USA > Ohio > Hardin County > A twentieth century history of Hardin County, Ohio : a narrative account of its historical progress its people and principal interests, Vol. II > Part 10
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WILLIAM H. POWELL is one of the representative young agricul- turists of Liberty township and a member of one of the oldest families of Hardin county, a son of Joseph and Olive E. (Henry) Powell, both born in this county, the former in 1850 and the latter in 1854. Both were born in Marion township, and they yet reside there on a farm of eighty-seven aeres. He is a grandson on the paternal side of William Powell, who came from his native England to this country at an early age, and he married here Nancy Lyons, of German extraetion, they becoming the parents of Joseph, Sarah, George, Elizabeth, John and James. William Powell died in the year of 1859. On the maternal side Mr. Powell is a grandson of David and Jane (Donaldson) Henry, the former also from England. Five children were born to Joseph and Olive (IIenry) Powell: Harlan J., now deceased; William H .; O. C .; Stella M .; and Verna F. Stella is the wife of C. L. Mathews. Joseph Powell has been prominently identified with the history of Hardin county from its earliest epoch.
William H. Powell, his son, was born in Marion township of Hardin county September 15, 1875, and the training which he received in its district schools was supplemented by a course at the Ohio Northern University at Ada, and afterward he taught school during five terms. He is now one of the rising young agriculturists of Liberty township, owning a farm of one hundred aeres here of splendidly improved land. Ile is progressive in his methods, using only the latest improved machinery, and in 1909 he built a valuable and commodious barn, sixty- two by seventy-two feet, two stories high. He has owned this estate since 1901, and since that time has improved it in a splendid manner. He is also prominently identified with stoek raising interests, making
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a specialty of the breeding of Rambouillet sheep, Poland China hogs and Barred Plymouth Rock chickens.
On the 10th of February, 1897, he was married to Miss Eva J., a daughter of Charles A. and Marilla A. Gunder, of Dola, Hardin county, where Mrs. Powell was born June 11, 1874. Mr. Powell is a member and also the secretary of the order of Patrons of Husbandry, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM PERRY DEMPSTER, who is more familiarly known by his second name, is one of the enterprising and successful representatives of the agricultural industry in Hardin county, being the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and thirty-three aeres in Marion township, and being a citizen to whom is accorded unqualified confidence and esteem in the community that has been his home during practically his entire life.
Mr. Dempster was born on the old homestead adjoining his present farm in Marion township on the 24th of February, 1852, and is a son of 'the late John W. Dempster, who was born in JJefferson county, this state, a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of Ohio, honored by all with whom he came in contact and known as a prosperons farmer and worthy citizen. He moved to Hardin county in 1847, where he spent the remainder of his life. W. Perry Dempster, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm, to whose work he early began to contribute his quota, the while he was afforded the advantages of the district schools, which he continued to attend during the winter terms until he was about twenty years of age, after which he continued his studies of higher academic order in the Ohio Northern University, at Ada. That he made good use of his educational advantages is assured with much of emphasis when it is stated that for more than twenty years he devoted his attention a por- tion of each year to the pedagogie profession, having been an able and popular teacher in the public schools of Hardin, Allen and Hancock counties.
Mr. Dempster has owned and resided upon his present farm sinee 1881, and his management of the same has been most effective, as is shown in the evident thrift and prosperity manifest on every hand. The buildings and other permanent improvements are of excellent order, and the place is devoted to diversified agriculture and to the raising of high-grade live stock, through the medium of which Mr. Dempster has gained definite success, being known as one of the substantial citizens of his native county and being a stockholder and director of the Alger Savings Bank.
Mr. Dempster is a man of broad mental ken and strong individual- ity, and this fact, coupled with his acknowledged integrity in all the relations of life, has made him a factor of influence in local affairs of a publie nature. In politics he accords an unswerving allegiance to the Republican party, and he has served several terms as clerk of Marion township, besides which he has been an earnest and valued member of the school board of his district, serving as its clerk for several terms and
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doing all in his power to bring the local schools up to the highest possible standard. He and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Maysville, in which he is a trustee, besides being active in the work of its Sunday school.
On the 13th of April, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dempster to Miss Sarah Cummings, with whom he became acquainted while both were attending school at Ada. It is worthy of record that many years previously their fathers had been neighbors and stanch friends in Harrison county. Mrs. Dempster was born in Harrison county on the 23d of March, 1850, and is a daughter of the late Philip Cummings, a representative farmer of that county. She was afforded excellent educational advantages, including a course in Granville Semi- nary and the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio, and had been a successful teacher prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Dempster became the parents of three daughters, of whom two are living. Mary Florenda, who was born June 19, 1882, has been a popular teacher in the public schools for seven years, having completed her education by a course in the Ohio Northern University at Ada. Edna Pauline, who was born on the 4th of September, 1886, died on the 3d of the following month. Lucy Leone, who was born on the 19th of November, 1890, was graduated in the high school at Harrod and is now a student in the conservatory of music at Ada, this county. Russell Herbert, who was born July 3, 1892, is now a student in the Harrod high school.
GEORGE F. KRUMMREY, who owns and operates a seed farm in Marion township, Hardin county, Ohio, was born at Berea, this state, February 6, 1863, of German parentage. His parents, Gottleb and Mary (Voltgast) Krummrey, came from Germany in early life and settled in Ohio, where they were married and passed the rest of their years. He died in 1887; she, October 7, 1909. They had twelve children, among whom were one pair of twins, and of this number those living are as follows: Mary, Anna, Ida, Minnie, Fred, John, and George F.
George F. Krummrey was reared on a farm and received his edu- cation in a German school. In the spring of 1896 he came to Hardin county, Ohio, where he has since been engaged in farming, having one hundred acres of land and making a specialty of raising onions and onion seed.
Mr. Krummrey married Miss Rosa Brillinger, a native of Ohio, and they are the parents of three sons: Alfred, born October 23. 1895: Carl, January 15, 1897; and Ernest, November 5, 1901. Politically Mr. Krummrey is a Republican, and at different times has been honored with local office. For eight years he has filled the office of trustee of Marion township. Ile is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and both he and his wife are identified with the Presbyterian church.
JAMES GOSLEE, one of the most extensive farmers of Hardin county. owns a large farm in Marion township, and is also a stockholder and director of the Alger Savings Bank. Mr. Goslee has practically re-
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tired from active life, but has full charge of the work done on his farm and is an excellent manager. He carries on general farming, and raises considerable stock. He was born in Champaign county, Ohio, January 22, 1843, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Kenton) Goslee. John Goslee was a son of Job Goslee, who came to Ohio from Maryland, set- tling in Champaign county, where he spent the remainder of his life. John Goslee was reared in Champaign county and lived there until after his marriage. His wife, Mary Kenton was reared on Mad river, Near Urbana, Ohio, and came with her husband to Hardin county in the spring of 1843. They settled on the borders of Scioto Marsh, in Roundhead township, and here Mr. Goslee became a large farmer and stock-raiser. He became very prosperous and spent the remainder of his days on this farm. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and a class leader. John Goslee had twelve children by his two marriages. Among those by the first marriage were : James, Job, Elizabeth, Mary Ą., Melissa and one who died in infancy.
When the Goslee family located in Hardin county James was only a few months old. He was reared in the county, and like most other boys of the locality attended school winters and assisted with the work of the farm during the summer months. He remained at home until he reached his majority. Mr. Goslee enlisted in Company E, One Hun- dred Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1864, being then twenty-one years of age, and served under General Schofield. His regiment operated in Tennessee and North Carolina, and Mr. Goslee served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out. He par- ticipated in many battles and skirmishes, and among these was the battle of Wises Fork. At the close of the war he returned to Hardin county and later went west, though he again returned to the county and engaged in farming.
In 1870 Mr. Goslee married Asenath J. Slaybaugh, born in Bu- cyrus, Crawford county, Ohio, December 21, 1845, daughter of Samuel and Catherine Slaybaugh. She came with her parents to Hardin county in 1860, and they settled in Roundhead township. Mr. Goslee and his wife became the parents of one daughter, now deceased. How- ever, they have reared two children, namely : May Scott and Ruth Moore. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Pleasant Hill, where Mr. Goslee is one of the stewards and trustees. Politically he is a Democrat, although he does not care to hold public office. How- ever, he is actively interested in the public welfare and forwards every good cause that comes within his knowledge. He owns four hundred and twenty-five acres of fine farming land in Marion and Roundhead townships, and has been very successful in his undertakings. He has a large circle of friends and is considered one of the representative, useful citizens of the county.
HOWARD E. THOMPSON .- It is gratifying to note those instances where native sons of Hardin county have been able here to find ample opportunity and scope for effective activity in connections with practi- cal industrial and business enterprises, and one of this number who is
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well entitled to consideration in this publication is Howard E. Thomp- son, who is one of the successful and progressive farmers and stock- growers of the county and who owns and resides upon the fine old home- stead farm in Marion township, which was the place of his nativity. He was born on this farm on the 23d of March, 1861, and is a son of Henry F. and Catherine J. (MeGinnis) Thompson, the former of whom was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, and the latter in Ross county, Ohio, where her parents settled in the pioneer days. The mar- riage of Henry F. Thompson and Catherine J. MeGinnis was solemnized in Kenton, Hardin county, on the 31st of July, 1851, and they estab- lished their home on the farm now owned by their son Howard E., whose
name initiates this review. The father reclaimed the farm from the virgin forest and developed the same into one of the valuable properties of this favored section of the state. Ile became one of the honored and influential citizens of Marion township, taking an active part in the civie and material development and upbuilding of his section of the county and ever holding the implicit confidence and esteem of his fellow men. He was one of the sterling pioneer citizens of Hardin county, whither he came with his parents in the year 1833, and the MeGinnis family located in this county in 1844, so that the subject of this review is a scion of pioneer stock in both paternal and maternal lines. Henry F. Thompson was a Republican in his political proclivi- ties and his religions faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his widow has long been a devoted member also. Hle was summoned to the life eternal on the 18th of August, 1903, and his widow still resides on the old homestead, which is endeared to her by the hal- lowed memories and associations of the past. Of their eleven children only three are living, Howard E. being the youngest of the number; Dr. Frank B. Thompson is a representative physician and surgeon of La- fayette, Indiana; and Emma is the wife of James Conner, of Alger, Hardin county, Ohio. The honored father was seventy-nine years of age at the time of his detath, The mother was born in Ross county, this state, on the 26th of February, 1829, and is thus more than eighty years of age at the time of this writing, in 1910, being well preserved in both physical and mental faculties. Her father was a cabinet maker by trade but was engaged in farming in Ross county at the time of her birth. When she was a girl the family moved to a small pioneer vil- lage in Ross county, and there she attended school until the removal of the family to Hardin county, her father having in the meanwhile been engaged in the manufacturing of furniture on a modest scale.
Howard E. Thompson grew to maturity under the beneficent disci- pline of the home farm and in the meanwhile he continued to attend the district schools until he was abont eighteen years of age, thus laying adequate foundation for the excellent practical knowledge and broad general information which he has since gained in the school of exper- ience. His entire active career has been one of consecutive and successful identification with the great basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing, and his efforts in this line have been almost entirely confined to the splendid old homestead farm on which he was born and
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of which he is now the fortunate owner, having purchased the place before the death of his honored father. The farm is improved with excellent buildings and its facilities and accessories are of the best modern type, indicating the progressive ideas and productive thrift of the owner. The farm comprises one hundred and sixty-eight acres of most fertile land and is devoted to diversified agriculture and to the raising of excellent grades of live stock.
In polities Mr. Thompson accords an unwavering allegiance to the Republican party, and he has been an active worker in its local ranks. He has served as a member of the board of trustees of Marion township and is known as a liberal and public spirited citizen,-one who is ever ready to lend his influence and co-operation in the promotion of measures and enterprises for the general good of the community. He is affiliated with Ada Lodge, No. 344, Free and Accepted Masons, and with Ada Chapter No. 138, Royal Arch Masons, at Ada, this county, and both he and his wife are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church at Marysville.
On the 23d of June, 1880, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Thomp- son to Miss Ida M. Conner, who was born in Allen county, Ohio, on the 15th of February, 1862, and who is a daughter of the late Abraham Conner, a representative farmer of this section of the state. She received excellent educational advantages and is a woman of gracious personality, making the attractive family home a center of generons hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have two children : Martin, who was born December 2, 1884, and who is associated in the work and management of the home farm, married Miss Effie Campbell and they have two children,-Marvin and Elwood; Mabel, who was born on the 25th of August, 1884, remains at the parental home and is a teacher of music, having received excellent advantages in her musical work and is an accomplished performer on the piano.
ALLEN EDWARDS .- The popular mayor of the thriving little city of MeGuffey is one of the well known and influential business men of Hardin county, where he is general manager of the extensive interests of the Seioto Land Company, which controls about four thousand acres of land in this county and which has developed the property, reclaiming the fine marsh land to cultivation and devoting the same largely to the cultivation of onions, in which partienlar field of enterprise it is not surpassed by any concern in the Union. The average annual production of onions alone, to say nothing of the many other vegetables and inciden- tal products secured from the farms of the company, is now fully four hundred thousand bushels, and such is the constituency of the land and such the careful attention given to every detail of propagation that the output is of the most superior quality, finding a ready demand in the leading markets of the country. Mr. Edwards is a stockholder in the company and gives to its affairs the major portion of his time and atten- tion, being known as a discriminating executive and progressive business man. His personal popularity in the community is indicated by his tenure of his present municipal office, and he is ever found arrayed as a
allen Edwards
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supporter of all measures and enterprises tending to advance the civic and material welfare of his home village and county.
Allen Edwards was born in the city of Youngstown. Mahoning county, Ohio, on the 19th of December, 1861, and is a son of Jonathan O. and Johanna (Allen) Edwards, who now live in Pittsburg. To the public schools of his native city Allen Edwards is indebted for his early educational discipline, which also included a course in the Rayen School at Youngstown, in which he was graduated in 1878. at the age of sixteen years. After leaving school he became identified with the work and management of a farm owned by his father in Mahoning county. ITis father was an extensive and successful breeder of shorthorn cattle and he himself became prominent in connection with this field of enterprise. He gave special attention to the breeding of this type of cattle and ex- hibited his fine stock at many state fairs and live-stock shows, in the meantime securing a large number of premiums and medals.
In 1889 Mr. Edwards came to Hardin county and took up his residence in MeGuffey. IIe was made manager of the important inter- ests of the Scioto Land Company with whose interests he has since con- tinued to be identified in this capacity, being one of the stockholders in the company, which has reclaimed and placed under most effective eulti- vation about four hundred acres of its large area of land. The improve- ments are of the best order and all of this work has been accomplished under the personal supervision and direction of Mr. Edwards, who like- wise has charge of all details of operation. On the fine farms of the company employment is given constantly to a force of abont sixty men, and at certain seasons of the year fully one hundred and twenty-five persons are employed in the cultivation and handling of the enormous prodnets.
As a citizen Mr. Edwards is essentially loyal and progressive, and he is held in unqualified esteem in the county with whose industrial affairs he is so prominently concerned. In politics he gives allegiance to the Republican party, and he has served as mayor of MeGuffey since 1909, besides which he is at the present time incumbent of the office of justice of the peace. Ile is affiliated with Kenton Lodge. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and also holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Presbyterian church in MeGuffey, in which he is an elder as well as a member of its board of trustees. As mayor of MeGuffey he has given a most effective and satisfactory administration, and his well defined miinicipal policies have inured greatly to the advantage of the village and its people.
On the 30th of July, 1890, Mr. Edwards was united in marriage to Miss Emma Conner, daughter of John P. Conner, an honored and influential citizen of Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have one daughter. Catherine, who is now (1910) a student in the musical conservatory of the Ohio Northern University at Ada, this county.
THOMAS REED DUNLAP well merits recognition in this history by reason of his status as one of the essentially representative business men
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of his native county, where he is held in unequivocal confidence and esteem and where he is known as a loyal, progressive and substantial citizen. He is the owner of the large and well equipped grain elevator at Alger and in the village of MeGuffey, this county, he operates an elevator of still greater capacity. Ile has built up a substantial and extensive business as a buyer and shipper of grain and also makes a specialty of the buying and shipping of onions. for which product this section of the state has gained marked reputation. He is a business man of much initiative power, enterprise and sagacity, and his success stands in most effective evidence of his ability and well directed en- deavors along normal lines of enterprise. He is identified with other business interests of important order and may consistently be designated one of the veritable "captains of industry" in his native county.
Mr. Dunlap was born on the homestead farm of his father in Marion township, Hardin county, Ohio, on the 6th of August, 1875, and is a son of James R. and Belle (Roberts) Dunlap, well known and hon- ored citizens of the county. Mr. Dunlap was reared to the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the farm and thus early learned the value and dignity of honest toil and endeavor, the while he availed himself of the advantages of the district schools, which he attended during the winter terms, assisting in the work of the home farm during the summer seasons. Later he continued his studies in a select school at Harrod, Allen county, after which he was one year a student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada. After leaving this institution he then came to Alger where he purchased the grain elevator, which he has enlarged and otherwise improved and which he has since operated with ever increasing success, handling here a large volume of grain each season and also owning and operating the fine elevator at MeGuffey, which is the shipping point for an even larger amount of the grain which he purchases each year, his two elevators drawing their supplies from a wide area of the fine farming district in Hardin and adjacent counties. Mr. Dunlap ships all kinds of grain to the leading markets and has also built up an extensive business in the handling of onions, which are raised in large quantities in this county. Fairness and
integrity have characterized all of his dealings, so that he has an impregnable hold upon the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has had business association. He is the owner of a well improved farm of eight acres in Marion township; is a stockholder in the Alger Savings Bank; and is one of the principal stockholders of the J. W. Kirts Company, of which he is secretary. This company was incorpo- rated in December, 1909, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, and in the fall of 1910 will institute the operation of a large and finely stocked general merchandise store in Alger. It will thus be seen that as an aggressive, though essentially conservative, business man Mr. Dunlap is contributing largely to the industrial and material advance- ment and prosperity of his home town and county, and he manifests a lively interest in all measures and enterprises that tend to advance the general welfare.
Though never ambitious for the honors or emoluments of public
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office, Mr. Dunlap is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party. He is affiliated with Ada Lodge No. 344. Free and Accepted Masons, and with Chapter No. 138. Royal Arch Masons, at Ada, this county, and is deeply appreciative of the time-honored fraternity with which he is thus identified. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 1st of December, 1903, Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage to Miss Vand Randall. daughter of Professor Don W. Randall, super intendent of the public schools of Wapakoneta. Ohio, in whose high school she was graduated. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have one daughter, Mary R., who was born on the 21st of October. 1909.
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