USA > Ohio > Adams County > A history of Adams County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, including character sketches of the prominent persons identified with the first century of the country's growth > Part 92
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In the Spring of 1893, he attended the National Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio, from which he graduated in the Scientifiec course in 1894. He studied during the Summer of 1894, and was Superintendent of the Public Schools at Rome, Ohio, and Stout Postoffice, in the Winters of 1894, 1895, and 1896. In the Summer of 1895, he taught a Normal school at Peebles, and in the Summer of 1896, at Stout. In the Fall of 1896, he entered the Classical Course at Lebanon, Ohio, and left, after eight months' study, in April, 1897, to teach a Normal school at Stout. He spent the winter of 1897 at his home in Stout and studied. In the Spring and Summer of 1898, he taught a Normal school at West Union.
He was elected in the Spring of 1898 for the Winter term at Rome, but resigned to accept the Hannibal schools in Monroe County, Ohio, where he taught in the Winter of 1898 and 1899. He was re-elected unani- mously to the same position, but declined, and accepted the superin- tendency of the West Union schools, succeeding Prof. J. E. Collins, now of Batavia. He holds a life certificate from the State Board of School Ex- aminers of Ohio. In his religious views, he is a Presbyterian. In his political views he is a Republican, but has never taken any prominent part in politics.
What Prof. Franz is to-day, is the result of his own ambition and efforts. He undertook to make a teacher of himself, and by his untiring in- dustry, energy and application, he succeeded. He was conscientious and earnest-two prominent features of his character. He believed in thoroughness from the very commencement of his preparation for teach- ing. He has been devoted to his profession with that constant en- thusiasm which is characteristic of every successful teacher. He is strong in all of the moralities. His sense of justice is the most refined and his judgment is always the result of deliberate reflection and of a
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N. B. LAFFERTY, M. D. JAMES W. BUNN, M. D., WEST UNION, OHIO
F. J. MILLER, M. D. JOSEPH WEST LAFFERTY
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course of reasoning. He has made his profession a success because he loved it, and because he is enthusiastic in following it. His success as a teacher and superintendent is unquestioned, but above all that, he is re- spected, admired and loved by all those who know him for his ideal and perfect character as a man.
Alfred Rust Fulton
was born in Franklin Township, Adams County, November 28, 1834. His father, David Fulton, and his mother, Phoebe Gibson, were both natives of Loudon County, Virginia, and resided near Upperville. They came to Ohio in 1833. At that time they had four children, sons. They had five children born in Ohio, our subject and two daughters. He obtained his education in the common schools and was brought up to be a farmer. He was one of the few young men of Adams County who never taught schools. He enlisted in Company E, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, August 22, 1862, at the age of twenty-nine years and served until the twentieth of June, 1865. This service was upon his conscience, as has been everything in his life. On November 7, 1867, he was maried to Miss Lydia Potts, of Marble Furnace, a daughter of Samuel Potts.
They have three children, sons, Thomas, Clarence, who married Miss Jennie Williams and resides in Loudon ; Charles Gibson, formerly a teacher, but now a clerk in an iron ore establishment at Sparta, Minn .; Homer Clayton, a lawyer in Duluth, Minn.
Mr. Fulton's father was a Whig and Republican and he has always been a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Church in Loudon and lives his faith every day.
He owns and cultivates over five hundred acres of good land, and everything about him has an air of care and thrift. His word is as good as his bond and the latter is redeemable in gold on demand at any time. Mr. Fulton has acquired a competence and knows how to enjoy it. He has a pleasant home where he is surrounded by all the comforts of life and can spend the days of his old age in peace. No man stands higher in the esteem of his neighbors and the public, and his life and character entitle him to this estimate. If good works would send any one to Heaven, Mr. Fulton is sure of it. but his good works all proceed from principle and from a sense of Christian duty and obligation.
William Stewart Foster,
attorney and Mayor of Manchester, was born in the old Buckeye Station residence, October 19, 1868. Attention is called to the article on "Buckeye Station" for the historical character of his birthplace. His father was Charles Wilson Foster, born January 13, 1839. His wife was Miss Laura Jane Stewart, daughter of William K. Stewart. Charles Wilson Foster enlisted in Company G, 70th O. V. I., October 17, 1861. He was pro- moted to Corporal, Sergeant, First Lieutenant and Captain. He veteran- ized, and at muster out, August 14, 1865, was Captain of the company he had entered as a private.
In 1867, he bought the Buckeye Station farm, and the same year, on November 21, 1867, he was married. He has our subject and another son, Charles Damarin, born September 20, 1877. Charles Wilson Foster
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lived on the Buckeye Station farm for nine years. He then conducted a store at Soldier's Run for two years. From 1878 to 1883, he was a mer- chant at Wrightsville. Since October. 1883, he has resided at Manches- ter.
Our subject began the study of law in 1886, with Dudley B. Phillips in Manchester. In 1887 and 1888, he attended the Cincinnati Law School. and completed the course. On October 21, 1889, he was admitted to prac- tice law. He opened an office in Manchester, where he has since resided. In 1890, he was the Republican candidate for prosecuting attorney of the county, but was defeated by Cyrus F. Wikoff. In April, 1891, he formed a law partnership with his preceptor, Mr. Dudley B. Phillips. In the Fall of 1891, when Mr. Phillips was elected to the State Senate, Mr. Foster was elected Mayor of the village to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Phillips' resignation to take the office of Senator. He was married December 4, 1892, to Miss Grace Hundley, daughter of James P. Hundley.
In 1894, he was elected Solicitor of the village of Manchester, and served one term. In 1900, he was elected Mayor of Manchester on a straight Republican ticket over an Independent Republican on a reform ticket, of which office he is the incumbent.
Rev. Emile Grand-Girard
was born at Hericourt. France, June 4, 1816. He was of Huguenot . parentage. His ancestors, firm in' the Protestant faith, fled to Switzer- land at the time of the St. Bartholomew massacre in 1572.
When about fourteen years of age, Mr. Grand-Girard went to Stras- burg, where he pursued his studies under private instructors, preparatory to entering the Polytechnic School (one of the French Government Schools ) of Applied Sciences.
He came with his family to the United States in 1833. landing in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. For a few years he followed his profession of architectural designer in Cincinnati, New Orleans, and other cities in the South.
On December 31. 1840. he was married to Miss Georgiana Herdman. at Bowling Green, Kentucky, who was descended from Francis McKarry, the first Presbyterian minister settled in the. Colonies. From this mar- riage were born two sons and two daughters.
In 1844, Mr. Grand-Girard decided to enter the ministry and studied theology under Rev. Samuel Steel. D. D., of Hillsboro, Ohio. 'He was licensed in 1846 and ordained to the full work of the ministry the year following by the Presbytery of Chillicothe. He preached at different times to the French Church at Mowrystown. Marshall, Rocky Spring and Red Oak, preaching in the latter place in connection with Mowrystown for a little more than eleven years.
In 1866, he removed to Hillsboro, Ohio, where, in connection with his sister, Emilie L. Grand-Girard, he engaged in the management of Highland Institute, a ladies' seminary and boarding school. The institute was very successful. and from it were graduated large classes of young ladies who have since filled places of much usefulness in many homes and circles of society.
In 1875, he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Kingston, Ohio, where he labored for six years.
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In 1881, he took charge of the Presbyterian Church of Eckmansville, Adams County, where he remained until his decease in December, 1887, rounding out his active service of over forty-one years in the Gospel ministry. During the War of the Rebellion, Mr. Grand-Girard, having learned military tactics in the old country, drilled several companies for the Union Army. At the time of the Morgan Raid through Ohio, a regi- ment was made up from Brown and adjoining counties and Mr. Grand- Girard was appointed by the Governor, Colonel of the same.
He was a man of unblemished character. Firm in his adherence to the right as became a son of the Huguenots, he was at the same time, gentle and charitable. Possessed of all the grace and suavity of his native people. he was a perfect gentleman and most agreeable companion. He was an earnest preacher of the Gospel. a faithful and beloved pastor. He filled an honorable and useful place in the world and earned the reward . of the loved and faithful.
H. Allen Gaskins,
of Manchester, Ohio, was born at Sardinia, Brown County, Ohio, January 19, 1857, the son of Dr. John and Mary ( Woods) Gaskins, of Bentonville, Ohio. Thomas Gaskins, his grandfather, was a native of West Virginia, and when a young man, started "out West," coming down the river in a keel boat. He was taken suddenly ill and put ashore at Nine Mile, in Clermont County. On recovering his health, he became so favorably im- presed with the neighborhood that he decided to stay. The chief at- traction, however, was doubtless, Miss Phoebe Ward, whom he married. John Gaskins, their son and father of our subject, studied medicine and located at Sardinia, where he practiced his profession until 1859, when he removed to Youngsville, Adams County, where he remained until 1861, finally settling at Bentonville, where he continued the practice of medicine until recently, when he retired and went to his farm in Sprigg Township.
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Our subject attended the Bentonville schools until the age of twenty- one. On March 14, 1877. he was married to Mary C. Roush, daughter of William Roush, of Sprigg Township. Their children are William, a graduate of the Manchester High School, Class of 1899, and Carrie and Aaron, all at home. Mr. Gaskins served as School Director in Benton- ville for nine years, and has held the offices of Treasurer and Assessor in Sprigg Township. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has served as delegate to the State and County Conventions on several occasions. He is a member of the Knights of Phythias at Manchester, Ohio, of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 570. at West Union, and of No. 43, Free and Accepted Masons, of West Union. He united with the Christian Church at Union in 1887, and in 1893, began studying for the ministry. He was admitted to the Southern Ohio Christian Conference as a J icentiate minister in October, 1896, and was regularly ordained by the same Conference, March 25, 1899. At present he is pastor of the churches at Eagle Creek and Stout's Run and is Vice-President of the Ministerial and Sabbath School Institute. Since 1897, he has given his entire atten- tion to the ministry. He is an untiring student, and, by earnest applica- tion, has won for himself a place among the ablest men of the Southern Ohio Christian Conference, of which he is a member.
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James Taylor Gaston.
The origin of the name is French. In that language, it is properly spelled "Gastineau." The ancestors of our subject came from France and located in South Carolina. They were French Protestants or Huguenots. His father was James Gaston and his mother's maiden name was Margaret Patton, who was a daughter of Thomas Patton, a native of Rockbridge County, Virginia, though he emigrated to Ohio, settled on West Fork and died there. His grandfather Gaston was from Charleston, South Carolina. His grandmother Gaston was a McCreight, born in South Carolina. His paternal grandfather came to Ohio in 1800 on ac- count of his antagonism to the institution of slavery. He settled on a farm near Tranquility, now owned by our subject. His grandfather, father, and himself were all members of the United Presbyterian Church of Tranquility, and he has lived near that place all his life. He went to the District schools until he went in the army. He enlisted in Company G, of the 129th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at the age of eighteen, on the eighteenth of July, 1863, and served until the eighth of March, 1864. On the fourth of February, 1865, he enlisted in Company K, of the 188th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was made a Corporal. He was mustered out in September, 1865. After the war, he attended the North Liberty Academy until 1867, and in the Fall of 1868, he engaged in the profession of school teaching and has followed that consecutively for twenty-eight years, having only given up the profession in 1896.
He was married on March 21. 1871, to Sarah Wallace. They have four sons: Roscoe, born in 1873, is principal of the schools at Donavan, Illinois ; Carey, born in 1875, a teacher in the Weaver Academy at Media, Illinois ; John M., born in 1876, attending school at Danville, Illinois, and Homer, born in 1882, at home with his parents.
Mr. Gaston was clerk of his township for eight years and Township Trustee for three years. He was elected Infirmary Director in 1867 and still holds that office. He is a man of the highest character and un- iversally respected.
Erastus Monteith Gaston, M. D.,
of Tranquility, Ohio, was born November 10, 1849, at that place. His father's name was Daniel Gaston and his mother's maiden name was Mary Kirker Kane. His father was a Justice of the Peace of Scott Town- ship from 1853 to 1865. The boyhood and youth of our subject was spent on his father's farm. He worked in Summer and studied in Winter. At the age of fourteen, he attended the North Liberty Academy under Dr. David McDill, for three years. He taught school one term and then be- gan the study of medicine with David McBride, M. D., and continued with him for three years. He attended lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1869 and 1870, and in 1871 he attended the Miami Medical College, and graduated in 1871. He began the practice of medicine at Staunton, in Fayette County, Ohio, and remained there one year. He then located in Tranquility, where he has remained ever since and has en- joyed a large and lucrative practice all that time. He has always had the confidence and patronage of the leading citizens of his community. .
In politics he has always been a Republican and taken an active in- terest. In 1891, he was appointed one of the Pension Examining Sur-
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geons of Adams County, and served until the close of President Harrison's administration. In 1899, he was reappointed to the same office, which he is now holding. In 1899, he was the Republican candidate for Treasurer of Adams County and was beaten by only nineteen votes by Henry Gaffin. At the age of fourteen, he united with the United Presbyterian Church in Tranquility, and in 1874 was made a ruling elder. He was married to Nancy J. Brown, daughter of Jacob N. Brown, late of Cincinnati. Their children are David N. Gaston, of Eden, Illinois ; John J. Gaston, of Roddy, Tennessee ; Charles O. Gaston, of Tranquility, and Mary Edna Gaston.
As a physician, Doctor Gaston has great ability, recognized both by his medical brethren and by the public. He possesses the highest character for morality and integrity and enjoys the esteem and respect of all who know him. We asked a Republican friend of his to give us a character estimate of him and we give the answer verbatim, as follows:
"Dr. Gaston is a Christian gentleman in the highest and truest mean- ing of the term. His personal conduct is above reproach. In his dealings with his fellow men he is most kind and considerate. There is no favor he would withhold from a friend and he would scorn to do even an enemy an injustice." Being all the above, he could be nothing else than a good citizens, fearless and conscientious in the discharge of every public and private duty. All he would seek to know would be which is the right side of any question affecting public or private interests, and he would take that side without hesitation. He is a thorough believer in the principles and traditions of the Republican party and there is no right sacrifice he would not make to promote its success. In 1899, without his knowledge, he was nominated by his party for a most responsible county office, that of County Treasurer. His better judgment and inclination was to decline the nomination. Feeling that he owed it to his party to do otherwise, at great sacrifice of private interests and suffering at the time greatly on account of a broken limb, he accepted the trust, and had his party that high apprehension it should have bad of the many and valuable sacrifices he was making for it, he would have been triumphantly elected. He is a most successful physician, having a large practice in one of the best communities of his county. He is possessed of a most happy, cheerful disposition, which he takes with him into the sick room. This is almost an inspiration in itself, and in many cases it is the best medicine a physician can have for his patients. In conclusion, we believe him to be as "good an all around man" as there is in the county, and our people would be vastly better off if we had many more like him.
Robert Arthur Glasgow,
of Cherry Fork, was born on the farm now owned by his brother, J. G. Glasgow, near Seaman, Ohio, May 28, 1861. He is a son of Robert A. Glasgow and Jane Smiley, both natives of Adams County. Robert Arthur Glasgow, our subject, was reared on a farm and received his education in the District schools. He was married by Rev. John S. Martin, of the U. P. Church, at Cherry Fork, October 6, 1881, to Miss Lurissa Jane Caskey, who has borne him five children, four daughters and one son. He and his family are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Cherry Fork. Mr. Glasgow owns a fine farm and is one of the most intelligent
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farmers of Wayne Township. His wife is a most estimable woman and is a descendant of one of the old and well known families of Adams County.
Henry Bascom Gaffin
was born September 25, 1862, at Bentonville, in Adams County. His father was Sylvanus N. Gaffin, and his mother was Jane McDaniel. His father came from New York. He attended the District schools as a boy. He began the huckstering business when but twelve years of age, and continued it for two years. He then went into the grocery business at Bentonville, clerking for William Gaffin for three years. He removed to Mineral Springs Station in 1884, and conducted a general store there for nearly ten years, at which time he moved his business to Peebles, and has conducted a general store there ever since. He is also in the livery busi- ness at Peebles, with John Sparks, under the name of Gaffin & Sparks. He went into it at the same time he opened the general store in Peebles.
In 1896, he was elected County Treasurer of Adams County over F. M. Harover, of Manchester, by 68 majority, and has been elected to a second term. He has always been a Democrat. He has been a member of the School Board and Council of Peebles. He took up his residence in 1894 in Peebles, and removed to West Union in 1898. He was married January 7, 1884, to Lilly B. Sparks, daughter of Salathiel Sparks. They have two children, Jessie, aged thirteen years and Henry Earl, aged five. He is a member of the Methodist Church of Peebles.
Mr. Gaffin is a man of unimpeachable moral character, a public spirited citizen and progressive in all his ideas. He enjoys the confi- dence of all those with whom he has business relations. He is actively engaged in politics, and as County Treasurer, he is regarded as one of the best who has ever held that office, old General Bradford, who held it for thirty-two years, not excepted.
Valentine H. Hafer,
of Blue Creek, was born in Crawford County, Pa., June 28, 1832. His father was John Hafer and his mother Elizabeth Blackburn. Our sub- ject was reared on a farm, and when twelve years of age came to Clayton. Adams County, Ohio. July 27, 1853. he married Miss Nancy Webb, daughter of Thomas and Jane Cook Webb, to whom has been borne three sons and five daughters: George F., John W., Mary J., Sarah E., Elatha F. L., Nancy A., James A., and Ida D. A.
August 8, 1862, he enlisted for three years at Buena Vista. Scioto County, and was mustered into the U. S. service as a private at Lima, Ohio, Company H, Capt. Henry, 81st Regiment O. V. I. He was pro- moted to Corporal and then joined his regiment under Col. Morton, at Corinth, Miss. He was in many battles of the war among which may be mentioned Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Sher- man's March to the Sea, Siege of Savannah, and Kenesaw Mountain. Was honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, July 13, 1865.
Valentine Hafer is one of the prominent men of Jefferson Township. He is an ardent Democrat in politics, and a Universalist in religion. He is now badly crippled with rheumatism contracted in the service of his country, for which disability he draws a pension.
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Joseph Warren Hayslip,
of West Union, Ohio, was born May 17, 1826. His father was John Hayslip, who was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1781, and came to West Union, Adams County, Ohio, in the year 1808. His first wife was Margaret Lockhart, who bore him five sons: Isaac N., Thomas J., John J., James L., and William L., and one daughter, Mary Ann. After coming to Adams County, John Hayslip married for his second wife Lettie Camp- bell, a daughter of Frank Campbell. She was born at Kenton's Station, Kentucky, and was married in 1825. John Hayslip was a tailor by trade and for seven years kept the old Browning Inn, where Lew Johnson now resides. He afterwards kept hotel on Main Street, near the old public well. He was an ardent Whig, and on the day of the great Whig meeting in West Union, in 1840, he asked to be raised in his bed so as to get a view of the procession passing down Main Street, headed by Tom Corwin, the orator of the day. He died June 9, 1840. He commanded a company in the War of 1812.
Joseph W., the subject of this sketch, was a son of John Hayslip and Lettie Campbell. He was born in West Union, May 17, 1826, and received the rudiments of a common school education, the most of his teaching coming from old 'Squire Ralph McClure. He served an apprenticeship with Peter B. Jones, of Maysville, at cabinet making, which, together with that of millwright, has been his occupation through life.
On December 25, 1849, he married Lemira E. Montgomery, daughter of Nathaniel Montgomery and Priscilla Rounsavell. July 18, 1861, he enlisted in the 24th Regiment, O. V. I., Col Jacob Ammen, as member of the Regimental Band, for three years. Was at Cheat Mountain, Green- brier, Shiloh and Corinth. Organized Second Independent Battery, Light Artillery. in 1864, and was stationed at Johnson Island, Ohio. Was charter member of De Kalb Lodge, No. 138, I. O. O. F., West Union. First vote cast for Zachariah Taylor as a Whig. Was a Republican from organiza- tion of that party.
Charles Napoleon Hall
was born December 2, 1839. His father was James H. Hall and his mother, Louisa Shelton. His father was born in Brown County, near Logan's Gap. His mother was also born in Brown County. His grand- father, Elisha Hall, came from Philadelphia and settled in Mason County, Kentucky, in 1798, and removed into Brown County in 1800. He was lost on a keel boat on the way to New Orleans in 1815. His father moved to Adams County in 1838 and engaged in farming and trading. His surviving children are, our subject; William S., residing at Fredonia, Kansas; Elisha, residing at Langdon. Mo .; Phoeba, the wife of Benjamin Johnson, of Rarden, Ohio; Susan, wife of George Shively, of Aspinwall, Neb .; Mary, wife of Newton Robinson, of Rarden, Ohio; James H., of St. Deroin, Neb .; George H., of Camp Creek, Pike County, Ohio.
The father of our subject was Trustee of Green Township, and of Jefferson Township for many years. He was a Whig and afterward a Republican. He was born February 22, 1815. and died May 6, 1899, at St. Deroin, Neb. His wife was born July 8, 1818, and died December 23, 1870. They were married March 31, 1836. Their family was born and raised near Rome, Adams County, where their mother died.
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