USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 39
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JOSEPH SNAVELY.
Of the farming interests of Worthington township Joseph Snavely is a representative. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1822, and is a son of George and Barbara (Alspaugh) Snavely, who also were natives of the Keystone state. The father was born in Lancaster county and in early life learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for some years. Subsequently he turned his attention to farming, and in 1839 came to Richland county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
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land, now owned by his son Joseph. To the development and cultivation of that property he devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his active business career. He died at the age of eighty-three years, and his wife passed away at the age of sixty-two. They were both consistent and active members of the United Brethren church, doing all in their power to promote the cause of Christ among men. In politics Mr. Snavely was a Democrat, but never sought office. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, but Joseph is now the only surviving member of the family.
In the state of his nativity Joseph Snavely spent the first seventeen years of his life, and then came with his parents to Worthington township, Richland county, remaining at home until twenty-two years of age. He then went to Stark county to learn the trade of making grain cradles, and followed that business for about two years, after which he returned to the farm. He worked at his trade for a short time and then assumed the management of the old home place for his father. Later he purchased the farm from the other heirs and settled up the estate without employing an attorney. He has since resided on the old homestead, and as his financial resources increased he made additional purchases of land, but in later years has given all of it to his children, with the exception of the original place of one hundred and sixty acres. His career has been an active, useful and honorable one, and his well directed efforts have brought to him prosperity.
Mr. Snavely was united in marriage to Sarah Good, of this county, who died December 29, 1897. They had nine children, namely: Eliza Ann, the wife of Amos Norris, of Worthington township; Peter, who died in Worth- ington township, when about fifty years of age; Lucinda, the wife of James Secrist; George, a resident of Richland county; Sarah Catherine, the wife of James E. Smith; Samuel, a teacher and minister of the United Brethren church, living in Washington; a twin sister of Samuel, who died in infancy; Daniel H., a farmer of Worthington township; and Larnory Ellen, the wife of William F. Smith.
Through long years Mr. Snavely has given his political support to the Democracy, taking great interest in the dissemination and adoption of its principles. For several terms he served as supervisor, proving an acceptable officer. He is an active member of the United Brethren church and has filled almost all of its offices. For twenty years he was the superintendent of the Sunday-school, and he yet attends through the summer months. He was a trustee at the time of the building of the house of worship and has labored earnestly to promote the interests of the church. He had to aban- don his Sunday-school work on account of his impaired hearing, but his
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interest therein has never flagged. He has passed the seventy-eighth mile- stone on life's journey and his path has been marked by good deeds, by fidelity to duty and by faithfulness to friends and family. Such a record is well worthy of emulation.
SAMUEL BARR.
For almost seventy years Samuel Barr has been numbered among the enterprising and energetic citizens of Richland county, Ohio, and is now residing on the old homestead on section 5. Monroe township, where much of his life has been passed. He was born on the 25th of May, 1823, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and is one of a family of seven children, but he and two sisters are the only representatives now living. Nancy is the widow of David Baker and a resident of Kosciusko county, Indiana, while Mary is the widow of Henry Statler and a resident of this county.
David Barr, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1798. of German parentage, and there grew to manhood. He wedded Mary Kaylor, who was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1796, and in May, 1830, they started west in company with her father, Frederick Kaylor, who had been engaged in business as a saddler and harnessmaker in Hagers- town, but in this state worked but little at his trade. His last days were spent in Stark county, where the family first located, and there Mr. Barr planted a crop and spent about five months, and then came to Richland county, after planting his crop, and purchased a quarter-section of land in Monroe township. He returned to Stark county to cultivate and harvest his crop, and in the fall returned to Richland county with his family, and in the midst of an almost unbroken forest they made their home in true pio- neer style in the primitive log cabin. Soon afterward he erected a two-story log house on his farm. Upon his farm here the father died November 4. 1872, and the mother passed away in 1868. In his political views he was a Democrat.
During his boyhood Samuel Barr pursued his studies in the local schools and assisted in the arduous task of clearing and improving the home farm. He remained under the parental roof until he was married, in 1846, to Miss Barbara A. Beasore, a native of Maryland and a daughter of Daniel Beasore, who came to Ohio during the '20s and settled in Monroe township, this county. By that union were born six children, the surviving members being Mary J., the wife of William Durbin, who is now operating our subject's farm; Salina A., the wife of Charles Swigart, a farmer of Clay county, Kan-
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sas ; and Susan E., the wife of Hon. W. S. Kerr, of this county. The wife and mother died in January, 1868, and the following December Mr. Barr was united in marriage with Miss Susan M. McBride, a native of Richland county and a daughter of Alexander McBride, now deceased. One child blessed this marriage,-Hattie, the wife of Sheridan McFarland, a grocer of Mansfield.
After his first marriage Mr. Barr located upon a small farm of forty acres belonging to his father and adjoining the old homestead. Five years later he purchased eighty acres of land in Mifflin township, where he resided for nineteen years, and then bought the old homestead in Monroe township, where he has lived uninterruptedly since 1869. Upright and honorable in all his dealings, he has met with well deserved success in life and is now quite well-to-do.
In early life Mr. Barr united with the Reformed church, but now hold; membership in the Lutheran church, there being no church of the cther denomination in his community, and he has served as trustee, deacon or elder for several years. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, and he has been honored with various township offices, such as trustee and treasurer, the duties of which he has always capably and satisfactorily discharged, winning the commendation of all concerned.
JOHN L. WIRTH.
John L. Wirth, who owns and successfully manages a fine farm in Troy township, has for over half a century been identified with the agricultural interests of Richland county. He is of foreign birth, but his duties of citi- zenship have ever been performed with a loyalty equal to that of any native son of America, and he is numbered among the most highly esteemed and valued citizens of his community.
A native of Germany, Mr. Wirth was born in Bavaria on the 23d of May, 1823, and his early life was passed upon a farm in that country, aiding his father in its operation until his emigration to America. In 1849 he took passage on a sailing vessel, and after a long and tedious voyage of forty-five days landed in New Orleans, whence he proceeded by water to Cincinnati, and from there came to Mansfield, Ohio. Here he at first obtained employment in a sawmill, and later worked on a farm by the month for three years. At the end of that time he was able to purchase a small farm, which he successfully carried on from 1853 to 1875, and then moved to his present farm, consisting of one hundred and forty-four acres, one
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hundred acres of which he has placed under excellent cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings.
Mr. Wirth was married, in 1853, the lady of his choice being Miss Catherine Schull, by whom he has had ten children, but only five are now living, namely: George, John, Lena, Mattie and Catherine. For several years Mr. Wirth has been an active and earnest member of the Congrega- tional church and has filled the office of trustee. In his political affilia- tions he is a stanch Democrat. On reaching Mansfield Mr. Wirth was two dollars in debt, having borrowed that amount to pay his way from Cincin- nati to the former city, but with a firm determination to succeed he has steadily overcome the obstacles and difficulties in the path to prosperity and has become well-to-do, being able to give his children a good start in life. His success is due entirely to his industry, economical habits and strict atten- tion to details, and the prosperity that has come to him is certainly worthily achieved.
JOHN H. BURKHOLDER.
The rapid development of photography during recent years has brought into the profession and business-for in a broad sense photography is both- many men of enterprise and ability for affairs such as would scarcely have connected themselves with it in the earlier years of its history. One of the prominent representatives of this art in Ohio is John H. Burkholder, of Mansfield, who is a popular and influential citizen of Richland county.
Mr. Burkholder was born in Holmes county, Ohio. July 17, 1863, a son of John and Christina (Burky) Burkholder. His father had tanneries at Dundee and Shanesville, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and is now living retired at the last named place. He was at one time the postmaster at Wal- nut Creek, Holmes county, Ohio. Mr. Burkholder, who is of Swiss extrac- tion in both direct family lines, was educated in the common schools at Dun- dee and Shanesville and entered upon his career as a photographer at Shanes- ville, whence he removed to Navarre, Stark county, Ohio. From Navarre he removed to Bellville, Richland county, this state, where he remained five years. After that he was for seven years at Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he had the leading business of the kind in the town. He came to Mans- field in 1885 and opened a gallery on Main street. and has prospered even beyond his expectations. He does general photography of all kinds, giving special attention to portrait and commercial work. A feature of his busi- ness is portraits in all finishes, such as crayon, india ink, water color and
ENBurkholder
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pastel portraits, and for this work he has been awarded a number of first- prize medals at photographers' conventions. In connection with his artistic work he carries a complete line of photographic supplies, in which he has a large trade throughout the territory tributary to Mansfield, one of his specialties being Burkholder's extra rapid symmetrical lens for high-grade photography. His business, which now occupies a floor space of more than four thousand square feet, is increasing rapidly, as his goods and straight- forward business methods become known to the trade.
Mr. Burkholder married, at Bellville, Richland county, Ohio, Miss Josephine Crumrine, of Nevada, Ohio. He is a Knight of Pythias, a Mod- ern Woodman of America and a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. His brother, George W. Burkholder, has been associated with him in his business for seven years as a general assistant.
HENRY N. WHITE.
It is an encouraging fact to know that prosperity is the sure reward of earnest labor when guided by sound judgment. Comparatively few are they who come into an inheritance sufficient to keep them throughout a long career, and individual effort must supply to each that which is needed for his livelihood and his support. America affords boundless opportunities to one who wishes to advance and desires to gain success. Mr. White belongs to the class of earnest citizens who have worked their own way upward to positions of affluence, and he is now the owner of the farm upon which he was born, November 2, 1847. His parents were Samuel and Jane (Valk) White, who had six children. His grandfather, Peter White, was of Eng- lish lineage and married Miss Britton, who also was of English descent, her ancestors having come to this country from the merrie isle at an early day. The grandfather was a farmer and both he and his wife spent their entire lives in Columbia county, Pennsylvania.
Samuel White, the father, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of February, 1807, and in the place of his nativity grew to manhood. He afterward located in Orangeville, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming for six years, and on the expiration of that period he emigrated to Ohio in 1836, taking up his abode in Richland county. He purchased forty acres of land in Cass township on the Huron county line, this property being now a part of the Miller farm. For a year he continued its cultivation and then sold out, after which he purchased forty acres, upon which our subject now resides. As the years passed and his financial resources 24
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increased he extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised one hundred and eighty-six acres. The father was a Whig in his early political affiliations, and in ante-bellum days strongly opposed slavery, being known as a stanch Abolitionist. Accordingly, when the Republican party was formed to prevent the extension of slavery, he joined its ranks and continued to give it his support until called to his final rest. Throughout the greater part of his life he was a member of the United Brethren church and for many years served as one of its officers. He married Miss Jane Valk, who was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1812, a daughter of and Mary (Parkis) Valk, both of whom were natives of Germany. The grandfather was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, and after coming to America he always made his home in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. Five of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. White are still living, namely: Sarah J., the wife of John Mellick, a farmer of Cass township; William C., who owns and cultivates land in Sharon township; John F., an agriculturist of Cass township; Anna E., the wife of Martin Hoover, a farmer of Jackson township; and Henry Newton. The father died February 22, 1886, and the mother passed away October 22, 1888. They were people of the highest respectability and their friends throughout the community were many.
In taking up the personal record of Henry Newton White we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Richland county. He acquired a common-school education and spent his youth at his parental home. As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life he chose Miss Alice E. Rose, the wedding being celebrated September 22, 1870. The lady is a native of Cass township, Richland county, and a daughter of Rev. Thomas T. Rose, a minister of the United Brethren church. The young couple began their domestic life on the old homestead, for Mr. White's father had reached an advanced age and the management of the farm largely devolved upon him. In 1873 he purchased fifty-one acres of land, lying between the homestead and the corporation limits near the vil- lage, but continued to reside on his father's place and care for the comfort and welfare of his parents. In 1889, after the mother died, he purchased from the other heirs their interest in the homestead, where he has so long resided. He is an energetic farmer, practical in his methods and devoted to his work.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. White has been blessed with ten chil- dren, of whom seven are living, namely: Mina J., the wife of Rolla I. Champion, a minister of the United Brethren church at La Carne, Ohio;
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and Ida, Will C., Earl G., George L., Rose A. and Hazel B., who are all at home.
Mr. White exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and for two terms has served as a trustee of his township, called to public office by his fellow townsmen, who rec- ognize his worth and ability. He belongs to Rome Lodge, No. 158, I. O. O. F., of Shiloh, and is an active member of the Lutheran church, in which he has served for five years as an elder, being the present incumbent in that position .. During a life-time spent in Richland county he has gained a wide acquaintance, and those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his stanchest friends.
JOHN NOBLE.
Pennsylvania has furnished to the Buckeye state many of its reliable and representative citizens and among this number is John Noble, who resides on section I, Cass township. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 23d of February, 1829, his parents being Harvey and Margaret (Little) Noble. The family is of Irish lineage. The grand- parents, John and Mary (Harby) Noble, were both natives of the Emerald Isle, whence they crossed the Atlantic to the new world after their marriage.
Our subject's father was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and with his parents removed to Washington county during his child- hood. There he was reared and from an early age was dependent upon his own resources. The father died when the son was but twelve years old, and as the family were in limited circumstances Harvey Noble and his four brothers worked by the month for neighbors, giving of their wages to the support of the family. After he had arrived at years of maturity he was married and engaged in the operation of rented land in Pennsylvania. In 1830, however, he decided to try his fortune in Ohio, and, coming to Rich- land county, entered eighty acres of land in Blooming Grove township- the farm now owned by Frank Guthrie. It was then a tract of wild forest land, but he cleared a small portion, upon which he erected a cabin. During the succeeding thirteen years he devoted his time to cutting away the timber, preparing the land for the plow and cultivating his harvests. In 1843 he exchanged the farm for the present home place now owned by our subject. The latter tract then comprised one hundred and eighty acres, but Mr. Noble has added to his landed interests until he owned three hundred and twenty acres on section I, Cass township. Upon the farm he made his home until
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about twelve years prior to his death, when, in 1854, he turned his attention to manufacturing, forming a partnership with James Little, his brother-in- law. They established factories in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where they man- ufactured gun barrels and various tools, but the venture proved a disastrous one financially, the failure of the firm occurring in 1858. Thus the father lost the accumulation of many years of labor, together with considerable money that had been furnished him by his son Jolin. After some litigation in the courts the old home farm was sold, John Noble becoming its pur- chaser. He then gave to his father a comfortable home at the old place, he there remaining until 1868, when his sons purchased for him a farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres in Huron county. There he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1880. His wife, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, died in 1865. She was a daugh- ter of John Little. Eight children were born unto this worthy couple, of whom six are living, namely: Mary, the widow of Jesse Davidson; John; Nancy, deceased ; James, a farmer of Fairfield, Huron county; Elizabeth, deceased; Margaret, wife of Hartley Sibbet, a farmer of Ripley township, Huron county; William, a retired farmer of Greenwich; and Minerva, the wife of Richard Homes, who carries on agricultural pursuits in Huron county.
In the schools of the neighborhood John Noble mastered the common branches of English learning. He was trained to farm work, and the busi- ness with which he became familiar in early life he has since made his chief occupation. When he was twenty-three years of age he began cultivating the home farm on shares, and the capital which he acquired was given to his father to be invested in the manufacturing enterprise before mentioned. Failure came, and a young man of less resolute spirit would have been utterly discouraged. With characteristic energy he determined to retrieve his lost possessions. He had established a reputation for honesty that was indeed enviable, and it was never a difficult matter for him to get at all times the money wanted for his later enterprises, for his word was as good as any bond ever solemnized by signature or seal. When the old home farm was sold he became its purchaser, and has since made it his home. It now com- prises two hundred and twenty-one and a quarter acres and is a valuable tract, being supplied with modern accessories and conveniences, including the latest improved machinery and buildings that are commodious and sub- stantial.
In 1860 Mr. Noble married Miss Isabella Smith, a native of Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John Smith. She died January
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20, 1897. Their union has been blessed with four children: Harvey R., the eldest, is now a physician and grain merchant at Shiloh; Margaret is the wife of Clarence Horr, also of Shiloh; Perry W. follows farming in Cass township; and Mattie J. is still at home. The family is one of prominence in the community and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Noble gives his political support to Repub- lican principles, and for two or three terms has served as a township trustee and for twenty years has been a member of the school board, his labors being very effective in promoting the interests of education in this section of the county. Interests that are calculated to prove of public good receive his indorsement, and he is regarded as one of the leading citizens of the township. In business circles he sustains a very enviable reputation and at all times merits the trust and confidence reposed in him.
JAMES A. PRICE.
James A. Price was born in Monmouthshire, West England, February II, 1847, and at the early age of two and a half years he and a younger brother, William L., were brought by their parents, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Price, to America, the family locating in Perrysville, Ashland county, Ohio, where one sister, Bess, now Mrs. J. W. Bell, was born. The family after- ward removed to a farm near Spohntown, now called Butler, and there the subject of this review spent his boyhood days upon the property of which he is now the owner. On the 20th of May, 1864, he was apprenticed to L. Harper, of the Mount Vernon Banner, for three years, for the purpose of learning the "art preservative," and at the expiration of his apprenticeship he began journeyman work on the same paper. After four years spent in the employ of Mr. Harper he went to Cincinnati and accepted a position as a compositor on the Daily Enquirer, filling that place for a period of about four years. While at Cincinnati he became a member of the Printers' Typographical Union, one of the first unions to be organized. Subse- quently he went to Pittsburg, where he became identified with a large job printing establishment, the foremanship of which he assumed and retained successfully for ten years.
After a long period of practical experience in his chosen profession Mr. Price returned to his old home at Butler and launched his first newspaper. It was christened the Worthington Enterprise, the initial copy of which was issued December 6, 1888. The name of the paper was afterward changed to The Butler Enterprise and enlarged from a seven-column folio to a
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six-column quarto. On the 8th of December, 1892, the Bellville Messenger was founded by him, and on the 7th of February, 1893, Mr. Price removed his printing establishment to Bellville, where he has since resided. The pub- lication of the Enterprise was continued, however, an office being retained at Butler, and the composition and reporting being done there. Mr. Price has a fully equipped newspaper and job printing establishment, which is not excelled by many city offices. A gasoline engine is used to operate the power presses and nothing but first-class work of all kinds is turned out. The office is also supplied with telephones and electric lights and is a model one in every respect. Both the Enterprise and the Messenger are all home print and in a flourishing condition. They are receiving the substantial support which they merit, and the circulation of the papers covers an exceedingly large territory.
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