20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 105

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 105

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On March 7, 1861, Mr. Kauffman was united in marriage with Anna Harnish, a daughter of John and Esther Harnish, and to them have been born the following children: Laura, who is the wife of George S. Lotterett; Benjamin, who mar- ried Melvina Herr; Hattie, and Hettie, twins, the former of whom died young, and the latter of whom, Mrs. H. K. Smith, with her son, Ward L., lost her life during the Johnstown Flood, while on the train

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when enroute to Pennsylvania; Susan S., who died aged fourteen years; Anna E., who died aged twenty-five years, was the wife of Clarence Tannyhill, also de- ceased; Emma B., who is the wife of Nor- man R. Bear, has three children, Robert, Lawrence, and Anna Virginia; Elizabeth; Dora and Cora, twins, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Kauffman and his wife are members of the Reformed Mennonite Church.

WILLIAM W. HYSLOP, residing on a well improved and highly cultivated farm of 140 acres located about four and one- half miles northwest of Springfield, on the Jordon and Miami Pike, has been a resident of German Township since the spring of 1894, and is one of the enter- prising and substantial farmers of this section. He was born October 1, 1862, on the old home place in New Jasper, Greene County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Martha (Bogle) Hyslop.

Robert Hyslop is also a native of Greene County, Ohio, having been born on the same farm on which our subject was born, and is a son of George Hyslop, a native of Scotland, who came to this country at a very early period and set- tled in the woods of Greene County, near New Jasper. There he built a log cabin, cleared a large tract of land and died at an advanced age. Robert Hyslop, father of William W., was reared on this farm and followed farming there throughout his life. He married Martha Bogle, who was a sister of Col. James Bogle, formerly a well known and highly respected citizen of Springfield, Ohio, now a resident of California. There were eleven children

born to Robert and Martha Hyslop, but five of whom are living. Mrs. Hyslop died about 1867 and Robert Hyslop died in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, in 1896.

William W. Hyslop was reared in Greene County, and has always followed farming in a general way on a scientific basis. Subsequent to his marriage he rented a farm near Clifton, Green Town- ship, Clark County, for a period of six years, but in 1894, he bought and located on ninety acres of his present farm in German Township. To this he added twenty acres in 1900, and thirty acres more in 1907. Here he has made many improvements, having built in 1902 a large, modern frame house with all mod- ern improvements, including furnace, nat- ural gas, etc. A lane formerly ran from Miami Pike to the old house, but Mr. Hys- lop has opened a lane from Jordon Pike to his new residence, which is located in German Township, but part of the land lies in school district No. 11, Springfield Township.

Mr. Ilyslop was married February 27, 1888, while still a resident of Greene County, to Mary Crawford, a danghter of Harper Crawford, who was a well known agriculturist of Greene County, Ohio. Two children have been born to our sub- ject and wife, namely: Earl, who is tak- ing a special agricultural course at the Ohio State University ; and Frances, who lives at home.

Mr. Hyslop served as a member of the Springfield Township School Board two years, 1905-1907, inclusive, having been elected on the Independent ticket, and when a resident of Greene County served two terms as township clerk of New Jas- per Township, being elected on the Re-

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publican ticket. He is affiliated with the Rockway Grange, No. 1626, and his relig- ious connection is with the United Presby- terian Church of Springfield.

CHARLES J. BOWLUS, proprietor of the Bowlus Fruit Company, manager of the National Stogie Company and ex- mayor of the city of Springfield, Ohio, was born December 17, 1866, in Bowlus- ville, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of George C. Bowlus, of this city.

George C. Bowlus, one of the leading real estate men of Springfield, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, and in about 1851 came to Clark County with his fath- er, Captain Samuel H. Bowlus, who was a member of a local military company of Maryland and subsequently became a farmer and grain dealer in this county.

Charles J. Bowlus was reared and ob- tained his educational training in Clark County, and early in life became a gro- cery clerk in Springfield, where he subse- quently engaged in the wholesale fruit business. In 1894 the Bowlus Fruit Com- pany, well known wholesale and retail dealers of foreign and domestic fruits and produce, was established, and is now ree- ognized as one of the leading business ep- terprises of the city.' Mr. Bowlus is also interested in various other enterprises of the city, among them the well known Ridgely Trimmer Company, of which he is vice president and a director. He has always taken an active interest in the political affairs of the city and served his first term as mayor of Springfield from 1899 to 1901. He was again elected mayor in 1903, serving until 1905.

On March 31. 1887, Mr. Bowlos was

joined in marriage with Fannie Lee Du- vall, of Springfield, and four children were born of this union: Roger C .; William D., who is attending college at Elberton, Georgia; Charles J., Jr., and Thelma, who died in infancy.

Fraternally Mr. Bowlus is a thirty- second degree Mason, holding lodge mem- bership at Dayton; he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Commercial Travelers. He is a director of the Children's Hospital, of Cincinnati, and, religiously, is affiliated with the Ileavenly Rest Episcopal Church, of which he is vestryman.

TUNIS FERMAN MUMFORD, resid- ing on a fine farm of 100 acres, situated in the northwest corner of Pike Township, has been a life-long resident of Clark County. He was born in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, July 4, 1860, on the old homestead farm of his maternal grandfather, and is a son of William H. and Nancy (Carmen) Mumford.

William H. Mumford was born in the old log cabin on his father's farm in Pike Township, Clark County. March 4, 1835, and is a son of Richard Mumford, who came from Maryland to Ohio on horse- back and was one of the pioneers of this section. The latter died here at a ripe old age, and was the father of the follow- ing children: William H .; Alexander; Mary, widow of Peter Barley; John A. and Daniel, deceased. William II. Mum- ford helped clear the farm and has fol- lowed farming all his life, except the time spent in the army during the Civil War. He was a member of the Seventy-first Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and dur-

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ing his service of three years and six lodges in many counties of Ohio, Mich- months participated in many important igan, Kansas, Oklahoma and Minnesota. engagements. He married Nancy Car- On February 20, 1878, Mr. Mumford was united in marriage with Martha Wrightsman, a daughter of Richard and Minerva (Adamson) Wrightsman, of In- diana. Her father died in July, 1901, and her mother now resides in Portland, In- diana. Mr. and Mrs. Wrightsman had the following children: Munford; Will- iam, deceased; John; Martha; Adolphus, deceased; Allie, deceased; Phoebe, de- ceased; Charles; Thomas; Effie; and Florence, who died young. men, who was born in a log cabin on the pioneer farm of her father, John Carmen, who came with his wife from Pennsylva- nia, at an early date, and lived in Pike Township until his death, at the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Mumford be- came parents of the following children : Mary, who is the wife of Henry MeCros- son, of Dayton, Ohio; Sarah, who is the wife of Sharon Scott, lives in Miami County, Ohio; John A., deceased; Tunis F .; Charles R., deceased; Wilbert H., who resides in Miami County; and Clara Adella, who is the wife of David Little- jolın, lives in Champaign County, Ohio. Mrs. Mumford died in April, 1900. Mr. Mumford resides at the home of his youngest daughter.

Tunis F. Mumford was reared on the home place and received his educational training in the district schools. He early engaged in agricultural pursuits and rent- ed a farm from the time he left the pa- ternal roof until 1896, when he purchased forty-five acres of his Grandfather Car- men's old farm. To this he added twelve acres of the Henry Shell farm, and con- tinued to reside on that place until 1908, when he traded it as part payment on the David Strock farm of 100 acres, where he now lives. He has always followed general farming, and in addition to this, during the past twenty-five years, has op- erated a threshing machine all through this section. For three years he was deputy for the Threshers' Association, an organization national in its extent. its object being the protection of threshers. and during his terin of office organized

Tunis F. Mumford and his estimable wife are parents of three children, as fol- lows: Clarence, who lives in Troy, Ohio, married Mary Hill, and has a daughter, Glenna May; Glenna, who died aged nine years; and Blanche, who is the wife of Wilber Maxson. Fraternally Mr. Mum- ford is a member of Castown Lodge No. 426. 1. O. O. F. He is a Democrat in pol- ities. Religiously he is a member of the Honey Creek Church.

CHARLES N. RITCHIE, one of Pleas- ant Township's leading citizens, owning a valuable estate of ninety-eight and two- third acres, all in one farm, situated in Sections 37 and 42, about three miles southeast of Catawba, was born July 4. 1847, and is a son of Solomon and Eliza Ann (Ropp) Ritchie.

The parents of Mr. Ritchie were born in Virginia and they lived near Harper's Ferry. They had the following children : Mary F ... deceased, who married Oliver Young, also deceased, had four children, Effie, Willie, Tillie and Bertha, Effie and Tillie being deceased; John.S., who was a

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soldier and was killed during the Civil Howard operates both his own and his War; William, who was born in 1845, father's farm. Lora Estyl Ritchie was born March 27, 1884, and was married August 25, 1904, to Paul Bronson. Both children of Mr. Ritchie received an ex- cellent public school education. married Mary Ann Brown, and they have three children, Edward, Celia and Anna, all being residents of Champaign County ; Charles N .; Edward, who married Lu- cinda Curl. had four children, Nina, Ora, Elta and a babe that died in infancy ; and Martin Luther, who died aged six years.

Charles N. Ritchie was married in Pleasant Township, September 24, 1876, to Mary Wiet, who was born February 15, 1851, and is a daughter of Michael and Ann (Runyan) Wiet. Michael Wiet was born in Virginia and his wife in Clark County, Ohio. They had nine children, as follows: James, who was born in 1847, married Hannah Potee; Eli F., who was born in 1849, married Savilla Paine, and they had two children, Hattie May and Sallie: Mary, who became Mrs. Ritchie; Katherine, who was born in 1853, married Amos Smith, and they had six children, Clifford, Sylvia, Leona, Nina, Fostora and Kate; Sarah, who was born in 1855, died aged two years; Asa, who was born in 1857, died unmarried, aged twenty-six years; Lucinda, who was born in 1858, married Harry Tavner and they had six children, and she died March 17, 1906; Amelia, who was born in 1860, died at the age of thirteen years; and the youngest child, a son, was born and died in 1862.

Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie have had three children, the two survivors being Howard and Lora Estyl. The eldest, a son, was born May 19, 1880, and died an infant. Howard Ritchie was born January 16. 1882, and married Nellie Bumgardner, and they have one child, Gwyneth, who was born December 10, 1904. They re- side on their farm of twenty-five acres.

Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie have lived in Pleasant Township ever since their mar- riage and on the present farm for the past seven years. It is a valuable prop- erty, situated conveniently on the Ells- worth Turnpike, near Catawba, and has been well improved. For a term Mr. Ritchie served as a member of the town- ship School Board and terms as road su- pervisor. Both he and wife belong to Pleasant Chapel, of which he is one of the trustees.

JOHN RAY, the oldest resident of Clark County, Ohio, residing in Pike Township, was born July 29, 1812, and has lived here all his life, a period of over ninety-five years. He makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. George Freeman, who lives on the old home place near Dialton.

Lewis Ray, father of John Ray, was born in Virginia and after his marriage to Elizabeth Zigler, in 1812, came to Ohio, making the journey in wagons. They settled in the woods in Pike Township, made a clearing and erected a log cabin. They subsisted largely on wild game, deer and other wild animals abounding, and corn bread, but once a week, usually Sunday, they had a change to white bread. Lewis and Elizabeth Ray spent the re- mainder of their lives on the quarter sec- tion of land they owned here, he dying at the age of sixty-six years and she at

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ninety. Both were members of the Meth- his children and now lives on the old odist Episcopal Church. Ten children home place with his daughter, Mrs. Free- man. were born to them, eight grew up, as fol- lows: John; Mary, who was wife of Timothy Wones, both deceased; Henry, deceased; Susan, widow of Duncan Thackery, is one of the oldest women living in the county; Michael, deceased; Samuel, deceased; Lewis, deceased; and Sarah, who was wife of Rev. John Black, both now deceased.

John Ray was reared in Pike Township and has witnessed a remarkable change in conditions since his boyhood days. Then wild game was plentiful and Indians still roamed about this section, some times their hostility driving his parents to leave their home for a place of greater safety. He attended school in the old log school- house, and assisted in clearing the home place of its wild growth of timber, ex- periencing many hardships of pioneer life. He engaged in farm work there for a time. then picked up the carpenter trade, which he thereafter followed, and as a carpenter and builder for more than thirty years, sometimes employing a large force of men. He put up many of the frame houses and barns of this town- ship, some of which are standing today. While a young man he purchased of Jacob Harner eighty acres of land for $600. be- ing given six years in which to make pay- ment. without the requirement of interest. He later bought an additional eighty acres for $800, and from time to time add- ed to his original purchase until he had 300 acres. He was always successful in a business way, but success came only through hard, persistent and well direct- ed effort. Upon retiring from business activity he divided his property among

In April, 1837, Mr. Ray was united in marriage with Margaret Overpack, who was born near North Hampton, Pike Township, and was a daughter of George and Martha (Kerns) Overpack, who came from Virginia. She died in March, 1892, aged seventy-two years, being survived by her husband and three children: Lewis, who married Jane Davis, both now deceased; George, who married Sarah Howell, both deceased; and Mary, with whom Mr. Ray now lives.

In 1862 Mary Ray was married (first) to. David Otewalt, who died in 1882, leav- ing a daughter, Rosella, who is now the wife of Elihu Hiatt, of Columbus, Ohio. Her first union was with Matthew Wones, and they had one son, Ross, who married Cora Hardin. Mrs. Otewalt was married (second) in 1892 to George Freeman, who is now operating the old Ray farm. Mr. Freeman was born in New York state and is a son of Warren Freeman,

The venerable John Ray has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than sixty years. He is a Republican in politics.

ROONEY WASHINGTON JONES, re- siding on his valuable fruit farm of three acres, situated within the limits of Vien- na, in Harmony Township, fills the im- portant office of treasurer of the village. Hle was born in Clark County, Ohio, Jan- mary 18, 1875, and is a son of Newton R. and Frances (Sullivan) Jones.

The maternal grandparents of Mr. Jones were Samuel and Mary Sullivan.

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Samuel Sullivan was born in 1800 and ing for a number of years. On May 26, was an apprentice to an officer during the 1900, he was married to Cora A. Stafford. They have a little adopted daughter named Bessie. Mrs. Jones was also edu- cated at the Ohio Normal University and is a lady of high attainments. She for- merly taught school.

War of 1812. He came from Baltimore, Maryland, to Clark County, in 1837, and settled near Vienna, where he condneted a cooper shop for many years. At the time of his death, in 1898, he was the old- est man in Clark County. His wife died in 1881. They had three daughters: Mary Catherine, who married William Young; Frances Ann, who was born in Maryland in 1834; and Clarissa.

Newton R. Jones was born in Virginia in 1836 and died in 1890 in Clark County, Ohio. He served in the Federal Army during almost the entire period of the Civil War, enlisting November 2, 1861, at Vienna, Ohio, in Company C, Eleventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and being honorably discharged at Omaha, Nebraska, April 1, 1865. This regiment was mainly used to fight the Indians and their service was constantly one of great danger. On one occasion Mr. Jones was among the mountains in very inclement weather and was almost frozen to death. After his military service was over he re- turned to Clark County and resided near Vienna during the remainder of his life. In 1860 he was married to Frances Ann Sullivan, and they had three sons born to them, all of whom survive, namely : Vancy, who was born in 1868, resides with his brother, Rooney W .; Noah, who was born April 18, 1871, married Sylvia Smith, a daughter of Amos Smith, and they have one daughter, Gladys; and Rooney Washington.

Rooney W. Jones was educated with a view of becoming a teacher, taking the course at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, and subsequently engaging in teach-

Mr. Jones is a Republican and has taken an active interest in politics ever since he became a voter and has been hon- ored by his party on many occasions. In 1900 he took the census in this vicinity. He has served as chairman of the Clark County Central Committee of his party, and at present is corporation treasurer of Vienna, having previously served two terms as township treasurer. In 1908 Mr. Jones was nominated by his party for county recorder, a nomination in Clark County on the Republican ticket meaning an election. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Vienna, in which Mr. Jones is a trustee and a steward. Mr. Jones is one of the prominent members of the order of Knights of Pythias at Vienna, belonging to Lodge No. 660, and also to Lodge No. 15, Junior Order United American Mechanics. He is a valned member of the Franklin Society.

GEORGE GRIESER, a prosperous farmer living on a farm of eighty-three and one-half acres in Pike Township. Clark County, Ohio, was born November 8. 1844, in Hessen, Darmstadt, Germany, and is a son of John and Maria (Gearon) Grieser, both of whoin died in that coun- try, he at the age of fifty-four years, and she at seventy years. The father follow- ed farming throughout life. They had

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eight children, as follows: Mark, de- a general way, and has been very success- ceased; John; Margaretta, deceased, who ful. was the wife of John Domesberger; Philip; George; Gertrude, who is the wife of Jacob Gearon; Adam; and Gerhardt. The four youngest of the family came to America, but not at the same time. Mrs. Gearon being the first and George the next to come across the ocean.

It was in June, 1872, that Mr. Grieser and Elizabeth Stineman were married. She is a daughter of Adam and Eve Eliz- abeth (Klinger) Stineman, who followed their children to America from Germany, late in life. Mr. Stineman died in Indi- ana and his wife died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grieser. They were the parents of eight children: Adam, who crossed the Atlantic in 1860, being the first of the fam- ily to come to America; Peter, who lives in Germany; Eve Elizabeth; Catherine, who is the wife of Jacob Bowers; John, who died in Indiana; Agnes, who is the wife of Charles Helms; and two who died in childhood.

George Grieser was reared on a farm in his native province, and there received an excellent education in the public schools. In May, 1872, he left home for America and reached Fort Wayne, Indi- ana, just three weeks later, to the hour. Crossing on the same steamer was his bride-to-be, Elizabeth Stineman, who came from the same neighborhood, and upon arriving at the home of her brother, George Grieser and his estimable wife have also had eight children, namely : Catherine, who died April 20, 1908, was the wife of Adam German, and had three children, Effie, Lena, and Edna; Agnes, who died in 1904, aged twenty-nine years, was the wife of Philip Roder, and left three children, George, Nellie and Flor- ence; John, who married Iva Boyers, has a son, Ralph; Adam, who married Julia Florey, has one child; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Elliott Neese, lives in the State of Washington; Effie, who is the wife of William Parks has two children, Al- fred and Edward; George, who is employ- ed as a bookkeeper at Springfield, Ohio, and Margaret, who died in 1906, aged eighteen years. Mr. Grieser is a Repub- lican in politics. Religiously he is a mem- ber of St. John's Lutheran Church at Springfield, Ohio. in Fort Wayne, they were married. Two weeks later they moved to Clark County, Ohio, where his sister, Mrs. Gearon, lived, and there he worked in a stone quarry for five years. He then rented a farm of 110 acres in German Township, of Samuel Nesser, which he operated for four years, and later, the Henry Snyder place of 200 acres, near Enon, for two years. He next rented 110 acres of Gen. Rust, in North- ampton Township, for four years, after which he was again located on the Ness- ler place for three years. He then con- ducted the Anna Schooley farm of 160 acres for four years, after which he pur- chased his present farm of eighty-three acres, on which stands a large brick house. He subsequently added more land and erected good substantial farm buildings. He put up a commodious farm-house con- taining six large rooms, in which he now Mr. Grieser has made his way in the world through hard and persistent effort, lives, and rents the brick residence. He has followed farming and stock-raising in assisted only by his faithful wife. Com-

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ing to this country with little means, a foreigner, unused to Americans and American methods, it was an uphill fight from the first. Meeting adversity with a brave front, he struggled on until now he is reckoned one of the substantial men of his home community.

HON. MELVIN L. MILLIGAN, presi- dent of The Fairbanks Company, and vice president of The Indianapolis Switch and Frog Company, is a leading citizen of Springfield. Mr. Milligan was born in Perry County, Ohio, July 28, 1860, and is a son of Alfred P. and Rachel (Iliff) Milligan.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Mil- ligan were George and Priscilla (Thrap) Milligan, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio among the pioneers of Perry County. In the home they established Alfred P. Milligan, father of Melvin L., was born September 1, 1831. In early manhood he married Rachel Iliff, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, February 16, 1840. They reside at Deavertown, Ohio. Alfred P. Milligan was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits through his active years.

Melvin L. Milligan attended school in both Perry and Morgan Counties, com- pleted a thorough business course at Zanesville, and then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he was graduated in 1884, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Several years of close study of law followed and he was admitted to the bar at Columbus, in May, 1886, and later, at Kansas City, Missouri, in which city he engaged in the practice of his profession.

Having acquired business interests at

Springfield, Ohio, Mr. Milligan was led to locate in this city in 1891, since which time his connection with her important enter- prises has been strengthened. Mr. Milli- gan, with trained intellectual faculties, is also a man of very practical business con- ceptions, and the ability with which he has, for years, conducted large transac- tions, has served to make him a very not- able factor in the commercial life of this section. He has filled high official posi- tions with great industrial concerns. Since 1902 he has been president and general manager of The Fairbanks Company, which formerly did business as The Springfield Foundry Company, and which employs 325 people. For four years he served as president, and since then has been vice president of The Indianapolis Switch and Frog Company, which is one of the largest houses in the country en- gaged in the manufacture of switches, frogs and railroad specialties. It was in- corporated in 1892, with a capital stock of $300,000.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 105

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993