USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > A Biographical record of Fairfield County, Ohio, illustrated > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
58
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
less in the advocacy of any cause he may espouse, and the soul of honor and integrity. few men have been more richly gifted for the achievement of success in the arduous and difficult profession of the law. In 1875 he formed a partnership with Levi Hite, a prominent attorney of the Fairfield county bar, and this relation was maintained until Mr. Ilite's removal to Columbus in 1887. Since that time Mr. Dolson has been alone in practice. He served for four years as prosecuting attorney of Fairfield county, from 1876 until 1880, and then retired, but his successor died shortly after entering upon the duties of the office and Mr. Dolson was then appointed to fill the unexpired term, so that he served for nearly two years longer. His course was one deserving and winning high commendation, for neither fear nor favor caused him to swerve from the strict path of duty. Ilis ability as a trial lawyer led to the winning of many of the suits which he tried in the courts. During his twenty-three years' practice at the bar of this and other states Mr. Dolson has built up a very fine law business that covers a wide scope of territory. In the local courts his practice is general. but in the surrounding counties and other states it is exclusively criminal, mostly for the defense. Perhaps Mr. Dolson has been engaged in a greater number of criminal cases than any other lawyer of his age in the state of Ohio. Among the notable cases which have at- tracted general attention, in which he ap- peared for the defense as the leading adve - cate, was that of the state of Montana versus - -. the defendant hav-
ing been charged with murder in the first degree, but he was acquitted by the jury. Another was in the state of Illinois versus David Miller, charged with the murder of A. B. Diamon, the mayor of Arcola, whom he shot and killed because of some family trouble. This case was prosecuted with vigor by the state and Mr. Dolson had to combat the ablest lawyers of central Illi- nois, among whom was the Hon. Horace S. Clark, a man of high reputation as a crim- inal lawyer. After a trial of several days" duration Miller was acquitted. He has also appeared in defense of men charged with high crimes in the states of Indiana and California and always with success. Mr. Dolson has appeared on one side or the other of every important criminal case tried in Fairfield county during the past fifteen years and in many of those in adjoining counties. In the case of the state of Ohio versus Napier, charged with murder. Mr. Dolson was appointed by the late Judge Hoffman, of Perry county, to assist in the prosecution. The defendant was convicted. In his professional career Mr. Dolson has been most successful not only in gaining verdicts desired, but also from a financial standpoint as well, and has been enabled to surround his family with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
In 1876 Mr. Dolson was united in mar- riage to Miss Alida Reinmund, a daughter of B. F. and Isabelle ( Arnold) Reinmund, of Fairfield county, and a sister of Henry J. Reimmund, insurance commissioner 11- der Governor Hoadley. Mr. and Mrs. Dol- son have four children, two sons and two
59
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
daughters. The family attend the English Lutheran church, of which Mr. Dolson is a member. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat. He was nominated by his party for the state senate to represent the ninth and fourteenth senatorial districts, but was defeated with the remainder of the ticket. Perhaps the best summary of his life can be given in the words of an old and prom- inent member of the Lancaster bar, who said: "While Mr. Dolson does a general law business in the local courts, his practice runs largely to criminal cases, and in this peculiar line he has quite a wide reputation. He is adapted by nature for this kind of work. He is shrewd, quick to see the weak points of his opponents and aggressive in availing himself of every advantage pre- sented in the trial of a case. He has a good voice, an extensive vocabulary, and on his feet before the jury he makes an effective address. He is the best talker, perhaps, at this bar, but not the best read lawyer. If his early education had been commensurate
with his natural abilities as a lawyer his ad- vancement would have been more rapid. He came to the bar here early in the 'seventies, and has improved his opportunities so well that he now ranks with the leading attor- neys of the district. His reputation as a criminal lawyer is well established in this section of the state, and he has been called to widely diverging points to defend Ohio citizens charged with the violation of the criminal codes of different states. He has been remarkably successful and has crossed swords with some able men in this line of practice. Another feature that has contrib- uted to his success is that he has confined himself entirely to his profession and is a worker. He has not neglected his law prac- tice for politics or any other business. He gives his clients his best efforts and is a trust- worthy and reliable lawyer. He is held in high esteem both by the legal profession and in the community, and by the public where he is known."
ENOCH BRIGHT.
When travel by team and wagon, on horseback or by means of the waterways of the country-long before the era of rail- roads-the Bright family was established in Fairfield county. The paternal grandpar- ents of our subject were John and Anna Maria ( Leiss ) Bright, and the former was
a son of David Bright, who was born in the Year 1710. He entered land from the gov- ernment in Berks county. Pennsylvania, and the property is still in the possession of his descendants. He lived and died in Berks county, followed the occupation of farming throughout the years of his active business
60
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
career . lle was the father of eight chil- dren, including John Bright. the grandfa- ther of our subject. The latter came to Fair. feld county in the early years of the nine- teenth century. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and he e- tered a claim on sections 29 and 30 in Lib- erty township, after which he returned to Pennsylvania. where he died. He had a son, David, who, coming to Fairfield com- ty, Ohio, spent his last days in Greenfield township.
John Bright, Jr., the father of our sub- ject, was larn in Berks county. Pennsyl- vania, on the 9th of January. 1787. Some- where between 1808 and 1812 he came to Ohio. settling upon the land which had been purchased by his father. He made a jour . ney on horseback over roads that were scarcely more than Indian trails in places. After a time he returned to Pennsylvania. where he was married, bringing his wife with him to his new home upon the western frontier. They took up their abode in Lin- erty township, spending the remainder of their days within its borders, honored and respected pioneer people, actively connected with farming interests of Ohio. John Bright. the father of our subject, was draft . od for service in the war of 1812, but fur- nished a substitute, feeling that his first duty was to his family and that he must prepare for their comfort and welfare before aught che. He built a gristmill and also a saw- mill upon his farm upon the banks of the Poplar creek. He cleared many acres of land, placed splendid improvements upon his property and developed one of the best farms in the township. As his capital in-
creased he added to his property until at the time of his death, which occurred in the year 1853. he was the owner of seventeen hundred acres of land, nearly all of which lay in Fairfield county. He deserved great credit for what he accomplished, owing his prosperity entirely to his well directed and indefatigable efforts. He was united in marriage to Hannah Clauer, who proved to bim a faithful companion and helpmate for a number of years, but was then calle.1 to her final rest. leaving four children, who reached years of maturity, although all are now deceased. These were Mary, who le- came the wife of John Swartz: Hester. the wife of Mexander Miller: Susanna, the wife of Daniel Langwell: and Peter. After the death of his first wife John Bright was again married. his second union being with Elizabeth Myers, and unto them were born three children. the eldest being Enech, of this review. The others are Hannah, the widow of leury Langwell, and John, who resides in Baltimore. Ohio. The parents were members of the Evangelical church. were deeply interested in its work and con- tributed in no small measure to the growth and upbuilding of the church. Oftentimes camp meetings were hell upon their farm and Mr. Bright was one of the most liberal contributors to the cause of Christianity in this locality. His political support was giv- en to the Democracy, and though his busi- ness affairs made heavy demands upon his time, he always found opportunity to faith- fully discharge his duties of citizenship and cooperate in all movements for the general
Enoch Bright, who is an honored repre-
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
-
sentative of one of the prominent pioneer very industrious and energetic agriculturist families of the county, was born in Liberty and his farm in its neat and thrifty appear- ance always indicated his careful supervis- ion. He erected there a nice home, gerd barns and outbuildings and everything about the place was kept in excellent condi- tion. township upon a farm, which he yet owns. January 3, 1830. He is now living retired1. however, and his home is in Baltimore. He pursued his education in one of the old time log school houses commonly seen upon the frontier, but his advantages in that direc- tion were somewhat meager, for at an early age he found it necessary to assist his father in the work of the home farm and in the operation of the saw and grist mills. He early learned the value of industry, en- terprise and economy in the active affairs of life and the lessons gained in early youth proved of value to him as the years passed. He remained at home until twenty years of age, at which time he was given two hun- dred and fourteen acres of land by his fa- ther and began farming on his own account.
As a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Mr. Bright chose Miss Lou- isa Yager, the marriage being celebrated July 25. 1852. when he was twenty-two years of age. She is a native of Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, and during her early girlhood she was brought to Fairfield county by her parents. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which had been given them and as time passed the land was cultivated and improved and placed under a high state of cultivation. There the family lived for nearly half a cen- tury, but in the spring of 1902 removed to Baltimore, where Mr. Bright now makes his home in the enjoyment of a well earned rest, the fruits of his former toil supplying him with all the necessaries and many of the comforts and luxuries of life. He was a
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bright was blessed with eleven children, eight of whom reached years of maturity: Mahala is the wife of David Alt, of Baltimore, and they have two children, Maude and Burl; lda is the wife of A. Hansberger, by whom she has two children, Dolly and Beulah ; Tillman G., who resides upon his father's farm and is married and has four children, Maude, Nolla. Floyd and Julia ; Mildred E. resides in Union county, Ohio: Elmer is a resident of Lancaster: Harley Il. is living in Liberty township on the old homestead : Dolly is at home with her father; Minnie is the wife of Elmer Bailey and they have two children, Mary and Martha.
Mr. and Mrs. Bright were members of the United Evangelical church for many years, and Mrs. Bright died in that faith on the 17th of February, 1901, her remains he- ing interred in the old family burying ground near her husband's farm. Mr. Bright has ever been faithful as a citizen and loyal to the best interests of the county, state and nation, manifesting his fidelity to his country during the time of the Civil war, enlisting in May. 1864. as a member of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, being mustered in at Zanesville. After the expiration of his three months' term, he was mustered out at the same place September 7. He is now a
62
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
member of Cupp Post. G. A. R .. of Balt !- more. While his life has been quietly passed. unmarked by many events of exciting inter- est. he has always been found as one of who has due regard for the obligations of citi- zenship and to the duty which he owes to
his fellow men. During his long residence in Fairfield county, covering the period of his entire life, he has continually added to the circle of his friends ly reason of his sterling worth.
.
WILLIAM J. REESE.
William J. Reese was a prominent fac- tor in the history of Lancaster for many years. Here he practiced law, was con. nected with merchandising and journalis- tic interests, and contributed largely to the general welfare by his co-operation in many movements for the general good. He pro- moted public progress along many lines and his efforts in 1.chalf of the city made his history an important chapter in the annals of this section of the state.
William J. Reese was born on the 3d of August, 1804. in the city of Philadelphia. and there he acquired a liberal education. Wishing to make the practice of law his life work, he studied and was eventually ad- mitted to the bar. The year 1827 witnessed his arrival in Lancaster. At that time a year's residence was demanded before one could enter upon active practice here and when the requisite period had elapsed. Mr. Reese opened an office and began practice. He was a cultured. refined and brilliant young attorney, with a mind alert and ac- tive, quick in perception, logical in thought
and sound in reasoning. He had soon demonstrated his ability to handle the intri- cate problems of jurisprudence and success- fully cope with the eller and more experi- enced markers of the bar, and in a short time he had a large and growing clientage, but his efforts were net confined to one de- partment of business activity. In 1820 he joined Samuel F. Maceracken in establish- ing a dry goods store in Newark. This store was placed in charge of Daniel Dun- can, who had been one of Mr. Maccrack- en's clerks, and to him. in 1832, Mr. Reese sold his interest in the business. In the same year he jaunchased an interest in the Lan- caster Gazette, in partnership with Charles Borland, but when a year had passed he de- 'cided that he did not care for journalistic work and disposed of his share in the paper to Colonel P. Van Trump. Vierchandis- ing was to him more congenial and in 183.2 he purchasel the interest of Henry Mat- thew's and Joe Buttles in the dry goods stock of Henry Matthews & Company, of which hrm Thomas Reed was a member, and the
63
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
business was then continued under the firm name of Thomas Reed & Company until March. 1838, when General Reese disposed of his interest to Messis. Culbertson and Nye. On the 13th of November, 1838, David Rokohl purchased a third interest and the firmy then became Culbertson, 'Nye & Rokolıl. In the year 1843 General Reese removed to Philadelphia, where, in connec- tion with John Heylin, he opened a jobbing house, but after a few years it was found that the enterprise was unprofitable. His health also failed him and he returned to Lancaster, where he lived in retirement 1111- til his death.
Mr. Reese was united in marriage to the eldest daughter of Judge Charles R. Sher- man and in the days of his prosperity he crected one of the finest and most commo- dious homes in Lancaster. He was aiso a prominent and influential citizen fiere an .! his efforts in behalf of the public good were widely recognized as most beneficial and ac-
ceptable. He was the captain of a fine mili- tary company at one time and was serving as brigadier general of the Ohio State Mi- litia at the time he removed to Philadelphia. For several years he was secretary of the board of fund commission for the state of Ohio and his official service was character- ized by the utmost fidelity. He was an en- thusiastic Mason and the author of the pres- ent ritual. He succeeded Judge Sherman as master of the Masonic lodge in Lancaster and his prominence in Masonic circles is in- dicated by the fact that for eight years he was the grand master of the grand lodge of Ohio. A charter member of St. John's Episcopal church, he was zealous and en- thusiastic in its behalf and his influence in that direction was of no restricted order. He aided in laying broad and deep the foun- dation for the present social, moral, intel- lectual and material benefit of Lancaster and well does he deserve to be numbered among its honored pioneer settlers.
WILLIAM HUFFORD.
The name of Hufford has been closely interwoven with the history of Fairfield county. Throughout the nineteenth cen- tury its representatives lived in this por- tion of the state and our subject is now ac .. tively carrying on farm work and bearing his part in the task of improvement and pro- gress, which was begun so many years ago
by his ancestors. Ilis great-grandfather, Casper Hufford, was of German descent and in 1801 came to Ohio, settling on Raccoon creek. He afterward removed farther up the creek, where he owned land, reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization. He died in November, 1825, and was buried upon his farm. He had married Miss Stah-
64
THE BIOGRAPHIIC.IL RECORD.
ley, who was of German descent and died in 1840. her death also occurring open the old family homestead, at which time she was laid to rest by the side of her husband.
Their son. Solomon Ilufford. the grand- father of our subject, was born in Rock- ingham county, Virginia, June 16, 1780, and when his parents removed to Ohio he accen panied them. Some time later he en- tered from the government land which is now owned by Emanuel Hufford, and there he developed an excellent farm, making it his home up to the time of his death, which occurred in 18;0, when he was in his ninety- first year. He married Miss Rebecca Hen- drick, who was of German lineage and was born on February 17. 1780, at Morrison's Conve, Pennsylvania. At a very early age she came to Ohio with her father who en- tered land on Jonathan's creek in Perry county, where he built one of the first flour- ing mills in the state and there he spent his remaining days and was actively con- nected with early industrial interests. Mrs. Ilufford, the grandmother of our subject, departed this life in Not in the seventy-see- ond year of her age. By her marriage she had become the mother of ten children.
Elias Hlufford, the father of our subject. was born August 17. 1818, about one mile from the home of William Huford. Ile ar- quired his early education in an old-time log school house and was familiar with all the hardships and labors of pioneer life and with the primitive methods of doing work. He hà l to cut whent with a seythe and tramp :1 ont in the barn with herses. He went to school about five or six weeks each year for
the work of the fields. He had to tramp and clean whole crops of wheat in this way. Quite early in life he began farming on his own account his father deeding him eighty acres of land. AAlso turning his attention to the nursery business he engaged in raising trees. He was very successful in his un- dettakings and became well-to-do. Upm his farm he built a two-story frame resi- cience and made many other improvements. equipping his place with all modern acces- sories. In the year 184t he was united m marriage to Miss Hannah St neburner. a native of Perry county. Ohie, and they he come the parents of fifteen children. These still living are as follows: Philip, a resi- dent of Indiana: Emanuel, who is living in Kush Creek township, Fairfield county : S". sanne, the wife of George Ruff, of Bremen. Ohio: Wilham, who is living in Rush Creek township; Noah, a resident of Kansas, his home being in Thayer, that state : Mary, the wife of Bartlett Friesner, of Bremen, Ohio; Sarah, the wife of William Turner, also of Bremen: Maggie, the wife of George Ball- ing. of Bremen; Elas J .. who is living in Portland, Oregon; Ellen, the wife of M. S. Stewart, of Bucyrus, Ohio. In politics the father of this family was a Democrat in matters of national importance but at local elections he voted for the man whom he thought best qualified ter the position. lie served as supervisor and was also director of schools He held membership in the German Baptist church, dlying in that faith and was then laid to rest in Mt. Zion com- etery. in Perry county.
William Hluford, whose name intro- the remainder of the year he was busy with duces this review, was born in Hocking
65
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county, Ohio, about four miles south of his present home. He acquired his early edu- cation there and later continued his studies in Fairfield county, attending schools about four months each year. When he was twen- ty-one his education was completed and he began farming for his father, for whom he worked for about six years. Believing that he would enjoy living in the west he removed to Kansas, but remained only three months. returning then to Rush Creek township and purchasing land upon which he now resides. His farm consists of one hundred and two acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and he is successfully carrying an agricultural pursuits. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and his enterprise and industry have been important factors in the prosperous conchict of his business affairs.
In 1874 William Hufford was united in marriage to Miss Mary Peer, a native of Hocking county, Ohio, and unto them have been born the following children : Edward, residing at home; Wright, also at home;
Ida, the wife of Ira Mccullough, of Rush Creek township; Charlie. Arthur and Jim. who are yet under the paternal roof.
Mr. Hufford has cleared considerable land, for much of his farm was covered with timber when he took possession of the prop- erty. He built a good home and barn and also added forty-five acres to his land. His is one of the creditable farms of the county and the passerby can see at a glance that the owner is progressive, practical and endorses modern improvements. In politics he has followed in his father's footsteps. always voting the Democratic ticket on questions of national importance, but at the local elec- tions he votes as he deems advisable. He has served as school director for a num- ber of years and is interested in all that tends to promote the material, intellectual .. social and moral progress of the community .. He belongs to the German Baptist church and his Christian principles have so per- meated his life and molded his career that he is to-day a man highly respected by all who know him.
JOHN GRAVETT.
It is always a pleasure to see true merit ly until he has won not only a snug little suitably rewarded and to behold the pros- fortune but also the esteem and confidence of the people with whom he has been asso- ciated for so many years. Work, the truc friend of mankind, has developed his latent resources and brought out the strong self- 1eliant force of his character, and to-day he perity of those who eminently deserve it as does the subject of this review. At an early age he learned one of the great les- sons of life-that there is no royal road to wealth-and therefore he toiled industrious-
4
66
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
is accounted one of the prosperous residents of Lancaster, where he has long been pro- prietor of a fine greenhouse in conjunction with his son, business being carried on under the firm name of Gravett & Son.
Mr. Gravett was born on the 12th of September. 1820, in the village of Billing- hurst, county of Sussex. England. His fa- ther. Peter Gravett, was also a native of that country and throughout his life de- voted his energies to the vocation of farm- ing. passing away in 1842. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lucy Reeves, was also a native of the locality in which her husband was born. After his death she came with her children to the United States, settling in White county, Illinois, where she remained until called to her final rest in 1872.
Having acquired his education in the public schools of his native land. John Gray- ett then became connected with the nursery business and also acquired a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the best methods of conducting a greenhouse and propagat- ing Howers and trees, having four years ex- perience in the business before he came to America. The year 1850 witnessed his emigration to the new workt. Attracted by the broader opportunities and business pos- sibilities of this country he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for America, before the other members of the family left England. He landed at New York but made his way direct to Buffalo and thence to Lancaster, Ohio, where he has since resided. Soon after his arrival he purchased six acres of land on East Wheel- ing street, planted a nursery and for several
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.