USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 96
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SAMUEL ZIMMERMAN, a prominent citizen of Springfield Township, owns a beautiful farm and the comfortable old Zimmerman home, which is situated in Section 7, about four miles southeast of the corporation limits of Springfield. When the estate of 315 acres was divided among the Zimmerman heirs, Samuel re- ceived 132 acres. He was born July 9, 1861, while his parents were living on the Jackson farm above Lagonda. They were George and Eliza (Mech) Zimmerman.
George Zimmerman was born in Dau- phin County, Pennsylvania, and came with his family to Ohio, in 1859, settling on what was known as the old Jackson farm, north of Lagonda, which he rented for three years. In the spring of 1862 he bought the farm in Springfield Township, and in 1874-5 he erected the handsome brick residence and also built all the other substantial structures on the place. Here he engaged in farming and stock-raising and became a man of large means and a leading citizen of this section. He took an interest in public affairs and as one of the reliable men of his township, was elected on several occasions to the office of trus- tee. His death took place in July, 1899, surviving all three of his wives, the first of whom was Barbara Stoner, whom he married in Pennsylvania, where she died, leaving three children, namely: Henry N., residing in Kansas; Augustus J., re- siding in Kansas; and Mary, who married
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David Tonkinson, died in Kansas. One is still able to do fine needlework; John, child died in infancy. Samuel Zimmer- man is the youngest of the six children born to his parents, the others being: Milton, residing in Kansas; Simon A., re- siding on a part of the homestead farm in Clark County; Araminta, who married John H. Moore; Alice, who married James Ramsey, residing in Kansas,
Samuel Zimmerman was one year old when his parents came to the present farm. He obtained his edneation in the country schools and has devoted himself to farming and stock-raising. He has met with very decided success. He has never married, his sister, Mrs. Moore, making his home comfortable for him. He takes no active interest in politics, but neverthe- less entertains decided opinions on public affairs but not to the extent of letting these interfere with his business. He is a member of the Junior Order of Amer- ican Mechanics at Pitchin.
JOSEPH PEARSON, a retired farmer and old soldier, who lives on his improved farm of ninety-seven and two-thirds acres, near Catawba, in Pleasant Town- ship, was born February 12, 1827, at Lon- don, England, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Lockhart) Pearson.
William Pearson, father of Joseph, was also born in London and there learned the trades of cabinetmaker and wagon- maker. He there married Elizabeth Lock- art and they had the following children: Joseph; Henry, who was a member of the Seventeenth Regiment Towa Volunteers, during the Civil War and was killed at Vicksburg: Maria, widow of Owen Davis, who has reached her seventy-ninth year, ous sulphur springs, its fine dry timbered
who served in the Civil War as a member of an Ohio regiment, died from wounds received in battle; George, who was a member of the Ninety-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, resided at Catawba; Martha, who is the widow of William Shanks, who served in the Civil War, a member of the Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Mary E., who is the wife of John Young, residing in Hardin County, Ohio; Millie Ann, who is the wife of Edward Gardner; Thomas, who served in the Civil War as a member of the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and Samuel, now residing in Kansas, who served with his brother Joseph in the forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This record shows that every son of the family testified to his loyalty to the Union by serving in her defense, several of them to the extent of yielding up their lives.
In 1832 William Pearson came to Amer- ica, accompanied by his wife and his two children, and they settled for a short time on the farm of his mother, who was then Widow Elizabeth Inman, residing in Harmony Township, Clark County, where she had three hundred and twenty acres. Her first husband, William Pearson, had died in England and she married again and with her husband came as a pioneer to Clark County. While her son, William Pearson, was looking around for land on which to locate, he was offered the pres- ent site of the Arcade Building at Spring- field, for four dollars an acre. It was then nothing but a swamp and Mr. Pear- son judged that Catawba, on account of its better natural situation and of its numer-
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soil and its two cross-roads showed in- dication of being more likely to develop than did its neighboring town. Hence he settled at Catawba, on a farm of three aeres, and followed his trade, making many wagons and constructing coffins for the country roundabout. He died from the effects of an accident, falling from his horse, when in his forty-seventh year. He was a man of great strength, and hav- ing taken boxing lessons in England he was also one of skill, and was made cap- .tain of a light-horse brigade. In friend- ly contests, he overcame the local wrest- ling champions. His widow subsequently married Edward Shanks.
Joseph Pearson was five years of age when his parents came to America and was too young to recall the long voyage of thirty-eight days which the sailing ves- sel required. It was a new vessel and after it sailed for America, William Pear- son was employed, as a cabinetmaker, to finish the cabin which required five weeks more to finish after reaching Amer- ica. He spent all his time at the work during his journey. Joseph Pearson was reared at Catawba and recalls that the In- dians and the wolves made him about equally fearful through his boyhood. He had but meager school advantages. He worked around on the neighboring farns occasionally but spent a large part of his time in his father's shop, where he be- came familiar with tools, and probably also learned a great deal listening to the conversation between his father and his customers. From one of these, a local physician, he learned that he could qualify as a clerk on a river boat running between Cincinnati and New Orleans, and after securing the position he filled it for four
years. After he returned to Catawba, he operated a cooper shop, and was thus en- gaged when the Civil War broke out. Mr. Pearson had been in the South and he understood conditions and public feel- ing much better than did many of his neighbors and he was one of the first to start to recruit a company around his old home. With the men he secured he joined Company F, Forty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and subsequent- ly was sent back to again recruit. On this occasion he secured twenty-one men, one of these being his brother Samuel, and another his brother-in-law, Levi Porter, both of whom had been too young to go at first. Joseph Pearson served all through the long years of the war, taking an active part and always being found at the post of duty. He participated in many of the most important battles of the war but lays stress on that at Win- chester, September 19, 1863, when 19,000 of his brave comrades fell.
On several occasions, Mr. Pearson was offered commissions, but was never will- ing to take more responsibility than that entailed by serving as a sergeant. His first term of service was as a sergeant and when he re-enlisted at Knoxville, Ten- nessee, he served as commissary sergeant and always performed the duties pertain- ing to these offices in such a manner as to win approbation. One of the closest friends of Mr. Pearson was the brave Ma- jor Evans, the famous Zonave officer. Mr. Pearson was never seriously wounded, although, as stated above, several of his brothers were more unfortunate. The mother was a woman of strong character and during the war she was a member of one of the commissions which worked so
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unceasingly to secure and send supplies to the soldiers. On one occasion, when called upon to address the meeting she said in reverent mood: "I thank God that I have six sons defending the Stars and Stripes." This noble sentiment was published in the newspapers and when they were read in camp each soldier gave a cheer for the mother who, under the circumstances, could so bravely avow her patriotism. There undoubtedly were six soldiers who were very proud of that sacrificing mother.
While at home on a furlough, in 1864, Mr. Pearson was married to Ann Porter, who survived until after the war, leaving two children-Elta, who married Frank Hendricks, and Anna, who married Hugh Cartmell. His first marriage had been to Nancy Golden, who died shortly after- ward. They had one child-Martin Luther who died aged eight months. His second wife, was Mary S. Palmer, who is survived by five of hier six children, namely: Joseph W., a farmer in Hardin County, Ohio; Francis B., who is prin- cipal of East High School, at Columbus, and a graduate of Wooster College; Jen- nie. who married Joseph Keescker and resides in Columbus; Frank, who resides in Champaign County, Ohio; and A. Lin- coln, who resides in Kansas. In 1869, Mr. Pearson was married to Sarah Porter, who is a daughter of Benjamin and Eliz- beth Porter, and they have one child, Levi, who lives at Anthony, Kansas.
Mr. Pearson has retired from active work on the farm. He is a stanch Repub- lican and has been a leading man in his party in this section for a number of years. He was a member of the Repub- lican Central Committee for sixteen years
and for the same length of time was dep- uty sheriff. He has held many township offices and he was a very useful member of the committee appointed by the county to provide burial for deceased soldiers and to assist their families. He is a valued member of the local Grand Army post, belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Mad River Encampment. For sixty years he has been a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.
WILLIAM GUNDOLF, a prosperous farmer residing on a farm of ninety-one acres in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, has been a resident here since his boyhood days and is generally known through the county. He was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, April 12, 1859, and is a son of John and Charlotte (Baker) Gundolf.
Jolm Gundolf, father of William, was born in Germany where he was reared to maturity and there engaged in farming. He came with his wife and two children to America, settling first in Rockingham County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Val- ley, and some years later moved to Au- gusta County, Virginia. When he came with his family to Ohio, he rented a farm in Pike Township for a time, then pur- chased a small place near the home of his son, William, where he farmed and burned charcoal until his death in 1885, at the age of sixty-six years. He was sur- vived by his widow who died in 1897, aged sixty years. They were parents of the following children, the two oldest of whom were born in Germany and the re- mainder in Rockingham County, Virginia : Henrietta, wife of William H. Bear of
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Pike Township; Catherine, wife of A. G. County Agricultural Society, and during Mumuma of Springfield; Ann, deceased, that time was superintendent of the sheep wife of James Hutchison; William; department. Frederick, residing in German Township; and Lewis, residing in Pike Township. Politically he was a Democrat.
William Gundolf attended the common schools in Virginia and also after his par- ents' removal to Pike Township, in 1873. He assisted his father in elearing his small farm and followed farming there during his younger days, and has continued in the same line, making a specialty of rais- ing hogs and sheep of high grade. The farm on which he now lives was owned by his wife's father, she inheriting a part of it, and the remainder of which he pur- chased of Fred Jenkins. He is a very suc- cessful business man.
On December 24, 1878, Mr. Gundolf was joined in marriage with Charlotte Jen- kins, a daughter of Wiley Jenkins, one of Pike Township's most prominent pio- neers. The latter was born in North Car- olina, December 13, 1810, and was ten years of age when brought to Pike Town- ship by his parents. He was more than ordinarily successful, owning some 466 acres of land, and was widely known over the county. He died in September, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Gundolf have three children, namely: Clarence, born September 26, 1879, married Olive Leonard, by whom he has a son, Paul, and lives near Thackery, Chio; Wiley, born April 27, 1881, mar- ried Maud Baugh, a daughter of Jacob Baugh, and lives in Champaign County ; and Blanche, born June 20, 1889, lives at home. Mr. Gundolf is a Democrat in pol- ities, has served as school director and for nine years was township trustee. For ten years he was on the board of the Clark
HON. ORAN F. HYPES, a leading and influential citizen of Springfield, who has been successful in business and prominent in public life, was born at Xenia, Ohio, De- cember 18, 1862, and is a son of Samuel H. and Hannah (Van Brocklin) Hypes.
Mr. Hypes' great-grandfather, who came to America from Germany, took part in the Revolutionary War. He estab- lished his home near the Natural Bridge. in Virginia, and there his son, Henry Hypes, was born, who was the founder of the family in Ohio, settling at Xenia early in the Nineteenth century. Samuel H. Hypes, father of Oran F., was born in 1826, in Greene County, Ohio. He mar- ried Hannah Van Broeklin, of Holland an- cestry, who was born at Oneida, N. Y. The family home has remained at Xenia for many years.
Oran F. Hypes attended the schools of his native city and was graduated from the Xenia High School in the class of 1879. He then became connected with the mercantile interests of Xenia, where he resided until 1882, when he came to Springfield, opening his first store here on Main Street. Later he removed to his present location, No. 43 South Limestone Street, where he owns one of the leading business establishments of the city, deal- ing in hats and men's furnishings. He was not long in demonstrating to the pub- lie that he was worthy of their patronage. His business methods have long since es- tablished him as a merchant and citizen
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well known for his integrity, and the "Hypes Store" is classed as one that has helped to build up Springfield commer- cially.
Mr. Hypes made his choice of political companionship in early manhood and has long been a leading factor in the Repub- lican party in this section. In 1901 he was elected a member of the Seventy-Fifth General Assembly of Ohio and attended in the regular and extraordinary sessions of 1902, during the former serving as sec- retary of the committee on taxation; as chairman of the committee on public buildings and lands, and as a member of the committee on insurance. In the ex- traordinary session which was called to create a new code of laws for municipal government, Mr. Hypes was named by the speaker to serve on the special com- unttee to report a bill to the House. After serving with ability through two sessions in the Ohio House of Representatives, Mr. Hypes was twice unanimously nomi- nated for two successive terms in the Ohio State Senate, where he is now serv- ing to the public satisfaction.
In 1889 Mr. Hypes was married to Jes- sie B. Johnson, who is a daughter of Richard and Dorothy Johnson, of Spring- field, and they have two children, Doro- thy and Douglas. With his family he be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Hypes is a Knight Templar Mason, being past commander of Palestine Com- mandery, No. 33. He has been identified with many of the charitable and benevo- lent organizations of the city and has al- ways shown a deep interest in the Young Men's Christian Association, being one of the directors of this body at Spring- field. He is a charter member of the
Springfield Commercial Club, and he has served on the directing board of the Springfield Board of Trade.
THEODORE SWARTZBAUGH, a well known and influential farmer of German Township, Clark County, Ohio, resides on a valuable farm of 100 acres located about eight miles northwest of Springfield, on the Lawrenceville and Dialton Pike. He was born in that township August 6, 1851, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret (Klinefelter) Swartzbaugh.
Our subject was reared in German Township and received a limited educa- tion in the common schools. He early took to agricultural pursuits and has made this his life work. He labored in- dustriously and by good management and frugal living was able at an early age to become a property owner himself. In the early eighties he came to his present farm of 100 acres in German Township, and nearly all the improvements, including the large house and barn, have been made by him. He follows general farming, raising some stock, and has met with suc- cess
Mr. Swartzbaugh was in 1873 united in marriage with Alice Dibert, who was born in German Township, and is a daughter of David and Louisa (Shurr) Dibert. The following children were born to bless their union: Walter, who married Grace Hensbarger, has two children, Gladys and Lena; Samuel D., who married Nellie Morningstar, has a daughter, Helen Gert- rude; Vernon married Emma Baker and has two children, Daisy and Russell; Al- len lives at home with his parents; Sarah is the wife of Clande Patton: Esther is
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residing at home; and Clarney died at the early age of three years and nine months. Mr. Swartzbaugh is a man of high stand- ing in his community and has many life- long friends, who hold him in high esteem as friend, neighbor and public-spirited citizen.
ANDREW NICHELSON, a retired farmer, residing at South Charleston, has been a life-long resident of this county and owns a fine farm situated in Harmony Township and across the line in Madison County. He was born on the old home place in Harmony Township in 1835, and is a son of Andrew, Sr., and Rachel ( Ham- mond) Nichelson.
Andrew Nichelson, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania in 1803 and was three years of age when his parents came west to Ohio, locating in Harmony Township, on the Samuel Goodfellow farm, now owned by C. A. Snyder. Here Andrew grew to maturity, living the hardy pioneer life incident to that period. He was a man of extraordinary ability, and he and his faithful wife became the largest land- owners in the county. His wife, Rachel Hammond, was a native of New York state and a daughter of Calvin Hammond. They had eleven children, of whom five are still living, three sons and two daugh- ters. Mr. Nichelson died at the age of seventy-seven years.
Andrew Nichelson, Jr., was reared on the home place and attended the old log schoolhouse of his home district. He farmed successfully and lived in Har- mony Township until 1902, when he re- tired from active business and moved to South Charleston, where he has one of the
finest homes in the village. On November 20, 1866, he was united in marriage with Sina Smith, who was born in Union Coun- ty, Ohio, and is a daughter of William Smith, who at one time was a resident of Clark County. The following children were born to bless this union: Augusta, Mrs. Charles C. Smith, of South Charles- ton; Charles, who farms the home place ; and Nancy R., who lives at home with her parents. Politically Mr. Nichelson is a Republican. He is a member of the Christian Church.
Charles C. Smith, son-in-law of Mr. Nichelson, is a retired farmer, residing in South Charleston, but owns a farm northwest of this village in Madison Township. He was born in that township June 13, 1855, a son of George and Eleanor (Chenoweth) Smith. His ma- ternal grandfather, Thomas Chenoweth, came from Virginia to Clark County, Ohio, at a very early date. George Smith was born in this county September 4, 1812, and his death occurred in 1892. Mr. Smith has always followed farming.
Charles Nichelson, son of Andrew Nichelson, was born on the home place in Harmony Township in 1873, and in his early days attended the district schools there. He subsequently attended Witten- berg College three years and Ohio State University one year. Upon leaving col- lege he returned home and turned his at- tention to farming, making a specialty of buying and shipping stock. He is a man of recognized business ability. In 1900 Mr. Nichelson was appointed administra. tor and receiver of the John Nichelson estate, which he settled satisfactorily to all concerned, and upon the death of his uncle, John Smith, it was found he was
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named in the will as executor of that es- tate. It consisted of 1,400 acres of land and was encumbered, but Mr. Nichelson set about his task with a will, cleared the indebtedness and then settled it with the utmost efficiency. After his discharge as executor he took up the management of his father's farm, which he continues at the present time. Politically he is a stanch Republican.
ROBERT F. STAFFORD, a prominent citizen of New Carlisle, Clark County, Ohio, is the owner of a fine farm of 112 acres in Pike Township, located two miles north of the village. He was born in this county November 22, 1841, is a son of George and Susan (Mckinney) Stafford, and grandson of George and Catherine (Fair) Stafford.
George Stafford, Sr., was a native of Ireland, and after coming to this country was married and located in Virginia, about the year 1790. He lived there about twenty years, in 1811 moving with his family to Clark County, Ohio, locating about three miles north of New Carlisle. He and his wife had eleven children: George, James, John, Ralph, Joseph, Findley, Elizabeth, Margaret, Ruth, Cath- erine and Susan.
George Stafford, Jr., was born in Vir- ginia July 1, 1804, and was seven years old when his parents moved to Pike Township. Here he grew to maturity and engaged in farming throughout life. He died March 5, 1880. He married Susan Mckinney in 1832, who was born Deceni- ber 6, 1807, and died April 22, 1856, and they had three children : Abarilla, Samuel MeKinney and Robert F. Abarilla, born
February 6, 1833, married David Johns- ton November 22, 1865, who died March 19, 1880. They had two children: Mary S., who is the wife of H. C. Coombs, and Julia F., who is the wife of M. G. Stafford. Samuel MeKinney Stafford, born August 6, 1837, was married in 1874 to Elizabeth Service, who died April 28, 1905.
Robert F. Stafford was educated in the district schools and Linden Hill Academy at New Carlisle, after which he turned his attention to farming, and also taught school during his younger days. He was first married in 1872 to Mary F. Black, and they had three children, as fol- lows: Wallace, born in 1873, died in 1876; Cora.A., born July 6, 1877, married Rooney Jones, of Vienna; and Carlton J., born December 6, 1878, died November 13, 1879. Mrs. Stafford was born in 1848 and died September 29, 1880.
Mr. Stafford formed a second martial union with Miss Jeanette C. Johnson, who was born in Clark County, Ohio, September 21, 1852, and is a daughter of Rev. E. Roger and Julia A. (Colton) Johnson. Her father was born June 4, 1814, at Plainfield, Connecticut, and died in New Carlisle September 7, 1862. Her mother was born at Exeter, New Hamp- shire, July 25, 1818, and died January 15, 1907. They were married September 2, 1842, and had five daughters: Laura I., born July 30, 1843, died January 31, 1854; Frances, born July 17, 1848, married Asa N. Mitchell. and they have had five chil- dren : Clifford, Burton J., one that died in infancy, Florence B. and Howard L .; Emily W., born May 1, 1850, is the wife of Oliver M. Turner and has one child, Edith H .; Jeannette; and May A., born September 7, 1858, married William S.
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Vail and has a son, Chester C. Rev. Parmenter incorporated the J. W. Par- Johnson was a man of scholarly attain- menter Company for the manufacture of men's suspenders and belts, and also the Ohio Garment Company, for the manu- facture of all kinds of men's cotton gar- ments. Mr. Parmenter requires 150 reg- ular employes and has eighteen men on the road who cover all the territory from Boston, Massachusetts, to Denever, Colo- rado. The responsibilities of these two enterprises are heavy, but Mr. Parmenter has others interests, including oil. ments, receiving his education in Bowdoin College, Maine, Lane Seminary and Ann Arbor, Michigan. His pastorate in the Presbyterian Church at New Carlisle be- gan in 1841 and lasted until 1862. He had the respect and esteem of all and had a wide acquaintance throughout this sec- tion of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford have one daughter, Nellie Johnson, who was born August 9, 1886, and is an in- struetor in the schools at Medway, Ohio. They are devout members of the Presby- terian Church, at New Carlisle, in which he is an elder.
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