20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 95

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 95

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).

C. A. SCHUSTER, president and treasurer of the Peet & Schuster Com- pany is one of Springfield's progressive business men and active citizens, having been prominently identified with various organizations having in view the promo- tion of the best interests of the city, of which he has been a resident for thirty- five years.

Mr. Schuster was born in 1848 near the city of Buffalo, N. Y., and was there reared, acquiring his education in a coun- try school. When sixteen years old he began to learn the trade of sheet metal worker, with which line of industry he has been identified continuously ever since. After serving as an apprentice in Buf- falo he came to Ohio, locating at Fremont. He subsequently went to Goshen and Elk- hart, Ind., and still later to Chicago. He left the latter city one month prior to the great fire of October, 1871, and came to Springfield, Ohio, entering the employ of Peet & Raymond. Six months later this firm was dissolved and the firm of T. B. Peet & Co. was organized. The company

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was composed of T. B. Peet, C. A. Shuster and Lon Kriger. They continned with un- interrupted success for a number of years, when, on account of the ill health of the senior member, it became necessary for Mr. Shuster to assume charge, the other member dropping out. In 1894, after the death of Mr. Peet, Mr. Shuster, in asso- ciation with others, organized and incor- porated the Peet & Shuster Company, with a paid-up capital of $10,000. He was elected president and treasurer of the company, in which capacity he now serves, and has capably directed its affairs. They . make a specialty of sheet metal work and have met with a gratifying degree of success.

In 1876 Mr. C. A. Schuster was united in marriage with Miss Mary Kershner, a daughter of John Kershner. She died in 1888, leaving three children: Rosamond, Bertha and Robert. Mr. Schuster con- tracted a second marriage, in 1901, with Miss Julia Miller, who died in 1901, leav- ing, besides her husband, two children to monrn her loss, namely, Mary and Ruth.

Mr. Schuster takes an active interest in local polities and for five years served in the City Council, for one year of that time being its president. Mr. Schuster is a Free Mason of high rank, having attained to the thirty-second degree. He has served as presiding officer, both of the Council and of the Chapter, and is also an officer of the Grand Chapter of the state. He is a member of the Masonic Club, also of the Springfield Commercial Club, and was the first president of the Builders' Ex- change. He was a charter member of the first military company organized in the county under the present system of Na- tional Guard. It will thus be seen that

Mr. Schuster is a man of various activ- ities, in all of which he displays his char- acteristic energy and capacity.

DARWIN PEIRCE, a veteran of the Civil War and a respected citizen of Mad- ison Township, Clark County, Ohio, is the owner of some four hundred and thirty acres of land, of which two hundred and sixty acres comprise the home farm. He was born on this place July 5, 1841, and is a son of Edwin and Frances ( Williams) Peirce.

Jonathan Peirce, grandfather of Dar- win Peirce, was a resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania, until 1825, in which year he moved with his family to Warren County, Ohio. One year later he came to Clark County and rented what is now the H. E. Bateman farm, then known as the Jonathan Cheney farm. He man- ufactured a hay rake, known as the old Peirce rake, from the sale of which he inade his first purchase of land here. He bought four hundred and fifty-five acres, now known as the John Rankin farm, and subsequently bought the Bown farm, on which he was living at the time of his death. He acquired some two thousand acres in all, being one of the largest in- dividual landowners in this section of the county. He married Hannah Darlington, who was born in Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, and died on the old Jonathan Cheney place in Madison Township. Jona- than Peirce was a Quaker in religion, and in politics a Whig and great abolitionist. He was connected with the underground railway and helped many a poor slave to his freedom.

Edwin Peirce, the father, was born in

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Chester County, Pennsylvania, about 1810, hard fighting, was in numerous important and attended school there, and later at engagements, and was several times wounded. When the war closed he re- turned home and with renewed energy un- dertook the work on the farm, and with what success may be determined by the high station he occupies among the men of his township. Springfield, Ohio, the house in which he boarded at that time being still standing. He engaged in farming during his active career, which was cut short by an accident which made him a cripple, and his death followed in a few years. He was married in 1840 to Frances Williams, a daughter of William Williams, who came from Westmoreland County, Maryland, her mother coming from Ireland with her parents when three years of age. Three children were born to bless their home, namely : Darwin; Hannah Mary, who for fifteen years was superintendent of Christ Hospital at Cincinnati, and is now en- gaged in charitable work in the slums of that city ; and Laura (Harold), who is now a resident of South Charleston.

Darwin Peirce was reared on the home farm, but as he was five years of age when his father died, and the only son, his schooling was of necessity very limited. He is nevertheless a man of more than average education, but largely self-ac- quired. He made and developed the home farm himself. At the time of the Civil War he was living with his mother and two sisters in the log house on the farm, a time when his best energies should have been given to the development of the place in order that his further success be as- sured, but, casting aside all his personal ambitions, he followed the course of pa- triotism and loyalty to his country in a time of need, although it subjected his family to many hardships. He enlisted August 15, 1862, in Company C, One Hun- dred and Tenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Keifer. and served until the war closed. He saw much

Mr. Peirce was married to Mary E. Mathewson, a daughter of Mathew and Margaret (Evans) Mathewson. Her father was born in England and came to the United States in 1834, locating on what is known as the Thomas Mathewson farm. He was married in 1841 to Mar- garet Evans, a native of Wales. Mr. and Mrs. Peirce have two sons: John, who is an electrician in Omaha, Nebraska; and Walter Thompson, who is an instructor in the Ohio State University at Columbus. Mr. Peirce is a Republican in politics, and for thirty-one years served efficiently as a school director. He was for twenty years a member of the Soldiers Relief Committee, and for eleven years was a member of the Clark County Agricultural Board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and belongs to the order of Odd Fellows. Religiously, he was brought up in the Quaker faith.

GEORGE L. ZIEGLER, general farmer and dairyman, residing on his valuable farm of sixty-three acres which is situated in Moorefield Township, was born in Ger- many, May 14, 1843. His parents were George and Anna (Layboldt) Ziegler.

The parents of Mr. Ziegler came to America in 1849 and settled in Pennsyl- vania, where the father followed a butch- ering business. George L. Ziegler was

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reared and educated in that state. In and Joseph, who live at home. Mr. Zieg- 1862 he came to Springfield, Ohio, where he found work in a brewery and later in the Lagonda shops, but remained only one week in each place, finding more agreeable employment in the water wheel shops, where he contiuned to work for four years. He then turned his attention to farming and worked on a farm in Logan County, Ohio, for six years preceding his marriage and for six years following it, when he bought a small farm in Green Township, south of Springfield, which he operated for ten years. During the next two years Mr. Ziegler worked all over Clark County assisting in the construc- tion of turnpike roads and street car lines, living during one year at Clifton and one year at Springfield. In the spring of 1893 he moved to the present farm. He keeps about thirty cows and sells his milk to the Pure Milk Company. Since taking pos- session, Mr. Ziegler has made many im- provements on his property which has greatly increased its value.

In 1876, Mr. Ziegler was married in Logan County, to Alice .J. Hamilton, who is a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Ful- ton) Hamilton. Mrs. Ziegler was born and reared in the old home in Logan County, where her venerable mother has lived since the day following her mar- riage. Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler have had seven children, all of whom survive with the exception of Helen, the youngest, who died aged two years. The others are: How, who married Charles Holmeyer, and they have five children-George, Carl, Wilbur, Arthur and Frederick, their home being in Springfield; Estella, who is at home; Harley, a mail carrier, who resides at Lyons, Colorado; and Walter, Jessie

ler is a member of the Grange. He is a man who has worked hard all his life and has honestly acquired what he possesses. He is a first-class citizen but takes no very active interest in polities.

CHARLES FREMONT STEWART, a well known and prosperous farmer of Green Township, Clark County, Ohio, re- sides on a farm of 135 acres located about seven miles south of the City of Spring- field. He was born on the old family homestead in this township, August 2, 1856, and was named in honor of Fremont, the first Republican nominee for presi- dent. He is a son of Perry and Rhoda Ann (Wheeler) Stewart, further refer- ence to whom may be found elsewhere in this volume.

Charles Fremont Stewart was reared on the home place and acquired an educa- tional training in the district school at Pitchin, supplemented by one year in a business college at Springfield and a term at Lebanon, Ohio. At the age of twenty years he began farming a part of the home place on shares, and in 1884 purchased 135 acres adjoining the Stewart home- stead. This he has improved greatly, clearing the remaining timber from the place, erecting a large barn, and convert- ing the one-story brick house into a mod- ern structure of two stories. A man of untiring energy he has made continuous progress in his work and is today classed among the substantial men of the com- munity. He is a Republican in politics and cast his first vote for President Gar- field in 1880. In 1884 he was elected town- ship trustee, serving until 1889, and from

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MR. AND MRS. CHARLES F. STEWART AND FAMILY

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the latter date until 1908 he served as township clerk, discharging his duties in a most capable and satisfactory manner. He served from 1892 to 1898 as a member of the county election board, and in 1907 he was appointed Deputy Supervisor of Elec- tion of Clark County. He has frequently represented his district as delegate to county and state conventions.

On March 11, 1880, Mr. Stewart was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Clara Garlough, who was born in Green Township and is a danghter of James T. and Sarah (Hause) Garlough, her father being now deceased. The issue of this union is as follows: Josie A., born June 16, 1881, who married March 11, 1902, Stephen Kitchen; Fred Garlough, born June 2, 1884, who married Rachel Estle; Howard H., born June 15, 1888; Samuel N., born October 9, 1893; and Ste- phen W., born July 20, 1896. Frater- nally, our subject is a member of Clifton Lodge No. 669, K. P., in which he has filled all the chairs. He and his family belong to the Presbyterian church at Clifton.

HON. WILLIAM R. BURNETT, one of Springfield's prominent and represent- ative citizens, who ably served the munic- ipality four years as mayor, and through re-election is the present incumbent of that office, has also held many other offices of responsibility. He was born August 17, 1846, in Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Mary (Jones) Burnett.

The Burnett family was founded in Clark County by Richard Burnett, the grandfather, whose life was spent in agricultural pursuits. Of his children,

John Burnett, father of William R., was born in the home in Clark County, in 1824. For a number of years he followed the trade of millwright. He married Mary Jones, who was born in 1826, in Randolph County, Virginia. For almost a quarter of a century she lived in the same home, on the corner of Plum and High Streets, Springfield. only removing to the resi- dence of her son, William R., a few months prior to her death, which occurred May 29, 1907, when she was eighty-two years old. She was laid by the side of her husband in Ferncliff cemetery.

William R. Burnett attended school un- til he was fourteen years of age then went to work in the shops of Whitely, Fassler & Kelly, where he remained until he was seventeen years old, becoming a skilled machinist. His youth alone had pre- vented his already becoming a soldier, and in 1863 he succeeded in enlisting in Company A, Fourth Battalion, Ohio In- dependent Cavalry, and he remained a member of that organization until he re- ceived an honorable discharge in 1865. Upon the close of his military service, he re-entered the machine shops of his old firm and continned there for twenty-three years. At a later period he embarked in a grocery business with which he re- mained connected for ten years.

For many years Mr. Burnett has been a leading member of the Democratic party in Clark County, serving in many capacities, and has been honored by his fellow citizens with offices of trust and re- sponsibility. For four years Mr. Burnett served as a faithful member of the Springfield School Board, later he ably represented the First Ward in the City Council, and in 1889, he was elected

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mayor of Springfield. His administra- tion was so generally recognized as valu- able to the city's best interests, that in 1891 he was re-elected and served out his second term with the same efficiency. In 1908 he was again re-elected and is now serving his third term. He was the first mayor to enjoy the fine offices in the new municipal building that had been com- completed during his first administration. Subsequently he was appointed president of the Board of Public Safety, by his suc- cessor, and he continued to serve in this important office.

In October, 1865, Mr. Burnett was mar- ried to Mary C. Monahan, who is a daughter of John Monahan, of Spring- field, and they have two sons, Theodore A. and Levi Herr. Theodore A. Burnett is a graduate of the American Veterinary College, New York, and is now govern- ment Veterinary Inspector located in Day- ton, Ohio. Levi Herr Burnett is an able lawyer of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who is an assistant attorney for the United States Steel Trust.

Mr. Burnett belongs to Clark Lodge, No. 101, F. & A. M .; Red Star Lodge, No. 205, Knights of Pythias and Company 44 of the Uniform Rank; Springfield Lodge, No. 33, Odd Fellows; the Elks; Mitchell Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and to the Union Veterans' Union.

FRANK CLICK, general farmer and wholesale dairyman, residing on a tract of one hundred acres in Bethel Town- ship, Clark County, was horn October 29, 1857, at Beckelhill, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Emanuel and Martha Jane (Alben) Click.

Emanuel Click was born in Virginia and came to Ohio when a boy of twelve years with his father John Click, who lo- cated in Springfield and opened a black- smith and wagon shop and resided there until his death. Emannel Click was the oldest of a family of seven children-two boys and five girls. He was married in Springfield to Martha Jane Alben, who was born in Mad River Township, after which he moved to a farm in Mad River Township, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Six chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Click: Samuel; Frank, subject of this sketch; Louisa, who died aged eighteen years; Mary, wife of Mr. Fryant; William; and Lydia, who married Frank Evans.

Frank Click spent his boyhood on a farm in Mad River Township, assisting in the work on the place until his mar- riage, after which he rented farms for a number of years, residing first on the John Arthur farm for three years. He then operated the Robert Durey farm for two years, after which he moved to the Snyder farm in Springfield Township, re- maining there for thirteen years, during which time he bought forty-five acres from the Snyder estate. This he sold in 1901 and bought his present farm, then consisting of one hundred and thirty acres, from Harry Detrick. He subse- quently sold thirty acres of this land and has spent a great deal of time and money since in improving the farm, which com- pares favorably with any in this section.

Mr. Click was married in Mad River Township to Elizabeth Green, who was reared at Enon, and to this union have been born six children-Harry C., book- keeper at the Owens Tool Works of

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Springfield, Ohio; Orva, who is employed by the Pure Milk Company of Spring- field; Stella, Raymond E., Frank, and William. Politically, Mr. Click is an In- dependent voter.

DAVID E. SHELLABARGER, who has been a life-long resident of Clark County, Ohio, was born October 13, 1826, on his father's farm in Mad River Town- ship, and is a son of Ephraim and Re- becca (Winget) Shellabarger.

Ephraim Shellabarger, who is a native of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, was a child of two years when his parents, Martin and Ann (Snyder) Shellabarger, removed to Cumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, where he was reared to manhood. His father was a farmer and also ran a mill and distillery, his six sons working the firm, while he attended to his other industries. During the winters, Eph- raim and his brothers cut timber, which was sent down the Susquehanna River, in the spring. on rafts, to a saw-mill. In 1814, Ephraim and his four brothers, Jacob, John, Samuel and Martin, came to Clark County, Ohio, in wagons, and formed a settlement in the timber lands of Mad River Township. The following year, Ephraim married Rebecca Win-

garet, who married John B. Beard; Mar- tin; Elizabeth, who married T. P. Johns- ton; David Ephraim; and Anna, who married Abe D. Miller. All of the above family, with the exception of David E., are deceased.

David E. Shellabarger was born in a weather-boarded log house on his father's farm, and there passed his boy- hood days. He went to the old log school- house with its slab benches, and studied reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic. He remained at home until after his father's death, after which he worked as a tanner for one year, then returned home and learned the cooper trade with his brother Martin. He continued with him until his marriage, when he opened a cooper shop of his own on his present farm. For fifteen years he worked at his trade during the winter months, farming in the summers, since when his time has been devoted entirely to his farm of one hundred and seventy acres, of which fifty were inherited. When Mr. Shellabarger first came to his farm he resided in an old log house which was on the place until he built his present comfortable home. His two sons, David W., and Edgar M., now run the farm, renting the land from him.

get, a daughter of Reuben Winget, who 14, 1847. to Rosanna Johnston, a daugh- was one of the first settlers of Clark County, having come from near Cincin- nati in 1806. Ephraim Shellabarger and his wife passed the remainder of their lives in this county, his death occurring in 1842 at the age of fifty-eight, his wife surviving him until 1872, passing away at the home of her son, David E. They were the parents of six children; Reuben; Mar-

Mr. Shellabarger was married October ter of James Johnston. She died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Shellabarger became the parents of seven children: James E., who died young; Cassilus R., who died young; David W., who married Katty Durst and has seven children, Della, Rosina, Mary, Martha, Ethel, Catherine and Jolin; Anson L., who married Mary Hedge, resides in Springfield, Ohio, and

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has two children, Eva and D. Paul; Edgar M., who married Florence Knott and has two children, Clarence and David E .; Clayton D., who married Beele Albin, and is the father of two children, Amy, and Lydia.

Mr. Shellabarger is a man of large pro- portions but enjoys exceptional good health, and although quite advanced in years, is still able to do a hard day's work. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias.

JOHN SHARP, a prominent farmer of Harmony Township, in which is situated his valuable farm of 187 acres, was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1858, and is a son of John and Mary (Dysart) Sharp.

John Sharp was born in 1808, in Vir- ginia, and came to Clark County in early manhood, where he married Mary Dysart, who still survives. She was born in 1823, in Pennsylvania. They had four children, namely: John, subject of this sketch; Mosuria, born in 1859, who married Fre- mont Wilson, they residing in Harmony Township and having six children-Mary, Lavina, Clara, Ross, Wealthy and Alıne- da; Thomas, born in 1861, who married Fay Smith and died in 1907; and Henry, born in 1863, who died aged three years. The elder John Sharp was a farmer all his life and did a large amount of teaming over the National Turnpike Road long be- fore any railroads were constructed through this region.

John Sharp, the younger, has spent the greater part of his life in Harmony Town- ship. For two years he lived in Madison County and rented several farms after he reached manhood, living for eight years

on one in the vicinity of Plattsburg, which he had purchased. From there he came to his present farm which he bought in 1905, from the heirs of the Brooks estate. It is fine, fertile and well-situated land, and Mr. Sharp has it under excellent culti- vation.

In 1889 Mr. Sharp was married to Lau- ra Weaver, who is a daughter of Abraham and Mary Weaver, and they have had four children, namely : Mary and Mabel, twins, born February 24, 1891; Henry, born Au- gust 10, 1894; and John W., born Decem- ber 29, 1896. Mr. Sharp has taken an active interest in Odd Fellowship, having been united with Vienna Lodge No. 345, for a number of years, and having passed all the chairs in this organization.

CHARLES S. KAY, whose identifica- tion with the busines interests of Spring- field covers an extended period, was born November 4, 1853, at Miamisburg, Mont- gomery County, Ohio, and is a son of Dr. Isaac and Clara M. (Deckert) Kay.

Dr. Isaac Kay is the oldest resident physician in Springfield. He was born December 8, 1828, near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he lived until his parents brought their children to Ohio, in 1836. Dr. Kay was graduated from Star- ling Medical College, at Columbus, in the spring of 1849, after which he practiced medicine for four years at Lewisburg, Ohio, and then came to Springfield, estab- lishing himself in his profession here in May, 1853. In all that concerns medical progress in Clark County, Dr. Kay has taken a deep interest and his name is hon- ored in medical organizations all over the land. For years he has contributed scien-

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tific papers to medical journals and has

In 1893 Mr. Kay married Belle C. spoken before medical conventions. He Gunn, a daughter of Capt. John T. Gunn, is a citizen in whom Springfield takes a of Lexington, Kentucky. They have four children: Clarence M., Edith W., Clari- bel and Robert. just pride. On November 27, 1852, he mar- ried Clara M. Deckert, and they had two sons, Charles S. and Clarence H.

For about a decade in early manhood, Charles S. Kay was an editorial writer on the leading newspapers of Springfield and Cincinnati, and has always devoted more or less time to literary pursuits, thus find- ing relief from the engrossing cares of an active business life. In 1883 he entered the Superior Drill Company, which enterprise was incorporated in November of that year, and was its treasurer for twenty years. After a career of conspicuous suc- cess this extensive plant went into the American Seeding Machine Company in 1903, and Mr. Kay retired from active re- lationship, but retained his financial in- terest in the company. He was one of the incorporators and is now a director of the Citizens National Bank. Mr. Kay's other business interests are: The Springfield Metallic Casket Company, and The Peo- ple's Light, Heat and Power Company. He has always manifested great public spirit, and has been active in securing for Springfield various utilities of a public nature, and has in many ways contributed to the general welfare. He has never · aspired to political prominence, but was for nine years a valued director of the Springfield public library. He is a mem- ber of the Commercial Club, of which he was once president, Lagonda Club, and Clark Lodge, F. & A. M., Springfield Chapter, R. A. M., and of Palestine Com- mandery, K. T. His church connection has long been with the First Baptist Church of Springfield.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 95

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