20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 68

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 68

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).

In February, 1879, he was married to Maggie Johnson, who is a daughter of John F. and Lydia (Shuman) Johnson, and who was reared on a farm adjoining the present one. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had nine children, namely: David J., Charles E., Raymond F., John H., George B., Harry B., Ralph Q., Lydia and

Mr. Smith purchased his present farm from his mother's estate. He devotes considerable attention to raising draft horses, Shropshire sheep and Poland China hogs. He is a stockholder in the American Stock Breeders' Association. He is vice president of the New Carlisle Bank, of which he has been a stockholder since its organization. Mr. Smith is prominent in Masonic cireles, being a member of New Carlisle Lodge No. 100. Chapter No. 57. Council No. 30, Coleman Commandery of Troy No. 17 and A. & A. S. R., Valley of Dayton, and Syrian Tem- ple, Mystic Shrine, of Cincinnati. With his wife he belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Republican.

WILLIAM THACKERY, an enter- prising agriculturist and stock-raiser, of Pike Township, who owns about 374 acres of fine farm land in Clark and Cham- paign Counties, Ohio, was born January 30, 1852, on his father's farm in Cham- paign County, and is a son of Duncan and Susan (Ray) Thackery.

William Thackery spent his boyhood days on the home farm in Champaign County, growing to manhood as one of a family of nine children, namely: Ann Jane, who married Robert Smith, both de- ceased; Sarah J., who married John Neese; Mary, who is the wife of Andrew Ryman ; John, who owns the home place. at Thackery Station; William, Finley. Joseph. Irey Bell, who is the wife of Michael Fadley, and Emma, who married A. Knisley.

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ADAM LENHART

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MRS. ISABELLA B. LENHART

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William Thackery remained with his Edith, who married John Gronp, lives parents until after his marriage, and one near her parents; Emery, who is a gen- eral merchant at Seth, and Edna, Elmer and Elwood. year later came to his present farm, in Pike Township, renting 123 acres for sev- eral years and subsequently buying it Mr. Thackery is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of Northampton. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. from his father. He also bought a tract of 143 aeres in Mad River Township, but sold it to Joseph Heffelfinger, who later sold it to C. Robbins. From time to time he has added to his acreage until he has become one of the large landowners of this FRANCIS E. MeKENZIE, vice presi- dent and general manager of the Me- Kenzie Lumber and Coal Company, with yards at Grand Avenue and the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, Springfield, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, October 4, 1876. section. Mr. Thackery has always fo !- lowed farming and has made all of the improvements which make this one of the most valuable farms in the township. He cleared about fifteen acres of the land, re- moved the old log house, which he re: placed with a more substantial and mod- ern dwelling, and has expended money and exercised taste in bettering his sur- ronndings in every direction.

Mr. Thackery was married February 27. 1876, to Lueretia Shaffer, a daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Kirkle) Shaffer, both still living. Mr. Shaffer was born in Virginia, in 1826, and at the age of five years came to Ohio with his parents. Mrs. Shaffer is also a native of Virginia and came to this state with her parents when a girl of ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have had ten children: Lneretia, Marley, Jacob W .. Anna, Warren, Arthur and Lottie, living, and Viola, Samuel A. and Edwin, deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Thackery have reared a family of eight children: Edward, who lives near Christiansburg, married Gert- rude Stephens, and has one child, Gladys; Emmet, who married Bessie Wilson, has two children, Zelpha and Mildred; Earl, who lives near his father, married Eliza- beth Gabriel, and has one child, Marie:

Mr. Mckenzie was eight years old when he accompanied his parents to America. They located first near Tiffin, Ohio, and the son soon learned to be self-support- ing. Ile was first employed in burning lime. When fourteen years of age he went into the logging business, which he followed until he began to manufacture lumber at West Mansfield, purchasing a mill and continuing there until 1897. when he and his partners bought a saw and planing-mill and lumber-yards at Dela- ware. The fine plant there is still main- tained, together with a saw-mill at Nor- ton. and in October, 1907, they bought a saw-mill at Springfield and Mr. Mc- Kenzie took up his residence in this city. The company is one of importance in the business world and is interested in other holdings outside of Inmber and coal.

In 1901 Mr. Mckenzie was married to Gnrnetta Said and they have two sons- Jolm and Robert. Mr. Mckenzie is a Mason, and he belongs to the Springfield Commercial Club and to the Young Men's Christian Association, at Delaware.

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ELIJAH L. DAVISSON, one of Pleas- He was married (second), in 1894, to Mary Stateler, and their one child died in infancy.

ant Township's representative citizens, owns a valuable farm of 137 acres in Clark County and 100 acres in Cham- paign County, Ohio. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, April 12, 1840, and is a son of Lemuel and Susan (Lott) Davis- son.

The grandparents of Mr. Davisson, Isaac and Sarah Davisson, came to Clark County from Pennsylvania at a very early day. Both died in this county, the grandmother living to be almost one hun- dred years of age. Lemuel Davisson was born in Clark County, June 14, 1812, and married Susan Lott, December 31, 1835. She was born December 11, 1812. They had eight children, namely: Isaac, Eliz- abeth, Elijah L., Mary, George, Daniel, Isaac and Thomas William. The first Isaac of the above family was born Sep- tember 18, 1836, and died February 19, 1840. Elizabeth, born July 18, 1838, died February 21, 1840. Mary Ann, born Jan- uary 21, 1842, died September 6, 1888. She was married (first) to John Hendricks, who died from wounds received in the army during the Civil War. He left one son, Wilbur. She was married (second), in 1879, to Eli H. Adams, who died in 1907. George W., born November 23, 1843, married Elizabeth J. Jones and they had eight children, namely: Ida M., Lawrence E., Minnie, Mertie, Hayes, Net- tie, Wilbur and Omar. Daniel D., born December 31, 1845, died September 9. 1860. Isaac (2), born December 31, 1848, died September 6, 1860. Thomas Will- jam, horn March 31, 1851, died May 21, 1902. He was married (first) in 1880 to Lizzie A. Stipp, who died April 19, 1891. They had one child, who never breathed.

Elijah L. Davisson attended the district schools when he was a boy and grew to manhood on his father's farm. In 1862 he joined Company C, One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, for service in the Civil War, but the regiment had gone no further than Piqua. Ohio, when he was prostrated with typhoid fever and instead of going out to fight, he was brought home and struggled through a serious spell of sickness. On September 1, 1869, he was married to Dorothy Jane Neer, who was born April 14, 1851, and is a daughter of Joseph F. and Margaret (Arbogast) Neer. The parents were born in Clark County, May 4th and September 6th, 1825, respectively. The mother still survives. There were the following children in the Neer family: Amy, the eldest daughter, residing with her mother at Mechanicsburg, was born July 1, 1845; Sarah C., who was born in 1848, died in 1860; Dorothy Jane; Bruce, born in 1857, married Mary Wilkison and they have two children, Esta, who is the wife of Clarence West, and Cloice E., of Champaign County, who married Bessie Everhart; William, born in 1863, married Anna Kimble and they have three chil- dren, Foster and Florence, twins, and Milburn; and Grant, born in 1865, mar- ried Fannie Loveless and they have one son, Paul, born in 1893. Mr. Neer had married (first) Dorcas Bodkin. She left one daughter, Margaret Ann, who died in 1904. In 1860 all this section was af- flicted with a scourge of diphtheria. and both the Neer and the Davisson families lost children from this disease.

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Mr. and Mrs. Davisson have three chil- dren, Charles Clifford, Clarence W. and Harry L. Charles Clifford was born May 15, 1871. He was married February 5, 1896, to Nellie B. Woodmanse, and they have three sons: Floyd L., born Decem- ber 13, 1897; Bruce R., born November 23, 1903; and Kenneth E., born March 3, 1907. Clarence W. was born August 6, 1877. He was married to Lelia Dodson in May, 1900, and they have one daughter, Mabel Corinne, who was born October 8, 1901. Harry L. was born November 29, 1887, and he assists his father in manag- ing the large estate.

Mr. Davisson has resided on his present farm since 1870. He has been continually adding to its acreage and making im- provements. With the assistance of his son he carries ou general farming, rais- ing large erops of the natural products of this climate. He is one of the leading members of Nation Chapel, and is a stew- ard in the same and is one of the trustees. For fifty-four years Mr. Davisson has been the chorister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving in three differ- ent churches in this period. All of his family are members of the chapel men- tioned, which is situated not far from his farm. He takes no active interest in pol- ities, but he is always ready to perform the duties of a good citizen.

ADAM LENHART, the efficient super- intendent of the Children's Home, of Clark County, Ohio, has filled this impor- tant and responsible office since March, 1885. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1840, and is a son of Abraham and Leah (Shettler)

Lenhart. The Lenhart family is of Ger- man extraction and is well represented in l'ennsylvania and adjoining states.

Abraham Lenhart came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, removed from this state to Hamilton County, Illinois, and still later to Kansas, where he died, aged sixty-four years. He had nine children, as follows : Adam, whose name appears at the head of this article; Christopher, who died aged thirteen years; Susan, residing in Kansas, who is the widow of William Cox; Mar- garet, residing in Kansas, who married Washington Hutchinson; Abraham and Henry, both of whom went to Kansas, where the former died; Sarah, residing in Kansas, who married James Charles- worth; William, who resides in Missouri; and Anna, who died in young woman- hood.

Adam Lenhart engaged in farming and also worked as a stationary engineer prior to coming to Springfield, Ohio, in 1875, where he was employed on the work of fitting up the plant of the St. John Sewing Machine Company. Later he be- came foreman of the Stand departments, having also assisted in completing that plant. After two years of retirement from business Mr. Lenhart was called to become superintendent of the Clark Coun- ty Children's Home.

This great county charity was founded six years before Mr. Lenhart took charge. and under his wise and capable manage- ment it has greatly increased in useful- ness. The records show that more than 1,500 children have found refuge in the institution and have been sent to private homes, where they are kindly cared for, although not released from the protecting supervision of the Home. It may sur-

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prise many of the readers of these lines born in 1867. She is the widow of Dr. John to know that the average age of the chil- G. Kennan, who died in 1897, at Spring- field, leaving three children-Isabella, Gardiner and Lucile. Mr. and Mrs. Len- hart, her daughter and the latter's chil- dren, are members of the First Baptist Church of Springfield, of which Mr. Len- hart has long been one of the trustees. dren received is three years, and they are assured of an education and comfortable surroundings until they are sixteen years of age, unless in the meanwhile they have found other homes. When they leave this institution they are well equipped to take their places in the battle of life. Mr. In polities Mr. Lenhart is a stanch Republiean and has served as a member of the Republican County Central Com- mittee, a very strong political organiza- tion. Fraternally he belongs to Red Star Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and to Eph- raim Lodge No. 146, I. O. O. F. Lenhart has also the supervision of the farm of sixty-five acres, which belongs to the Home. He has been so earnest in his work that the county has readily respond- ed to his appeals, and modern machinery has been installed in the buildings, giv- ing heat, light and water; also modern methods of control are followed in the management of the county charges. Mr. Lenhart seems to be particularly fitted for the position he fills. His attention was first called to the elaims of the county's indigent while serving as one of the di- rectors of the county infirmary, and dur- ing that time he impressed his fellow- directors by his practical suggestions and intelligent ideas.

In 1864 Mr. Lenhart was married to Isabella Bolen, whose father was a well- known contractor and bridge-builder. Mr. Bolen was twice married and the fol- lowing children of his are living: John, who is superintendent of buildings for the Dayton, Springfield & Urbana Rail- road, resides at Springfield; Harry, who is a stoekman and farmer and resides in Indian Territory; Isabella, who became Mrs. Lenbart; and Jeannetta and Loretta, twins, residing in Colorado, the former of whom married Joseph Sample.

Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart have had four children, three of whom died in infancy. One daughter survives, Elsie L., who was

Mr. Lenhart is deeply interested in all charitable and philanthropie work, but at the same time is a man of very practical ideas. He is never swayed by false senti- ment and thus is well fitted for official po- sition. He is a member of the Ohio Char- ities and Corrections Association, which has supervision of all the charitable in- stitutions of the state, and in 1900 he was chairman of the body representing the Children's Home in that organization. In June, 1902, he was appointed a dele- gate to a National Conference of Char- ities, but was unable to attend on account of pressing duties at that time connected with the affairs of the Children's Home

J. L. FLATTER, a prosperous farmer residing about five miles south of Spring- field. in Green Township, was born in Greene County, Ohio, February 29. 1552. and is a son of Samuel J. and Sarah .A. (Welsh) Flatter, and a grandson of Lud- wig Flatter.

Ludwig Flatter, grandfather, was born

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in Maryland of German parents. He came to Ohio as early as 1815, locating in Greene County, where he owned a half section of land. He lived three miles south of Yellow Springs and farmed there the remainder of his life. He and his wife were parents of twelve children.

Samuel J. Flatter, father of our sub- ject, was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1828, and farmed the home place until his death on December 16, 1903, when he was aged seventy-five years and two days. He married Sarah A. Welsh, who died September 18, 1861. They were the par- ents of six children, three of whom are now living.

J. L. Flatter was reared on the home place and attended the district schools of his home locality in Greene County. He remained at home, assisting his father, until he reached his majority, and then began working on his own account. He bought his present farm in 1895, having eighty-five and one-half acres five miles south of Springfield. He had worked out for some years and had rented a place for seven years prior to making this pur- chase. His wife also owns a tract of fifty acres about four miles south of Spring- field. He is a successful farmer and all that he now possesses is owing to his own untiring energy and good management.

In 1884, Mr. Flatter was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary E. Alexander, who was born in Clark County and is a daugli- ter of Samuel J. Alexander, a prominent farmer of this county. This union was blessed with four children, as follows: Ruth, Leonard, Wayne, and Maud, the last mentioned of whom died in infancy. Po- litically our subject is a Democrat and has ever evinced an earnest interest in

the success of his party. In religious at- tachment, he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Clifton.

PETER STUDEBAKER, a prosper- ous and highly respected farmer of Pike Township and owner of three hundred and forty-five acres of land, was born June 23, 1840, on his father's farm, in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Min- nich) Studebaker and a grandson of Jolın Studebaker, an early settler of Clark County.

Samuel Studebaker was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and at the age of ten years came to Ohio with his parents, who settled at West Charlestown, where the father later died. His mother died at the home of one of her children in Indiana. Samuel was the eldest of their family of thirteen children, all of whom settled in ·different parts of the country and are now all deceased. He assisted his father in . clearing the land and later operated a mill in Miami County, Ohio, manufacturing flaxseed oil. He married Elizabeth Min- nich, a daughter of Michael Minnich, who died in 1875, aged about sixty-five years. Eight children were born to them, namely : Michael, Margaret, John, and Elizabeth, all deceased; Peter; Samuel and Hannah, both deceased; and Jane, wife of William Carmen, of Indiana. Samuel Studebaker located on a farm east of Troy, Ohio, after his marriage, and five years later bought a tract of eighty acres in Pike Township, Clark County. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1889, at the age of eighty-two years, he was the owner of one hundred and thirty-seven acres.

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Peter Studebaker was the only son who grew to maturity, his three brothers all dying young. He helped clear the farm and assisted in its cultivation, almost from boyhood. He received a common school education, attending the old log school at Beach Grove. Since his marriage Mr. Studebaker has always engaged in mixed farming, and for a period of thirty years he also operated a threshing machine, be- ginning when the old horse-power ma- chine was the only one on the market.

On February 12, 1877, Mr. Studebaker married Susan Richardson, who was born in a log house on the present farm, and is a daughter of William and Eliza (Car- men) Richardson, who came from Mary- land to Clark County, Ohio, and settled on this place. She is one of six children born to her parents: Elizabeth, Prudence, Susan, John, Joseph, and George, the lat- ter of whom is deceased. Her father died in the fall of 1864 at the age of fifty-five years, and was survived by his widow until 1881, she passing away at the age of seventy-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Stude- baker have one child: Elizabeth. Mr. Studebaker is a man of public spirit and enterprise and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. He is a Democrat.

PATRICK L. MAUGHAN, justice of the peace and prominent citizen of Moore- field Township, where he owns one hun- dred acres of fine farming land, situated in one body, in sections 27 and 28, was horn at Tremont City, Clark County, Ohio, November 24, 1866. His parents were Patrick and Margaret (Madden) Maughan.

The parents of Mr. Maughan were both

born in County Galway, Ireland, and the father came to America when he was twenty-two years of age. He landed at New Orleans, where he remained for one year and then came north to Cincinnati and on to Springfield, working at several shops in this city before making the visit to Cincinnati, where he married Margaret Madden. They went to housekeeping on the old Adam Baker farm near Eagle City, later moved to Tremont City, then lived for two years in Champaign County, where the father bought a farm, on which the family lived until Patrick L. was five years old, when they came to the farm in Moorefield Township now owned by .Jus- tice Maughan. It was heavily timbered at that time but Patrick Maughan was a man of great industry and perseverance and he cleared it. His death took place April 4, 1904, his wife having died Sep- tember 13, 1898.

Patrick L. Maughan has lived on his present farm since he was five years old, being the seventh born in his parents' fam- ily of eight children. The others were as follows: Michael, who died in 1902; Mary, who married Thomas Langen ; Luke; Mar- garet, who died in infancy ; Catherine, who manages the domestic affairs for her brother, Patrick L .; Daniel, who died aged two years; and Margaret (2), who mar- ried Michael Roddy. The parents were faithful members of the Catholic Church and they reared their children in the same faith.

Patrick L. Maughan was educated in the country schools and at the Lebanon Normal School, in the latter coming un- der the instruction of Professor Holbrook, and after he returned to Moorefield Town- ship, he became teacher of the Franklin

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School, which he taught continuously for eight years. He then took charge of the Kenton School, which he conducted for four years, and closed his long period of teaching by becoming principal of the Rockaway School, in Springfield Town- ship, near the Masonic Home, where he remained for two years. During all this period he resided on his farm and gave considerable attention to the raising of good stock. In 1904 he retired from the educational field and in the same year he was elected a justice of the peace, on the Democratic ticket, and was re-elected in 1907. Mr. Maughan's personal popular- ity has had much to do with his continu- ance in office as the township is strongly Republican.

TOPPY TROUPE, one of the leading citizens of Springfield, who is engaged in a wholesale and retail cigar and tobacco business, at No. 42 South Limestone Street, has been identified with the inter- ests of this city for the past thirty-five years. He was born in 1850, at German- town, Montgomery County, Ohio.

Mr. Troupe completed his education when about twenty-three years of age and then became a boot and shoe salesman and was connected with that industry for about twenty years, when he turned his attention to the cigar business, opening a store on High Street, Springfield. On March 24, 1908, he moved to his present fine quarters, where he does an extensive jobbing as well as retail business. Mr. Troupe has been one of Springfield's most active citizens in the interest he has taken in public matters. He is one of the strong political factors in Ohio, a stanch Repub-

lican, for the interests of which party he has worked for many years. He has never sought or accepted political office for him- self but has given his time and means to assist the ambitions of his friends and is probably one of the best-known politicians in the state. Since 1876 he has never missed a National, State, Congressional or County convention and he has been doorkeeper or assistant sergeant-at-arms at all the National and State conventions. He will also fill the office of doorkeeper at the Republican National convention, which is to be held in June, 1908. Among his personal friends he numbers the greatest statesmen in the land and on several occa- sions he has enjoyed tokens of their warm esteem. He accompanied President Mc- Kinley and Governor Nash, as an invalid guest, on their memorable trip to San Francisco. He has traveled extensively both in America and Europe and is a man of culture and social presence.

On April 7, 1904, Mr. Troupe was mar- ried to Ella Myers, who was born and reared at Springfield. He is a member of the Masons, Elks, Knights of Pythias and American Mechanics, and he belongs to the Springfield Commercial Club.

WALTER MCKINLEY, a leading busi- ness citizen of Tremont City, where he is engaged in a general mercantile business, is also treasurer of German Township. He was born at Tremont, Clark County, Ohio, December 5, 1854, and is a son of John B. and Elizabeth (Thrawls) McKin- ley. William MeKinley, the grandfather, was a very early settler in German Town- ship and his son, John B. MeKinley, was born at Tremont about 1827. For a num-

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ber of years the latter was in a mercan- tile business at Tremont and for twelve years was postmaster.

Walter Mckinley was reared and edu- cated in his native place. He began to work in a dry goods store when thirteen years old and so continued until he was twenty-one, when he learned telegraphy and was subsequently appointed station agent for the Big Four Railroad, at Tre- mont. In 1888 he opened a tin shop, to which he shortly after added a grocery store, later putting in a fine line of hard- ware. He now has a large trade and is one of the city's representative men. In polities a Democrat, he served as post- master of Tremont during the four years of President Cleveland's last administra- tion.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 68

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