A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio, Part 46

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 826


USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 46


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the west as they were opened up for settlement. John Priddy was an import- ant man in that part of the Old Dominion during the last half of the eigh- teenth century. He was born in Greenbrier county in 1754, and in early man- hood displayed his patriotism by enlisting in the Revolutionary army, in which he rose to the rank of quartermaster. After the establishment of inde- pendence he joined the tide of western emigration and established himself in Fayette county, Ohio, as early as 1808. His son, William Priddy, was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, in 1798, and also became a pioneer in Ohio, first of Fayette and later of Van Wert county, where he died in 1852. Among his children was Thomas D. Priddy, whose birth occurred in Fayette county, Ohio, August 15, 1820, and who came to Van Wert county with his father in 1835. He farmed there many years and lived to an advanced age, his death occurring in 1897.


S. N. E. Priddy, son of the last mentioned, was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, February 21, 1844, and remained at home until he had reached the twenty-seventh year of his age. As he grew up he assisted his father in work on the farm and meantime obtained the usual school education. This was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war, in which Mr. Priddy went as a boy and made an excellent record as a loyal and patriotic soldier. He enlisted at Mansfield, September 11, 1861, as a private in Company H, Fif- , teenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and remained with his command until February, 1862, when he was discharged for disability. In Novem- ber, 1863, he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment and remained until the command was mustered out in the fall of 1865. Mr. Priddy saw much hard service in the shape of marching, skirmishing and fighting, through all of which he acquitted himself so well as to obtain the entire ap- proval of his commanding officers. He took part in the severe and protracted campaigns from Dalton to Atlanta in the spring and summer of 1864 and fought with his command in many of the engagements that occurred during that memorable march. After Atlanta surrendered Mr. Priddy was with the forces detached to look after the hot-headed Hood on his wild ex- pedition into Tennessee, and fought with his regiment in the bloody battles at Franklin, Jonesboro and Nashville, which last battle practically destroyed Hood's army. In 1871 Mr. Priddy left his father's farm and embarked in business for himself as a purchaser of ties for the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company. After spending two years in this employment he bought a saw mill in Van Wert county and the management of this in con- nection with a grist mill and planing mill, furnished him occupation for the next thirteen years. In 1882 he disposed of the saw mill but operated the


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others four years longer and then sold them also with a view to engaging in different employment. In 1887 he embarked in the oil producing business in Allen county, Ohio, and has continued in this enterprise with headquarters at Findlay since his removal there in 1890. He is also interested in zinc and lead mining at Joplin, Missouri, and has met with a fair measure of success in his various enterprises.


During his residence in Middlepoint, Ohio, Mr. Priddy served five years as mayor of that city and was also a member of the city council and school board. During the erection of the normal school building at that place, Mr. Priddy was president of the board of trustees, having that work in charge. In December, 1872, he was married, at Middlepoint, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Rachel (Coslett) Price, and has three sons and one daughter : John E., attorney at law; Edgar, an oil producer; Edith J., at home; and Vernon, at Amherst College. The family are members of the Methodist church and in politics Mr. Priddy's affiliations are with the Republican party.


CHARLES H. THOMAS.


Since an early epoch in the development of the northern part of Ohio, the family of Charles H. Thomas (now deceased) has been numbered among its citizens. To know the early life of this family, we have but to picture the conditions common in Hancock county six or seven decades ago. Much of the land was wild, awaiting the awakening energy of civilization to trans- form it into richly cultivated fields. Schools were primitive and the curri- culum limited. The now thriving towns and cities were merely liamlets, or had not been founded, and the settlers were deprived of many of the com- forts of the older east. But they were people of resolute spirit and with de- termined purpose, well fitted to the work of making homes in the wilder- ness. In this work the Thomas family bore its part. This family was one of the first to settle in Marion township, in this county, where they located on a tract of land received from the government. Charles Thomas was the first of the name of whom we have any knowledge. He cleared his farm, which he had received from the government, and at his decease passed it down to his son George. The latter, who married Katherine Paden, was a thrifty and practical farmer, who placed many a solid improvement on the old place. At his death he left the farm to his son Charles H. Thomas, the subject of this review, who was born on the 26th of August, 1853. He, like his ancestors, followed agricultural pursuits and was much esteemed by his fellow citizens. After he became of age he was elected trustee, treasurer and school director


Chas H. Thomas.


Harriet A Thomas


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in Marion township, all of which offices he administered with credit to hin - self and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was a faithful and loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which for many years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school and a leader of the musical department. In November, 1874, he was joined in marriage to Harriet A., the daughter of David and Amanda Walter. The union was blessed with six children : George W., who married Gladys P. Moore, and to whom were born three boys, Charles K., Delbert L., and Glen ; the second child, Tishie M., married Calvin L. Moore, an electrician, and she was the mother of one daughter, Lora B .; the third child, David L., married Edith Nusser. The three younger sons were Benj. H., Charles G. and Edward R. After a rather short but eminently useful life Charles H. Thomas died March 29, 1892. His widow, Mrs. Harriet A. Thomas, was born in Hancock county in 1852. She is a lady of much refinement of character and many noble qualities, and is the center of a large circle of friends in her community. The farm upon which she resides contains ninety-six acres, is well tilled and everything about the premises shows the guiding hand of an experienced representative of the farming class. The fifth generation of the Thomas family are now residents on this farm, first settled by Charles Thomas, early in the century.


J. E. HUDSON.


As a man travels on in the journey of life and passes the prime of man- hood his strength and energy are somewhat lessened by age, which is an indication that it is intended that his last years shall be at least to some extent a period of rest. Not all past the meridian of life are permitted to put aside business cares, for through the lack of business ability or mismanagement they have not acquired capital sufficient to supply their needs in their de- clining years. Mr. J. E. Hudson is enjoying a well earned rest. Long connected with the agricultural interests of Hancock county, his careful man- angement and a husbanding of his resources have brought his a very desirable competence which now supplies him with all the necessities and many of the luxuries that go to make life worth the living.


Mr. Hudson is now living in the city of Findlay, having retired from his farm in Cass township, where he was born August 8, 1841. His father was Moses Hudson, a native of old Virginia. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Winkler, she being a native of the Buckeye state, Wayne county. Moses Hudson came to maturity in Virginia, and from thence re- moved to Wayne county, Ohio, where he remained but a short time, coming


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on to Hancock county, where he settled in Cass township. Here he pur- chased eighty acres of timber land, the date being 1837. The carving out of a home in this wild and primitive section of the county at that time occu- pied him the rest of his life. He was a hard-working, honest, industrious man, who was always proud to remark that he was never in need of the law, having never sued or been sued before the court. He always settled his differences with is neighbors by the principle which has gained such a hold on the economic world of to-day, that of arbitration. If the difficulty could not be settled in this manner he would rather seem to be imposed upon and accept the result rather than carry it into the courts. He was a highly respected member of society and a devout adherent of the Methodist Episco- pal church. Of his eight children three of the five survivors are residents of Hancock county, Fannie, J. E. and William, while Lawrence and Lucinda reside outside its boundaries. The father of this family, after a long and useful life, passed to his rest February 13, 1887. He had lived a widower for two decades, his wife Lydia having died at a rather early age in 1847.


J. E. Hudson passed his youth and boyhood on the old homestead, which was the scene of his boyhood labors and pleasures, and during which time he acquired his elementary education in the common schools. The fact that he has passed his entire existence in Cass township makes him a figure of respect among his fellow citizens. His character is beyond reproach, and in the space of thirty-eight years he has succeeded, by honest dealing and indus- trious thrift, in accumulating a very nice competence. He owns at the pres- ent time one of the finest estates in Cass township. It contains one hundred and sixty acres, and besides being unsurpassed as farming land, is situated in the oil belt of Hancok county. The farm has on it several producing gas and oil wells. Mr. Hudson retired from his farm in January, 1902. and removed to Findlay, where he expects to pass the remainder of his days. Mr. Hudson is proud to recognize the term self-made man. He secured his property by hard knocks. He literally dug out the one hundred and sixty acres which he now owns. In 1864 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hudson, the ceremony uniting him to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Jane Taylor, and to whom one son was born. William T. Mrs. Hudson was born in Washington township in 1843. When William T. arrived at ma- turity he married an accomplished young lady. Miss Minnie Rex. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson are consistent members and earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which organization Mr. Hudson has been frequently honored with offices of trust. William T. also is an earnest worker in the


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church, being at the present time a class leader. Politically the Hudsons have always been Democrats of the Jacksonian stripe.


Mentioning briefly the main points in the history of Mrs. Hudson's family: William Taylor was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, as was also his wife, Jane Bell. They removed to Hancock county about 1836, though Mr. Taylor had come to the county in 1832, and located in Washington township on a farm of eighty acres in its original state. Mr. Taylor was a hard-working, conscientious nian, farming his holdings in a progressive and up-to-date manner. His land he received from the gov- ernment by the payment of the usual $1.25 per acre. During his lifetime he added by purchase to this original quarter section, and at the time of his cleath his estate consisted of two hundred acres. He was prominently con- nected with the public life of the county and was honored by his fellow citi- zens by being elected to the office of county commissioner. In this office he served for a period of six years with great satisfaction to his constituents. He was also connected with the minor offices in the township at various periods. The family which he reared consisted of eight children, seven of whom are now living, and six being residents of the county. He was a stanch Democrat in politics, and delighted to further the interests of that party in every way. He was one of those choice spirits who carried his re- ligion about with him, and to whom the Methodist church in Hancock coun- ty owes a very great deal for its early engrafting upon the residents of the county. Mr. Taylor died March 2, 1886, his wife outliving him by eight years. They were both lamented by a host of friends by whom they were highly esteemed.


SAMUEL HADDOX.


Mordecai Haddox was one of the many aspiring young men who left the Old Dominion in the early part of the nineteenth century to seek their fortunes in the "boundless west." He was born of poor parents August 10, 1805, left his native Virginia when scarcely past boyhood, and bravely faced the problem of carving out a home for himself among strangers in a strange land. Shortly after his arrival he became acquainted with Mar- garet Lanters, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, and to this lady he was married January 1, 1829. Two years later the newly wedded couple found their way to Blanchard township, Hancock county, where, in the tech- nical language of the day, they "entered one hundred and sixty acres of uncultivated land." The prospects for settlers in 1831 were not so pleas-


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ing as they have since become as the result of growth and cultivation, but the raw material was there and only awaited the necessary labor for develop- ment. Mordecai Haddox and his wife were courageous and hopeful, not afraid of work and equal to the hard tasks they had set before themselves. By dint of ceaseless toil, good management, saving habits, and the natural increase in values due to the state's rapid growth, the family in course of time succeeded in adding two hundred and forty more acres to their original investment. Mordecai became successful as an agriculturist, being es- pecially efficient as a stockraiser, and eventually obtained a standing as one of the reliable and trustworthy men of his community. Though a Whig in conviction, he was not much addicted to politics and never sought office, but occasionally, at the solicitation of his friends, he consented to hold some of the minor township positions. He lost his wife by death January 20, 1855, and after surviving her twenty-three years closed his own earthly career on the 30th of January, 1878. The family register contains the fol- lowing record of the names and dates of birth of his children: John, born January 28, 1830; Hannah, born December 26, 1831 ; Jacob, now deceased, born July 30, 1834; Samuel, subject of this sketch, more fully noticed be- low ; Margaret, now dead, was born April 9, 1840; and an unnamed infant who died in 1846.


Samuel Haddox, fourth of the above enumerated children, was born on his father's farm in Hancock county, Ohio, May 30, 1837, and has spent his whole life in the neighborhood of his nativity. His time and attention have been devoted to agriculture, with which pursuit he became familiar in boyhood and has prosecuted with success in maturer years. The one hun- dred and sixty acres originally entered by his father is now divided between John and Samuel, the only two of the children at present living in Hancock county. The eighty acres falling to the share of our subject have been cul- tivated with skill and much improved in every respect, constituting one of the best tracts of the size in Blanchard township. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, though he usually confines himself to voting and avoids office-seeking, the only official positions held by him being those of supervisor and school director. He is regarded as a man of excellent judgment, who attends strictly to his own business and discharges consci- entiously all the duties of good citizenship.


February 6, 1861, Mr. Haddox was united in marriage with Elizabeth Hoskinsons, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, February 13, 1841. The names of the children resulting from this union are thus recorded : William D., now deceased, born December 27, 1861 ; Laura M., born Septem-


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bei 8, 1864; Nina F., born December 23, 1866; Ostrilla G., born April 29, 1869; Levi M., born December 8, 1871; Charles K., now dead, born March 30, 1874; Hannah M., born November 5, 1876; Arthey A., born February 23, 1879; Leneus L., born December 17, 1882; and Emma L., born March 24, 1884. Mr. Haddox is a trustee of the United Brethren church, of which he and his wife have long been consistent members, and active in connection with the various educational and philanthropic work of .the denomination.


J. B. KELLEY.


The above named is a practical farmer of Blanchard township, who owns and operates a farm of eighty acres of valuable and productive land, which he cultivates by modern and up-to-date methods. He is a member of a family long resident in Ohio, whose representatives have been identi- fied with the agricultural development of their respective localities in such a manner as to take rank among the model farmers. The first of the name in this state were Ezekiel and Rachel Kelley, who came from their native state of Pennsylvania and located in the neighborhood of Fostoria, on a large tract of land purchased from the government. This couple had six children, five of whom are still living, and among this number is C. S. Kel- ley, who, at the time of his parents' arrival, was still a youth, his birth har- ing occurred in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1825. After reaching manhood he purchased a farm of eighty acres four miles west of Fostoria, to which he subsequently added one hundred and thirty-five more, besides one hundred and sixty acres owned by him in Michigan at one time. This statement would indicate of itself that he has been quite successful in business, but in other ways also he impressed himself upon his community. He has served as justice of the peace for twenty-six years, was county commissioner two terms and held numerous other offices of minor importance. He first mar- ried Mary Jane Hagerman, by whom he had one child, and by a second marriage, with Mary Bryan, his family was increased by the births of eight children, of whom the six now living are: Cornelia, J. B., M. D., C. C., W. M. and Manie. Mr. Kelley died September 6, 1902, at Fostoria.


J. B. Kelley, the second of his living children, was born in Washington township, Hancock county, Ohio, on the 15th of February, 1854. He grew up in his native place, attended the district schools and in early life became an agent of the Standard Oil Company, in whose employment he served seven years, and during that time traveled extensively in almost every state of the Union. After resigning this position he was employed two years as


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collector for P. F. Collier, and in 1887 returned to his native county, of which he has since remained a continuous resident. His first investment in real estate was the purchase of seventy acres of farming land near Arcadia, and on this place he resided for twelve years. At the end of that period he dis- posed of his holdings, and in 1900 bought the farm in Blanchard township which constitutes his present homestead. April 11, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie, daughter of Jacob C. and Magdaline Smith, of Crawford county, Ohio, and from this union there are two children : Blanch, born March II, 1889; and Karl, born November 28, 1891. Like his father before him, Mr. Kelley is a member of the Democratic party and very earnest in the advocacy of its principles. He is a member of the school board and uses his influence to advance the cause of education, as well as every other measure which his judgment tells him will be for the best inter- ests of the people.


JOSEPH T. BARTOON.


Having been a resident of Hancock county for more than half a century and during that time prominent both in business and as a holder of county offices, the gentleman above named is perhaps known more generally than any other citizen. And no one who once sees him is apt to forget him, as he has a remarkable physical development, being six feet six inches in height and large in proportion. A sheriff of these dimensions, armed with the legal power to arrest, is calculated to strike terror in the average criminal, and when Mr. Bartoon was in office he allowed "no foolishness" around his place of business. He preserved law and order, and finished his two terms with the reputation of being one of the best officials the county ever had. The family is of German origin and was founded in this country by John Bartoon, who was born about 1755, emigrated to the United States in early life and died in 1860 at Lancaster, Ohio. His son, Jonathan .Bartoon, was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1805, came to Ohio in youth and died in 1893 at Benton Ridge, when eighty-seven years old.


Joseph T. Bartoon, son of the last mentioned, was born on his father's farm near Lancaster, Ohio, April 1, 1846, and was brought by his parents to Hancock county in September of the following year. He grew up on his father's farm in Union township and remained on the home place for forty- three years, engaged in agricultural purusits. In 1890 he was elected sheriff of Hancock county and served with so much satisfaction that his constituents gave him a re-election in 1892, and in all he filled the office four years. In


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1895 he was appointed infirmary director of the county and has since dis- charged the duties of that position so satisfactorily as to be retained con- tinuously in the office. In 1873 Mr. Bartoon was married at Gilboa, Ohio, to Sarah McDowell, but has no children. He is a member of the Elks and Eagle Post, No. 109, at Benton Ridge, of the Grand Army of the Republic. His right to the membership is based upon his service as a Union soldier of the One Hundred and Ninety-second Ohio Regiment, in which he enlisted at Fndlay in January, 1865, as a member of Company H, and was discharged the following September. In 1894 he engaged in the livery business at Findlay, which he continued until June, 1902.


REV. ARTHUR M. GROWDEN, PH. B.


At the southwest corner of Main and Filmore streets is located the Church of Christ, one of the attractive ecclesiastical edifices of the city of Findlay, and one whose work is being zealously and successfully carried forward under the effective care and supervision of its able and devoted pas- tor, whose name initiates this article. Mr. Growden is a man of fine intel- lectuality, is devoted to the duties of his high calling and has consecrated his life and powers to the cause of the Divine Master and to the uplifting of his fellow men. Through his earnest efforts the church in Findlay has made notable progress in both spiritual and temporal strength, and his ministra- tion has endeared him to the members of his flock, while his gracious person- ality has gained to him the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. He is a forcible and convincing speaker, definite and inflexible in his faith and unremitting in his attention to the pastoral duties lying outside of the regular services of the church. It is but fitting that he be accorded recognition in this publication, so that a permanent tribute to his work and his effective labors may remain through the years to come, when he is called to "rest from his labors."


Arthur M. Growden is a native of New Zealand, having been born in the beautiful city of Dunedin, the capital of the province of Otago, and the metropolis of the island, in 1861, being the son of Henry Growden, who was born in Cornwall. England, in 1825, his wife being also a native of the same county. He was an architect by profession, and in 1859 emigrated to Aus- tralia, where he did an important work in the line of his vocation, having been the architect of many fine public buildings in the city of Melbourne, and also in New Zealand, and having been one of the most distinguished repre- sentatives of his profession in that section of the world. He was promi-


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nently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been influential in the fraternity in both Australia and New Zealand. He died in Dunedin in 1895, in the fullness of years and honors.


Our subject was reared to the age of twenty years in his native city, and there received his preliminary educational discipline. At the age noted he came to the United States and entered the College of the Bible, at Lexing- ton, Kentucky, where he completed the full biblical course in 1883, and was then ordained to the ministry of the Church of Christ. In 1899. he received the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy from Fenton College, at Fenton, Mich- igan. Mr. Growden assumed pastoral charge of the church in Findlay, and here his labors have been attended with unqualified success. He is well known and highly honored in connection with his church work and in the best social life of the community. An earnest worker in the cause of tem- perance, he naturally gives his political support to the Prohibition party, and fraternally he is a popular member of the Knights of Pythias.




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