USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 19
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 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
Amberson W. Guthrie was reared to farm life and acquired his educa- tion in the common schools, but he inclined to a business career rather than farming. At nineteen he began his career as an itinerant jewelry merchant, visiting state and county fairs and following circuses through the country and selling his wares on the streets. He pushed his business in that way for four years, and during that time visited all parts of the United States. After that he located at his old home and was married November 15, 1874, to Miss Ella McMunn, a daughter of William McMunn and a native of Plymouth, Ohio. William McMunn, an Irishman by birth, came to America, about his twenty-first year, with his mother and sisters, and set- tled at Plymouth, where he married. He fought through the entire period of the Civil war, and died one week after his return home. After his marriage Mr. Guthrie settled on the Guthrie homestead and managed it for eighteen years on shares. In 1893 he located at Shiloh, but did not engage in any active business until the fall of 1894, when he engaged in buying and shipping poultry to Cleveland commission houses. Later, when the magnitude of his business justified such an innovation, he established his son in a stand in the Sheriff street market, Cleveland, where his goods
182
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
were sold direct. His enterprise has now assumed such proportions that his shipments average two tons of dressed poultry a week.
Amberson W. and Ella (McMunn) Guthrie have had four children, three of whom survive. His son, Barton R., has charge of his father's interests at Cleveland, as mentioned above. Florence became the wife of Rev. Edward Hermiston, an evangelist of the Baptist faith, and is his assist- ant. She is a trained elocutionist and an able and impressive speaker. They are known as the "Moody School Evangelists," and their work in different parts of the country for the salvation of souls has been com- mended by leading preachers of different denominations. Maud is the wife of Al. Zeimer, a well-known race-horse man of Chicago, Illinois. Barton R. was for two years a student at the Western Reserve Dental College, and was graduated at that institution in June, 1891. In 1896 Mr. Guthrie purchased the home farm of two hundred and twenty acres, which he rents profitably. He is one of the progressive business men of of the county and is a leading Republican, who manifests much enthusi- asm in party work.
URIAH LAFFERTY.
The farming interests of Richland county are well represented by Mr. Lafferty, who devotes his time and energies to agricultural pursuits in Worthington township, where he has a valuable tract of land under a high state of cultivation. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, February 6, 1825. His father, John Lafferty, was united in marriage to Miss Mary Leadom, a daughter of Thomas Leadom and a native of the Keystone state. At an early day John Lafferty removed to Harrison county, Ohio, where he lived until 1833. when he came to Richland county, casting his lot with the pioneer settlers of this section of the state. He rented a farm near Bellville until the following March, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of timber land two miles east of the town. No improve- ments had been made on the place, but he at once began to clear it and soon the wild tract was transformed into richly cultivated fields. There he continued his farming operations until his life's labors were ended in death, in 1844, when he had attained the age of sixty-six and a half years. He was very active in Democratic circles, yet neither sought nor desired the honors or emoluments of public office. His time was devoted to his business affairs, in which he met with success. He engaged in raising cat-
183
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
tle and sheep in addition to his general farming pursuits. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church, as was also his wife, who died in Richland county, at the age of eighty-five years. In their family were eleven children, but Uriah is now the only one surviving.
When he was a lad of nine summers Uriah Lafferty accompanied his parents on their removal to Richland county, and remained at home un1- til about twenty-five years of age. His father died about that time and the son then moved to his present farm in Worthington township. As a companion and helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Nancy Kanaga, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Reem) Kanaga, both natives of Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania, where they were married. In 1834 they came to Richland county, locating on the farm now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Lafferty, there spending their remaining days. Her father also owned and operated a mill, which still stands upon the place, and was a successful busi- ness man. In politics he was a Whig and was an earnest Christian gentle- man although he did not belong to any church. He erected and paid for a house of worship located on his farm in Pennsylvania, and at all times con- tributed liberally to church work. He died at the age of seventy-nine and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-seven. She held membership in the Evangelical church. In her family were six children, including Mrs. Lafferty, who was born in Pennsylvania, April 30, 1832, and was only two years old when brought by her parents to Richland county. Almost her entire life has been spent upon the farm which is now her home. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children,-Alvin L. and Abraham J.,-who oper- ate the old homestead, which comprises two hundred and thirty acres of land devoted to general farming pursuits. The fields are highly cultivated and everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance. Mr. Lafferty exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church.
JAMES MADISON POST.
Among the honored veterans of the Civil war and highly esteemed citi- zens of Richland county may be numbered James M. Post, most of whose life has been passed here. He was born on the 28th of February, 1840, in Spring- field township, two miles west of Ontario, on the farm now owned by Nathan Tyler, and lived there until sixteen years of age, when he removed to the
184
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
present farm of "Jud" Aton, in Troy township, where he continued to make his home until he attained his majority.
Mr. Post is a son of William and Rhoda ( Poole) Post. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch and Irish descent, and his mother was a native of Ohio. They had thirteen children. They were early settlers of Springfield township, Richland county.
Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, Mr. Post enlisted August 10, 1861, for three years, becoming a private of Company E, Thirty-second Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and he participated in the engagements at McDowell, Cross Keys, Franklin and Harper's Ferry,-all in Virginia. At the last named place he was taken prisoner with his regiment, and after being paroled was sent into camp at Chicago, Illinois. In February, 1862, they were exchanged and once more went to the front, taking part in the battles of Vicksburg, Ray- mond, Champion Hills, Jackson and Baker's Creek. They also participated in the siege of Vicksburg and were with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign. During the siege of Atlanta Mr. Post's time expired, and he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 27, 1864. Returning to his home, he resumed farming. In 1871 he removed to Eaton county, Michigan, where he resided and farmed for twelve years, and in 1883 purchased the farm of eighty acres upon which he has since successfully engaged in general farming.
On the 10th of December, 1868, Mr. Post was united in marriage with Miss Isabelle C. Murphy, a daughter of John and Mary Murphy, and to them were born three children, namely: Minnie O., Mary E., and Gertrude E. The first two are married. He is a stanch supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. As a citizen he has always been true and faithful to every trust re- posed in him, so that his loyalty is above question, being manifest in days of peace as well as when he followed the old flag to victory on southern battle- fields.
CURTIS L. AVERY.
Curtis Lord Avery was one of the earliest inhabitants of Mansfield, Ohio, where for many years he was a successful merchant and prominent citizen. He came to Mansfield and was one of the founders and builders of this pros- perous and growing city. He was strongly opposed to slavery, believing it a sin, and that should the nation endure slavery must be abolished.
Refusing to follow the teachings of many of the clergymen of the agita- tion days, and seeking religious affiliation and teaching in harmony with his
.
,
185
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
views, and finding many of his neighbors and friends in harmony and sympathy with his sentiments, he became one of the founders of the First Congregational church in Mansfield, and was a generous contributor of means and effort to the support of the church. From business activities he retired soon after the close of the Civil war, and later removed to Wayne, Pennsylvania, where he now ( 1900) resides, being yet active in mind and body, notwithstanding that he has passed the ninetieth milestone in life's journey.
He was born in Groton, Connecticut, June 1, 1810, and came of an old and highly respected New England family. His parents were David and Hannalı (Smith) Avery. David Avery was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his parents were Rufus and Hannah (Lord) Avery. Rufus Avery was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, as a captain of Connecticut volunteers, serving six years. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Griswold, in September, 1781. He was a son of James and Elizabeth (Allyn) Avery. His father, James, was a son of James and Elizabeth (Smith) Avery. James, the fourth, was a son of James and Mary (Griswold) Avery, and James, the third, was a son of James and Deborah (Stallyon) Avery. James, the sec- ond, was a son of James and Joanna (Greenslade) Avery, and James, the first, was the son of Christopher Avery and was born in England, whence he came with his father to America about 1630, and after residing in Glou- cester, Massachusetts, located in Groton, Connecticut, and properly became the progenitor of the family in America.
Thus we have traced the genealogy of our subject back to the first representative of one of the oldest American families, and one, too, which has produced prominent men in every generation since the family was estab- lished in this country. In 1835 Curtis Lord Avery married Sarah Sturgish Buckingham, born March 15, 1817, and died February 24, 1851. Curtis L. Avery had three children,-Rufus Lord, Belinda and Ellen.
Rufus Lord Avery had a short but brilliant career. He was born at Mansfield, Ohio, April 16, 1838, and was educated in the schools of Mans- field and at Kenyon College. He left Kenyon College in 1859, returned to Mansfield and took a position in his father's mercantile establishment. In the spring of 1860 he formed a partnership with F. E. Tracy, as Tracy & Avery, and engaged in the grocery business, which passed from the retail to the wholesale trade in 1862. The firm of Tracy & Avery has had a pros- perous existence of over forty years, but Mr. Avery did not live long after the establishment of the firm, for with the breaking out of the Civil war his patriotism prompted him to volunteer his services to the defense of the Union. He was one of the first to sign the roll of Company C. Fifteenth 12
I86
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Ohio Infantry, on April 17, 1861. He was first made sergeant, and on the field was promoted as second lieutenant. After much arduous service in West Virginia, being present at the battle of Philippi, the first of the war (after the firing on Fort Sumter), and the term of enlistment expiring, the regiment returned to Ohio, and was reorganized in August, 1861.
The necessities of Mr. Avery's business demanded his personal efforts, and therefore he did not return to the field of warfare until May 1, 1864, but the entire interval was largely spent in assisting in organizing and drill- ing troops for the field. On rejoining the army, Mr. Avery became the cap- tain of Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio Infantry. The regiment spent a month in the intrenchments at Washington, and reached Deep Bottom Bridge June 14, 1864. The next day position in the intrench- ments before Petersburg was taken by the regiment, and June 16 Captain Avery commanded the skirmish line in a raid made by five regiments under the command of Colonel Francis B. Pond, to cut the railroad between Rich- mond and Petersburg; and. this was successfully accomplished. Captain Avery contracted Chickahominy fever on an expedition under General Gilman Martson, and from this disease died on board the hospital receiving-ship Matilda, off Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, August 2, 1864. He was a true and affectionate comrade, a brave and devoted soldier and a patriotic citizen. He gave his life freely and bravely for his country's existence.
He was a Republican in politics, and in church faith a Congregation- alist.
In 1861 Mr. Avery married Mary D. Tracy, who has since resided in Mansfield. By this marriage but one child was born, who was named Sarah Lord Avery. She became the wife of Rev. Alfred Chapman Hand, who died in 1892 and by whom she has one child, Avery Chapman Hand.
GEORGE MITCHELL, M. D.
Prominent among the successful physicians of Richland county stands Dr. George Mitchell, of Mansfield, whose devotion to the duties of his pro- fession, combined with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of the science of medicine, has made him a most able practitioner, whose prominence is well deserved.
Dr. Mitchell is a native of Richland county, born in Olivesburg, and is of good Revolutionary stock, his paternal grandfather, John Mitchell, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, having aided the colonies in achieving their independence. His father, Dr. George Franklin Mitchell,
187
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
was also born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and took up the study of medicine under the preceptorship of a leading and distin- guished physician of Pittsburg, later graduating at a Cincinnati college of medicine about 1830. In Fayette county, Pennsylvania, he married Miss Nancy De Vatte, a daughter of John De Vatte, who belonged to an old French Huguenot family, who on being driven from France sought refuge in Ireland and later came to America. It was in 1831 that the father of our subject located in Olivesburg, Ohio, and in 1846 removed to Mans- field, where he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life. No better testimonial of his worth can be given than that written by H. C. Hedges, who knew him personally :
"Prominent in his profession, and as prominent in his prominence as any of his brethren, comes George F. Mitchell, born in the year 1808, in the month of May, a native of the hills of western Pennsylvania, in the county of Washington, a region which has become classic by reason of its numerous colleges and seminaries, and the sturdy manhood and beautiful womanhood of its people, the part of the country that stood the shock of the early contentions of English and French for supremacy, and the border- land where savage and civilized life for decades were at variance and doubt- ful which won the victory, where Braddock fell and where Washington began his great career. It was there that Dr. Mitchell was born, and after boyhood began his medical studies, his preceptor being a leading and dis- tinguished physician of Pittsburg, though he took his degree at the famous Medical College of Cincinnati.
"In 1831, when only twenty-three years of age, he removed to Ohio and settled in the village of Olivesburg, Richland county,-a village that in that day was prosperous and in the midst of the richer part of Richland county; but his skill was such as to render his service in constant demand both at home and beyond the lines of a village and country practice, and in 1846 he removed to Mansfield, and ceased not his laborious life till death ended at the same time his pilgrimage on earth and his professional career. On the morning of March 31. 1869, he visited his pat ents, then retiring to his home engaged in trimming his vines and trees. Suddenly the heart ceased its beating and George F. Mitchell's life on earth was closed. The years of his life were sixty and one. Dr. Mitchell was of stalwart build physically, and in the '30s was counted a man of prodigious strength. He was a portly man in his bearing, dignified in character, learned in his profession, careful in his practice, courteous, prudent, ever
188
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
pursuing the safe course, taking nothing for granted without the most searching inquiry and examination, and his success was such as might be looked for in such a conscientious man, and so skillful and careful a phy- sician. When the great war came on Dr. Mitchell had passed the half cen- tury of life. His ripe experience, great medical learning and masterly skill would have been of great service to the country had he been able to respond to the invitation of the surgeon general of Ohio and enter the military service. His close-pressing engagements at home and duties he owed to the community in which he had so long lived, controlled his judg- ment, and wisely, and he could respond only when emergencies demanded short terms of service. After the battle of Shiloh he went to the front. After the conflicts and contests of the armed battalions in the valley of Virginia he gave his time and skill to the soldiers of the Union.
"Of his family two sons and a daughter preceded him and the same number survived him. It gratified him that two of his sons followed in the field of work of their father. The elder. Dr. Milton Mitchell, whose young life went out years ago, was a man of great brilliancy and promise. The younger, Dr. George Mitchell, the practitioner of to-day. so nearly resembles the father that in him the father seems again to appear in the activities of a successful professional career,-a worthy son of a worthy sire. His wife, who was Miss Nancy De Vatte, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, survived him many years and passed away in the fullness of age.
"How shall we measure Dr. G. F. Mitchell? He was a fearless, con- scientious man, doing and daring always to do the right. Active in the church of his choice,-the Methodist Episcopal,-and one of that brother- hood on whose great seal is emblazoned the command to 'visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan.' it was the great ambition of Dr. George F. Mitchell to serve well his day and genera- tion and to bless humanity."
Only three of his children are now living: Nannie, the wife of H. M. Parker, who is the superintendent of the public schools of Elyria, Ohio; William, the father of Charles W. Mitchell, a grandson of Dr. G. F. Mitchell, is now the manager of the Western Union Telegraph of Mans- field ; and George. Our subject acquired his literary education in Delaware county, where he was graduated, at the age of eighteen years, and was gradu- ated at the Miami University, of Cincinnati, with the degree of M. D., in the spring of 1862. Immediately after his graduation in April of that
189
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
year, he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the service until the close of the war, having charge of nine hospitals, boats, etc. He was com- missioned the surgeon of the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, but would not leave his own regiment. After his return home, in 1865, the Doctor was engaged in practice with his father until the latter's death in 1869, and later was in partnership with Dr. William Loughridge for five years, when his partner died, and he has since been alone in practice. He ranks high among the able practitioners of the state, and has been called upon to fill some very important positions. For sev- eral years he was the professor of materia medica and therapeutics at Wooster College, Cleveland; was a trustee of the central insane asylum at Columbus during the construction of the building; for over a quarter of a century was a trustee of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, -his alma mater,- and is now serving his third term as president of the pension board.
Dr. Mitchell married Miss Mary Burns, a daughter of Colonel Barna- bas Burns. By this union were born three children, namely: Milton Burns, the eldest, who died at the age of nineteen years while attending high school. He took an active interest in sports, was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday-school, and was a most affectionate and dutiful son. In fact, he was a young man of great promise, whose purpose it was to enter the medical profession. Paul Caldwell, after a preparatory course at Delaware, Ohio, entered Williams College, Massachusetts, where he was graduated, and is now studying law with his uncle, John C. Burns, of Mansfield, Ohio. Mary De Vatte, the only daughter, is a graduate of the high school of Mansfield and Dr. Gannett's school of Boston, Massachusetts. She possesses an excellent soprano voice, of much power and sweetness, and prosecuted her musical studies both in Boston and Paris. She is now devoting her talent to concert and choir work. Mrs. Mitchell takes an active interest in all matters affecting the welfare of her family and in church and literary work, and has an envia- ble reputation as a writer, her family being gifted in that line.
Since his boyhood Dr. Mitchell has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is now the president of the official board of the First church. He is also a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Loyal Legion, and is connected with the Odd Fellows Society, to which his father also belonged. The latter sup-
190
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ported the Whig party, and our subject is a stanch Republican, though not strictly partisan, at local elections supporting the men whom he believes best qualified for the office, regardless of party affiliations. He is an act- ive member of the American Medical Association, to which he has been a delegate, and also holds membership in the State and Northwestern Medi- cal Associations. The place he has won in his profession is accorded him in recognition of his skill and ability, and the place which he occupies in the social world is a tribute to that genuine worth and true nobleness of character which are universally recognized and honored.
SILAS RUMMEL.
Upon a valuable farm of three hundred acres adjoining the village of Lucas, Silas Rummel is carrying on general farming and stock raising. He is one of the leading agriculturists of his community, progressive and prac- tical in his methods and determined in the prosecution of his work. Such qualities cannot fail to secure success, and Mr. Rummel is annually augment- ing his income. He is numbered among Ohio's native sons, his birth having occurred in Seneca county, on Wolf creek, near Tiffin, on the 6th of July, 1834. His father, Lewis Rummel, was a native of Frederick county, Mary- land, and a son of Lewis Frederick Rummel, who was born in the city of Berlin, Prussia. There he was educated for the Lutheran ministry. He be- longed to a family of nobility, but during his boyhood he ran away from home and in Berlin made the acquaintance of a tailor who influenced him to learn the trade. In 1780 he came to America, locating near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, where he learned the miller's trade, and under his direction Lewis Rummel, the father of our subject, also became familiar with the busi- ness.
In the '20s he came to Ohio, locating near Tiffin, where he leased a flour- mill, continuing its operation until 1839, when he removed to Wyandot county, Ohio, and purchased a mill on the Sandusky river, near Wyandot. He operated that for nine years and in 1848 he came to Richland county, purchasing a farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres in Worthington town- ship. In 1858 he bought a mill property in Knox county known as the Gilcriest property, near Amity, and removed to that place, continuing the mill business until 1864, when he returned to Richland county, here making his home throughout his remaining days, his last years being spent on the old Mock farm, in Worthington township, near Bethany Chapel, which he himself
191
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
built. He died October 8, 1891, at the age of eighty-seven years, his birth having occurred on the 10th of April, 1804. He married Miss Elizabeth Nichols, and they became the parents of seven children, all save one of whom reached years of maturity and reared families of their own. He married a second time in life, wedding Anna Cregg, by whom there were six children, one now deceased. Lewis Frederick Rummel was a self-educated man, and by experience, reading and observation became well informed. Of strong men- tality and of marked character, he exercised a wide influence in the com- munity in which he lived and was a citizen of worth. He was very gener- ous and public-spirited, and was one of the leading workers in the Disciple church, a strong and typical follower of Alexander Campbell.
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.