USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 49
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At that time Mr. Wilson responded to the president's call for aid to pre- serve the Union and became a private in Company E. Thirtieth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged on the 5th of June, 1865. He went with Sherman on the cele- brated march to the sea and participated in twenty-two important battles and in a number of skirmishes. He took part in the engagements of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain and was ever found at his post of duty, faith- fully defending the old flag. While in loyal service he was made corporal and later became second sergeant. During his service two different colonels of his regiment were killed.
While he was at the front Mr. Wilson also had the misfortune to lose his wife, who died in 1864. He afterward came to Butler and for a number of years rented a farm, after which he purchased a tract of land ,a part of which is now within the corporation limits of the town. He has divided a portion of this into town lots and has a nice residence upon one of them. He was first married to Miss Miranda Minteer, of Amity. Knox county, Ohio. She died in Iowa, January 14, 1864, leaving three children : Eugene B., now a grain buyer at Rock Valley, Iowa; Harry M., of Eagle Grove, Iowa; and John H., a resident of Auburn, Iowa. After the death of his first wife Mr. Wilson married Mrs. Harriet A. Clever, nce Andrews, who was born in 1841, in Worthington township, Richland county, a daughter of Thomas B. and Marilla (Pollard) Andrews. Her father was a native of Stark county, Ohio, where he was reared and learned cabinet-making and carpentering. He came to Richland county about 1826, after a brief residence at Frederickstown, but later he purchased a farm near Butler, where he spent his remaining days, dying at the age of eighty-two years.
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He established a postoffice at Butler before there was any town organiza- tion. For many years he held the office of justice of the peace and for four years was a county commissioner. In public affairs he took a deep interest and was regarded as one of the leading and valued citizens of his community. His political support was given the Democracy and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Protestant church, of which he was a member. His parents, Moses and Patience ( Cape) Andrews, came to Richland county at an early day and entered land from the government. He had served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and was known as Captain Andrews, probably having won the title during his loyal service. He had served as sheriff of Stark county, of which county his wife was a native. His death occurred in 1851, when he was about seventy years of age, and his wife attained the age of eighty years. Mrs. Marilla Andrews, the mother of Mrs. Wilson, was born in Vermont, in 1810, and is still living. In 1812 she was brought by her parents to Richland county, where she has since made her home. She is a daughter of Alva and Mary (Gates) Pollard, who settled upon a farm near Mansfield, Ohio, and both passed away when about eighty-two years of age. Mrs. Wilson was reared in this county and in early womanhood married John Clever, who died August 14, 1865, leaving three children: Mary Marilla, now the wife of Charles Martin; Thomas Brown, of Toledo, Ohio; and William G., a resident of Chicago, Illinois. Unto the second marriage have been born nine children : Eddie E., of Toledo, Ohio; Miranda J., at home; Albina E., the wife of William Scott, of Mansfield; James W., also of Mansfield; Walter M., of Shelby ; Hattie A., the wife of Harry Bolus; Alice May, the wife of Clinton C. Bender ; Dora L., at home ; and Carrie Rogella, who died in infancy.
In his political affiliations. John W. Wilson is a stalwart Republican in the support of measures of state and national importance, but at local elec- tions where no national issue is involved he does not consider himself bound to party ties and is liberal. He has served as a member of the city council of Butler and for fifteen or eighteen years was a member of the school board. He was a member of the first council, receiving not a single opposing vote, and in 1895-6 he served as mayor., His administration was business-like, progressive and practical. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and a charter member of Samuel Bell Post, No. 536, G. A. R., of which he has served as the commander. He is also past worthy patriarch of the Sons of Temperance, and was past master of Clear Fork Grange. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church. He owns fifty acres of land and derives from his farm a good income. As a representative of the pioneer settlers of the community and as a popular citizen whose well spent
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life has gained him the high regard of all with whom he is associated, we present him to our readers. He has a wide circle of acquaintances in Rich- land county and all who know him esteem him for his genuine worth.
HON. JOSEPH M. HUNTER.
"The Farmer in Politics" would be an appropriate title for a book which, if planned on a comprehensive scale and carefully prepared and edited, would be a valuable contribution to our political history. The number of farmers who have attained eminence in national affairs and prominence in county and state affairs is so large that it would scarcely be guessed at with any approach to correctness by one who had not given some thought to the sub- ject. Hon. Joseph M. Hunter is a leading farmer politician of Richland county, Ohio. He was born in Blooming Grove township, Richland county, Ohio, April 29, 1844, a son of James and Mary (McLees) Hunter, who had seven children, as follows: Joseph M., who is the immediate subject of this sketch ; Mary J., who married William R. Long, a farmer of Cass township, Richland county, Ohio; Dorcas A., who married James W. Haun ; they are both dead. leaving four children, viz. : George B .; Ella F., who married John Saum; John L., of Shelby, Ohio: and Harry D., of Rome, Richland county ; Charles S., who lives at Rome, Blooming Grove township, and is a justice of the peace and an ex-school teacher; Hester J., who lives with her sister, Mrs. Long; and Johannah C., who is dead.
James Hunter was born in Columbiana county, Ohio. April 5, 1814. He acquired a little education in the schools, but by a course of reading, care- fully selected and pursued thoroughly and systematically, became a well informed man. In 1833 his father, Samuel Hunter, came to Richland county and entered a quarter-section of land near Rome in Blooming Grove town- ship, which is now owned by the heirs of Joseph P. and Benjamin Hunter. James Hunter came with him and remained two years. In 1835 he returned to Columbiana county and married Mary McLees, and returned immediately, bringing his bride with him. Not long afterward Samuel Hunter bought a farm of eighty acres in section 21, in Blooming Grove township, which was heavily timbered and unimproved. On this James built a log cabin for him- self and wife. He improved the place and developed it into a profitable farm and lived upon it until his death, which occurred November 3. 1864. He was a Democrat and a citizen of much influence, and filled the office of justice of the peace for six successive terms, the last of which was cut short by his death. A man of much native talent, who took a broad view of things, he was self-
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educated to an extent which gave him a recognized supremacy among his fellow men, and his public spirit led him to identify himself with every move- ment tending to benefit his township and county. He was born and reared in the old "Seceder" church, but after coming to Ohio drifted into the Pres- byterian church and was for many years one of its elders.
Samuel Hunter, the grandfather of Hon. Joseph M. Hunter, was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of George Hun- ter, who with two of his brothers fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war. Some time after the war George settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, his brother James settled in Virginia, and Joseph, his other brother, settled in Georgia. Samuel Hunter was a veteran of the war of 1812 and spent the winter of 1812-13 at Camp Council, Richland county, Ohio. He and Henry Paul were comrades in arms and became such devoted friends that they entered into an agreement each to marry the sister of the other, and this agreement they carried out upon their return to their old home. Mary McLees, mother of Hon. Joseph M. Hunter, was a daughter of Charles McLees, of Columbiana county, Ohio, who was a native of county Antrim, Ireland, and was married there, but emigrated to America soon afterward. Mrs. Mary (McLees) Hunter was born in 1813, and died in 1889, in her seventy-seventh year, in Blooming Grove township.
Joseph M. Hunter was reared to manhood on his father's farm and was educated in the public schools. At the time of his father's death he was nine- teen years old, and being the eldest of the family he willingly assumed the burden of the family's support which naturally fell upon his shoulders. Not long before his death his father had purchased additional land, involving some obligations which the young man assumed also. He was the head of his mother's family until 1874, when he married Miss Alice Miller, a daugh- ter of Michael Miller, of Blooming Grove township. Michael Miller was a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and was one of the early settlers in Richland county. Now, in his eighty-sixth year, hale and hearty, he lives with his son-in-law, Dr. O. L. Hoffman, at Galion, Ohio. After his mar- riage Mr. Hunter settled down on the home farm, which he managed suc- cessfully and incidentally looked after the affairs of his mother's household. From his youth he has been an ardent Democrat and for years he has been a leader in party councils. April 1, 1883, he was appointed superintendent of the county infirmary of Richland county. His wife died in May, 1888, and he wished to be relieved from the responsibility of the management of that institution, but the directors insisted upon his remaining and he filled the position until April 1, 1890, when he returned to Blooming Grove town-
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ship and bought a farm of eighty acres of his father-in-law, on which he lived until 1894. February 15, of that year, he married Mrs. Alverda Chew, the widow of E. M. Chew, formerly Miss Alverda Ferrell, and moved to his present residence. In 1898 he bought the old Hunter homestead, which is managed by his son, Claude M., who has achieved an enviable local reputa- tion as a teacher. His daughter, Anna, married M. D. Ropp, a farmer of Blooming Grove township, who lives on the old Ropp homestead. Fenella is an accomplished teacher, who has taught four terms in district No. 2, Bloom- ing Grove township. Allen G. T. and J. Garland Hunter assist their father in the management of his farm.
In 1897 Mr. Hunter was the nominee of his party for representative in the general assembly of Ohio. He was elected by a handsome majority, carrying every precinct, and became a member of the seventy-third general assembly, in which he served with great ability and credit. In 1899 he was re-elected to the same position, becoming a member of the seventy-fourth general assembly. He was a delegate to the Chicago convention in 1896 and helped to nominate Mr. Bryan for the presidency. As a servant of the people, Mr. Hunter has never for a moment considered any question of expediency, and his only inquiry concerning any proposed measure has been as to its honesty and to its adaptability to the needs of the people. He is a model citizen, a model farmer, a model husband and father, such a man as benefits any community by association with it, and bravely accepts and faith- fully fulfills every duty of life.
ANDREW BURNESON.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has acquired a high reputation in his chosen calling and whose prominence is not less the result of an irreproachable life than of recognized natural gifts. It is a pleasing indulgence to write the biography of a man of this character, such as Andrew Burneson is known to be.
He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, a son of Samuel and Mary (Cochron) Burneson. His father was born in Ireland and came to this country when young, while his mother was of Scotch. descent. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, and about 1853 came to Wellsville, Ohio, where he learned the machinist's trade of P. E. Guice, a steam-engine builder. He then worked in a large shop as a steamboat builder and helped build the New Brighton car factory, in which he owned
Burneson
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stock. In 1859 he moved to Canton, where he was employed on the con- struction of threshers, mowers and reapers for seven years. Two years were devoted to the commission business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in 1866 he came to Mansfield, Ohio, where he engaged in merchandising for a time, but soon sold out his stock, and on the 12th of January, 1867, he entered the employ of the Aultman & Taylor Company as their first fore- man of their wrought-iron department, which responsible position he most acceptably filled for twenty-two years, or until 1889. In connection with William Ackerman and others he organized the Ohio Thresher and Engine Company, and erected a plant at Upper Sandusky, where they engaged in building threshing machines and engines for two years, in 1889 and 1890, employing about forty men. Mr. Burneson was the vice-president of the company, while Mr. Ackerman was the superintendent.
But they closed out their interests there in 1893 and returned to Mans- field, where Mr. Burneson has erected seventeen buildings for himself, includ- ing residences and business blocks, and now gives his attention to his real estate. He also owns considerable vacant property in the city, and operates two farms, known as the Crabb and Houston farms, which are one mile southwest of Mansfield and aggregate two hundred and fourteen acres. They are under a high state of cultivation and well improved with good buildings. In connection with general farming Mr. Burneson carries on stock-raising, with good success. He is a man of considerable inventive genius and while with the Aultman-Taylor Company he made many improve- ments in the machinery for the wrought-iron department, which proved of great advantage to the firm on account of the speed and accuracy secured by these improvements. He is an energetic, progressive and reliable business man, who generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and the prosperity that has come to him is justly merited, as he began life a poor man, but ambitious and industrious.
Religiously Mr. Burneson is a member of the First English Lutheran church, and politically is a supporter of the Republican party, but takes no active part in politics aside from voting, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his extensive business interests.
AARON SMITH.
Among the pleasantest rural homes of Monroe township is that of Aaron Smith on section 5. In all its appointments his well-improved and highly cul- tivated farm indicates the progressive spirit, enterprise and good business 30
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ability of the owner, who is justly numbered among the most skillful and thorough agriculturists of his native township.
Mr. Smith was born on the farm where he now resides, May 23, 1836, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Barkheimer) Smith, natives of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, the former born in 1803, the latter in 1805. The paternal grandfather, Henry Smith, was one of the prominent farmers of that county, where he spent his entire life, his father, a native of Germany, having located there at an early day. In the county of his nativity Jacob Smith was reared and married, and about 1830 came to Ohio in company with Samuel and David Barr, who had first choice of the three quarter-sec- tions of land bought by them, leaving to Mr. Smith the farm now owned by our subject. Later it proved to be the one he would have selected, as it had plenty of water and other advantages. To the improvement and cultivation
of his place he devoted his energies until called from this life, and in his labors met with most excellent success. Besides his property here he owned two quarter-sections of land in De Kalb county, Indiana, where some of his sons settled after attaining their majority. Religiously he was a member of the Dunkard church, and died in that faith July 6, 1863, while his wife died August 27, 1877. In their family were nine children, those living being . Fannie, the widow of Jonathan Smith, of Ashland county; Henry, a farmer of De Kalb county, Indiana; Mary, the wife of Jackson Balliet, a farmer of the same county ; Levi, a resident of Madison township, this county ; Aaron, our subject; John and Frederick, both farmers of De Kalb county, Indiana; and Susannah, the wife of Hiram McCreary, a gardener of Hudson, Michigan.
Aaron Smith is indebted to the common schools of Richland county for his educational advantages. He remained at home, aiding in the work of the farm until twenty-one years of age, when he apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1874, when he purchased the old homestead and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1884 he built his present substantial brick residence, and has made many other val- uable and useful improvements upon the place, converting it into one of the model farms of the community. He purchased the Willis Hunt farm of one hundred acres in Mifflin township, in 1899, and now owns both places.
In 1864 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Lavinie Ohl, a native of Ashiland county, Ohio, and a daughter of Stephen Ohl, who came to this state from Pennsylvania with his parents when a boy, and was one of the prominent farmers of Ashland county. The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith are Ursula, the wife of A. W. Darling, a farmer of Monroe township, this county; Givannah, a farmer of the same township;
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Dora, the wife of Van Peterson, a farmer of Ashland county: Stephen, who is conducting his father's farm in Mifflin township, this county; and Grover C., at home.
Mr. Smith gives his allegiance to the men and measures of the Dem- ocratic party, and is connected with Madison Grange, P. of H. Socially he is widely and favorable known and has a host of warm friends in the com- munity where almost his entire life has been passed.
J. H. FULLTON.
In the subject of this review we find a worthy representative of the agri- cultural interests of Washington township, Richland county, Ohio. He was born on the old Fullton homestead in that township May 6, 1852, and is the only child of John and Mary (Duncan) Fullton, the mother having died soon after his birth. The father was a native of Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, and was fourteen years of age when the grandfather died, after which the grandmother, accompanied by her five sons and one daughter, started by team for Ohio and settled in Medina county, in 1835. There John Fullton continued to make his home until 1843, when he came to Rich- land county and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Washington township from his father-in-law, David Duncan. His first home here was a log cabin, which in later years was replaced by a better residence, while barns and other buildings were also erected. Although he began life for himself in limited circumstances he became quite well-to-do, and at his death, which occurred in 1893, he owned two hundred and seventy acres of valuable land in the home farm, and another tract of one hundred acres elsewhere, which was acquired through his own industry, perseverance and good management. He was five feet, eight inches in height, and weighed about one hundred and seventy-five pounds. His political support was always given the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he efficiently served as justice of the peace for some time. Religiously he was an active worker and elder in the Presbyterian church. For his second wife he married Rachel J. Camp- bell, by whom he had three children, namely: William, deceased; Jane, the wife of William Palm, who is living on a farm in Washington township; and Belle, the wife of Andrew Andrews, of the same township.
In the common schools near his boyhood home J. H. Fullton acquired his literary education, and he remained under the parental roof until thirty-five years of age, when he moved to that part of the home farm which he now occupies. After residing there for five years he went to Demorest. Georgia,
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where the following five years were passed, after which he returned to Ohio and has since resided upon his present farm, his home being located on the new state road seven miles from Mansfield. He owns ninety-seven acres of rich and arable land, and is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising.
In 1883 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fullton and Miss Sarah Andrews, and to them have been born two children: Annie B., now sixteen years of age; and John L., aged twelve years. Mr. Fullton is a member of the Congregational church and a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. He has served as the township clerk two years, and has always faithfully discharged every duty devolving upon him, whether public or private.
JOSEPH B. ZEHNER.
J. B. Zehner was born in Mifflin township, Ashland county, March 7, 1870. His father, Peter Zehner, was born in the same township October 29, 1836. His mother's maiden name was Hannah Boyer, who was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1839. The Zehner family live in the historic Ruffner locality. The family connections are so numerous that reunions are annually held.
J. B. Zehner has traveled extensively in the west, and taught school in several of the new states. In 1899 he engaged in the grocery business in Mansfield, and on July 20 of the same year he married Miss Vina Zehner. They have one child, a son, named Harold Ivan Zehner.
In the winter of 1901 Mr. Zehner disposed of his stock of groceries to engage in other business. He is a young man of good character, and has many friends who wish him success in whatever field of endeavor he may engage.
DUANE M. DOTY.
One of the prominent business men of Shelby, Ohio, is Duane M. Doty, who was born in this place in 1855, and is the son of John and Sarah (Rutan) Doty, the former of whom died at the age of seventy-seven, the latter still surviving. They came to Shelby from Crawford county, Ohio, in 1868, and engaged in farming. They were the parents of seven children: Joseph, who now lives at Lexington; James H., who lives at Marion, Ohio; Lewis Calvin, who lives at Eureka, Utah; Emma, who lives in Shelby; Mrs. Mary Harman, who lives in Shelby; Mrs. Sarah McCarty, who lives in Barbertown, Ohio; and our subject. ..
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Until 1892 our subject remained on the old homestead farm, but at that date he came to Shelby and engaged in work at the Tube works, where he remained until 1895, when he became interested with C. G. Grosscup in the plumbing business and has been occupied in that line ever since. The business is conducted on modern lines and meets with the approval of the people of his town. He is considered a good and reliable citizen and is regarded with respect and esteem.
GEORGE W. LEITER.
Among the active, enterprising and industrious citizens of Monroe township is classed George W. Leiter, who was born November 3, 1850, upon his present farm on sections 6 and 7, a son of David and Mary (Bell) Leiter. In their family were twelve children, but only four are now living, namely : David B., John H., Samuel B. and George W., all farmers of Monroe town- ship.
Our subject's paternal grandfather, Jacob Leiter, was born in Maryland in July, 1770, of German parentage, and was married on the Ist of November, 1796, to Nancy Peck, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 26, 1771, and died in 1823. Her parents were also from Germany. In his native state the grandfather engaged in farming throughout life, and there died October 16, 1823.
David Leiter, the father of our subject, was born in Leitersburg, Wash- ington county, Maryland, December 12, 1798, and there grew to manhood. He wedded Mary Bell, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 22, 1807, a daughter of Jacob Bell. His first wife was her cousin, Nancy Bell, who died eighteen months after their marriage, leaving one child, Jacob, now deceased. While residing in his native state, David Leiter engaged in farming and teaming, hauling flour from Baltimore to Washing- ton. In 1836 he emigrated with his family to Ohio, and after one year's residence near the St. James schoolhouse in Mifflin township, Richland county, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Monroe township, just west of Lucas, where he spent his remaining years. He was an energetic man, of good business and executive ability, and consequently prospered in his undertakings, acquiring between four and five hundred acres of land. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, but never an office- seeker. He was an active church-worker, in early life holding membership in the German Reformed church, but subsequently united with the Lutheran church, in which he served as a deacon and elder for many years. He died
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