USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > A Biographical record of Fairfield County, Ohio, illustrated > Part 11
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His life was an active and useful one. He abandoned the tanning business about 1855. after which he devoted his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. He had three hundred acres of land which he improved, thus becoming the owner of one of the most valuable farms in Hocking township. Both he and his wife were devoted and faithful members of the Methodist church. His death occurred February 5. 1876, on the old farm, and his wife passed away in 1896. For several years before her death she made her home with her children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Strode were born eight children, four sons and four daughters, and of the number four are yet living. Thomas, who resides in Ilocking township. is a farmer and is also a director in the Fairfield County Bank. James, who served in the Seventeenth Ohio Infantry for four years during the Civil war, was afterward superintendent of the state house of Columbus, filling that posi- tion to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1900. Elizabeth became the wife of Robert D. Cunningham, a farmer of Hocking township, and died in 1868, leav- ing three children: George S., a lawyer of Lancaster; Henry, a farmer of Hocking township: and Laura, the wife of Pascall Shaw, also an agriculturist of Hocking township. Kate, the fourth member of the Strode family, is the wife of Peter G. Crumley, of Hocking township, where he follows farming, and they have one child. Clarence. William H. is the fifth in order of birth. Rebecca is the wife of Daniel Crumley, a farmer of Hocking township and they have four children: Blanche, Cloise, Ralph and Glen. Nancy became the
wife of Daniel Haklerman, of Lancaster, and died leaving five children : Ouida, Lotta, George, Lela and Boyd. George H., the youngest member of the family, died in 1870 at the age of twenty-four years. Ile was a farmer by occupation.
William H. Strode, whose name intro- (luces this record, obtained his early educa - tion in the district schools of his township and in his youth assisted his father upon the home farm, where he has always re- mained. At the time of the Civil war he offered his services to the government, eu- listing in 1862 as a member of Company D. Ninetieth Ohio Infantry, with which he served for two years and ten months, be- ing then honorably discharged at Nashville. Tennessee. He had been promoted in the meantime to the rank of sergeant. He took part in the battle of Chickamauga, and in all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign up to and including the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, where he was wounded. He, however, remained in the service until the close of the war, but was confined in the hos- pital during the latter part of the time. Re- turning to the north he resumed work upon the old homestead and has since engaged in general farming and stock raising, owning and operating one hundred and two acres of the old home farm. He has since re- modeled the house and' has made many other modern and substantial improvements which indicate that the owner is a progres- sive and wide-awake man. His fields are carefully tilled and return to him golden harvests for his labors, and as the years pass he is continually adding to his capital. On the 27th of November. 1866, Mr.
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Strode was united in marriage to Miss Laura J. Fink, a daughter of William and Mary Fink, of Pleasant township, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was a farmer and at an early day came to Ohio from Virginia, which was the state of his nativity. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Strode have been born four children. Brezetta is the wife of Edwin Beck, a farmer of Hocking township, and they have three children : Mabel, Ruth and Mary. Harvey G. trav- els for a Columbus firm. Octavia is the wife of C. W. McCray, a farmer of Hock- ing township and they have three children : Annabel, Leon and Ronald. Mamie, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Mer-
rill Hunter, an agriculturist of Pleasant township. All of the children were born ont the old home place, where Mr. Strode and his wife are yet living. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Ben Butterfield Post, No. 77, of Lancas- ter, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. In politics he is a Republican, and is deeply interested in the success of the party. but never seeks office. All through his life he has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and his thor- ough understanding of the business, supple- mented by diligence and enterprise have made him a capable and successful agricul- turist.
FRANK J. BOVING.
Frank J. Boving, who is successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, has resided upon his present farm since birth. He was born on the 17th of January. 1851, and is a son of George William Boving, a native of Bremen, Germany, born May 5, 1800. He had three brothers and one sister, all oi whom have now passed away. In the year 1848 he emigrated to Fairfield county. Ohio, locating on a farm now owned by hi- son, Frank J., in Bloom township. There was some timber upon the place and Mr. Boving, with characteristic energy, began to clear and develop the land. He had been educated in his native city and at the age of
sixteen was placed in charge of a large farm in the capacity of superintendent, so that his broad experience enabled him to suc- cessfully carry on agricultural pursuits on his own account. He was twice married. In 1833 he wedded Sophia Pfleging and unto them were born four children, all ofwhom are now deceased. The mother passed away in 1847 and in 1849 Mr. Boving was again married, his second union being with Amalia Paran, of Woolfsanger, Germany. the ceremony being celebrated in Lancaster. Ohio. Four children were born of this marriage, but two of the number are de- ceased. Harry R., a jeweler of Lancaster,
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being the younger of the living sons. The father died May 25, 1890, after a long resi- dence in Fairfield county, during which time he won many friends by reason of his upright character.
In the district schools of Fairfield coun- ty, Frank J. Boving pursued his education and his business training was received upon the home farm, where he early became fa- miliar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. in 1879 he was united in marriage to Dora Schaer. a daughter of August Schaer, who came from Hanover. Germany, to the United States. In 1844 he took up his abode in Bloom township. Fairfield county, where he lived until seventy-four years of age. pass- ing away in 1886. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Augusta Fromme, died in I&go at the age of sixty-two years. They were the parents of six children. all of whom are yet living. namely: Ida, the wife of Justus Gromme, of Lancaster : Mrs. Boving: Edward G. . who is living in Bloom 'township: Frank G., of Violet township: Mrs. Antonia Alspach, of Columbus ; and
Amelia, a resident of Carroll. The father was a well educated man and an extensive reader, keeping well informed on all the is- sues and questions of the day. He held membership in the Lutheran church. was always one of its officers and for a long time served as its treasurer. He was a pop- ular citizen owing to his genial disposition and reliability in all the walks of life.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boving was blessed with three children, but Ang- ust, their first born, his natal day being Sep- tember 3. 1880, died in infancy. The others are Antonia, born November 22, 1886, and Louis Walter, born August 7. 1890. The parents hold membership in the Zion Evan- gelical church, of which Mr. Boving is serving as treasurer. They contribute lib- erally to its support and are well known people of the community, having many . friends throughout Fairfield county. In his business undertaking's Mr. Boving has met with creditable and deserved success. He has realized that industry is the foundation of all prosperity and with unremitting dili- gence he has carried on his farm work.
SAMUEL A. GRISWOLD.
While Samuel A. Griswold did not at- tain to any position of especial prominence or political importance, there was probably no private citizen of Lancaster who exerted a stronger or more beneficial influence than
he who is the subject of this memoir, on ac- count of his calm, clear. unbiased judgment. his honorable purpose. his keen insight into affairs of the day and into future possi- bilities, and his unfaltering fidelity to what
S. A. Griswold.
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he believed to be right. So devoted was he to family and friends that he has made them feel that
"He was a man, take him for all in all ;
I shall not look upon his like again."
Samuel Alexander Griswold was born in Columbus, Ohio, February 18, 1815, of Connecticut parentage, and is said to have been the first white child born in that city after it was made the state capital. His par- ents. Judge Ezra and Philecta (Cooke) Griswold, of Delaware, Ohio, were among the first settlers of Franklin county, the Griswolds arriving from Tariffville, Con- necticut, in 1803. while the Cookes came about ten years later. They were married in Worthington. Ohio. in 1814. and Judge Griswold was one of the firm which founded the Ohio State Journal, and both before and after this he published papers at Worthing- ton and Delaware, Ohio, being at one time the owner and proprietor of the Gazette published in the latter city. He died at the old homestead in Delaware in 1863, and his wife passed away in Brooklyn, New York, at the home of her adopted daughter, Mrs. Lester Roberts, sixteen years later. Judge Griswoldl was more than an ordinary man. He was a rigid disciplinarian, coming, as he did, from the rugged but austere Pilgrim stock. and principles of honesty and fair dealing were early inculcated in his nature. His extreme justice and fairness made him honored by all and his death was a severe blow to his friends throughout the state.
When but three years of age our subject was taken by his parents to Worthington.
nine miles distant from his native city. Dur- ing that year he was taught his letters and before his fifth year was regularly attend- ing one of the private schools of the time and had become a good reader. During his sixth year he learned to set type in his fa- ther's printing office at Worthington, and in another year he was of considerable as- sistance as a compositor of the paper. From this time on he alternated between the print- ing office and private schools and academies of the period until his eighteenth year. when he entered the preparatory school connected with Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio. He completed his text-book education by an irregular college course terminating in 1835. In 1838 Mr. Griswold became the proprietor of the Tiffin Gazette, a small sheet which had maintained a very unsatisfactory ex- istence for a few years. That paper he con- ducted through the memorable campaign of 1840, which ended in the election of General William Henry Harrison. Mr. Griswold continued at Tiffin until 1843.
In January, 1839, he had married Miss Ethelyn . Kelley, of Delaware, Ohio, and they resided at Tiffin until 1844. during which time their two eldest children were born. In that year they removed to Marion. Ohio, where Mr. Griswold took charge of the Buckeye Eagle, a Whig paper which had just been established by T. P. Wallace and of which Mr. Griswold remained editor un- til about 1849, when the paper was sold. In that year our subject was appointed post- master of Marion, under Zachary Taylor, and continued in the office until 1853. In that year he was defeated as a candidate for
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sheriff of Marion county, but in 1854 was zette's guiding spirit, placing the paper elected county auditor by a majority of two upon its present proud and prosperous po- sition as a Republican organ." hundred and thirty-six over Richard Wil- son, the Democratic candidate, who had been an invincible candidate for different offices for over thirty years. Mr. Griswokl had been nominated by the Know-Nothing party without his knowledge and was elected almost before he knew that his name had been placed on the ticket. In 1856 he was re-elected and proved a most capable officer, and for two years he also served as justice of the peace. He was further identi- fied with business affairs of Marion by serv- ing for two years as bookkeeper and teller in the Bank of Marion.
The year 1861 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Griswold in Lancaster, where he re- sided up to the time of his death. He was first employed as superintendent of the pharotype plate factory owned by his brother. V. M. Griswold. From May. 1865. until January, 1866. he was employed as a clerk in the quarter-master's depart- ment of Sherman's army, at Raleigh, North Carolina. under General J. F. Boyd. Re- turning to Lancaster he purchased the inter- est of A. P. Miller in the Lancaster Ga- zette, assuming his editorial duties in Feb- ruary, 1866, being thus engaged up to the time of his death. For thirty years he ably conducted that paper, and after his retire- ment there appeared in an editorial the fol- lowing :
"From the day of the appearance of his manly and forceful salutatory articles until his voluntary relinquishment of the chair of editor, in 1896, Mr. Griswold was the Ga-
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Griswold were born four daughters and three sons, and one daughter and one 'son, together with the mother, passed away several years prior to the death of Mr. Griswold. The surviving members of the family are Mrs. Ada Sif- ford, Mrs. George Hlaklerman, Mrs. I. But- terfield, of Fostoria, Ohio, S. G. V. Gris- wold, who is connected with the Omaha Work. and H. W. Griswold. Mr. Gris- wold was most devoted to his family and friends, and had a pleasant, genial manner which made him a prime favorite with young and old, rich and poor. He was very prominent in public affairs tending to the welfare and contributing to the progress of. the community. He served as secretary of Fairfield county Union party and in June, 1866, was a member of the Fairfield dele- gation of that party in the state convention at Columbus, Ohio, other delegates being Hocking H. Hunter. Colonel John M. Con- nell. C. M. S. Wiseman. C. F. Shaffer, A. P. Ashbrook, Josiah Flattery, Captain L. Pick- ering. John A. Fetters. John A. Hunter. He was for many years the secretary of the Republican county committee and at the convention was the most prominent delegate in the promulgation of the party's plat- Ile was secretary of the Hocking Valley Horticultural Society for a long period and no movement or measure calculated to prove of general good sought his aid in vain.
Mr. Griswold died at two o'clock on Sunday morning of the 15th of October,
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1899, after an illness of two weeks. A few it will be forever enshrined in the memory hours prior to his death he summoned the and hearts of his friends." members of his family who were within call The Gazette, in speaking of Mr. Gris- wold, who was so long an active factor in. its publication, said : and told them that the end was near. He retained his mental powers to the last and when he closed his eyes in the last sleep his passing away was so quiet and peaceful that those by his bedside hardly realized that the end had come. One who, knew him long and intimately for many years and perhaps understood his character, his desires, his ambitions and his manhood better than any other person outside of his own family. said :
"Death has removed from our midst one of the best and purest men who have lived in Lancaster in the last thirty-eight years. He came to us in 1861, a. modest, unknown man, in the prime of life, and soon took his place among the foremost and ablest men of Lancaster, and throughout his career here his modest, unobtrusive life was the admira- tion of all who knew him. He had known Charles Parsons, Edwin M. Stanton and President Hayes in his boyhood and was their schoolmate, and when these distin- guished men had reached the zenith of their fame lie was too modest to make this fact known in the columns of his paper. The high moral character of Mr. Griswold was one of his chief characteristics. In this re- spect he was a model for young men-for all men. The writer had been his neighbor for more than a quarter of a century and he never knew him to be guilty of a mean thing or of an act to bring the blush to the cheek of any of his friends. His high char- acter is now the heritage of ly's children and
"A's a writer on subjects in which the common people were interested, and on mat- ters of state and national concern, Mr. Gris- wold had but few equals. His style was plain and simple, but as clear and forceful as pure and puissant English could make it. Of keen perception, great analytical powers. and with nothing but honesty of purpose and goodness of heart to sway him, his judgment of men and measures was invari- ably fulfilled and verified in succeeding events and results attained. * * His. character was not one calling for eulogy on. account of a brilliant public career ; but it was one to be held by all who enjoyed his acquaintance and the products of his pen in a true regard and abiding remembrance, for the unostentatious influence of a good and pure life. It was not the torrent, madly rushing down the mountain-side, but rather the gentle river, whose silently majestic flow is the attribute of depth and volume, and which imparts richness and benefits on all sides as it flows."
Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct, stainless in reputation, such was the life record of Samuel Alexander Griswold. His scholarly attainments, his statesmanship, his reliable judgment and his charming powers of conversation would have enabled him to fill and grace any position however exalted, and he was not the less honored in public- than loved in private life.
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
IRA ASHBROOK.
Ira Ashbrook was born in AAmanda township upon a farm noted for its well kept appearance, being an indication of his careful supervision and progressive meth- ods of farming. His birth occurred May 16, 1856, and he represents an old Virginia family that was established in Fairfield coun- ty when this section of the state was but just emerging from primitive conditions. flis paternal grandfather. William Ash- brook, was a native of Virginia, and in that state wedded Permelia Peters, who was also born in the Old Dominio. Thinking that he might provide a better home for his fam- ily and more readily acquire a comfortable living in the newer districts of the west he left his Virginia home and came to Ohio. Fairfield county being his destination. He settled in Amanda township, acquiring a tract of wild, unimproved land, and at once began clearing away the timber in order to cultivate the fields. . As the years passed his labors bore to him good crops and his finan- cial resources were increased. His home was in Amanda township. There, through- out his remaining days, he carried on agri- cultural pursuits, but he was called to his final rest at the comparatively early age of forty-five years. His wife, however, long survived him and reached the extreme old age of ninety-two years.
Among their children was William Ash- brook, the father of our subject, whose birth occurred here on the old family homestead. Hle too became a farmer. Early in life he became familiar with all the duties and la-
bors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. .As the years passed more and more of the farm work developed upon him. He con- tinued to make his home in Fairfield coun- ty until 1885. when he removed to Pick- away county, spending his last days in Ash- ville. He departed this life about two years ago and the community lost one of its hon- ored and esteemed citizens, a man who was ever on the side of progress and improve- ment. He never sought or desired office, but was content to do his duty as a private citizen. His political support was given to the Republican party and he strongly en- dorsed its principles as best calculated to serve the interests of the nation. He was sup porter of the Baptist church and his ex- ample was in many respects a noble one. He married Nancy Hedges and her death occurred about twelve years ago. She was boru in Pickaway county and was a devot- ed wife and mother. In the family were seven children, the subject of this review being the sixth in order of birth.
Ira Ashbrook spent his early boyhood days in a manner not unusual to most boys of that period. He enjoyed the pleasures of the playground. performed the duties of the school-room and assisted in the work of cultivating field and meadow on the old homestead farm. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life en his own account. In 1882 he rented a farm which he cultivated for two years. and then purchased the place whereon
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he was born, a tract of one hundred and thirty-two acres. Many improve- ments here found are the visible evidences of his progressive spirit and his life of ac- tivity. He is well known as a progressive agriculturist and his reliability in all trade transactions, and his course is dominated by an unflagging industry.
In 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Ashbrook and Miss Ida Ann Hutchins, of Amanda township, a daughter of Amos Hutchins, who is one of the highly esteemed citizens of Fairfield county. He makes his home upon a farm in Amanda township, and it was in this township that his birth oc- curred January 11, 1834. His parents were John and Rebecca (Dysinger) Hutchins, the former born in Maryland, whence he came to Ohio at an early day, locating in Amanda township, Fairfield county. Here he engaged in farming and stock-raising, and throughout the remainder of his life made his home in Amanda township, but three years ago he was called to his final rest. He held the office of township treas- urer for several years and was a leading and influential citizen, worthy of the high- est regard of his fellow men. He became the owner of four hundred and seventy-five acres of land, all of which he placed under cultivation. His political support was given the Democracy. His wife passed away some years previous to the death of her husband. She was a native of Fairfield county and a daughter of George Dysinger, one of the honored and pioneer settlers of this por- tion of the state. Amos Hutchins was one of a family of six children, four of whom are yet living. He has also resided in Fair-
field county and to the public-school sys- tem he is indebted for the educational priv- ileges which he enjoyed. His farm train- ing was received under his father's direc- tion on the old family homestead, and there he remained until a short time before at- taining his majority, when he started out in life upon his own account. He had no cap- ital with which to purchase land and for a number of years he rented a farm, but at length, having acquired a considerable sum of money, he purchased one hundred and sev- enty-five acres of land, upon which he erect- ed a large brick dwelling house in 1882. He also made . other substantial improve- ments, and his is now one of the model country homes of this portion of the state. He exercises his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the Democ- racy. but the honors and emoluments of of- fice have had no attraction for him. Amos Hutchins married Lavina Phillips, a daugh- ter of Daniel Phillips, of Pickaway county, a prominent and progressive farmer, who died there at an dvanced age. Mrs. Hutch- ins died upon the old home place in 1883. She was a member of the Lutheran church, to which Mr. Hutchins also belongs, and in her family life she was a most kind and con- siderate wife and mother, finding her great- est happiness in promoting the welfare and comfort of her husband and children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins were born six chil- dren : Henry died at the age of sixteen years. Vallandingham died at the age of eighteen years. Charles, a resident farm- er of Licking county, Ohio, married Min- nie Williamson, of Amanda township, a daughter of Jabez and Rebecca J. (Harri-
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son ) Williamson. They had four children : Hazel, llomer, lda Ethel and Mary. Ida is the wife of Ira AAshbrook, the subject of this review. Isaac resides upon the old home place, devoting his energies to farm- ing. John is associated with his brother in agricultural pursuits.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ashbrook has been blessed with four children: Edna L .. Agnes B., Florence M. and .\. Raymond. all of whom were born on the old home farm and are still with their parents. Mr.
Ashbrook gives his political support to the Republican party, and keeps well informed on the issues and questions of the day. but has never been an office seeker. He sup- ports the Lutheran' church and his hearty co-operation is given to all measures that are for the general good. His name is a synonym for integrity in business affairs, and throughout the county of his nativity wherever he is known he is greatly esteemed for his sterling worth and high moral character.
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