USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > A Biographical record of Fairfield County, Ohio, illustrated > Part 12
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JOHN T. BUSBY.
The life history of Judge John Theo- dore Busby is that of one who is a high type of our American manhood-straight- forward and honorable in business, public- spirited and enterprising, and in public of- fice placing the good of the community be- fore self-aggrandizement. For almost for- ty years he was continuously in public of- fice and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. There is particular satisfaction in reverting to his history, for his mind bears the impress of the historic annals of the state from the early pioneer days. He was born in the village of Royalton. Fairfield county, on the 25th of September. 1827. and on the paternal side is of Irish descent and on the maternal of German lineage. His great-grandfather, John Busby, was a na-
tive of Ireland and married Miss Mary Stevens, a native of Scotland. He became the founder of the family in America, as well as the first representative of the name in this county. By trade he was a carpenter and carried on business along that line through- out his entire life in order to provide for his family. His death occurred in the village of Royalten in the year 1819.
Samuel S. Busby, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Royalton, January 28. 1798,-before the admission of Ohio into the Union. He was a machinist and farmer and was a representative and valned citizen of the community in pioneer times. After arriving at years of maturity he first mar- ried Catherine Trone, in 1819, and after her death married Ann Maria Fetters, who was born in Lancaster county. Pennsylvania.
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and came to Fairfield county, Ohio, with her plane of affluence and he is now accounted parents, John and Elizabeth ( Dabler) Fet- one of the substantial citizens of the county. having acquired a handsome competence, which now permits him to retire from active business life. ters, when a child. It was in the year 1803 that her parents emigrated westward and cast in their lot with the first settlers of this portion of the state. Their first home was built of logs with a mud and stick chimney and the furnishings were of a most primitive character, but poineer conditions were eventually replaced by the comforts and conveniences of an older civilization and the pioneer families of which the Judge is a representative became possessed of good homes and valuable farms. His father died in this county in 1835 and his mother passed away in 1832, leaving three children : John T., of this review; George W., a minister of the Lutheran church ; and Elizabeth, who died in childhood. Mr. Busby was again married, his third wife being Rachel Fet- ters.
The Judge was enabled to secure such educational discipline as was afforded by the public schools of an early day and later lie attended a private school, while subse- quent to that period he became a student in Lancaster, under the instruction of Pro- fessor Good. When he had completed his education he began working at the cabinet maker's trade, which he learned under the direction of Henry Shultz, and was thus as- sociated with the improvement of Lancas- ter. After his marriage he settled on a farın in Pleasant township, Fairfield coun- ty, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed successfully for many years. His enterprise and diligence enabled him to gradually advance to the
In the years of his early manhood Mr. Busby sought a companion and helpmate for the journey of life and was happily married to Miss Lavina Smetters, of Fairfield coun- ty, a daughter of George and Susan Smet- ters, honored pioneer people of this coun- ty. As the years passed eleven children were added to the householdl: Clara, the wife of James Robinson ; Mary .A., the wife of James Smith, of Walnut township; Sam- uel F., of Columbus, Ohio; Charles G., a farmer : James W., an operator for the Ohio Central Railroad Company; Susan M., at home; Lavina J., the deceased wife of Mathias Miller ; John T., who acted as his father's deputy in the office of county treas- urer, but is now deceased : Cora A., the wife of S. A. Krepps, an insurance agent of Co- lumbus: Myrtle Belle, at home : and Sarah L., a clerk in the Lancaster County Bank. The wife and mother passed to the home beyond in 1896.
The Judge is an unfaltering adherent of the Democracy, endorsing the principles ad- vocated by Jefferson. In early manhood he was elected justice of the peace and filled that position for twenty-five consecutive years, during which time a number of cases which he tried were appealed, but in no in- stance was his decision ever reversed. Dur- ing this time he acquired a very thorough knowledge of common law. He afterward accepted the position of deputy county treas-
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merer and served for four years under H. A. Martens and for a similar peried under Michael Hickle. Previous to that time he was for four years trustee of the infirmary and was one of its directors for three years. In 1884 he was elected probate judge of Fairfield county and received nineteen hun- dred votes-the largest number given to any man on the ticket. He assumed the duties of the office in February, 1885. for a term of three years, and in 1887 was re-elected to the same office, in which he served until February, 1891, covering six years, in which his fairness, impartiality and capability won him high commendation, as when a justice his decisions were never reversed. Such has been his official career-the account thereof being as an open book bearing the closest investigation and scrutiny. For some time Judge Busby was president of
the Fairfield County Agricultural Society and he belongs to Charity Lodge, No. 7, 1. O. O. F., in which he passed all the chairs. During the Civil war the Judge assisted in organizing a company of militia, of which he was captain. He was twice called out during the Morgan raid, but never was in an engagement, as Morgan soon retreated. He is a member and trustee of the Meth- odist church and his influence has ever been on the side of right and progress. He has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey, but still maintains an active interest in his native county. He has at- tained to a position of prominence in the county in which he was born and reared and in which he has retained his residence to the present time, being now one of the revered and venerable pioneers of the com- munity.
WILLIAM SHARP.
been represented in the Ohio legislature, the paternal grandfather of our subject. Joseph Sharp, serving as a member of the first gen- eral assembly of this state. He was born in Pennsylvania and in 1802 emigrated to
Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry honorable and distin- guished, and happy is he if his lines of life are cast in harmony therewith. The Sharp family has through almost an entire century been closely associated with the history of ' this state, casting in his lot with its pioneer Fairfield county, its members taking a very settlers who were laying broad and deep the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of the community. Ile died on a farm one mile north of St. Clairsville. prominent and active part in political and business affairs, their efforts being of marked value in advancing general progress. Through four generations the family has Joseph Sharp, Jr., the father of our sub-
WILLIAM SHARP
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ject. was born in the Keystone state, June 4, 1800, and was only two years old when brought by his parents to Ohio, where amid the wild scenes of the frontier he was reared, pursuing his education in the old- time log school house. The family first set- tled in Belmont county, where they lived for about twenty-one years. They then removed to Muskingum county and the father of our subject purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the midst of the dense forest. He continued to make it his place of abode through the succeeding seventeen years, going then to Taylorsville, where he built a dam across the Muskingum river. There he remained until coming to Fairfield county in 1839. Here he purchased the farm upon which William Sharp is now living. He made his way to this county in order to build the dam which is now known as Sharp's dam, and being pleased with the district he decided to remove his family to this place. In connection with the home farm he purchased the mill land, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. In 1822 Joseph Sharp had been married to Miss Anna Lee, a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and they became the parents of eleven children, namely: Robert L., James and Joseph, who have all passed away; Will- iam, the subject of this sketch; Mary, who married Daniel Stuckey, of Sugar Grove: Agnes, who has also passed away; George. living about two miles east of Rushville; John, who resides near Pleasantville: and three children who died in infancy. Mr. Sharp exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democrat party and upon that ticket was
elected to the state legislature in 1843, proving to be an active working member of the body. Ile was also justice of the peace, school director and trustee, filling the latter position for a number of years. He and his wife were members of the United Presby- terian church and he belonged to the Ma- sonic lodge in Zanesville. He possessed great energy, determination and activity. and it was his constant desire to progress. In speech he was frank, in manner genial and cordial, and all who knew him were counted among his friends.
William Sharp was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, November 17, 1831, and ob- tained his mental discipline in the schools of Berne township and in Lancaster, where he remained until about seventeen years of age. He then gave his entire attention to farm work upon the old family homestead and after his marriage he purchased a farm about one mile from the old place, becoming owner of a tract of ninety-eight acres, which his well-directed labors transformed into rich and arable fields, returning to him ex- cellent harvests.
The lady who presides over his home. was in her maidenhood Miss Ellen J. Cut- ler, a native of Athens county, Ohio. The' wedding was solemnized in 1859 and eight children have been born unto them : Charles C., a resident of West Virginia; Joseph, who resides on a farm adjoining his father's place; Thomas, who is at home with his father; Jennie, who resides in Nelsonville, Ohio; Frederick, also at home: William, who makes his home in California ; John, a resident of Oregon; and Annie, who mar- ried R. J. Conrad, of Lancaster. In his
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political views Mr. Sharp endorses the Democracy and has served as township treasurer, while for a number of years he has been township trustee. During one-half
of his life he has been connected with the school board, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend who does all in his power for its advancement.
CLARENCE M. ROWLEE.
The efforts of Clarence M. Rowlee in the field of business activity have been of such a character as to promote the prosper- ity of the entire community. He is now the field superintendent of the Columbus ( Ohio) Natural Gas & Fuel Company, with head- quarters at Lancaster and for a number of years has been actively associated with the work of developing the gas regions of this portion of the state. Ile was born in Pot- ter county, Pennsylvania, and pursued his education in the schools there. His parents. William and Mary ( Bovier) Rowlee, were both natives of New York, but for many years resided in the Keystone state, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits.
Upon the home farm our subject was reared and early became familiar with the duties and labors of the fields. Later, how- ever. he became connected with the oil fields of Pennsylvania, where for a time he was employed in the capacity of a clerk and afterward engaged in prospecting and oper- ating. In 1885 he left the oil fields of Brad- ford. McKean county, Pennsylvania, dis- posing of his interests there and came to Ohio, where he inspected the gas fields in
and around Lima and for two years he worked there. Later he entered the ent- ploy of the Peoria. Decatur & Eastern Railroad, with headquarters at Mattoon. Illinois. After two years spent in this oc- cupation he came to the vicinity of Lancas- ter and a short time afterward entered the employ of the Columbus ( Ohio) Natural Gas Company, of which he was made the held superintendent. Ile was among the first to drill a well, which was sunk to the depth of two thousand feet and afterward to twenty-four hundred. This work was ac- complished in 1889 and he, as a member, met with a fair degree of success. Not only the stockholders of the company but also outside parties became convinced that the gas belt of this portion of the state had been discovered. Improved machinery was pur- chased, pipe lines established and a reducing station built. Mr. Rowlee having supervis ion of all the departments of the operative work. His good judgment, coupled with long experience, has made him an efficient superintendent, who capably directs the work of fifty or sixty employes in the con- pany's service. He now occupies a pleas-
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ant office in the new Marten block of Lan- caster and from that place directs all busi- ness. Under his capable management the enterprise has proven a profitable one and is doubtless in the beginning of its useful- ness.,
In 1890 Mr. Rowlee was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Julia Boyer, of Columbus, Ohio, who by her former husband, George Boyer. had a daughter, Helen. Mr. Row- lee is a prominent Mason and has passed beyond the degrees of Lancaster Lodge, No. 57. F. & A. M., becoming a member of the
chapter and the commandery of this place. He is also identified with Mount Pleasant Lodge. No. 48. K. of P'. : Chickasaw Tribe, No. 100, I. O. R. M., of Thurston; the Unity Senate. No. 25. of the Ancient Es- senic Order, of Lancaster, and the K. O. T. M .. No. 57, of Lancaster. Mr. Rowlee is a typical American citizen, enterprising, progressive and alert. He is constantly on the outlook for broader business opportuni- ties and his capability has already secured to him a responsible position in the world of industrial activity.
CAPTAIN OLIVER B. BRANDT.
Man is never called upon to make a greater sacrifice than when he puts aside all business and personal relations, severs family ties and goes forth in defense of his country or of a people to face danger and perhaps death upon the field of battle, yet many thousands of the nation's bravest sons man- ifested their loyalty to the Union cause when the south attempted to set at naught the power of the national government in 1861. Captain Brandt was among those who joined the northern army and faith- fully did he follow the call of duty wher- ever it led, his bravery and meritorious con- duct winning him promotion until a cap- tain's commission was conferred upon him. He is now numbered among the farmers and stock raisers of Fairfield county, his
home being on section 6, Greenfield town- ship.
Captain Brandt was born March 26, 1838, in this county. His father, Adam Brandt, was born near Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania. June 24, 1800, a son of David Brandt, also a native of the Keystone state. When a youth of twelve years Adam Brandt was brought by his parents to Ohio, the family settling in Fairfield county in 1812, and as they were in limited financial circumstances he was early forced to earn his own livelihood and began learning the shoemaker's trade. Soon after attaining his majority he secured a small stock of men's heavy boots and with this started to the fields where a gang of workmen were em- ployed in constructing a canal. There his
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small stock was quickly sokl and with the money thus obtained he purchased more leather and began making a new supply of boots, so that he deserves to be known as a pioneer boot and shoe manufacturer of this county. This was the foundation of his successful career. As he had a ready sale for these products of his labor he soon se- cured a surplus and this money he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land. covered with a dense grove of timber. He then hired some men to clear the ground and prepare it for the plow. Among the stumps he planted apple, peach, pear and cherry trees and in a few years his place was known as the Fruit Ridge farm. He had one of the finest orchards of this part of the state and it yielded abundantly.
In 1806 there had come to Lancaster a family whose religious views had led then to liberate their slaves and for this they were ostracized by their neighbors in Vir- ginia. On this account they decided to seek a home in the free west and thus the Cooper family was established in Lancas- ter. The father was a saddler by trade and lish a harness business in Fairfield county. it is claimed he was the first man to estab- About 1819 his daughter, Rebecca Cooper. became the wife of Adam Brandt and unto them, as the years passed, were born ser- enteen children, nine sons and eight daugh- ters, of whom fourteen reached years of maturity, while nine are still living. The hereditary strain in the family was mani- fested in the grandsons, for six of them were enrolled among the soldiers of the Union army fighting for the suppression of slavery, which the grandfather had op-
posed so many years before. The sons of Adam who wore the blue were Henry C .. who died in February, 1895: Jonathan C., who is still living at the age of seventy-four years; Isaac, who resides in California. aged seventy-one: Oliver B., of this sketch ; William J. : and Wesley L., who resides in Mitchellville, Iowa, aged sixty years. Three of the daughters also married soldiers of the Civil war, namely: Catherine, born in 1820, married Samuel Radabangh and re- sides in Minnesota; Elizabeth, born in 1827. married Samuel Apt and resides in Kansas: and Rebecca, born in 1835. mar- ried S. S. Wiest and resides in Baltimore. Ohio. Thus this family was represented by nine loyal men who. fought for the starry banner and the cause it represented. Of these William J. Brandt died in the service February 13. 1862, aged twenty-one: jack- son H., another son, died November 23. 1867. The other daughters were as fol- lows: Martha, born September 10. 18333. is now the widow of Jacob Weaver and is a resident of Oklahoma Territory: Harriet. born December 25. 1836, is the wife of \. S. Ebright, of Carroll, Ohio: Mary M .. born December 8. 1839. is the widow of Joseph Morley, and a resident of Kansas: and Emaliza, born December 31. 1840. died in 1878. Certainly Adam Brandt had cause to be proud of his posterity. In his farming operations he prospered. The Fruit Ridge farm, which he developed in the midst of the wilderness, became one of the most flourishing fruit farms in all this see- tion of the country and its owner was hon- ored and respected for his many good qual- ities. He lived to a ripe old age, being ses-
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enty-four years when killed June 24, 1874. by falling from a tree. Mrs. Brandt died April 18, 1870, at the age of sixty-eight years.
Captain Oliver B. Brandt, whose name introduces this record, worked upon the home farm and under his father's direction until twenty-one years of age and when Abraham Lincoln issued his first call for seventy-five thousand men to serve for three months, thinking that the war would be over at that time, Oliver Brandt was among the first to be enrolled among the members of Company A, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry. On the expiration of term of en- listment, the regiment was reorganized and he became a member of Company F, with which he served for three years. From time to time he was promoted through the vari- ous ranks until in recognition of his loyal patriotism and military skill, he was com- missioned captain. He participated in six- teen pitched battles and twelve skirmishes. and seven bullets pierced his clothing. while his sword was shot in two at the hilt in the battle of Chickamauga. On the second day of the engagement. while he was in command of the color company, a shell burst in their midst, killing and wounding many of his comrades. The en- emy taking advantage of the havoc and confusion again charged in the column be- fore they could rally, capturing Captain Brandt and many of his men. As a pris- oner of war he was sent to Libby prison and later to Macon, Georgia. He was one of the Union soldiers to be sent to Charles- ton. South Carolina, the Confederates thinking if they placed many Union pris-
oners in that city that the Union forces would not attempt its destruction and would cease shelling the town for fear of killing their own unfortunate comrades, thus placing them under the fire of their own guns. It was fortunate that Captain Brandt had a strong constitution to with- stand all the hardships and horrors of pris- on life. He managed, however. to keep in good health and was never on the sick list or had the aid of a physician or surgeon from the time he responded to President Lincoln's call until receiving his honorable discharge in July, 1865. His is certainly a creditable military record of which he has every reason to be proud. He was always found at his post of duty, which was often in the thickest of the fight, and he never hes- itated or wavered in obeying a command and by his own bravery he inspired many of his company to like deeds of bravery and heroism.
Not long after his return home in March, 1866, Captain Brandt was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Holmes, a daughter of George W. Holmes, a farmer of Greenfield township. Six chiklren have been born of this marriage, three sons and three daughters, namely: Nancy O .. born in 1866, is now the wife of Mcclellan Mar- tens, a hardware dealer of Lancaster; Ida R., born in 1868, resides at home: James M .. born in 1870, married Dessa Lamb, a daughter of Hon. George Lamb, and re- sides in Fostoria, Ohio, where he is engaged in the agricultural implement business ; Lulu, born in 1872. is with her parents ; Harry H., born in 1874, is engaged in teaching school; and George W., born in
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1877, assists his father in the management of the home farm. Captain Brandt has re- sided upon this place since his marriage and his home is made pleasant through the tal- ent of his daughters, who have inherited their paternal grandfather's musical abil- ity and love of flowers. The Brandt family is one that is highly esteemed in Fairfield county, and to his duties of citizenship the Captain is as true and loyal to-day as when he followed the starry banner of the nation through the south. In politics he is a commander and is now adjutant.
strong Republican ; for thirty years has been an active worker for his party's interests; was chairman of the Republican county committee in 1890-2; and is now a member of the Republican central committee. He served as school director twenty-one years and in 1898 was in Columbus as a commit- tee to look after the interests of the Carroll schools. Fraternally he is a prominent member of Ezra B. Ricketts Post, No. 246. G. A. R., of Carroll, of which he is past
RICHARD EVANS.
Richard Evans, now deceased, com- manded the respect and confidence of his fellow men to an unusual degree, and when called to his final rest his death was widely and deeply mourned. He was a native of England and a son of David Evans, whose birth also occurred in the country in which he spent his entire life. He was a farmer by occupation and always carried on that pursuit in order to provide for his family. His wife died but a short time prior to the emigration of her son Richard to the new world. He had attended the public schools of his native country and when fifteen years of age he determined to make his home in the new world, having heard favorable re- ports of its opportunities and privileges. Accordingly he perfected his arrangements to sail for the United States and at length
landed at New York city, whence he made his way across the country to Ohio, set- tling first in Columbus. There he learned the painter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. He worked for the Hock- ing Valley Railroad Company in the ca- pacity of painter for a long period. About 1889 he came to Fairfield county, settling in Hocking township, and with the capital he had acquired through his own energy and diligence he purchased eighty acres of land, on which he erected a large and substantial residence, thus making a home for himself and family. Throughout his remaining days he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits and placed his land under a high state of cultivation, making it a rich and arable tract. When he arrived in Columbus he was but a youth and had only a capital
RICHARD EVANS
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of one dollar. He feared not the laborious devotion to work which is the foundation of all prosperity, and as the years passed he won success and provided most comfortably for his family.
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