USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 2 > Part 55
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Andrew and Elizabeth (Moreland) Speaker, the parents of our subject, were both natives of the Buckeye state, the father being a farmer. In 1857 Mr. Speaker came to Put- nam county with his family and bought a farm of eighty acres, of which a few acres were partially cleared and improved with a log cabin and log stable, but before his death he succeeded in converting the place into a splendid farm and comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Speaker had born to them a family of eleven children, of whom five only grew to manhood and womanhood, as follows. David, who died in 1893; George, a farmer of Put- nam county, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of Adam Baker, a farmer of Van Wert county; Han- nah, married to J. E. Blauvett, also a farmer, and Nimrod, the subject of this sketch. In politics Mr. Speaker was a democrat but never aspired to office of any kind. His death took place in 1866 and that of his wife fol- lowed shortly afterward, in the same year. Both were highly respected by their neighbors for their morality and many other good quali- ties. Of the Moreland family there are but three survivors, viz: William, a prominent farmer of Missouri; Basil, a wealthy attorney of San Diego, Cal., and George, for many years a merchant of Illinois, but now a farmer.
Mrs. Hetty (Ward) Speaker, wife of our subject, was born in the north of Ireland about the year 1844, and came to Ohio, in 18.47, with her parents, who settled in Licking county and there soon afterward died, leaving
their daughter Hetty to be reared by an uncle. She and our subject were school-children to- gether, and when Nimrod was old enough he left his business in Putnam county, in 1865, and returned to Licking county to claim his bride, who has since been his faithful com- panion and helpmate. To this happy union have been born seven children of whom two died young, unnamed; George lived to be nineteen years old; Mary, the wife of Alvan Hook; and John B., Harvey and William are still at home with their parents.
After his marriage Nimrod Speaker con- tinued in the wood and timber contracting business until 1869, when he bought a stock of merchandise in Belmore, going considerably in debt for his purchase -- not, however, en- tirely relinquishing his wood and timber spec- ulation, in which he had started with a capital of one ax, a strong arm and a determined spirit. In the earlier days, when timber was plentiful and sales unlimited, he made mon y taking large contracts from the railroad com- pany and others, but since 1892, timber being exhausted from the many acres he had con- tracted to clear, his business in that line has been quite limited. After conducting his mer- cantile work for a short time he became alarmed at the amount of debt he had incur- red, and, although he knew he was doing well, sold out in order to save any tarnish of his business reputation. Soon after his transfer he purchased another mercantile establishment "in lump," and from the trade made consid- erable money, which fact renewed his conti- dence in himself as a merchant, and he has since followed this vocation with most sads- factory results. Notwithstanding that he has met with many mishaps - such as having his store twice destroyed by fire and being covered with but limited insurance, and the loss of money through going security for others (one man alone having mulcted him for $12,000', he
ADAM SMITH
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now owns a fine two-story frame business block, the upper part of which is occupied as a hall " for the Odd Fellows, and attached to which he has his residence. His stock of merchan- dise reaches $12,000 in value, and his annual sales average from $16,000 to $20,000. He is also the owner of four good farms, and is altogether well to do, his fortune resulting from his own enterprise and self-exertion.' Until 1892 he handled most of the grain dis- posed of at Belmore-an elevator having been erected by another firm-but since that date he has gradually worked out of the grain trade. His trade in town property has, through his good judgment, resulted profitably and netted him a neat little sum. In politics Mr. Speaker has always been an active democrat. He has taken an interest in public affairs through a sense of duty as a citizen, but has never been an office seeker through a desire to reap any emolument attached to public office, yet he has served several terms as township treas- urer and also as clerk of the township, as well as in some of the minor offices. Mrs. Speaker is a member of the Evangelical church asso- ciation, and the family stands among the most highly respected residents of Van Buren town- ship, Mr. Speaker being especially esteemed for his business integrity, his urbanity and his genuine interest in the progress and welfare of the community in which he has lived for so many years and in which he has reared his re- spected family.
A DAM SMITH, a prominent and enter- prising farmer of Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of Franklin county and was born July 25, 1840. At the age of eight years he lost his father, but contmaed to live on the farm with his widowed mother until he was nineteen years old, when he hired out as a farm hand.
continuing as such for about six years in all. About this time, in 1862, he volunteered in company B, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio infantry, for three years, but on examination, three months later, failed to pass muster and was discharged. He then again found employ- ment by the month at good wages for two years, but during this interval, in 1863, was married and made his home on his portion of the home farin, adding to his original share until he became the owner of 110 acres; in 1872 he sold this property and came to Put- nam county and bought 160 acres of the tract on which he still lives, to which he has since added 161 acres. The land was all wild at the time of the original purchase, improved with a small box house only; to-day it is all cleared excepting three acres, is ditched and tiled, is under cultivation, and improved with a tasty two-story frame dwelling, substantial barn, commodious cattle sheds and other out- buildings, all supplied with water through the agency of a wind-mill-making the place one of the most desirable pieces of property in the county. All this has been acquired through the practical financiering and industrious habits of the owner, his only capital at the start hav- ing been his interest of thirty-two acres in the old homestead.
Mr. Smith has always been a democrat in politics, has filled some of the minor township offices, but has never sought political recog- nition. He has always taken great interest in educational matters and at great expense to himself secured the erection of the school-house on the land adjoining his farm. He is recog- nized as one of the most enterprising and wide- awake men of the township and stands at the head of its financially sound citizens. He is public spirited in the extreme, and always leads the lists of contributions to charitable objects and heads all movements for the public good. His contributions to church and are always
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liberal, and public enterprises of merit invari- ably find in him a ready supporter-his stock even in the P., A. & W. R. R. now amounting to $500, and he has also subscribed $50 to the Lima Northern, now in course of construction.
Mr. Smith was first married to Miss Mary Dillaine, daughter of Joseph Dillaine, of Ohio, and to this union were born two children- Anna, wife of Joseph Sherrick and mother of two children, and Cora, wife of Henry Wilder- muth, of Franklin county. The mother of these children died May 23, 1867, a member of the Primitive Baptist church. The second marriage of Mr. Smith took place, in 1868, with Miss Susan McKelva, daughter of James McKelva, a tailor of Canal Winchester, Ohio, where he died November 7, 1892, the father of six children, viz: Susan, Emma and Matilda, by a first marriage, and James, Oliver and George by a second marriage. To the second marriage of Mr. Smithi have been born ten children, in the following order -- William, yet at home; Edward, married and settled down to farming; James, Lena M., George and Estella, also at home; Oliver E., died young; Mary, Zoe and Adam, all three at home.
William Smith, the father of our subject, Adam Smith, was a native of Virginia, was a tanner by trade, and came to Ohio when Chillicothe was the capital of the state. He secured a contract for building a portion of the Ohio & Erie canal, and after finishing his con- tract settled down to farming. He was first married, in Ohio, to Christina Schoonover, who bore him five children, named Abram, Isaac, William, Mary and Eve. His second inarriage was with Jane Hanover, daughter of John Hanover, a Baptist minister of Ohio, and to this union were also born five children, viz: John, who after marriage was thrown from a horse and killed; Sarah, wife of Amos Funk, of Martinsburg; Christina, and .Jackson, who is now a neighbor of Adam, our subiect.
William Smith, the father of these two fami- lies, was well and favorably known in Franklin county, Ohio. In politics he was a democrat, and in religion a member of the Primitive Baptist church, in which faith he died, in 1848. John Hanover, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a minister in the Baptist church, and also died in 1848. Adam Smith, our subject, can never be sufficiently com- mended by the people of Pleasant township for the good he has done, but it may be hoped that many will yet emulate his noble acts.
EORGE W. SROUFE, a prosperous and thrifty farmer of Jackson town- ship, was born near Kalida, Putnam county, Ohio, January 7, 1846, a son of George and Catherine (Ayers) Sroufe, men- tion of whom is made close at hand. george Sroufe was born in Champaign county, Ohio, January 11, 1813, a son of David Sroufe, whose wife, Rebecca. was a native of Maine. The great-grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and with two of his sons was also a soldier in the war of 1812. George Sroufe was reared a farmer in Champaign county, until 1830, when he came to Dupont, Putnam county, with a brother, and here entered a tract of uncleared land, but spent two years traveling in the west, then returned to Putnam county, cleared up a good farm on his tract, and in 1844 marrie.' Cath- erine Ayers, a daughter of John and Sarah Ayers, and to this union were born twe chil- dren-George W., the subject of this sketch, and Sarah A., wife of Peter Alstetter, a farmer and saw-mill operator, Columbus Grove. Mrs. Catherine Sroufe was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, about 1826, was of German descent paternally, was a Baptist in . ligion and died in that fach June to, 1861. After his marriage George Sroufe lived on the banks
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of the Ottawa river, in Union township, for three years, and then bought a tract of uri- cleared woodland in Greensburg township, on which he lived until 1855. when he re- turned to Union township, bought a farm on which he lived two years, and then pur- chased the farm in Jackson township, now occupied by our subject, on which he passed the remainder of his life, dying Decem- ber 17, 1881. He was a democrat in poli- tics and had filled the offices of township treas- urer and township trustee for many years, and was a highly respected citizen. John Ayers. maternal grandfather of our subject, had born to him the following family: James, of Colo- rado; Catherine, mother of our subject; Will- iam, deceased; Dr. John, of Paulding county, Ohio; Mrs. Margaret Turner, of Columbus Grove; Henry, of Ottawa, and Mrs. Amanda Adams, deceased.
George W. Sroufe, the subject proper of this memoir, was reared on the home farm in Putnam county, and on November 3, 1875, married Miss Emily J. Allgire, who was born in Jackson township, Putnam county, Novem- ber 26, 1857, a daughter of Joshua and La- vina (Eyler) Allgire (now Dicus), and to this union have been born eight children, viz: La- vina, wife of Frank Almire, a carpenter of Fort Jennings; George Harvey, farming on the home place; Francis Marion, William A., Florence Lillian, Mary Cleveland, Maggie May and Sarah Amanda. Prior to her mar- liage, Mrs. Sroufe had lived twelve years in Illinois, and on her return to Ohio lived in Willshire, Van Wert county, where she was married to our subject. Previous to this mar- riage, our subject had for sixteen years kept house with his father, and was his associate in this, domestic arrangement at the time of the latter's death and after his marriage this same abode became and continues to be the home of himself, wife and children. In politics Mr
Sroufe is a democrat, and is now serving his second consecutive term as township trustee, having also served in the saine office several years ago; for four terms he also held the of- fice of township assessor, and in both positions gave and gives the most perfect satisfaction to his constiuents and to the public in general. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sroufe are devout members of the United Brethren church, and their daily walk through life is in strict conformity with its teachings. Since his youth Mr. Sroufe has been interested in the agricultural pursuits of Putnam county, and few stand as well as he in the eyes of the community both as a farmer and citizen, and fewer families are more widely and favorably known than that of the Sroufes.
ARVEY SROUFE, farmer and old settler of Union township, Patnam county, Ohio, is a son of David and Rebecca (Townsend) Sroufe, and was born in Yellow Springs, Greene county, Ohio, October 26, 1811. The father, David Sroufe, was a native of Kentucky and vas born near Lexington September 23, 1786, a son of Se- bastian and Agnes (Owens) Sroufe, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ireland. Sebastian Sroufe was but fifteen years of age when he came to America; at the point of dis- embarkation, Philadelphia, he was "sold, " or, rather, apprenticed, for his passage money to a shoemaker; February 1, 1765, he married Agnes Owens; he later served in the Revolu- tionary war, and then settled in the Red Stone country, Ky., where he was a slave-holder and farmer for a number of years, he then brought his family to Greene county, Ohio, entered a section of land for his children, and continued to farm until his death, which occurred about 1826. He was a democrat in politics, and in religion a Presbyterian. His children were fifteen in number, and of these his son Christ-
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opher was a captain in the war of 1812; David, George, Sebastian and three other sons, also took part in the same struggle, and even the old gentleman, Sebastian himself, made an effort to reach the front, but found himself too feeble.
David Sroufe was reared on the old Ken- tucky plantation, and about 1809 married Re- becca Townsend, who was born in Maine, a daughter of Abraham and Mary (Edgecomb) Townsend, and to this union were born eight children, viz: Harvey, whose name opens this sketch; George, Mrs. Lavina Miller, Ma- tilda, Mrs. Marilla Barker, John, and Mrs. Mary Groves, all seven deceased, and Hannah, the last, residing with our subject. The mother
of this family passed the spot where Cincinnati stands, after the Revolutionary war had ceased, but at that time woods only were to be seen in the neighborhood. After marriage, David and Rebecca Sroufe located in Greene county, Ohio, and in 1829 came to Putnam county, lo- cated at Dupont, where he entered land on which he resided four years, and then bought a farm on Ottawa river, Union township, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying January 23, 1853, a member of the Masonic lodge at Sidney, Ohio, and a democrat in politics. His widow survived until August 7, 1879, when she died in the Baptist faith.
Harvey Sroufe remained on the home farm with his father, in order to care for him, until the death of the latter, when he came to his present place in Union township, which was then uncleared, but which Mr. Sroufe has converted into one of the most productive and attractive farms in the township. He is a dem- ocrat in politics and has held several offices, and for thirty years has been one of the most active and ardent members adhering to the Christian Union church. He has pover mar- ned, and at present his youngest sister and ber son reside with him. This lady. Hannah
Sroufe, was born in Champaign county. Ohio, February 15, 1828, and in 1855 was married to Adamn Sroufe, who died in 1862, leaving one child, Abraham Townsend Sroufe, who was born September 14, 1857, and who is a dem- ocrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Epworth league, and a most useful and public-spirited citizen. Harvey Sroufe, himself, although well ad- vanced in years, still takes great interest in the affairs of the township and county and in the well being of his neighbors, whose respect he enjoys and by whom he is honored for his many good qualities of mind and heart. Ref- erence may be made also to the sketch of G. W. Sroufe, of Jackson township.)
SAAC STALEY, mayor of Dupont, Putnam county, Ohio, and one of the foremost citizens of Perry township, as well as of the county, was borr Janu- ary 7, 1829, in Pickaway county, Ohio, a son of John and Arah (Kirby) Staley. The father, John Staley, was a -on of Peter and Eve Staley, natives of Germany, and the forper a farmer; they were parents of eight children, viz: Melchoir, Peter, Katie, Jacob, Sallie, Elizabeth, Eve, and jolin, the last named the father of our subject. Shortly after his mar- riage Peter Staley came to America and be- came a pioneer of Virginia. ' There his three sons-Melchoir, Peter and Jacob-enter. i the volunteer service as soldiers in the war of 1812; later they and the father came to Olo in a four-horse wagon, being several weeks on the journey, and settled in Pickaway . mty. Peter Staley was at one time a wealthy and prosperous planter of Virginia, but, beir , over- taken by business reverses, he moved to Pick- away county, Ohio, and entered a large farm in the woods, and this he cleared up and otherwise improved but later moved to Allen
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county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm, on which he passed the remainder of his days, dying about 1845 in his seventy-fifth year-a stanch old-line whig. His widow reached the ripe old age of eighty-eight years, when she also passed away, honored and respected as her husband had been.
John Staley was born in Virginia in 1801, and when twelve years of age came to Ohio with his parents. He was partly educated in his native state and partly in Pickaway county, Ohio, and when a young man went to Pike county, Ohio, and learned the gunsmith's trade. In 1826 he was united in marriage with Miss Arah Kirby, daughter of James and Phenie Kirby, this union resulting in the birth of six children, viz: Elizabeth, wife of John Mc- Clure, of Paulding county; Isaac, our subject, the mayor of Dupont; Rosanna, the wife of John Miller, of Lima, Allen county; Lorenzo, of Van Wert county; Henry, of Paulding Center, and Harriet, wife of William Atmer, of Allen county. The mother of these chil- dren was born in Maryland in 1810, and was one of the thirteen children born to James and Phenie Kirby-the former being of English and the latter of Irish descent. Of the family of thirteen children mentioned, Mrs. Staley is the sole survivor. When a child she came to Pickaway county, Ohio, with her parents, but later the father went to Illinois, where he was killed in the Black Hawk war, while defending the frontier from invasion by the blood-thirsty redskins. For twenty years Mrs. Staley was a member of the Methodist church, but for the past thirty years the Christian church has claimed her adherence and active work in its behalf. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Staley resided for two years in Pickaway county, and in 1829 moved to Allen county, where they entered eighty acres of land among the pioneers, and here Mr. Staley cleared up a farm, but also continued to work at his trade. He was
an old-line whig and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church; he stood high in the esteem of his neighbors as a good farmer and useful citizen, and died in 1874, deeply mourned by family and friends. He was a kind father and affectionate husband, and a truly upright man in all the relations of life.
Isaac Staley, whose name introduces this biographical memoir, laid the foundation of his education in the pioneer log school-house of Allen county, but this has been supplemented by industrious and comprehensive home study since he reached his majority. He learned from his father the trade of a gunsinith, became very skillful, and worked at the business for a number of years. In 1850 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Martha Gilbert, and this union has been blessed with eleven children, viz: Clinton J., of Paulding county; Caroline H., wife of Edward Keltner, also of Paulding county; Calvin R., deceased; Mary E., married to Marion Thompson, of Van Wert county; Victoria A., deceased; Lillie J., wife of James Shearer of Paulding county; Edward M., sheriff of Paulding county; Ida M., deceased; Isaac L., of Paulding county; William H., deputy sheriff of same county, and Arthur, of Fort Wayne, Ind. Mrs. Staley was born in Canada, February 1, 1833, although her parents were natives of New York and leading members of the Methodist Episcopal church. After mar- riage Mr. Staley followed his trade of gunsmith, to which he added that of machinist, remain- ing in Allen county until 1864, when he moved to Paulding county, and purchased eighty acres in the wild woods, built a log house, and cleared a neat and comfortable farm on which he lived two years, and then moved to the banks of the canal, where he purchased several small tracts, which he also cleared, but still con- tinued to work at blacksmithing. He next engaged in the timber trade, of which he made an entire success, and in 1880 rented out his
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farm and has since devoted his entire time to timber-for ten years acting as superintendent for Moses Bros., of Cleveland. In 1881 he moved to Dupont, where, as a leading repub- lican, he has held many of the more important of the township offices, and where, as mayor, he has given the utmost satisfaction to all con- cerned. As a member of the Methodist church he has been most active for fully half a cen- tury, of which period he has served for forty- five years as Sunday-school superintendent. He is in every sense a self-made man, and not one in the county of Putnam stands higher in the respect of his neighbors and fellow-citizens generally.
a LI STEVICK, now deceased, was in his day one of the most successful farmers of Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio. He was born in Cumber- land county, Pa., in 1828, and was a son of Jacob Stevick, who was of sturdy Dutch descent. Eli learned the trade of wagon-making in his native state, and at the age of twenty-four years came to Ohio and located in Allen county, where he engaged in the occupation of farm- ing, and at which he was as successful as he had been at his trade. January 27, 1859, he was united in marriage with Judith Stemen, a daughter of John and Nancy (Stukey) Stemen, to which marriage were born three children, viz: F. S., of whom mention in detail will be made further on; Carlisle E., and Stomen C. The mother of these children was born in Allen county, Ohio, December 12, 1834, and was also of Dutch descent. After a life passed in the faith of the Lutheran church, she laid down her burden, September 28, 1894, an honored and faithful member of that religious denomination.
Mr. Steviek, after his marriage, lived on a
rented farm in Allen county until, by his in- dustry and economy, he had accumulated suf- ficient capital to purchase a farm of his own. This event took place in 1865, when he be- came possessor of the Stevick homestead in Perry township. This farm he cleared from the wild woods and made " to blossom as the rose." From his settlement on this place until his death, he was prominently identified with the agriculturist interests of his township, and was largely promotive of its material prog- ress. Though not a member of any religious organization, he was ever forward and ready to lend his aid in the moral and educational interests of his community. He was a mem- ber of the Patrons of Husbandry, and ir poli- tics a stanch democrat, by which party he was held in high repute and frequently elected as township trustee, assessor, and to other local offices. He died an honored, upright citizen, December 24, 1891.
F. S. Stevick, eldest son of Eli and Judith Stevick, was born in Allen county, Ohio, in 1860, and when five years of age was brought by his parents to Putnam county, and here was educated in the common schools of his district and reared to farming. February 13, 1889, he married Miss Ida Wheeler, who was born in Putnam county, June 5, 1869, a daughter of L. D. and Mary (Kirkendall) Wheeler. This union has since been blessed with two children, viz: Ada M. and Ivy B., now the joy of the household. L. D. Wheeler is a native of Ross county, Ohio, was born in 1843, and came to Putnam county while still a youth. On mar- rying, Mr. Stevick settled on a part of the old homestead, where he has since successfully followed his chosen calling of farining. In addition to his farming, Mr. Stevick is also engaged in the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Stevick is a prominent citizen, a man of solid worth, is courteous, temperate, upright .und
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