USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 36
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ROBERT G. HANCOCK.
One of the progressive and successful business men of Mansfield and one who is known as a worthy citizen is Robert Greenway Hancock, to whom we are pleased to direct attention in the following paragraphs. He is a native son of merrie old England, to which he owes and pays a devoted allegiance, but he is thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of American independence and progress and is loyal to her institutions and zealous in her cause. Mr. Hancock was born in Wiltshire, England, in the year 1842, the son of Joseph and Eliza Hancock. His father was a quarry merchant in that section, where he died in 1851, leaving four small children to the care of his widow, who ably discharged the maternal duties thus devolving upon her.
Our subject left his native land in 1870 and came to the United States, which has ever since been his home. He worked from May until October, 1870, in Columbus, this state, after which he located in Mansfield, where he has ever since been actively engaged in business as a contractor in cut-stone work, conducting operations on a large scale and being recognized as one
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of our active and influential business men. Mr. Hancock is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the business in which he is concerned, having learned the quarrying and stone-cutting trades in his native land and being an authority in these lines. He began operations as a contractor in Mans- field under the firm name of Hancock & Dow, his associate being William Dow. The first contract executed was the erection of the Congregational church here, and since that time each successive year has seen further evi- dences of the professional skill and executive capacity of our subject. Among the local buildings on which the stone contracting has been held by the firm may be mentioned the Mansfield Savings Bank building, erected in 1873; the Plymouth and the Shelby school buildings, the county jail and many other of our most attractive business and residence structures, while other work of importance has been done in various sections of the state. Mr. Hancock began work on the state reformatory at Mansfield in 1886, and his skill has been demanded in connection with the work on the great building each year since that time, his contracts covering not only the stone and brick work, but also much of the iron and wood work. The main reformatory building has walls which will measure three-quarters of a mile as traced about, is four and five stories high, with seven hundred feet of frontage and four wings. In the construction of the entire buildings more than fifteen million brick have been used, the cost of the institution building up to date having aggregated $1,100,000. Mr. Hancock is scrupulously exact in his dealings, living up to the specifications of a contract to the slightest detail and demand- ing of every employe the best service of which he is capable. This inflex- ible integrity has given to Mr. Hancock a wide reputation and distinctive prestige in business circles.
Prior to leaving England Mr. Hancock had been united in marriage to Miss Anna Scutts, who, like himself, was born in Wiltshire. They became the parents of nine children, of whom five are deceased. Those who sur- vive are as follows: Mrs. Ada Underwood, of Mansfield; Robert Joseph, who is employed by the Barnes Manufacturing Company, of this city; Albert Edward, who is the secretary of the works of our subject located at the reformatory mentioned, is a capable young business man; he married Miss Emma Arley, of Mansfield; and Miss Anna H. Hancock, who was educated at Gambier College, and recently wedded to Charles Fausett Goodwin, of East Liverpool, Ohio.
In his political proclivities Mr. Hancock renders support to the Dem- ocratic party and its principles, and in religious views he is a thorough churchman, Protestant Episcopal, being a member of the vestry of the Grace 22
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Episcopal church in his home city. Fraternally Mr. Hancock is a member of the time-honored Masonic craft, in which he has advanced to the thirty- second degree of the Scottish rite. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, having taken a prominent part in the affairs of each of these organizations. His genial personality has gained to him a wide circle of devoted friends, his popularity being unmistakable. Mr. Hancock is a man of fine presence, is unostentatious in manners and is well worthy of the confidence and regard in which he is so uniformly held. He is president of the Barnes Manufacturing Company, and is one of our progressive business men. Mr. Hancock is a trustee of the Mansfield Cemetery Association, and is also a member of the Mansfield City Sanitary Board, of which he is the president.
In 1892 our subject and his wife revisited the land of their nativity and also made a tour of portions of "the continent," deriving great satis- faction from their outing.
J. HARVEY POST.
Among the leading citizens and prominent farmers of Troy township, Richland county, we take great pleasure in giving the sketch of this worthy gentleman whose entire life has been spent there, his birth having occurred on the farm where he now lives August 22, 1841. His father, Henry Post, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in November, 1805, and in November, 1819, came to this county with his father, Benjamin Post, the journey being made by team. The latter took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land on section 4, Troy township, and began the improvement of the farm which is now the home of our subject, and which has since been in possession of the family. Their first home here was a log cabin, but later a brick house was erected, the first of the kind in the township. The grand- father was quite a hunter, and game being plentiful at that time he had ample opportunity to indulge in that sport. He died here in 1830. Through- out life Henry Post remained on the old home farm and assisted in the arduous task of clearing the land and transforming it into highly cultivated fields, his time and energies being entirely devoted to agricultural pursuits. He died March 14, 1888, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Annie Andrews, passed away September 24, 1868. Of the seven children born to them, three died in infancy, the others being William B., a resident of San- dusky township; Nancy, the wife of William Palmer, of the same place; J. Harvey, our subject ; and Almeda.
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Mr. Post, of this review, grew to manhood upon the old homestead, and after attending the district school of the neighborhood for some years ne became a student at Baldwin University, where his education was com- pleted. In the winter of 1863 he began teaching school, and successfully followed that pursuit for ten consecutive winters, while engaged in farming during the summer months. For some time he and his father carried on the farm together, but later he took entire charge of the place and in its opera- tion has met with marked success, being one of the most skillful and thor- ough agriculturists of his township. He and Almeda now own sixty-seven acres of the homestead, and he is engaged in general farming. In politics Mr. Post is a stalwart Democrat, and has held the office of township trustee for several years, with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
JOSEPH E. SMITH.
Joseph Edward Smith, the foreman of the paint department of the Aultman-Taylor Machinery Company, of Mansfield, Ohio, is a man well known in this city, where he has lived for many years and where his thor- ough-going, honest, upright life has won for him the respect of all who know him. A brief record of his life is herewith given.
Joseph E. Smith was born in Canton, Ohio, in 1846, a son of Anthony Smith, who was a native of Alsace, Germany. In 1868 our subject moved from Canton to Bucyrus, and in 1869 he became connected with the Aultman- Taylor Machinery Company, of Mansfield. Since 1871, for a period of thirty years, he has occupied his present position of foreman. From time to time the factory has increased its capacity and labor, in 1868 employing two hundred hands and in 1900 eight hundred hands. With this large increase in business Mr. Smith's duties and responsibilities have increased. At this writing he has under his immediate charge thirty men. During the long time Mr. Smith has been identified with this concern he has been almost as steady and regular as clock work. Only one week in thirty years has he been absent from business on account of sickness.
Mr. Smith has lived in the same house, No. 396 Spring Mill street, since 1874. That year he was married to Miss Minnie R. Alonas, of Mansfield, who was born in his own native town, Canton. They have four children, namely : Rose P., Lester, Anna Blanche and Eva Maria,-all at home. The son is a graduate of the Mansfield high school, with the class of 1899; and the youngest daughter is still in school.
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In his views on religion Mr. Smith is broad and liberal. Politically he is what is known as a Union Reformer, and is one of the leaders of this party in Mansfield, having carried the party banner in several campaigns.
An active, intelligent citizen, interested in public affairs, always striving to do what he believes to be right, Joseph E. Smith is valued for his true worth and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.
JAMES W. WILLIAMS.
History and biography for the most part record the lives of those only who have attained military, political or literary distinction, or who in any other career have passed through extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune. The unos- tentatious routine of private life, although in the aggregate more important to the welfare of the community, cannot, from its nature, figure in the pub- lic annals. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves in their day and generation for the possession, in an eminent degree, of those qualities of character which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability,-of men who without dazzling talents have been exemplary in all their personal and social relations, and enjoyed the esteem, respect and confidence of those around them,-ought not to be allowed to perish. Their example is more valuable to the majority of readers than that of illustrious heroes, statesmen or writers. Few can draw rules for their own guidance from the pages of Plutarch, but all are benefited by the delineation of those traits of character which find scope and exercise in the common walks of life,
Among the individuals of this class in the state of Ohio none are better en- titled to representation in this work than the subject of this sketch. His record is the account of a life, uneventful indeed as far as stirring incident or startling adventure is concerned, yet distinguished by the most substantial qualities of character. His life history exhibits a long and virtuous career of private industry, performed with moderation and crowned with success. It is the record of a well-balanced mental and moral constitution, strongly marked by those traits of character which are of especial value in such a state of society as exists in this country. A community depends upon com- mercial activity, its welfare is due to this, and the promoters of legitimate and extensive business enterprises may well be termed its benefactors.
Prominent in business circles in Shelby stands James Walter Williams, who was born in Marion, Ohio, in 1853. His father removed to Missouri and he pursued his education in Allentown, that state, but had no oppor- tunity to attend school after he was thirteen years of age. At the time of
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his father's death he was thrown upon his own resources and has since de- pended entirely upon his own labor for a livelihood. He began selling pa- pers and when fifteen years of age he commenced studying telegraphy. in 1869, in Missouri, securing a position on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad as shifting clerk. While thus engaged he continued the study of telegraphy and after mastering it continued with the company until 1878, filling various positions. In that year he arrived in Shelby and was made the bookkeeper of the First National Bank. In 1883 he was made assistant cashier, which position he has since filled. He is a man of unusual business ability, whose efforts have by no means been confined to one line. He is the secretary of the Shelby Building & Loan Association, which was estab- lished in 1895 and was organized with a capital stock of fifty thousand dol- lars. The entire business of the association is confined to Richland county. Mr. Williams is also connected with the Shelby Steel Tube Company and the Easy Spring Hinge Company and has been instrumental in promoting various enterprises which have contributed not only to the prosperity of the individual stockholders but have also resulted greatly to the benefit of the town. He has contributed in large measure to the upbuilding of Shelby, and as one of a firm erected the Ideal Row, an addition to Shelby, and also made the Sharon Park addition, which two sections of the city contain sixty beautiful homes. In 1880 he established an insurance agency and now rep- resents the Phoenix, of Hartford, the Northern Insurance Company, of Lon- don, and various other companies, for which he is doing a good business.
In ยท 1882 Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Emma Funk, daughter of Lewis and Lucy (Gamble) Funk, who were among the early pioneers of the county. The father died in 1881, but her mother is still liv- ing. Mr. Williams votes the Republican ticket and from 1886 to 1890 he served as city clerk. He and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent and influential citizens of the community, enjoying the high regard of an extensive circle of friends.
CLAYTON BUSHNELL HOUT.
Prominent among the successful agriculturists of Mifflin township is the subject of this review, who was born on the farm on section 7, where he now resides, his natal day being April 28, 1859. He comes of good old Revolutionary stock. His paternal great-grandfather, Peter Hout, a native of Germany, came to the new world when a young man soon after the. breaking out of the war for independence and entered the continental service,
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becoming one of the liberators of his adopted country. When hostilities ceased he settled down to private life and was married November 25, 1786. to Rosann Miller, also a native of Germany. They made their home near Martinsburg, Virginia, and the fact that he owned a large tract of land in that locality leads the family to believe that it was a grant from the colonial government. There he made his home throughout the remainder of his life.
Jacob Hout, the grandfather of Clayton B., was born near Martinsburg, Virginia, on the 18th of April, 1794, and in early life migrated to Jefferson county, Ohio, where he made his home for some years, but in 1820 moved to Richland county. Though he died at an early age he succeeded in acquiring a handsome property, becoming the owner of five hundred and forty acres of valuable land. Throughout life he followed the occupation of farming. He was twice married, his first wife being Catherine Simpson, by whom he had four children, of whom Peter is the only survivor, and is represented on another page of this volume. His second wife was Mary Williams, a native of New York state, who died October 3, 1862, in her fifty-ninth year. To them were born two children, but George, the father of our subject, is the only one living.
George Hout was born September 30, 1829, in Mifflin township, Rich- land county, Ohio, and was but nine years of age at the time of his father's death. However, he and his three older brothers attended to the work of the farm for five years, while his mother managed affairs. There he grew to manhood, assuming the management of the place at an early day. In 1856 he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Lantz, who was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, in 1826. Her father, Abraham Lantz, also a native of the Keystone state, came to Ohio about 1830, and settled in Madi- son township, Richland county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres, making it his home until called to his final rest. George Hout brought his bride to the old homestead, and his mother made her home with them up to the time of her death. Upon that place he still resides, in the house where he was born over seventy years ago. He is one of the most highly respected and honored citizens of his community, is a Republican in politics, and is a member of Mansfield Lodge, No. 35, F. & A. M. In his family were three children, the surviving members being Byron B. and Clayton B.
At his parental home Clayton B. Hout passed the days of his boy- hood and youth, and pursued his studies in the common schools of that locality. On the 11th of March, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Fleeta Stillwagon, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and a daughter of George Stillwagon, a veteran of the Mexican war and a prominent farmer of
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Ashland county, now deceased. By this union was born one child, Cloyd C., at home.
After the marriage of our subject the father turned the management of the farm over to him, and in the nineteen years that have since passed he has demonstrated his ability as a thorough and skillful agriculturist. He has steadily prospered and is to-day considered one of the progressive and substantial farmers of the county. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles; has been a delegate to numerous county conventions; and in the spring of 1900 was a delegate to the con- gressional convention held at Norwalk. Fraternally he is an honored mem- ber of Courtney Camp, No. 3505, M. W. A .; and Matamora Tribe, I. O. R. M .; and religiously is one of the prominent members of the United Brethren church, in which he is serving as a steward.
Byron B. Hout was born in Mifflin township, Richland county, Ohio, February 9, 1857, and is one of the progressive farmers of this township. He married Alice G. Kauffman, by whom he has a son and a daughter. He is a strong Republican and a representative citizen.
AARON SCHAUCK.
The subject of this review, who is now deceased, was for many years one of the leading farmers and highly respected citizens of Troy town- ship, Richland county, Ohio. He was born in Maryland on the 5th of February, 1812, but at an early day came to this county with his father, Henry Schauck, and remained with him on the home farm in Troy town- ship until the latter's death, when he took charge of the place.
On the Ist of March, 1855, Mr. Schauck was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Eckert, a daughter of Daniel Eckert, and they became the parents of one child, Almira C., who was born July 2, 1856, and died Feb- ruary 19, 1864. After his marriage Mr. Schauck continued to live on the old homestead for six years, and then removed to the farm on which his widow now resides. When he located thereon the land was covered with a heavy growth of timber, which he cleared away, soon placing acre after acre under the plow until he had one of the most highly cultivated farms in Troy township. It consisted of eighty-nine acres of arable land, upon which he successfully engaged in general farming throughout the remainder of his life, dying there October 30, 1883.
Mr. Schauck contributed to the support of churches, and his influence was always found upon the side of right and order. Politically he was a
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strong Republican and an ardent advocate of its principles. He was a man of strong character and firm determination, and his upright, honorable course in life commended him to the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact. His widow, who still resides upon the home farm, is a member of the United Evangelical church and is a most estimable lady, whose circle of friends and acquaintances is extensive.
WILLIAM H. ROASBERRY, M. D.
One of the most exacting of all the higher lines of occupation to which a man may lend his energies is that of the physician. A most scrupulous pre- liminary training is demanded, a nicety of judgment but little understood by the laity. Our subject is well fitted for the profession which he has chosen as a life work, and his skill and ability have won for him a lucrative practice.
The Doctor was born in Ontario, Richland county, September 21, 1854, a son of Oliver and Nancy J. (Crabbs) Roasberry, who were natives of the same place. His paternal grandparents, William and Martha (Booth) Roasberry, were both natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and in 1818 came to Ohio, locating on a farm three miles south and west of On- tario. The grandfather subsequently sold that place and bought another farm four miles west of Mansfield, where he made his home until death. By trade he was a stone-cutter, and on first coming to this state he followed that occupation during the winter months, while engaging in farming during the summer season. He was twice married, our subject's grandmother being his second wife.
Oliver Roasberry, the Doctor's father, was reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools. As he grew up he learned the stone-cutter's trade of his father, and soon after his marriage he and his brother Michael established themselves in the monument and gravestone business in Galion, Ohio, but after a short time spent at that place moved to Mansfield, car- rying on the business now conducted by E. M. Wolff, at that place. The father succeeded in business at this place, and was numbered among the leading citizens of the town. He died in 1869, and his widow afterward married a Mr. Greenfield, and now resides in Ashland, Nebraska. By her first marriage she became the mother of four children, three of whom are still living, namely: William H., of this review; Franklin, a resident of Olivesburg, Ohio; and Amelda, the wife of Joseph Case, of Omaha, Ne- braska.
Dr. Roasberry began his literary education in the home schools, and
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for three terms was a student at the normal school in Ada, Ohio. In the fall of 1876 he took up teaching, and successfully followed that profession for four years. Having previously decided to make the practice of medicine his life work, he devoted his holidays and evenings to study along that line, and during the summer vacations read medicine under the able direction of Dr. H. Mera, now professor of materia medica and theory and practice in the Detroit Homeopathic Medical College. In the fall of 1879 Dr. Roas- berry entered Hahnemann Medical College at Chicago, and was graduated there in the spring of 1885. After his graduation he located in Olivesburg, Ohio, where he has since successfully engaged in practice with the exception of three years spent at Stuart, Holt county, Nebraska. He enjoys an ex- tensive practice, probably doing more driving than any other physician in the county, and keeping a number of horses for that purpose. He is thor- oughly up to date in his methods, keeping abreast with the latest discoveries and theories in the science of medicine and surgery.
The Doctor has a charming home presided over by an accomplished wife. He was married, in September, 1879, to Miss Mattie Au, a daughter of Captain Christopher Au, of Ontario, and to them have been born four children : Morris, a graduate of the Savannah Academy in preparation for a medical course; Earl, who is attending the same institution; Eunice and Leota. The older son shows decided talent as an artist, and many specimens of his work adorn the home. The Doctor and his wife are both active and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trus- tee, and he also holds membership in Ontario Lodge, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Democrat.
MARION M. DARLING.
Upon a pleasant home of one hundred and fifty-seven acres in Monroe township Marion M. Darling makes his home. He was born on this place September 15, 1859, a son of Abraham and Rebecca Anne (Manchester) Darling. He represents an old Virginia family. His grandfather, William Darling, was born in Virginia, whence he removed with his parents to Co- shocton county, Ohio, and in the early day took up his abode in Richland county, entering the land from the government. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, but with marked energy he began its development and followed farming and stock-raising. He was one of the most extensive stock dealers in this section of the country and drove his stock to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, before there were any railroads. He
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