USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > A Biographical record of Fairfield County, Ohio, illustrated > Part 46
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standing of the law, patience, urbanity and industry, Judge Donahue took to the bench the very highest qualifications for the most responsible office of the state government and his record as a judge has been in har- mony with his record as a man and a law- yer, distinguished by unswerving integrity and a masterful grasp of every problem which has presented itself for solution.
THOMAS B. WILLIAMS.
Thomas B. Williams is one of the younger members of the Perry county bar who has attained distinction and success that many an okler professional man might well envy. He has served as prosecuting attorney of the county and is now enjoying a distinctively representative clientage as a member of the legal fraternity ci New Lex- ington. Mr. Williams is a native of Pome- roy, Ohio, where his birth occurred Janu- ary 5. 1870. his parents being Benjamin and Elizabeth ( Johnson ) Williams, both of whom were natives of Wales, whence they came to the new world in 1863. taking up their abode in Niles, Ohio, whence they re- moved to Pomeroy and afterward went to New Straitsville. Perry county, Ohio. . The father was a miner by occupation and his wage- were barely sufficient to provide the necessities of life for his family without giving them any special advantages.
iams has been dependent up m h's own efforts. Before he was ten years of age he began work in the mines and followed that pursuit whenever there was work to do until after he had graduated from the public schools. He attended school in Pomeroy and in New Straitsville and at length was grad- uated in the high school at the latter place in the class of 1880. He then continued to work in the mines until he had acquired capital sufficient to enable him to pursue his legal studies, for he had determined to make the practice of law his life work. He thus early showed forth the elementary strength of his character and his strong purp se and untiring energy have been salient features in his career, as he has steadily progressed toward success. He has earned his daily bread from childhood and has not only achieved a good, liberal education but also prepared for the bar and won his degree in
From an early age Thomas B. Will- the Cincinnati Law School, in which he was
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graduated with the class of 1892. He then took up the practice of law, at once opening an office in New Straitsville, where within a short period he has already gained recog- nition as a lawyer of ability. manifesting his proficient knowledge of law and his ready application of legal principles by the way in which he conducted the legal busi- ness entrusted to his care. In the fall of 1893 he was elected prosecuting attorney for Perry county and after practicing for eighteen months at New Straitsville he re- moved to New Lexington, where he has since remained. He discharged his official duties with such ability and promptness that he was re-elected for a second term in 1896, and upon his retirement from the office lie resumed the private practice of law and now has a large clientage.
In the year 1893 Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Griffith, a native of Wales, and a daughter of David D. Griffith, of Whiting, Indiana. They now have two interesting children: Elbert and
Margaret. Our subject and his wife have a large circle of friends in New Lexington and enjoy the regard of those with whom they have been brought in contact. Fra- ternally Mr. Williams is connected with the Masonic order, with the Knights of Pythias and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his political views he is a Re- publican and has been an active and helpful member of the county committee. He has served as a member of the city council of New Lexington and in the discharge of his official duties has manifested capability and trustworthiness that has won for him the highest esteem. Mr. Williams has ac- complished much in life, although he is but a young man. Dependent upon his own re- sources for a living from an early age, he has watched his opportunities, has made the most of his advantages and as the years have passed has steadily progressed until he now occupies a most creditable and honor- able position as a citizen and as a member of the bar.
PETER P. MECHLING.
The Mecliling family is one well known in Perry county. It was established here about a century ago and from that time un- til the present representatives of the name have been loyal and active in citizenship and reliable and progressive in business affairs. The subject of this review is the youngest son of Samuel and Magdalena
( Poorman ) Mechling. He was born in llopewell township. May 16, 1847. His father was a native of Westmoreland coun- ty, Pennsylvania, born on the 4th of De- cember, 1804, and was a son of Jacob and Mary, who were also natives of Westmore- land county. The mother of our subject was born in the southern part of Hopewell
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township and was a daughter of Bernard and Elizabeth Poorman. On the 24th of April. 1824. she gave her hand in marriage to Samuel Mechling and unto them were born six children: Simon P., who was born May 10. 1835. died February 3. 1860; Bernard, born AApril 21, 1837. died April 17. 1896: Hannah, born November 26, 1839. died January 27. 1842: Daniel, born April 8. 1842, died March 11, 1846: Eliza, born July 3. 1844, is the wife of Simon Rarick and resides in Thornville, Ohio: and Peter P. is the youngest of the family. Samuel Mechling received but limited edu- cational privileges, pursuing his studies in an old log school house common at that time, but through his industry and enter- prise as a farmer he became a very success- ful man. In his political views he was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and took an active interest in church work. He passed away in 1849. at the age of forty- five years, when our subject was about twenty-two months old. His wife died February 24. 1892, at the age of seventy- seven years, and both are interred in St. Paul's cemetery in Hopewell township. Samuel Mechling was a man of marked worth, his character was ever beyond re- proach and in his business dealings he was ever just and honorable. He so managed his business interests that as the years passed he gained a comfortable competence. being one of the prosperous and successful farmers of the community.
Peter P. Mechling obtained his edu- cation in the district schools of Hopewell
township and in the high school of Somer- set, Ohio, which he attended for a short time. He always remained with his mother until his marriage, which important event in his life occurred on the 8th of December. 1872, the lady of his choice being Miss Frances Orr, a daughter of Hiram and Mary Orr, who were natives of Bowling Green township, Licking county, Ohio, and are now residents of Illinois. After his marriage Mr. Mechling removed to his present farm, which adjoins the farm upon which he was born, and there he began life in a log house, but he now has a large and attractive residence, which is indicative of the prosperons career which he has ded. The brick was burned upon the farm and the house was erected in 1877. He also built commodious barns and made other ex- cellent improvements upon his place, which shows that he is a man of progressive and practical ideas. He owns three hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land, which is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. He makes a specialty of the raising of hogs and cattle for the market and his sale of these annually increases his income to a gratifying extent.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Mechling has been blessed with five children : Hiram Orval, born . August 22, 1873. is a druggist at Thornville, Ohio: Rosella, born Deceni- ber 19. 1874. died on the 25th of October. 1883: Bertha Edith, born January 17, 1878, married William 11. Walser, and is living in Hopewell township: Frank D. and Fred S., twins, born June 13, 1882, are at home. Mr. Mechling and his family are
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members of the Lutheran church, of which life stands as an exemplification of what he served as trustee for a time. In politics can be accomplished through determined purpose when guided by sound practical judgment. Starting out upon his business career with small capital he has steadily advanced and is to-day the owner of two of the finest farms of his township, their well tilled fields, good buildings and rich meadow land all being indicative of the progressive and enterprising spirit of the owner. he is a Democrat and for eleven years has served as treasurer of Hopewell township, while at the present time he is filling the office of justice of the peace. He has ever discharged his official duties with prompt- ness and fidelity and his public career has therefore gained him commendation and re- spect. In his business affairs Mr. Mechling has prospered from year to year, and his
EDWIN S. CULVER.
For some time Edwin S. Culver, now a resident of Glouster, Ohio, occupied the im- portant position of general buyer and head bookkeeper for the Columbus & Hocking Coal & Iron Company at New Straitsville, operating mine No. 3 at this place. In that position he had the supervision of four hun- dred men and controlled the operations of the iron furnaces. He enjoyed in an un- qualified degree the confidence of the com- pany which he represented and was well worthy of its trust.
The Culver family, to which our sub- ject belongs, is of English Puritan ancestry, the line of descent being traced back to the Mayflower. From Connecticut representa- tives of the family came to Ohio in 1796 and established a home at Marietta. One of these was Reuben Culver, the grandfather of our subject, who became identified with
pioneer life in the Buckeye state and aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present development and prosperity of this commonwealth. He married Olive Buell, a daughter of Timothy Buell, who served as an officer in the militia in an early day, participating in the battle of Stoning- ton during the Revolutionary war. Crom- well B. Culver, the father of our subject, was born in Ohio January 15. 1803, and after arriving at years of maturity he mar- ried Sarah J. Perry, a daughter of Peter Perry, who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, where for many years he made his home. He was an unele of Commodore Perry, who won fame in the naval battle of Lake Erie, and whose famous message. "We have met the enemy and they are ours," has become a matter of history.
Edwin S. Culver, of this review, was
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born in the old town of Gore, in Hocking county, Chio, March 21, 1850. He was there reared and educated, also pursuing his studies to some extent in Logan, Ohio. In May, 1879, he entered the employ of the Thomas Iron Works Company, with which he remained until the ist of March, 1883. when he became connected with the Colum- bus & Hocking Coal & Iron Company as its chief clerk. At New Gore he was justice of the peace and postmaster while residing there, thus taking an active part in public affairs as well as in business life. In 1885 he removed to Buchtel, in the employ of the same company, continuing at that place until 1893, when he came to New Straitsville to accept the position of general buyer and head bookkeeper for the Columbus & Hock- ing Coal & Iron Company. Much responsi- bility rested upon him and he was fully equal to the task and controlled the exten- sive business interests here in a manner that brought prosperity to the company and at the same time enabled the corporation to pay him a good salary.
In the county of his nativity Mr. Culver was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Ben-
nett, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah .. (Lentz} Bennett. The Lentz family came from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio in pioneer times and in 1853 Daniel Ben- nett removed from Wilkesbarre, Pennsyl- vania, to Hocking county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Culver have been born four children : Thea Edith, born September 15. 1885; Cromwell B., born December 27, 1887; Ed- win Germaine B., born July 11, 1892; and Margaret C., born August 3. 1896. MIr. and Mrs. Culver have a wide circle of friends in this locality and the hospitality of the best homes of New Straitsville was extended to them during their residence here. Here Mr. Culver served as notary public. Ile is a well known and valued member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- ing to the blue lodge, chapter and council. He is largely a self-made man, who, with- out pecuniary or other advantages to assist him at the outset of his career, has steadily worked his way upward. He had a land- able ambition to attain something better in life and has steadily advanced to a promi- nent position in the commercial circles of the state.
WILLIAM SNIDER.
William Snider is closely associated with the business interests of Perry county and of southeastern Ohio as a representa- tive of industrial circles. He owns and operates five sawmills and two planing
mills, and in the conduct of these enter- prises is meeting with excellent success, his business also proving of benefit to the com- munity. It has been said that the man who pays over his counter- each week a
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large sum of money to workmen does more for his country than he who leads an armed host forth to battle. Employing men in his mill, Mr. Snider is thus contributing to the general prosperity and at the same time is winning for himself gratifying and credit- able success.
Mr. Snider was born February 20, 1856, in Clayton township, Perry county, a son of Peter and Eleanor (Dean) Snider. His father was born in Maryland in 1816 and was a son of Nicholas Snider, who about 1818 removed from Maryland to Ohio, entering land from the government one mile north of Somerset, in Reading township. This he cleared and improved. developing there a good farm, upon which he spent his remaining days. His son. Peter Snider, was reared here amid pioneer conditions, became familiar with the work of field and meadow in early youth and after attaining man's estate he purchased land in Clayton township, whereon he made his home until 1886, when he removed to Somerset and spent his remaining days in honorable retirement from labor. He died in 1891, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Dean, a resident of Clayton township. She died in 1900, at the age of seventy-four years. In their family were four brothers who are still living and four who have passed away, and of the five sisters one is now deceased. Samuel, the eldest, a lumber merchant of Columbus, Ohio; Jacob, deceased; Joseph J., of Logan, Ohio, who owns and operates a large bent wood works and is also the owner of ten sawmills; William, of this re-
view; Thomas J., who is associated with his brother William in business as manager of his sawmill at Zanesville; Austin, Alfred and Nicholas, all deceased : Mary, the wife of Joseph Stalter, of Logan, Ohio; Mrs. Arthur McNally, who lived in Somer- set but has now passed away; Mrs. Eliza- beth Beaver, of Somerset; Mrs. John Maher and Mrs. Amon Miller, both of Somerset.
In the schools of Clayton township the subject of this review was educated, and' when a young man he became connected with the lumber business, which has been to him a profitable field of labor. His. career has been remarkably successful .. chiefly by reason of his natural ability and his thorough insight into the business in which as a young tradesman he embarked. His strict integrity, business conservatism. and judgment have been so universally recognized that he has enjoyed public con- fidence to an enviable degree, and naturally this has brought to him an extensive patron- age, his sales of lumber extending through- out the southern portion of Ohio. His. brothers-in-law. Henry D. and James M .. Flautt, are connected with him in the planing mill business, each having owned a third interest in the two planing mills since 1894.
In Somerset was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Snider and Miss Bertha Flantt, a daughter of Joseph Flautt, who came from Maryland to Ohio in 1830. Their children are Mary Blanch, Bertha Eleanor, Martha. Zita, Lauretta, William, Rose and Grace. The family are communi-
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cants of the Holy Trinity Catholic church. Mr. Snider is interested in all movements for the advancement of the community along social, material, intellectual and moral lines and has co-operated in many movements for the public good. In addi- tien to his industrial and property interests
he is also connected with financial circles as a director in the Somerset Bank. Although his business interests have been and are ex- tensive, he is always the same genial, courteous gentleman, whose ways are those of refinement and whose word no man can question.
COLONEL JOHN W. FREE.
Colonel John W. Free, who was a prac- titioner of law but is now living retired in New Lexington, comes of a family honor- able and distinguished. He was born in Stewartstown, York county, Pennsylvania. August 8, 1830. His paternal grandfather was a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany, and he and two brothers came from the father- land to the new world to fight in the En- glish army at the time of the Revolutionary war. They were present when Cornwallis surrendered the troops to General Wash- ingten at Yorktown. Having formed an attachment for the new world the grand- father of our subject determined to remain and located in Baltimore, Maryland, while one of the brothers took up his abode in North Carolina.
fare of his fellow men in Pennsylvania, but afterward came to Ohio, settling in Mans- field. this state, in 1831. There he resided until 1841. In Pennsylvania he had pre- viously married Miss Catherine Newman, a daughter of Jacob Newman, of Chambers- burg. Pennsylvania, who afterward removed to the Buckeye state. He owned real estate in Mansfield. in fact was one of the found- ers of that town, taking a very active and helpful part in its development and progress. lle served his country in the war of 1812. going as a guide with General Harrison. Becoming ill, he died of pneumonia while on the march. Years afterward, in 1840. when General Harrison was making a tour through the state as the presidential candi- date, he called upon the daughter of his former guide. Mrs. John Free, when in Mansfield. Andrew. General Joseph, Jacob and Henry Newman were all uneles of our subject.
Dr. John Free, the father of our sub- ject, was a physician and minister of the gospel, devoting his entire life to the work of alleviating human suffering and of pro- moting the cause of Christianity. He first After his marriage. Dr. Free, the father labered for the temporal and spiritual wel- of our subject, engaged in the practice of
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medicine in Mansfield. Of broad humani- tarian principles and deep human sympathy, he gave his services freely to the poor, ac- cepting and desiring no compensation. His own Christian life, too, was an inspiration and a help to those whom he met. In 1841 he removed to McCutchinville, Wyandot county, where he engaged in practice for a time, but afterward located on a farm in that county, there spending his remaining days. His was a noble, upright and helpful life and the world is certainly better by his having lived. His memory still remains as a blessed benediction to those who knew him. He passed away in 1871, at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife died in 1870, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years.
Colonel Free, whose name introduces this review, was one of a family of eight children : Susan is still living in New Lex- ington, at about the age of eighty years ; Rosanna, also of New Lexington, is the widow of Prof. G. A. Sickles, formerly a member of the faculty of Heidelberg Semi- nary; Mrs. Catherine Hoffman is deceased ; Anna B. is the wife of J. W. Cooley, of Wyandot county, Ohio; I. N., who was born in Chambersburg. Pennsylvania, has for the past forty years spent the greater part of his time in traveling over the world : the Colonel is the sixth in order of birth: Henry N., the next younger, is now de- ceased ; and Colonel William Henry Harri- son Free, the eighth member of the family. died in New Lexington, July 18, 1876, at the age of forty years. He was engaged in merchandising in this place when the
Civil war was inaugurated and with patri- otic spirit he raised a company for three months' service. He became its first lieu- tenant and on the expiration of the term he raised another command for three years' service and became its captain. This was known as Company D, Thirty-first Ohio In- fantry. Colonel Free was wounded at Chickamauga while leading his men. He was afterward made a major in the Ninety- fifth Ohio and subsequently promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in that regiment. He then returned to New Lexington, hav- ing been elected to the state legislature by a majority of twelve hundred while he was lying in a hospital at Nashville because of his wounds. He served during the winter in the assembly and then again went to the front, continuing in the army until honor- ably discharged in December, 1865. He was a brave and efficient officer and in civil life was a man of sterling honor and worth, who enjoyed in a high degree the confidence and respect of his fellow men.
Colonel John W. Free, whose name in- troduces this review, pursued his education in the schools of Mansfield and in Wyandot county, displaying special aptitude in his studies. At the age of sixteen years he be- gan teaching, as did all of his brothers and two sisters. In 1856 he came to New Lex- ington, where he turned his attention to merchandising, and in 1861 he, too, raised a company, gathering together sufficient men for the command in five days. Elected its captain, he went to the front in command of Company A, Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in November, 1862, he was
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promoted to the rank of major. continuing in that position until 1865, when he re- signed owing to the fatal illness of his wife. who died on the 14th of April of that year, at the age of twenty-two years. He had married prior to his enlistment, the lady of his choice being Miss Catherine France, of Perry county. She left two children. Anna and Lulu, both of whom are now deceased. There is now a grandchild. . \. F. Ott, who is living in Washington Court House, Ohio, and who served in the Spanish-American war, being chief bugler on the staff of Gen- eral A. H. Wilson.
After the death of his first wife Colonel Free was again married, his second union being with Miss Martha .1. Moore, a daugh- ter of Andrew and Lois Moore, of Perry county. There is one child by this union, Kate A., the wife of John E. Davis, by whom she has one child, Major Free Davis, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Since the war Colonel Free has resided
at New Lexington. He studied law, being admitted to the bar, and continued in the practice of his profession until 1883. He has always declined public office, never seek- ing notoriety of that character. Since 1852 he has been a loyal and devoted member of the Masonic fraternity, and he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. He is widely known in New Lexington, where he won an enviable reputation in early times as a merchant and later as a member of the bar. His military career is one most cred- itable. for meritorious conduct on the field of battle won him promotion. In matters of citizenship he is as true to-day to his country as when he followed the old flag upon the southern battlefields. . 1.s a man he possesses sterling traits of character which have gained him popularity and friendship and no one is more worthy of representation in this volume than Colonel Free.
JOSEPH ADAMS.
The story of the sufferings and the bravery of those who wore the blue and fought nobly for the preservation of the Union, now so great and prosperous as a direct result of their heroism and their de- vation to principle and country .- this story cannot be told to, often. It is es ecially well that those of the younger generation
should have impressed upon their minds that the bravery and happiness they enjoy freely was purchased for them at an awful price, and though none but an actual par- ticipant in the Civil war can give the true picture in its entirety, a faint idea may be gained in the perusal of the history of those wh .. as in the case of Joseph Adams, ex-
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perienced the horrors of war in many of its worst phases. Mr. Adams, who del at his home in New Lexington, sacrificed his life on the altar of his country and he certainly deserves the credit for what he did toward suppressing the rebellion of the south. hazarding the authority of the government at Washington.
Mr. Adams was a native of Pennsyl- vania, his birth having occurred in Wash- ington county, that state, on the 22d of Au- gust. 1828. When he was four years of age he was brought to Perry county, Ohio, in 1832, by his parents, Robert and Mar- garet ( McClellan) Adams, who located in Clayton township, the father purchasing a farm, on which they spent their remaining days. His death occurred September II, 1886, when he was eighty-four years of age, and his wife passed away on the 12th of July. 1890, at the age of eighty-seven years and seven months. Both were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and the family is of Irish lineage. Joseph Adams, the grandfather of our subject, to- gether with his father. came from the Em- erald Isle to the new world. The maternal grandfather of our subject was James Mc- Clellan, who also came from Ireland. Unto Robert and Margaret (McClellan) Adams were born seven sons: Joseph, of this re- view : John, who served in the Civil war and is now deceased: Samuel, who for three years was a Union soldier and became a ·corporal and is now living in Brown, Kan- sas ; Calvin, who was killed in battle, being with his brothers in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry;
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