20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 62

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 62

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).

to Lawrenceville, warmly welcomed by his old patients and the citizens in general, and here he has engaged in practice ever since. He belongs to the Ohio State Med- ical Society and through medical litera- ture keeps closely in touch with all ad- vances made in medical science.

During the summer of 1876, Dr. Rey- nolds was married to Sarah Jane Ballen- tine, who is a daughter of James V. Bal- lentine, an old pioneer of Lawrenceville. James V. Ballentine was born in Cumber- land County, Pennsylvania, October 15. 1823, and is a son of William and Naney (Nail) Ballentine. In 1831, the parents of Mr. Ballentine left their old home in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio, journey- ing over the mountains and fording the streams in huge wagons. The family drove through what was then the village of Springfield and settled on a farm which is now included in the corporate limits of Dayton, Ohio. They resided on that farm until the fall of 1832, when they came into Clark County. The first of the Bal- lentine family to venture into Ohio was Robert Ballentine, an older brother of James V., who settled at Dayton in 1828. It was through his urgent messages that the other members of the family came to this State. Other old neighbors had also settled in Montgomery County and one. Henry Snyder, had located in Clark Coun- ty. The Ballentines came first to Clark County on a visit to Henry Snyder and they were so well pleased with the climate and soil that Mr. Ballentine needed little urging from their old neighbor to decide to invest near him in Clark County, and for the first year lived on a part of Mr. Snyder's farm at Snyder's Mills. He

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then bonght a farm of 160 acres, which was situated about one mile northwest of Lawrenceville, on what is now the Bal- lentine road. John Ballentine, a brother of James V .. kept a hotel and store at Tremont, and a brother-in-law, a Mr. Dar- nell, kept a large store at the same point and was also a school-teacher.

For two years James V. Ballentine went to school at Tremont, living there from 1856 until 1858. His father built a large brick house on his farm about this time and James V. went home to assist in its construction. Shortly afterward his father bought forty additional acres. Mr. Ballentine had been married in 1853 and some time afterward he bought a farm adjoining that of his father, on which he lived until 1876, when he moved to Law- renceville. For nine years he taught school and still takes a deep interest in educational matters in German Township. For twenty-eight years he was a member of the German Township School Board, and is one of the three survivors of the earnest body of men who founded the German Township High School in 1874. The two other members are Isaac Greist and George Johnston. During many years Mr. Ballentine dealt largely in live-stock. During his active years he took a deep interest in local political movements, be- ing a stanch Democrat, and frequently was elected to township offices. For three years he was collector of revenue for Moorefield, German and Pike Townships and for ten years was assessor. He has been one of the leading publie-spirited citizens of this section, taking an interest in improving the highways, in developing the country and in promoting educational enterprises.

On August 20, 1853, Mr. Ballentine was married to Rosanna Domer, who was born in German Township, Clark County, Ohio, of Maryland parentage. They had five children, namely: Edwin Porter, who died aged six months; Charles Forrest, who is engaged in teaching in Green Coun- ty; Sarah Jane, who married Dr. Jolin H. Reynolds; Nancy Aun, who married Enos Xander, a prominent farmer of Law- renceville and a member of the Clark County Agricultural Board; and Marion Seymour, who is a grocery merchant in Champaign County. Mr. and Mrs. Bal- lentine have been married for fifty-five years. They both are in the enjoyment of good health. They reside with Dr. and Mrs. Reynolds, honored and beloved mem- bers of the family.

Dr. and Mrs. Reynolds have two chil- dren, namely: Edgar L., a telegraph op- erator by profession, who is now con- nected with the office force of the superin- tendent of the James Leffel Company, at Springfield, married Ada Cook; and Julia Ann, who is stenographer and cashier for the Bay City Land Company, at Bay City, Texas.

Dr. Reynolds is identified with the Dem- ocratie party. In 1891 he was elected township clerk, was re-elected in 1892 and again in 1900, and has served continuously ever since, in 1907 being again re-elected for a term of two years. For twenty- seven years he has been an Odd Fellow and is past grand of the Springfield lodge.

WILLIAM FOOS, formerly president of the Second National Bank at Spring- field, the founder of the village of Foos- land, Illinois, and a citizen of enterprise

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who devoted time and capital to many William Foos became a member of the public-spirited movements both in this and manufacturing firm of James Leffel & other localities, was born in 1814, in Franklin, now West Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, and is a son of General Jo- seph and Margaret (Phifer) Foos.

From the age of fourteen years, Will- iam Foos displayed business capacity. About that time he rented land from his grandfather and successfully engaged for a time in its cultivation, and although other interests and occupations concerned him through many years of his subsequent life, he always kept in touch with agricul- tural pursuits and retained farming lands which it was his delight to improve. Dur- ing early manhood he embarked in mer- cantile enterprises both at Springfield and in Logan and Madison Counties, and dur- ing his time of residence in the latter county, he improved a farm. From 1846 until 1854 he was interested in a mercan- tile business at Springfield, but during this time he was also concerned in other enterprises. He was a man of great fore- sight and most excellent commercial com- prehension, and as he saw other avenues where investments of capital promised favorable returns, he knew how to use his means and reap certain advantages. In association with his brother, the late Gus- tavus Foos, he bought a large tract of land for a merely nominal sum, and this is now one of the most valuable additions to Springfield. It was but one of many successful enterprises,

The banking house which was estab- lished by William and Gustavus Foos, in 1859, in 1863 became the Second National Bank of Springfield. Of this institution. William Foos was president and his son, Fergus W. Foos, was cashier. In 1866

Company, with which he remained con- nected for a period of ten years. At the time of his death, Mr. Foos was inter- ested in the development of a magnificent estate of 4,000 acres of land, which he owned in Champaign County, Illinois. The prosperous village of Foosland, in that county, was named in his honor and he laid it out and generously endowed it.

In 1837 William Foos married Sarah Mark, who was a daughter of James and Nancy (Van Kirk) Mark, of Madison County, Ohio.

Mr. Foos died in February, 1892, at his home in Springfield, Ohio.

EMANUEL JACOB MARTIN, resid- ing on a farm of seventy-five and one-half acres situated about five miles south of Springfield, Ohio, is one of the best known residents of Green Township. He was born in Maryland, September 12, 1867, is a son of Christian and Sarah E. (Bowers) Martin, and a grandson of Emanuel and Anna (Doyle) Martin. His grandparents both died in Maryland, the grandfather at the age of eighty-one years and his wife at sixty-six.

Christian Martin, the father, was born in Washington County, Maryland, Octo- ber 20, 1836, and was there reared, and educated in the common schools. He worked on the home farm until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he was married, and his father, who had granted him remuneration from the time he reached majority, at that time handed him over five hundred dollars accumulated wages. With this sum for a start he set

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up housekeeping and for a period of five years rented a farm, with what success may be judged from the fact that at the time he moved to Clark County, Ohio, in 1869 he was possessed of five thousand dollars. He purchased eighty acres in Green Township, on which he lived six- teen years, then purchased an additional eighty acres in that township, which there- after was his home until he retired from active business and moved to the city of Springfield, to enjoy the fruits of an in- dustrious and well spent life. He has a comfortable home at 1322 South Lime- stone Street, and in addition to the prop- erties named above has 160 acres lying between the Springfield pikes in Green Township.

On December 10, 1843, Christian Martin was united in marriage with Sarah E. Bowers, who also was born in Washing- ton County, Maryland, and who is a daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann (Ber- gesser) Bowers. The following children blessed their home: Harvey Grant, Silas Clinton, Emanuel Jacob, John Henry, Charles Lewis, who died in infancy, Mary Catherine, Albert Lewis, and Jessie Lulu. Mr. Martin is a Republican in politics, whilst in religious attachment he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Emanuel Jacob Martin was about two years of age when his parents came to Green Township and here he was reared to maturity, receiving his educational training in the school at Clifton. Upon leaving school he engaged in farming near Springfield for sixteen years, then pur- chased his present place in Green Town- ship. He has a finely improved property, which he farms according to modern and

approved methods, and has met with un- qualified success.

Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Miss Anna German, a daughter of B. German, who was formerly the owner of the farm now owned by Mr. Martin. Five children were born to them-Ernest F., Lola, Walter, Jennie, and Lewis. Polit- ically, he is a Prohibitionist. Religiously, he is a member of the Third Lutheran Church.

JAMES F. RANKIN, a highly re- spected citizen and influential business man of South Charleston, who has been prominently identified with the banking interests of this locality for a number of years, was born here November 24, 1861, and is a son of John and Charity A. (Full- erton) Rankin, and a grandson of James Rankin.

James Rankin, the grandfather, was born in 1780 in Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland, and came to Madison County, Ohio, in 1815, and here was accidentally killed by a train in 1857. He married Margaret Truitt and they reared a fam- ily of eight children, of whom John, father of James F., was the second eldest. John Rankin was born December 18, 1811, in Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland, and in 1815 accompanied his parents to Clark County, Ohio, and located seven miles east of South Charleston, in Madi- son County, residing there until 1845, when he came to South Charleston. He was united in marriage with Charity Full- erton, a daughter of James Fullerton, and they reared a family of three children- Stacy B., James F., and Ella M., who died in 1887.

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James F. Rankin has spent his entire appointed executive commissioner of Ohio life in South Charleston, receiving his by Governor Nash, having charge of all the Ohio interests at the fair. Mr. Ran- kin was appointed receiver when the Washington Traction Company failed. educational training in the public schools of the town and in Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity at Delaware, Ohio. At the age of twenty he entered the banking busi- ness, in which he has continued ever since, being at this time vice president of the London Exchange Bank Company, of London, Ohio, and cashier of the Bank of South Charleston, St. Charleston, Ohio.

Mr. Rankin was appointed trustee of the combined Normal and Industrial In- stitute at Wilberforce by Governor Nash, and served as such for a period of five years, when he resigned and was ap- pointed, by Governor Herrick, a member of the Ohio Fish and Game Commission. He was re-appointed to that office by Gov- ernor Harris and is still serving in that capacity. Politically, Mr. Rankin is a Re- publiean. Fraternally. he is affiliated with the Masonic order, in which he was master for two terms, and has filled all the offices of that order.

Mr. Rankin was married in 1894 to Nettie Kemper, a daughter of James S. and Frances (Gasper) Kemper, and to them have been born two children-John M., and Kemper.

Stacy B. Rankin, president of the Bank of South Charleston, was born in South Charleston and has always been a resi- dent of this city, obtaining his education in the public schools. Mr. Rankin has al- ways been interested in the banking af- fairs of this locality, and is recognized as one of the leading and substantial busi -- ness men of the town. He has been see- retary of the Ohio Bankers' Association since its organization in 1891. At the time of the St. Louis World's Fair he was president; George W. Ansted, treasurer:

Politically, he supports the Republican party and represented Clark County in the Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth General Assemblies. Fraternally, he is a Mason and attends the Presbyterian Church of South Charleston. Mr. Ran- kin was joined in marriage with Miss Fan- nie Kemper, of Dayton, and they have two children-Marquis Kemper and S. Barcroft.

JOHN W. BURK, a representative business man of Springfield and one of the leading flour and mill men of the United States, is president of The Ansted & Burk Company, manufacturers at Springfield of the highest grades of flour produced. Mr. Burk was born in 1850. in Canada, but since the age of nineteen years he has been a resident of the United States.

Mr. Burk was educated in his own province in his native land and before leaving there had acquired a knowledge of milling. He followed milling for some years in Michigan, at Grand Rapids. Kalamazoo. Coldwater and other points. and at different places through the West. In July, 1897, he came to Springfield, pur- chasing the Warder & Barnett mill plant. which is the oldest one in this section. In 1902 the business was reorganized and was incorporated as The Ansted & Bark Com- pany. The present officers are: John W. Burk. president: E. W. Ansted, vice

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HON. OLIVER S. KELLY

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and R. D. Patton, secretary.

equipped with modern machinery of the best kind and has a capacity of 1,000 bar- rels a day. It has become one of Spring- field's most prosperous industries. Mr. Burk is serving in his second term as president of the Millers' National Federa- tion. He served for two years as the able president of the Springfield Board of Trade.

In 1875, Mr. Burk was married to Ida Negus, a native of Massachusetts, and they have two daughters: Helen M. and Mabel. the latter of whom is the wife of R. D. Patton. Mr. Burk is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason.

JOSEPH M. WADDLE, one of the rep- resentative agriculturists of Green Town- ship, Clark County, Ohio, and owner of a farm of 163 acres, located six miles south of Springfield, was born December 30, 1839, in Ohio County, Virginia, and is a son of William and Maria (McMecham) Waddle.

The father, William, was born July 12, 1806, in Ohio County, Virginia, within half a mile of the birthplace of the sub- ject of this sketch, and there lived until 1865, when he came to Clark County, Ohio, and settled on the farm our subject now owns, and where he died in 1877. His parents were natives of Ireland, who im- migrated to this country at a very early period, locating in Ohio County, Virginia, HON. OLIVER S. KELLY. The late Oliver S. Kelly was one of the citizens of Springfield whose energy, foresight and enterprise contributed very largely to the upbuilding of this city, of which he was a where they engaged in agricultural pur- suits. The mother of Joseph M. Waddle, in maidenhood, Miss Maria MeMecham, was native of Belmont County, Ohio, where she was born July 12, 1812. Her continuous resident from 1856 until his

The parents came from Ireland to this country capital stock is $100,000. The plant is in 1801 and operated a hotel for many years on the National Road, in that coun- ty. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Waddle, namely: John M., a resi- dent of New York; Joseph M., our sub- ject; Mary Jane, who was drowned in 1866; Susan M .; Rachel; W. A .; an infant died unnamed; and Anna Bell, deceased.

Joseph M. Waddle was reared in Vir- ginia and there obtained his educational training. 'In 1865 he came with his par- ents to Clark County, Ohio, and remained at home until 1870, after which he spent the greater part of twelve years in Greene County, Ohio. Upon his return to Clark County he located upon his present farm, which was purchased by his father on coming to Ohio. Here Mr. Waddle has since resided, engaged in general farm- ing, and is one of the substantial and highly respected farmers of Green Town- ship.

Mr. Waddle was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Martha Belle Taylor, a danghter of John Taylor of Clark County, and to them have been born five sons and three daughters, as follows: Nellie May; Luella F .; William T .; Mary Jessica; John Elmer; Forrest K .; Harry A .; and Roy M. Roy and Nellie reside at home. In politics Mr. Waddle is an ardent Re- publican, and is religiously a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

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death, April 9, 1904. He was born in Fassler & Kelly, a business firm which for Clark County, Ohio, December 23, 1824. years was noted for its high-class prod- nets and honorable business methods. Prior to his withdrawal from this firm in 1881, in order to enter the independent manufacturing field, it had commeneed the building of the Champion line of agricult- ural implements, a very extensive plant having been built on East Street. and was a son of John and Margaret (Me- Beth) Kelly. The Kelly family probably originated in Ireland and it is known to have been established in Virginia prior to the Revolutionary War, in which strug- gle James Kelly, the grandfather of the late Oliver S., took part, fighting for the independence of the colonies.

John Kelly, one of his family of twelve children, was born in Virginia and ac- companied his father to Ohio in 1808, set- tling in what is now Clark County. He participated in the War of 1812. Later he engaged in farming and so continued until his death, which occurred Septem- ber 25, 1825, at the age of thirty-six years. He married Margaret MeBeth, a daughter of Alexander McBeth, who survived her first husband and contracted a second marriage.

At the age of fourteen years. the late Oliver S. Kelly became entirely dependent on his own resources. From 1838 until 1842 he was engaged in farming for Will- iam T. MeIntire, after which he served a three-year apprenticeship to the car- penter's trade. According to the custom of the times, he then worked for one year as a journeyman, after which he formed a partnership with J. A. Anderson and to- gether they carried on a large business until 1852, when Mr. Kelly decided to visit the mining regions of California. He was so snecessful in his efforts there that when he returned to Ohio, in 1856, he had capital enough with which to enter into business. In the fall of 1857 he invested his money in the purchase of an interest in the manufacturing business of Whitely & Fassler, which then became Whitely,

In 1882 Mr. Kelly purchased the Rhine- hart & Ballard Threshing Machine Works, after which he organized The Springfield Engine & Thresher Company, which was incorporated with O. S. Kelly as president and O. W. Kelly as superintendent. At a later date the capital stock was in- creased and the business became known as The O. S. Kelly Company, its purpose being the manufacturing of threshing ma- chines and engines, with separators, feed- mills and other similar products. An ex- tensive plant was subsequently built at Iowa City. Iowa, where the feed-mills and separators were constructed. For the past ten years the company has also been engaged in the manufacture of piano plates and it now stands at the head of this industry in the United States. An- other of their active lines is the manu- facture and exporting of all kinds of rol- lers.

At one time Oliver S. Kelly was also connected with the banking interests of Springfield, and he built the Arcade Hotel and Nelson's Commercial College. a business block which remains one of the finest in Springfield. He was especially prominent in the city's public life. In 1863 he was chosen a member of the city council and served in that body for six consecutive years. He was one of the most zealous promoters of the city's im-

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portant public utilities. When the water- by trade. They had the following chil- works was established here, John H. dren: Joseph, William, Abraham, Ches- ley, deceased. Catherine, Margaret, Louise, Alice, deceased, George, and Ben- jamin. Edmund Wray died about 1853, when still in the prime of life. His widow survived him but eleven months. A fam- ily of small children were thus left or- phans, and necessarily they became sep- arated, going to live with different rel- atives. Three of the sons were drafted into the Southern Army, all of whom de- serted. One of these. Chesley, was re- captured and condemned to death, but he- fore the sentence was carried out was taken prisoner by the Union forces and imprisoned in New York, where his death occurred. Since the Civil War the chil- dren have become scattered in various parts of the country, and two have been completely lost trace of.

Thomas, George H. Frey and Oliver S. Kelly were appointed trustees to inan- gurate and put the system in operation. In 1887 he was elected mayor of Spring- field, by the Republican voters, and dur- ing his administration the City Hall was built and the City Hospital was completed. During this period also the city built the esplanade, of which it is justly proud, bnt the beautiful fountain in the vicinity was the gift of Mayor Kelly. He subsequent- ly served in many civic offices and on many business and charitable boards, lending his influence to all that was cal- «ulated to advance the public weal, and to add to the sum of human happiness in his city. While thus occupied and interested, up to the close of his life performing a daily round of duties, the great company that he had founded was always the oh- ject of his first care and most engrossing thought. Since his death the same bnsi- tess policy has been continued and its of- ficers are all of his name and kindred. Its president is Oliver Warren Kelly, its vice-president, Edward S. Kelly, and its secretary and treasurer. A. L. Kelly, two of the above officers being Mr. Kelly's surviving sons.

WILLIAM WRAY, who has been a resident of Bethel Township, Clark Coun- tv, Ohio. since 1868, where he has been successfully engaged in general farming, was born July 4. 1839, on a farm in Frank- lin County, Virginia, and is a son of Ed- mund and Betsy ( Kensey) Wray.

Edmund Wray and wife were both na- tives of Virginia. He was a wool carder

William Wray was fourteen years old when his parents died, after which he made his home with his uncle, Christopher Kensey, a farmer of Virginia, with whom he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Indiana and worked by the month on different farms for about two years. He then came to Clark Coun- ty, Ohio, and worked for four months on John C. Beckner's farm, after which he worked for Mr. Stewart several months. After his marriage, in December. 1863, to Catherine Snyder, a daughter of Feltz and Christina Snyder, he rented a small farm in Pike Township, Clark County. Here Mr. Wray and wife lived in a two- room log house, and experienced the coldest winter of their lives, the snow often blowing in through the cracks of the old house. Many times, however, that hard winter, they gave shelter and food

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to soldiers returning from the war, will- fied with the business interests of this ingly sharing what little they had, with city, and for almost a quarter of a century was connected with the industry men- tioned. which was founded by his late father. He was born at Springfield, Ohio, in 1850, and is a son of Gustavus S. and Elizabeth (Houston) Foos.

true Virginia hospitality. After living for eighteen months on this farm, Mr. Wray removed to a better improved farm in Pike Township, where he remained one year, after which he rented the Stude- baker farm in Miami County for two years, and in 1868 he bonght sixty acres of his present farm in Bethel Township, from William Gordon. An old log house and other buildings were on the land at the time of his purchase, but have been re- placed by more substantial and modern buildings. Mr. Wray later added thirty acres to his original purchase and his farm, which is about five miles west of Springfield, is situated on both sides of the old Troy road. Mr. Wray has been very successful as a general farmer and fruit grower, and disposes of his fruit in the Springfield market.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 62

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