USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 59
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.J. Warren Keifer was educated in the public schools and at Antioch College. Upon completing his collegiate course, he returned to the home farm and between the intervals of agricultural labor he de- voted himself assiduously to the study of law. After further student work in the law office of Anthony and Goode, he was admitted to the bar in 1858, at Spring- field, Ohio.
Almost before the young lawyer had an opportunity to prove his ability, the Civil War was precipitated upon the country and his ambitions, like those of hundreds of his fellow-citizens, fell into abeyance before the great wave of patriotic enthus- iasm that then swept Ohio. He no longer saw before him forensic triumphs and the judicial toga, the picture of a disrupted country filling his whole vision. He en- listed in defense of the Union on April 19. 1861, being among the first to proffer his services. They were so prolonged and of so distinguished a character that their records appear in every contemporary history of Ohio. On April 27, 1861, he was commissioned major of the Third
Joseph Keifer was born at Sharpsburg, Maryland, December 28, 1784, and died in Clark County, Ohio, April 13, 1850, having come to this county in 1812. He had qualified himself for the civil en- Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for a period of
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HON. J. WARREN KEIFER.
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three months, and before the expiration of that time was commissioned for three years. He participated in the battle of Rich Mountain, July 11, 1861, and in the same year was on the field at Cheat Monn- tain and Elk Water, West Virginia. On February 12, 1862, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Third Ohio In- fantry regiment and was present at the capture of Bowling Green, Kentucky ; Nashville, Tennessee, and Huntsville and Bridgeport, Alabama. In April, 1862, he led an expedition into Georgia and per- formed an important service in destroy- ing the saltpetre works at Nickajack Cave. On September 30, 1862, he was commis- sioned colonel of the 110th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and being as- signed to General Milroy's division in West Virginia, was placed in command of a brigade and the post at Moorefield. On June 13th, 14th and 15th, 1863, was fought the battles of Winchester, in which Colonel Keifer was twice wounded.
On July 9, 1863, Colonel Keifer was as- signed, to the Third Army Corps, Army of Potomac, which pursued General Lee's army and fought at Wapping Heights. In August, 1863, Colonel Keifer was dis- patched with his command to New York General Keifer again distinguished himself. On information reaching him, at this time. that a body of the enemy was concealed in a dense forest to the right, he rode in person to find out if the infor- mation was correct and came suddenly upon the Confederate troops. The shades of night were fortunately falling and the air was clouded with the smoke of battle and when he shouted to the waiting troops the command "forward," they followed after him, suspecting nothing. City to suppress riots and enforce the draft. This work successfully accom- plished, in September he rejoined the army and November 27, 1863, he took part in the battle of Mine Run. On March 24, 1864. he was transferred to the Sixth Army Corps. At the battle of the Wilder- ness, May 5. 1864. he was seriously wounded, but in August following. in spite of his disability, he resumed com- mand of his brigade. His adoring soldiers saw their commander, with his. The great moment came when the edge of
wounded arm still in a sling, fighting at their head under Generals Sheridan and Wright through the battles of Opequon, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, down to Shenandoah Valley, having his horse shot from under him in the first named battle. Recognition of his bravery and indomit- able courage was shown by President Lincoln, who brevetted him a brigadier- general.
In December, 1864, with his own corps, General Keifer rejoined the Army of the Potomac in front of Petersburg, and March 25, 1865, he led a successful assault which received commendation in general orders; on April 2, he charged with his division in the final assault which carried the main works and resulted in the cap- ture of Petersburg and Richmond: Quot- ing from an authority: "April 5, his command aided in cutting off the retreat of Lee's army and forced it to give battle on the 6th at Sailor's Creek, the wings of the army (General Keifer commanding the left) being forced forward, surround- ed and effected the capture of above 6,000 of the enemy, including Generals Ewell, Kershaw, Custis Lee, Barton, Corse, Hunton and other officers of high rank."
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the wood was reached and discovery was made that they had been obeying the com- mands of. a Union officer. It probably has never yet been thoroughly explained why he was not pierced then by a hundred Confederate bullets, but possibly his un- flinching courage and cool presence of mind so excited the admiration of the Confederate officers that they permitted him to escape to his own troops. The latter soon surrounded the Confederate body, capturing them all. Later, General Keifer used his influence in having the Confederate officers paroled from John- son's Island. His corps was later sent to aid in the capture of General Johnston's army in North Carolina, and he was pres- ent at the capitulation of General John- ston, as he had been at that of General Lee. Thus was ended a military service scarcely equalled by any other officer in detail. In 1866 he was tendered a com- mission as lieutenant-colonel of the Twen- ty-sixth United States Infantry, but this honor he declined.
Many years after General Keifer added another page to his military career. In April, 1898, when war with Spain was declared. he was again ready for serv- ice, although sixty-two years of age. Ap- pointed a major-general by President Me- Kinley, he served in command of the Seventh Army Corps at Miami and Jack- sonville, Florida, and embarked at Savan- nah, with 16,000 men for Cuba, establish- ing his headquarters at Buena Vista, just outside the ancient city of Havana. He was in command of the United States mil- itary forces which took possession of that city, January 1, 1899. In May, 1899, he was mustered out of the military service, and quietly resumed his interrupted law
practice at Springfield. This practice has covered a period of fifty years and at present General Keifer is associated in law partnership with his two sons, Will- iam W. and Horace C.
The political life of General Keifer also covers a long period, and as a states- man he has won the commendation and admiration of his fellow-citizens in equal degree as a soldier. From 1868 until 1870, he served with marked efficiency as a member of the Ohio State Senate, and he is the author of many of the most im- portant laws adopted during that period. In 1876 he was sent as a delegate to the Republican National Convention and in the same year was elected to Congress, where he served continuously from 187; until 1885. In December, 1881, he was chosen speaker of the House, which posi- tion he filled with his usual distinction, enjoying the prestige. of being the first and only Ohio man who was selected for this office, until March 4, 1883. The pub- lic records show how untiring were his labors for the welfare of his county. Fol- lowing his service in the Spanish-Ameri- ean War, General Keifer was again called into publie life, and in 1904 he was again elected to Congress. He was re- elected again and again and still. like a sturdy oak, stands as the representative of his district at Washington. As a mat- ter of fact there are few members of the House of Representatives who can trace their service back so far as can Ohio's favorite son, Joseph Warren Keifer.
On March 22, 1860, General Keifer was married to Eliza Stout, who was born in Springfield. Ohio. He and his wife have been the parents of three sons and one
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daughter, namely: Joseph Warren (now a member of the Nebraska Legislature), who resides in Nebraska ; William W. and Major Horace C., both of whom are as- sociated with their father in the practice of law; and Margaret E., who is now de- ceased. Major H. C. Keifer is a member and officer of the Ohio National Guard.
General Keifer has served almost con- tinuously as president of the Lagonda1 National Bank, at Springfield, since 1873. From 1870 to 1878 he served as one of the trustees of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphan Home, at Xenia, he having or- ganized its Board of Control in 1868. As a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, he has done much for the interests of the soldiers and has been honored with official position. So full has been his life of active participation in public matters that it is remarkable to find that beside his close study in connection wth an im- mense legal practice, he has found the time to turn his attention to literature. He wrote his political history, "Slavery and Four Years of War," in 1895-6, but interesting addenda was made after the Spanish-American War, prior to the issu- ance of the book, in 1900. The work is comprehensive and convincing.
Since beginning public life, General Keifer has been noted for his oratory and he has not yet ceased gathering laurels. At the annual banquet of the Pittsburg Board of Trade, held at Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, March 26, 1907, he delivered an eloquent address on "The Panama Canal," having recently returned from a trip to the canal zone. He resides in a beautiful home which stands at No. 1220 East High Street, Springfield.
STEWART FAMILY. The ancestral line from John Stewart is as follows:
I. John Stewart moved from Scotland to the North of Ireland, locating in Dru- more Township, County Down, twelve miles from Belfast, during the reign of Charles II. of England, shortly after the commencement thereof (his reign extend- ing from 1660-1685).
II. Robert Stewart was the son of John, who was born in 1665, near Glas- gow, Scotland, but who also went to the North of Ireland.
III. Samuel Stewart was the son of Robert, who was born in 1698 near Glas- gow, Scotland. He moved to the North of Ireland, and died in 1770 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1735, accom- panied by his youngest brother, Hugh, he crossed the ocean, landing in Philadel- phia, and settled in Drumore Township; Lancaster County, Province of Pennsyl- vania, near Chestnut Level, a Scotch- Irish settlement, where had been estab- lished a Presbyterian meeting-house. In person, Samuel Stewart was large and well proportioned, six feet in height, Roman nose, bluish-gray eyes, brown hair and ruddy complexion. He married in Ireland, Mary McClay, who was noted for her very dark complexion and large person. There was born to them ten chil- dren.
IV. The second son was Samuel, who was born in County Down and was brought to Pennsylvania in the emigra- tion of his father's family in 1735, and, on coming of age, settled as a farmer in Hanover Township, Lancaster County, now West Hanover, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, abont 1750. In the book published by William H. Egle, State
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Librarian of Pennsylvania, entitled who married Rachel Nicholson; William "Pennsylvania Genealogies" in refer- C. Stewart, who married Elizabeth T. ring to Samuel Stewart, among other Sellers." things the author uses the following language: "A public meeting of the cit- izens of Hanover Township, June 4, 1774, CHASE STEWART was born in Yel- low Springs, Ohio. His grandfather, John T. Stewart, located on the Miami River in what is now Green Township, Clark County, Ohio, in 1806. His father, Sam- uel Stewart, was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1823, and his mother, Mary Ann Marshall, was born in the same county in 1825. has gone into history, showing the earliest recorded movement toward independence, and, when the Revolutionary War began, the liberty-loving and patriotic Scotch- Irish of Hanover were found faithful and active participants. Samuel Stewart en- tered as a private, serving in Colonel Timothy Green's battalion for the de- fense of the frontier, and on June 6, 1776, Mr. Stewart attended law school for two years in Washington, D. C., having prior thereto studied in the office of Judge Will- iam Lawrence for a short period. On his return from Washington he commenced the practice of law in Springfield, Ohio, and has continued as an active practi- tioner in the courts of Clark County and elsewhere. in Captain James Rodgers' Lancaster County Associators, 'destined for the camp in the Jerseys.' His first wife was Nancy Templeton, and his second wife, Agnes Calhoun. Children were Sarah, Robert Templeton, Samuel Elder, James B., Charles, John Templeton, Mary Mc- Clay and Agnes. Sarah married Joseph Stewart; Joseph and James moved to He served as prosecuting attorney of Clark County for six years, and was a member of the Ohio House of Representa- tives for two terms. He was chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the House. Butler County, Ohio, in 1805. Robert Templeton Stewart was admitted to the bar in Center County, Pennsylvania. Samuel Elder Stewart, James B. Stewart and John Templeton Stewart moved to Clark County in 1806, locating on the Mi- ami. Jolın T. Stewart married Ann Elder on March 2, 1815; she was a daughter of AMOS SMITH, whose valuable farm of 250 acres lies partly in Harmony and partly in Pleasant Township, is one of the leading citizens of this section of Clark County, where he is a prosperous agri- culturist and also a successful inventor. Mr. Smith was born in Clark County, Ohio, June 16, 1848, and is a son of Eli and Minerva (Shaw) Smith. Robert Elder, of Hanover, of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. They had issue : Julianna, who married David Anderson; Perry, who married Rhoda Ann Wheeler; Elder R., who married Rachel E. Jacoby ; Samuel, who married Mary Ann Mar- shall; Charles, whose first wife was Isabel Nicholson; James M .. who married Re- becca C. Jacoby ; Thomas Elder, who mar- ried Delilah A. Marshall; Oscar Nesbit,
A large part of Mr. Smith's splendid estate descended from his great-grand-
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father, Peter Arbogast, who entered this ments in which the moving principle land from the Government, in 1812. He makes the invention superior to any other of the kind on the market. His invention, a clover buncher, was considered so valu- able that it was gladly purchased by the Champion Machine Company. On this he has secured an improved patent, a buncher that will deliver at the side instead of behind. Mr. Smith has also an improved drill on the market, together with other inventions. He is a man of progressive and up-to-date ideas and was the first farmer in Clark County to invest in an automobile. came overland across the mountains from Crab Orchard, now in Lee County, Vir- ginia. He was accompanied by his fam- ily, who were compelled to utilize the big emigrant wagon as a place in which to live until their cabin could be erected. The land has never gone out of the possession of the family. The Smiths are of English extraction and when the great-grandfather Smith came to America he settled first in Pennsylvania. Prior to 1823 he came to Clark County, accompanied by his son Jacob and the latter's wife, Priscilla.
Their son, Eli Smith, father of Amos, was born in 1823, in Clark County, and died December 22, 1891. In 1846 he mar- ried Minerva Shaw, who was born in 1821 and died in 1895. They had three chil- dren, namely: Amos; Mianda, who died in 1871, married J. W. Wright, who sur- vives her, but their children, Bertram and Ella, are both deceased; and Alice, who was born July 3, 1858, married Oscar Runyan, residing in Clark County, and they have one child, Glennie.
Amos Smith grew to manhood on the home farm and during boyhood he at- tended the district schools. He inherited 123 acres of land from his father and to this he added sixty acres, bought from the estate of Henry Jones, and sixty-five acres, from Samuel Melvin. In addition to this he owns two other properties at Vienna and two and one-half aeres near Springfield, at Bird's Crossing, which is very valuable, being already laid out in town lots. From boyhood, Mr. Smith has been interested in mechanics and has made many experiments which have resulted in the invention of innumerable farm imple-
In 1872, Mr. Smith married Catherine Wiet, who was born in Clark County, Feb- ruary 10, 1853, and is a daughter of Mich- ael and Ann (Runyan) Wiet. Mr. and Mrs. Wiet had nine children, namely: James, Eli, Mary, Catherine, Sarah A., Asa, Lucinda, Millie and a babe that died in infancy. The father of Mrs. Smith was a soldier in the Civil War and died in 1864, at New Orleans. Mrs. Wiet, who was born in 1827, still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had six children, name- ly: Clifford, Sylvia, Leona, Nina, Fos- toria and Kate. The eldest, Clifford, was born April 7, 1873, and died December 12, 1898. Sylvia was born November 24, 1875, married Noah Jones and they have one child, Gladys. Leona was born December 18, 1878, in 1899 was married to Charles Patterson and they have one son, Robert. Nina was born May 27, 1883, married Dr. E. A. Dye and they have two children, Max and Mildred. Fostoria was born March 13, 1891, and attends the Platts- burg High School. The youngest, Kate, was born January 8, 1893, and resides with her parents.
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JOHN A. YEAZEL, who was one of Moorefield's leading citizens for many years, was born on the old Jacob Yeazel farm, in Moorefield Township, October 10, 1837, and died August 3, 1907. He was a son of Jacob and Ellen (Foley) Yeazel.
Jacob Yeazel was born November 10, 1809, near Todd's Fork, Clinton County, Ohio, and was a son of Abraham and Mary (Curl) Yeazel. He married Ellen Foley, who was born January 14, 1810, a daugh- ter of John and Jane (Reiser) Foley. The Foleys were very early settlers of Moore- field Township, locating here when the country was a wilderness and Indians were numerous. The paternal grand- father of John A. Yeazel, Abraham Yea- zel, was born in Virginia, April 29, 1774, and in October, 1794, was married to Mary Curl, who was born October 30, 1776. It will be seen that this family can be easily traced for several generations, and its members have always been people of high character and useful lives.
The late John A. Yeazel followed agri- cultural pursuits, a large portion of his life having been spent in Moorefield Town- ship. After his first marriage he settled in Madison County, Ohio, but after the death of his wife, several years later, he sold his farm in Madison County and re- turned to Moorefield Township, where he lived for the remainder of his life with the exception of about four years spent in Harmony Township. There he owned 283 acres.
John A. Yeazel was married (first) to Mary A. Baird, who died in Madison County, leaving three children, namely : Sarah, who is the wife of Joseph W. Page; Walter D., who married Lura Suaufer; and Fannie, who married Henry Otstot.
Mr. Yeazel was married (second) to An- geline Hodge, March 14, 1872. Mrs. Yea- zel was born and reared in Pleasant Township, Clark County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Samuel E. and Sevina (Spen- cer) Hodge. Samuel E. Hodge was born in Virginia and was a son of Andrew Hodge, who was the pioneer who came at an early date to Clark County and settled on the farm which has never since been owned by other than a Hodge, it now being the property of Matthew Hodge, the brother of Mrs. Yeazel. When the grandfather came to this section of coun- try and selected the land he wished to enter, he started back to Virginia to bring his money in order to make a payment. He placed the wallet in his saddle-bags. on the back of his trusty horse. When he reached the Ohio River it was in a swollen condition and when Mr. Hodge attempted to swim his horse across, the rapidly flowing current overturned the saddle-bags and the heavy wallet went to the bottom. Many experiences had be- fore this tested the traveler's bravery and ingenuity, and without the loss of a moment he was equal to this call on his powers, and diving to the bottom he se- cured the precious purse which repre- sented, probably, the savings of years.
Mr. and Mrs. Yeazel had one child, Claret B., who married Walter Snaufer. Mr. and Mrs. Snaufer have six children, namely : Blanche B., Ruth E., Sevina E .. Edith M., Carl D. and Hazel M.
Sevina (Spencer) Hodge, the mother of Mrs. Yeazel, was a daughter of Matthew Spencer, who was a native of New York. He came with his family to Clark County before any divisions of land had been made and settled before the building of
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the old National Turnpike road. Mrs. was then manufacturing the Champion "Hodge remembers it being constructed reapers and mowers.
when she was a girl.
ROBERT JOHNSON, the subject of this sketch, was born January 20, 1832, in Springfield Township, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of James and Helen (Johnston) Johnson.
James Johnson was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and in 1824 he emi- grated to America, bringing with him his family. His objective point was Clark County, where he bought a farm of 100 acres of wild land, south of Springfield. The remainder of his life was taken up with clearing, developing and improving this farm, on which his wife died in 1869 and his death occurred in 1872. They were the parents of eight children.
Robert Johnson attended the district schools of Springfield Township until 1849, when he came to Springfield, leav- ing his brothers to assist his father in operating the farm. He had a natural aptitude for carpenter's and joiner's work, to which he served an apprentice- ship, and later he engaged with his brother in building and contracting at Spring- field until 1865. The oil industry was then springing up in Pennsylvania and he went to that state and became finan- cially interested in the oil fields there. In 1867, Mr. Johnson returned to Spring- field, where he became associated with Amos Whiteley, J. W. Taylor, W. W. Wilson, Walter Craig and others in the organization of The Champion 'Machine Company, which with added capital and wider trade relations, was to succeed the Whiteley, Fassler and Kelly firm, which
Mr. Johnson was made secretary and superintendent of the Champion Machine Company and served as such for fifteen years. When the Champion Malleable Iron Company was formed in 1873, Mr. Johnson became its secretary and a mem- ber of its directing board. In the follow- ing year the Bar and Knife Company was organized by the above concerns, which continued successfully to carry on busi- ness until 1884, and until 1881 Mr. John- son was a member of its board of directors and its secretary. In 1882 Mr. Johnson built a fine block on West Main Street, which has ever since borne his name.
In 1883 Mr. Johnson again became con- nected with large industrial enterprises, acquiring an interest in the manufactur- ing concern of Mast, Foos and Company, of which he was chosen vice-president, and he also later associated himself with the capitalists who organized the Superior Drill Company. This company was in- corporated with a capital stock of $250,000, and Mr. Johnson has served during its existence as its vice-president. The first board of directors of this com- pany were: E. L. Buchwalter, Robert Johnson, C. E. Patrie, Thomas F. Me- Grew and Charles S. Kay. This corpora- tion was a few years ago taken into the American Seeding Company, and forms the Superior Drill division of that com- bination of manufacturing plants, Mr. Johnson retiring from active service therein. In 1892 he acquired an interest in the Hoppes Manufacturing Company, of which he is vice-president, and is also a large stockholder in the Foos Gas En- gine Company, of which he was formerly
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vice-president. He has been more or less concerned in the growth and success of many other lesser concerns. He is a di- rector and stockholder in the Springfield Coal and Ice Company, which manufact- ured the first artificial ice used here. Mr. Johnson owns a large amount of real es- tate and he has done much to improve the city and add to its business facilities. In 1902 he built the first steel skeleton struct- ure in Springfield, a magnificent brick structure on High Street, between Lime- stone and Fountain Avenue, five stories high, with a frontage of 100 feet and a depth of 145 feet, which is utilized as the Edward Wren department store. He owns a beautiful home at No. 580 East High Street.
Mr. Johnson was married to Adelaide T. Humphreys, and they have the follow- ing children: Effie, who married K. M. Burton; Nellie, who became the wife of Randolph Coleman ; Frank C., who is vice- ' president of the American Seeding Com- pany; Clara, who married A. M. Mc- Knight; Jessie, who married Luther L. Buchwalter; and Benjamin P., who is con- nected with the American Seeding Com- pany. The family belong to the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church. For many years Mr. Johnson has been a trus- tee of the church and of Ferncliff Ceme- tery. He has always been prominent in the city's benevolent work and in spite of his absorbing business interests, has never neglected civic duties or evaded a citizen's responsibilities.
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