America  in  early  life  and  were  married  in  Ohio. 
They  were  residents  of  Logan,  Clarke  and  Greene 
Counties  for  a  number  of  years,  but  finally  located 
at  Wapakoneta,  where  the  father  was  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods  until  1882,  when 
he  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  life,  and  with 
his  worthy  wife  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  hale 
and  vigorous  old  age.  Their  other  children  are: 
David  J.,  Edwin  L.,  Lewis  G.,  Wilbert  C,  Caroline 
M.,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  S.  Bodwell,  and  Mary,  wife  of 
Irvin  II.  Davi^. 


<!  a-ILLIAM  BIMEL.  St.  Mary's  is  fortunate 
\f\^///  in  possessing  among  the  jewels  of  her  citi- 
^^j  zenshlp  young  men  whose  enterprise  keeps 
business  in  a  lively  circulation.  Among  the  most 
stirring  of  these  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  is 
at  the  head  of  this  sketch.     He  was  born  in  Sidney, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


529 


Shelby  County,  January  27,  1851.  His  father, 
Lawrence  Bimel,  was  a  native  of  Germany, and  was 
there  born  in  1827. 

Our  subject's  father  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  in  1833,  arriving  in  the  country  when  six 
years  old.  His  father  w.as  a  tailor,  who  souglit  for 
the  betterment  of  his  condition  in  the  New  World. 
The  family  settled  in  Auglaize  County,  ne.ar  AVa- 
p.-xkoneta.  The  country  was  new  and  sparsely 
settled,  and  the  Bimel  family,  in  common  with 
nearly  all  the  pioneers,  saw  some  hard  times.  Al- 
though denied  all  educational  advantages,  Law- 
rence Bimel  picked  up  education  enough  to  enable 
liira  to  transact  business  intelligently.  Having 
learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  he  settled  at 
Sidney,  C)hio,  where  he  w.as  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  carriages  and  in  general  blacksmithing. 
During  one  of  the  long  and  tedious  trips  K.ast  for 
material  to  work  with,  the  foreman  of  his  shop 
loaded  up  all  the  tools  and  material  that  were  mov- 
able and  drove  off  with  it.  This  was  a  sad  blow 
to  the  prospects  of  the  Bimel  family.  In  1857, 
our  subject's  father  moved  to  St.  Mary's  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  same  line  of  business,  and  in 
1868  he  erected  a  large  hub  and  spoke  factory. 
This  was  destroyed  by  fire.  In  1872,  he  began  tlie 
manufacture  of  the  Bimel  Wagon,  which  has  be- 
come quite  famous.  He  died  in  1888,  but  had 
previously  established  a  large  and  lucrative  busi- 
ness. He  was  a  modest,  hard-working,  industrious 
man. 

Our  subject's  mother,  Elizabeth  (Seitz)  Bimel, 
also  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  America  when 
a  child.  She  continues  to  reside  in  St.  Mary's,  oc- 
cupying a  comfortable  brick  residence  which  was 
erected  by  her  late  husband.  Five  of  their  nine 
children  are  still  living,  and  of  tliese  our  subject 
is  the  eldest. 

William  Bimel  received  his  education  in  the 
pulilic  schools  of  St.  ilary's.  At  the  age  of  nine 
years,  ho  went  to  work  in  his  father's  carri.age  shop, 
and  when  only  seventeen,  w.as  m.ade  superintend- 
ent of  the  paint  department,  having  previously 
mastered  the  trade.  He  subsequently  became  gen- 
eral superintendent  of  the  work, doing  the  buying 
and  assuming  much  of  the  business. 

In  18'J1,  the  carriage  W(_jrks  became  the  |)roperty 


of  a  stock  company,  for  which  Mr.  Bimel  is  the 
general  manager.  Besides  this,  he  is  interested  in 
other  enterprises,  being  a  stockholder,  Director, 
and  holding  the  ollice  of  .Secretary  and  Treasurer 
of  the  Bimel  &  Standish  Manufacturing  Company, 
which  is  one  of  the  prosperous  industries  of  St. 
Mary's.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  has  valuable  property  interests  in 
the  town. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1874  to  Jliss  Carrie 
Bradley,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  .Jacob  Bradley,  who  was 
for  many  jeare  a  prominent  and  successful  phjsi- 
cian  of  St.  Mary's.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bimel  are  the 
parents  of  three  children,  whose  names  are  Ger- 
trude, Emma  and  Marguerite.  Mr.  Bimel  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  preference  but  is  not  an 
active  politician.  He  has  served  on  the  School 
Board  for  several  years  and  also  in  the  City 
Council. 


C.  B().\LS,  one  of  the  prominent  mer- 
chants in  Bcllefontaine,  is  a  native  of 
Richland  County,  Ohio.  He  was  born 
December  9,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles 
and  Sarah  .7.  (Richie)  Boals,  both  of  whom  are  na- 
tives of  the  same  county  as  is  our  subject.  Charles 
Boals  is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  still  lives  at 
the  place  of  his  birth,  where  he  has  been  eminently 
successful  in  his  chosen  calling.  Of  the  two  sous, 
JI.  C.  and  M.  R.,  the  latter  is  an  attornej-,  a  resi- 
dent of  the  same  city  as  our  subject. 

M.  C.  Boals  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
in  his  native  place,  and  later  entered  Central  Col- 
lege of  Iberia,  Ohio.  He  remained  on  his  father's 
farm  until  about  twenty  yeare  of  age,  and  after 
finishing  his  collegiate  course,  he  was  euijaged  as 
a  teacher  during  the  winter  months,  having  a  posi- 
tion in  the  public  schools;  later,  he  took  a  position 
in  the  college  at  Iberia. 

When  twenty-four  years  of  age.  Mr.  Buals  went 
to  reuusylvauia,    and    was   accepted    as   a    book- 


530 


PORTRMT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


keeper  of  the  Dicks  Bank,  at  West  Newton.  During 
the  l.ittor  p.ait  of  Iiis  connection  with  tliis  estab- 
lishment he  served  in  the  cap.ncity  of  Cashier.  In 
this  place  he  spent  about  three  and  a  half  years, 
and  thence  went  to  Beaver P'alls,  in  the  same  State, 
where  he  embarked  in  the  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness, which  he  carried  on  quite  extensively  until 
188-t,  when  he  came  to  Bellefontaine. 

Since  the  date  above  given,  our  subject  has  been 
energetic  in  the  prosecution  of  his  calling.  He 
has  occupied  the  same  building  up  to  the  present 
time.  It  is  a  commodious  two-story  brick  struc- 
ture at  the  junction  of  Garfield  Avenue  and  Co- 
lumbus Street.  Here  he  carries  a  good  stock  of 
general  merchandise,  including  dry  goods,  grocer- 
ies, etc.  During  his  career  .as  a  merchant  in  this 
place,  Mr.  Boals  h.as  built  up  a  very  satisfactory 
business,  which  is  constantl}'  on  the  increase.  His 
whole  attention  is  given  to  his  business,  nor  does 
he  seek  anN'  publicity. 

]M.  C.  Boals  was  married  February  13,  1884,  to 
Miss  Lulu  Piersol,  of  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  member  of  the  Roy.al  Arcanum,  and  both 
be  and  his  wife  worship  with  the  United  Presb}'- 
terians. 


^^il-^"i^ll^#!t 


^^  NDRKW  H.  NICKELL.  One  of  the  men 
^Ol     who  has  controlled  circumstances  in  life 

jjri&  and  commanded  success  is  Mr.  Nickel  1, 
(^  a  representative  farmer  of  Wayne  Town- 
ship, Augl.aize  County,  Ohio.  As  a  m.an  of  ad- 
vanced ideas  and  tendencies,  he  is  well  known  all 
over  Auglaize  County, and  as  a  citizen  and  neigh- 
bor he  is  much  esteemed.  Born  in  Logan  County, 
December  12,  1832,  he  comes  of  an  old  and  promi- 
nent Virginia  family,  his  father  and  mother  both 
being  natives  of  that  State,  and  both  born  in 
Greenbrier  County. 

At  a  very  early  date,  the  parents  emigrated  to 
Ohio  and  settled  on  the  .South  Fork  of  the  Jlianii 
River.  Their  only  neighbors  were  Indians,  but 
they  enjoyed    friendly    relations    with    them  and 


cleared  their  farm  without  any  fear  of  being  in- 
jured. AVild  animals  were  also  very  numerous  at 
that  time.  On  this  farm  in  the  wilderness  their 
two  children,  William  and  Andrew,  were  born. 
The  mother  died  about  six  weeks  after  the  birth 
of  Andrew.  A  short  time  afterward,  the  father 
was  again  married  and,  taking  his  wife  and  son 
William,  moved  to  Missouri.  The  father  died  in 
Davis  County,  Mo. 

Our  subject  passed  his  youthful  days  amid  scenes 
of  pioneer  life  and  his  early  scholastic  advantages 
were  such  as  he  could  receive  in  the  district  and 
subscription  schools  of  his  day.  A  portion  of  the 
time  he  was  obliged  to  walk  three  miles  through 
the  woods  and  attended  school  only  about  three 
months  during  the  year.  In  this  way,  he  received 
his  education.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  \-ears,  he  was 
obliged  to  start  out  for  himself  and  he  first  worked 
at  farming  in  Auglaize  County.  When  seventeen 
years  of  age,  he  bought  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Herring,  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Herring,  of  Logan  County,  Ohio. 

After  their  nuptials  had  been  celebrated,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nickell  settled  on  the  farm  they  now- 
own  on  sections  13  and  14,  Wayne  Township,  this 
county,  and  this  the}'  have  improved  in  every 
way.  They  have  added  to  the  original  tract  until 
they  now  own  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  and  in  comfort  and  plenty  they  can 
pass  the  remainder  of  their  days.  Both  have  been 
hard-working  and  industrious  citizens,  excellent 
neighbors,  and  as  such  they  merit  and  have  the 
respect  of  all.  AVe  take  much  pleasure  in  chron- 
icling the  history  of  this  worth}'  couple.  In  poli- 
tics, Mr.  Nickell  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat. 
He  h.as  held  the  oflice  of  Township  Trustee  twelve 
vears,  .School  Director  for  the  same  length  of  time, 
and  Township  .Supervisor  and  Pike  Supervisor. 

In  1861,  he  enlisted  for  three  yeare  in  Company 
E,  Eighty -second  Ohio  Infantry,  as  a  private,  and 
w.as  first  at  Camp  Simon,  Kenton,  Ohio.  Two 
months  later,  ho  went  to  the  front  at  Grafton,  Va., 
and  from  there  to  Moorefield,  where  he  was  taken 
sick  with  measles.  After  recovering,  he  was  in  the 
various  battles  oi  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  was 
in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  at  which  eng.age- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


531 


inent  his  regiment  was  badlj-  cut  up.  On  the  20th 
of  December,  18G1,  Mr.  Nickell  was  commissioned 
Second  Lieutenant  and  later  First  Lieutenant,  hold- 
ing tliat  rank  in  his  company  until  1862,  when  he 
was  discharged  for  physical  disability.  He  was  a 
brave  and  gallant  soldier  and  served  his  country 
faithfully  and  well.  Returning  to  his  home,  he 
resumed  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  farming. 


il^S^H 


m 


V.  LUSK  is  a  representative  of  the  f.irmers 
of  the  present  generation  who  have  within 
a  few  years  stepped  to  the  front  to  aid  in 
^^^/  carrj'ing  on  the  great  agricultural  interests 
of  this  county.  His  farm,  which  comprises  three 
hundred  and  eighty  .acres,  is  pleasantly  located  on 
section  21,  L'nion  Township,  Auglaize  County,  and 
is  amply  supplied  with  every  convenience  for  car- 
rying on  agriculture. 

Benjamin  and  Cynthia  (Compton)  Lusk,  the 
parents  of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  Virginia, 
the  father  being  Iwra  in  1809,  and  the  mother  in 
1817.  They  were  married  in  their  native  State, 
and  came  to  Ohio  in  1844,  locating  on  section  23 
of  this  township,  on  a  farm  which  Itore  no  improve- 
ments whatever.  A  few  years  later,  he  took  up  his 
abode  on  section  26,  which  he  improved,  and  later 
sold  in  order  to  locate  on  section  16,  which  he 
made  his  permanentabiding-place.  This  farm  also 
w.as  in  its  primitive  state,  and  Mr.  Lusk.  erecting  a 
log  cabin  thereon,  resided  on  that  place  until  his 
decease,  which  occurred  in  1878.  His  good  wife, 
who  still  survives,  makes  her  home  with  her  chil- 
dien,  of  whom  there  were  nine  in  number,  four  of 
whora  are  deceased.  Tliose  living  besides  our  sub- 
ject are  Frances,  Marion,  Xora  McDongh  and  be- 
b.astion.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  early  life, 
but  later  attended  the  United  Brethren  Church  at 
L'niopolis.  The  father  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and,  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  township, 
held  the  oflice  of  Justice  of  the  Boace. 

J.  F.  Lusk  w.as  born   July    2.    IH18,   on    the   old 
2J 


homestead  on  section  16.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  w.as  carefully  reared  under  excel- 
lent homo  influence,  and  during  his  boyhood  and 
youth  had  an  experience  in  farm  work  that  has 
been  invaluable  since,  as  he  w.as  taught  to  do  things 
well,  and  never  to  neglect  an  opportunity  to  im- 
prove his  finances  by  taking  advantage  of  the  mar- 
kets. He  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Clara,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Jane  (Baily) 
Focht,  which  occurred  in  1867.  Mrs.  Lusk,  who 
was  born  in  April,  1849,  in  thistownship,  after  her 
marri.age  located  with  our  subject  on  the  old  home- 
stead, where  tliey  resided  for  four  jcars.  Mr. 
Lusk  then  purcliased  his  present  farm,  which  in- 
cludes three  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  that  owns  eighty  acres  of  his  father's 
estate. 

The  present  residence  of  our  subject,  which  was 
erected  in  1881,  is  equipped  with  all  the  con- 
veniences of  modern  life  and  cost  $2,300.  He 
also  h.as  a  large  barn  which  he  built  in  1882,  and 
all  the  other  necessary  sti-uctures  needful  for  the 
storage  of  grain  and  shelter  of  stock.  He  has  laid 
a  large  amount  of  tiling  on  the  farm,  which  bv  a 
proper  rotation  of  cro[>s  is  made  to  bloom  and 
yield  a  handsome  increase. 

The  two  children  bom  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife  are  Frank,  who  married  Fannie  Johns,  and 
Claude,  who  still  remains  at  home.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Lusk  is  a  conservative  Democrat. 


-^ 


'^OHN  F.  LL'KENS,  a  prominent  farmer  and 
educator,  residing  two  miles  south  of  West 
Mansfield,  Perry  Township.  Logan  Ci)unty, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  AVayne  Township,  AVar- 
en  County,  Ohio,  on  the  7th  of  January-,  1824.  His 
father,  Joseph  F.  Lukins,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  was  born  in  Frederick  C'ount3-.  where  he  was 
reared  and  married.  He  decided  that  he  would  take 
advantage  of  the  promise  held  out  by  the  Buck- 
eye .State  in  1822  and  moved  within  its  borders, 
locatinsr  on  a  farm   in  Warren  County.     In    1833, 


532 


yORTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  removed  from  there  to  tognn  County,  that 
State,  settled  three  miles  north  from  Zanesfield,  in 
Jefferson  Township,  and  tliere  made  his  home  until 
1865.  After  this,  he  m.ade  his  home  with  his  son 
John  F.  until  his  death  in  the  year  1871.  His 
wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Fawcett,  was  also  a  native 
of  the  Old  Dominion,  born  in  Frederick  County, 
where  she  passed  her  girlhood  and  youth.  She 
(lied  in  Logan  County  in  1865.  Our  subject's 
paternal  grandfather,  Jonathan  Lukeus.  was  born 
in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  but  subsequently  removed 
to  Virginia,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  He  was  a  Quaker  in  his  religious  views. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  John  Fawcett,  was  a 
Quaker  and  of  Irish  descent. 

Our  subject,  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of 
three  childen  and  the  first  son,  had  the  adv.antages 
of  the  common  schools  of  early  times,  and  when 
twenty-two  years  of  age  began  teaching  during 
the  winter  months.  This  he  continued  for  eleven 
years,  and  during  that  time  made  strenuous  efforts 
to  educate  himself,  spending  his  si)are  moments  in 
study.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
his  marriage,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  to  Miss 
Louisa  K.  Swartz,  the  daughter  of  Martin  and 
Hannah  Swartz,  and  a  native  of  Stark  County, 
Ohio.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Mt.  Union  College, 
Stark  County,  and  a  lad}'  of  more  than  average 
intelligence.  After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mre.  Lukens 
located  on  their  present  property,  which  he  had 
purchased  in  1848,  and  began  improving  the  raw 
land.  He  owned  one  hundred  and  twentj-  acres 
in  the  woods,  and  on  this  the  ambitious  young 
couple  settled,  prepared  to  work  hard  to  become 
the  ownei-s  of  a  comfortable  home.  In  this  they 
were  successful,  for  now  they  can  sit  down  and 
enjoy  the  comforts  and  conveniences  brought 
about  by  their  early  struggles.  They  are  now  the 
owners  of  two  hundred  and  forty-four  acres  of 
tine  farming  land,  one  of  the  very  best  tracts  in 
the  county,  and  on  this  are  substantial  buildings 
of  all  kinds.  Apart  from  the  house,  Mr.  Lukens 
has  a  beautiful  office  of  brick,  and  this  he  uses  as  a 
study,  having  a  fine  library  of  standard  books. 
He  is  a  civil  engineer  and  surveyor  and  followed 
this  business    in    Logan  County  for  twenty  years. 


In  connection  with  his  other  business  enterprises 
he  is  also  an  inventor,and  author  of  three  patents. 
He  raises  stock  .and  all  his  farming  operations 
are  conducted  in  a  manner  suggesting  thorough- 
ness and  completeness.  He  has  met  with  more 
than  the  ordinary  degree  of  success  and  is  a  man 
whose  sound  judgment  and  excellent  business 
acumen  have  brought  him  in  good  returns.  He  has 
kept  a  diary  for  thirty-six  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lukeus  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Charles 
H.,  who  was  born  in  1869,  and  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Starling  Medical  College  of  Columbus,  Ohio. 
He  is  a  bright  young  man  and  a  very  fine  penman, 
having  been  Professor  of  Penmanship  in  the  Cen- 
tral Ohio  College, where  he  w.as  graduated  in  1887, 
before  attending  the  medical  college.  He  is  now 
practicing  his  profession  and  resides  with  his  par- 
ents. Our  subject  is  an  ardent  Republican  in  pol- 
itics, was  an  Abolitionist  in  early  times,  takes  an 
active  interest  in  the  political  issues  of  the  day, 
and  is  a  fluent  and  forcible  speaker.  He  has  been 
School  Director  for  many  years  and  is  thoroughly 
interested  in  educational  matters. 


^  AMES  SLACK,  Esq.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
sale  and  repair  of  machinery,  and  is  one  of 
the  finest  machinists  in  .Auglaize  County, 
is  prominently  connected  with  the  oflicial 
life  of  New  Knoxville  and  Washington  Township  in 
various  civic  capacities.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  July  11,  1851.  His 
father,  Benjamin  Slack,  and  his  grandfather,  James 
Slack,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania.  The  latter  was 
a  farmer,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day.  The 
father  of  our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpen- 
ter in  youtli,  and  worked  at  it  in  Cincinnati  and 
other  places  in  this  State.  But  he  was  not  a  ro- 
bust man,  and  he  died  in  1860,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-four  years,  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  man- 
hood, llis  wife,  Christina  Slack,  wee  Kuck,  a  Ger- 
man  by  birth,  survives  him.     She  is  a  member  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


533 


tlie  German  Reformed  Church,  ami  a  sincere  Chris- 
tian in  every  respect. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  four 
childreu,  and  the  Only  one  living.  lie  came  to 
New  Knoxville  with  his  parents  in  18.59,  when  he 
was  a  child,  and  has  made  his  home  here  ever  since, 
proving,  when  he  attained  man's  estate,  a  valuable 
addition  to  its  citizenship.  lie  attended  the  com- 
mon district  schools  in  his  boyhood,  but  he  is 
mainly  self-educated, learning  much  by  intelligent 
reading  and  by  observation  .and  experience,  as  his 
health  was  poor  for  several  years  when  he  was  a 
child,  so  that  he  could  not  alwaj'S  go  to  school  regu- 
larly. He  early  displayed  a  decided  genius  for 
mechanics,  and  even  in  his  boyhood  could  handle 
tools  very  skillfully.  He  is  a  first-class  machinist, 
and  can  do  anything  he  sets  his  hand  to.  This 
talent  is  of  great  use  to  him, as  he  can  make  it  very 
profitable  by  repairing  all  kinds  of  machinery, 
which  forms  a  part  of  his  business,  and  he  also 
sells  thresher's  supplies,  including  steam  engines 
and  other  machinery. 

iMr.  Slack  and  Miss  Fanny  Graessle,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Pliilip  and  Julia  Graessle, 
were  united  in  marriage  in  187.5,  and  two  children 
complete  their  happy  household,  Cora  and  Bertha. 
]Mrs.  Slack's  father  is  in  the  Methodist  ministry, 
and  is  now  stationed  at  Pomeroy,  Ohio.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  family  have  a  very  pleasant  home  in 
a  large  modem  frame  residence,  which  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  neat  and  attractive  lawn,  everj'- 
thing  both  within  and  without  the  house  indicat- 
ing a  high  degree  of  taste.  Mr.  Slack  has  other 
valuable  property,  including  the  natural  gas  plant 
that  supplies  New  Knoxville  with  light  and  fuel, 
and  of  which  he  is  the  sole  proprietor. 

Our  subject  is  a  man  of  fine  mental  and  moral 
calibre,  is  well  infonned  in  the  current  events  of 
the  day,  and  has  the  esteem  and  full  confidence 
of  all  with  whom  he  associates.  His  opinion  is 
vahied  b\'  his  fellow-citizens,  who  often  seek  his 
counsel,  and  they  have  entrusted  to  his  guidance 
several  important  oliiccs.  ,He  has  been  connected 
with  the  School  Board  for  several  yeare  as  Clerk 
and  Treasurer;  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace 
twelve  years,  and  is  Notary  Public,  transacting 
considerable   business    for    his    neiirhbors  in   that 


cap.acity;  and  for  nineteen  years  he  h.as  been 
Clerk  of  Washington  Township.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  deci<led  Republican.  Religiously,  both  he  and  his 
estimable  wife  are  INIethodists,  and  true  Christian 
pnnci|)les  are  manifested  in  their  daily  acts  of 
charity,  consideration  for  others,  and  kindly 
thoughts  for  all. 


'T^.EV.  CLINTON  D.  HOOVER,  who  for  a 
y<u'  number  of  years  has  been  aiding  in  the 
^  *  spread  of  the  Gospel,  devotes  himself  with 
''  assiduity  and  loving  zeal  to  the  work  of  the 
ministrj-.  The  center  of  his  present  field  of  labor 
is  in  the  city  of  Wapakoneta,  where  he  is  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  a  man  of  broad 
intelligence,  decided  literary  ability  and  the  digni- 
fied yet  winning  manners  so  thoroughly  in  keeping 
with  his  profession. 

He  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  October  19,  1859,  and  is  the  son 
of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Stephey)  Hoover,  also 
natives  of  M.aryland,  whore  the  father,  who  is  a 
retired  farmer,  is  still  residing.  They  were  the 
parents  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living,  and  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  only  son.  He  received  a  literary-  education  in 
the  High  School  at  Hagerstown,  and  was  reared  to 
mature  years  on  the  home  farm.  Having  joined 
the  church  about  eighteen  years  ago,  Mr.  Hoover 
took  immediate  action  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
ministry,  and  entering  the  Pennsylvania  College 
at  Gettysburg,  in  1879,  was  graduated  with  the 
honors  of  his  class  in  1883.  Thence  he  went  to 
Yale  College,  and  after  a  three-yeai's  course  in 
that  well-known  institution,  w.as  graduated  there- 
from in  188(3. 

After  completing  his  ministerial  studies,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hoover  w.as  engaged  for  five  months  in  general 
missionary  work  and  in  organizing  and  build- 
ing churches  in  Norllnveslcrn  Dakota.  In  1887, 
he  came  to  Columbus,  where  he  was  ordained  and 
given  a   pastoral    charge   over  a   church    at  Circle- 


534 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ville,  where  he  remained  for  two  years.  In  1889, 
he  came  to  AVapakoncta,  where  his  labors  have 
been  expended  in  belialf  of  the  cluiieli  here,  the 
congregation  representing  tlie  leading  families  of 
the  city. 

Mr.  Hoover  w;is  married  June  27,  188'J,  to  Miss 
Sadie  Albaiigli,  of  Ciicleville.  Our  subject  in  so- 
cial matters  is  a  member  of  the  M.asonic  fraternity, 
and  a  Kniglit  of  Pythi.as.  He  is  a  talented  young 
man,  an  able  minister,  and  the  work  which  he  has 
accomplished  in  the  uplifting  of  hum.anily  can 
only  be  measured  when  time  shall  be  no  more. 


"ifi  OHX  C.  NOBLE  is  a  descendant  of  a  promi- 
I  1    nent  pioneer  family  of  this  section  of  Ohio, 

d]  and  has  himself  been  potent  in  developing 
,^_Jj  and  extending  the  rich  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  Auglaize  County,  his  farm  on  section  5, 
Salem  Township,  ranking  among  the  first  within 
its  borders  in  all  the  essentials  of  a  well-appointed, 
skillfully  managed  farm.  Mr.  Noble  has  a  fine 
mUitary  record,  although  he  was  but  a  hoy  when 
he  entered  the  army,  during  the  trying  times  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  fought  side  by  side  with  the 
bravest  and  sturdiest  veterans  of  his  regiment, 
serving  with  credit  in  many  of  the  severest  battles 
of  the  war. 

Itlr.  Noble  is  a  native  of  the  adjoining  county 
of  fiercer,  born  in  tlie  town  of  Mendon,  Jlarch 
9,  1815.  His  ancestry  is  traced  back  to  three 
brothers,  who  emigrated  from  England  in  Colo- 
nial times,  one  of  them  having  settled  in  Mary- 
land. Tlie  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  w.as  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  and  tlie  grandfather  of  our 
subject  Ijore  a  gaUant  part  in  the  War  of  1812. 
Elisha  Noble,  from  whom  our  suliject  is  descended, 
was  born  on  the  Eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and 
emigrated  thence  to  Ohio  in  the  early  days  of  its 
settlement.  He  became  a  pioneer  of  Clinton  County, 
and  later  of  Mercer  CViuntv,  of  which  latter  (ilacc 
he  was  au  early  and  prominent  settler,  living  there 


many  years.  He  was  Commissioner  of  the  county, 
and  held  other  offices  of  trust. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  who  bore  the  same 
name  as  himself,  was  born  in  Clinton  County,  and 
was  young  when  his  father  removed  to  Mercer 
County.  He  became  a  farmer,  and  had  a  bright 
and  promising  career  before  him,  which  was  sud- 
denlj-  closed  by  his  death  in  1844,  at  an  early  age. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Isabelle  Hamilton 
prior  to  her  marriage,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Judge  Justin  Hamilton,  one  of  the  prominent  and 
best-known  pioneers  of  Mercer  County.  He  was 
surveyor.  Legislator,  Judge  and  Brigadier-General 
of  State  militia,  and  was  noted  for  his  intelligence 
and  force  of  char.acter.  He  reared  a  family  of  re- 
markable children.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  twice  married,  becoming  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Brewer  after  her  first  husband's  death.  By  her 
first  marriage,  she  had  two  children,  and  five  by 
her  second  union. 

Mr.  Noble  is  the  j'ounger  and  only  living  child 
born  to  his  parents.  He  attended  the  district 
schools  until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  and  ob- 
tained such  an  education  as  the  times  afforded, 
when  primitive,  rudely  furnished  log  schoolhouses 
were  the  order  of  the  d.ay.  War  broke  out  between 
the  North  and  tlie  South  while  he  was  conning  his 
lessons  in  the  old  schoolhouse,  and  at  length  he 
abandoned  his  studies  that  hemiglit  join  tlie  brave 
boj'S  in  blue  to  help  fight  his  country's  battles,  al- 
tliough  he  was  but  seventeen  years  old.  He  en- 
listed in  August,  1862,  in  Company  E,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighteenth  Ohio  Infantry',  and  for  six 
months  w.as  engaged  principally  in  scouting  with 
a  detachment  of  his  company  in  Kentucky,  and 
then  he  and  his  comrades  were  ordered  to  join 
Burnside  in  Eastern  Tennessee.  They  did  some 
hard  fighting  in  the  battles  of  Mossy  Creek, 
Loudoun,  Campbell's  Station,  Kingston,  Buzzard's 
Roost,  Rcsaca,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  New  Hope 
Church.  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Lost  Mountnin,  At- 
lanta, Franklin.  Nashville,  Ft.  Anderson  and  Wil- 
mington, and  in  all  these  famous  engagements  the 
men  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  won 
high  reputation  as  among  the  bravest  and  best 
soliliers  in  tlie  field.  At  New  Berne,  X.  C.our  sub- 
ject at  length  succumbed   to   tlie   hardships  which 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


535 


he  had  to  unclergo,  was  placed  on  the  sick  list  in 
the  liospital,  and  was  unlil  fur  further  active  ser- 
vice. Not  long  after  the  war  closed,  he  was 
mustered  out  at  Salisljury,  N.  C,  and  received  his 
final  discharge  papers  at  Cleveland. 

Returning  home  at  the  end  of  his  soldier's 
career,  5Ir.  Noble  turned  his  attention  to  complet- 
ing his  education,  and  spent  the  ensuing  two  years 
at  the  Normal  Universitj-  at  Lebanon.  lie  left 
that  institution  with  a  high  reputation  for  scholar- 
ship, and  for  several  _vears  taught  sehix>l  winters, 
and  devoted  the  remainder  of  the  season  to  farm- 
ing. In  1872, he  located  on  his  farm  ou  section  5, 
Salem  Township,  which  he  has  cleared  and  im- 
proved from  a  wilderness,  besides  buying  and 
placing  under  cultivation  one  hundred  and  sixty 
more  acres.  Ho  now  h.as  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  tine  land,  which  he  h.as  transformed  into 
one  of  the  choicest  farms  in  all  Auglaize  County, 
with  fields  admirably  di-ained  and  tilled;  a  frame 
house  and  barn  and  substantial  buildings  for  all 
needed  purposes  are  indicative  of  thrift  and 
plenty,  wliile  the  farm  is  supplied  with  every  con- 
venience for  carrying  on  agriculture  after  tlie  best 
modern  methods,  as  our  sultject  is  an  intelligent, 
thoughtful,  practical  farmer,  and  brings  a  clear 
well-trained  brain  to  his  work.  A  man  of  his 
caliljre  and  well-known  integrity  necessarily  oc- 
cupies an  important  position  in  his  township,  and 
we  find  his  name  among  the  list  of  oflice-holders. 
He  has  served  as  Trustee,  and  as  Assessor  two 
terms.  He  has  been  a  Republican  in  polities,  and 
a  memlier  of  Kishler  Post  No.  8.3,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
was  Commander  in  1889,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
of  Auglaize  Battalion.  Our  subject  for  the  past 
two  or  three  yeare  has  identified  himself  with  the 
Laljor  party  and  was  the  State  delegate  to  the  .St. 
Louis  Labor  Conference  of  February  22.  1892,  of 
that  party.  He  is  an  Elder  in  tlie  Presbyteri.an 
Church,  and  is  a  manly,  earnest  Christian,  whose 
exemplary  life  is  an  infiuence  for  good  in  his  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Noljle  attributes  his  success  in  life  to  his 
beloved  wife  of  sainted  memory,  to  whom  he  was 
wedded  Novemljcr  1.  1871.  Theii-s  was  a  true 
marriage,  whose  only  sorrmv  was  in  her  death  that 
ended  it  .lanuarv  11.  IsiH.      It  had  lieen  hallowed 


by  the  birth  of  three  children:  Edith,  Charles  and 
Elbert.  Mi-s.  Noble's  maiden  name  was  Josephine 
E.  Richardson,  and  she  was  born  in  Mercer  Countyi 
February  17,  1843,  of  which  place  her  parents,  who 
were  from  New  Jersey,  were  early  settlers.  She  had 
a  fine  mind,  was  well  educated,  and  taught  several 
successive  terms.  She  possessed  much  literary 
abilit3%  wrote  in  an  easy,  pleasing  style,  liaving  a 
large  stock  of  information  from  which  to  draw, 
and  she  w.as  often  called  upon  to  prepare  notices 
for  the  papers,  to  write  ess.ays  or  articles  for  public 
occasions,  and  her  graceful  pen  was  always  prompt 
in  response  to  such  demands.  Her  accomplish- 
ments made  her  by  no  means  negligent  of  her 
domestic  duties  or  of  the  comfort  of  her  loved 
ones.  Ou  the  contrary-,  she  was  a  superior  house- 
wife, and  was  noted  for  her  good  management  of 
her  household  affairs,  possessing  unusual  common- 
sense  and  judgment.  She  made  her  husband's 
interests  her  own,  and  was  his  guide,  counselor 
and  friend.  Slie  was  a  member  of  the  Presbj-terian 
Church,  and  a  faithful  worker  in  the  fold,  who 
w.as  always  doing  good  whenever  opportunity  of- 
fered, and 

"  All  hearts  grew  warmer  in  the  presence 
Of  one  who,  seeking  not  her  own. 
Gave  freely  for  the  love  of  giving, 
Nor  reaped  for  self  the  harvest  sown." 

'•  'Tis  hard  to  take  this  burden  up, 

AVhen  sucli  have  laid  it  down; 
They  brightened  all  the  J03S  of  life, 

They  softened  every  frown; 
But  oh,  'tis  good  to  think  of  them 

When  we  are  tempted  sore! 
Thanks  be  to  God  that  sueli  have  been, 

Although  they  are  no  more." 


I»;  A.  SKILLEN,  pension    attorney  for  Sit 


ney,  Ohio,  and  one  of  the  old  soldiers  of 

^  \^      this  count}',  is  a  stanch  patriot,  and  is  as 

loyal  to  his   friends  as   to    liis    country.     He  was 

born  on   the   5th  of  January,  1830,  to    the  union 

of  James  and  Sarah  (Jones)  Skillen.     Tlie   father 


536 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  a  native  of  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  and 
came  to  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  in  181 6,  and  from 
there  to  Shelby  County  in  1826,  following  the  pur- 
suit of  farming  all  his  life.  After  locating  there, 
he  was  for  niauj-  years  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Tliere 
he  made  his  home  until  the  year  1854,  when  he 
moved  to  Bremer  County,  Iowa,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  final  summons  in  the  year  1882.  The 
mother  had  departed  tliis  life  in  the  year  1865. 
Both  were  faithful  members  of  the  New  Light  or 
Christian  Church,  and  he  was  a  minister  in  the 
same  for  fifty  years. 

During  his  youthful  days,  our  subject  divided 
his  time  in  attending  the  common  schools  and  in 
assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  After  reaching 
his  majority,  he  continued  farming  for  himself, 
and  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Rice,  of  Salem 
Township,  this  county.  Seven  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  five  of  whom  are  living:  S.  W.,  a 
United  States  soldier  for  the  past  seven  and  a  half 
years;  D.  O.,  traveling  salesman  for  the  Kennedy 
Cracker  Company;  Anna  M.,  wife  of  C.  M.  Davis, 
of  Piqua;  Laura  M.  and  James  O.  are  still  attend- 
ing school.  Mr.  Skillen  continued  farming  until 
the  18th  of  August,  1861,  when  he  was  filled  with 
a  patriotic  desire  to  aid  his  country's  cause,  and 
he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Twentieth  Ohio 
Infantry.  He  was  sent  to  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  Seventeenth  Corps,  and  participated 
in  the  following  battles:  Ft.  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
Bolivar,  luka,  Middleburg,  Grand  Gulf,  Port 
Gibson,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hill,  Big 
Black  River,  Vicksburg,  Mechanicsburgh,  Ft.  Hill, 
and  Vicksburg.  He  was  in  the  expedition  from 
Vicksburg  to  Meridian.  During  the  battle  of 
Vicksburg,  he  was  wounded  five  times,  and  has 
never  fully  recovered  from  the  effects.  He  was 
afterward  at  the  field  hospital  and  on  the  hospital 
boat  for  some  time.  He  subsequently  returned  to 
the  army,  but  was  only  assigned  to  court  duty  for 
the  first  year.  He  entered  the  army  as  a  private, 
and  was  promoted  through  the  different  degrees, 
until  at  the  close  he  was  mustered  out  as  a 
Captain. 

Returning  to  his  home,  he  was  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising and  trading,  and  is  one  of  the  popular 
and   active  business  men  of  Sidney.     He  is  an  ac- 


complished and  polished  gentleman,  both  by  in- 
stinct and  training,  and  possesses  generous,  true- 
hearted,  and  hospitable  instincts.  In  him  the  com- 
munity has  a  faithful  and  unswerving  friend,  ever 
alert  to  serve  its  best  interests,  and  generous  in 
his  contributions  towards  every  movement  tend- 
ing to  general  advancement.  He  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  pension  business  alone  since  April  1, 
1891,  but  was  with  Mr.  Van  Fossen  for  several 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army,  and 
has  been  through  all  the  offices  of  the  same  and 
nearly  through  again.  He  lost  his  wife  in  1880, 
and  his  second  marriage  was  to  Mrs.  Ilattie  Rike, 
of  Port  Jefferson,  Salem  Township,  Shelby  County, 
Ohio.  To  this  marriage  no  children  have  been 
born. 


\f^  OBERT  H.  CANBY,  Superintendent  of  the 
IWir  City  Gas  Works  of  Bellefontaine,  was  born 
l^  %  in  Warren  County,  this  State,  February  25, 
1821.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Joseph  and  Mar- 
garet (Haines)  Canby,  natives  of  Virginia,  who, 
on  emigrating  to  this  State,  made  their  way  down 
the  Ohio  River  in  a  flatboat  soon  after  this  State 
was  admitted  to  the  Union.  They  were  married 
at  Waynesville,  this  State,  and  became  the  parents 
of  five  sons  and  five  daughters. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  a  very  promi- 
nent physican,  pureued  his  medical  studies  in  the 
Philadelphia  (Pa.)  Medical  College.  He  was  a 
man  of  rare  ability  in  his  profession,  and  on 
coming  to  Logan  County  in  the  spring  of  1825 
settled  on  the  Great  Miami,  ten  miles  west  of  this 
city,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1843.  He  ran 
on  the  Whig  ticket  as  a  candidate  for  the  Legis- 
lature, but  after  the  election  it  was  found  he  was 
not  eligible  for  the  office.  He  was  very  much  de- 
voted to  his  profession,  and  his  success  in  that 
line  was  phenomenal.  He  was  also  known  through- 
out this  section  as  a  skillful  surgeon,  and  in  all  his 
efforts  received  the  hearty  co-operation  of  his 
wife. 

Mr.   Canby   of  this    sketch    was    reared    in   this 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


537 


couiit3',and  received  such  education  as  the  schools 
of  that  day  afforded,  later,  liowever,  attending 
school  in  Piqua.  He  remained  on  tlie  home  farm 
until  tliirtj-  years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  in  rail- 
roading and  milling,  being  connected  with  the 
Bollefontaine  &  Indianapolis  Railroad  for  eleven 
years,  in  which  company  he  was  Director  for  the 
same  length  of  time.  He  also  owned  a  flour  mill, 
which  business  he  carried  on  in  connection  with 
his  other  duties  until  the  construction  of  the  Gas 
Worlds  in  this  place,  when  he  became  Superinten- 
dent of  the  companj',  and  has  filled  tliat  pi'eition 
for  twenty  years.  He  has  tlie  entire  charge  of  the 
concern,  all  of  its  man.agemcnt  devolving  upon 
the  Trustees. 

Tlie  lady  to  wliom  our  subject  was  married  in 
1843  was  Miss  Ann  Leister,  and  to  them  w.os  born 
one  son,  Joseph  L.  His  wife  dying.  Mr.  Canby.  in 
1847,  was  married  to  Catherine  Wolf,  by  wliom  he 
has  two  sons  and  three  daughters:  Edward,  Frank 
L.,  Maggie  (Mrs.  B.  F.  Allen),  Carrie  (Mrs.  R.  F. 
Tremain)  and  F.annie,  who  m.arried  William  Miller, 
of  Detroit,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  furs.  In  social  affairs,  our  subject  is  a 
Tliirty-seeond  Degree  M.ason,  and  has  been  very 
liberal  in  his  contributions  to  the  general  welfare 
of  the  community,  who  hold  him  in  high  esteem. 
He  is  identitied  with  the  Lutheran  Church,  of 
which  denomination  his  wife  is  also  amemlier.  and 
thev  are  among  its  most  earnest  workers. 


S^,  ARIL'S  GLICK.  For  more  tli.an  thirty- 
five  j'eare  a  resident  of  his  present  farm 
in  Jackson  Township,  Shelby  County,  Mr. 
Glick  has  been  instrumental  in  cultivating 
the  soil  and  embcllisliing  the  place  with  substan- 
tial improvements.  At  the  time  of  its  purchase, 
the  farm  was  unimproved  save  by  a  hewn-log 
house,  and  it  required  tlie  most  arduous  exertions 
tlirougli  a  long  series  of  jears  in  order  to  effect  the 
improvements  visible  to-day.     After  liaviiig given 


a  goodlj'  amount  to  bis  children,  Mr.  Glick  retains 
two  hundred  and  fortj'-six  acres,  beside  a  one-Iialf 
interest  in  the  homestead  in  Fairfield  County, 
where  liis  father  made  his  early  home. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Peter  Glick, 
w.as  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  an  early  settler 
of  Ohio,  locating  in  Fairfield  County  in  180G, 
when  that  section  of  the  State  was  little  more  than 
a  dense  wilderness.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
family,  which  included  a  son,  Benjamin,  who  was 
six  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  removal.  Tlie 
latter  grew  to  manliood  amid  the  primeval  scenes 
of  Fairfield  County,  wliere  he  was  married  to  Anna 
S  wanders,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  daugli- 
ter  of  Frederick  Swandcrs,  wlio  removed  to  Oliio 
during  the  jear  that  witnessed  the  arrival  of  the 
Glick  farailj-. 

After  their  marriage,  the  parents  of  our  subject 
settled  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
the  gift  of  Grandfather  Glick.  Tliere  were  born  to 
them  six  children,  namely;  Daniel,  Reuben,  Mrs. 
Mary  Ware,  Darius,  Lucas  F.,  and  Joab,  the  latter 
of  whom  died  leaving  a  family  of  eight  children. 
Tlie  wife  and  mother  dying  in  18-40,  Mr.  Glick 
was  married  again,  choosing  as  his  wife  Jlrs.  Sarah 
(Woodring)  Slusser,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  died  in  187'J.  The  father  remained  on  the 
old  homestead  until  his  death,  wliich  occurred  in 
Juno,  1887.  He  w.as  an  upright  man,  and  an  ac- 
tive worker  in  the  German  Reformed  Church,  in 
wliich  he  was  an  Elder  for  fifteen  years.  Politi- 
cally, he  was  a  Democrat,  and  held  a  number  of 
local  olllces,  including  those  of  Supervisor  and 
School  Director. 

Born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  November  8, 
1831,  our  subject  grew  to  man's  estate  on  the  old 
homestead.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  com- 
menced to  learn  the  trade  of  a  slioemaker,  serving 
an  apprenticesliip  of  two  j-ears  at  Royalton,  after 
which  he  worked  as  a  journej-ra.an  for  one  year. 
He  tlien  embarked  in  business  for  himself  and  was 
thus  eng.aged  for  six  yeai-s.  Meanwhile,  he  estab- 
lished a  liome  of  his  own,  his  marriage.  April  6, 
1851,  uniting  him  witli  IMiss  Ellen  W.  Ware,  wlio  was 
born  in  F.airfield  County,  December  20,  1831.  Tlie 
parents  of  Mrs.  Glick  were  Conrad  and  Elizabeth 
(Slusser)  Ware,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  early 


538 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


settlers  of  Ohio,  where  they  resided  until  death. 
Mrs.  Glick  died  in   1867. 

Seven  children  were  boru  of  this  union:  Ben- 
jamin, who  died  leaving  a  wife  and  one  child; 
Joab  C,  of  Jackson  Township,  who  married  Lor- 
etta  Cl.ayton  and  has  a  family  of  sis  children; 
Almina  Jane,  wife  of  Andrew  Stapleton,  of  Jack- 
son Township,  and  the  mother  of  five  children; 
Elmer  E.,  who  resides  in  Jackson  Township,  his 
family  consisting  of  his  wife,  formerly  Mary  Wen- 
rick,  and  their  one  child;  Marj'  E.,  Mrs.  J.icob 
Rostorfer,  of  Auglaize  Township,  who  is  the  mother 
of  three  children;  Ellen,  wife  of  Hair}'  Wenrick, 
a  resident  of  J.iekson  Township,  they  being  the 
parents  of  one  child;  and  Anna  M.,  who  died  in 
infancj'. 

In  18.56,  Mr.  Glick  removed  to  Shelby  County 
and  located  one  mile  north  of  his  present  resi- 
dence, whither  he  soon  afterward  removed.  He 
has  cleared  one  hundred  and  twentj-  acres  and 
brought  his  farm  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
At  the  time  he  located  in  J.ackson  Township,  the 
country  was  sparsely  settled  and  the  now  thriv- 
ing village  of  Jackson  Centre  was  not  then  in  ex- 
istence, its  site  being  maiked  only  by  a  small 
shanty.  During  the  thirty-five  years  in  which  he 
has  resided  continuously  upon  his  present  farm, 
he  has  witnessed  many  changes  in  the  suiTOund- 
ing  country,  and  has  hioiself  contributed  not  a  lit- 
tle to  effect  its  advancement,  having  contributed 
12,500  in  the  construction  of  pike  roads  alone. 

September  1,  1SG7,  Mr.  Glick  w.as  married  to 
Mrs.  Jane  E.  Clayton,  whose  parents,  Jolin  and 
Jane  (Anderson)  Darnell,  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tuck}-,  whence  they  removed  to  Ohio  in  an  early 
day.  JIi-s.  Glick  was  born  in  Champaign  County, 
Ohio,  Xovember  II,  IS2'J,  and  is  one  of  ten  chil- 
dren. Two  of  her  brothers  and  two  brothers-in- 
law  served  in  the  Civil  War,  and  tlirec  gave  their 
lives  in  defense  of  the  Union.  The  only  child 
born  of  the  union  of  JMr.  and  Mi-s.  Glick  is  Emery 
D.  O.,  a  young  man  of  great  ability  and  promise, 
who  is  now  teaching  in  Shelby  Counlv. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at,  Jackson 
Centre  numbers  Mr.  and  Mre.  Glick  among  its 
most  faithful  and  active  members,  and  he  has 
served  .as  Trustee.  Steward  and  as  Class-leader  for 


thirty-three  years.  They  are  especially  interested 
in  Sunday-school  work,  and  have  been  teachers  for 
many  years,  Mr.  Glick  having  also  served  as  Super- 
intendent. He  is  a  member  of  the  INIasonic  fra- 
ternity, in  which  he  has  filled  the  various  chairs 
and  was  M:vster  for  two  j'ears.  Realizing  the  ad- 
vantages of  good  schools,  he  has  been  instrumental 
in  effecting  many  needed  improvements  while 
serving  as  Director  and  as  a  member  of  the  Town- 
ship Board  of  Education  for  eight  j'ears.  Formerly 
he  was  a  Republican,  but  when  he  could  no  longer 
conscientiously  adhere  to  its  principles,  he  Joined 
the  Prohibition  party,  with  which  he  has  been 
identified  for  three  years.  He  has  filled  the  posi- 
tion of  Township  Treasurer  for  two  years  and  also 
served  as  Constable.  He  and  his  wife  have  been 
active  workers  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and 
she  served  as  President  of  the  Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union  for  two  years. 


ANLOVE  C.  HOLMES.  Retired  from  the 
active  business  of  life,  our  subject  is  now 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  early 
l.aboi-s.  His  residence  in  the  thrifty  and 
beautiful  city  of  Sidney  is  well  adapted  for  the 
peaceful  cnjovmcnt  of  the  serene  years  of  older 
life,  and  he  enjoys  the  adv.antages  to  be  derived 
from  a  residence  in  a  city  so  bounteously  gifted 
in  various  ways  as  is  this.  He  is  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative men  of  the  county,  as  well  as  one  of 
its  early  settlers,  having  been  a  resident  of  this 
and  Logan  Counties  since  183-t. 

The  immediate  progenitor  of  our  subject,  John 
Holmes,  w.aa  born  in  Berkele}-  County,  Va.,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood  and  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  Chambers,  whose  parents  were  from  Del- 
aware. After  marriage,  he  and  his  family  moved 
to  Quincy,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  .and  Jlr.  Holmes 
built  the  second  house  there.  At  that  time,  the 
surrounding  country  was  all  woods,  and  Sandusk}- 
Indians  were  plentiful,  .as  were  also  wild  animals. 
The  father  was  a  cooper  by  trade  and  was  the  first 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


539 


one  in  tlie  county.  He  followed  his  trade  here 
until  his  death  in  1840.  He  left  the  following 
children:  Violet,  wife  of  John  S.  Jordon;  Man- 
love;  Margaret,  wife  of  David  AVeaver;  Nancy 
died  on  tlie  day  the  father  passed  away;  Louisa; 
William  and  John  B.  Only  our  subject  and  John 
B.  are  now  living,  the  former  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Champaign  County,  this  State. 
The  mother  died  in  1886.  The  f.ather  and  mother 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  original  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Musk- 
ingum Count}',  near  Zancsville,  this  .State,  June 
29,  1822,  and  received  his  scholastic  training  in 
the  schools  of  Quincy.  Bnt  after  the  death  of  the 
father,  the  care  and  support  of  the  family  fell  on 
the  shoulders  of  our  subject,  who,  having  learned 
the  cooper's  trade  from  his  father,  carried  on  the 
shop  in  Quincy  until  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded. 
Previous  to  this,  on  the  2(3th  of  March,  18-16,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  F^va  Jane  Joseph,  a  native  of 
Fairfield  Count}-,  Ohio,  and  the  result  of  this 
union  was  four  children,  two  of  whom  survive, 
Alonzo,  now  in  Gallon,  a  railroad  man.  and  Lucy, 
wife  of  Albert  Sa3-re,  of  this  city,  who  h.os  three 
children,  William,  Cora  and  Walter. 

Upon  the  opening  up  of  hostilities  between  the 
North  and  .South,  our  subject  enlisted  in  Company 
G,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Ohio  Infantry, 
and  was  sent  to  the  eastern  department  of  the 
army.  After  being  out  for  three  months,  he  was 
injured  by  a  fall  through  a  bridge,  after  being  at 
Petersburgh.  etc.,  and  was  discharged  for  disabilit}-. 
Returning  to  Quincy,  he  resumed  his  trade  and 
soon  afterward  lost  his  wife.  Mr.  Holmes  remained 
in  Quincy  until  18SS  and  during  that  time  held 
the  otiice  of  Marehal.  Street  Commissioner,  etc., 
and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  same  in  a  very 
satisfactory  manner.  He  is  now  entirely  retired 
from  active  business  pursuits  and  is  a  man  highly 
regarded  for  his  many  excellent  qualities.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  since  186.5,  and  is  a  member  of  Joe  Taylor 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  De  Graff.  He  h.as  been  Noble 
Grand  Secretary  and  Vice-Grand  Chaneelor 
through  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows' 
lodge.  He  has  resided  in  the  Big  Miami  Valley 
for    fiftv    vears    and    h.as   been   considerable   of  a 


traveler  in  his  day,  having  been  all  over  the  West. 
He  is  a  man  of  broad  knowledge,  excellent  judg- 
ment and  excellent  business  principles.  In  his 
travels,  he  took  his  son  with  him  to  complete  his 
education. 


j  OHN  MAY.  No  State  in  the  forty-four 
gives  greater  encour.agement  to  a  man  who 
desires  to   devote   himself    to   agricultural 

life  than   does  Ohio.     As  a  grain-growing 

State,  this  ranks  among  the  fii-st  in  the  Union  and 
in  the  raising  of  live  stock  it  is  trulj'  notable. 
Our  subject  is  one  who  h.as  found  success  in  the 
liue  of  agriculture  and  now  follows  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  in  Jefferson  Township,  his 
residence  being  four  miles  e.ist  of  Bellefoutaine. 
He  was  born  in  Highland  Township,  Muskingum 
County,  on  the  9th  of  November,  1827,  to  the 
union  of  Alexander  and  Margaret  (McL.aughlin) 
May,  both  natives  of  Washington  Count}-,  P.a., 
the  former  born  in  March,  1788,  and  the  latter  on 
the  12th  of  February,  1793.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Samuel  May,  w.as  a  native  of  Maryland  and 
followed  the  occup.ation  of  a  school  teacher  in  his 
native  State  for  many  yeai-s.  The  maternal  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  but  was 
descended  from  Scotch  ancestors. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  reared  in  their 
native  count}-  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they  mar- 
ried, and  the  same  year  resolved  to  try  their  for- 
tunes in  the  State  of  Ohio.  They  made  the  journey 
on  horseb.ack,  and  located  in  Muskingum  County, 
where  they  took  up  Government  land.  They 
erected  a  log  cabin  on  the  farm  and,  there  beina; 
no  door  to  it,  .i  blanket  was  hung  up  to  take  its 
place.  They  remained  in  that  county  and  im- 
proved their  farm  until  1833,  when  they  came  to 
Logan  County,  settling  on  the  farm  where  our 
subject  now  lives,  in  a  log  house.  There  the  father 
died  in  1833.  He  w.as  a  member  of  the  Union 
Church  and  one  of  its  most  active  workers,  as 
was  also  his  wife.     She  died   on  the   4th   of  Julv, 


540 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1874.  This  worthy  couple  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters, 
who  are  in  the  order  of  their  births  .as  fol- 
lows: James,  now  residing  in  Linn  County,  Ore.; 
Samuel,  a  resident  of  this  county;  Jane,  the  widow 
of  William  Taylor,  of  Monroe  Township,  Logan 
County;  Slargaret  (Mm.  Bishop),  deee.ised;  John; 
Nancy,  Mrs.  McLaughlin,  residing  in  this  county, 
and  JIary  Ann,  who  died  when  twelve  years  of 
age. 

Our  subject  w.os  but  six  years  of  age  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Logan  County,  and  liis 
first  attendance  .at  school  was  in  Jefferson  Town- 
ship of  that  county  in  a  little  rude  cabin.  His 
father  died  when  he  w.os  but  six  years  of  age 
and  the  mother  w.as  left  with  a  family  of  seven 
children,  the  eldest  being  thirteen  years  of  age 
and  the  youngest  an  infant.  He  remained  with 
his  mother  until  twenty-one  j-ears  of  age  and  later 
she  lived  with  him  until  her  death.  On  the  6th 
of  June,  1861,  Mr.  May  was  married  to  Sarah 
M.  Rockwell,  a  native  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio, 
born  August  21,  1840.  Her  parents,  Charles  and 
Mary  Ann  (Marquis)  Rockwell,  were  natives  of 
Cornwall,  Vt.,  and  Wiishington  County,  Pa., 
respectivelj',  the  former  born  on  the  16th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1812,  and  the  Latter  on  the  3d  of  January, 
1816.  Charles  Rockwell  w.as  about  twelve  years 
of  age  when  he  came  witli  his  parents  to  Ohio. 
His  father,  Jeremiah  Rockwell,  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont and  w.os  married  in  his  native  State.  Blrs.  May 
was  one  of  ten  children,  four  of  whom  are  living 
at  the  present  time:  James  0.,  Mrs.  Nancy  Worth, 
Mrs.  Smith  R.  Thompson  and  Jlrs.  M.ay. 

Directly  .after  marriage,  our  subject  located  on 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  lives  and  is  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-two  .acres,  the 
principal  part  of  which  is  under  cultivation.  He 
follows  general  farming  .and  is  engaged  in  breed- 
ing fine  Short-horn  cattle.  In  1882,  he  erected  a 
good  b.arn,40sG0  feet,  witli  ab.asement,  at  acostof 
§1,200,  and  now  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  his 
section.  He  is  enterprising  and  progressive  and 
has  made  a  success  of  his  chosen  occupation.  Two 
children  were  born  to  his  marri.age,  Helen,  the 
wife  of  W.  E.  Smith,  of  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  and 
Anna,  who  died  when  but  nine    months   old.      In 


politics,  Mr.  May  is  a  Republican  and  his  first 
Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Gen.  Scott  in  1852. 
He  was  Trustee  of  Jefferson  Township  for  over 
twelve  3'ears  and  is  now  .School  Director.  He  is 
not  connected  with  any  cliurch  but  is  a  believer 
in  all  good  work  and  a  liberal  contributor  to  the 
same.  Mrs.  May  is  a  lady  in  every  sense  of  that 
term  and  is  intelligent  and  refined. 


>Yl  S.  VAN  HORN.  In  narrating  the  lives  of 
the  many  wealthy  citizens  and  prominent 
old  settlers  of  Logan  County,  Ohio,  we  find 
no  one  more  worth}'  of  mention,  or  whose 
long  life  of  usefulness  is  more  worthy  to  be  chron- 
icled, than  the  much  esteemed  and  successful  farmer, 
J.  S.  Van  Horn.  His  parents,  William  and  Mary 
(Davis)  Van  Horn,  were  natives  of  West  Virginia, 
the  father  being  born  in  Harrison  Count}'.  The 
latter  was  married  in  his  native  State,  and  in  1828 
he  and  his  family  emigrated  to  the  Buckeye  State 
and  settled  in  the  woods  in  Clarke  County.  There 
he  resided  until  1839,  when  he  made  a  settlement 
in  Logan  County.  There  were  very  few  settlers 
here  at  that  time,  and  Mr.  Van  Horn  bought  eighty 
acres  from  one  of  them,  and  also  bought  land  from 
the  Government,  p.aying  $1.25  per  acre.  A  few 
Indians  were  in  the  county  and  they  had  their 
camp  a  mile  and  a  half  from  his  home.  He  settled 
in  a  round-log  cabin  with  a  clapbo.ard  roof,  punch- 
eon Hoor,  etc.,  and  amid  these  rude  surroundings, 
and  in  this  primitive  manner,  he  began  Laying  the 
foundation  for  his  subsequent  prosperous  career. 
He  was  a  hard  worker,  and  although  deer,  bears 
and  other  wild  animals  were  plentiful,  he  cared 
very  little  for  hunting  and  spent  all  his  spare  time 
in  clearing  the  farm  of  the  heavy  timber  with 
which  it  was  covered.  This  was  the  first  farm  in 
the  county,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1857,  he  was  the  owner  of  between 
four  and  five  hundred  .acres  of  land  All  this  was 
the  result  of  liis  own  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment, for  he  started  out  with  very  little  else  than 


PORTR.UT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


541 


a  pair  of  stout  arms  and  a  determination  to  suc- 
ceed. Ilis  marriage  resulted  in  tlie  birth  of  twelve 
children,  eleven  of  whom  re.iched  mature  years. 
They  were  named  as  follows:  Sobrina,  Jacob,  Su- 
scilla,  ilinerva.  Amy,  Job,  Eli,  John  and  William 
and  Lewis  (twins),  Maria  Louisa  Josephine  and 
JMary  Josinlha  Eglantine  (twins).  The  mother 
died  when  forty-Bve  years  of  age.  Both  parents 
were  Seventh-day  Baptists  all  their  lives,  and  the 
father  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  w.os  born  in  Clarke 
County,  Ohio,  September  8,  1828,  and  was  but  ten 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Lo- 
gan County,  Ohio.  He  assisted  in  driving  sheep  to 
this  point  and  remembers  the  journey  perfectly. 
After  reaching  this  county,  the  sheep  were  kept  in 
tight  rail  pens  to  keep  away  the  wolves,  but  after 
all  many  were  destroyed  in  that  way.  Our  subject 
attended  the  pioneer  log  schoolhouse,  with  slab 
seats,  clapboard  roof,  weighed  down  with  poles, 
and  the  large  oijen  fireplace.  Part  of  the  time 
these  were  subscription  schools.  lie  was  obliged 
to  go  to  West  Libert}-  to  do  his  trading  when  tUey 
first  settled  in  this  county,  and  when  seventeen 
years  of  age  he  branched  out  for  himself.  He  used 
to  attend  log-rollings  and  all  the  other  gatherings 
of  those  da\s.  When  seventeen  j'ears  of  age,  he 
went  to  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  and  worked  out  in 
order  to  get  money  to  bu}-  clothes.  Instead  of  the 
clothes,  however,  he  bought  forty  acres  of  land  on 
the  canal  in  Defiance  Count}-,  Ohio,  but  subse- 
quently traded  that  for  fort}'  acres  in  Logan 
County,  and  after  his  marriage  located  there. 

Mr.  Van  Horn  was  married  on  the  loth  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1848,  to  Miss  Charity  Taylor,  a  native  of 
Washington  County,  Pa.,  born  December  31,  1829, 
and  the  fruits  of  this  union  were  nine  chil- 
dren: Henry  (deceased),  Eli,  James,  William, 
Evangeline  (deceasc<l),  Jnhn  (deceased),  Alonzo 
(deceased),  Jacob  and  Irvin.  Mrs.  A'an  Horn  came 
to  Ohio  with  her  parents.  J:imes  and  Nancy  (Smith) 
Taylor,  in  tlie  year  18  41.  and  settled  in  this 
townsliip,  where  the  father  opened  a  fine  farm. 
Here  his  death  occurred  a  number  of  years  later. 
After  marriage,  our  subject  moved  on  his  forty 
acres  and  commenced  housekeeping  in  a  log  cabin. 
Not  a  tree  had  been  cut  on  his  place  and  he  went 


to  work  with  much  determination  to  improve  and 
make  a  pleasant  home.  He  and  his  economical 
and  thrifty  wife  worked  hard  and  put  up  with  all 
inconveniences  to  make  improvements  on  their 
place.  For  bedsteads  Mr,  Van  Horn  took  '  logs, 
bored  holes  in  the  ends  and  in  these  inserted  poles 
for  legs.  He  used  bark  for  bed  cord.  Later,  he 
bought  eighty  acres  additional,  traded  that  for  the 
old  home  place,  and  then  bought  his  present  prop- 
erty, settling  on  the  s.ame  in  1865,  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  here  and 
about  two  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  altogether. 
He  owned  at  one  time  four  hundred  acres  here,  but 
gave  his  children  considerable  land.  He  is  engaged 
in  mixed  farming,  raising  grain  and  stock,  and  for 
some  time  he  was  actively  eng.iged  in  buying  and 
selling  stock.  He  built  his  present  fine  residence 
in  1882,  at  a  cost  of  over  $5,000,  and  has  it  nicely 
furnished.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Horn  are  both  Sev- 
enth-day Baptists  in  their  religious  views,  and  in 
politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party. 
]\Ir,  Van  Horn  is  now  one  of  the  most  successful 
and  influential  farmers  of  the  county,  and  after  his 
long  life  of  usefulness,  he  and  his  wife  can  sit  down 
and  thoroughly  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labor. 


^^^^^^mtm 


j^^  AMUEL  H.  jr.STICE  is  a  man  of  intelli- 
^^^  gent  mind  and  superior  character,  exem- 
(l^_j)/  plary  in  his  habits,  manly  and  straightfor- 
ward ill  his  dealings,  and  true  in  the 
various  relations  that  he  sustains  toward  others  as 
husband,  father,  neighbor,  and  steadf:\st  in  his 
friendships.  He  is  self-made  in  all  that  tliat  term 
implies  and  has  showed  m.arked  aliility  ,as  a  farmer 
by  transforming  his  beautiful  estate,  which  is  lo- 
cated on  section  21,  Union  Township,  Auijlaize 
County,  into  a  fruitful,  highly-cultivated  farm, 
which  is  amply  supplied  with  modern  improve- 
ments and  all  the  appliances  and  machinery  fur 
facilitating  agricultural  lalxirs, 

Allen  Justice,  the   father  of  our  subject,    w,as   a 
native  of  Tazewell  County,  Va.:   his   mother,  who 


542 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


bore  the  maiden  name  of  Ellen  Flummer,  was  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  Flummer,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
being  born  near  the  head  of  tlie  Blue  Stone.  The 
parents  came  to  this  State  in  18.34,  traveling  all 
the  wa3'  from  their  native  State  to  Ohio  in  a  four- 
horse  wagon.  Thej'  made  their  home  on  section  15 
of  this  township  at  a  time  when  neighbors  were  few 
and  far  between,  and  the  roads  had  not  been  laid 
out.  Their  farm,  which  comprised  thirty-seven 
acres,  was  soon  cleared  and  placed  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  so  well  did  they  succeed  in  their  new 
home  that  they  added  to  their  original  purchase, 
and  resided  upon  the  tract  for  about  forty-five 
years.  They  became  the  parents  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  and  departed 
this  life  in  the  years  1878  and  1882,  respectively. 
One  son,  George,  was  a  soldier  during  the  late  war, 
in  the  Fort\'-tiftli  Ohio  Infantry,  and,  being  tjiken 
prisoner,  was  confined  in  Anderson ville  Prison, 
where  he  died  soon  after.  The  fatherof  our  subject 
was  in  early  life  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  later 
joined  the  Whig  party.  lie  was  prominent  in  local 
affairs  and  held  the  ottices  of  Constable,  Road 
Supervisor  and  School  Director. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  was  born  January  18, 
1828,  in  Tazewell  County,  Va.,  and  was  a  lad  of 
six  years  at  the  time  his  parents  removed  to  this 
section.  AVhen  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  became 
afflicted  with  white  swelling  in  the  left  knee  wliich 
crippled  him  for  life.  lie  aided  his  father  in  car- 
rj'ing  on  the  home  farm  until  reacliing  his  major- 
it}-,  when  he  entered  a  tract  of  land  in  Jloultou 
Township,  this  county,  and  traded  it  in  1854  for 
his  present  farm,  which  was  partiall)'  improved  at 
that  time. 

In  November,  1854,  Jlr.  .Tustiee  and  Miss  Sara 
.T.,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Julia  Ann  (Wagner) 
Lusk,  were  united  in  marriage.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  the  mother  of  Champaign 
County,  this  State.  I\Ir.  Lusk  emigrated  to  this 
county  in  1832,  and  entered  a  farm  on  section  22 
of  this  township,  on  which  he  erected  a  log  cabin. 
He  was  a  son  of  Charles  Lusk,  one  of  the  very 
earliest  settlers  in  this  locality.  The  parents  of 
]\Ir3.  Justice  were  married  in  1835,  and  located  on 
their  wild  farm,  where  they  resided  for  sixty  yeai-s. 
Tliev  were  both  charter  members  of  the  Fir.st  Meth- 


odist Episcopal  Church  organized  in  this  township, 
and  reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living,  with  but  one  exception.  The  father 
died  April  29,  1892,  and  the  mother,  who  is  still 
surviving,  has  reached  her  seventy-second  year. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Lusk  was  a  Whig  in  early  life,  and 
later  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republicans. 

Mrs.  Justice  was  born  May  3,  1837,  on  section  22, 
this  township,  and,  after  her  marriage  with  our 
subject,  located  on  the  farm  where  they  are  at 
present  residing.  They  have  become  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz: 
Allan,  who  married  Caroline  Swisher;  Martha  El- 
len, who  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Miller;  Joseph  U. 
G.,  who  married  Margaret  Beer,  and  Willi.am  M., 
wlio  resides  at  home.  Mr.  Justice  has  in  his  pos- 
session one  hundred  .and  forty  acres  of  land,  and 
has  given  e.ach  of  the  above-named  children  fifty- 
two  .acres.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  Road  Supervisor,  and  member  of  the 
School  Board. 


'-^¥r- 


AMUKL  SCOTT  comes  of  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneer  families  of  Ohio,  and  is  distin- 
guislicd  as  the  oldest  resident  of  St.  Mary's 
in  point  of  settlement,  coming  here  when 
a  bo\'  with  his  parents  sixty-eight  years  ago,  and 
there  is  hut  one  other  person  who  has  lived  in 
Auglaize  County  a  greater  length  of  time  than  he. 
Mr.  Scott  is  a  fine  represent.ative  of  our  self-made 
men,  who,  while  building  their  own  fortunes,  have 
materially  added  to  the  wealth  of  the  county,  of 
whose  development  from  the  wilderness  he  has 
been  an  intelligent  witness. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  April 
29,  1815,  and  is  a  son  of  Judge  Thomas  .Scott,  who 
was  descended  from  an  old  Virginia  family,  and 
w.as  born  and  reared  near  the  Virginia  and  Maryland 
Slate  line.  He  was  a  farmer  and  cattle  dealer.  Liv- 
ing on  the  frontier,  he  was  familiar  with  ludian  war- 
fare, and  took  part  in  sever.al  campaigns  .against 
the  redskins,  both   on  the  Virginia  and  Ohio  sides 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


543 


of  the  line.  In  1795,  be  moved  .across  the  border 
into  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  settle  in 
Athens  Count}',  locating  near  where  the  city  of 
Athens  now  stands.  He  onlj'  lived  there  a  year, 
and  then  took  up  bis  abode  in  J.ackson  County,  a 
mile  and  a  half  east  of  the  county  seat,  on  land  do- 
nated by  the  State  for  the  purpose  of  manufac- 
turing salt,  which  was  begun  about  that  time.  He 
farmed  some,  and  fed,  bought  and  sold  cattle  to  a 
considerable  extent,  the  country  about  there  afford- 
ing a  very  fine  range  for  cattle.  In  1823,  the 
.ludge  came  with  his  family  to  St.  Mary's,  where  a 
block-house  had  been  erected  for  a  [jrotectiou 
against  the  Indians,  and  a  few  lots  of  land  laid 
off.  There  were  not  more  than  a  dozen  families 
living  in  the  neighborhood  or  in  all  the  country 
round  about  for  a  distance  of  several  miles.  Mr. 
Scott  had  previously  purchased  two  tr.acts^f  land 
sold  b}-  the  Government  in  1820,  one  on  each  side 
of  the  St.  Mary's  River,  and  one  of  them,  compris- 
ing fiftj-  acres,  is  now  included  within  the  corpor- 
ate limits  of  the  city  of  St.  Mary's.  He  built  a 
log  house,  and  at  once  began  to  make  improve- 
ments and  also  gave  his  attention  to  raising  stock. 
The  country  w.as  yet  full  of  Indians,  whose  head- 
quarters were  at  Wapakoneta,  ten  miles  east  of  St. 
!M.ary's.  In  1824,  Mercer  County  was  organized, 
St.  Mary's  becoming  a  part  of  it,  and  in  1848 
Auglaize  County  was  formed,  tlie  city  then  becom- 
ing a  part  of  the  new  county.  Mr.  Scott  w.as 
elected  Associate  .Judge  of  Mercer  County  in 
1824,  and  held  court  in  a  log  house  at  .St.  Mary's, 
lie  had  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Jackson 
County  prior  to  coming  here,  and  he  w.as  a  man 
of  mucli  prominence  and  a  valuable  citizen,  who 
was  highh'  thought  of  by  all  who  knew  or  had 
dealings  with  him.  While  still  in  olHce  as  Asso- 
ciate Judge,  he  died,  in  1826,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
nine,  and  his  death  was  a  serious  blow  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  county.  The  mother  of  our  sul)ject, 
a  Virginian  by  birth,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Elizabeth  Keller,  died  in  1822,  leaving  nine 
children,  of  whom  but  two  survive,  our  subject  and 
his  sister,  ilrs.  Mary  Richmond,  of  Vinton  County. 
Samuel  Scott  obtained  his  elementary  education 
in  a  primitive  schoolliousc.  which  stood  on  the  banks 
of  St.    Mary's    River    within    the    i)iesent  corpor- 


ate limits  of  the  city  of  the  same  name.  It  was  con- 
structed of  round  poles,  had  a  puncheon  floor  and 
slab  seats,  and  the  light  was  admitted  through 
greased  paper  that  was  placed  over  the  aperture 
where  a  log  had  been  left  out  for  a  window.  He 
has  a  distinct  remembrance  of  the  wildncss  of 
the  country  in  the  early  years  of  his  living  here, 
when  game  was  very  plentiful,  and  his  father,  who 
was  a  great  hunter,  could  go  out  with  a  rifle  and 
shoot  a  deer  not  far  from  home  almost  any  time. 
Amid  pioneer  environments  our  subject  grew  to 
be  strong,  sturdy  and  self-reliant,  and  was  capa- 
ble of  su|)porting  himself  at  an  early  age.  This 
was  made  necessary  by  the  death  of  his  father 
when  he  w.as  eleven  years  of  age,  although  he  lived 
for  two  years  with  relatives,  spending  a  year  with  an 
uncle  here,  and  then  going  to  live  with  another  un- 
cle in  Athens  County  for  a  like  length  of  time.  He 
then,  in  1828,  returned  to  this  county,  and  worked 
at  whatever  he  could  find  to  do  by  the  day,  thus 
keeping  himself  in  food  and  clothes.  He  made 
his  home  mostly  with  his  brother-in-law,  who  kept 
a  store  at  St.  Mary's.  After  the  treaty  with  the 
Indians  in  1832,  a  new  store  was  started  at  Wapa- 
koneta,  and  Mr.  Scott  helped  to  manage  the  busi- 
ness at  that  point  for  a  short  time.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year,  he  went  to  Athens  County  to  attend 
school  the  following  winter  session.  Returning 
to  St.  Mar\-'s  in  the  fall  of  1833,  he  engaged  in 
teaming  on  shares  with  his  brother-in-law,  and 
thereby  earned  money  enough  to  buy  a  team  of 
his  own,  with  whicli  he  hauled  provisions  from 
this  point  to  Ft.  AVayne,  Ind.,  and  even  from 
Davton  to  that  city  the  ensuing  two  seasons.  He 
next  went  to  Vinton  County,  and  manufactured 
millstones. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Scott  took  a  contract  to  build  a 
piece  of  the  Miami  &  Erie  Canal,  and  he  con- 
structed about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  of  it,  includ- 
ing the  race,  besides  furnishing  considerable  tim- 
ber and  other  material  for  bridges.  In  1844,  he 
built  a  sawmill  on  the  canal  race,  which  he  operated 
five  years.  In  18.30,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  on  a  tract  of  lami  near  town.  It  was 
prairie  land,  and  he  broke  it  and  put  it  into  a 
good  state  of  cultivation,  continuing  to  follow 
fanning  until  the  war   broke  out.   when  he  retired 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


from  active  business  in  that  line,  his  sons  having 
entered  the  array.  He  has  lived  in  St.  Mary's 
ever  since,  and  makes  his  home  at  the  hotel.  He 
still  retains  possession  of  his  farm,  which  comprises 
one  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  of  land  in  St. 
Mary's  Township,  ninety  acres  on  section  9  and 
seventy-five  on  section  G,  and  sixteen  valuable  oil 
wells  are  located  on  it,  which  are  the  source  of  a 
handsome  income.  Jlr.  Scott  has  also  made 
money  by  dealing  in  cattle  to  a  considerable 
extent  since  the  war.  He  is  an  honorable,  straight- 
forward, candid  man,  who  is  highly  thought  of 
throughout  the  county  where  he  is  well  known. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  true  Democrat,  but  he  has  never 
aspired  to  any  ollice.  His  elder  brother,  Sabert, 
who  was  born  in  1817,  died  in  1871.  He  was  a 
prominent  man  in  the  county,  was  a  member  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention  in  1852,  and- a 
member  of  the  Legislature  prior  to  that. 

Mr.  Scott  was  married  in  1839  to  Miss  Char- 
lotte Dunkle,  with  whom  he  lived  very  happily 
until  her  death  in  1849,  while  yet  in  the  bloom  of 
womanhood,  deprived  him  of  the  companionship 
of  a  good  wife,  to  whose  memory  he  has  remained 
faithful  ever  since.  Four  children  were  born  of 
their  marriage:  Thomas;  John,  deceased;  Sabert, 
deceased,  and  Mary.  Thomas  and  Sabert  rendered 
their  country  gallant  service  throughout  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion,  and  Sabert  afterward  served  in 
the  regular  armv  five  vears. 


AVID  ARMSTRONG,  who  is  a  represen- 
tative of  one  of  the  very  firet  families  to 
settle  within  the  borders  of  what  is  now 
Auglaize  County,  on  the  present  site  of 
St.  Mary's,  is  a  pioneer  dry-goods  merchant  of  this 
city  of  his  birth,  has  ever  been  among  tlie  fore- 
most in  planning  and  carrving  forward  enterprises 
for  its  development,  and  his  name  will  always  be 
associated  with  its  rise  and  growth. 

September  28,  1833,  is  the  date  of  our  subject's 
birth  into  one  of  the  first  homes  established  at  St. 


Mary's.  His  father,  who  bore  the  same  name  as 
himself,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  came  to  St. 
Mary's  in  1822  with  his  parents,  the  Armstrongs 
being  one  of  the  first  familes  to  settle  in  this 
locality,  there  being  but  two  or  three  others  here 
at  that  time.  The  country  was  one  vast  wilder- 
ness, inhabited  only  by  Indians  and  wild  be.asts, 
and  it  required  the  utmost  fortitude  and  courage 
to  endure  many  of  the  hardships  encountered  in  a 
frontier  life.  The  father  of  our  subject  assisted  in 
the  improvement  of  the  land  that  his  father  set- 
tled on,  until  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  as 
a  boatman  on  the  .St.  Mary's  River.  In  those  daj's, 
goods  were  brought  from  Cincinnati  and  Dayton 
to  this  point  with  a  team,  and  were  then  taken  by 
boat  down  the  St.  Mary's  River,  which  was  then 
navigable,  to  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  He  followed  that 
occupation  for  ten  years,  but  it  was  a  hard  life, 
and  his  naturally  strong  constitution  gave  way 
from  exposure,  and  he  died  in  1833,  when  only 
thirty-five  years  old.  His  wife  survived  him  un- 
til 1852,  when  she,  too,  passed  away.  Her  name 
was  Eleanor  Scott,  and  she  was  the  daughter  of  an 
early  pioneer  family  of  this  vicinity,  that  also  emi- 
gi-ated  from  Virginia.  She  was  the  mother  of  two 
sons.  John  H.,  the  elder,  joined  the  gold-hunters, 
crossed  the  plains  to  California,  and  died  there  in 
1852. 

Our  subject  was  tluis  left  the  sole  survivor  of  the 
family.  His  first  school  days  were  passed  in  an 
old  log  schoolhouse,  and  he  subsequently  attended 
the  common  district  school,  wherein  he  obtained 
such  an  education  as  the  times  afforded.  He  has 
a  distinct  remembrance  of  St.  Mary's  as  it  used  to 
be  in  his  childhood  da3's — a  roughly-built  ham- 
let, with  but  few  houses,  and  those  constructed 
mostly  of  logs — and  he  is  familiar  with  every  stage 
of  the  city's  development,  from  the  days  when 
the  Indians  used  to  frequent  the  little  village  to 
the  present,  when  the  aborigines  have  long  since 
passed  far  to  the  Westward,  and  a  thriving  mod- 
ern city  marks  the  spot  which,  perchance,  once 
formed  a  part  of  their  hunting-giounds. 

Mr.  Armstrong  spent  the  most  of  his  boyhood 
on  a  farm,  but  he  had  a  leaning  towards  mercan- 
tile pursuits,  and  in  1855  he  secured  a  position  as 
clerk  in  a  store  at  St.  Mary's.     April    15,  1860,  is 


PORTPIAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL   RECORD. 


545 


an  important  date  in  liis  life,  as  he  then  embarked 
in  the  dry-jroods  business  for  himself,  beginning 
on  a  small  scale,  and  for  more  than  thirty-two 
years  he  has  been  the  leading  dry -goods  merchant 
of  his  native  city.  In  1876,  he  erected  a  substan- 
tial brick  block  on  Spring  Street,  which  he  has 
since  occupied,  having  it  fitted  up  in  an  attractive 
st3-le,  and  completely  stocked  with  everything  in 
his  line,  including  notions,  carpets,  etc.  Mr.  Arm- 
strong's son-in-law,  J.  S.  Stout,  is  associated  with 
him  in  the  business,  which  is  carefully  conducted 
on  a  sound  financial  basis,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
firm  is  quick  to  see  and  take  advantage  of  all  op- 
portunities for  increasing  its  trade  .and  enl.arging 
its  profits  legitimately. 

Mr.  Armstrong  has  by  no  means  confined  his  en- 
ergies to  mercantile  pursuits,  but  he  has  launched 
out  in  other  directions,  and  lias  been  eminently 
successful  in  all  his  undertakings.  In  1888,  he 
platted  an  addition  to  St.  Mary's,  known  as  Arm- 
strong's Addition,  which  is  developing  rapidly, 
and  already  forms  an  imjiortant  part  of  the  city. 
His  large  public  spirit,  and  the  generous  policy 
that  he  has  alw.aj-s  pursued  in  regard  to  civic  im- 
provements, are  too  well  known  to  need  reference 
here.  For  tlie  past  five  j-ears  our  subject  has  ac- 
tively interested  himself  in  raising  standard-bred 
horses,  and  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  that  he  devotes  to  that  purpose.  He  has  sev- 
eral fine  thorouglibreds  that  compare  in  all  points 
with  some  of  the  best  blooded  animals  in  the 
county.  Mr.  Armstrong  has  ably  filled  various 
local  positions  of  trust,  and  the  Democratic  party 
has  in  him  one  of  its  most  intelligent  advocates. 
He  is  a  man  of  high  principles,  who  has  borne 
himself  honorably  in  all  the  afifairs  of  life,  and  is 
deserving  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him,  and 
of  the  great  respect  and  esteem  accorded  to  him 
on  all  sides. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  married  in  185-t  to  Miss 
Fredonia  C.  Rankin,  a  native  of  St.  Mary's.  She 
died  in  1864,  after  a  happy  wedded  life  of  ten 
years,  leaving  one  child,  R.  H.,  who  is  now  mar- 
ried, and  is  a  prosperous  boot  and  shoe  merch.ant 
in  his  native  city,  (')ur  subject  w.is  married  to  his 
present  estimable  wife  in  18GG.  Jlrs.  Armstrong, 
whose    former  name   was    Henrietta   Carr,  is  a  na- 


tive of  Indiana.  Her  pleasant  marriage  with  cur 
subject  has  brought  tliem  two  children,  Nellie, 
wife  of  J.  S.  Stout,  and  Lillian,  at  home  with  her 
parents. 


l^^ll-^-f^ll^^ 


^t-^ON.  JACOB  BOESKL  is  a  native,  .and  one 
|l/)j;  one  of  the  marked  and  representative  men, 
'J^^  of  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  which  has  con- 
(^j)  tributed  so  much  of  population  and  intel- 
ligence to  the  State.  He  comes  of  a  parent- 
age marked  by  strength  and  character  and  by 
a  certain  hospitality  and  largeness  of  nature. 
Born  at  IS'ew  Bremen,  Ohio,  on  the  6th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1841,  he  is  still  a  resident  of  that  city  and 
one  of  its  most  prominent  merchants  and  bankers. 
His  father,  the  Hon.  Charles  Boesel,  was  born  in 
Rhenish  Bavaria,  Germany,  on  the  1st  of  Febru- 
ary, 1814,  and  was  left  without  the  guidance  and 
care  of  a  father  at  a  very  early  age.  He  was  one 
of  five  children,  four  of  whom  came  to  America 
with  the  mother  in  1832,  the  other  child  having 
died  in  the  Fatherland,  and  all  are  now  deceased. 
Mr.  Boesel  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  the 
Old  Country,  and  in  1833  he  settled  in  Kew  Bre- 
men, Auglaize  County,  where  a  few  of  his  friends 
had  located  several  months  before,  but  .is  he  found 
no  employment  here,  he  went  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  Ft. 
Wa3ne,  Ind.,  and  other  cities  where  he  could  get 
work.  In  1836,  he  returned  and  settled  at  New 
Bremen,  where  he  started  a  small  general  store  and 
at  the  same  time  continued  his  trade.  In  the 
course  of  time,  however,  he  gave  up  his  trade  and 
confined  himself  to  his  mercantile  pursuits,  and 
was  appointed  Postmaster  under  President  Polk, 
holding  that  position  for  nine  years.  Year  after 
year,  he  gradually  enlarged  his  store  and  in  1845 
built  a  warehouse,  after  which  lie  began  buying 
grain  in  connection  with  merchandising.  New 
Bremen  w.as  the  best  market  in  all  that  section  of 
country,  and  grain  and  produce  were  hauled  hero 
irum  forty  miles  west,  even  from  Portland,  Ind. 
The    canal    here  afforded    shi[>pLng    opportunities 


5-46 


POKTR^UT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


that  the  people  were  not  slow  in  seizing,  and  dur- 
ing the  '50s  Mr.  Boesel  h.id  a  very  flourishing 
business.  He  was  in  business  at  this  point  from 
1836  until  186G,  and  from  18.52  to  18o6  he  was  one 
of  the  Superintendents  of  the  IMiami  &  Eric  Canal, 
being  appointed  to  that  position  liy  the  State 
Board  of  Public  Works. 

When  he  first  came  to  this  c  iuntry,he  began  an 
independent  career  with  no  capitixl  save  about  818 
and  a  goodl^'  supply  of  pluck,  energy  and  push. 
He  and  a  conipaniou.  Judge  Lang,  of  Tiffin,  Ohio, 
came  from  Germany  in  the  same  vessel  and  worked 
together  for  some  time  in  this  country.  Mr.  Boe- 
sel accumulated  a  large  fortune  and  in  the  year 
1866  retired  from  mercantile  pursuits,  his  suc- 
cessors being  our  subject  and  C.  II.  Kiinuing, 
who  have  since  continued  in  partnership,  the 
firm  title  being  Boesel  ife  Running.  After  re- 
tiring from  mercantile  pursuits,  Jlr.  Boesel  es- 
tablished a  bank  and  continued  the  same  until  his 
death  in  1885.  He  was  an  excellent  citizen  and  a 
man  highly  esteemed  for  his  sterling  business 
qualities.  He  held  several  positions  of  trust  and 
represented  Auglaize  County  in  the  Lcgisl.ature 
from  1862  until  1866,  and  represented  the  Thirty- 
second  Senatorial  District  in  the  Senate  from  1870 
until  1874.  He  w.as  also  a  member  of  tlie  State 
Board  of  Charities  and  was  holding  that  position 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  .also  held  various  lo- 
cal positions;  w.as  Commissioner  of  Mercer  County 
in  1840  two  terms,  when  Auglaize  was  yet  in- 
cluded, and  was  prominent  in  all  affairs  of  moment. 
He  was  identified  with  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
always  gave  liberally  of  his  means  to  assist  the 
same.  He  visited  the  Fatlierland  twice  and  on  one 
occasion  donated  a  fine  organ,  costing  about  S900, 
to  one  of  the  churches.  He  was  ever  noted  for  his 
strict  integrity,  enterprise  and  great  liberality.  He 
attended  school  at  night  after  coming  to  this 
country,  in  order  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the 
English  language.  Twice  he  was  nominated  b\' 
the  Democratic  convention  as  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Public  Works. 

Mr.  Boesel  was  three  times  married,  liis  fust  wife 
being  Miss  Wilhelmina  JIaurer,  who  died  in  1843 
leaving  two  cliildren,  our  subject  and  Charles. 
Mrs.  Boesel  wa.s  a  native  of  Germany  and  came  to 


America  on  the  same  boat  with  her  future  bus- 
band.  The  Maurer  family  was  among  the  first  to 
settle  in  New  Bremen  and  its  members  were  very 
prominent  and  woallhy  citizens.  In  1845,  Mr. 
Boesel  married  a  sister  of  his  first  wife  and  she  died 
in  1874.  There  were  ten  children  born  to  this 
union,  six  of  whom  are  now  living. 

The  Hon.  Jacob  Boesel,  the  original  of  this  no- 
tice, received  but  me.ager  educational  advantages 
in  early  life,  for  his  schooling  was  limited  to  the 
advantages  afforded  by  the  early  schools  of  New 
Bremen.  Later,  however,  he  attended  the  St. 
Mary's  Union  School,  remained  there  two  years  and 
there  learned  the  English  language.  He  w.is  grad- 
uated from  Bartlett's  Commercial  College,  Cincin- 
nati, in  1860,  but  previous  to  that,  in  the  fall  of 
1856,  he  began  his  mercantile  career  at  St.  Mary's, 
where  he  served  in  the  cap.acity  of  clerk  for  two 
}-ears  in  the  store  of  Joseph  Kelse\-,  a  very  promi- 
nent man.  In  1858,  he  came  to  New  Bremen  and 
took  charge  of  his  father's  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1866,  when  he  embarked  in  merchan- 
dising for  himself  in  partnership  with  C.  H.  Run- 
ning. In  1870,  Charles  Boesel,  Jr.,  his  brother, 
was  included  in  the  firm,  and  this  time  the  firm 
took  charge  of  the  extensive  pork  and  grain  trade 
which  the  father  of  our  subject  had  established, 
and  this  they  have  continued  up  to  the  present.  Tlie 
firm  of  Boesel  &  Running  were  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  in  an  adjoining  store  to  their 
dry-goods  store  until  1891,  when  Charles  Boesel, 
Jr.,  assumed  charge  of  it.  Our  subject  has  con- 
tinued in  the  bank  since  the  death  of  his  father, 
at  which  time  the  bank  w.is  reorganized,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Boesel  Bros,  it  Co.  Mr.  Boesel  is 
President  of  the  bank. 

In  1867,  our  subject  wedded  Miss  Louisa  Wolf, 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  with 
her  friends  when  six  years  of  age,  and  who  has 
since  lived  in  New  Bremen.  This  union  has  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  six  children:  Adolph,  now 
Assistant  Cashier  in  the  bank;  Ida,  Alraa,  Otto, 
Walter  and  Dora,  the  latter  deceased.  Mr.  Boesel 
is  an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  and  has  advocated  the  principles  of 
that  party  ever  since  he  became  a  voter.  At  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  his   friends,  he  has  held  a 


PORTRAIT  AIS'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5-j; 


number  of  prominent  positions,  the  first  being 
Township  Clerk,  which  position  he  Iield  for  six 
years.  After  this  he  servetl  for  four  years  as  City 
Clerlv,  was  M.ayor  for  four  ycai-s.  President  of  the 
School  Board  for  four  years  and  a  member  for  six 
years.  In  1889,  he  w.is  elected  to  represent  Au- 
glaize C(junty  in  the  Legislature,  and  as  he  w.as 
very  inlluential,  and  his  high  character  and  rare 
ability  were  recognized,  he  was  re-elected  in  189L 
He  served  on  the  Finance,  Library-,  and  Deaf  and 
Dumb  Asylum  Committees  during  botli  terms,  be- 
ing one  of  only  two  Democratic  members  on  the 
Finance  Committee  during  the  several  terms.  He 
h.os  been  a  delegate  to  nearly  every  congressional, 
district  and  .State  convention  for  many  years. 
Mr.  Boesel  has  been  President  of  the  New  Bremen 
Natural  G.as  Company  since  it  was  organized  sev- 
eral years  ago.  Both  he  and  bis  wife  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


ILLIAM   BARTIl.     A  portly  man,  of  fine 

M  magnetic  presence,  our  subject  m.akes 
,,  „  friends  wherever  he  goes.  He  is  one  of 
the  County  Commissioners  of  Auglaize  Count}',  his 
place  of  residence  being  in  German  Township, 
where  he  has  a  fine  farm  on  section  6.  Mi".  Barth 
is  a  native  of  this  place,  having  been  born  here 
October  18,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of  .John  F.  Barth, 
who  emigrated  to  America  in  183G.  He  made  the 
journey  across  in  a  sailing-vessel  and  it  consumed 
ten  weeks.  During  this  time  the  vessel  became 
unmanageable  and  drifted  so  far  noith  that  it  w.as 
in  the  iceberg  region.  The  suffering  that  the  voy- 
agers endured  on  that  memorable  trip  cannot  be 
told. 

Our  subject's  father  landed  at  Baltimore  and 
there  remained  about  four  years.  He  w.as  engaged 
on  the  public  works  of  the  city  and  was  employed 
in  various  capacities.  In  1840  he  fitted  out  a  one- 
horse  wagon  with  the  necessities  for  an  overland 
journey  and  with  his  family  turned  his  face  West- 


ward. They  came  toOhio,and  being  prepossessed 
with  the  appearance  of  German  Township,  Auglaize 
County,  here  settled. 

John  Barth  purch.osed  forty  acres  of  land  in  this 
locality  on  section  G,  expending  in  the  purchase 
most  of  the  money  which  he  had  earned  at  Balti- 
more. He  erected  a  log  cabin  and  prepai'ed,  in 
short,  to  make  of  the  place  a  permanent  home. 
The  country  w.as  new  and  wild,  and  settlei-s  were 
few  and  far  between.  In  common  witli  almost 
every  otiier  family  in  those  early  days,  the  Earths 
saw  some  hard  times.  Although  a  cripple,  John 
Barth  was  very  industrious  and  aided  by  his  faith- 
ful, hardworking  wife,  managed  to  earn  enonjrh  to 
live  in  comparative  comfort  until  their  children 
were  of  an  age  to  assist  in  clearing  and  iniiiroving 
the  farm.  He  died  in  1865,  having  been  formally 
years  a  devoted  Evangelical  Lutheran.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Helen  Kamp 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  in  1810.  She  died 
in  1875. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren, the  third  in  order  of  birth.  Four  of  the 
family  still  live.  During  his  boyhood  there  were 
few  advantages  in  an  educational  way;  few  schools 
and  poor  teachere.  The  settlement  w.as  composed 
mostly  of  Germans  and  their  language  alone  was 
taught,  so  that  Mr.  Barth  has  acquired  his  English 
as  he  has  been  able  to  pick  it  up.  With  the  faith- 
fulness of  his  race,  he  remained  with  his  parents, 
assisting  them  with  the  cultivation  of  their  farm 
until  their  death.  He  li.as  alwa3-s  lived  on  the  old 
homestead.  The  old  log  cabin  which  was  his  first 
home  he  has  replaced  with  a  substantial  brick  resi- 
dence, and  in  the  pl.ace  of  the  old  log  barn  now 
stands  a  fine  frame  one.  He  has  added  to  his  father's 
origin.al  purchase  until  the  farm  now  comprises  one 
hundred  and  thirty-nine  acres  of  good  and  well- 
improved  land. 

In  tlie  earlv  d.ays.  oursubject  was  engaged  in 
making  brick  on  tlie  farm,  there  being  here  a  good 
cl.a}-  pit,  and  he  w.os  awarded  the  first  contract  ever 
let  by  the  viU.age  of  New  Bremen  for  macadamiz- 
ing the  streets*.  He  later  took  the  contract  for 
building  the  turnpike  in  the  townsliip  and  has  done 
considera'ole  of  such  work. 

In  1870.  :Mr.  Barth  w-os  married  to  Miss  Louisa 


548 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Spraiu,  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  Her  parents  had  come 
to  this  country  from  Prussia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barth 
have  been  the  parents  of  nine  chiUiren,  of  whom 
seven  are  now  living:  Marietta,  Clara,  Emma, 
Ella,  yamuel,  Edwin  and  Frances.  The  tenets  as 
held  by  the  Democratic  party  are  those  to  which 
our  subject  is  loyal.  In  recognition  of  his  worth 
and  ability,  jMr.  Barth  h.as  been  elected  as  Township 
Trustee,  which  position  he  has  occupied  for  ten 
years.  lie  was  elected  County  Commissioner  in 
1889.  He  has  been  connected  with  the  German 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Compan}'  for  twenty-two 
years  and  during  that  time  he  held  the  office  of 
Secretary  for  ten  years  and  of  Treasurer  for  twelve 
years.  At  the  present  time  he  is  serving  his  second 
term  .as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Wapakoneta  Agricultural  Society.  Upon  his 
farm  is  a  good  uatuial  gas  well  which  supplies  hira 
abundantly  with  fuel.  lie  with  the  other  members 
of  his  family  worship  at  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church 
in  jS'ew  Bremen,  in  which  body  he  has  held  various 
official  positions. 


a'^T^ti 


.J/,^  U  G  II  MATH  E  R  .'^,  LL.  B.,  a  young  and 
If  )1(  prominent  member  of  the  Ohio  Bar  and 
/*Vi^  solicitor  for  the  city  of  Sidney,  Ohio,  comes 
(^)  of  a  distinguished  family  of  lawyers,  both 
his  father,  John  Hutchiuson  JMathei-s,  and  his 
grandfather,  James  3Iathers,  being  noted  attor- 
neys-at-law.  Grandmother  Mathers,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Jane  Hutchinson,  was  the  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  John  Hutchinson,  who  was  an  eminent 
minister  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  pre.aching 
the  Word  of  God  for  a  period  of  about  forty 
years  in  the  Mifflintown  and  Lost  Creek  Cliurches, 
in  Pennsylvania.  Both  James  and  Jane  (Hutch- 
inson) Mathers  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Cliurch  and  active  workers  in  the  same. 

John  Hutchinson  Mathers  was  born  in  31illlin- 
town.  Juniata  County,  Pa.,  Feljruar}'  2."),  1.S.30, 
and  at  an  early  age  evinced  a  t.aste  for  the  legal 
profession.     He  was  graduated  with  high  honors 


in  his  literary  course  at  Jefferson  College  at  Can- 
nonsburgh.  Pa.,  and  returning  home,  devoted  him- 
self with  great  assiduity  to  the  stud}'  of  law  in  his 
father's  office,  and  after  the  latter 's  death  with  the 
Hon.  A.  Parker..  After  this,  he  practiced  law  at 
Mifflintown  and  was  District  Attorney  until  the 
summer  of  1855,  when  he  went  to  Jefferson,  Tes., 
and  was  for  some  time  engaged  in  teaching  school. 
In  October,  1856, he  came  North  and  settled  in  Sid- 
ney, Ohio,  where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  m 
partnership  with  the  Hon.  Jacob  S.  Conklin,  soon 
obtaining  a  leading  position  at  the  Bar.  In  1863, 
he  entered  into  partnei-ship  with  Judge  Hugh 
Thompson,  in  which  relation,  with  but  brief  inter- 
mission, he  continued  until  his  death,  serving  six 
years  as  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  .Shelby  County. 
His  success  as  a  practitioner  was  owing  to  his  great 
force  of  character,  the  skill  with  which  he  met  un- 
expected emergencies  in  the  couree  of  trial,  his  in- 
tense energ\-,  thorough  preparation  of  every  case 
before  entering  court  and  his  devotion  to  his 
clients.  At  the  same  time,  he  was  characterized 
by  high  moral  rectitude.  He  was  earnest,  too,  in 
his  endeavors  to  maintain  the  dignity  of  the  law 
and  to  secure  the  punishment  of  its  offenders. 

His  efforts  as  prosecuting  attorney  in  the  inter- 
est of  temperance  brought  upon  him  the  displeas- 
ure of  many,  but  lie  did  not  falter  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duty.  He  w.as  ardentl}'  attached  to  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  .and  wasone  of  its  most  earnest  advo- 
cates. On  the  14th  of  October,  1863,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Thompson,  daughter 
of  Judge  Thompson.  Three  children  were  the 
fruits  of  this  union,  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
Early  in  1874,  Mr.  Mathers'  health  began  to  fail 
i  and  consumption  rapidly  developed.  After  spend- 
ing some  time  in  the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  Florida,  he  returned  home  to  Sidney  and 
here  his  death  occurred  on  the  29th  of  April,  1875. 
Although  not  a  church  member  until  late  in  life, 
he  was  an  ardent  Presbyterian,  devoted  to  the 
doctrines,  order  and  polity  of  the  church  and  died 
a  member  of  that  church  in  Sidney. 

The  original  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Sidney, 
Ohio,  on  tho  20th  of  May,  1866,  and  received  his 
literary  education  in  the  High  School  of  tliat  place 
and  in  Princeton  (N.  J.)  College.  He  subsequently 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


549 


read  law  with  W.  D.  Da  vies,  of  tliis  city,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  the 
Class  of  '88.  In  December,  of  that  yeai-,  he  lo- 
cated in  Sidney  and  began  practicing  alone  and 
was  elected  solicitor  in  the  spring  of  1889.  So 
ably  and  satisfactorily  did  he  fill  this  position  that 
he  w.as  re-elected  in  1891  and  holds  that  position 
at  the  present  time.  Febru.iry  20,  1889,  he  married 
Miss  Louisa  P.  Beeson,  of  Uniontown,  Pa.,  and  a 
daughter  of  Charles  Beeson.  One  cliild  has  been 
born  to  this  union,  Hugh,  Jr.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Mathers 
hold  membership  in  tlic  First  Presbyterian  Church 
and  he  is  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  church.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Citizens'  Bank  and  also'owns 
large  farming  interests,  about  tlirce  hundred  acres 
in  Orange  Township,  tliis  county,  and  owns  con- 
siderable town  property.  He  is  a  rising  young 
lawyer  and  a  bright  future  is  before  him. 


^&m 


'if  OSEPH  T.  BRUBAKER.  There  is  m  the 
development  of  every  successful  life  a  prin- 
ciple which  is  a  lesson  to  every  man  follow- 
ing in  its  footsteps,  a  lesson  leading  to 
higher  and  more  honorable  position  than  the  ordi- 
nary. Let  a  man  be  industriously  ambitious,  and 
honorable  in  his  ambitious,  and  he  will  rise, 
whether  having  the  prestige  of  famih-  or  the  ob- 
scurity of  jjoverty.  W'e  are  led  to  these  reflec- 
tions by  a  stud^-  of  the  life  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  Mr.  Joseph  T.  Brubaker,  one  of  the  old 
residents  and  prominent  citizens  of  the  county. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Virginia  on  the  l:?th  of 
November,  1846,  to  the  union  of  Peter  and  JIartha 
(Aleshfre)  Brubaker,  also  natives  of  that  State. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  John  Brubaker,  vfas  a 
native  too  of  the  grand  old  State  of  Virginia,  and 
was  of  German  descent,  his  father  being  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Virginia.  John  Bruljaker  owned  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  that  State  and  was  a  ver\'  extensive  farmer 
for  the  times.  He  became  quite  wealthy  and  died 
in   Virginia    when    quite  aged.       Peter    Brubaker 


followed  farming  in  his  native  State  and  was  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  acres  there,  on  which  he 
raised  grain  and  some  stock.  He  was  a  hardwork- 
ing man  and  an  excellent  mau.ager,  so  that  he  had 
accumulated  considerable  wealth  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  very  charitable,  and  the  needy 
and  helpless  always  found  him  liberal  and  sympa- 
thetic. He  contributed  freely  to  churches,  and,  in 
fact,  to  all  worthy  or  laudable  enterprises.  To  his 
marriage  were  born  five  sons  and  a  daughter: 
Emma  J.(Mi-s.  Harrison),  Joseph  T.,Peter  A.,  Abram 
D.,  John  C.  and  Jacob  P.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  when  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age- 
Her  people  were  of  German  descent. 

Joseph  T.  Brubaker  was  trained  to  the  duties  of 
the  farm  at  an  early  age  and  received  a  liberal  ed- 
ucation in  the  district  schools.  AVhen  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  started  out  to  fight  life's  battles 
for  himself,  and  just  at  the  close  of  the  war,  or  in 
1865,  he  came  to  the  Buckeye  State.  He  first  set- 
tled in  Licking  County,  w.as  there  one  jear,  and 
then  returned  to  Virginia,  but  one  j-ear  later  again 
settled  in  Licking  County,  Ohio.  However,  he 
only  remained  there  one  winter,and  then  removed 
to  Champaign  County,  where  he  remained  two 
j-ears.  From  there  he  came  to  Logan  County  and 
has  made  his  home  here  ever  since.  He  chose  for 
his  life  companion  ISIiss  Sallie  R.  Loudenback,  a 
native  of  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  born  Novem- 
ber 24,  1849,  and  their  nuptials  were  celebrated  on 
the  15th  of  December,  1870.  Two  children  were 
born  to  this  marriage,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  one  living  is  named  Minnie.  Mrs. 
Brubaker's  grandparents,  Daniel  and  Mar\-  (Pence) 
Loudenback,  were  natives  of  Virginia  and  were 
(juite  wealthy  people.  The  father  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Mexican  War,  and  w.as  a  very  old  settler  of 
Ohio,  locating  in  Champaign  County  when  the 
Indians  were  very  numerous.  He  w.as  an  excellent 
shot  and  very  few  Indians  could  beat  him  as  a 
marksman.  Mrs.  Brubaker,  who  was  a  Baptist  in 
her  religious  belief,  died  on  the  13th  of  Jlav, 
1874. 

The  orii,inal  of  this  noti(.'e  came  to  Loiiin 
County,  Ohio,  on  the  10th  of  August,  1871,  and 
settled  in  Waahington  Townshi]),  on  land  owned 
by    his    father-in-law,    wliere    he    remained    until 


550 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1876.  He  then  located  in  Lake  View,  this  county, 
and  in  1877  bought  the  land  he  now  owns.  This 
was  nearly  all  covered  with  wood  and  on  it  was 
an  old  log  house  and  barn.  His  second  marriage 
occurred  on  the  5th  of  Seiiteniber,  1878,  to  Bliss 
t<arah  E.  Craig,  a  native  of  Logan  County,  born 
on  the  17th  of  January,  1858.  The  following 
children  have  been  born  to  them:  S.  IMaud,  .Joseph 
C,  Martha  J.  and  Frederick.  Mr.  Brubakcr  is  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  acres  of  laud  in  this  county, 
and  has  eighty  .acres  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. He  is  one  of  the  most  progressive,  thor- 
ough-going business  men  in  the  county,  and  the 
wide-awake  manner  in  which  he  has  taken  advan- 
taije  of  every  method  and  idea  tending  towards 
tlie  enhanced  value  of  his  property  has  had  con- 
siderable to  do  with  his  success  in  life.  He  has 
done  considerable  ditching  on  his  farm  and  is  en- 
gaged in  mixed  farming,  raising  gi-ain  of  all  kinds, 
and  also  raises  considerable  stock.  He  built  his 
present  large  frame  house  in  1888,  and  is  now  sur- 
rounded with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  In  politics, 
he  leans  toward  the  Democratic  party  in  national 
affairs,  but  is  more  or  less  independent  in  local 
politics.  He  held  the  position  of  Assessor  for  four 
years  and  discharged  the  duties  of  that  office  in  a 
very  satisfactory  way.  He  was  instrumental  in 
getting  the  right  of  way  for  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
Railroad  through  this  section  of  country,  although 
this  road  has  not  been  built.  During  the  Civil 
"War,  our  subject  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Seventh 
Cavalry,  and  served  as  Orderly  Sergeant  for  two 
years.     He  enlisted  when  but  seventeen  years  of 


R.  W.  R.  IvEVE,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
I)!  physicians  of  Sidney,  is  well  and  favor- 
ably known  all  over  the  county  and  is 
ever  to  be  found  at  the  bedside  of  the 
sick  and  afflicted.  He  began  pr.aeticing  his  pro- 
fession in  Sidney  in  1880  and  here  he  has  since 
continued.       Public-spirited     and    liberal     in     his 


views,  his  aid  to  the  community  in  which  he  lives 
has  been  neither  stinted  nor  infrequent. 

Dr.  Keve  was  born  in  Piqua,  !Miami  County, 
Ohio,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1848,  and  is  a  son 
of  W.  C.  and  Pha'Ije  (French)  Keve,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Kew  Jersej'  and  Ohio.  The  elder 
Mr.  Keve  left  his  native  soil  and  located  in  Piqua, 
Ohio,  at  an  early  date,  following  the  trade  of  a 
wagon  and  agricultural  implement  manufacturer 
for  many  years.  During  the  latter  part  of  his 
days,  he  moved  on  a  farm,  and  there  he  and  his 
worthy  wife  passed  the  closing  scenes  of  their 
lives. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  w.as  received 
in  the  High  Schools  of  Piqua  and  during  vacations 
he  worked  with  his  father  and  learned  his  trade. 
However,  he  was  not  destined  to  follow  that  busi- 
ness very  long,  for  a  great  desire  took  possession 
of  him  to  study  medicine,  and  he  first  began  read- 
ing with  Dr.  J.  F.  Gabriel  in  the  fall  of  1876. 
Later  he  entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College  in  Cin- 
cinnati and  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '80  with 
the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  first  located  at  Anna, 
this  count}',  but  six  months  later  came  to  Sidney. 
When  he  first  came  to  Sidney,  he  was  in  partner- 
ship with  his  father-in-law,  Dr.  H.  S.  Conklin,  and 
remained  with  him  until  the  death  of  the  latter, 
since  which  time  he  has  carried  on  the  practice 
alone.  He  is  a  close  and  careful  student  of  medi- 
cine, and  is  not  only  a  physician  of  acknowledged 
ability  and  prominence,  but  one  of  the  county's 
most  genial  and  generous  citizens. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Shelby  County  Medical 
Society,  and  a  member  of  the  American  Society, 
in  which  he  has  held  membership  since  the  con- 
vention at  Cleveland.  He  has  also  been  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Health  and  a  member  of  the  Ex- 
amining Board  of  Pensions,  at  Belief  on  taine,  also 
Coroner  of  the  county  for  six  years.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Dr. 
Keve  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Conk- 
lin, daughter  of  Dr.  Conklin,  in  1881.  Dr.  Conk- 
lin was  a  practitioner  here  from  1837  or  1838, 
for  fifty  years,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  physi- 
cians of  the  county.  He  first  made  his  trips  to 
Ins  patients  on  horseb.-xck,  afterward  in  a  sulky, 
then  a  buggy,  and  fin.ally  a  buggy  with  springs,  as 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


551 


improvements  were  m.iile.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Keve 
were  born  two  children,  viz:  Henry  and  Judson 
C.  Tiie  death  of  Mrs.  Keve  occurred  July  27, 
1891.  Dr.  Keve  owns  a  fine  residence  in  Sidney, 
in  which  he  h.os  lived  since  locating  here,  and  he 
is  one  of  the  public-spirited  and  worthy  citizens  of 
his  locality. 


BRAHAM  ELDER,  M.  D.  Logan  County, 
^^Jld\  ^"'■'  especially  the  vicinity  of  Huntsville, 
1'  h.os  been  the  field  of  later  to  which  our 
(^^  subject   has    devoted    himself    for    very 

nearly  forty  j-ears.  It  would  be  very  strange  if 
in  that  length  of  time  so  affable  and  lovable  a 
man  and  so  excellent  a  practitioner  had  not  made 
for  himself  hosts  of  friends,  who  owe  .as  much, 
perhaps,  in  their  sickness  to  his  cheery  smile  and 
cordi.al,  encouraging  greeting  as  to  his  medicines. 
He  is  the  oldest  physician  in  the  town  and  among 
the  oldest  in  the  count}-.  He  is,  moreover,  a  na- 
tive of  this  State,  having  been  born  at  .Somerset, 
Perry  County,  April  20,  1821. 

Dr.  Elder  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Jane  (.Tolm- 
son)  Elder,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  although 
the  former  was  of  English  descent.  Abraham 
Elder,  Sr.,  came  to  Ohio  in  1815,  journeying 
hither  by  wagon,  and  settled  at  our  subject's  birth- 
place. He  was  eng.aged  in  dealing  in  horses,  find- 
ing a  market  for  them  in  Philadelphia.  Twenty- 
one  j-ears  were  spent  in  this  business  and  he  became 
widely  known  throughout  the  country.  In  1831, 
he  made  his  headquartere  at  Bellefontaine,  and 
after  a  trip  to  Philadelphia  the  return  was  made 
with  a  plentiful  stock  of  goods  for  a  store  which  he 
ran  in  Bellefontaine.  He  was  elected  Associate 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  had  a 
good  knowledge  of  law  and  was  consulted  far  and 
near  on  legal  questions,  being  generallj'  recognized 
as  a  man  of  large  mental  calibre.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Seceder  Church,  now  known  as  the 
United  Presbyterian.  Politically,  ho  was  a  Whig 
,and   a   Republican  ami  a  thorough   patriot.      Dur- 


ing the  AVar  of  1812,  he  was  engaged  in  hauling 
ammunition  and  during  this  employment  he  had 
some  narrow  escapes 

The  mother  of  twelve  children,  Jane  (Johnson) 
Elder  reared  nine  of  them,  having  named  them  as 
follows:  Culberson,  .lane,  John,  Margaret,  James, 
Robert,  Abr.aham,  Maria  and  Rebecca.  After  in- 
stilling valuable  lessons  into  the  fertile  minds  of 
these  young  people,  and  feeling  that  her  work  was 
done,  the  mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-three 
years.  Our  subject  attended  school  a  short  time 
at  Somerset  and  then  spent  a  year  at  Bellefontaine. 
Just  at  this  point  bis  father  moved  the  family-  to  a 
farm  near  Huntsville,  and  thereafter  our  subject 
conned  his  lessons  in  the  log  schoolhouse  two  miles 
distant  from  his  home.  It  had  an  open  fireplace,  slab 
benches  and  gre.ased  paper  inserted  in  the  openings 
that  served  as  windows,  and  w.as  a  subscription 
school. 

After  the  death  of  the  father,  our  subject  and  his 
brother  Robert  together  worked  the  farm  for  a 
few  yeai-s;  then  they  purchased  sixty -two  acres,  de- 
voting themselves  to  its  improvement  for  two 
j-ears  longer.  At  this  point  our  subject  began  his 
medical  studies,  having  had  a  desire  to  do  so  for  a 
long  time.  He  began  reading  under  Dr.  Mam. 
Later,  he  went  to  Hardin  County,  and  started  a 
dry-goods  store,  continuing  at  that  business  for 
three  years  and  reading  medicine  at  the  same  time. 
Railroads  were  then  sending  out  their  nervous 
fingers  in  every  direction,  and  one  coming  near  the 
residence  of  our  subject,  he,  foreseeing  that  it 
would  greatly  enh.ance  the  value  of  property-,  pur- 
chased some  land  and  then  went  into  partnership 
with  Dr.  McAndless,  of  Bellefont.aine,  in  the  drug 
business.  The  senior  member  of  the  firm  was  our 
subject's  medical  tutor  and  when,  at  the  end  of  an 
association  of  three  years,  the  enterprise  was  sold 
out,  Dr.  Elder  entered  the  Starling  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Columbus,  in  1851.  He  is  also  a  graduate 
of  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Medicine  and  Sur- 
gery. After  a  time  spent  in  Hardin  County,  he 
came  here,  in  1854,  and  has  since  devoted  his  atten- 
tion to  this  locality. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  found  his  better  half 
in  Mary  A.  Wallace,  a  native  ot  Pennsylvania, 
who  c-inio  to    Ohio    with   her  iiarents  when  cuily  a 


552 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


little  girl.  She  has  been  his  faithful  companion  in 
life  ever  since,  carefully  rearing  the  children 
that  have  been  spared  them.  Their  names  are 
Samantlia  E.,  Arra  A.,  Can-ie,  Wallace  S.  and 
Vada  Y.  In  his  profession,  Dr.  Elder  makes  a 
specialty  of  the  diseases  of  women  and  children, 
including  chronic  diseases.  He  has  had  some  re- 
markable cases  and  has  been  execedingl3'  success- 
ful. Since  his  location  here,  thirty  doctors  have 
come  and  gone,  and  where  others  have  failed  he 
h.os  made  a  brilliant  success. 

The  Elder  home  is  a  beautiful  place  comprising 
five  acres  of  land  and  a  fine  frame  residence  which 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  He  has  a  farm 
of  fifty-twoacres  east  of  town  and  another  of  sixty 
acres  north  of  town.  He  frees  himself  of  the  act- 
ual care  of  the  place  by  renting  it,  and  at  the  same 
time  gratifies  his  taste  for  live  stock  by  keeping  fine 
animals. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Elder  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  convictions  and  has  held  some  im- 
portant offices.  He  h.as  been  on  the  School  Board 
of  this  local  it}- for  thirteen  years. .  Most  of  this 
time  he  was  President. 


-^mi 


w.^im 


||«N^ 


\T|UDGE  THOMAS  MILTENBERGER.  The 
I  subject  of  this  sketch,  wiio  is  one  of  the 
prominent  residents  of  Logan  County,  was 
born  April  24,  1820,  in  Rockingham  County, 
Va.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Eva  E.  (BIoss) 
Miltcnberger,  natives  of  Virginia.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  John  Bliltenberger,  Sr.,  was  a  drum- 
mer boy  during  the  Revolutionar}-  "War  in  Wash- 
ington's army  and  when  that  famous  general  led 
his  army  across  the  Delaware  River,  the  grand- 
father plugged  up  the  holes  in  his  drum,  and  on 
it  he  paddled  himself  across.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  spent  his  laat  days  in  his  native 
State.  The  ancestors  of  our  subject,  on  both  sides, 
are  from  Germany,  in  which  country  they  were  re- 
spected and  well-to-do  residents. 


The  direct  progenitors  of  our  subject  came  to 
Warren  County  this  State  in  the  spring  of  1832, 
where  tlie  father,  who  w.os  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812,  departed  this  life  in  1845.  He  reared  a 
family  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely: 
William,  Elias,  Adam,  Layton,Thomas,  John,  Mar- 
garet, Caroline  and  Matilda. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  twelve  yeare  of  age 
when  his  parents  removed  to  this  State,  and  here 
it  was  that  he  received  his  education  in  the  primi- 
tive schoolhouse,  with  slab  seats,  greased  paper  for 
window  lights,  puncheon  floor,  etc.  He  remained 
upon  the  farm  until  reaching  his  seventeenth  year, 
when,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  abandoned  farm 
work  and  attended  the  High  School  at  Springbor- 
ough,  this  State.  After  completing  his  education, 
Mr.  Miltcnberger  was  engaged  in  teaching  school 
several  years,  in  which  occupation  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful. 

The  lad\'  who  became  the  wife  of  our  subject  in 
1842  was  Miss  Mary  J.  Brown,  of  Franklin,  War- 
ren County.  The  young  couple  located  in  the 
above-named  place,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  thej' 
remained  for  eleven  yeai-s,  when  Mr.  Miltcnberger 
came  to  Bellefontaine  and  engaged  as  photographer, 
being  the  third  man  to  take  daguerreotj-pes  in  the 
State.  In  1860,  he  was  elected  County  Auditor 
of  Logan  County,  of  which  office  he  was  the  incum- 
bent for  nine  years.  The  following  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  and  during  his  one  term 
in  the  House  served  on  man}'  important  commit- 
tees and  performed  the  duties  of  the  oflice  with 
entire  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 

In  1874,  the  original  of  this  sketch  erected  the 
Miltcnberger  House  in  this  city,wliicli  he  conducted 
as  "mine  host"  in  first-class  st3-le  for  five  years. 
In  1874,  he  was  elected  Probate  Judge  and  on  the 
expiration  of  his  term  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
position.  He  was  for  six  years  Director  of  the 
County  Infirmary  and  for  about  the  same  length 
of  time  was  a  School  Officer. 

Judge  Miltenberger  has  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  politics  all  his  life,  and  no  man  in  the 
county  has  more  friends  than  he.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  retailing  fine  cigars  and  tobacco,  keeping 
constantly  on  hand  on  his  shelves  and  in  his  show 
cases  the  best  articles  of  that  kind  to  be  had  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


553 


city.  In  social  matters,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  order  he  occupies  a 
high  position.  He  takes  a  just  pride  in  the  progress 
of  his  county  and  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  the 
.promotion  of  those  enterprises  calculated  to  ad- 
vance its  general  welfare. 

To  Mr.  and  Mre.  Miltenberger  have  been  born 
five  children,  one  of  whom  is  living.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  in  1882  and  in  1884  the  Judge 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Fannie  A.  Earick,  of  Sandusky, 
this  State.  They  are  both  regular  attend.ints  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  body 
they  hold  membership  and  are  liberal  contributors 
toward  its  support.  During  the  late  war,  James 
A.,  the  eldest  son  of  our  subject,  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  Thirteenth  United  Sta.tes  Army,  and  died 
near  Vick&burgh,  Miss.,  while  in  the  service.  His 
remains  now  lie  in  the  Bellefont.aine  cemetery. 
Tlie  Judge  is  and  always  has  been  a  st-alwart  Re- 
publican. 


j^  MOS  CHERRY.     It  cannot  bo  expected  in 
'^JLJi    a  work  of  this  kind,  where  but  brief  bio- 
m   H)    graphical  sketches  of   prominent  citizens 
^/  of  the  county-  are  presented,  that  a  length}- 

laudatory  article  should  be  written  of  each  one, 
and  j-et  at  times  there  are  met  with  some  who 
have  been  so  intimately  and  closely  identified 
with  the  county,  and  whose  names  are  so  familiar 
to  all,  that  it  is  only  just  to  dwell  upon  what  they 
have  done  and  the  inlluence  of  their  career  on 
otiiers,  not  merely  as  einptj-  words  of  pr.aise,  but 
the  plain  statement  of  still  plainer  truths.  Amos 
Cherry,  who  is  one  of  the  largest  land-owners  in 
Washington  Township,  and  one  of  its  most  exten- 
sive farmers,  was  born  near  .Springfield,  Oliio,  on 
the  20th  of  September,  1820. 

His  parents  were  Abraham  and  Margaret  (McMan- 
away)  Cherry.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  mother  was  of  Irish  extraction,  and 
in  the  State  of  Ohio  thev  were  married.     Our  sub- 


ject's paternal  grandfather  w.as  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  when  still  a  single  man  came  to  America. 
He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania,  and  tilled  the  soil 
until  his  death.  The  maternal  grandparents  were 
natives  of  Ireland,  in  which  country  they  were 
married,  and  at  an  early  date  came  to  America, 
settling  in  Pennsylvania.  After  tlie  birth  of  one 
child,  or  in  1804,  our  subject's  father  came  to 
Ohio,  making  the  journev  on  horseback,  and 
settled  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  a 
tract  of  land  from  the  Government.  Mr.  Cherry 
built  a  round-log  cabin,  with  mud  and  stick 
chimney,  and  although  he  and  his  thrifty  and  in- 
dustrious wife  had  little  else  to  help  themselves 
with  except  their  own  strong  hands  and  sturdy  in- 
dependence, thej-  began  gradually  to  accumulate  a 
comfortable  competency.  They  resided  there  for 
four  yeai-s,  after  which  they  sold  out  and  bought 
Government  land  in  sight  of  the  present  city  of 
Springfield,  Ohio,  where  thej-  continued  their  fru- 
gal existence  until  1833.  The  wood  abounded  in 
wild  anim.als,  deer,  wolves,  etc.,  and  fresh  meat  was 
never  lacking  on  the  table.  After  residing  on  that 
farm  and  improving  it  in  many  wa3-s,  Mr.  and 
Jlrs.  Cherry  sold  out  and  once  more  settled  in  the 
woods,  this  time  in  Washington  Township,  Logan 
County,  Ohio,  where  the  father's  death  occurred 
in  1852.  He  w.as  a  Presbyterian  in  religion,  and  a 
Democrat  in  politics  at  first,  but  later  he  trans- 
ferred his  allegiance  to  the  Whig  party.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  to  this  much-esteemed  couple, 
five  grew  to  mature  years,  and  were  named  as  fol- 
lows: Christina,  Charles,  Amos,  Andrew  J.  and 
Abraliam.  The  mother,  who  was  a  devout  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  died  when  fifty-five 
3-cars  of  age. 

Our  subject  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  this  county,  and  he  remembers  that  his 
parents  made  the  journey  wilh  te.am  and  wasron. 
They  were  three  days  in  getting  from  wliere  the 
County  Infirmary  now  stands  to  where  they  fin- 
ally located,  and  had  to  cut  trees  and  build 
bridges.  A  rather  limited  education  was  received 
by  our  subject  in  the  log  schoolhouse,  with  large 
firepl.ace  in  one  end  of  the  room,  split-log  benches 
and  other  rude  inventions  of  those  d.ays.  and  there 
was   greased  paper  for  window   liglits   until  aliout 


554 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


three  years  before  he  left  the  school  room.  He 
had  to  go  oil  horeeback  to  West  Liberty  for  flour, 
that  being  their  nearest  mill,  and  all  their  wheat 
was  hauled  to  Sandusk}-,  a  distance  of  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  For  this  they  received 
forty  cents  per  bushel.  They  brought  back  leather 
and  salt,  and  the  journey  took  them  generally  four- 
teen days.  Amos  Cherry  remained  at  home  with 
his  father  until  the  hitter's  deatli,  and  then  he 
bought  out  the  other  heirs.  He  remembers  the 
country  when  it  was  .almost  an  entire  wilderness, 
and  when  deer  and  otlicr  wild  anim.als  were  quite 
numerous.  He  h.as  killed  many  deer  but  never 
cared  very  much  for  hunting. 

The  original  of  this  notice  selected  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Smith  as  his  companion  in  life,  and  their 
nuptials  were  celebrated  in  1842.  She  was  born 
in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  and  remained  with  her 
parents  until  about  1830.  To  Mr.  and  Sirs.  Cherry 
have  been  born  seven  children:  Abbie  J.,  now 
Mrs.  Silas  Odel,  who  resides  in  St.  Mary's,  Ohio; 
Charlotta,  now  Jlrs.  William  Smead,  ol  California; 
Zachariah  T.,  of  Stokes  Township,  this  county, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming;  Abram  M., 
operating  a  s.awmill  in  Bellefontaine;  Olive,  at 
home;  Ada,  now  Mrs.  .James  Duff,  of  Stokes  Town- 
ship; and  Ulysses  S.  G.,  now  a  lawyer  at  Sioux 
Falls,  D.ak.  The  latter  graduated  in  the  Washington 
City  Law  School,  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  profes- 
sion in  Dakota,  and  is  doing  remarkably  well. 

Mr.  Cherry  is  the  owner  of  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land,  nearly  all  improved,  and  has 
fifty  .acres  covered  with  limber,  the  finest  in  the 
county.  He  carries  on  gener.al  farming,  has  been 
very  successful,  and  nearly  all  liis  property  has 
been  made  by  the  lionest  sweat  of  his  brow.  He 
paid  ^5,000  bail  money  besides.  He  has  an  excel- 
lent fr.ame  house,  and  a  large  frame  barn  erected 
in  1887.  Mr.  Cherry  not  only  enjoys  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Logan 
County,  but  he  is  one  of  tlie  highly  esteemed  and 
honored  citizens.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  induced  his  father  to  leave  the  Democratic 
party  and  join  the  Whigs.  When  younger,  our 
subject  was  a  great  reader,  and  was  well  posted  on 
all  the  current  topics  of  the  day.  During  the  war, 
he  enlisted  in  tlie  one  hundred  day  service.  May 


7,  1864,  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
second  Regiment,  and  was  sent  to  Washington 
City,  where  he  remained  three  weeks  at  Arlington 
Heights  and  White  House  Landing.  From  there 
he  went  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  where  he  was  on 
garrison  duty  for  a  sliort  time,  and  went  from 
there  to  Norfolk.  He  was  mustered  out  on  the 
10th  of  September,  1864,  and  came  home.  He  .at- 
tributes his  success  to  hard  work  and  good  man- 
agement. Mrs.  Cheiiy  is  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Churcli,  and  has  also  exper- 
ienced the  hardships  and  adventures  of  pioneer 
life. 


I  ■{•4"{"i-'^!®'-i- ■!••{•+? 


ETKR  M.  YOUNG  a  successful  farmer  re- 
jJi  siding  in  Jackson  Township,  Shelby 
Count}',  is  a  member  of  a  pioneer  family 
of  Ohio,  who  were  alike  instrumental  in 
developing  the  vast  agricultural  resources  of  tlie 
State,  and  defending  the  countiy  in  times  of  war 
from  the  depredations  of  enemies.  His  paternal 
gr.andfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
War  and  a  cannoneer  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 
His  father,  Philip  Young,  who  w.as  born  in  Berke- 
ley County,  Ya.,  October  16, 1787,  was  also  a  brave 
soldier  in  his  countr3''s  defense,  and  served  in  the 
War  of  1812. 

While  a  resident  of  Pickaw.ay  County,  Oliio, 
Philip  Young  w.as  married  to  Miss  Kezi.ah  Curtis, 
who  w.'is  born  in  Berkeley  Count}-,  A'a.,  April  11, 
1808,  the  daughter  of  David  Curtis,  likewise  a  na- 
tive of  the  Old  Dominion.  By  a  former  marriage, 
Mr.  Young  w.as  the  fatlier  of  eleven  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living.  In  1830,  he  removed  to 
Shelby  County,  and  settled  on  an  unimproved 
farm  in  Franklin  Township.  Amid  dense  forest 
growths,  and  at  the  head  of  Plum  Creek,  near  a 
large  Indian  camp,  he  built  a  log  cabin  for  the 
home  of  his  family. 

For  thirty  years  Philip  Young  resided  on  that 
place,  which  through  his  efforts  was  brouglit  to  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  .and  in   the  meantime   he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  an  interested  witness  of  the  development  of 
the  sui  rounding  country  from  a  wilderness  prim- 
evul,  the  home  of  the  savau;e  beast  and  the  scarcely 
less  savage  Indian.  At  a  venerable  age,  he  p;issed 
to  his  final  rest  in  1850.  His  wife,  who  w.is  con- 
siderably his  junior,  survived  him  many  j-ears,  her 
death  occurring  February  16.  1891, at  the  age  of 
eighty-twoyears  and  ten  months.  The^'  inculcated 
principles  of  religion  in  their  children,  thus  insur- 
ing success,  spiritually  and  financially,  to  their 
posterity. 

Having  come  to  Ohio  in  her  fifteenth  year,  the 
motlier  of  our  subject  resided  in  this  vicinity  for 
more  than  sixty  years  and  her  life  was  "an  open 
book,  known  and  read  of  all."  Slie  scorned  de- 
ception and  taught  her  children  to  be  virtuous  and 
honest.  Through  her  long  and  eventful  life  she 
always  had  a  distressing  dread  of  death,  shrinking 
in  terror  from  the  gloom  of  the  grave,  and  it  was 
the  earnest  prayer  of  those  who  loved  her  that  she 
might  be  spared  nntil  that  fear  was  removed. 
Their  wish  was  granted,  for  the  last  few  months 
were  perhaps  the  happiest  of  her  life.  She  seemed 
to  lose  sight  of  earth,  while  only  heaven  remained. 
Her  visions  were  all  bright,  and  at  times  she  was 
almost  inexpressibly  happy.  Her  countenance 
would  beam  with  a  light  not  of  earth  as  she  would 
joyously  exclaim  "Oh,  glory,  glory  Hallelujah  1 
Bless,  bless  the  Lord."  But  life's  web  is  woven; 
there  will  be  no  more  weary 

"Weaving,  weaving,  weaving,  weaving, 

Slow  tlfe  shuttle  worked  its  will; 
Throbbing,  throbbing,  throbbing,  throbbing, 

Faintly  beating,  and  is  still. 
Happy  now  the  patient  weaver. 

Who  the  M.ister's  plan  hath  wrought, 
Tracing  carefully  the  pattern, 

Marring  nor  neglecting  aught. 
For  the  web  the  M.oster  turnelli, 

And  before  bis  dazzled  eyes. 
Shining  in  its  wondrous  beauty, 

All  the  thought  completed  lies; 
And  the  weaver,  joj'ful,  learneth 

That  the  wrong  side  was  her  own, 
Till  the  beating,  throbbing  shuttle 

All  its  faithful  work  had  done." 

L'nto  Philip  and  Keziali  Young  were  born  eleven 
children,  six  of  whom  survive.     One  son,  Silas  D., 


enlisted  during  the  Civil  War  as  a  member  of  the 
Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry  and  served  faithfully 
until  he  was  injured  by  being  shot  through  the 
nose.  In  his  religious  connection,  Mr.  Young, Sr., 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  .Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  in  which  he  served  as  Trustee,  Steward 
and  Class-leader.  In  his  political  belief,  he  was  a 
Whig. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Franklin 
Township,  Shelby  County,  June  27,  1831,  and  has 
been  a  life-long  resident  of  the  county.  He  recalls 
thrilling  incidents  of  pioneer  life  and  has  not  only 
been  deeph-  interested  in  the  progress  of  the  com- 
munit}',  but  has  also  contributed  effectively  to  its 
advancement.  In  his  childhood  he  attended  the 
subscription  schools,  which  were  then  in  vogue, 
and  emplo3-ed  the  summer  seasons  in  tilling  the 
soil.  AVhen  nineteen  years  old,  he  commenced  to 
teach  school  and  continued  thus  engaged  for  seven 
and  one-half  years. 

April  29,  1852,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Y'oung  and  Miss  Martha  A.  Porter.  Tlie  bride  was 
born  in  Shelby  County,  March  29,  1830,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Moses  and  Alie  Porter,  early  settlers  of 
Auglaize  County-,  who  are  now  deceased.  The 
marriage  w.as  blessed  by  the  birth  of  six  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living:  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Britton  C. 
Lorton,  of  Sidney,  and  the  mother  of  two  children; 
and  Kezia  L.,  who  married  James  Corson,  of  Da- 
kota, and  has  three  children.  Mrs.  Martha  A. 
Y'oung  died  December  8,  1879. 

The  lady  who  on  October  G,  1880,  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Young  was  known  in  maidenhood  as 
Annie  E.  Cahill,  and  w.as  born  May  27,  1840.  Her 
parents  were  Joseph  Cahill,  who  was  born  in  Ohio 
in  1802,  and  Eliz.abeth  (Preston)  Cahill,  who  was 
born  in  Canada  in  1803.  They  were  married  in 
Ohio,  where  Mr.  Cahill  operated  a  farm  in  Union 
County.  During  the  Civil  War,  he  was  hospital 
nurse  and  afterward  removed  to  Jasper  County, 
111.,  where  he  died.  His  famil}-  numbers  eleven 
children,  two  of  wiiom,  Joseph  and  David,  enlisted 
in  tlie  defense  of  the  Union  during  the  late  war. 
The  former  died  from  the  effects  of  a  wound  re- 
ceived while  in  service,  and  the  latter  contracted 
consumption  as  the  result  of  the  hardships  and  ex- 
posure of  army  life,  and  died   soon   after  the  ex- 


556 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


piration  of  his  term  of  service.  Of  the  entire 
family  one  son  and  two  daughters  still  survive. 

By  a  former  marriage,  Mrs.  Young  h.is  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Prior  Elwood,  and  Jeannette  A., who 
married  William  Morrison  and  has  three  children: 
Emma,  Josephine,  and  Albert  Eugene  Cummins. 
Religiouslj',  Mr.  Young  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  and  often  serves  in  the 
eap.acity  of  local  minister.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Grange,  in  which  he  is  at  present  Lecturer,  and  has 
served  as  Master  Lecturer,  Secretary,  Chaplain  and 
Doorkeeper.  His  wife  is  likewise  identified  -with 
that  organization,  in  which  she  is  Ceres  and  has 
been  Lady  Assistant  Steward. 

In  educational  matters,  Mr.  Young  has  always 
maintained  great  interest  and  has  been  instrumen- 
tal in  promoting  the  school  facilities  of  the  district 
while  filling  the  positions  of  Director  and  Member 
of  the  Board  of  Education.  He  was  twice  elected 
to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Jackson 
Township.  In  his  political  convictions,  he  was 
formerly  a  Dcmoci'at,  but,  becoming  convinced 
that  the  cause  of  justice  demanded  the  support  of 
Prohibition  principles,  he  joined  that  party  and 
has  since  been  one  of  its  most  loyal  adherents. 
Besides  his  home  farm,  which  comprises  ninety-two 
and  one-half  acres,  he  is  tlie  owner  of  fifty-three 
acres,  also  located  in  Jackson  Township,  and  his 
entire  property  has  been  brought  to  an  excellent 
state  of  cultivation. 


\1(  OHN  A.  PRICE,  Judge  of  the  Common 
Pleas  Court  at  Bellefontaine,  is  a  native  of 
Missouri,  having  been  born  in  Callaway 
(^//  County,  November  9,  1840.  He  is  a  son 
of  Charles  F.  M.  and  Martha  M.  (Kelly)  Price, 
natives  of  Virginia.  Our  subject  was  a  lad  when 
he  accompanied  his  mother  (his  father  having 
died)  to  Logan  County,  this  State,  they  making 
a  location  in  Monroe  Township,  where  he  at- 
tended the  common  and  High  School  at  West  Lib- 
erty until    18G0.     At  the  end  of  that  time,  liaving 


determined  to  follow  the  profession  of  a  lawyer 
Mr.  Price  came  to  Bellefontaine  and  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Stanton  &  Allison. 
Two  ycai's  later,  be  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  to 
practice  in  all  the  courts  of  Ohio. 

Mr.  Price  conducted  his  business  affairs  alone 
imtil  1876,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
W.  H.  Martin,  the  firm  n.ame  being  Price  &  Mar- 
tin, they  continuing  together  for  three  years.  In 
October,  1879,  the  law  firm  of  Price  &  Steen  was 
formed,  James  W.  Steen  being  tlie  partner,  the 
firm  being  recognized  as  one  of  the  strongest  of 
the  Logan  County  Bar. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war,  Mr.  Price  en- 
listed in  Api-il,  1861,  for  a  three-months  service 
in  the  Thirteenth  Ohio  Infantry,  which  was  the 
first  company  recruited  in  the  above-named 
county.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  was 
mustered  out  on  account  of  phj'sical  disability 
and,  returning  to  Bellefontaine,  remained  there 
until  the  fall  of  1863,  when  he  again  enlisted, 
this  time  being  mustered  in  as  Lieutenant  of  the 
Fifth  United  States  Colored  Troops,  which  formed 
a  part  of  the  Eighteenth  Army  Corps.  Mr.  Price 
did  much  hard  fighting,  his  regiment  being  ac- 
tively engaged  in  the  siege  of  Petersburg  in  1864, 
and  also  took  part  in  many  other  important  en- 
gagements. 

While  defending  his  country's  honor  abroad, 
the  friends  of  our  subject  were  doing  him  honor 
at  lionie,  have  elected  him  in  1864  to  the  office 
of  Prosecuting  Attorney.  When  hearing  of  the 
news,  he  resigned  his  position  in  the  army  and,  re- 
turning home,  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  posi- 
tion, which  he  performed  in  such  a  creditable  and 
satisf.actory  manner  that  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
same  office  in  1866,  and  again  in  1868.  The  fol- 
lowing year,  having  been  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature,  he  resigned  the  office  of  Prose- 
cuting Attorn ej'.  After  one  term  in  the  House, 
however.  Judge  Price  refused  to  become  a  candi- 
date for  renomination,  as  his  private  pr.actice  had 
become  too  large  and  important  to  be  longer  neg- 
lected. 

Resuming  the  practice  of  his  profession,  the 
Hon.  Mr.  Price  continued  thus  engaged  until 
1881.   when   he   was  elected    hv  a    handsome   mn- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


557 


jority  to  the  Judgeship  of  the  Common  Pleas 
Court,  to  which  oflice  he  was  re-elected  in  1886, 
and  again  in  1891,  and  has  thus  been  on  the 
bench  ten  years,  with  five  3"ears  more  to  follow. 
While  in  the  House,  he  proved  himself  to  be  a 
gentleman  of  ability  and  filled  the  office  of  Rep- 
resentative with  honor  to  himself  and  satisfac- 
tion to  Ills  constituents.  As  a  law\"er  he  was  ex- 
celled by  few,  if  an_v,  and  on  the  Bench  he  is  said 
to  be  possessed  of  fine  judgment,  is  stern  in  his 
manner  and  gives  criminals  their  just  dues,  re- 
gardless of  wealth,  position  or  color,  .ludge  Price 
is  a  gentleman  of  fine  ph\-sique,  tall  and  erect, 
and  out  of  the  courtroom  is  a  man  of  rare  social 
ijualities. 

The  lady  to  whom  our  subject  w.is  married 
in  1865  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Carrie  Mc- 
Clure,  a  native  of  Wooster,  this  State.  To  them 
have  been  born  three  children:  Eltie  K.,  Anna  A. 
and  C'arlotta.  Mrs.  Price  is  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  Judge 
in  social  mattei-s  is  a  Mason  and  Knight  Templar. 


?^^i|^.I^||^#i^ 


Gl  W.  WIRICK.      Within  the  limits  of  Logan 
,   County  there  is  no  more  successful  farmer 
, ,  j    to  be  found  than  Mr.  "Wirick,  who  resides 

one  and  a-half  miles  northwest  of  West  Middle- 
burgh,  Zane  Township,  where  he  has  one  of  the 
prettiest  and  coziest  homes  imaginable,  all  the 
fruits  of  his  own  exertions.  This  gentleman  was 
born  in  Salem  Township,  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  September  7,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  George 
Wirick,  who  was  originally  from  Pennsj-lvania, 
his  birth  occurring  in  Bedford  County  in  1777. 
His  father  was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State. 
George  Wirick  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  in 
his  native  State  and  was  there  married  to  Magda- 
lene Bossert.a  native  of  Franklin  County,  Pa., and 
the  daughter  of  .Jolm  Bossert,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many- and  who  came  to  America  when  still  single, 
settling  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  married. 
He  followed  farm  ins  there,  but  in  connection  car- 


ried on  the  millwright's  trade,  being  the  owner  of 
mill  property.  When  he  came  to  America  he  had 
no  means,  and  w.as  bound  out  to  pay  his  passage 
across  the  ocean.  What  he  accumulated  was  the 
result  of  indomitable  pei-severance  and  energy, 
and  he  died  a  rich  man. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wirick  moved  to 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  where  they  commenced 
housekeeping  on  a  large  farm,  and  there  they  re- 
sided, improving  the  place  and  accumulating 
wealth,  until  tlie  death  of  the  father,  when  fifty- 
five  years  of  age.  The  mother  died  in  Logan 
County  wiien  eight}'-two  j-ears  of  age.  Their  chil- 
dren, seven  in  number,  two  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, all  grew  to  mature  j-ears  except  one,  who  died 
in  infancy.  Only  two  of  this  familj-  now  survive: 
the  eldest  child,  Catherine,  Mrs.  Ileaton,  who  was 
bom  in  1810,  and  now  resides  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  our  subject,  who  w:is  the  youngest  child.  The 
latter,  like  all  country  children,  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  in  his  early  youth,  but  after  leaving 
that  he  attended  a  select  school  for  some  time,  thus 
receiving  better  educational  advant;iges  than  the 
average  boy  of  his  day.  When  seven  yeai-s  of  age, 
his  father  died,  and  he  remained  with  his  mother 
until  she,  too,  passed  away. 

He  selected  his  life  companion  in  the  pereon  of. 
Caroline  E.  Harding,  and  their  marriage  w.as  sol- 
emnized on  the  27th  of  Juh',  18G5.  She  was  born 
in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  January  30,  1843,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Edward  and  R:ichel  (Pratt) 
Harding.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  located  on  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  fift^'-five  acres  in  Zane 
Township,  Logan  County-,  southwest  of  AVest  Mid- 
dleburgli,  and  there  remained  fifteen  yeai-s.  They 
then  sold  out,  and  bought  their  present  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres,  the  residence 
thereon  being  erected  in  1884  at  a  cost  of  §2,500. 
Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Wirick  are  the  happy  parents  of 
nine  interesting  children,  as  follows:  L".  .S.  Grant, 
born  April  18,  18G6;  Justus  S.,  April  18,  1868; 
Anna  Maj-,  bom  April  10,  1870,  the  wife  of 
Lewis  Louden  of  East  Liberty-;  George  Edward, 
bom  April  26,  1872;  Magdalena,  September  19, 
1873;  Simon  E.,  who  died  at  tlie  age  of  ten 
months  and  five  days:  Maggie  L.,  who  died  when 
nearly  three  nuinths  old;   M:iry  W..born  April  10, 


558 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1878;  and  Addenda  M.,  born  April  3,  1883.  Mr. 
Wirick  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising, 
and  the  energetic  manner  in  which  he  lias  taken 
advantage  of  every  improved  method  and  idea  has 
had  considerable  to  do  with  his  success  in  life. 
He  makes  from  five  to  seven  thousand  pounds  of 
maple  sugar  every  year  and  sells  to  local  buyers. 
He  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party  and  does  not  care  to  hold  office, 
although  many  prominent  positions  have  been 
rendered  him.  He  is  a  self-made  m.an  and  de- 
serves much  credit  for  his  liouesty  and  progress. 


AVID  HALL.  A  prominent  farmer  of 
Bloomfield  Township,  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  Mr.  Hall  is  an  intelligent,  cultured 
gentleman,  with  marked  executive  ability. 
He  was  appointed  by  his  State  as  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  World's  Fair  Commission,  and  in  this 
capacity'  has  worked  botli  for  the  interests  of  his 
•localit}-  and  the  honor  anticipated  in  representing 
the  nation  at  large.  Mr.  Hall  is  a  native  of  this 
Slate,  having  been  born  in  Stokes  Townsliip,  Au- 
gust 1,  1844. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Hall,  a  native  of 
Pennsjlvania,  who  was  born  in  1810.  He  was  of 
German  descent  and  was  brought  to  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio,  bj'  his  parents  at  a  verj'  early  day, 
wlien  he  was  but  an  infant.  The  family  was 
in  very  straightened  circumstances  at  that  time, 
but  Samuel  Hall  contrived  to  buy  forty  acres  of 
land,  paying  for  it  tlie  sum  of  $50,  and  the  family 
settled  thereon,  their  home  being  alogcabin  in  tlie 
midst  of  the  woods.  To  such  purpose  did  he  work 
and  so  well  did  he  manage,  that  at  one  time  he 
owned  as  much  as  one  thousand  acres  of  land.  In 
1863,  he  moved,  with  his  family,  to  Rush  Creek 
Township  and  there  purchased  a  farm,  upon  which 
he  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  seventy-tlirce  years. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  and  in  his  political  calling  a  stanch  Dem- 


ocrat. He  served  as  Township  Treasurer  for  twenty 
years  and  was  Trustee  for  a  long  time. 

Our  subject's  mother  was,  in  her  m.aiden  days,  a 
Miss  Magdalena  Dresbach,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, wlio  had  come  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  and 
settled  in  Fairfield  County.  Our  subject  is  one  of 
eleven  children  that  his  parents  reared.  They  are 
named  as  follows:  Irvin,  John,  William  IL,  Jacob 
H.,  Louisa  J.,  Samuel  J.,  David,  l\Iagdalena,Sallie, 
William  M.  and  Lewis  N.  Our  subject's  mother, 
who  was  born  in  1811,  died  in  M.arch,  1892. 
She,  like  her  husband,  was  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Cliurch. 

David  Hall  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Stokes 
Township.  He  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until 
twenty  years  of  age,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  pioneer  schools  of  the  day — a  log  schoolhouse 
with  a  large  open  fireplace  and  puncheon  benches 
held  up  by  pin  legs.  On  completing  his  twentieth 
year,  he  began  teaching,  and  was  thus  employed 
for  two  years  in  Stokes  and  Bloomfield  Townships. 
December  28,  1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  Greenaw.alt,  a   native  of  Fairfield  County.  | 

Two  children  have  been  born  of  this  niarri.age  that  i 

are    living.     The}'   are    Emma   J.  and   Jennie    L.  I 

One  child.  Alberta,  is  deceased.  ■ 

After  marriage,  the  young  couple  purchased  the  1 

farm  which  they  now  occupy,  and  began  the  work  i 

of  improving  it.  It  contains  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land,  of  which  fifty  acres  were  im- 
proved; now  there  are  one  hundred  and  ten  acres 
cleared  and  which  bear  the  best  of  improvements. 
Mr.  Hall  devotes  himself  to  mixed  farming,  pajing 
special  attention  to  the  growing  of  grain  and  the 
raising  of  stock.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  most  of  which  are  im- 
proved. The  neat  and  comfortable  frame  resi- 
dence which  the  family  occupies  was  built  in  1868, 
and  the  capacious  barn  was  erected  in  1875. 

Both  our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  at  Bloom  Center.  Mr.  Hall 
votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  from  boyhood  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  political  matters.  He 
has  served  .as  Township  Trustee,  Assessor  and 
Treasurer  a  number  of  times.  In  some  other  elec- 
tions in  which  Mr.  Hall  ran,  although  his  county 
is  Republican  by  a  large  m.ajority.  he   received   a 


PORTRAIT  A^'D  BIOGRAl'IIICVVL   RECORD. 


559 


most  flattering  vote  as  an  evidence  of  the  influence 
which  lie  has  had  in  political  matters  in  his  locality. 
It  may  also  be  stated  that,  although  the  township 
was  Republican  when  our  subject  moved  into  it,  it 
is  now  Democratic,  the  change  being  entirely  due 
to  Mr.  Hall's  work. 

The  honor  of  World's  Fair  Commissioner  from 
Ohio  was  conferred  upon  our  subject  by  Gov. 
Campbell  in  March  of  1891,  and  he  is  felt  to  be 
so  telling  a  worker  that  he  has  been  made  Chair- 
man of  tlie  Committee  on  Agriculture,  which  posi- 
tion ho  now  fills.  He  is  also  on  the  Committees 
on  Live  Stock,  Forestry,  Agriculture  and  Engineer- 
ing. His  was  the  honor  of  selecting  trees  that 
represent  the  forestry  department  of  the  Ohio  ex- 
hibit, and  in  making  the  selection  he  took  those 
from  Stokes  and  Bloomfield  Townships.  Jlr.  Hall 
h.as  been  for  jears  more  or  less  engaged  in  the 
building  of  turnpikes,  aggregating  eight  miles  of 
perfectly  improved  country  way,  and  having  as 
many  as  seventy-five  teams  in  his  employ  at  one 
time,  with  a  pay-roll  of  from  S300  to  $400  perd.a\'. 


-f^[ 


'^  ACOB  VAX  HORN.  It  is  gratifying  to  tr.ace 
the  history  of  those  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Logan  County  who  liave  persevered  through 
trials  and  hardships  and  have  at  last  reached 
the  point  where  they  can  enjoy  the  wealth  and 
prosperity  which  rightly  belong  to  them.  In  the 
life  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  we  now  give  we 
find  such  a  history,  and  the  popularitj'  which  be- 
longs to  such  a  man  is  the  just  meed  which  his 
neighbors  are  glad  to  pay  to  his  worth  and  work. 
This  representative  pioneer  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Vr.  Va.,  on  the  22d  of  July,  1820,  to  the 
union  of  William  and  Mary  (Davis)  Van  Horn, 
natives  of  West  Virginia.  The  grandfather.  Job 
Van  Horn,  was  of  German  descent  on  his  father's 
side,  and  his  mother's  people  came  from  Switzer- 
land. AVilli.am  Van  Horn  left  West  Virginia  the 
first  week  in  April,  1828,  and  came  b3'  wagon  to 
Clarke  County,   Ohio,  settling  ten    miles   west   of 


Springfield.  He  made  the  journey  by  wagon  to 
Ohio,  was  one  week  on  the  way,  and  was  often 
mired  in  the  bad  roads.  After  living  there  until 
1835,  he  sold  out  and  rented  land  for  two  vears  in 
Champaign  County,  Ohio.  Later,  he  came  to  Logan 
County,  purchased  land  from  the  Government,  and 
bought  some  of  one  of  the  early  settlers.  Animals 
of  all  kinds  abounded,  and  our  subject  has  seen  as 
many  as  eighteen  deer  in  one  drove.  The  first 
year  he  killed  seventeen  porcupines  that  came 
around  the  house.  The  father  cleared  up  his  farm 
by  a  great  amount  of  hard  work  and  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred when  he  was  sixtj-two  j-ears  of  age.  Of 
the  twelve  children  born  to  this  worthy  couple, 
eleven  grew  to  mature  years.  They  were  named 
as  follows:  Sobrina,  Jacob,  Suscilla,  Minerva, 
Amy,  Job,  John,  Eli,  William  and  Lewis  (twins), 
and  ^laria  Louisa  Josephine  and  Mary  Josintha 
Eglantine  (twins).  The  mother  p.assed  aw.ay  when 
fort}--five  years  of  age. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  West  Virginia,  and 
after  coming  to  Ohio  often  attended  spelling- 
school,  being  considered  the  best  speller  in  the  vi- 
cinitj'.  The  spelling-schools  were  held  in  the  rude 
log  schoolhouscs  of  those  d.ays,  with  puncheon  floors, 
slab  scats,  and  immense  fireplace  with  mud  .and 
stick  chimney.  Our  subject  being  the  eldest  of  the 
sons,  was  obliged  to  work  hard  to  assist  his  father 
in  clearing  the  farm  of  the  wood  with  which  it  was 
covered.  He  found  time,  however,  to  attend  all 
the  log-rollings  and  cabin-raisings  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  enjoyed  himself  as  only  a  pioneer  boy 
could.  He  selected  his  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Sarah  Taylor,  a  native  of  Columbiana  County', 
Ohio,  and  their  marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  23d 
of  December,  1843.  She  came  with  her  parents  to 
Logan  Count)',  Ohio,  in  1836,  and  settled  in  this 
township.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Van  Horn:  Ai,  Sampson,  and  Abigail, 
who  died  when  twelve  years  of  age. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Horn  settled 
on  section  23,  and  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  spot 
now  covered  with  forty  feet  of  water,  away  out 
in  the  Lewistown  Reservoir.  There  they  resided 
until  April  1,  18.56,  when  our  subject  sold  his  land 
for  reservoir  purposes.     He  owned  at   that   time 


560 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRATHICAL   RECORD. 


two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  after  sell- 
ing out  worked  for  one  year  superintending  the 
construction  of  the  reservoir.  He  settled  on  his 
present  property-  in  18uG,  and  h.is  made  his  home 
here  ever  since.  Mr.  Van  Horn  owns  five  hundred 
acres  of  land,  but  gave  two  hundred  acres  to  each 
of  his  sons,  reserving  one  hundred  acres  for  him- 
self. When  starting  out  in  life,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van 
Horn  had  nothing  to  commence  with,  but  they 
were  full  of  ambition  and  made  every  penny  count. 
Their  first  table  was  a  chest,  and  their  bedstead 
was  boards  placed  on  poles  driven  into  the  wall  in 
a  corner  of  the  room.  The  bedcord  was  linden  bark 
and  sticks  woven  together.  The  first  windows 
were  made  of  greased  paper,  which  admitted  the 
light  but  kept  out  the  cold  air  in  winter.  In  this 
manner  this  ambitious  3'oung  couple  started  out  to 
fight  their  way  in  life.  Mrs.  Van  Horn  was  the 
kind  of  woman  God  meant  when  He  said  He  would 
make  man  a  helpmate,  for  she  stood  by  her  hus- 
band's side  in  all  the  ups  and  downs  of  life,  and 
by  her  counsel  and  advice,  as  well  as  her  hard  labor, 
assisted  him  to  gain  the  comfortable  competency 
he  now  has.  This  faithful  companion  passed  from 
the  scenes  of  her  earthly-  trials  on  the  29tli  of  June, 
1886.  She  was  a  Seventh-d.ay  Baptist  and  Mr. 
Van  Horn  is  also  of  that  faith,  deriving  much  com- 
fort from  it.  In  politics,  he  advocates  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Democratic  party. 


(^^'HOMAS  SKILLEN.  The  name  of  this  gen- 
/i^^^,  tleman  is  indissolubh"  connected  with  the 
^f'^'J  history  of  Shelby  County,  and,  indeed, 
with  its  entire  development,  he  being  the  oldest 
living  pioneer  resident  of  Loramie  Township,  and 
it  thus  gives  us  pleasure  to  place  upon  the  pages 
of  this  volume  a  biographical  review  of  his  life. 
He  has  been  very  successful  in  the  aequirement  of 
wealth  and  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty-six  acres  of  land  in  this  region. 

The  original  of  this    sketch,  who    has  lived   in 
Shelby  County  since  1817,  was  born  in  Westmore- 


land County,  Pa.,  October  23,  1815,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  Skillen,  who  was  bom  in  that 
State  June  23,  1793.  Grandfather  Samuel  Skillen 
was  born  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean  May  12,  1769, 
while  his  parents  were  en  route  to  the  New  World 
from  Ireland.  They  located  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  were  farmere. 

In  1817,  William  Skillen,  in  company  with 
two  uncles  and  other  relatives,  constructed  a  raft, 
which  they  floated  down  the  Alleghany  River  to 
Pittsburgh,  thence  down  the  Ohio  River  to  Cincin- 
nati, the  party  containing  about  thirty  people. 
The  father  remained  at  Indian  Hill  for  two  months, 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  3-ear  came  to  this  county, 
when  it  formed  a  portion  of  Miami  County,  and 
located  on  section  8,  in  what  is  now  Loramie 
Township.  Here  he  entered  land  from  the  Gov- 
ernment, erected  a  log  cabin  on  his  property,  and 
resided  in  this  section  when  there  were  but  few 
families  here,  the  country  being  a  dense  forest,  in- 
habited by  Indians  and  wild  beasts.  The  father, 
in  the  winter  of  1817,  cleared  a  small  portion  of 
his  farm,  which  he  planted  in  corn  the  following 
spring.  Dayton  and  Cincinnati,  several  miles 
distant,  were  the  nearest  markets  in  those  early 
da3'S,  and  it  was  there  that  Mr.  Skillen,  like  other 
pioneers,  hauled  the  products  of  his  farm.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  Shelb}'  County 
in  1819,  and  held  the  various  local  offices  of  his 
township.  He  departed  this  life  in  1842,  when  in 
his  fortj'-ninth  _vear. 

Our  subject's  mother,  who  died  in  1828,  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Elizaljeth  Gray,  and  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  of  Irish  descent.  At  her  de- 
cease she  left  a  family  of  five  children,  of  whom 
our  subject  was  the  eldest  but  one.  He  has  one 
sister  living,  Mrs.  Sarah  Jane  McClure,  who  is 
residing  in  Seward  Count}',  Keb.  The  father  of 
our  subject  in  1830  chose  for  his  second  wife 
Frances  Cromor,  a  native  of  Miami  County, 
this  State,  by  whom  he  became  the  father  of  one 
child,  who  is  now  deceased. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  only  two  j'ears  of 
age  when  his  parents  came  to  this  locality-,  and  was 
here  educated  in  the  common  schools,  which  were 
conductL'd  in  that  earlv  day  on  the  subscription 
plan,  in  a  log    schoolhouse  with    puncheon    floor, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


561 


slab  seats,  greased  paper  for  window  lights,  etc. 
As  soon  as  old  enough,  he  assisted  his  father  in 
carr3ing  on  the  fanu,  hoeing  coru  being  his  first 
work.  lie  remained  at  home  until  reaching  his 
majority,  when  he  engaged  to  work  out  on  a 
farm  for  three  years.  His  health  failing,  iu  1839 
Mr.  .Skillen  went  South  to  Arkansas,  and  on  his 
return  the  following  year  was  married  and,  with 
his  bride,  again  went  to  Arkansas  and  made  his 
home  there  for  three  j-ears. 

In  18-13,  returning  to  Shelby  County,  Mr.  Skillen 
took  up  his  abode  on  section  3,  Loraniie  Town- 
ship, which  has  since  been  his  home.  In  1846,  he 
engaged  iu  the  produce  business,  buying  and  ship- 
ping to  the  city  markets,  in  which  br.ancU  of  busi- 
ness he  was  eng.aged  until  1877,  in  the  meantime, 
however,  carrying  on  his  farm  work.  For  the  past 
fifteen  years  he  has  lived  somewhat  retired,  but 
probably  enjoys  as  extensive  an  acijuaintance,  and 
rejoices  in  the  good-will  of  as  many  friends,  as 
any  man  in  Shelby  County. 

August  12, 1840,  Mr.  Skillen  and  Miss  Susannah 
Julien  were  united  in  marriage.  His  wife  died 
in  the  spring  of  1844,  leaving  two  children  as  a 
pledge  of  their  love.  Four  years  later,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Amanda  Griffis,  who  died  in  1851,  leaving 
one  child,  Theodore,  who  was  born  December  19, 
1850.  The  latter  is  now  married  and  resides  on  the 
old  homestead.  The  tliird  marriage  of  our  subject 
occurred  in  1852,  at  which  time  Jliss  Margaret 
Blackwood,  wlio  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1816,  became  his  wife.  They  are  both  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  denomi- 
nation they  have  been  connected  for  over  forty 
years,  and  of  which  body  Mrs.  Skillen  is  one  of 
tlie  charter  members,  having  aided  in  its  organiz- 
ation in  this  vicinity  in  1847. 

Although  reared  to  Democratic  principles,  our 
subject  has  since  1856  voted  with  the  Republican 
party.  As  before  stated,  he  is  in  the  truest  sense 
a  self-made  man,  as  he  began  life  with  no  other 
capital  than  a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body.  He 
worked  with  an  indomitable  will  and  unfl.agging 
energy  to  overcome  all  obstacles  that  lay  in  his 
w.ay  as  a  pioneer  of  a  newly-settled  region,  and 
in  time  had  the  satisfactiou  to  know  that  he  had 
made  his  life  successful    financially,  as  well   as  in 


other  directions,  so  that  he  is  enabled  now  to  pass 
life  free  from  the  cares  of  business  and  in  the  en- 
joyment of  every  comfort.  One  hundred  and 
forty-six  acres  of  his  estate  lie  in  Cyuthiaua  Town- 
ship and  bear  all  the  improvements  which  char- 
acterize their  owner  as  a  man  of  enterprise  and 
progress. 


1 


EWIS  N.  BLUME,  President  of  the  First 
^  National  Bank  of    Wapakoneta.     It   is  ira- 

i^^  possible  in  a  brief  biographical  sketch  to 
render  full  justice  to  prominent  men,  and  yet  there 
are  some  who  are  so  intimately  and  clearly  identi- 
fied with  the  country's  welfare,  and  whose  names 
are  so  familiar  to  all,  that  it  is  only  justice  to  dwell 
upon  what  they  have  done  and  the  influence  of 
their  career  upon  others,  not  as  a  few  words  of 
praise,  but  as  the  plain  statement  of  a  plain  truth. 

The  Firet  National  Bank  of  this  city  was  estab- 
lislied  in  April,  1884,  with  L.  N.  Blume  President, 
and  C.  F.  Heibst  Cashier,  their  capital  stock  being 
$100,000.  Our  subject,  who  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  was  born  June  21,  1846,  to  Leon  and  Han- 
nah (Myers)  Bhune.lhe  former  a  native  of  France, 
and  the  latter  of  this  country.  Mr.  Blume's  father 
emigrated  to  this  country  iu  his  youth,  and  was 
married  in  Norwalk,  Huron  Countj-,  this  State, 
where  he  w.as  a  prominent  merchant.  In  1845,  he 
came  to  Auglaize  County  and  remained  for  one 
year  in  AVapakoneta,  when  he  moved  to  .St.  John's, 
six  miles  east  of  this  city,  and  carried  on  merchan- 
dising for  some  years.  In  1860,  he  returned  to 
his  city,  where  he  was  ranked  among  its  wealth}' 
and  respected  citizens  until  his  decease,  which  oc- 
curred in  1888. 

The  parental  family  of  our  subject  included  two 
sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  he  was  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth.-  He  received  an  excellent 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Wapakoneta, 
and  when  his  studies  were  completed,  at  the  earl}' 
age  of  seventeen  embarked  in  mercantile  pursuits, 
to  which  he   was  assiduously   devoted.     Having 


562 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


read  law  with  the  Hon.  W.  M.  Lay  ton,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  men  in  this  part  of  the  State, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1874,  and  for  two 
years  practiced  his  profession  in  partnersliip  witli 
tlie  Hon.  R.  D.  Marshall,  of  D.-iyton.  During  this 
time  he  still  carried  on  his  mercantile  affairs,  and 
the  demands  upon  him  in  that  direction  became  so 
pre.<sino;  that  he  abandoned  his  profession  and  con- 
tinued in  the  business  until  188-t. 

In  the  above  year,  Mi'.  Blume  organized  the  First 
National  Bank,  since  which  time  he  has  done  the 
leading  banking  business  in  the  county.  He  is  an 
active,  wide-awake  man,  and  has  won  great  suc- 
cess in  pursuing  this,  his  favorite  occupation.  Be- 
ing a  public-spirited  man,  and  one  possessed  of  un- 
daunted cour.age,  he  has  always  advocated  the 
cause  of  worthy  undertakings  that  were  calculated 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  community  in  which 
lie  resides.  He  has  served  as  City  Clerk  for  a  per- 
iod of  eight  years,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  for  twelve  years,  and  the 
President  of  the  Board  for  seven  or  eight  years. 
In  social  matters,  he  is  a  Knight  Templar,  a  Mason, 
and  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Royal  Arca- 
num. 

Miss  Harriet  C.  Sallada  became  the  wife  of  our 
subject  in  18G6.  Mrs.  Blume  is  a  native  of  Spring- 
field, this  State,  and  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


^>^^'^'l^ 


AMLT:L  HARROD.  There  is  a  very  fine 
farm  on  section  19,  Wayne  Township 
Auglaize  County,  which  belongs  to  the 
gentleman  whose  name  is  given  above- 
His  interests  are  all  centered  upon  his  farm,  which 
speaks  in  itself  of  the  intelligent  care  expended 
upon  it  and  the  progi-ess  with  which  he  keeps 
pace  in  .agricultural  affairs. 

Mr.  Harrod  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Lydia  (Biggs) 
Harrod,  both  of  Knox  Count)',  Ohio.  The  latter 
was  a  daughter  of   Jeremiah    Biggs.     They  were 


married  in  1821,  and  immediately  afterward  set- 
tled upon  a  new  farm  in  Knox  County.  Their 
fii-st  home  was  in  a  log  cabin,  and  one  can  imagine 
the  scope  that  the  young  wife  had  for  future 
plans  of  improvement.  Perhaps  she  did  not  dream 
of  possessing  as  fine  a  house  as  her  son  now  occu- 
pies, but  doubtless  in  her  mind's  e\e  she  saw  it  in 
the  midst  of  a  sea  of  bright-hued  blossoms,  the 
rough  logs  tenderly  covered  with  vines,  neatly 
trimmed  hedges,  and  with  fertile  fields  of  waving 
grain  stretching  away  in  symmetrical  lines  from 
the  house.  She  was  a  practical  woman,  however, 
and  a  helpful  wife,  greatly  aiding  her  husband  in 
his  efforts  to  attain  a  comfortable  home.  Our 
subject's  father  p.assed  aw.ay  from  this  life  in  1883, 
the  mother  luiving  been  taken  in  1850.  Botli  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  they 
were  zealous  workers.  Politically,  our  subject's 
father  was  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  when  the  purity 
of  the  party  had  not  as  yet  been  sullied  by  "rings." 

Our  subject  was  bom  in  Knox  County,  on  the 
old  home  farm,  in  1822.  He  at  the  present  time 
resides  on  section  19,  of  Wayne  Township.  In 
his  boyhood,  he  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Copeland,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Abner  Copeland,  of  Auglaize  Count)-. 
After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrod  settled  upon 
the  place  where  they  now  live.  It  w.as  then  en- 
tirely uncultivated,  and  our  subject  can  look  back 
over  the  years  lie  has  spent  here  and  t.ake  to  him- 
self the  credit  that  at  least  one  spot  on  earth  has 
been  made  beautiful  and  prolific  as  the  result  of 
his  efforts.  He  is  the  owner  now  of  two  hundred 
and  eleven  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  well- 
improved. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of 
three  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  Mor- 
gan and  Ira.  The  latter  is  married  and  lives  at 
home  on  the  old  farm.  His  wife  is  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  R.  I.  Kribs,  of  Wayne  Township,  this  county. 
The  elder  son  married  Lulu  M.  Musser,  a  daughtei 
of  Abraham  Musser,  of  Auglaize  County.  Both  of 
these  sons  have  received  good  educational  advan- 
tages in  the  public  schools  of  the  localit)-.  It  is 
o-reatly  to  our  subject's  credit  that,  having  started 
out  in  life  without  a  dollar,  he    is   now  the  owner 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


563 


of  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  township  where  he 
lives.  Botli  he  and  his  wife  are  worshi[)pers  at  the 
Baptist  Cliiirch,  of  which  Mr.  Harrod  is  a  Deacon. 
Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
been  elected  by  his  party  to  fill  the  oflices  of 
Trustee  and  Treasurer. 


|Tp^  R.  C.  C.  STOKES.  In  a  comprehensive 
ll  )))  ^'^'''^  *'f  *'''S  kind,  dealing  with  industrial 
Jk*^  pursuits,  sciences,  arts  and  professions,  it  is 
only  fit  and  right  that  that  profession  on  which  in 
in  some  period  of  our  existence  we  are  all  more  or 
less  dependent  should  be  noticed.  It  is  the  pre- 
rogative of  the  ph3'sician  to  relieve  or  alleviate  the 
ailments  to  which  humanity  is  prone,  and  ;is  such 
he  deserves  the  most  grateful  consideration  of  all. 
A  prominent  physician  aud  druggist,  who  by  his 
own  unusual  abilities  has  attained  distinction  in 
his  profession,  is  Dr.  C.  C.  Stokes. 

This  gentleman  w.as  born  in  E.ast  Liberty,  Perry 
Township,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  June, 
18-iy,  to  the  union  of  Joseph  and  Susan  R.  (Aus- 
tin) Stokes,  both  natives  of  the  Buckeye  State. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Joseph 
Stokes,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  of  Eng- 
lish extraction.  The  latter  came  to  Ohio  at  a 
very  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  Stale,  and 
developed  the  farm  on  which  our  subject  now  re- 
sides. Joseph  Stokes,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Zane  Town- 
ship, Logan  County,  in  1824,  and  is  now  success- 
fully and  actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  that  county.  His  wife,  who  is  also  living,  was 
the  daughter  of  C.  H.  Austin,  a  native  of  the  Em- 
pire State.  IMr.  Austin  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ohio  at  an  early  date,  and  here  passed  the  remain- 
der of  his  days.  To  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Stokes  were 
born  four  children,  three  sons  and  ftne  daughter, 
as  follows:  Dr.  C.  C,  our  subject;  'William  G.,  of 
Colorado;  Lydia  R..  at  home  with  her  parents; 
and  Americus  R.,  who  is  also  at  lK)me. 

Dr.  C.  C.  Stokes  received  liis  elementary  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  his   native  township 
27 


and  finished  in  the  Ohio  AVesleyan  University,  of 
Delaware,  Ohio.  He  first  began  his  medical  studies 
under  Dr.  W.  T.  Sharp,  of  West  Middleburgh,  Ohio, 
and  subsequently  entered  the  Medical  and  Sur- 
gical College  of  Cincinnati,  from  which  well- 
known  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1874. 
After  this,  he  located  in  East  Liberty,  Ohio,  re- 
mained there  about  six  months,  and  then  removed 
to  Union  County,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  his 
profession  until  1878.  For  some  time  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  in  connection  with 
his  practice,  and  in  his  dual  capacity  of  physician 
and  druggist  won  an  enviable  reputation.  How- 
ever, his  practice  increased  to  such  an  extent  that 
he  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  drug  business,  and 
has  since  devoted  his  entire  time  to  his  profession. 
Our  subjec-  w.as  married  on  the  4th  of  Sep- 
tember, 187.3,  to  Miss  Mary  S.  Sharp,  a  n.ative  of 
Zane  Township,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  born  in 
18,i0,  and  the  daughter  of  Joshua  B.  and  Cather- 
ine (Novill)  Sharp.  To  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Stokes 
has  been  born  one  daughter,  Estclla.  Dr.  Stokes 
takes  a  decided  interest  in  all  religious  matters 
and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Christian 
Church. 


m 


■if' OHN  L.  SULLIVAN  is  the  gifted  young 
eilitor  and  manager  of  the  Graphic,  a  paper 
issued  by  the  Graphic  Publishing  Company, 
'  at  St.  Mary's,  in  the  interest  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  his  literary  talents  and  executive 
ability  are  f.ast  bringing  him  to  the  front  in  his 
profession.  He  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  was 
horn  in  Moulton  Township,  November  11,  1860, 
and  represents  jiioneer  families  on  both  sides  of 
the  house.  He  is  a  son  of  Carter  II.  and  Elvira 
(Dalton)  Sullivan,  who  are  natives,  respectivelv, 
of  Alrginia  and  Ohio.  His  father  was  born  in  the 
year  1827,  and  came  to  this  State  with  his  parents 
when  a  boy.  He  grew  to  manhood  amid  the  prim- 
itive environments  of  the  early  davs  of  the  settle- 
ment of  Auglaize  County,  and  in  turn  became  one 


564 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  its  pioneers,  doing  valuable  service  in  develop- 
ing its  resources  during  the  active  years  of  his  life 
as  a  farmer,  when  he  cleared  and  improved  a  val- 
uable farm,  lie  is  now  passing  liis  declining  years 
in  St.  J^Iary's,  Ohio.  He  is  a  man  of  solid  worth 
and-  true  religious  principles  and  for  several  years 
has  been  a  zealous  member  of  tlie  Methodist  Church. 
He  and  his  good  wife  have  reared  a  family  of  four- 
teen children,  of  whom  ten  are  living,  our  subject 
being  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  brought  up  amid  the 
wholesome  and  invigorating  influences  of  farm 
life.  His  early  education  w.as  obtained  in  the  local 
district  schools,  and  he  subsequently  attended  the 
city  schools  of  St.  Mary's  for  five  years.  In  1883, 
he  determined  to  become  a  printer,  and  he  learned 
the  art  of  type-setting  in  the  office  of  tlie  St.  Mary's 
Sentinel,  in  which  he  remained  a  year.  The  ensu- 
ing five  years  were  spent  in  the  office  of  the  Argus. 
In  1889,  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Postmaster  at 
St.  Blary's.  His  genius  and  temperament  qualify 
him  for  literary  work  and  he  was  subsequently 
selected  as  the  young  man  best  fitted  for  the  posi- 
tion of  editor  and  manager  of  the  Graphic,  his 
appointment  being  made  July  1,  1891,  when  he 
succeeded  C.  E.  Detter,  who  started  the  paper  in 
December,  1890.  It  is  a  six-column  quarto,  issued  in 
a  neat  and  attractive  form,  with  its  reading  mat^ 
ter  carefully  selected;  its  editorials,  written  in  a 
masterlj-  style  and  covering  a  wide  range  of  topics, 
evince  careful  study  and  a  thorough  familiaritj' 
with  and  comprehension  of  affairs  of  political  and 
National  import.  It  is  conducted  after  a  liberal 
policy,  is  very  effective  as  a  party  organ  of  the 
Republicans,  and,  as  it  so  well  merits,  has  an  ex- 
tensive patronage.  The  Graphic  has  a  well- 
appointed  office  and  a  complete  job-printing  depart- 
ment, supplied  with  the  best  modern  machinery 
and  the  latest  devices  in  the  typographical  line. 

Mr.  Sullivan  is  a  genial,  even-tempered  gentle- 
man, of  good  address  and  scholarly  tastes,  who  is 
a  political  and  social  power  in  his  native  county, 
and  is  a  general  favorite.  He  has  been  Chairman 
of  the  County  Republican  Central  Committee  for 
the  past  two  years,  and  has  shown  himself  to  be  a 
wise  and  sltillful  loader  and  organizer.  He  has 
twice    received   the    nomination    for    the  office  of 


Mayor  of  the  city,  and  once  came  within  twenty 
votes  of  being  elected,  although  the  municipality 
is  strongly  Democratic,  the  opposing  party  usually 
having  a  majority  of  at  le.ast  two  hundred  votes. 
Mr.  Sullivan's  social  relations  are  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


J++-M-,i 


C^HRISTIAN  BUEHLER.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  C.  Buebler  ife  Co., 
/  projjrietors  of  large  foundry  and  ma- 
chine shops  at  St.  Mary's.  Mr.  Buehler  is  one  of 
the  arm}'  of  self-made  men  whose  success  has 
resulted  from  their  sticking  closely  to  business. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  left  his  home  in  Baden, 
Germany,  to  wrest  a  victory  from  circumstances  in 
the  New  World. 

Mr.  Buehler  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  De- 
cember 6,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  George  Buehler,  a 
cabinet-maker,  who  emigrated  to  America  and  set- 
tled in  New  Bremen,  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  in 
1855.  There  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1878,  he  being 
then  seventy-four  years  old.  He  had  seen  some 
active  service  in  the  German  army. 

Our  subject's  mother,  who  reared  seven  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  still  living,  died  in  1883. 
Christian  is  the  eldest  of  his  father's  family.  The 
major  part  of  his  education  was  acquired  in  his 
native  land,  and  with  a  conviction  that  he  could 
better  his  condition  in  the  New  World,  he  took 
passage  for  America.  He  passed  through  Paris  and 
sailed  from  Havre,  France.  The  voyage  hither 
was  an  eventful  one,  as  they  were  on  the  water 
sixty-six  da3'S.  The  fourth  week  out  from  land 
the  ship  was  back  in  sight  of  Havre.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  a  fire,  the  passengers  abandoned 
all  hope,  but  a  kind  Providence  saved  them  from 
the  elements. 

Our  subject  Landed  in  New  York  with  empt^- 
pockets,  and  for  six  weeks  he  took  such  employ- 
ment as  he   could  get  at  fifty  cents  per   week  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


hia  board.  Haviog  relatives  in  New  Bremen,  lie 
determined  to  come  Westward.  After  arriving  in 
Auglaize  County,  he  busied  himself  at  the  cab- 
inet-maker's trade,  which  he  had  learned  under 
his  father,  and  later  combined  with  it  the  trade  of 
a  milUwright. 

Every  locality  in  this  county  is  familiar  to  Jlr. 
Buehler,  as  his  work  has  taken  him  over  a  terri- 
tory embraced  in  a  radius  of  forty  miles.  He 
came  to  St.  Mary's  in  1861,  and  opened  a  shop 
in  partnership  with  his  brotlicr  George,  our  sub- 
ject having  entire  charge  of  the  inside  work.  In 
186y,  our  subject  built  his  present  large  foundry 
and  machine  shop.  He  began  with  a  single  lathe, 
a  small  planer,  and  other  things  in  accordance,  but 
his  business  growth  has  been  steady.  i\Ir.  Buehler 
now  has  a  partner  and  does  business  under  the 
Arm  name  of  C.  B.  Buehler  i  Co.  The  firm  do  all 
kinds  of  repairing,  making  a  specialty  of  repair- 
ing tools  used  in  drilling  oil  or  gas  wells.  Six- 
teen men  are  constantly  employed  in  the  shop. 

The  original  of  our  sketch  was  married  in  1861 
to  Sliss  Blargaret  Winterlick,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, whose  parents  came  to  America  when  she 
was  a  child.  Seven  children  have  come  to  gr.ace 
the  Buehler  fireside,  and  they  are  Ollie,  Minna, 
Lillie,  Augusta,  Brownell,  and  two  children  who 
are  deceased.  Mr.  Buehler  is  a  firm  believer  in  the 
political  doctrines  held  by  the  Republicans. 


)  EV.  GEORGE  L.  KALB,  D.  D.,  was  born  in 
Franklin  County,  this  State,  September 
12,  1829,  and  is  the  son  of  George  W.  and 
)  Margaret  (Claybaugh)  Kalb,  natives  re- 
spectiveh'  of  Maryland  and  Pennsjlvania.  The 
famlh-  is  of  German  origin,  the  first  representa- 
tive in  this  country  having  emigrated  hiMier  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  War  and  in  this  contlict 
many  of  them  participated. 

Grandfather  George  Kalb  took  up  his  abode  in 
this  State  as  early  as  1805,  at  which  time  he  located 
in   Franklin  County.     The   maternal  grandfather 


made  his  home  in  Fayette  County  in  1809,  subse- 
quently located  in  Franklin  County,  and  died 
while  a  resident  of  Ross  County.  George  W.  Kalb 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  died  in  1882,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 

Of  the  parental  family  of  eight  sous,  our  subject 
is  tlie  second  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm  and  attended  the  common 
schools  until  reaching  his  fifteenth  year.  He  then 
entered  the  Freshman  class  of  the  Miami  Univer- 
sity at  Oxford  in  1844.  Being  compelled  by  illness 
to  leave  college,  he  pursued  the  studies  of  the  Soph- 
omore year  at  home  and  in  the  fall  of  1846  en- 
tered the  Junior  cl.ass  of  the  same  university.  In 
the  winter  of  1847-48,  he  was  expelled  from  that 
institution,  with  many  others,  for  rolling  snow-balls 
into  the  college  building.  Being  desirous  of  equip- 
ping himself  for  any  position  in  life,  Mr.  Kalb  en- 
tered Center  College  at  Danville,  Kv.,  being  grad- 
uated therefrom  June  30,  1848.  After  completing 
his  education,  he  taught  Greek  and  Latin  for  one 
year  in  the  academy  of  Chillieothe,  this  State,  and 
in  the  fall  of  the  succeeding  year  attended  the 
theological  seminary  at  Oxford,  Ohio.  Spending 
one  term  there,  Sir.  Kalb  next  took  a  course  in  the 
Cincinnati  Theological  Seminar^-,  which  was  after- 
ward removed  to  Danville,  Ky.,  and  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  March,  1852. 

The  Rev.  Sir.  Kalb,  of  this  sketch,  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Col- 
umbus, April  16,  1851,  and  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  church  at  Circleville  May  .31, 1853.  He  had 
taken  charge  of  the  church  at  the  latter-named 
place  in  October,  1852,  and  was  retained  by  the 
congregation  until  September,  1863.  He  served  as 
Chaplain  of  the  Ninetieth  Ohio  Infantry  for  eight 
months  during  the  years  1862-63.  In  September 
of  the  latter  year,  Mr.  Kalb  was  given  charge  over 
the  church  at  Bellefontaine,  by  which  congregation 
he  is  still  engaged.  The  title  of  Doctor  of  Divin- 
ity was  conferred  upon  him  in  June,  1875,  b\  the 
University  of  Wooster,  this  State, 

Miss  Mary  E.  Bigham  became  the  wife  of  our 
subject  November  30,  1853,  and  to  them  has 
been  granted  a  family  of  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living,  namely:  INIrs.  I.  W.  Fowle.  of 
Leadville,  Colo.;   Mrs.   Lew  Hamiltcjn,  re.-idinLr  in 


566 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Bellefontaine;  i:dgar  W.,  George  B.  and  Mary. 
Mr.  Kalb  lias  won  a  host  of  friends  by  bis  interest 
in  public  matters  and  his  willingness  to  assist  in 
the  advancement  of  all  worthy  causes.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Scliool  Board  of  Bellefon- 
taine eighteen  years  and  occupied  the  position  of 
Clerk  seventeen  yeare.  He  is  a  correspondent  of  sev- 
eral leading  religious  papers  and  stands  fii-st  in  the 
university  among  his  fellow-constituents.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  possess  genial,  sunnj-  temperaments, 
know  well  how  to  enjoy  life,  and  are  social  favor- 
ites, their  pleasant  home  being  tlie  center  of  gen- 
uine hospitality  which  attracts  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances. 


^R.  A.  W.  REDDISH,  one  of  the  prominent 
young  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Sidney, 
of  the  homeopatliic  school  of  medicine, 
has  practiced  his  profession  very  success- 
fully in  this  city  since  1883.  He  has  shown  him- 
self eminently  wortlu'  of  the  confidence  and  trust 
reposed  in  him  bj-  all  classes,  and  is  unquestion- 
ably a  physician  of  decided  merit.  The  Doctor 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  count}'  all  his  life,  his 
birth  occurring  in  Sidney  on  the  29th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1859,  and  he  is  the  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Duett)  Reddish. 

The  elder  Mr.  Reddish  was  a  native  of  Berks 
Count}',  Pa.,  born  near  Harrisburgh  and  came  to 
this  county  when  a  young  man,  about  fift}'  years 
ago.  This  was  before  railroads  had  cut  up  the 
country  very  much,  and  he  made  the  distance 
on  foot.  He  was  engaged  in  different  occupa- 
tions, and  ran  a  carding-mill  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  also  a  very  extensive  stock- 
buyer  for  a  number  of  j'ears.  However,  farming 
was  his  principal  occupation,  and  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  a  good  residence  just  outside  the  cor- 
poration of  Sidney.  He  is  a  man  possessed  of  much 
enterprise  and  push  and  has  met  witli  substantial 
result-?  in  consequence.  After  the  discover}'  of 
gold    in    Califi.>rnia,  ^Ir.  Reddish  was   filled  with  a 


great  desire  to  visit  the  Pacific  Slope,  and  in  1852 
he  went  to  California  via  the  Isthmus  and  remained 
there  two  yeare.  He  had  lost  his  wife  previous 
to  going  to  California  and  after  returning  to 
the  East  he  married  Elizabeth  Duett,  afterward 
settling  in  the  home  where  he  now  lives.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
a  man  universally  respected. 

The  youthful  days  of  our  subject  were  divided 
between  assisting  on  the  farm  and  attending  the  city 
schools,  where  he  received  a  good  practical  educa- 
tion. In  1879,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  he  be- 
gan reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Beebeand  remained 
with  him  one  year  before  attending  Cleveland 
Homeopathic  Hospital  College,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '8.3.  Fol- 
lowing this.  Dr.  Reddish  located  in  Sidney  and 
has  been  engaged  in  general  practice  ever  since. 
He  has  met  with  unusual  success  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  chosen  profession,  and  the  people  all 
over  the  county  are  familiar  with  his  name. 

Dr.  Reddish  is  a  member  of  the  Montgomery 
County  Homeopatliic  Medical  Society,  of  which  he 
President;  a  member  of  the  Homeopathic  Medical 
Society  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  aud  the  American 
Institue  of  Homeopathy.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  Sidney  Com- 
mandery  No.  46,  K.  T.  January  18,  1886,  saw 
him  married  to  Miss  Mary  Le  Baron,  of  Sara- 
toga Springs,  born  in  January,  1863,  and  the 
daughter  of  Horace  and  Jennie  Le  Baron.  Two 
bright  little  children  have  blessed  this  union, 
Lenita  and  Louise.  The  Doctor  and  wife  are 
worthy  membei-s  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  are  highly  respected  in  the  community. 


^ip^  H.  ROGERS  has  been  identified  with  the 
lUj  successful  farmers  of  'Western  Ohio  for  many 
'J — ^  years,  and  has  contributed  his  quota  to- 
ward the  development  of  its  marvelous  agricult- 
ural resources.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  eighty  acres 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGKAPIIICAL   RECORD. 


567 


of  finely-improved  land,  pleasantly  located  on  sec- 
tion 29,  Union  Township,  Auglaize  County,  where 
he  gives  his  entire  attention  to  farming  and  has 
made  a  signal  success  of  his  life  calling. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  Col.  John  Rogers, 
■was  a  son  of  John  Rogers,  Sr.,  and  was  born  Octo- 
ber 20,  1800,  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Had- 
lej'  and  was  born  in  New  York  Slate.  Col.  Rogers 
came  to  Ohio  with  his  father  when  a  lad,  and  lo- 
cated in  Licking  County  in  1814.  Tliey  later  re- 
moved to  Richland  County,  where  the  giandfather 
died. 

Tlie  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  the 
above-named  county,  and  in  1833  settled  upon 
section  5,  Clay  Township,  this  count}-,  the  tract 
being  then  in  its  primitive  condition.  The  estate 
comprised  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  to  wliicli 
Mr.  Rogers  later  added  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  29,  and  upon  which  farm  he  re- 
sided for  forty-six  years.  In  company  with  a  Mr. 
Bitler,  he  laid  out  the  village  of  St.  John's. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  departed  this  life  in 
1842,  and  the  lady  whom  JNIr.  Rogers  chose  as  his 
second  wife  was  Nancy  Coleman.  By  liis  fu-st  mar- 
riage he  became  the  fatlier  of  seven  children, 
only  five  of  whom  are  living:  our  subject, 
George,  Louisa  Jane,  Mitchel  Y.  and  Alfred.  By 
his  second  union  were  born  two  children,  John 
and  Emma.  In  polities,  the  father  of  our  subject 
was  very  active,  and  after  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  partj-,  joined  its  ranks.  He  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  per- 
formed its  duties  acceptably  for  seven  yeai-s.  He 
was  also  Township  Trustee  and  Supervisor,  and 
while  a  member  of  the  State  militia  was  Colonel 
of  his  regiment.  lie  was  a  prominent  factor  in 
developing  the  resources  of  this  portion  of  the 
State,  and  has  always  been  identified  with  tlie 
farming  interests  of  this  county. 

E.  H.  Rogers  was  born  July  21,  1822,  in  Rich- 
land County,  this  State,  and  was  a  lad  of  eleven 
years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  this 
county.  His  advantages  for  obtaining  an  educa- 
tion were  very  limited,  and  he  remained  with  his 
parents  until  reaching  his  majority,  affording  his 
father  valualile  assistance  in  carrvina  on  tlie  farm. 


Previous  to  locating  upon  his  present  estate,  he 
worked  for  some  time  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and 
taught  school  for  three  terms. 

Miss  Nancy  Jane^  daugliter  of  John  and  Mary  Ann 
(Jones)  Morris,  became  the  wife  of  our  subject  in 
1845.  She  was  born  September  26,  1823,  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  departed  this  life  Januar}'  6,  1850.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rogers  had  born  to  them  three  children, 
only  one  of  whom  is  living,  Mar}-  F.,  who  was 
born  September  15,  1847,  and  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Thomas  Emerson.  December  24,  1851,  our  subject 
was  married  to  Maria  Baker,  who  bore  him  two  cliil- 
dren,  both  now  deceased.  She  died  December  30, 
1854.  January  2,1859,  our  subject  chose  as  his 
thud  wife  Miss  Luc}'  V.  Morris,  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  Ann  (Clarkson)  Morris,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, the  fatlier's  birth  occurring  in  1800  and  tlie 
mother's  in  1809.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris  came  to  this 
State  in  1833,  and  after  residing  a  twelvementli 
in  Sidney,  located  on  section  30,  Union  Township, 
when  tills  portion  of  the  county  was  entirely  un- 
improved. With  the  aid  of  liis  son  John  he  cleared 
up  his  estate,  upon  which  he  was  residing  at  tlie 
time  of  his  decease  in  1884;  his  good  wife,  who  is 
still  living  on  the  old  homestead,  li.as  attained  to 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.  They 
were  consistent  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  were  in  favor  of  all  things  which  tended  to 
the  moral  and  social  elevation  of  their  township. 
In  politics,  jNIr.  INIorris  was  a  Republican,  and 
served  his  community  in  the  offices  of  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  Township  Trustee  and  Count}'  Com- 
missioner. By  a  previous  marriage,  he  had  be- 
come the  father  of  three  children,  only  one  of 
whom  is  now  living,  Betsey  Ann.  By  his  second 
union  fourteen  children  were  bom,  eight  of  whom 
still  survive.  Six  of  his  sons  served  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  War,  William  being  killed 
in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain. 

Mrs.  Rogers  was  born  July  2,  1836,  on  the  old 
homestead  in  this  township,  and  was  given  a  fair 
educi'tion  in  the  common  schools  of  the  district. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  have  a  pleasant  home,  and 
during  his  many  years'  residence  here  the  former 
has  made  manj'  iniprovenients,  including  the 
erection  of  a  good  set  of  frame  buildings.  They 
are  devoted  mombeis  of  tlio  Christian  Church,  and 


568 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


have  always  given  liberally  and  cheerfully  of  their 
means  toward  the  support  of  the  same.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  never  sought  public 
office,  but  has  been  called  up,on  by  his  fellow- 
townsmen  to  occupy  the  positions  of  School  Di- 
rector and  Supervisor. 


i^+^[ 


\i^RUCE  S.  HUNT,  :\I.  n.  The  professions 
ll?^  are  represented  in  Tawawa.Shclb}'  County, 
rf?^!)!'  as  in  other  towns  in  the  State,  by  men  of 
^s~-^  ripe  intelligence,  practical  skill  and  good 
character.  One  of  this  number  is  Dr.  Hunt,  who 
combines  in  his  person  the  sturdy  traits,  mental 
ability  and  vigor  of  body  derived  from  New 
England  ancestors.  Until  within  the  Last  few  years, 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  b^'  his  success  in  his  chosen  work 
has  won  an  excellent  reputation  as  a  citizen.  He 
now  devotes  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the 
manufacture  of  the  "  Domestic  Corn  Cure,"  for 
which  he  has  a  wide  market  throughout  the 
United  States. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Heman  R.  Hunt,  a  na- 
tive of  Butler  County,  this  State,  where  he  was 
born  September  2G,  1819.  He  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, and  a  son  of  Ira  Hunt,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont and  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church.  The 
family  is  an  old  and  respected  one  and  occupies  a 
prominent  pl.ace  in  the  annals  of  New  England.  Our 
subject's  mother  bore  the  name  of  Ann  Conover, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Timothy  Conover,  of  New 
Jersey.  Her  father  came  to  this  State  in  an  early 
day,  and  located  in  Butler  Count}-,  where  he  was 
identified  with  its  most  influential  citizens. 

Mrs.  Hunt  was  boin  November  13,  1819,  in  But- 
ler County,  Ohio,  and  was  married  in  Shelby 
County,  soon  after  which  she  and  her  husband  lo- 
cated on  section  6,  Green  Township.  The  Cono- 
ver familj-  came  to  this  township  in  183.5  and 
made  their  home  on  section  1,  where  they  resided 
until  near  their  demise. 

The    father    of  our  subject  was  a  Republican  in 


politics.  In  early  life  he  voted  with  the  Whig 
party,  casting  his  first  ballot  for  W.  II.  Harrison 
in  1840.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  are  the  parents  of 
two  children,  both  of  whom  are  living:  Preston 
R.,  who  married  Rosauna  Search,  and  resides  in 
Sidney;  and  our  subject,  who  w.is  born  October 
11,  1850. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  conducted  his  pri- 
mary studies  in  the  common  schools  of  his  district, 
and  the  knowledge  gained  therein  was  later  sup- 
plemented b}- an  attendance  at  the  schools  at  Sid- 
ney. Desirous  of  following  the  medical  profes- 
sion, he  read  for  sometime  under  Dr. Bebee, of  the 
above-named  pl.ace,  and  subsequently  entered  the 
Pulte  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  January  17th,  with 
the  Class  of  '77.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  he  be- 
gan the  practice  of  his  profession  at  De  Graff, 
Ohio,  and  by  his  widely-extended  knowledge  of 
the  principles  of  therapeutics,  and  skill  in  their  use 
and  practical  application,  has  established  a  repu- 
tation for  success  in  his  chosen  field  of  labor. 

Two  years  ago.  Dr.  Hunt  began  the  manufacture 
of  the  "  Domestic  Com  Cure,"  of  which  he  is  the 
inventor.  He  handles  this  remedy  exclusively 
himself,  having  his  headquarters  at  Tawawa.  The 
medicine  cures  on  the  principle  of  penetration,  and 
Dr.  Hunt  guarantees  it  to  do  as  represented  or  the 
money  will  be  refunded  to  the  purchaser. 

May  2,  1877,  Miss  Josie,  daughter  of  Charles  C. 
and  Barbara  (Speece)  "VVoolley,  and  our  subject 
were  united  in  marriage.  Her  parents  are  natives 
respectively  of  Champaig-n  and  Butler  Counties,  • 
this  State,  and  after  their  marriage  located  in  the 
first-named  count}',  where  the  father  was  a  promi- 
nent farmer.  A  proof  of  the  respect  in  which  he 
is  held  lies  in  the  fact  that  he  has  held  the  office  of 
Township  Trustee  for  twenty-one  consecutive 
years.  He  is  now  living  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  having  been  bereft  of  the  com- 
panionship of  his  good  wife,  who  died  September 
30,  1888.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  WooUej-  were  the  parents 
of  five  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing: William,  and  Mrs.  Hunt,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1853,  in  Champaign  County. 

To  the  Doctor  and  ili-s.  Hunt  have  been  granted 
a  famil}'  of  three  children:  Ora   C,  born    Septem- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL   RECORD. 


569 


ber  21,1878;  C.  Hollace,  August  25,  1881;  and 
Edith  Games,  July  1,  1892.  The  parents  are  de- 
voted and  conscientious  members  of  the  Christian 
Churcli,  and  endeavor  to  mold  their  lives  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  Golden  Rule.  The  Doctor  is  a 
member  of  the  Homeopathic  Ohio  State  Medical 
Society,  and  is  also  connected  with  tlie  Hahne- 
mann Society  of  the  Pulte  Jledical  College.  In 
politics,  he  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican part}-.  He  has  no  reason  to  be  dissatis- 
fied with  his  business,  and  throughout  his  entire 
career  has  shown  himself  to  be  alive  to  the  duties 
and  responsibilit}'  of  citizenship,  and  is  ranked 
among  the  most  prominent  residents  of  Shelby 
County. 


,|^^  UIX  LEAPLEY.  The  name  of  Leapley  has 
%^/'  I'lng  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
"^^^  pioneers  of  Shelby  County,  our  subject's 
grandpart-nts  being  among  its  earliest  settlers. 
Since  the  subject  of  this  sketch  first  learned  his 
trade,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  building  up 
of  Sidney.  The  work  turned  out  by  this  gentle- 
man is  up  to  the  highest  standard  in  the  material 
used  and  tlie  qualitj',  finish  and  perfection  of  de- 
tails, as  well  as  in  scientific  principles  of  construc- 
tion. Mr.  Leapley  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  since  his  birth,  Maj'21,  1861,  and  is  one  of 
the  prominent  young  business  men  of  Sidney'.  His 
parents,  Otlio  and  Marj-  (Stone)  Leapley,  reside 
on  a  farm  about  two  and  a  half  miles  northe.ast  of 
Sidney,  the  father  engaging  successfully  in  tilling 
the  soil. 

Our  subject  supplemented  an  education  received 
in  the  country  schools  by  attending  the  High 
Schools  of  Sidney  and  at  an  early  age  displayed 
unusual  business  ability.  When  about  nineteen 
years  of  age,  he  began  learning  his  trade  and  has 
worked  at  this  ever  since.  He  first  began  working 
in  Sidney  in  1886,  as  a  joumeyman  for  Samuel 
Stevenson,  and  continued  with  him  for  three  years. 
After  this,  he  began    contracting,    and    built    the 


agricultural  hall  on  the  fair  gi'ound,  besides  nu- 
merous other  buildings.  Later,  he  went  to  Nebraska 
and  was  engaged  in  the  southern  and  western  part 
of  that  State  in  building  elevatore  from  'Wymore 
west  to  JlcCook.  Returning  to  Sidney,  he  em- 
barked in  business  in  this  citv  and  erected  a  fine 
two-story  frame  house  at  No.  1044  Jlaplc  Street, 
in  which  he  has  been  residing  for  the  p.ast  five 
yeai-s.  He  is  a  first-class  workman,  and  brings 
vast  practical  experience  to  bear,  coupled  with 
sound  judgment  and  ample  resources,  while  the 
prices  asked  are  the  lowest  consistent  with  the  best 
workmanship. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  1887,  he  selected  his 
wife  in  the  pei-son  of  Miss  Eva  Randolph,  a  native 
of  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  and  their  home  is  a  pleas- 
ant and  most  attractive  place  Mr.  Leapley  gives 
his  whole  attention  to  his  business  and  has  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  classes  of  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Leapley  is  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent citizens,  ever  taking  a  deep  interest  in  the 
advancement  of  the  cit}-  and  in  the  progress  of  the 
wliole  country.  He  is  a  self-made  m.an  and  is 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  fact  that  '"tliere  is 
no  road  to  excellence  without  great  Labor." 


,^\  AJ.  CHARLES  HIPP,  Postmaster  at  St. 
Mary's,  and  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Auglaize  County,  is  a  veteran  of  two  wars. 
and  his  fine  military  record  reflects  credit 
on  the  soldiery  of  his  adopted  country,  for  which 
he  did  and  suffered  much  when  rebellion  threat- 
ened disunion  and  dishonor. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Prassia,  January  20, 
1830,  a  son  of  Frederick  C.  Hipp,  who  w.as  for  sev- 
eral years  an  officer  in  the  ftussian  army,  and 
took  part  in  the  war  waged  against  Napoleon, 
which  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  great  French 
commander  at  Waterloo.  After  leaving  the  army, 
Frederick  C.  Hipp  became  a  merchant,  and  in  1844 
emigrated  with   his  familv   to  America.     He    first 


570 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


settled  near  Parkersbiirgb,  Va.,  where  he  had 
bought  land  before  leaving  the  Old  Country, 
lie  only  lived  there  a  short  time,  and  then  re- 
moved witli  his  family  to  Blarietta,  Ohio.  He 
subsequently  c.nrae  to  St.  Marj-'s,  and  here  his 
earthly  pilgrim.ago  was  brought  to  a  close  in  1872, 
at  a  ripe  old  age.  Ilis  wife  died  in  1880,  at  a  ven- 
erable age.  Three  of  their  eight  children  are  still 
living. 

He  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written  is  the  fourth 
child  of  the  family.  His  early  education  was  con- 
ducted in  the  excellent  scliools  of  Neuwied  in  his 
native  Prvissia,  wliicli  he  attended  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  old,  and  after  coming  to  this  coun- 
try he  had  tlie  advantage  of  a  year's  schooling  at 
Prof.  Maxwell's  academy  at  Marietta.  After  that, 
he  was  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  for  a  j'car,  and 
then  in  1846  he  went  to  Cincinnati  witli  a  view 
to  learning  the  cigar-maker's  trade.  He  abandoned 
that  in  1847,  to  enlist  at  the  second  call  for  troops 
to  serve  in  the  Mexican  War,  joining  Company-  I, 
Fourth  Ohio  Infantry,  which  was  commanded  by 
Col.  C.  H.  Brough,  brother  of  the  late  Governor 
of  the  State.  He  was  in  the  battles  at  National 
Bridge,  Huamantla,  Pueblo,  Tlascala,  and  in  other 
engagements,  serving  with  his  regiment  until  the 
war  closed,  and  he  was  discharged  in   June,   1848. 

On  his  return  from  Mexico,  Maj.  Hipp  resumed 
his  former  employment  as  clerk,  and  was  engaged 
in  a  grocery  at  Hamilton  the  ensuing  three  years. 
In  1852,  he  went  to  Central  America  to  join  his 
brother  William,  who  had  opened  a  plantation  on 
the  San  Juan  River  at  the  mouth  of  tlieSevapiqui, 
then,  and  still,  known  as  Ilipp's  Point,  and  where 
Walker's  filibusters  afterward  had  quite  a  fight 
with  forces  from  Costa  Rica,  defeating  them.  La- 
ter, he  went  to  Castillo  Rapids,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  hotel  busniess  two  years.  From  there  he 
went  to  San  Juan  Del  Sur,  on  the  Pacific  Coast, 
and  kept  an  hotel  there  for  over  a  year,  entertain- 
ing travelers  on  their  way  across  the  Istlimus  to  or 
from  the  gold  fields  of  California.  During  his 
residence  at  that  point,  lie  was  elected  Captain  of 
a  company  of  Home  Guards,  composed  of  foreign- 
ers living  in  the  town,  and  organized  for  their  own 
protection.  A  revolution  had  broken  out  in  Ni- 
caragua, and  the   forces  occupying  Castillo  sided 


with  the  revolutionists.  They  were  surprised  by 
the  Government  troops,  and  all  but  a  few,  who  es- 
caped, were  killed.  Mr.  Hipp  also  acted  as  Vice- 
Consul  for  the  United  States  in  San  Juan  Del  Sur, 
and  in  1855  found  himself  once  more  in  Ohio.  He 
purchased  a  stave  mill  at  St.  Mary's,  which  he  re- 
fitted with  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  floor- 
ing and  all  kinds  of  finished  wood  material. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  our  subject's  martial 
spirit,  which  had  descended  to  him  from  his  fore- 
fathers and  had  before  found  expression  on  Mexi- 
can battlefields,  was  again  aroused,  and  as  soon  as 
he  could  settle  his  affairs,  he,  in  one  week,  raised  a 
company  of  soldiers  to  help  defend  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  He  entered  the  service  August  20,  1861; 
was  commissioned  Captain  of  Company  C,  Thirty- 
seventh  Ohio  Infantr}', September  7;  Major,  June  5, 
1862;  remustered  in  the  same  rank  June  14,  1865; 
mu;tered  out  August  7,  the  same  year,  at  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  and  honorably*  discharged  with  his 
regiment  August  21,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Among 
the  numerous  engagements  in  which  he  fought 
were  those  at  Cotton  Hill,  Logan  C.  H.,  Princetcn 
and  Charleston,  V.a.,  and  participated  in  the  as- 
sault on  Vieksburg,  having  command  of  the  regi- 
ment during  the  siege.  The  regiment  then  marched 
to  Chattanooga,  and  crossed  the  Tennessee  River 
on  pontoon  bridges  to  Missionary  Ridge,  where  the 
assault  took  place  November  25,  1863.  Again 
moving  Southward  on  tlie  Atlanta  Campaign,  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Resaca,  Dall.as,  New  Hope 
Church,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  Ezra  Church, 
where  he  was  twice  wounded,  and  had  the  left 
arm  amputated. 

After  the  war  Maj.  Hipp  returned  to  St.  Mary's 
and  for  a  few  years  devoted  himself  to  mercantile 
pursuits.  In  1866,  he  was  apixjinted  Postmaster, 
but  he  w.is  removed  five  months  later  by  President 
Johnson.  He  w.as  re-appointed  to  the  same  posi- 
tion by  President  Grant  in  1869,  and  for  sixteen 
years  served  most  efficiently.  During  Cleveland's 
administration,  he  took  a  vacation,  but  was  again 
made  Postmaster  by  President  Harrison  in  1889, 
and  is  still  the  incumbent  of  tlie  office.  He  gives 
complete  satisfaction  to  the  people  of  St.  Mary's, 
who  regard  him  as  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place,   as    he  is    thoroughly   conversant  with  the 


POKTRAIT  AND  15I0GRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


571 


routine  of  the  office,  manages  its  affairs  in  a  busi- 
ness-like way,  and  is  always  urbane  and  courteous 
in  his  intercoui-so  with  all  with  whom  he  comes  in 
contact.  In  him  tlie  Republican  party  has  one  of 
its  most  st.anch  adherents,  and  he  is  an  important 
figure  in  local  politics,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
county,  district  and  .State  conventions.  He  was 
Mayor  of  St.  Mary's  two  years,  and  he  gave  the 
city  a  good  administration,  making  permanent  im- 
provements by  establishing  grades  for  streets  and 
the  natural  g.as  plant  for  the  town.  He  is  promi- 
nent, socially,  as  a  member  of  Kishler  Post  No.  83, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee.  The  M.ajor  was  married  in  1853 
to  Miss  Mary  Miller,  a  resident  of  Hamilton,  and 
they  have  establislied  a  very  pleasant  home,  over 
which  his  wife  presides  with  tact  and  ability. 


i>^^<m= 


0-  J.  TAYLOR,  one  of  the  best  known  and 
I  most  successful  business  men  of  Sidne}',  has 
/  been  engaged  in  business  in  this  city  since 
1854,  and  he  is  not  only  popular  in  business,  but 
in  social  circles  as  well.  His  grandfather,  Samuel 
Taylor,  w.is  a  native  A'irginian,  but  at  an  early 
date  moved  to  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  near 
West  Liberty,  and  entered  and  bought  in  this 
county  a  large  tr.act  of  Government  land,  two 
miles  west  of  Port  Jefferson.  He  cleared  a  small 
portion,  erected  a  log  cabin  on  this,  and  tlicre  the 
family  remained  for  many  years.  Mr.  Taylor,  .Sr., 
subsequently  sold  this  farm  and  moved  to  Sid- 
ney, where  his  death  occurred. 

Jason  Taylor,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  near  Harper's  Ferry,  in  1801,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1824,  when  lie  moved  with  hia 
parents  to  the  Buckeye  State  and  settled  in  Sid- 
ney, when  there  were  but  seven  families  there.  He 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  and  developing  the 
farm,  but  afterward  located  in  Sidney  and  was 
engaged  in  merchandising  for  some  time,  thus  oli- 
taining  a  practical  knowledge  of  business  at  an 
earl}-  age.     Later,  he  embarked    in   the  dry-goods 


business  in  New  York,  and  followed  this  for  seven- 
teen years  in  that  city.  Returning  to  Ohio,  he 
settled  in  Wapakoneta,  engaged  in  banking  at 
that  place,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in  1867. 
He  married  Miss  Sarah  SkiUen,  a  native  of  Penn- 
S3ivania,  and  the  daughter  of  Judge  Skillcn,  of 
this  State.  Her  death  occurred  alx)ut  seventeen 
yeai-s  before  that  of  her  husband.  To  this  union 
were  born  nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  Jane,  Mrs.  Jessup,  of  La  Porte, 
Lid.;  O.  J.,  of  Sidney;  William  H.,  of  Mansfield; 
and  Aurelia,  wife  of  Col.  B.  F.  Crawford,  of  Mans- 
field. The  parents  of  these  children  held  mem- 
bership for  many  yeai-s  in  the  Presbyterian  Churcli, 
and  the  father  was  an  old-line  Whig  in  politics. 
He  was  a  great  military  man,  was  general  of  the 
militia,  and  took  great  pride  in  its  organization. 

0.  J.  Ta^-lor  was  born  in  Sidney,  Ohio,  on  the  2Gth 
of  September,  1830,and  here  he  received  agood  edu- 
cation. After  leaving  the  schoolroom,  he  followed 
civil  engineering  for  nearly  four  years,  accumulat- 
ing in  the  meantime  about  $1,000.  Witli  this  he  em- 
barked in  the  hardware  trade  on  his  own  responsi- 
bility and  first  opened  a  store  on  Poplar  Street, 
afterward  following  business  in  the  room  that  the 
German  American  Bank  now  occupies.  From 
there  he  went  into  the  Main  Avenue  Building  in 
1874,  a  fine  block,  50x122  feet,  at  the  corner  of 
Poplar  Street  and  Main  Avenue,  one  of  the  best  lo- 
cations in  the  city,  and  occupied  the  corner  store, 
three  stories  high,  the  second  story  being  used  for 
oflices  and  the  third  Uoor  for  the  Masons'  lodge. 
This  store  he  has  leased  for  twenty  yeare.  He  has 
erected  a  fine  two-stoiy  brick  residence  at  No.  611 
Main  Avenue,  .and  it  is  surrounded  with  all  the 
comforts  of  life. 

Our  subject  selected  his  companion  in  life  in 
the  person  of  Miss  Sarah  Harrison,  of  .Sidney, 
and  the  fruits  of  this  union  have  been  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  are  now  living: 
Harry  J.;  Jlrs.  Mabel  Lyon;  Jennie  A.,  wife  of 
J.  E.  Cummins,  of  the  Citizens'  Bank,  at  Sidney; 
Willis  B.,  of  Chicago;  O.  E.,  who  is  now  at- 
tending school  at  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  Charles 
J.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  suddenly 
in  July,  1887,  after  having  retired.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbvterian  Church,  in  which  our 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


subject  also  holds  membership,  and  he  has  been 
Treasurer  in  the  same  for  twentj'-one  years,  having 
handled  over  §80,000  of  the  church  funds.  His  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to  Miss  Helen  C.  Search,  of 
Marion,  Ohio,  and  a  member  of  the  Sharpless 
family,  of  Pennsylvania,  a  very  prominent  one. 


^^Ia:'^@l^i^^ 


yEV.  CHARLE.S  FARNSWORTH,  'n-ho  for 
many  years  administered  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  his  fellow-men  in  various  Method- 
^^  ist  Episcopal  Churches  of  this  county,  is 
now  the  efficient  Superintendent  of  the  Logan 
County  Children's  Home,  which  is  pleasantly  sit- 
uated one  mile  west  from  Bcllefonlaine,  on  a  com- 
manding eminence  on  the  Sidnej'  Pike,  and  in  a 
healthy  locality.  The  building  is  a  substantial 
brick  structure,  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet 
long,  sixt}'-sis  feet  wide,  and  three  stories 
above  basement  in  height,  and  was  built  in 
1886-87-88,  at  a  cost  of  $27,000,  in  round 
numbers.  The  farm  contains  sixt^'-eight  acres 
of  good  arable  land,  has  two  never-failing 
wells  of  water,  one  of  which  is  mineral,  with  two 
orchards  and  many  shade  trees.  The  land  lies  in 
an  almost  perfect  squ.are,  with  excellent  roads  on 
the  north  and  cast.  The  object  of  the  institution 
is  to  furnish  an  asylum  for  the  dependent  children 
of  the  county  under  sixteen  j-ears  of  age,  where 
they  can  receive  proper  care  .and  culture  until  suit- 
able homes  can  be  prepared  for  them,  or  until  they 
become  capable  of  providing  for  themselves.  Mr. 
Farnsworth  is  now  serving  his  second  j'ear  as 
Superintendent  of  this  institution,  and  is  in  every 
w.a\-  qualified  for  the  position,  which  he  fills  with 
credit  to  himself,  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  people. 

Rev.  Charles  Farnsworth  is  a  native  of  the  Green 
Mountain  State,  born  in  Fianklin  County  on  the 
24th  of  October,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Israel  W. 
Farnsworth,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont, 
born  in  1801,  and  of  Scotch  extraction.  Tlie 
father    of    our    subject    followed     tlio    pursuit   of 


fanning  in  his  native  State,  and  died  there  when 
eighty-three  years  of  age.  He  was  .an  ardent  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church  from  boyhood, 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  its  growth  and  pro- 
gress. He  w.as  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a 
strong  Aixilitionist  before  and  after  the  war.  He 
married  Miss  Abigail  Rawson,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  four  children  were  born  to  them,  all 
sons,  viz:  Jerome,  Oscar  (deceased),  Oscar  and  our 
subject.  The  mother  died  when  seventy-one 
years  of  age.  She  had  been  a  life-long  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  and  was  very  active 
in  the  cause  of  Christianity. 

The  original  of  this  notice  passed  his  boyhood 
and  youth  on  the  farm,  received  his  education  in 
the  district  and  select  schools,  and  at  an  early 
age  evinced  a  strong  desire  and  liking  for  tools. 
When  twenty  years  of  age,  he  began  for  himself 
by  learning  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  this  he  fol- 
lowed for  six  years,  together  with  some  farm  labor, 
beginning  in  the  meantime,  however,  his  stud- 
ies for  the  ministry  by  borrowing  and  reading 
books  on  theology  from  the  libraries  of  neighbor- 
ing minister.s.  He  continued  working  at  his  trade, 
studying  and  preaching  some  locally  for  six  years, 
when  became  to  Ohio  and  joined  the  Central  Ohio 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
accepting  an  appointment  at  Versailles,  Darke 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  labored  earnestly  for  three 
yeare,  the  limit  then  allowed  a  minister  to  remain 
on  one  charge.  After  this,  he  preached  for  two 
j-ears  at  EHda,  Allen  County,  Ohio;  then  three 
years  at  Zanesfield,  Logan  C'ount\-,  Ohio;  three 
j'ears  at  Huntsville,  this  county;  three  years  at  Na- 
poleon. Henry  County,  Ohio;  three  years  at  West 
Liberty,  this  county;  and  then  five  years  on  the 
Bellefoutaine  Circuit,  the  General  Conference  hav- 
ing changed  the  limit  from  three  to  five  years  and 
one  and  one-h.alf  years.  On  the  1st  of  April, 
1891,  he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  the 
Logan  County  Children's  Home,  to  succeed  Joseph 
R.  Smith.  In  order  to  effectively  retain  him  in 
Conference,  he  was  appointed  Chaplain  of  the 
Children's  Home  by  the  Bishop.  There  are  about 
fifty-three  children  in  the  Home  at  present,  thirty- 
eight  of  whom  are  from  this  county,  thirteen  from 
Cliampaiirn.   and    several    from     other    counties. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


573 


Those  from  outside  of  Logan  County  are  boarded 
and  their  expenses  paid  by  the  counties  to  which 
tliey  beh^ng.  i\Ir.  Farnsworth  takes  a  great  inter- 
est in  the  children,  and  his  heart  is  fully  in  the 
work.  He  works  with  them  on  the  farm  and 
teaches  them  mechanical  work,  so  far  as  the  limited 
appliances  will  admit.  His  wife  is  also  verj'much 
interested  in  the  welf.are  of  the  children,  and 
spares  no  effort  to  make  it  a  happy  home  for  them. 
They  have  a  hired  teacher,  with  forty-four  weeks 
of  school  each  year. 

Our  subject  was  married  on  the  5th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1854,  to  Miss  Laura  J.  Smith,  a  native  of  the 
Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  born  on  the  15th  of 
Slay,  1834,  and  their  nuptials  were  celebrated  in 
Vermont.  Three  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Ernest  died  when  not  quite  four  years  old;  Mabel 
J.,  now  Mrs.  "William  Miller,  of  Monroe  Township, 
this  count3-,  and  Abbie  M.,  now  Mrs.  Charles  As- 
pinwall,  of  West  Liberty,  this  county.  Jlrs. 
Farnsworth  has  been  of  gi'eat  help  to  her  hus- 
band, and  has  always  earnestly  labored  with  him 
in  his  church  work,  and  particular!}'  in  revival 
meetings  and  the  Sunday-schools.  During  thirty 
years  of  preaching,  Mr.  Farnsworth  has  always, 
with  one  exception,  held  from  four  to  twelve 
weeks'  protracted  meetings.  He  is  a  natural  revi- 
valist In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  soci.nll^' 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Bellefon- 
taine. 


'T^ pBERT  D.  LA:MB  holds  the  position  of  Sec- 
Iv^  retary  of  the  Bellefontaine  Carriage  Body 
/fc  \Y  Corapanj-,  which  is  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive interests  of  its  kind  in  this  State.  Mr. 
Lamb  is  a  native  of  this  cit}-,  having  been  born 
January  14,  18G8,  and  is  a  son  of  Capt.  Rol>ert 
Lamb,  who  is  President  of  the  People's  Bank. 

The  original  of  this  sketch  received  his  education 
in  this  city  and  when  quite  young  went  to  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  employed  for  some  time  in  a 
large  wholesale  noveltv  house.     He   was  also  en- 


gaged with  the  Champion  Iron  Companj'  at  Ken- 
ton, this  State,  for  one  year,  and  in  April,  1889, 
became  Secretary  of  the  Body  Companj",  which 
position  he  has  since  filled  with  credit  to  himself 
and  with  satisf.iction  to  all  those  concerned.  He 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  companj-  and  a  young  man 
of  indisputable  ability  and  good  business  habits 
and  is  alike  popular  in  social  and  financi.al  circles. 
He  has  had  wide  experience  for  one  of  liis  age, 
having  traveled  all  over  the  United  States,  as  well 
as  Mexico  and  Canada. 

The  lady  to  whom  Mr.  Lamb  was  married  Decem- 
ber 31,1890,  was  Miss  Edna  Pratt,a  highly  educated 
and  cultured  lady.  Robert  Lamb,  the  father  of 
our  subject  and  President  of  the  People's  Bank  of 
this  city,  is  also  a  native  of  this  place,  his  birth  oc- 
curring July  12,  1834.  He  is  the  son  of  John  H. 
and  Nancy  (Buvall)  Lamb,  natives  respectively  of 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  1806,  and  is  now  living  retired 
fiom  active  business  as  a  blacksmith.  Both  the 
maternal  and  paternal  grandfathers  of  our  subject 
were  soldiers  in  the  "War  of  1812  and  were  earlj- 
settlers  in  this  State. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  near  this 
city  and  received  a  good  education  in  the  public 
schools.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  from 
his  father,  at  which  occupation  he  was  emploved 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  as 
clerk  in  a  dry -goods  store,  remaining  thus  engaged 
until  1854.  On  that  date.  Mr.  Lamb  organized  the 
present  bank, known  as  the  People's  Bank  and  con- 
trolled by  himself  and  Messre.  Riddle  and  Rutan. 
In  1880,  it  was  made  the  People's  National  Bank, 
with  Abner  Riddle  President,  and  Mr.  Lamb 
Cashier,  which  position  he  held  until  1889,  when 
he  succeeded  Mr.  Riddle  as  President.  The  bank 
has  a  capital  of  $100,000,  with  a  surplus  of  about 
$50,000,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  banking  institu- 
tions in  this  part  of  the  State. 

The  elder  Mr.  Lamb  enlisted  on  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  "War.Tsa  volunteer  in  Company  F,  Eighty- 
eighth  Ohio  Infantry  and  reported  for  duty  in  the 
fall  of  18G1.  He  was  soon,  however,  detached 
from  the  regiment  and  placed  on  staff  dutv,  and 
while  serving  in  that  position  was  promoted  to  be 
Captain,     Previous  to  this  time,  however,  he  had 


574 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


charge  over  the  prisoners  in  this  State  and  was 
mustered  out  in  1865.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  National  Union. 

The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was 
Miss  Mary  Sherman,  her  marriage  taking  place  in 
1867.  By  her  union  with  Mr.  Lamb  she  became 
the  mother  of  two  cliildren,  R.  Delman  of  this 
sketch  and  John  D.  He  of  whom  we  write  is  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of 
Pythias.  In  religious  affairs,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  classed  among 
the  influential  and  wealthy  citizens  of  this  place 
and  has  lost  no  opportunity  in  contributing  to  the 
general  welfare  of  the  community  who  bold  him  in 
such  high  esteem. 


:l4.^..j..j..§ggg;4..5.^»i.F 


'  LBERT  C.  BUSS.  Among  the  newspaper 
men  of  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  who  have 
li)  done  much  to  advance  the  interests  of 
this  section,  we  are  pleased  to  mention 
the  name  which  we  liave  just  given  above.  This 
gentleman  is  the  editor  of  the  New  Bremen  Sun, 
one  of  the  brightest,  newsiest  sheets  published  in 
the  county.  The  Sun  supports  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  part\'  with  marked  ability,  and  its 
crisp  and  interesting  editorials  command  an  ever- 
widening  circulation. 

Born  in  New  Bremen,  Ohio,  on  the  28th  of  jNIay, 
1866,  Jlr.  Buss  inherits  the  pei-severance,  honesty 
and  industry  of  his  German  ancestors,  and  also 
the  sterling  qualities  of  that  nationality  that  fit 
them  for  almost  any  occupation  in  life.  Mr.  Buss' 
father,  William  Buss,  was  bom  in  Prussia,  May 
26,  1825,  and  came  to  America  in  1848.  He  first 
settled  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade  for  some  time,  and  subse- 
quently came  to  Auglaize  County,  and  located  in 
New  Bremen,  where  he  engaged  in  the  tinware 
business.  He  became  thoroughly  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  the  town,  and  w.as  ver\' 
successful  in  all   his  enterprises.     He    finally    re- 


retired  from  the  active  duties  of  life,  and  is  now  a 
resident  and  much-esteemed  citizen  of  New  Bre- 
men. In  his  religions  views  he  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  all  movements  for  its  advancement. 
He  owns  considerable  property  in  New  Bremen, 
and  has  improved  his  time  so  well  that  now,  when 
getting  along  in  years,  he  can  enjoy  the  comforts 
brought  about  by  his  industry.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Catherine  Maurer,  was  born 
in  Bavaria,  February  17,  1832,  and  was  brought 
to  America  by  her  parents  when  one  year  old. 
They  died  soon  after  and  she  was  reared  bj'  friends. 
She  also  holds  membership  in  the  Lutheran  Church. 
Albert  C.  Buss,  the  seventh  of  nine  children 
born  to  the  above-mentioned  couple,  graduated  at 
the  New  Bremen  High  School  in  1883,  where  he 
laid  the  foundation  upon  wliich  he  builded  later 
at  the  Ohio  State  University,  where  he  took  a  classi- 
cal course.  He  taught  in  the  New  Bremen  Public 
Schools  for  two  j'ears.  On  the  1st  of  January, 
1888,  he  purchased  the  office  of  the  New  Bremen 
Suji,  and  lias  since  published  and  edited  the  paper. 
The  Sun  was  established  on  the  6th  of  September, 
1886,  by  C.  M.  Smith,  from  whom  our  subject  pur- 
chased the  paper.  He  has  improved  it  in  every 
way,  and  this  six-column  quarto  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  papers  of  the  county.  In  connection  with 
his  printing  business,  Mr.  Buss  is  also  engaged  in 
manufacturing  rubber  stamps.  He  is  a  young  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  is  very  popu- 
lar with  all.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Encampment. 


a-  ^^3! 


PRANK  WALKUP  is  the  editor  of  the  Dollar 
)  Sentinel,  published  at  St.  Mary's,  a  well- 
conducted,  eight-column  folio,  bright  and 
newsy,  with  seasonable  and  sensible  editorials  on 
current  topics, and  a  useful  organ  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  a  native  of  Wapakoneta, 
born   December    16,   1851,   and    is   a   son   of   the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRtVPIIICAL   RECORD. 


575 


Hon.  John  Walkup,  who  was  for  several  years 
prior  to  his  decease  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Auglaize  County.  His  father  came  from  Virginia 
to  Ohio  in  the  early  d.a3S  of  its  settlement  and 
became  a  pioneer  of  Miami  County. 

The.  Hon  .John  Walkup  was  a  man  of  marked 
force  of  character,  and  of  much  native  ability, 
which  brought  him  to  the  front  in  his  profession 
as  an  attorney,  and  made  him  a  conspicuous  figure 
in  public  life.  He  represented  Auglaize  County 
in  the  Legislature  in  1854.  His  course  was  emi- 
nently patriotic  throughout  the  war,  in  which  be 
served  eight  months  as  Colonel  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Ohio  Infantry-,  and  was 
discharged  on  account  of  sickness.  He  practiced 
Ian-  for  several  years  at  Wapakoneta,  and  died  in 
that  city,  March  12,  1877.  His  wife,  Margaret 
Lytle,  a  native  of  Stark  County,  died  in  1889. 
They  had  eight  children,  of  whom  four  are 
living. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  of  the  family  living. 
The  public  schools  of  his  native  city  afforded  him 
a  sound  education,  which  formed  the  basis  of  his 
success  as  an  editor.  He  began  to  prepare  himself 
for  his  profession  at  the  age  of  eighteen  j'ears,  b\' 
entering  the  oflice  of  the  Courant,  at  Wapakoneta. 
In  1874,  he  came  to  St.  Mary's  with  his  brother, 
who  established  the  Courant  at  this  point  in  that 
year.  In  August,  1879,  after  an  absence  of  some 
time  from  the  city,  our  sul)ject  returned  and  pur- 
chased a  half-interest  in  the  St.  Mary's  Argua, 
which  he  sold  in  1880. 

December  15,  1882.  he  and  his  brother  John 
issued  the  first  copy  of  the  Dollar  Sentinel  at 
St.  Mary's,  which  immediately  sprang  into  popu- 
larity, that  has  continued  to  this  da}',  and  it  has  a 
large  and  healthy  subscription  list.  Mr.  Walkup's 
brother  withdrew  from  the  paper  after  about 
eighteen  months'  connection  with  it,  and  our 
subject  has  continued  sole  proprietor.  He  pub- 
lishes it  in  the  interests  of  the  Democratic  party, 
of  which  he  has  been  an  ardent  advocate  since  187t5, 
doing  valiant  service  for  the  Democracy,  both 
with  voice  and  pen.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
exemplary  habits,  who  conducts  himself  uprightly 
and  honorably  in  all  the  affairs  of  life. 

Mr.  Walkup  was  married  in  1878  to  Miss    Alice 


Richardson,  a  native  of  Auglaize  County,  who  is  a 
true  home-maker,  and  makes  their  dwelling  cozy 
and  attractive  alike  to  its  inmates  and  to  all  who 
come  I)oneath  its  roof  by  her  gracious  presence  and 
pleasant  ways.  Three  children  complete  the  happy 
home  circle:  Maud,  John  and  Willie.  Mrs. 
Walkup  is  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  D.  L.  Richard- 
son, a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  her  mother  coming 
from  Virginia.  He  was  a  well-known  minister  in 
the  Christian  Church,  and  departed  this  life  March 
15,  1891. 


i^^l-^i-i^ll^^ 


*j^,ON  W.  RANDALL,  who  occupies  the 
position  of  Principal  of  the  Second  Ward 
schools  at  AVapakoneta,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 1, 1854,  in  L^rbana,Champ.aign  County, 
this  State.  He  is  the  son  of  Sylvanus  and  Lydia  J. 
(Gray)  Randall,  natives  respectively  of  New  York 
and  Ohio.  The  elder  Mr.  Randall  located  in  the 
above-named  county  in  an  early  day,  where  he 
followed  his  trade  of  plasterer.  His  genial  nature 
as  well  as  his  unusal  liberality  made  numerous 
friends  for  him  in  the  community.  He  departed 
this  life  in  Dayton  in  1876  and  his  good  wife,  who 
still  survives,  is  at  present  residing  in  Wapakoneta. 
Our  subject  is  the  only  surviving  member  in  the 
parental  family  of  three  children.  He  was  reared 
in  his  native  county  until  reaching  his  eighteenth 
year,  in  the  meantime  prosecuting  his  studies  in 
the  common  schools.  In  187.3,  he  removed  hither, 
and,  locating  in  Waynesfield,  there  carried  on  for 
a  time  his  trade  of  a  plasterer,  which  he  had  learned 
from  his  father.  From  what  follows  it  is  obvious, 
that  Mr.  Randall  must  have  fully  availed  himself 
of  all  privileges  of  instruction  to  which  he  found 
access,  and  a  distinguishing  characteristic  of  his  is 
the  possession  of  quickness  of  mind  and  talent. 
He  took  a  year's  course  in  Ada  (Ohio)  College  in 
1873.  and  in  1879  began  teaching  school,  which 
vocation  he  h.as  since  followed  with  signal  success. 
In  the  fall  of  1887,  Mr.  Randall  came  to  this 
city,  having  been  prevailed  upon    to    accept    the 


PORTRAJT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


principalship  of  the  East  Building.  When  he  took 
charge  of  the  work  here,  there  were  but  three 
teachers  employed  in  this  school,  the  building  con- 
taining but  four  rooms.  Now,  however,  it  num- 
bers eight  rooms  and  gives  employment  to  seven 
teachers,  and  the  class  books  show  a  large  attend- 
ance. 

In  1879,  Miss  Henrietta  Bennett,  who  w.is  born 
November  25,  1861,  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Rand- 
all and  to  them  have  been  born  two  daughtei-s: 
Vaud  and  Caddie.  With  bis  wife,  he  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  to 
whose  support  he  is  a  cheerful  and  liberal  contri- 
butor. Socially,  he  holds  membership  with  the 
Knights  of  Pj'tliias  and  the  Sons  of  Veterans. 

Mr.  Randall  has  patented  an  invention,  of  which 
he  is  the  author, and  which  he  uses  to  good  advan- 
tage in  his  astronomy  class,  it  being  constructed  so 
as  to  show  in  its  revolutions  the  distance  from 
sun  to  earth,  etc.  Ho  is  also  the  inventor  of  the 
game  called  "  Lucknow,"  which  is  manufactured 
by  the  Lucknow  Conip.an}-  of  Wapakoneta.  In 
addition  to  these,  our  subject  is  the  author  of 
"  Randall's  Tabulated  United  St.ates  History," 
which  is  used  extensively  in  many  well-known 
colleges  .and  schools. 

From  early  habits,  he  has  forced  himself  to  think 
deeply  upon  that  which  he  reads  and  has  been  an 
important  factor  in  aiding  to  establish  the  unsur- 
passed school  system  in  this  county.  Nature  has 
endowed  him  with  rare  gifts,  aniong  which  is  an 
intellectual  ability  of  a  high  order,  logical,  dis- 
criminating and  comprehensive. 


IMON  WONES.  As  one  of  the  veterans  of 
the  late  war,  who  enlisted  in  the  defense  of 
the  Union  and  served  with  valor  on  many 
a  hard-fought  battlefield,  and  as  one  of  the 
successful  farmers  of  .Salem  Township,  Shelby 
County,  who  h.as  aided  in  advancing  the  agricul- 
tural interests  of  this  section    of  Ohio,  Mr.Wones 


is  deservedly  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  people 
among  whom  the  most  of  his  active  life  has  been 
passed. 

In  1818,  Simon  Wones,  Sr.,  grandfatlier  of  our 
subject,  emigrated  from  Yorkshire,  England, to  the 
United  States,  and  settled  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio, 
about  seven  miles  from  Springfield, where  he  cleared 
a  tract  of  raw  land.  During  the  firet  winter  of  his 
residence  in  Clarke  Couuty,  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  but  afterward  followed  farming  pursuits. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  John  Wones,  was  born 
in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  accompanied  his  father 
to  Ohio,  where  he  worked  as  a  farmer.  In  1838, 
he  settled  upon  an  unimproved  farm  in  Champaign 
County,  where  he  made  a  permanent  home.  Prior 
to  that,  in  1831,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he 
was  seized  with  the  cholera  during  the  following 
year,  and  also  had  another  severe  attack  in  1833. 
He  was  given  up  for  dead,  but  through  his  brother's 
care  and  esertions,  his  life  was  spared.  A  curious 
fact  was  that  ever  afterward  when  he  would  eat 
anything  sour,  the  left  side  of  his  face  would  be 
covered  with  copious  perspiration. 

The  f.arm  which  John  Wones  cleared  in  Cham- 
paign County  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  acres,  and,  as  above  stated,  he  resided  there  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  in  1878,  when  he  had 
re.ached  the  .age  of  sixty-eight  years  and  three 
months.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Nancy 
Heaston,.and  who  was  born  in  Warren  County,Ohio, 
survived  him  a  number  of  years  and  died  in  1883, 
aged  sixtj'-five  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Four  sons 
served  with  distinction  in  the  Civil  War.  In  their 
religious  connections,  the  parents  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  the  father 
was  Steward  and  Class-leader  for  thirty-five  years. 
In  politics,  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republi- 
can. He  took  great  interest  in  educational  matters 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  in 
Champaign  County. 

The  eldest  child  in  the  family  is  our  subject, 
who  was  born  in  Chamjiaign  County,  September 
3,  1839.  He  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation and  during  his  youth  aided  in  clearing  up 
the  f.arm  in  Champaign  County.  In  18G1,  he  w.as 
married  to  Miss  Jane  Smith,  who  was  born  near 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


577 


Ripon,  England,  in  1842,  the  daugbter  of  AVilliam 
Smith,  a  native  of  England.  After  their  marriage, 
the\'  located  on  a  rented  farm  in  Champaign 
County,  where  tbe\-  remained  for  nine  years. 

May  2,  180 1,  3Ir.  Wones  enlisted  in  Company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Ohio  Infantry, and 
with  his  regiment  marched  to  Cumberland,  Md., 
where  he  remained  for  three  weeks.  Afterward 
the  regiment  was  incorporated  with  the  Army  of 
the  James  in  Virginia,  where  Mr.  Wones  did  active 
service  until  the  latter  part  of  August,  1864.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  he  re- 
turned to  his  farm  and  resumed  his  agricultural 
pursuits.  In  186y,lie  removed  to  his  present  farm, 
which  was  then  heavily  wooded  and  contained  no 
improvements.  He  is  now  theowner  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twelve  acres  of  land,  mostly  improved, 
and  has  erected  all  the  buildings  which  embellish 
the  estate.  In  former  j'ears  he  was  engaged  as  a 
veterinary  surgeon,  but  now  confines  his  attention 
to  farming  exclusively". 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wones  are  the  parents  of  nine 
children  now  living,  as  follows:  J.  C,  who  mar- 
ried Ella  Shroj'er;  Phillis  Ann,  wife  of  Jonathan 
Howell;  Martin  G.,  who  married  Emma  Cargill; 
Melissa  Ellen,  the  wife  of  Eranklin  Calhoun;  Will- 
iam R.;  Mathew,  Ernest,  Simon  and  Ionia  May,  who 
are  at  home.  Religiously,  Mr.  Wones  is  a  member 
of  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  Trustee,  Steward  and  Class-leader,  and 
is  at  present  Sunday-school  Superintendent.  His 
grandparents  were  Wesleyan  Methodists  and  one 
of  his  brothers,  W.  R.,  is  a  prominent  minister  in 
the  Methodist  Church,  at  present  pastor  of  the 
Trinity  Church  at  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.  During  the 
sixteen  years  since  he  entered  the  ministry,  he  has 
superintended  the  erection  of  six  churches,  one 
parsonage,  repaired  two  churches,  and  paid  off 
three  church  debts  of  long  standing,  two  of  them 
of  a  difficult  and  complicated  nature. 

In  educational  matters,  Mr.  Wones  has  always 
been  deeply  interested  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Township  Board  of  Education.  In  politics  a  Re- 
publican, he  is  firm  in  his  support  of  the  princi- 
ples which  he  believes  best  calculated  to  subserve 
the  welfare  of  the  Government.  He  li.is  served  as 
Township  Trustee  for  eight  years  and  is  at  present 


Township  Assessor. .  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Grange,  of  which  he  has  been  Master,  is  now 
Ovei'seer,  and  was  a  lecturer  in  its  behalf  for  several 
years.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  has  filled 
all  the  chairs;  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
belonging  to  the  Post  at  Sidney;  the  Encampment 
of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  has  been  Junior  War- 
den; and  in  addition  is  a  member  of  the  Uniformed 
Rank  of  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  No. 
365.  at  Port  Jefferson. 


i^-^l 


,ps^  G.  GOODE,  M.  D.  A  deft  and  skillful 
disciple  of  Esculapius,  it  is  our  subject's 
pleasure,  as  well  as  his  means  of  livelihood, 
to  alleviate  the  snffering  of  the  sick.  Mr. 
Goode  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  having 
been  born  in  Champaign  Conntj-,  June  17,  1846. 
His  father,  Isaac  Goode,  is  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  was  born  in  1808.  His  mother,  Elizabeth 
(Rinaker)  Goode,  is  also  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  was  born  in  Page  County.  Soon  after  their 
marriage,  the  young  people  settled  in  Champaign 
County  upon  a  raw  farm,  and  with  a  faith  in  the 
future  characteristic  of  the  young  pioneers  who 
were  sustained  by  the  sj-mpathy  of  their  domestic 
ties,  they  set  to  work  energetically  to  overcome 
the  obstacles  and  establish  a  comfortable  home.  In 
connection  with  his  farming  operations,  Isaac 
Goode  was  an  important  stock-man  in  the  localitv. 
Both  are  still  living,  and  are  greatly  resi)ected  cit- 
izens of  the  community.  Of  the  seven  children 
that  came  to  gladden  their  home  in  the  raw  and 
uncultured  district,  five  are  still  living.  They  are 
both  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Jlr.  Goode, 
Sr.,  is  a  Democrat,  but  never  aspired  to  political 
office. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  child  in  order  of  birth 
of  his  father's  family.  Besides  himself,  the  young- 
est son  is  also  a  physician,  residing  and  practicing 
in  Anna,  Ohio.  S.  G.  Gi>ode  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  was  fourteen    \'ears  of  age. 


578 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOCRAPIIICAL   RECORD. 


He  then  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  common -school  ediic.ition  and  early 
began  teaching,  having  an  experience  of  fifteen 
years  in  that  profession.  In  1869,  he  began  read- 
ing medicine,  and  evcntualh-  became  a  student  iu 
the  Eclectic  Sledical  College  of  Cincinnati,  grad- 
uating in  the  Class  of  '80. 

Equipped  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  our 
subject  lost  no  time  in  offering  his  services  to  a 
suffering  public.  He  hung  out  his  shingle  at  St. 
Paris,  and  later  at  Pemberton.  He  settled  in  Port 
Jefferson  in  1885,  and  since  coming  here  has  built 
up  a  very  fine  practice,  employing  the  broad 
gauge  Eclectic  system.  January  3, 1867,  Mr.  Goode 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Am- 
nion, a  daughter  of  Isa.ac  Amnion  (deceased),  of 
Champaign  County,  a  prominent  man  and  leading 
politician  in  his  locality.  Mrs.  Goode  was  born  in 
the  year  1846,  and  reared  in  her  native  county. 
She  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Adda  Elen- 
dora,  and  Albert  Corey,  both  of  whom  have  re- 
ceived the  best  advantages  in  an  educational 
way.  Mrs.  Goode  is  an  active  member  and  worker 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Her  husband 
has  been  a  devoted  adherent  of  the  Democratic 
party  all  his  life,  but  has  given  his  attention 
chiefly  to  the  perfecting  of  his  own  calling.  He 
has  a  practice  within  a  radius  of  ten  miles,  and  in 
connection  with  his  medical  work  he  also  practices 
surge  r}'. 


<|  jfelLLIAM  M.  HALL.  One  of  the  energetic 
\/-\///  business  men  of  Sidney,  Shelby  County,  is 
V*/\p  he  whose  name  is  given  above.  He  is  a 
dealer  in  agricultural  implements,  also  carr\'ing  a 
fine  stock  of  buggies,  carriages,  etc.,  with  ware- 
rooms  at  Nos.  618  and  620  Main  Avenue,  near  Court 
Street,  where  he  has  been  in  business  since  1875, 
having  first  embarked  in  the  buggy  business  ex- 
clusiveh". 

Mr.  Hall  was  born  in  Concord  Townshi]).  Cham- 
paign   County,  Ohio,  May  11.  18.')8.     He  is  a  son 


of  Fleming  and  Elizabeth  (Riser)  Hall,  the  father 
being  a  native  of  Virginia  who  came  to  Champaign 
County  when  a  boy,  his  father,  Capt.  John  Hall,  be- 
ing one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  State.  The  latter 's 
title  was  acquired  in  the  War  of  1812,  in  which  he 
served.  They  were  farmers,  our  subject's  father 
devoting  himself  to  that  calling  in  Concord  until 
the  late  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixty-sixth 
Ohio  Infantry  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  AVinches- 
ter,  Va.  He  was  one  of  the  victims  of  the  Lynch- 
burg Prison.  In  connection  with  his  farming,  he 
carried  on  large  stock  dealings.  His  wife  was  born 
in  Clarke  Count}-  and  was  reared  in  Green  Town- 
ship, Shelby  County.  The}-  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  but  of  these  only  six  survive.  They  are: 
William  M.,  of  whom  we  write;  John,  David, 
George  A.,  F.  II.,  and  M.  H.  The  mother,  with 
three  of  her  children,  is  at  present  residing  in  Atchi- 
son Count}',  Mo.  The  boys  are  known  as  the  Hall 
Bros.,  and  are  prominent  dealers  in  agricultural 
implements,  stock,  and  farm  lands. 

William  M.  Hall  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  at  Urbana,  and  after  finishing  he  at  once 
engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  stock  business,  and 
later  became  proprietor  of  a  general  country  store 
until  1873,  when  he  became  interested  iu  the  busi- 
ness in  which  he  now  is.  He  served  gallantly 
in  the  war,  enlisting  first  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Ninety-second  Ohio  Infantry  on  one  year's 
call  and  serving  as  Orderly  of  Company  C.  He 
joined  the  company  February  24,  1865,  and  was 
mustered  out  September  7,  1865.  During  service, 
he  was  sent  to  the  Shenandoah  Vallej- Army,  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Duryea,  where  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war. 

Returning  to  his  father's  place,  our  subject  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business,  and  in  1878-79- 
80  he  filled  the  office  of  City  Marshal,  taking  this 
in  addition  to  his  legitimate  business,  to  which 
last  he  added  the  agricultural  implements  in  1880, 
in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  He  keeps 
three  men  constantly  on  the  road.  In  1886,  he 
secured  the  organization  of  tlie  Sidney  Buggy 
Company,  of  which  he  was  manager  until  1889, 
and  again  from  November,  1891,  until  the  present 
time.  This  company  was  organized  for  the  manu- 
facture of  light  vehicles  and  gives  employment  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


579 


from  twenty  to  thirty-five  skilled  workmen.  The 
firm  is  now  known  as  Fristoe,  Stew.irt  &.  Co.,  our 
subject  being  the  company,  the  otliers  his  sons-in- 
law. 

The  marriage  of  the  original  of  this  sketch  took 
pl.ace  April  23,  1861,  at  which  time  lie  was  united 
to  Miss  Mary  Woodard,  a  native  of  Clarke  County 
but  reared  in  Champaign,  and  a  daughter  of  James 
Woodard,  a  merchant  in  the  last-named  place. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mre.  Hall, 
one  of  whom,  a  boy,  died  when  two  yeare  old. 
UrettaE.  is  the  wife  of  W.  II.  Fnstoe;  Alice  J.  is  the 
wife  of  ly.  A.  Stewart;  Siirjih  Ellla  married  C.  W. 
Kiser,  of  Piqua,  this  State,  and  a  de.aler  in  agricul- 
tural implements;  Anna  F.  is  still  at  home.  Mr. 
Hall  owns  a  fine  property  and  an  attractive  and 
commodious  residence.  No  man  is  better  known 
in  this  part  of  the  State  than  the  original  of  this 
sketch.  He  has  traveled  time  and  again  through 
these  counties  and  is  as  well  liked  as  he  is  respected. 


1843 


R.  FRANK  M.  GALER,  who  is  a  prominent 
physician,  and  the  oldest  of  De  Graff, 
Logan  Countv,  Ohio,  w.as  born  in  Licking 
County  of  that  State  on  the  25th  of  July, 
His  paternal  great-grandfather  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  when  a  3oung  man  came  to  Amer- 
ica to  escape  the  conscript  law.  He  first  settled  in 
the  city  of  Brotherly  Love,  where  he  soon  after 
met  and  married  his  wife,  who  was  also  a  native 
German.  He  followed  farming  in  Pennsylvania  un- 
til about  1800,  when  he  came  down  the  Ohio  River 
to  Marietta  and  thence  to  Licking  Countv,  settling 
near  Newark,  where  he  passed  the  closing  scenes 
of  his  life.  His  death  occurred  in  the  year  1825, 
when  eighty-two  years  of  age. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Andrew  Galer, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1775,  and  it  is  sup- 
posed that  he  stopped  a  short  time  in  Marietta 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  a  little 
later   he  resided  on  the  Muskingum  River,  north 


of  there.  He  was  married  in  this  State  in  the  year 
1800,  to  Miss  Ruth  Allen,  a  native  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, who  moved  with  her  parents  to  Ohio.  Mr. 
G.iler  afterward  settled  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
followed  farming,  and  there  reared  eleven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  married,  but  only  three  are  now 
living.  He  and  his  young  wife  began  housekeep- 
ing in  a  log  cabin  in  the  woods,  and  the  fortitude 
and  pluck  displayed  by  this  ambitious  couple  in 
struggling  through  the  adversities  of  pioneer  life 
and  coming  out  victorious  won  for  them  the  ad- 
miration and  respect  of  all.  There  he  and  his 
faithful  companion  passed  their  last  days. 

Perry  J.  Galer,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  September  6,  1815,  and 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Licking  Countj-, 
where  he  now  makes  his  home.  He  p.assed  his 
youth  and  received  his  education  in  that  countv, 
attending  the  pioneer  log  school  with  all  its  rude 
contrivances,  and,  .as  he  w.as  an  excellent  speller, 
every  spelling-mateli  received  much  attention  from 
him.  He  taught  sixteen  terms  of  school,  princi- 
pally during  the  winter  months,  and  w.as  consid- 
ered a  very  successful  educator  and  disciplinarian. 
He  was  thrice  married,  and  after  the  death  of  his 
second  wife,  he  went  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he 
had  charge  of  a  large  planing  est,ablishment  when 
the  war  broke  out.  He  was  obliged  to  leave  that 
city  on  account  of  his  Northeni  views,  .and  he  af- 
terward eng.aged  in  merchandising  at  Eden,  Dela- 
ware County-,  Ohio,  continuing  there  until  1868, 
when  he  came  to  DeGraff  and  embarked  in  the  drug 
business.  This  he  carried  on  until  1886,  since 
which  time  he  has  retired  from  the  active  duties  of 
life.  He  h.as  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres 
in  Pleasant  Township,  this  county,  and  is  one  of 
the  esteemed  and  honored  men  of  the  countv. 

Our  subject's  mother  w.as  Laura  P.  Pratt,  a  na- 
tive of  Licking  County,  Ohio,  bom  in  1820, 
and  she  had  two  children,  Mary  E.  and  our 
subject.  The  former  first  married  Dr.  W.  W. 
Fountaine,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  who  died  in  1872, 
and  later  she  married  E.  C.  AVilson,of  DeGraff,and 
now  resides  at  Goshen,  Ind.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  in  March,  1811.  The  father's  second 
marriage  was  with  Miss  Prudence  P.  Jordon,  of 
Lickinir  Countv.  Ohio,  and  the  one  child  born  to 


580 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


this  union  died  in  infancy.  Three  years  later, 
Mrs.  Galer  passed  away.  Mr.  Galer's  third  mar- 
ri.age  was  to  Mrs.  Jane  Baxter,  of  Ashley,  Delaware 
County,  Ohio,  and  they  have  two  children,  Carrie, 
a  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  and  Robert  S. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Maj. 
Benjamin  Pratt,  w.as  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  came 
to  Ohio  in  1815,  settling  in  Granville,  Licking 
County.  He  was  a  Major  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  being 
quite  a  mechanical  genius.  He  died  at  Coldwater, 
Slich.,  when  eighty -seven  years  of  age.  The  great 
grandfather  on  this  side,  Ebeneezer  Pratt,  was  also 
born  in  Vermont,  but  settled  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  in  1815.  He  was  a  farmer  of  that  county, 
and  died  when  over  ninety  years  of  age.  His  wife 
was  Prudence  Whipple,  who  also  lived  to  be  over 
ninety'  years  of  age. 

The  earlj'  scholastic  training  of  our  subject  was 
received  in  the  public  schools  at  Columbus  and  in 
the  district  schools  of  Delaware  County.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  he  entered  the  Weslej'an  Uni- 
versity at  Delaware,  remained  there  two  years  and 
only  lacked  one  term  of  graduating  in  the  scientific 
course  when  he  left  school.  In  1861,  he  began 
reading  medicine  under  Dr.  R.  S.  Gilcrist,  and  dur- 
ing 1863  and  1864,  he  took  a  course  in  the  Starling 
Medical  College  of  Columbus.  After  this,  he 
practiced  for  two  years  at  Eden,  Delaware  County, 
Ohio,  and  afterward  spent  one  year  reading  under 
Dr.  Hamilton,  of  Columbus.  Later,  he  completed 
his  medical  studies  and  graduated  in  the  spring 
of  1867. 

After  this  he  came  to  DeGraff,  and  has  had  a 
large  and  paying  jnactice  ever  since.  During  bis 
long  years  of  practice  here,  he  has  proved  himself 
to  be  a  physician  of  ability,  his  practice  being  very 
large  and  among  the  best  class  of  citizens.  He 
was  married  on  the  31st  of  May,  1871,  to  Miss 
Joanna  Loofbourrow,  a  native  of  Delaware  County, 
Ohio,  bora  Jlarch  23,  1842,  and  two  interesting 
children  have  resulted  from  this  union,  Bessie  A. 
and  Nellie  G.  The  Doctor  has  been  very  success- 
ful, and  aside  from  his  extensive  practice  is  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  of  land  in 
Pleasant  Township.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  Pres- 
ident of  the  Citizens'  Bank  in  DeGraff,  and   owns 


considerable  town  property,  including  his  fine  resi- 
dence. He  is  a  member  of  the  National,  State  and 
County  Medical  Associations,  and  also  a  member 
of  the  Afasonic  fraternity,  of  which  he  has  taken 
the  Thirty -second  Degree. 


i>^^<p 


jy,EV.  WILLIAM  W.  LANCE,  A.  B.  The 
pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
\V  of  Sidney,  whose  name  is  given  above 
'^Ibegan  his  duties  here  in  1890,  coming  to 
the  town  in  the  month  of  October.  Before  giving 
a  personal  sketch  of  our  subject,  it  is  fitting  that  a 
few  words  should  be  said  in  regard  to  the  charge 
which  Mr.  Lance  now  has,  and  in  doing  so  we 
quote  largely  from  a  leaflet,  published  in  Sidney: 
"Methodism  in  Sidney  began  in  the  year  1825,  at 
which  time  the  first  Methodist  sermon  was  preached 
in  the  house  of  Joel  Frankenberger,  by  the  Rev. 
Levi  White.  Sidney  was  then  a  part  of  the  Belle- 
fontaine  circuit,  which  extended  from  Sidney  to 
Bellefontaine,  and  thence  to  West  Liberty  and 
Westville,  and  all  included  territory. 

"  The  first  Presiding  Elder  was  the  Rev.  David 
Young,  and  in  1831  the  first  Methodist  Church 
was  erected  in  Sidney.  Seven  years  later,  it  was 
replaced  by  a  more  commodious  building,  which 
remained  in  use  until  the  building  of  the  present 
structure  in  1867.  In  1834,  Sidney  was  made  the 
head  of  the  circuit,  and  so  remained  until  1843, 
when  it  became  a  station,  and  soon  took  rank 
among  the  first  in  the  county. 

"  The  present  beautiful  home  of  the  pastor,  sit- 
uated on  the  corner  of  Poplar  Street  and  Miami 
Avenue,  was  built  in  1887,  and  now,  when  the 
church  building  is  remodeled  a  little,  Sidney  will 
have  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  valuable  and  con- 
venient church  properties  in  the  Conference.  Sid- 
ney h.as  been  the  seat  of  the  Annual  Conference 
on  three  different  occasions — once  in  1847,  with 
Bishop  Janes  presiding;  .again  in  1874,  with  Bishop 
Andrews  in  the  chair,  and  also  in  1882,  under  the 
presidency  of  Bishop  Warren. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


581 


"The  membership  of  the  Sidney  Church  has 
grown  steadily  from  eight  to  five  hundred,  and  she 
has  already  sent  out  many  to  work  in  other  fields, 
both  as  laymen  and  miuistei'S.  Standing  shoulder 
to  shoulder  with  the  other  Evangelical  churches  of 
the  cit}-,  she  will  continue  at  her  post  as  a  guardian 
of  the  faith,  and  a  propagator  of  morality  and 
pure  and  undefiled  religion." 

Returning  to  our  subject,  we  find  that  the  Rev. 
William  Lance  was  born  in  York,  Pa.,  May  28,  1846. 
He  is  a  son  of  Blichael  Scott  and  Eva  M.  (Wolf) 
Lance.  The  father  was  a  tanner  and  currier  by 
trade.  He  w,a3  born  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  while 
his  parents  were  on  their  way  hither.  The  original 
name  of  the  family  was  Laurens,  our  subject's 
grandfather  having  been  oneof  Napoleon's  stanch 
supporters.  Banished  to  America  on  the  deposi- 
tion of  the  Emperor,  he  settled  ou  a  tract  of  land 
adjoining  West  Point  Acadeui}'.  He  was  there  ac- 
cidentally killed  by  falling  out  of  a  tree,  while 
gathering  nuts  for  children.  His  estate  was  settled 
bj'  his  private  secretary',  who  bound  out  his  chil- 
dren under  different  names.  He,  himself,  pocketed 
the  proceeds  from  the  sale  (  f  the  estate  and  re- 
turned to  France. 

Our  subject's  father,  who  was  given  the  name  of 
Lance,  was  bound  out  to  a  Mr.  Bryson,  a  tanner 
of  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Under  him  he  learned  the  tan- 
ner's trade, and  was  employed  in  thatforthe  remain- 
der of  his  life.  He  came  to  the  West  about  1850, 
and  located  in  Spring  Hill,  Ohio,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  tannery  and  alsoa  patent-leather  factory. 
He  died  in  the  spring  of  1866  at  Columbus.  His 
wife  had  p.assed  away  in  the  fall  of  1859, leavinga 
family  of  live  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows: 
William  W.,  Sarah  E.,  Shields  D.,  George  W.,  and 
Wilhelmina;  our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  the  famil}'. 
Sarah  is  now  the  widow  of  Edward  Hampshire. 
Shields  is  at  present  engaged  wiLli  the  Pioneer 
Buggy  Company,  of  Columbus,  this  State.  George 
W.  is  a  passenger  conductor  on  the  Big  Four  Road. 
The  youngest  child  died  about  four  years  after  the 
death  of  her  mother.  In  early  da3-s  both  parents 
were  Lutherans,  but  after  coming  West  they  be- 
came members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

ilr.  Lance  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University    in    1871,    with    the  degree   of    A.  B., 


later  adding  the  MastSr's  degree.  After  finishing 
his  university  course,  he  at  once  entered  the  min- 
istry, having  prepared  himself  previously  b^-  an 
extended  course  of  theological  study.  His  first 
charge  was  in  the  town  of  Prospect,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  and  after  a  pastorate  of  nine- 
teen years,  in  several  different  pl.aces,  he  is  now 
serving  his  second  year  in  Sidney'.  His  ministra- 
tions since  coming  to  this  place  have  been  blessed, 
and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  members  have 
been  added  to  the  church. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Lance  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Anna  Howard,  of  Delaware,  Ohio,  October  9, 
1871.  She  was  a  daughter  of  George  N.  Howard, 
who  had  moved  from  Columbus  to  the  place  where 
their  daughter  was  married.  Mr.  and  Mi-s.  Lance 
are  the  parents  of  five  children,  whose  names  are 
as  follows:  Hoyt  JI.,  R.ay  McCabe,  May  Alcott, 
Winifred  Waters  and  Ralph  J^dmund.  The  eldest 
son  is  now  a  student  in  the  High  School.  Our 
subject  has  been  a  member  of  the  Central  Ohio 
Conference  since  entering  his  chosen  work.  Fra- 
ternally, he  belongs  to  tlie  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  also  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 


-^^^^i 


j^r^i"^ 


/i^  HARLES  F.  YAGER.  In  listing  a  review 
(l(  _  of  the  enterprises  of  Sidney, attention  should 
^^/  be  called  to  the  firm  of  Yager  i  Smith,  man- 
ufacturers of  buggies,  carri.agos,  wagons,  etc.  This 
is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  complete  establish- 
ments in  the  county  and  the  firm  caters  to  the  best 
class  of  trade  only.  Mr.  Y,ager  is  a  native  of 
Indiana,  born  in  Middlebury,  Elkhart  County, 
on  the  2d  of  October,  1849,  and  the  son  of  Clark 
and  Margaret  E.  (Thomas)  Yager,  natives  respec- 
tively of  Ohio  and  Maryland.  The  father  was  a 
miller  by  trade  and  followed  milling  in  his  native 
State  until  a  young  man,  when  he  decided  to  settle 
in  Pinua.  He  located  in  Piijua.  but  after  a  short 
residence  there,  he  moved  to  Indiana  and  was  mar- 
ried  in    Miami    Countv,   of    that    State,    to    Miss 


582 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Thomas.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1862,  the  family 
moved  to  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  settled  in  Sidney, 
and  here  Mr.  Yager  was  engaged  in  milling  until 
about  1889,  wlien  he  moved  to  Springfield,  and 
there  resided  until  his  death.  The  following  is  from 
a  local  paper  in  regard  to  that  occurrence: 

DEATH  OF  CL.A.I!K  YAGKU. 

Clark  Yager,  for  many  years  a  resident  of  this 
county  and  known  to  a  great  number  of  inhabit- 
ants, died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  in  Spring- 
field, Wednesday  afternoon,  after  a  montli's  illness. 
He  was  boru  iu  Knox  County,  September  22, 1822, 
his  parents  moving  to  Butler  County  a  few  years 
later,  where  he  learned  the  milling  trade.  This 
was  his  chosen  work  and  he  ever  afterward  followed 
it,  working  in  Indiana,  INIichigan  and  different 
points  in  Ohio.  He  finally  found  his  w.ay  to  Sid- 
ney, where  he  took  charge  of  the  Walker  Mill  in 
1862.  Here  he  spent  the  remainderof  his  working 
days,  becoming  complete  ownerof  themillin  1879. 
In"  18-14,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Thomas. 
From  this  marriage  there  were  born  five  children, 
four  of  whom — George,  of  Fostoria;  Mrs.  W.  C. 
Powell,  of  Springfield;  Charles  and  Mrs.  H.  "W. 
Thompson,  of  this  place — with  his  wife  are  left  to 
mourn  his  loss.  Mr.  Yager  was  an  agreeable  man, 
well  liked  by  the  many  friends  he  m.ade  duringthe 
long  time  he  was  in  business  m  our  midst.  Last 
December  he  went  to  Springfield,  where  he  had 
been  living  with  his  daughter.  At  the  time  the 
cyclone  sw^ept  over  Springfield,  he  was  feeling  un- 
well, but  despite  that  tact  he  went  out  to  see  the 
damage  which  had  been  done.  He  over-exerted 
himself,  and  grew  gradually  woi-se  until  1  o'clock 
yesterday  afternoon,  when  he  passed  peacefully 
away.  The  remains  will  be  brought  here  and  the 
funeral  will  take  place  from  the  home  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  H.  W.  Thompson,  at  10  o'clock  to-mor- 
row morning. 

The  original  of  this  notice  finished  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Sidney,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
body-making  in  the  carriage  manufactory  of  H. 
Miller,  with  whom  he  remained  for  twenty- 
two  years.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  Sidney 
Buggy  Company,  he  engaged  with  them  and  there 
continued  for  two  years,  when  he  established  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Mr.  Smith,  his  partner,  was  with 
the  same  firm  for  seventeen  years.  They  estab- 
lished their  shop  on  Court  Street,  and  have  a 
frontage  of  eighty  feet,  including  warcrooms, 
wood-working  shop,  turning  shop  and  paint  shop. 
Thev  are  doing  a  heavy  line  of  new  work  and  also 


have  a  good  run  of  repairing,  doing  the  leading 
business  in  the  town.  The  membei-s  of  this  firm 
give  the  business  their  entire  attention,  and  their 
name  on  a  buggy  is  sufficient  guarantee  that  it  is 
well  made.  Their  r.ating  in  commercial  circles  is 
of  the  most  exemplary  character,  as  is  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  them  by  all  with  whom  they  have 
business  transactions.  By  able  and  popular  man- 
agement, this  firm  has  secured  a  prosperous  business 
and  won  a  position  among  the  foremost  exponents 
of  this  industry. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1870,  Mr.  ITager  mar- 
ried Miss  Nannie  L.  Y'inger,  a  native  of  Sidney, 
and  the  daughter  of  Leonard  Y'inger.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  given  to  them  by  this  union, 
and  are  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  Fred  C,  and  Lizzie, 
who  died  when  two  years  old.  By  industry 
and  superior  business  acumen,  Mr.  Y''ager  has  ac- 
cnraulated  all  his  property,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  the  city.  He  has  a  good  frame 
residence  on  Franklin  Street,  and  is  in  very  com- 
fortable circumstances  indeed.  He  is  a  member  of 
Temperance  Lodge  No.  73,  A. F.  &  A.M., of  which 
he  is  Junior  Warden. 


aOL.  C.  A.  LAYTON,  Prosecuting  Attorney 
^  of  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  was  born  in  this 
''  County  on  the  5th  of  May,  1853,  and  is  a 
son  of  W.  V.  M.  and  Sarah  E.  (Whitney)  Lay  ton, 
the  father  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  mother  of  New 
York.  The  mother  is  a  relative  of  ex-Secretary 
Whitney,  of  New  York  City.  Great-grandfather 
Whitney  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  our  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Layton,  was  a  successful  agriculturist.  The  latter 
emigrated  from  New  Jersey  at  an  early  date  and 
made  a  settlement  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  among  the  earliest  pioneers.  Later,  he  set- 
tled in  Auglaize  County,  .and  there  received  his 
final  sumnKMis. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  W.  V.  M.  Layton,  w.as 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


583 


a  noted  lawyer  in  his  day  and  practiced  his  profes- 
sion in  Wapakoneta  from  1856  to  1879,  when  his 
death  occurred.  He  was  one  of  the  ablest  men,  best 
lawyers  and  strongest  reasonere  in  the  community. 
He  was  original  in  thought,  precise  in  logic,  terse 
in  statement,  yet,  withal,  faultless  in  elo<iuence, 
and  a  brilliant  orator  of  his  da\-.  lie  was  Prose- 
cuting Attorney  of  Auglaize  County,  Mayor  of 
AVapakoneta  and  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1872-73.  He  also  held  numerous 
minor  offices.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children, 
six  sons  .and  three  daughters,  and  was  three  times 
married. 

Col.  C.  A.  L.ayton.  the  eldest  child  by  the  sec- 
ond marriage,  is  a  faithful  representative  of  his 
illustrious  sire  and  h.as  inherited  man_v  of  his  most 
estimable  qualities.  He  was  reared  in  Wapakoneta 
and  his  education  w.os  obtained  in  the  common 
scliools.  AVhen  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  beg.in  the 
study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1874, 
when  tweuty-one  j-ears  of  age.  After  practicing 
one  year,  his  health  failed  and  he  was  obliged  to 
give  up  Ills  profession  for  the  time  at  least.  The 
trouble  Lay  in  his  lungs,  and  he  went  West,  where 
he  remained  four  years  roughing  it.  He  w.as  en- 
gaged in  various  occupations,  worked  at  anything 
he  could,  and  was  in  Montana,  Colorado  and 
ever\'  Western  State  or  Territory  between  this  and 
tlie  Pacific  Coast.  For  two  years  he  was  with  the 
Fairbanks  Scale  Company  and  traveled  extensively. 
While  West,  he  did  not  fail  to  improve  the  oppor- 
tunity of  digging  for  gold,  and  was  at  Leadville, 
Gunnison  and  San  Juan  County  and  many  other 
points  in  the  mining  district.  He  prospected  at 
Leadville  and  the  Black  Hills  .and  had  some  thrill- 
ing experiences  in  both  places.  During  the  j-ear 
1880,  he  returned  to  his  native  State,  cured  of  his 
ailment,  and  h.asbeen  strong  and  hearty  ever  since, 
weighing  at  the  present  time  two  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  build  and 
phj-sique.  While  in  the  West,  lie  was  compelled  to 
remain  sis  weeks  in  Ouray,  Colo.,  on  account  of 
the  war  with  the  Indians. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1880,  he  hung  out  his 
shingle  again  in  Wapakoneta  and  has  since  prac- 
ticed his  profession  with  marked  success.  He  was 
elected  Prosecuting  Attornev  in  Octolier,  1882.  and 


has  held  the  office  continuously  ever  since.  This 
is  a  record  that  very  few  can  boast  of.  The  Colo- 
nel w.as  elected  City  Solicitor  in  April,  1883,  and 
has  held  the  office  without  interruption  up  to  the 
present  time,  having  been  re-elected  five  times.  In 
January,  1884,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Hoadley 
aid-de-camp  on  the  military  staff,  with  the  rank  of 
Colonel  and  served  in  that  oap.acity  during  the  Gov- 
ernor's term.  While  thus  serving,  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  court  of  inquiry  and  court-marshal 
held  at  D.aylon  upon  certain  officei-s  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment  for  cowardice  during  the  Cincinnati  riot. 
He  was  also  selected  by  Gov.  Hoadley  as  the  State 
Representative  at  the  dedication  of  Washington's 
monument,  on  the  22d  of  February,  1885.  He  has 
been  Chairman  of  Auglaize  County  Democratic 
Committee  several  times  and  w.as  ofl'ered  a  position 
on  Gov.  Campbell's  staff,  which  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept. 

Col.  Layton  selected  his  life  companion  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Kittie  L.  Green,  of  Titusville,  Pa., 
and  one  daughter  h.as  been  born  to  this  union, 
Marguerite  Koneta.  Mrs.  Layton  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  and  an  accomplished  and  re- 
fined lady.  Soci.ally,  the  Colonel  is  a  member  of 
the  Kniglits  of  Pythias,  and  the  Elks. 


^  OSEPH  C.  BRAND,  Jr.  The  Logan  County 
Index,  of  which  this  gentleman  is  proprietor 
and  publislier  in  company  with  W.  S.  Roe- 
buck, whose  sketch  also  appears  in  this  vol- 
ume, is  justly  considered  one  of  the  brightest  and 
most  sparkling  local  papei-s  of  this  county.  It  is 
an  eight^page  folio  and  chronicles  the  latest  and 
most  interesting  happenings  in  the  social,  business 
and  political  world.  Since  it  came  into  the  hands 
of  the  present  firm,  it  has  grown  rapidly  in  influ- 
ence, and  is  now  a  welcome  guest  in  many  homes, 
while  as  an  advertising  medium  it  enjoys  an  es- 
tablished reputation. 

A  native  of  this  State,  our  subject  was  born  in 
Champaign  County,  Dceemlicr   11,   IM.'l'.l.  and  is  a 


584 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


son  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  C.  and  Lavinia  (Talbott) 
Brand,  natives  respectively  of  Bourbon  County, 
Ky.,  and  Shepherdstown,  Va.  The  ancestors  of  our 
subject  on  both  sides  of  the  house  were  soldiers  in 
the  AVar  of  1812,  the  Brand  family  being  of  Scotch 
origin,  while  the  Talbotts  wore  of  English  stock. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
Methodist  minister  and  served  as  Clerk  of  Lewis 
County  (Va.)  Court  for  about  twenty  years,  and 
died  in  that  county  while  the  incumbent  of  that 
position. 

The  Hon.  Joseph  C.  Brand  has  been  very  promi- 
nent in  local  affairs,  and  was  a  farmer  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life,  however,  as  a  general  merchant,  and  located 
in  Champaign  Count)',  this  State,  in  1832,  when  a 
young  man.  He  re])resented  his  county  in  both 
branches  of  the  Legislature,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
late  war,  and  was  Consul  to  Nuremburg,  Germany, 
during  Grant's  administration.  After  his  return 
to  the  United  States,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
city  of  Urbana,  this  State,  for  three  successive 
terms. 

Tlie  original  of  this  sketch  is  the  fourth  child  in 
the  parental  family  of  nine,  and  was  reared  in  L^r- 
bana,  where  he  was  given  an  excellent  education 
in  the  common  schools,  and  later  in  the  Urbana 
Universitj'.  After  completing  his  education,  he 
was  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  later  in  book- 
keeping for  about  twenty-two  \-ears.  He  has  served 
in  man}'  public  positions,  and  has  been  Deputy 
Internal  Revenue  Collector,  and_  was  Chief  Deputy 
of  the  old  Fort  District  for  a  period  of  sixteen 
years. 

In  1885,  Mr.  Brand  purchased  a  one-half  inter- 
est in  the  Logan  County  Index,  and  has  charge  of 
the  editorial  department.  Although  not  a  practi- 
cal printer,  he  is  a  gentleman  well  qualified  to  fill 
tlie  position  which  he  occupies,  and  his  paper  now 
enjoys  a  wide-spread  reputation.  He  is  Secretarj- 
of  the  Citizens'  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
which  was  the  first  company  organized  on  the  per- 
petual plan  in  Bellefontaine,  and  is  the  largest  in 
the  county.  IMr.  Brand  was  also  a  member  of  the 
City  Council,  and  in  Masonic  circles  occupies  a 
high  place. 

He   of  whom   we   write  was  married  in  1861  to 


Miss  Sarah  R.  Pearson,  by  whom  he  became  the 
father  of  two  children,  John  P.  Brand  and  Mrs. 
Lena  B.  Colton.  On  the  death  of  his  wife,  he 
chose  for  his  second  companion  Mrs.  Anna  E. 
Taylor,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  No- 
vember 20,  1890.  They  are  both  influential  mem- 
bers of  the  aiethodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  at 
their  hospitable  home  are  wont  to  entertain  their 
many  friends. 


■i-^m-i- 


/^EN.  JAMES  O.  AMOS,  one  of  the  foremost 
111  '^  ™^^  '"  Shelby  County,  has  added  to 
^^ill  the  long  list  of  his  distinguished  ancestors 
one  more  honorable  name.  Gen.  Amos  has  the 
satisfaction,  a  rare  one  among  Americans,  of  being 
able  to  trace  back  his  ancestry  to  the  settlement  of 
SLaryland  under  Lord  Baltimore  in  1629.  Our 
subject  was  himself  born  near  Beallsville,  Ohio, 
March  30,  1833.  lie  was  reared  ou  the  home  farm, 
receiving  such  training  as  the  locality  at  that  time 
offered  its  youth.  From  the  age  of  eighteen  until 
he  was  twenty-seven.  Gen.  Amos  divided  his  time 
impartially  between  teaching  and  farming,  He 
himself  had,  after  finishing  the  public  schools, 
spent  one  year  in  an  academy  and  thereafter  prose- 
cuted his  studies  at  home. 

Having  conceived  the  idea  of  becoming  a  lawyer, 
our  subject  procured  the  necessary  books  and 
prosecuted  his  studies  at  home.  To  such  purpose 
did  he  read  law  that  he  was  admitted  to  practice 
at  the  Bar  in  1859.  In  1861,  he  w.as  elected  Prose- 
cuting Attorney  of  Monroe  County,  and  in  1863 
received  the  compliment  of  a  re-election.  From 
1860  until  1870,  our  subject  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  School  Examiners,  and  in  1869  received 
the  honor  of  an  election  to  the  Senate.  He  was 
again  re-elected  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  in 
1874  Gov.  Allen  appointed  him  as  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral of  Ohio,  which  position  he  held  for  two  yeai-s. 
On  being  re-elected  in  1863,  the  present  system 
of  militia  was  established,  and  Gen.  Amos  had 
the  settlement  of    the   Ordnance   Act  between  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


585 


State  of  Ohio  and  the  United  States  Government. 
During  hisincumbency  of  the  position  of  Adjutant- 
General,  our  subject  secured  the  exchange  of  the 
old  condemned  arms  for  the  new  improvements 
now  used  by  the  State.  On  tlie  close  of  his  tenure 
of  office,  he  embarked  in  the  newspaper  business. 
He  canie  to  Sidney  in  1876,  and  soon  after  pur- 
chased the  Shelby  County  Democrat,  of  which  he 
is  still  proprietor  and  editor. 

Gen.  Amos  is  a  m.an  of  distinguished  ability, 
whose  liberal  views  are  in  accordance  with  his 
broad  culture.  Since  assuming  the  editoi'ship  of 
tlie  paper,  he  has  greatly  elevated  its  tone, 
bringing  into  it  besides  a  purer  political  atmos- 
phere. 

Gen.  Amos  w.ts  married  September  9,  1856,  his 
bride  being  Miss  I\aucy  J.  Craig.  They  have 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  whose  names  are: 
Emma,  Delia  E.,  Clara  E.,  Kate  J.,  William  T., 
Ernest  V.,  Howard  Allen  and  Frank  Beeman. 
The  eldest  daughter  is  the  wife  of  M.  C.  Pegg. 
Delia  is  connected  with  her  father  on  the  paper. 


jI^^^AVID  K.  GILI;ESPIE,  a  prominent  grain 
I  Jlj  dealer  in  Kirkwood,  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  is 
1}^^  one  of  the  substantial  and  successful  business 
men  of  the  place.  He  is  well  known  for  his  hon- 
esty and  uprightness  and  for  his  sterling  integrity 
and  excellent  business  acumen.  He  first  saw  the 
light  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  November  29,1821, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  GJillespie,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1783,  and  the  grandson  of  George 
Gillespie,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  and  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent. 

The  grandfather  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
about  1740,  located  in  the  Keystone  State,  and  was 
there  married  to  Jliss  Jane  Allen,  who  bore  him 
ten  children.  About  1795,  he  removed  to  Butler 
County,  Ohio,  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  dying  in  1823.  His  eldest  son  entered 
the  Revolutionary  War  as  a  substitute  for  his  fa- 
ther and  was  wounded.     Mr.  Gillespie  was  one  of 


the  very  first  settlers. of  Butler  Count}-,  and  Ind- 
ians and  wild  animals  were  numerous. 

William  Gillespie,  the  youngest  of  the  ten  chil- 
dren mentioned  above  and  the  fatlier  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  about  t%velvc  years  of  age  when  he  came 
to  Ohio.  The  family  came  down  the  Ohio  River 
on  a  flat-boat  to  where  Cincinnati  now  stands,  and 
had  to  be  very  watchful  lor  fear  of  being  captured 
by  the  Indians.  Mr.  Gillespie  had  very  limited 
educational  advantages,  for  he  spent  most  of  the 
time  in  clearing  the  farm  and  making  possible  the 
pleasant  homes  of  to-day.  In  1816,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Kimmens,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
whose  parents  emigrated  from  there  to  Ohio  when 
she  was  a  little  child.  She  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent. 

In  1838,  Mr.  Gillespie  removed  to  Shelby 
County,  settled  in  Washington  Township  at  an 
early  date,  bought  land  in  the  woods  and  began 
his  career  .as  a  pioneer.  He  built  a  log  cabin  with 
clapboard  roof,  and  as  wild  g.ame  w.as  still  quite 
plentiful,  his  table  was  always  supplied  with  meat, 
although  he  cared  verj-  little  for  hunting.  The 
country  did  not  agree  with  the  familv,  for  nearlj- 
all  fell  ill,  and  as  his  means  were  limited,  Mr.  Gil- 
lespie saw  some  hard  times,  losing  a  whole  year's 
crop  on  account  of  sickness.  They  raised,  spun 
and  made  their  own  clothing,  and  as.  the  children 
grew  up  around  them,  easier  times  appeared.  Mr. 
Giillespie  died  in  1862,  at  the  age  of  eight}'  years, 
and  his  widow  followed  him  to  the  grave  in  1872, 
when  seventy-three  years  of  age.  He  served  in 
the  War  of  1812  and  held  the  rank  of  Orderly  Ser- 
geant During  his  residence  in  Shelby  County, 
Mr.  Gillespie  served  as  Trustee  of  his  township 
and  was  active  in  all  enterprises  for  the  good  of 
the  count}'.  He  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  and  was  an  earnest  worker 
in  the  same,  as  was  also  the  mother. 

Four  of  the  eleven  children  born  to  Jlr.  and 
Mrs.  Ciillespie  are  still  living  and  our  subject  is 
the  third  in  order  of  birth.  After  fifteen  years  of 
age,  all  his  schooling  was  received  at  home,  a 
neighlx)r's  family  and  the  Gillespie  family  joining 
together  and  having  school  at  night  In  that  way, 
our  subject  received  his  schooling,  and  although 
in  later  yeai-s  he  assisted  in  building  a  log  school- 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRArmCAL  RECORD. 


house  he  never  attended.  It  must  not  be  supposed 
that  Mr.  Gillespie  has  not  improved  his  early  edu- 
tional  advantages,  for  he  has  been  a  student  all 
his  life,  and  being  a  man  of  observation  and  good 
common-sense,  he  is,  perhaps,  as  well  posted  as  many 
men  who  have  bad  much  better  facilities  for  an 
education.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
and  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the  home  place 
until  twenty-eight  j-ears  of  age. 

In  1850,  he  embarked  in  the  grain  business  at 
Lookington  with  a  capital  of  $600,  bought  and 
shipped  grain  by  canal  to  Cincinnati  and  Toledo, 
and  continued  thus  engaged  for  fourteen  years, 
being  very  successful.  In  1864,  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  four  hundred  acres  three  miles  north  of 
Piqua,  in  Mi.ami  Connty,  and  tilled  the  soil  for 
fourteen  yeai-s,  making  a  decided  success  as  an 
agriculturist.  In  the  fall  of  1877,  he  located  at 
Kirkwood,  Shelby  County,  and  again  engaged  in 
the  grain  business,  which  he  has  now  been  carrying 
on  for  fourteen  years.  He  handles  a  great  deal  of 
grain  and  is  doing  a  flourishing  business. 

The  original  of  this  notice  w.as  first  married  in 
1851  to  Miss  Martha  McKee,  a  native  of  Washing- 
ton, this  county.  Her  parents  were  originally  from 
Pennsylvania  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  This 
union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children,  both 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Gillespie  died  in 
1854,  and  in  1856  Mr.  Gillespie  took  for  his  second 
wife  Jliss  Maria  JIcKee,  a  cousin  of  his  first  wife. 
S!ie  died  in  1875,  leaving  eight  children:  William 
H.,  engaged  in  the  grain  business  in  Lockington; 
James  M.,  educated  at  Jlonmouth  (111.)  College,  and 
a  graduate  of  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  lo- 
cated at  Welda,  Anderson  County,  Kan.,  and  died  at 
Monmouth,  111.,  in  1886,  one  week  after  marriage; 
Lee  AV.  married  and  is  now  in  business  at  Kirk- 
wood with  his  father.  The  latter  attended  college 
at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  is  a  wide-aw.Tke,  prosperous 
young  business  man.  Jennie  L.  (deceased);  Annie 
S.,  at  home;  David  K.  and  ^Mattie  (deceased);  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  third  marriage  of  our  subject  occurred  in 
1878  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  McKnight,  a  native  of  this 
county  and  a  cousin  of  his  second  wife.  Mr.  Gilles- 
pie is  a  Democrat  in  politics  but  is  a  strong  Prohi- 
bitionist and  lias  voted  that  ticket  for  twenty  years. 


He  voted  that  ticket  in  Shelby  County  before  any- 
one else  voted  it  and  has  ever  been  active  in  pol- 
itics. He  has  held  various  township  othces  and 
was  elected  Commissioner  of  Shelby  County  in 
1860,  and  re-elected  in  1863.  He  has  represented 
the  Prohibition  party  repeatedly  in  county,  district 
and  State  conventions.  He  .and  Mrs.  Gillespie  are 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
he  has  been  a  mcmljer  since  twenty-three  years  of 
age  and  Elder  since  1859.  He  owns  sixty-five  lota 
in  Welda,  Kan.,  also  owns  warehouse,  residence  and 
lots  in  Lockington,  a  corn  and  wheat  elevator  in 
Kirkwood  .and  a  house  and  lot  there.  Kirkwood 
Station  w.as  named  in  his  honor,  it  being  his  second 
name.  He  is  a  self-made  man  in  every  sense  of  that 
term  and  what  he  has  accumulated  is  the  result  of 
his  own  industry. 


IMEON  MAXSON.  Mr.  Maxson  is  one  of 
the  large  farmers  of  Jackson  Township, 
Shelby  County.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  D. 
and  Electa  (Wells)  Maxson.  The  former 
was  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  and  was  born  in 
1803,  a  son  of  Simeon  and  Lydia  (Davis)  Maxson, 
natives  of  New  Jersey,  who  settled  in  West  Vir- 
ginia after  the  War  of  1812,  in  which  Simeon  took 
part. 

Our  subject's  mother  was  a  native  of  Muskin- 
gum County,  Ohio.  Her  husband  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  Jlasonic  order  at  Marietta.  Jacob 
Maxson  had  five  children  by  a  former  marriage 
and  two  of  these  are  living.  They  are  Charles  G. 
and  Elizabeth.  The  former  lives  in  Jackson  Cen- 
tre; Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  George  Mitchell,  lives 
at  Port  Jefferson.  After  his  second  marriage, 
J.acob  Maxson  settled  on  a  farm  in  Pike  Township, 
Clarke  County.  He  cleared  the  place  and  lived 
in  that  locality  until  1838,  when  he  moved  to 
Shelby  County,  and  settled  on  section  10  of 
Jackson  Township,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,    which     occurred     in    1860,    our   subject's 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


587 


mother  having  passed  away  in  1847.  Prior  to  his 
death,  the  old  gentleman  took  unto  himself  a  third 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Lois  Stiles.  Of  tlie 
two  children  that  were  born  of  this  union,  both 
are  deceased. 

Simeon  Maxson  is  one  of  eleven  children  who 
were  born  to  his  father.  Onlj-  four  of  these  are 
now  living.  They  are  Dr.  J.  S.  Maxson,  Simeon,  Syl- 
via E.  (Mrs.  Simpson),  I\Iary  M.  (Mrs.  McBurney). 
Our  subject's  father  was  a  very  good  man,  livinga 
most  exemplary  life.  lie  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Seventh-day  Baptist  Church,  in  which  he  was 
a  Deacon.  Politically,  he  was  a  Republican,  and 
in  ante-bellum  days  was  a  strong  Abolitionist. 

Simeon  Maxson  was  bora  October  8,  1837,  in 
Pike  Township,  Clarke  County,  Ohio.  He  was 
but  an  infant  when  brought  to  Shelby  County, 
and  was  reared  on  this  farm,  remaining  at  home 
until  twenty-three  j-ears  of  age.  He  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  10,  which  was 
known  as  the  Stephenson  Farm.  On  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  the  original  of  this  sketch  enlisted 
in  Compan}'  E,  of  the  Benton  Missouri  Infantry, 
a  private  organization  at  Sidney.  Tliey  went 
first  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  were  there  detailed  as 
body-guard  for  Gen.  John  C.  Fremont.  After  a 
service  extending  over  various  places  and  battle- 
fields, Mr.  Maxson  was  honorablj'  discharged,  Janu- 
ary 8,  1862.  He  again  enlisted,  September  15 
of  the  same  year,  in  Company  I,  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Tenth  Oliio  Infantry.  The  regiment 
was  first  sent  to  Clarksburg,  then  to  New  Creek, 
Va.,  under  Gen.  Milro\'.  He  was  witli  his  regiment 
in  the  following  battles:  Winchester,  Va.,  Stephen- 
son Station,  Opecau  Creek,  Berry's  Ford,  Cedar 
Creek,  Fisher's  Hill,  the  second  battle  of  Winches- 
ter, the  siege  of  Petereburg,  Mine  Run,  and  all  the 
engagements  until  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee's 
army  at  Appomattox,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  Lin- 
coln General  Hospital  at  Washington,  whence  he 
was  discharged  June  15,  1865.  He  look  part  in  the 
Grand  Review  at  the  National  Capital.  Mr.  Max- 
son's  miliLary  history  embraces  fifteen  of  the  noted 
battles  of  the  late  Rebellion. 

On  returning  from  tlie  war,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried December  15, 1865,  to  Miss  Catherine  Showell, 
a  native  of   Orange  Township,   this  county.     She 


was  born  May  7,  1839.  The  farm  known  as  the 
Ware  Place  was  their  home  until  1866,  when  they 
moved  to  Green  Township,  upon  a  farm  pre- 
viously owned  by  Robert  Buckles,  and  there  they 
lived  until  1873,  when  they  moved  to  Sidney. 
After  several  other  changes,  the  family  returned 
to  Shelby  County  and  settled  in  Sidney,  where 
^Irs.  Maxson  died  in  1876.  She  was  the  mother  of 
two  children,  one  of  wliom,  Delia  May,  still  lives. 
The  present  Mrs.  Maxson  was  a  Miss  Maggie 
Littlejohn.  She  married  our  subject  January  16, 
1879.  She  is  a  native  of  Clarke  County,  and  was 
bom  May  20,  1846.  After  the  marriage,  the 
Maxson  family  settled  upon  the  farm  which  they 
now  occupy.  Two  children  have  been  added  to 
the  household.  They  are:  Mary  Nevada,  born 
April  12,  1880,  and  Maggie  Belle,  February  19, 
1883.  Both  our  subject  and  his  wife  are  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Jackson  Centre,  in  which  the  former  is  a  Class- 
leader.  They  are  both  enthusiastic  workers  in  the 
Sundaj-school,  Mrs.  Maxson  being  a  veteran  in 
the  work.  Their  children  are  given  exceptional 
advantages  in  an  educational  way,  and  the  eldest 
daughter  is  proficient  in  music.  Our  subject  is  a 
Mason  and  also  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  warm  advocates  of  the 
cause  of  temperance. 


R.  WILLIAM  M(  K.  HOUSMAN.  Tliis 
name  has  become  a  familiar  one  to  the 
people  of  Logan  as  well  as  the  surround- 
ing counties,  and  his  genial,  sincere  nature, 
no  less  than  his  professional  ability,  has  tended  to 
bring  alx)ut  this  result.  He  was  born  in  Sidne}', 
Shelby  County,  on  the  28th  of  June,  1853. 

Our  subject's  grandfather,  David  Housinan,  was 
of  German  descent  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
(Jliio,  having  settled  near  Cincinnati  at  a  very 
earl}- period.  He  followed  farming  there  and  died 
wlien    ninety-six   years  of  age.     His  son,  John  P. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Housman,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Ohio 
and  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  erecting  houses, 
bridges,  and  building  boats,  and  was  a  very  sliill- 
ful  workman.  He  built  a  number  of  boats  at  Cin- 
cinnati that  floated  on  the  Ohio  River  for  many 
yeai-s.  At  an  early  day,  he  located  at  Sidney,  Ohio, 
followed  his  trade  there,  and  married  Miss  Mary 
J.  Hopkins,  of  .Shelby  County.  There  his  death 
occurred  when  about  thirty-two  years  of  age.  Our 
subject  was  the  onl^'  child  born  to  this  marriage, 
and  his  mother  subsequentl3'  married  George  W. 
Kemp  and  now  resides  at  Fletcher,  Miami  County, 
Ohio.  She  has  four  children  by  this  union.  Her 
father,  the  Rev.  E.  Hazzard  Hopkins,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  born  near  Paris,  in  1807.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Brown  November  27,  1832,  in 
Miami  County,  where  he  studied  and  practiced 
law  from  1840  to  1845.  He  then  entered  the  minis- 
try and  was  in  active  connection  with  the  Delaware 
Conference  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  man  of 
power  and  an  active  thinker  and  a  telling  orator. 
He  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Stephen  Hopkins,  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
The  members  of  the  large  family  to  which  he  be- 
longed were  all  distinguished  men.  In  his  earlier 
days,  he  was  a  Whig  in  politics  but  later  advocated 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  platform  and  was 
a  strong  Abolitionist.  He  organized  companies  at 
Salem  Church  and  had  a  son  in  the  army.  In  1880, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  seventy -six  yeai-s 
of  age.     The  family  is  of  Scotch  descent. 

"When  but  a  little  boy,  our  subject  was  left  by 
his  mother  with  her  people  and  he  was  reared  on 
the  farm  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  receiving  a 
good  practical  education  in  the  district  schools. 
After  this,  he  went  to  live  with  his  Grandfather 
Hopkins  at  De  Graff,  .and  there  attended  Union 
School  for  one  year.  He  then  removed  with  his 
grandfather  to  St.  Paris  and  attended  school  there 
for  five  years,  after  which,  when  about  nineteen 
years  of  age,  he  began  clerking  in  the  drug-store 
for  an  uncle  at  that  pl.ace.  One  year  later,  he  began 
the  study  of  medicine  under  his  uncle,  Dr.  R.  Hop- 
kins, studied  one  year,  and  then  studied  for  fifteen 
months  under  another  uncle.  Dr.  D.  O.  Hopkins,  of 
Coffee  County,  Kan.  Returning  to  St.  Paris,  he 
again  studied  under  his  uncle  Dr.  R.  Hopkins, and 


continued  with  him  eighteen  months,  after  which 
he  attended  medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  being 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  spring  of 
1877. 

Locating  in  Bloom  Centre,  Logan  County,  Dr. 
Housman  has  practiced  here  for  fifteen  years. 
He  was  married  on  the  3d  of  July,  1881,  to  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Ilalboth,  a  native  of  this  township,  bom 
January  14,  1862.  Her  Lather,  Andrew  Halboth, 
was  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  born  March  1, 
1823,  and  was  a  son  of  Nicholas  Halboth,  also  a 
native  of  Germany.  The  latter  pursued  the  occu- 
pation of  a  farmer  in  his  native  county  and  died 
there  when  sixtj-six  years  of  age.  He  married 
and  reared  six  sons  and  one  daughter,  as  follows: 
ISLargaret,  John,  George,  August,  Ludwick,  Wil- 
helm  and  Andrew.  The  latter  was  the  only  one 
who  set  foot  upon  American  soil.  His  mother  died 
when  eighty^ix  years  of  age.  Both  parents  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Housman  received  a  good 
practical  education  in  his  native  country  and  there 
learned  the  weaver's  trade.  Seeing  a  better  open- 
ing for  him  in  America,  he  sailed  for  this  country 
in  November,  1844,  and  w.as  forty- three  days  in 
making  the  voyage.  After  reaching  this  country, 
he  worked  in  a  cotton  factory  a  short  time  in  New 
York  City  and  then  in  a  woolen  f.actory  in 
Lancaster  County,  Delaware,  where  he  remained 
four  or  five  years.  There  he  was  married,  but 
he  subsequently  came  to  Logan  County  about 
1855  and  first  settled  where  Gretna  is  now  lo- 
cated, where  he  resided  until  1857.  In  that  year, 
he  came  to  Bloom  Centre  and  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers.  He  opened  a  store  at  that  place  when  his 
was  almost  the  first  house  there  and  when  the 
country  w.as  covered  with  timber.  Wild  turkey 
and  deer  were  plentiful  and  he  experienced  all  the 
trials  of  the  early  settlers.  He  bought  one  acre  of 
land,  built  a  hewn-log  house  and  here  entered  on 
his  career  as  a  merchant.  He  was  married,  in  1848, 
to  Miss  Magdalena  Huber,  a  native  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living:  Louisa, 
Henry,  Emma,  Jacob,  Sarah,  Ella,  Ida,  Louis  and 
Charley.  The  mother  came  to  America  in  1847. 
Mr.  Halboth    has  been   engaged  in  merchandising 


PORTRAIT  Am)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


589 


here  for  thirty-five  years  and  is  one  of  the  most 
reliable  and  upright  business  men.  He  is  well 
known  and  univei-sally  respected  over  the  county, 
owns  three  acres  in  the  town  and  eighty  acres  a 
half-mile  north  of  here,  all  improved.  He  has  car- 
ried on  mixed  farming  in  connection  with  mer- 
ch.andising  for  the  past  eighteen  years,  and  for 
nineteen  years,  off  and  on,  he  has  been  Postmaster 
at  this  place.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  his  wife  of  the  German  Baptist.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  a  number 
of  local  positions  in  the  county.  He  has  seen 
nearly  all  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
country,  has  contributed  his  share  toward  its  ad- 
vancement, and  is  a  much  esteemed  citizen. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Housman  became  the  parents  of 
three  children:  Bessie  C,  Dottie  P.  and  It.  G.iylon. 
In  1883-84,  our  subject  attended  medical  lec- 
tures at  Jefferson  College,  Philadelphia,  took  the 
entire  course  and  then  an  extra  course  for  giadu- 
ates  on  anatomy  and  surgery  and  diseases  of 
women  and  children.  He  carries  on  a  general 
practice,  is  very  successful  and  has  had  numerous 
surgical  operations,  his  practice  extending  over  a 
wide  scope  of  territory.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Miami  Medical  AsS'^ciation,  and  he  and  Mrs.  Hous- 
man are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Soci- 
ally, he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows, and  in  politics  a  Republican, holding 
the  otBce  of  Postm.ister  at  this  place  for  six  years. 
Our  subject  owes  much  of  his  success  in  life  to  the 
counsel  of  his  Grandfather  Hopkins. 


"^NTON  W.  GER^YEL'5.  The  writer  knows 
ivSg/4JI|  of  no  cilling  that  has  been  dignified  and 
i'  graced  in  modern  poetry  more  than  that 
which  in  practical  life  is  generally  most 
prosaic.  Longfellow  and  Schiller,  especially,  have 
thrown  a  veil  of  romance  and  heroism  about  the 
towering  form  of  the  blacksmith,  that  while  it 
stands  out  in  all  its  muscular  strength  possesses  an 
awe-inspiring  majesty.     He  whose  name  is  above 


has  been  connected  with  this  calling  nearly  all  his 
life  and  has  reaped  substantial  results  from  the  oc- 
cupation. He  W.1S  born  in  Minster,  Ohio,  on  the 
22d  of  January,  1849,  but  his  parents  were  from 
across  the  seas,  as  his  father,  John  J.  Gerwels,and 
his  mother,  Anna  IM.  Gerwels,  were  born  in  Ger- 
many, the  former  in  March,  IS  II,  and  the  latter  on 
the  26th  of  June,  1811. 

The  elder  Mr.  Gerwels  was  a  tailor  in  his  native 
country  and  there  followed  his  trade  until  1839, 
when  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  the  American  conti- 
nent. He  located,  at  Minster,  Ohio,  and  there 
worked  at  his  trade.  He  came  alone  to  America, 
but  in  March,  1840,  he  was  joined  by  his  wife  and 
two  children.  In  1849,  he  died  of  cholera  in 
Minster.  The  mother  afterwards  married  Mr.  Henry 
Frierott,  and  lived  to  be  about  seventy-one  years 
of  age,  her  death  occurring  in  1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gerwels  were  both  members  of  the  Catholic  Church 
and  were  good,  honest,  upright  citizens.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  only  one  beside 
our  subject  now  living.  Mrs.  Gerwels'  second 
marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one  child,  who  is 
now  living. 

The  educational  advantages  of  our  subject  were 
rather  limited  in  youth,  for  he  was  obliged  to 
branch  out  for  himself  when  quite  young  and  left 
school  when  thirteen  years  of  age.  He  early  turned 
to  business  life  and  exhibited  almost  before  out- 
growing his  boyhood  a  sound  judgment  and  a 
keen  enterprise.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  began 
to  learn  the  bl.acksmith  trade  under  H.  Goeke  and 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  jears, after  which 
he  worked  foi-  Mr.  Goeke  for  four  years.  Later 
he  went  to  Cincinnati,  followed  the  bl.acksmith 
tr.ide  there  for  one  year,  and  in  1874  he  returned 
to  Minster,  where  he  purch.ised  a  shop  and  began 
business  on  his  own  responsibility.  He  is  also  en- 
gaged in  carriage  .and  wagon  making,  etc.,  and  dur- 
ing the  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  business  here, 
he  has  turned  out  a  great  many  buggies  and  wagons. 
He  is  an  excellent  workman,  thorough  in  all  that 
he  does,  and  has  accumulated  a  handsome  compe- 
tency b}-  his  industry  and  close  attention  to  busi- 
ness. He  purchased  au  interest  in  the  Star  Brew- 
ing Com])any  in  November,  1890. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  on  the   2d  of  Feb- 


590 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ruavy,  1874,  to  IVIiss  Mary  A.  Ostcifeld,  a  native 
of  the  thriving  little  town  of  Minster,  brought  to 
him  three  children:  Henrj-,  Anna  (deceased),  and 
Matilda.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  on 
the  22d  of  October,  1882.  Mr.  Gerwels'  second 
marriage  occurred  on  the  22d  of  May,  1883,  when 
he  married  Miss  Mary  Anna  Miller,  a  native 
of  Germany,  whose  parents  died  in  the  Father- 
land. She  came  to  America  in  1882.  Five  chil- 
dren are  the  fruits  of  the  last  union,  viz:  Katie, 
Louisa,  Mamie,  Allie  and  Josephine. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gerwels  is  a  JDemocrat  and  has 
held  the  office  of  Township  Treasurer  four  years. 
He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Council  for  four 
years  and  is  now  President  of  the  School  Board. 
He  and  his  brother  have  a  well-improved  farm  of 
ninety  acres  in  Shelby  Count3',  and  besides  he  is 
the  owner  of  considerable  town  property  in  Jlin- 
ster.  He  started  out  in  life  with  nothing  and  by 
hard  labor  and  good  management  he  is  now  one 
of  the  substantial  men  of  town.  Honest  and  up- 
right in  all  the  walks  of  life,  he  is  highly  esteemed 
by  all.  He  and  Jlrs.  Gerwels  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church. 


llJOHN  SMITH.     It  is  a  f.act  unnecessary   of 

deni.al  that  a  person  is  better  fitted  to   fol- 

— ^        low  the  occupation  with  which  he  became 

WJ) 


familiar  in  earlj'  life,  than  to  engage  in  an 
undertaking  learned  in  later  years.  This  truth  is 
borne  out  by  the  career  of  Mr.  Smith,  who  from  a 
boy  has  known  all  the  minute  details  of  agricul- 
tural life.  To  this  acquired  knowledge  may  be 
added  a  natural  facultj'  for  that  calling,  for  his 
father,  Andrew  J.  Smith,  was  also  a  farmer. 

The  latter  was  born  in  Ohio,  August  8,  1818, 
and  still  makes  his  home  in  this  State.  His  father, 
Alexander  Smith,  was  a  native  of  Cumberland 
County,  Pa.,  and  of  German  descent.  Grandfather 
Smith  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  on  the  site  of  the  city  of 
Marietta,  having  located  there  the   latter  part  of 


the  eighteenth  century.  In  early  life,  he  followed 
rafting  logs  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers 
to  New  Orleans  and  would  then  walk  back.  He 
was  very  large  and  muscular  and  was  considered 
the  best  man  physically  of  the  crew.  After  a  short 
residence  at  Marietta,  he  moved  to  Delaware 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  among  the  first  to  settle 
there.  He  improved  a  farm  in  the  wilderness  and 
died  there  in  1855,  when  seventy-six  years  of  age. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  agricultural  pursuits  have  occupied  his  atten- 
tion all  his  life.  He  has  held  all  the  township  of- 
fices where  he  lives  and  served  two  years  as  Sher- 
iff of  the  countj',  displaying  much  efficiency  and 
bravery  in  discharging  the  duties  of  this  office.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Democrat  and  he  was  elected  to  his 
present  position  over  a  fifteen-hundred  Republican 
majoritj-.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Bo.ard  of 
Equ.alization  in  1870,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent 
men  of  his  county.  In  his  religious  views,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  selected  as 
his  companion  in  life  Miss  Mary  Gl.ass,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  born  May  10,  1822,  and  the  fruits  of 
this  union  have  been  five  children:  Jay  D.,  John, 
Francis  A.,  Jane  A.  and  William  R.  The  mother 
is  still  living  and  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Her  father  was  of  German,  and  her  mo- 
ther of  Scotch-Irish,  extraction. 

From  an  earlj-  age,  our  subject  became  familiar 
with  the  duties  of  the  farm  and  divided  his  time 
in  youth  in  assisting  on  the  same  and  in  attending 
the  district  school  in  Delaware  Country,  Ohio,  his 
native  county,  where  his  birth  occurred  March  14, 
1845.  His  marriage,  which  occurred  April  9,  1868, 
to  Miss  Mary  C.  Wright,  a  native  of  Kokomo, 
Ind.,  born  September  10,  1847,  was  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  two  children:  Nellie  B.  and  Mabel  M. 
After  marriage,  Mr.  Smith  settled  in  Delaware 
County  and  farmed  the  home  place  until  March 
22,  1874,  when  he  came  to  Bloomfield  township, 
Logan  County.  He  purchased  eighty  acres  one  mile 
north  of  where  he  now  lives,  all  in  the  woods,  and 
cleared  and  improved  all  but  two  acres.  In  1885, 
he  moved  on  his  present  farm,  and  although  no 
improvements  had  been  made,  Mr.  Smith  went  to 
work  and  by  his  energy  and  thrift  h.as  nearly  all 
of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  improved. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lie  stands  in  the  front  ranks  as  an  industrious, 
progressive  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  in  the 
management  of  everything  connected  with  his 
farm  displays  excellent  judgment  and  thorough- 
ness, qualities  which  can  not  fail  of  success.  He 
built  his  present  house,  a  large  frame  one,  in  1885, 
and  has  two  frame  h.arns,  one  erected  in  1887  and 
the  other  in  1889.  Mr.  Smith's  farm  is  a  rich  black 
sandy  loam,  underlaid  with  limestone  gravel.  He 
and  Mrs.  Smith  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  are  deeph'  interested  in  all  religious 
work,  and  Mr.  Smith  is  Assist.ant  Superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school  and  teacher  in  the  Bible  class. 
Mr.  Smith  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  until 
about  a  year  and  a  half  ago  when  he  joined  the 
People's  party  and  was  nominated  in  the  Lima 
Convention,  Fifth  Congressional  District,  for  Con- 
gress. He  was  not  aware  of  his  nomination  until 
after  it  was  over  and  he  then  tried  to  withdraw, 
but  an  enthusiastic  people  ran  him  nevertlieless. 
He  received  more  votes  in  this  township  than 
either  of  the  other  candidates.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  de- 
mitted  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  Alliance,  being 
one  of  tlie  charter  members  of  the  sixth  subordinate 
organization  in  the  State.  He  served  as  Vice- 
president  of  the  State  organization  in  1889,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
State  organization  in  1890.  He  was  tendered  the 
nomination  for  Governor  on  the  Alliance  ticket 
at  the  State  Convention  held  at  Springfield,  but  he 
would  not  accept.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Na- 
tional Convention  at  Omaha  in  January,  1891, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  best-known 
men  of  the  county.  He  has  a  host  of  warm  friends 
and  few,  if  any,  enemies. 


•@l^.i«^^ 


S.  EARL.  There  is  not  a  more  truly  popular 
citizen  of  Auglaize  County  than  the  gen- 
ial, warm-hearted  man  and  honored  soldier 
^  whose  name  we  now  give.  .Joseph  Earl, 
his  grandfather,  with  his  son  Alanson  and  the  bal- 
ance of  the  family, emigrated  from  Canada  to  New 


York  State  in  the  year  1813,  and  then,  recognizing 
the  fact  that  Ohio  was  the  Stite  for  the  pioneer, 
he  emigrated  there  in  1815,  and  settled  within 
the  borders  of  Logan  County.  From  there  Al- 
anson Earl  moved  to  Allen  (that  part  now 
Auglaize)  County  in  the  year  1833,  and  w.as  there 
married  to  Miss  Rachel  Day,  daughter  of  Basil  Day, 
and  a  native  of  F.ayette  County,  Ohio.  Previous 
to  his  marriage,  in  1832,  he  entered  Government 
land,  forty  acres,  in  section  8,  Goshen  Township, 
Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  erected  a  log  cabin  and  his 
mother  kept  house  for  him  until  after  his  mar- 
riage. He  and  wife  at  once  went  to  work  to  de- 
velop their  land,  and  by  economy  and  good  man- 
agement became  the  owners  of  a  comfortable 
competency  before  their  deaths.  They  passed  their 
last  days  on  this  farm,  she  dying  in  1853,  and  he 
in  1867.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  them,  six  still 
survive,  as  follows:  Sophia  D.  (Mrs.  Mefferd),  .J.  S. 
(our  subject),  Elizabeth  Manning,  W.  J.,  R.  D.  and 
Leonard.  These  children  had  limited  educational 
advantages  in  youth,  attending  school  about  three 
months  during  the  year,  and  being  obliged  to 
walk  about  two  miles  to  attend  the  subscription 
schools  of  those  d.ays.  Both  parents  were  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  which  the 
father  w.is  Class-leader  and  Steward.  He  was  at 
one  time  a  Whig,  but  upon  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party  he  advocated  its  platform  and 
ever  after  upheld  its  principles. 

J.  S.  Earl  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Goshen 
Township,  this  county,  in  1836,  at  the  old  home- 
pl.ace,  entered  from  the  Government  and  cleared 
by  his  father.  He  assisted  his  father  in  this  work, 
and  remained  with  him  until  twenty  }'ears  of  ace. 
After  this,  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  stud- 
ied medicine  with  Dr.  Blizard,  of  New  Hampshire, 
this  count}-,  and  attended  school  during  a  portion 
of  this  time.  In  1860,  he  married  Miss  Margaret 
M.  Bidwell,a  native  of  Auglaize  Count}-,  Goshen 
Township,  Ohio,  and  the  daugliter  of  Josi.ah  Bid- 
well.  Immediately  after  marri.ige,  he  went  to  work 
at  carpentering  at  New  Hampshire,  and  continued 
this  business  successfullj-  until  1862.  At  that 
time,  he  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  B, 
Forty-fifth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  went  to  the 
front   at  Dalton    Hill,  Ky.,   and  commanded  the 


592 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


company  at  tlie  first  battle  in  which  the  regiment 
was  eng.Hged.  After  this,  he  was  in  the  battle  at 
Knoxville,  Teun.,  and  commanded  there  also,  and 
at  other  times  and  in  various  skirmishes.  He  was 
talvcn  prisoner  at  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  was  sent 
first  to  Atlantii,  Ga.,  and  thence  to  Belle  Isle,  where 
he  contracted  rheumatism.  Afterward  he  was  sent 
to  the  hospital  at  Richmond,  Va.  He  was  captured 
on  the  18th  of  November,  1862,  and  paroled  on 
the  2d  of  May,  1864.  On  the  2d  of  June,  1864, 
after  having  been  in  the  Marine  Hospital  at  Annap- 
olis, Md.,  he  joined  his  regiment  at  Burnt  Hick- 
ory, and  was  in  the  Sherman  campaign.  He  re- 
mained with  his  regiment  and  participated  in  all 
its  cng.agenients  until  mustered  out  in  186.5.  He 
participated  in  forty-seven  battles  in  all,  besides 
numerous  skirmishes,  and  through  all  dangers  dis- 
pl.ayed  a  heroism  and  bravery  very  unusual. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Auglaize  Countj', 
Ohio,  he  laid  down  the  weapons  of  warfare  to 
take  up  the  implements  of  pe.ace,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  carpentering  for  two  years.  In  1867, 
after  his  father's  death,  he  moved  on  the  old  farm 
on  section  8,  Goshen  Township,  Auglaize  County, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  until 
1875.  In  1872,  he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  affectionate  and  much-loved  wife.  Their 
union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  children, 
only  three  now  living:  John  A.,  James  E.,  and 
Sarah  j\[.,  two  of  whom  are  married.  In  1873,]Mr. 
Earl  was  married  to  Miss  Melissa  McClean,  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  John  McClean,  of  Auglaize  County, 
Ohio,  who  was  one  of  the  first  Associate  Judges  of 
the  County  Court,  having  been  appointed  by  the 
Governor  in  1833.  By  the  second  marriage,  our 
subject  became  the  father  of  six  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living:  Mary,  Mack  S.,  and  Mabel  E. 
All  these  children  have  had  ver}' good  educational 
advantages.  Mr.  Earl  and  wife  are  church  mem- 
bers and  very  liberal  contributors  to  all  worthy 
movements.  He  is  Class-leader  and  Trustee  in 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  in  the  village  of 
"VVaynestield.  The  first  wife  was  also  a  church 
member.  Mr.  Earl  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
was  the  first  Mayor  of  Waynesfield.  He  li.as  held 
nearly  all  of  the  township  ollices,  and  is  promi- 
nently identified  with  all  movements  of  interest  in 


his  county.  He  sold  merchandise  for  twelve  yeara, 
but  is  now  engaged  in  farming,  at  which  he  makes 
a  complete  success.  Ilis  present  residence  is 
Waynesfield. 


QUIRE  J.  N.  DEVORE.  Logan  County  is 
conspicuous  for  its  magnificent  farms  that 
I  are  faultless  in  way  of  management  and 
the  order  in  which  they  are  kept.  Those 
in  Zane  Township  are  especially  advantageously 
located,  the  land  being  rolling  and  well  watered, 
fertile  and  productive.  No  one  is  to  be  more  com- 
plimented on  tlie  i)crfect  method  and  order  with 
which  their  agricultural  affairs  are  conducted  than 
he  whose  name  is  above.  He  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  one  half  mile  northwest  of 
West  Middleburgh,  where  he  has  a  good  home,  the 
house  being  commodious  and  attractive,  and  capa- 
cious and  well-filled  barns  and  granaries.  The 
fields  are  wide-spreading  and  productive.  Squire 
Devore  was  born  in  Champaign  Countj-,  Ohio,  on 
the  16th  of  October,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Moses 
and  R.achel  (Inskeep)  Devore,  both  natives  of 
Ohio,  the  father  being  born  in  Champaign,  and 
the  mother  in  Logan  County. 

Our  subject's  grandfather,  James  Devoi'e,  was 
born  in  France,  and  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man,  settling  fii-st  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  and  afterward  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  He  was 
married  in  Pennsylvania,  to  one  of  that  State's 
fair  daughters,  and  reared  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren. The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  on  the 
22d  of  February,  1811,  and  p.assed  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  his  native  county.  He  married 
Miss  Inskeep,  who  was  reared  in  Logan  County, 
and  who  was  the  daughter  of  Joshua  Inskeep, 
a  native  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Inskeep  came  to 
Ohio  in  an  early  day,  and  was  one  of  the 
pioneei-s  of  Logan  County,  and  a  prominent 
man.     He  was  a  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


593 


pal  Chinch,  and  also  in  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  and  built  one  of  the  lirst  churches  hi  the 
towushii).  He  was  olso  engaged  in  the  sawmill  busi- 
ness for  many  years.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig. 
Moses  Devore  and  his  wife  celebrated  their  nup- 
tials in  Zane  Township,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  in 
1833,  and  afterward  located  in  L'nion  County, 
Ohio,  where  tliey  improved  a  large  farm  of  four 
hundred  acres.  A  log  cabin  was  first  erected,  but 
this  was  subsequently  removed,  and  a  good  sub- 
stantial frame  structure  took  its  place.  The  mother 
died  when  about  forty-three  years  of  age,  but  the 
father  is  still  living,  resides  on  his  farm  in  Union 
Countv,  and  although  eighty-one  years  of  age, 
time  has  dealt  leniently  with  him,  and  he  is  still 
quite  active  and  vigorous.  He  has  remained  on 
this  farm  ever  since  his  marriage,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  about  three  years,  wlicn  he  went  to  take 
care  of  his  father  and  mother. 

Of  the  nine  children  born  to  this  worthy  couple, 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  but  one  grew  to 
mature  years,  and  four  sons  and  tliree  daughteis 
still  survive.  Our  subject,  the  second  son  and 
second  child,  was  educated  in  the  log  schoolhouse 
of  pioneer  days,  with  slab  seats  and  other  crude 
contrivances  in  the  way  of  school  furniture,  and 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  tlie  home  place.  Be- 
fore our  subject  was  of  age,  he  bought  his  time  of 
his  father,  paying  $100  in  cash  for  his  services 
from  the  age  of  twenty  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. On  the  23d  of  October,  1855,  he  led  to  the 
altar  Miss  Mary  Morton,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Columbiana  County,  December  2,  1835.  She  came 
with  her  parents,  Israel  and  Hannah  (Conn)  Mor- 
ton, to  Logan  County  when  nine  years  of  age. 
.She  was  the  youngest  of  ten  children  and  w.as  left 
motlicrless  when  but  an  infant.  Her  father  and 
mother  were  natives  of  the  Kej'stone  Slate. 

Following  his  marriage,  our  subject  located  first 
in  Union  County,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Zane  Township,  Logan 
County,  where  he  has  made  his  home  ever  since 
He  first  settled  in  a  little  log  cabin,  18x18  feet,  of 
round  logs,  and  in  this  he  and  his   most  excellent 


and  cultured  wife  resided  for  seventeen  years, 
gathering  around  them  by  energy,  industry  and 
good  management  many  comforts  and  conven- 
iences. They  improved  the  place  in  every  way 
and  in  1875  erected  a  cozy  and  convenient  house 
which  cost  them  #1,000.  They  now  have  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-one  acres  of  as  good  land  as  is 
to  be  found  in  the  county,  and  the  most  of  this 
Mr.  Devore  cleared  himself,  it  being  covered  with 
heavy  timber. 

To  IMr.  and  Mi's.  Devore  have  been  born  seven 
children,  three  daughters  and  four  sons,  .as  fol- 
lows: Jacob  A.,  born  in  October,  1856,  is  at 
home;  Rachel  B.,  deceased;  .Jennie  L.,  wife  of  F. 
K.  Johnson,  of  AVest  Liberty,  is  a  graduate  of 
Adrian  College,  Slich.;  Moses  G.,  at  home;  Lewis 
X.,  attending  the  State  LTniversity  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  taking  a  civil  engineering  course;  Laural 
M.,  attending  school  at  West  Middleburgh,  is  a 
bright  student  and  is  much  interested  in  his 
studies;  and  Sylvia  A.  died  at  the  age  of  five 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Devore  have  given  their 
children  ever3'  advant-age  for  receiving  an  educa- 
tion and  have  every  reason  to  be  proud  of  the 
progress  they  have  made,  for  there  is  not  a  more 
intelligent  family  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Devore  is  an  advocate  of  Democratic  prin- 
ciples, and  his  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for 
Buchanan  in  I85C.  He  w.as  a  Trustee  of  the  town- 
ship for  about  five  j'ears  and  held  the  position  of 
School  Director  for  many  years.  There  are  three 
Republicans  to  one  Democrat  in  the  township, 
but  Mr.  Devore,  who  has  a  host  of  warm  friends 
in  both  parties,  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
1884,  and  h.as  discharged  the  duties  incumbent  upon 
tliis  office  in  a  creditable  and  satisfactory  manner. 
He  was  elected  without  his  consent,  and  there  has 
been  but  one  appeal  of  all  the  cases  he  has  tried.  His 
docket  for  tlie  past  three  years  shows  one  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  cases  settled,  mostly  without  suit. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  A.  F.  A-  A.  JL, 
of  E.ast  Liberty,  and  Lodge  No.  247,  Blazing  Star 
Chapter,  at  North  Lewisburgh. 


^t^=& 


^^ir^^^^^s^e 


BIOGI^fl^P^Ksflli. 


Adams,  John 23 

Adams,  John  Q 39 

Ailes,  Hon.  H.  S 385 

Allen, P. B 269 

Alspau^h ,  Joel 474 

Amos,  Gen.  J.  0 5M 

Anderson,  Enoch MO 

Andrews,  Elizur 301 

Armstrong,  David M4 

Arnett,  John 446 

Arthur,  Chester  A 99 


Babcock,  J.  H 173 

Bailey,  John  H 224 

Baker,  David If6 

Bambcrser,  Solomon 127 

Barher,  Austin 2.T3 

Barth,  William M7 

Baumgarten,  E.  C 259 

Beatty,  Hon.  W.  W 159 

Beebe,  H.  E.,M.  D .351 

Beeler,  Henry 3:16 

Bettii,  Isaac 470 

Bimel.  William .523 

Blakeley,  W.  H 439 

Blume,L.  X 561 

Boals,  M.  C 529 

Boesel ,  Hon .  Jacob 545 

Bosche,  John  H 432 

Bowsher,  William 45.i 

Braden,  James 389 

Braden,  John 395 

Brand,  Joseph  C,  Jr .588 

Brewer,  Clinton  S 43:1 

Brewer.E.  N IfS 

Brewer,  Lewis  C 437 

Brewer,  Nicholas 176 


Brown ,  Ezra &lo 

Brubaker,  J.  T 549 

Buchanan,  James 76 

Buchanan,  S.  A 228 

Buehler,  Christian 564 

Bullock.  Col.  C.  F 378 

Buss,  A.  C 574 

Butcher,  J.  S 414 


Campbell,  J.  Q.  A 424 

Canby,K.  H 536 

Cartley.John 497 

Cherry,  Amos 55.3 

Chesher,  C.  B.,  M.  D 4t6 

Churchill,  Charles 197 

Clark,  D.  A 302 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 103 

Clough.B.  F 478 

Clough,  R.  C 478 

Cogan ,  Thomas 329 

Connaughton,  J.  J 465 

Conway,  Rev.  William 371 

Cook,  Henry 514 

Cookston.C.C 230 

Copelan  J.  Amos 4IM 

Copeland ,  Joseph 440 

Corwin,  Oliver 323 

Cost.  John  P 320 

Costolo,  J.  W.,M.  D 135 

Coulter,  Charles 206 

Counts,  William 287 

Cowgill,  John  B ISO 

Cummins.  J.  K 2W 


Dav 


.328 


,  A.  A... 

Davis, D.J 408 

Davis,  George  R 628 

Denny,  Dennis 190 

Detrick.  Samuel 422 

Devore,  J.  N J92 

Dickensheets.  J.  L, 486 

Dine.C.  L..  M.  D 307 

Doran,  I.  A.,  M.  D 12S 


Dowty,  S.  W 481 

Dunson,  A.  A 47: 


Earl.J.S 591 

Ekermeyer,  M.  S..:>I.  D 181 

Elder,  Abraham.  M.D 551 

Elliott,  William 199 

Emerson,  J.  D 619 

Emerson.  Thomas.  M.  D 402 

Emert,  J.  F 447 

Emery,  G.  E 254 

Emery,  W.  K 260 

Emley,  A.  H 232 

English.  L.  J.  N 479 

Estey,  WiUiam 2S8 


Farnsworth,  Rev.  Charles. ..572 

Fike,  Lieut.  J.acob  D 5i> 

Fillmore,  Millard 67 

Finlay,  Archibaki 188 

Fischer,  Carl  D 148 

Fisher,  C.  M..  M.  D 295 

Fisk.  Perrj- 467 

Flickinger.  Edward 453 

Franke,  August  F.  G 298 

Freeman,  E.  K 326 

Freyman , G.  F 316 

Frierolt.  Benjamin 367 

Fulkerson.  G.  W..  M   D 222 

Fuson.  David .381 


Galer.F.  M.  M.  D 579 

Gartleld.  James  A 95 

Garwoo<i.  George 258 

Gerwels.  A.  W .tS9 

Gierhart,  A.J 401 

Gillespie.  D.  K 585 


Ginn.  W.  A 161 

Glick.  Darius 537 

Gochenour.  John  H 434 

Goode.  S.  G.,M.  D  .577 

Gordon,  Hon.  R.  B 170 

Gordon.  R.  B..  Jr 386 

Grabiel.  John 313 

Graf.  Daniel 241 

Grant.  Ulysses  S 87 

Guthrie.  Harvey 275 


Hall,  David ,558 

Hall.W.M 578 

Hamer,  W.  W.,M.  D  415 

Hamilton,  Rev.  G.  W 413 

Harbour,  C.  W.  B.,  M.  D 477 

Harrison,  Benjamin 107 

Harrison,  William  Henry....  60 

Harrod.  John 361 

Harrod,  Perry 506 

Harrod,  Samuel .562 

Hasting,  W.J 443 

Hastings,  Robert 168 

Haass,  John  J 124 

Haviland,  W.  T 315 

Hawver.  George  W 294 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

Hellbusch,  Henry :i08 

Henry,  George  A 396 

Herkenhoir.  Frank 503 

Hess.  Jacob 374 

Heston,  Joseph  S 499 

Heusch,  Louis  H .349 

Hipp,  Maj.  Charles 569 

Hoffmann.  J.  L 187 

Holmes.  M.  C 638 

Holterman,  Henry 391 

Honne  11.  Morris 239 

Hoover,  Rev.  CD 533 

Hoover,  James  S 516 

Hoskins,  S.  A 192 

Housman,  W.  M  .  M.  D 587 

Howbert,  Rev.  A.  R 195 

Howell.  B.  F 427 

Hubbard ,  Thomas 369 


INDEX. 


Hubbell,  J.  A.,  M.  D 20) 

Hubbell.S.  K 5m 

Huber.  Allen 405 

Huber,  John,  Sr 377 

Huenke,  Louis 523 

HulTDian,  Isaac  B 1«8 

Hume,  Hon.  Huhbaril 2U 

Hunt.B.  S.,JM.  D ifiS 

Hunter,  F.C.JI.D 27(i 

Hussev,  M.F.,M.D 201 


Inderrieden,  J.  D. , 


Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jellersou,  Tliomas 27 

Jelly,  Hugh 477 

Jenkins,  Jesse 318 

Johnson,  Andrew S3 

Johnston,  Fielden 47G 

Johnston,  Hiram 421 

Johnston,  S.  J 3;iS 

Justice,  S.  H .541 


Kalb,  Rev.  G.L 5IH 

Kaufman,  J.  M ISO 

Kautznian,  John 147 

Keller.  John 2(13 

Kelsey ,  J.  T 426 

Kennedy,  Gen.  R.  P 362 

Kennedy,  Col.  'Williani 2.)! 

Kettler,  William 297 

Keve,  W.  R.,M.  D 550 

Key,  John,  Sr 425 

Kishler,  W.  G.,  M.  D 368 

Knau,  Conrad 390 

Knox,  J.  \V 212 

Koch,D.  W 457 

Koehl,  Frank 513 

Kohler,  Andrew 265 

Koop,  Henry 4.50 

Kramer,  Lewis 286 

Krapf,  William 292 

Krebs  R.  I.,  3L  D 175 

Kruse.  William 483 

Kuenzel,H.  C 208 


Lance,  Rev.  William  W 580 

Lanfcrsieck,  J.  F 180 

Laufersweiler,  John 212 

Lawrence,  Hon.  William..  ..117/ 

Layton,Col.C.  A 582 

Le.\pley,  Quin 569 

Lincoln,  Abraham 79 

Lindeniuth,  D  B 227 

Linn,  W.  M 316 

Linzee,  Benjamin 380 

Littlejohn,  Georje 406 

Loirer,  S.  E .' 398 

Longworth,  Thomas 448 

Ludlum,  Siiuire  E 155 

Lukcns,John  F 531 

Lusk,  J.F 531 

Lutz,  Rev.  Joseph 243 


Mader,  Andrew 480 

Madison,  James 31 

Makemson,  Cyrus 416 

Manchester,  J.  H 392 

Marquis,  Hon.  W.  V 143 

Marshall.  G.  A 176 

Martin,  Alexander 412 

Mathers,  Hugh 548 

Maxson ,  Simeon .586 

Maxwell,  B.  W 138 

May,  John 639 

McCaslin,  Rev.  Robert 2.50 

McCormick,  T.  B 270 

McCune,  C.  J 490 

McEvoy,  John 2.S4 

McFarland,  F.  J 218 

McFarland,  Frank 3:;i 

McFarland,  S.  W 215 

McKee,  Charles  P 136 

McMurray,  W.J 3P3 

Means,  L.  N 383 

Metz,  William 397 

Milholland,  William,  M.  D. .  .319 

Miller,  Jeremi.ih .356 

Miller,  John  N 5a5 

Miller,  Noah :H8 

Mi  Her,  Rev.  William 310 

MillholT,  Rev.  P.  J 517 

Miltenbi'rger,  Hon.  Thomas. 552 

Monroe,  James 35 

Montgomery,  J.  S.,  M.  D 243 

Mooney,  M.  J 3ft4 

Mott.Col.  S.  R 216 

Musscr.  John 463 


Lamb,  J.  U. 
Lamb,  R.  D. 


I     Nickell,  A.M... 
Nicter,  F.  H.  L. 

I    Nietert,  H.  J.  F 


Noble,  John  C 534 

Noble,  N.T.,M.  D 171 


Outland.P.  P.,M.  I).. 
Outland,  W.  H.,  M.  D. , 


Paul,  Jacob 1G9 

PepplcC.C 458 

Piatt,  Col.  Bonn l.« 

Pierce,  Franklin 71 

Piper,  Edward  .M 493 

Plum,  W.  H.  H 316 

Polk,  James  K .59 

Prater.  Lanford,  M.  D 357 

Price,  John  A 556 

Purpus,  Edward 128 

Purpus,  Theodore 182 


Rabe,  William 515 

Randall,  D.  W 575 

Ratermann ,  Joseph 149 

Rebstock,  Hon.  A.  J 139 

Reddish,  A.  W.,M.  D 5«« 

Reichelderfer,  John 335 

Renick.J.  R 454 

Richardson,  F.  A.,  5L  D 497 

Rinehart.H.T  285 

Ritchie,  Jacob  H 509 

Roach,  W.  W 1S5 

Roebuck,  W.  S 272 

Rogepi,  E.  H .566 

Romshe,  George 327 

Rowand.  M.  V 437 

Rubart,  R.  W 139 

Rulmann,R.  A,  M.  D 2.57 

Rush,  I.  W 209 

Russell,  John  A 274 


Schmidt,  Christian 345 

Schulenberg,  William 178 

Scott,  Dr.  J.  L 196 

Scott,  Samuel .542 

Shaw,E.  V...... 460 

Shaw,  W.H.,  M.  I) 446 

Shawver,  Daniel 162 

Shoaff,  A.  P 370 


Shroyer,  Henry 431 

Shroyer,  J.F 524 

Shroyer,  Levi 352 

Shubert,  Nicholas 247 

Sidcsinger,  L.  W 273 

Sidney  Public  Library 272 

Sievenling.F 500 

Singley,  Rev.  W.  H 153 

Skillen,  Thomas 560 

Skillen,  W.  A .535 

Slack,  James 5.33 

Smith.  Aaron  A 483 

Smith,  John 690 

Smith,  John 418 

Smith,  Wesley 253 

Smoot.C.  E.,M.  D 237 

Snow,  W.  M 178 

Speckman,  Frederick 485 

Staley.  J.  M 238 

Slaley,  Nicholas 417 

Steinemann,  T.  B 365 

Stoker,  William 218 

Stokes,  C.  CM.D 563 

Stough.  William 428 

Stroh.  G.  H 297 

Stueve.  C.  A 144 

Sturgeon.  T.  S 309 

Sullivan.  Jonn  L 663 

Sutton,  J.  G..M.  D 210 

Swan.  E.  A..M.  D 507 

Sweigart,  Benjamin 221 

Swisher.  Maj.  Joseph 405 


Taeusch,  H.  W 231 

Tam.  Milton 137 

Taylor,  O.  J .571 

Taylor,  Zachary 63 

Thatcher.  J.  W 263 

Thomas,  David 283 

Thomson,  C.  E 408 

Timmermeister,  J.  H 283 

Titus,  S.  B 374 

Tschudin.  William 413 

Turner,  Ehud 517 

Tyler,  John 65 


Van  Buren,  Martin  47 

Van  Horn,  J.  S 540 

Van  Horn,  Jacob ,559 

Van  Oss,  George ISl 

Vitz,  Rev.  Martin 150 

Vogelsang,  Fred 210 

Vosler,  Christian 211 


INDEX. 


Walkup,  Frank bl\ 

Walkup,  Thomas,  M.  D 411 

Walton,  J.  B ZU 

Wanzer,  Hon.  C.  M 520 

Washington,  George 19 

Way,  James  E 508 


Weadock,  James  M 403 

Werst,  J.  A 527 

West,  Hon.  W.  H 459 

White,  John  R. .^202 

Whitworth.  Prof.  Henry 126 

W.lkin3,C.  M 200 

Wilkins,  W.  P 22! 

Williams,  Christie •-•41 

Williamson,  Prof.  C.  W 249 

Wilson,  Albeit ,  M.  D 444 

Wilson,  Jam«s.  Jr .■532 

Wirick.G.  W 557 


Wisener.  J.  G 

Wones,  Simon 

Wrights,  Samuel... 
Wyman,  Hon.  W.  C. . 


Young,  P.  M 564 

Young,  Samuel 469 

Young,  William 145 


Zearing,  I.  N 

Zedeker,  John  W. 


<^^^?^ 


^^^^ 


Adams,  John 22 

Adams,  John  Q 38 

Allen,  P.  B 2iS 

Andrews,  Elizur 300 

Andrews,  Mrs.  Elizur 299 

Arthur,  Chester  A 98 

Babcock,  J.  H 472 

Beatty,  Hon.  W .  W 15S 

Braden,  James 3^S 

Braden,  John 394 

Brewer,  L.  C J36 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 102 

Corwin,  Oliver 323 

Corwin,  Mrs.  Jane .322 

Dine,  C.  L.,  M.  D 306 


Fillmore,  Millard B6 

Flickinger,  Edward  452 

Frierott,  B 366 

Garfield,  J.  A 94 

Grabiel,  John 312 

Grant,  U.S 86 

Harrison,  Benjamin IOC 

Harrison,  W.  H 60 

Harrod,  John 360 

Hayes,  R.B 90 

HerkenholT,  Frank 502 

Howbert.Kev.  A.  R ..194 

Hubbell,  J.  A..M.  D 204 

Huenke, Louis .522 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 

Jefferson,  Thomas 2fi 


Johnson,  Aiidrew S3 

Koehl,  Frank J12 

Krebs,  R.  I.,M.  iJ 174 

Lawrence,  Hon.  William 116 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Madison,  James 30 

Marquis,  Hon.  W.  V 142 

McFarland,  S.  W 214 

Means,  L.  N 382 

Monroe,  James 34 

JIusser,  John 462 

Nieter,  F.  H.  L 278 

Nieter,  Jlrs.  Maria  S 279 

Piatt,  Col.  Donn 131 

Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Piper,  E.  M 492 


Polk.  J.  K ., et 

Ko.-«:h,  W.  W :.184 

Rulmann,  R.  A.,  M.  D 258 

Schmidt.  Christian 344 

Shroyer,  Henry 430 

Shubert,  Nicholas 246 

Sing  tey.  Rev.  W.  H 152 

Smith,  John 419 

Steinemann,T.  B 3' 

Sweigart.  Benjamin '_-20 

I'aylor,  Zachary €2 

Tyler,  John 54 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Washington,  George 18 

Walkup,  Thomas,  M.  D 410 


iqWs. 


Bailey,  J.  H 

Copeland,  Joseph. 

Emery,  W.  K 

Estey,  William.. .. 
Gierhart,  A.  J 


Hasting.  W.J 141 

He^,  Jacob 375 

Krapf,  William 299 

Leiter,  J.  M.  A  Co ,.333 

Loller,  S.  E 399 


Mader.  Andrew 

Piatt,  Mrs.  Ella  K. . , 
Reichelderfer.  John 
Shawver,  Daniel 


Smith,  .1.  A 

Smith,  John 

Sweigart,  Benjan 
Titus,  6.  B 


'X^?^'!; 


HECKMAN       |±| 

BINDERY  INC.        |8 

JAN  99 

^Bo™..T„WN^MANCHESTER.