A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 105

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

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point where her husband died about seven years afterward and where she remained for some years after that event. In 1868 she married Solomon Swagler and located on a farm in Jackson township, Franklin county, which is her present home. Mr. Swagler, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was married there to his first wife, Miss Sarah Conrad, who died in Jackson town- ship, after having borne him eight children, four of whom are living: Jona- than and Henry Swagler and Elizabeth Borror and Sarah Standiford. Mr. Swagler was an influential Republican and took a great interest in public ed- ucation and was elected to the office of school director, and he was a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church in which he long held the office of trustee. He ranked among the leading farmers of his township and died August 28, 1892, deeply regretted by all who had known him.

By her first marriage Mrs. Swagler had three children, A. M .. William J. and Milton Near. William J. died at the age of eight years and Milton is represented by a separate biographical sketch on another page. A. M. Near was born in Ross county, Ohio, October 20, 1852, and came with his mother when she returned to Franklin county, and remained with her until her marriage with Alice O'Connor, who died leaving three children named Ora, William and Mertie. For his second wife he married Clara Clemens, a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, and they have one son, Noble. He is now living in Pickaway county, Ohio. Mrs. Swagler bore her second husband three daughters: Emma, the eldest, married R. E. Shover and lives on the old home farm of his grandfather Duff and has two children, named Pearl and Oren. Jennie married L. J. Kolter and lives at Wapakoneta. Auglaize county, Ohio. Viola married Otis Borror, of Jackson township, and has a son named Harold. Mrs. Swagler has one great-grandchild,-Clyde Steel, a son of George and Ora (Near) Steel, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mrs. Swagler has been fifty years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She is well known throughout the county and is highly respected by all who have the honor of her acquaintance. Her homestead, which is one of the good farms of Jackson township, consists of one hundred and sixty- eight acres of well improved and well cultivated land.

JOHN T. DORSEY.

John T. Dorsey, who resides on the Johnstown pike, four miles from the state capitol, in Franklin county, was born in Licking county, Ohio, May 16, 1840. His father, James Dorsey, was a native of Pennsylvania where he spent the days of his boyhood and youth. He was of German descent and in his life manifested some of the best characteristics of that people. When a young man he removed to Licking county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Nancy Wells, a native of that county. He was a miller and erected a mill at Kirksville, Ohio, operating the same for many years. On the expira- tion of that period he came to Franklin county where he purchased other mills,

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continuing in that business until his death, which occurred when he was fifty-five years of age. He was a well known citizen of good business ability and ster- ling worth who enjoyed the confidence and regard of all who knew him. In politics he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican, giving an earnest support to the principles in which he believed. His wife died of smallpox at the age of sixty-five. They were the parents of three sons and three daugh- ters, all of whom reached mature years, while five are now living, namely : William H. H., the twin brother of our subject, who died in the service of his country during the Civil war, having enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry ; Mrs. Jane Nedrow; Albert G., who served in the Union army with the Twelfth Regiment of Ohio Cavalry; Mrs. Angeline Damude and Mrs. Adeline O'Brien, twins.

Mr. Dorsey of this sketch and his twin brother were the first born. He was about twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Franklin county. He acquired his early education in the schools of Licking county and afterward became a student in the public schools of Norwich, Berry and Franklin townships. Patriotism prompted his enlistment with the boys in blue at the time the country became involved in Civil war, and in 1861 he was enrolled among the members of Company K, of the First. Ohio Cavalry. After serving for two years he was disabled by a horse falling upon him and on account of his disability received an honorable discharge in 1863. He served with the Army of the Cumberland, participating in the en- gagements at Fort Donelson, Chattanooga, Stone river and in others of lesser importance.

When honorably discharged Mr. Dorsey returned to his home in Frank- lin county, and in 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Lackey, who was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, October 24. 1837. Her father, Alexander Lackey, was also a native of the Keystone state and in 1838 came to Franklin county, locating on the farm where Mrs. Dorsey now re- sides. It was then a tract of wild timber land, but he cleared away the trees and continued the development of the fields until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-six years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Hart, was also a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and her death' occurred when she had attained the age of sixty-four years. This worthy couple had eleven children and the family circle was unbroken until after they had attained adult age, but only four are yet living. Mrs. Dorsey is the youngest and was only nine months old when brought by her parents to Frank- lin county, where she has therefore practically spent her entire life. She pur- sued her education in the log schoolhouse of those early days, and at the time of her marriage began her domestic life on the old homestead where she is yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey have had four children,-William Allen, Joseph- ine Alice, Iva Cordelia and Mary Ellen; the last named is now deceased. Josephine Alice became the wife of Peter Short, of Columbus, and has three children,-Edith May, Earl and Mary Elizabeth; Iva Cordelia is' the wife of Fred. Spencer, of Mifflin township, and has five children,-Chester, Albert O.,

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Hettie, Oscar and a baby boy ; and William Allen married Nellie Cashner and resides on his father's homestead, and has two children,-Walter Adel and Eva Marie.

Mr. Dorsey has been engaged in general farming and in the dairy busi- ness for about thirteen years, and has managed his affairs in a manner that has brought to him creditable prosperity. He owns sixty-three and one-half acres of land which is highly cultivated, and the products of his field and dairy, owing to their excellent quality, find a ready sale upon the market.

In his political views Mr. Dorsey is a Republican. He has served as a school director and in other offices and is a well known citizen whose fidelity to every trust reposed in him is above question. He holds membership in Wells Post, G. A. R., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, his life being permeated by his Christian faith. His worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged. The same loyalty which he manifested on the southern battle-fields has characterized his every relation of life and his example is in many respects well worthy of emulation.

JOHN KEYS.

For many years this gentleman was one of the active and progressive agriculturists of Franklin county, as well as one of its most reliable and honored citizens, and now in his declining years is enjoying a well-earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life. He was born Sep- tember 14, 1823, in Buckinghamshire, England, five miles from Aylesbury, and about forty miles from London. His father, Stephen Keys, was a native of the same place, and was what is known as a bailiff, or foreman of a farm in America. In 1833 he brought his family to the United States, and on land- ing in this country came immediately to Columbus, Ohio. He located on the farm in Clinton township, this county, now occupied by the State University, and upon that place he died at about the age of forty years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Payne, was also born in Buckinghamshire, England, and died in Worthington, this county, at the age of fifty-three. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom reached man and womanhood.

Of this family John Keys is the third child and third son. At the age of ten years he came with his parents to the new world and was reared on the Neil farm in Clinton township, where the family located. He has been three times married, his first wife being Emily Hennis, by whom he had one son. William D., a resident of this county. For his second wife he married Nancy Lane, and to them were born two children: Emma, deceased; and James E., a resident of Columbus and a street car conductor. In 1856, Mr. Keys was united in marriage with Mrs. Susan (Cairns) Harman, who was born in Pennsylvania, and came from Cumberland county, that state, to this county when about fourteen years of age. On the 2d of May, 1848, in Miami county, Ohio, she married David Harman, who died in August, of the follow-

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ing year, and the only child born to that union, a daughter, died at the age of twenty months. By his third marriage Mr. Keys has one daughter, Jeannett C., wife of Charles W. Grant, of Jackson township. They have two children : Winnie O., wife of Samuel Alspaw, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and John Nel- SO11.

After his first marriage Mr. Keys remained on the Neil farm until the following spring, and then moved to Columbus, where for a time he was in the employ of G. W. Peters, a manufacturer of trunks. He was next employed as foreman by Charles G. Deshler in the ice business, and on re- signing that position was appointed mail agent at the depot in Columbus, where he remained nine years. At the end of that time he purchased a farm in Jackson township, but after operating it for about two years, he sold tlie place and bought the farm which he still owns and now rents. It consists of eighty-four acres of rich and arable land and is pleasantly situated three miles southeast of Grove City. Mr. Keys retired from active farming in 1888, and in 1897 moved to Grove City, where he now makes his home.

In his political views he is a Democrat, and has been called upon to serve his fellow citizens in the capacity of road supervisor, school director and president of the board of education two years. Like his father he is a self- made man. When the latter landed in Columbus, he had but twenty-five cents in his pocket and this he spent for bread. He was successful in getting work and soon gained a good start in life. Through his own self-directed efforts our subject has gained a comfortable competence, and his life has ever been such as to win for him the confidence and high regard of those with whom he has come in contact either in business or social life.

GEORGE H. DISTELHORST.

A well known and successful business man of the city of Columbus, now retired from active labor, is George H. Distelhorst, who was born in Detmold, Germany, November 10, 1824, the eldest son of Simon and Wilhelmina Distel- horst, natives of the same place, where they spent their entire lives. Until the age of twenty years George H. Distelhorst resided in Germany, engaging in teaching, after he had obtained his own education, and also was a teacher of music. In 1849 he came to America, locating first in Virginia and there engaging in farm work, by the month. His wages were eight dollars a month, the usual price that was paid for like labor at that time. He remained at this place for four years, coming then to Franklin county, Ohio. He owned a team by this time, and here engaged in hauling brick and stone and in general team- ing. Soon after he rented a small tract of land near the city, where he began gardening, on a small scale, continuing, as he succeeded, to add improvements. This place was cultivated for four years, but in 1859 he bought his present farm and began gardening on a large scale. At that time there were few market gardens near the city, and Mr. Distelhorst made an immediate success of his venture. Until 1893 he continued in the active conduct of his business,

GEORGE H. DISTELHORST.

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but at that time he resigned the work to younger hands. He now has twenty- three acres of valuable land where he resides, eight acres upon which his son George lives and owns nineteen more acres as productive land.

Mr. Distelhorst was married in Germany, in 1847, to Miss Hermine Althoff, a native of his native county. She died November 6, 1897, having been the mother of eight children: Frederick, who married and located in Franklin township; George, who also settled in Franklin township, with his family ; William, Otto and Charles, deceased; Pauline, who married Robert Wacker, of Columbus; Anna, at home; and Herman, who is married and en- gages in the gardening business, in this township.

Mr. Distelhorst has given his family every advantage in his power and takes much comfort in their material prosperity. He is well known and much respected, both in his immediate locality, and also in the business world of Columbus, and having a fine voice, was for many years' a member of the Maennerchor of Columbus. He is a member of the Independent Protestant church, of Columbus, and much credit is due Mr. Distelhorst for his success in life, as it has been attained by his own unaided effort.

JOSEPH SHOAF.

Joseph Shoaf, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and fifty acres on section I, Hamilton township, was born July 7, 1836, in the town- ship where he yet makes his home. His father, Henry Shoaf, was a native of Virginia and removed to Franklin county at an early day, taking up his abode in the midst of the forest in Hamilton township. There he built a log house and improved the farm, upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made when he located there. Throughout his entire life he carried on agricultural pursuits' and was also a successful stock-raiser. His father, Jacob Shoaf, was also a native of the old Dominion and when his children were small emigrated to Ohio, taking up his residence on the farm which is now the home of Adam Lenhardt. Here he spent his remaining days, and Henry Shoaf was a resident of the county from the age of seven years until his death, which occurred when he was fifty-four years of age. He married Rachel Stummel, also a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Michael Stummel, who became one of the honored pioneers of Franklin county. Mrs. Shoaf died at the age of sixty-six years.

Joseph Shoaf was one of three children born to his parents, and is now the only survivor of the family. The sun shone down upon many a farm which he plowed in his boyhood and ripened the grain which sprang from the seed which he planted, for he was early trained to the work of the home farm. His youth was passed in Hamilton township, and he began his education in a primitive log schoolhouse, the methods of instruction differing greatly from those now in vogue. Under the parental roof he remained until his marriage, which was celebrated July 19, 1859, Miss Mary Ann. Rohr becoming his wife.

Mrs. Shoaf is the eldest daughter of William and Elizabeth (Wolf)

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Rohr, and was born in Hamilton township, Franklin county, on the 4th of November, 1835. Her father was one of the pioneers of the county. He was born in Haycock township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of September, 1810, and in 1816, when six years of age, accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Ohio. The family located in Madison township, where he was reared and after his marriage he removed to Hamilton town- ship, where he reared his family of eleven children. He was widely and favorably known in the community, was a Republican in his political adher- ency and served as trustee of his township. His wife was a native of the Empire state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shoaf have been born three children. Flora, the eldest, is the wife of George W. Finks, a farmer of Hamilton town- ship, and they have three children living,-Harry W., Anna G. and Albert S. Lorma E., the second child, is the wife of Jesse G. Gould, also an agriculturist of Hamilton township, and they have five children,-Mary F., Edith M., Charles J., Louisa L. and Walter E. Mary C., the youngest member of the Shoaf family, died at the age of five months.

At the time of their marriage our subject and his wife located in what is now Marion township, on the farm now occupied by Mr. Davis. It is situated on the Chillicothe pike, and there they remained until 1876, when they removed to Delaware county. After a year, however, they returned to Frank- lin county and have since made their home on section 1, Hamilton township, where Mr. Shoaf owns one hundred and five acres of land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and has improved with many modern accessories and conveniences, rendering this one of the attractive farms of the community.

In his political views he is a Republican, having been identified with the party since attaining his majority. He served as a member of the school board for twelve years and is now serving in the thirteenth year as school director. For thirty-five years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has taken an active part in its work and advancement. His life is characterized by industry and by fidelity to both public and private duties and thus he is accounted one of the representative men of Hamilton township.

ELI CHRYSLER.

Eli Chrysler is numbered among the early settlers of Mifflin township, where he yet resides, his home being a half a mile west of Gahanna. Many years have passed since he came to Franklin county and decade after decade has been added to the cycle of the centuries. The contrast between the sight which met the gaze of the traveler when Mr. Chrysler first arrived here and the view which is spread out before the visitor of to-day is very great. Then there was to be seen unbroken forests and tracts of wet, marshy land, where to-day are fine fields of grain, surrounding commodious and substantial farm houses, while here and there are towns, villages and cities with all the business interests known to the much older east.

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Mr. Chrysler was born in Cayuga county, New York, June 15, 1836. His father, Adam Chrysler, was a native of the Empire state and a farmer by occupation. In 1838 he came to Ohio, locating in Licking county, and in 1853 he took up his abode in Franklin county, his farm being situated in Truro township. His last days, however, were passed in Mifflin township, where he died when about seventy years of age. He was of German lineage. His wife, who bore the name of Ruth Leonard, was a native of Vermont but was reared in New York and for many years was a resident of Ohio, her death occurring in Columbus when she was about seventy years of age. She was of English descent. They were the parents of four sons and five daughters, eight of whom reached years of maturity.

"'Squire" Chrysler, as he is well known throughout Franklin county, was the fifth child and second son. When about two years of age he was brought by his parents from New York to Ohio, and at the age of seventeen accompanied the family on their removal from Licking to Franklin county. In the former locality he acquired his education in the common schools and through the months of summer he assisted in the labors of field and meadow. His first independent work was as a farm hand, at which he was employed by the day. He afterward embarked in the saw mill business in partnership with his brother in Truro township, where they continued until 1864. In 1865 they began the operation of a grist-mill and also engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber in Mifflin township, the partnership being continued until the death of the brother. Mr. Chrysler afterward carried on the business alone until 1875. The following year he purchased another sawmill in Mifflin township and therein converted the timber into lumber. Throughout the greater part of his active business career Mr. Chrysler has been engaged in the sawmill business, and in the enterprise is now associated with his son, having a mill in Mifflin township. He also followed general farming through a portion of the time and has continuously given his attention to that industry during the past eight years, owning a farm of eighteen acres in Mifflin town- ship. In connection with his son he also owns forty-six acres in Blendon township and another tract of ninety-five acres in the same township, while in Walut township, Pickaway county, they have fifty acres.

In 1863 "'Squire" Chrysler was united in marriage to Miss Susan Roshell, who for about a quarter of a century was to him a faithful companion and helpmate on the journey of life, but her death occurred January 17, 1887. They had two children, Eva, now the wife of Harry Earl, a farmer of Mifflin township, and Charles H., who married Clara Palmer and resides with his father, with whom he is associated in business.

Mr. Chrysler was elected justice of the peace in 1878 and since that time has continuously filled that office,-a period of twenty-three consecutive years. His record in this regard is unparalleled by that of any incumbent in the office in the county. That he discharges his duties in a prompt and reliable manner and without fear or favor is indicated by his long continuance in the position. During this time he has not only administered the law concerning

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differences between litigants, but has also married about sixty couples. In politics he has been a life-long Democrat. Socially he is connected with Mifflin Lodge, No. 518, 1. O. O. F., has filled all of its chairs and has taken a very active part in its work. At the time of the Civil war he was among the loyal defenders of the Union who wore the blue. He enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Company I, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for nine months. At the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, he was wounded by a gun shot, and on account of his injuries was honorably dis- charged. He holds membership in John A. Miller Post, No. 192, G. A. R., and has served as its quartermaster. At all times he has been faithful to his duties of citizenship, honorable in his business relations and loyal to the ties of social and home life. His history shows the power of industry as a means of wrestling fortune from the hands of an adverse fate. He is now a substantial citizen of Franklin county, and has attained to that position through his well directed efforts.

WILLIAM A. WILSON, M. D.

William A. Wilson, M. D., is a representative of both the professional and agricultural interests of Franklin county, where he has attained prominence as a reliable physician and is also known as a leading farmer and stock- raiser. He was born in the city of Columbus, on the 28th of June, 1854, and represents one of the old families of the community. The Wilsons are of Scotch lineage. The father, Washington Wilson, was born in Pennsyl- vania and became a machinist, in which capacity he long served in the employ of the Pan Handle Railroad Company, having charge of the old Piqua shops at Columbus, and lived to be about seventy years of age. His wife, Caroline A. Moore, was a native of England and when a maiden of twelve summers crossed the Atlantic to the new world with her people, the family making their way direct to Knox county, Ohio, and thence to Columbus. She is still living, at the age of sixty-seven years.

The Doctor is her second child and the only one of the family now living. He was educated in the public schools of his native city .until twelve years of age, when the family removed to Mifflin township and he afterward attended a private academy in that locality. Determining to make the practice of medicine his life work he began his preparation to that end, when nine- teen years of age, under the direction of Dr. D. N. Kinsman. Subsequently he attended the Columbus Medical College and upon completing the regularly prescribed course was graduated in 1878. He then located in Mifflin town- ship. where he has since engaged in practice, keeping in touch with the progress which has been so marked in the profession through the past half century. He also has a fine stock farm, owning many valuable horses, including one stallion-Imperial Hal-having a record of 2:121/2. He has seven well-bred horses and other high grade stock upon his farm, which is located in Delaware county and comprises seventy acres. He is also engaged in general merchan-

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 105

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156