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 11
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ROBERT A. ELLIOTT, M. D .- One of the representative physicians and surgeons of the younger generation in Hardin county and who is admirably fortified for the responsible work of his chosen profession is Dr. Elliott, who is engaged in practice in the village of Alger, where he has a representative clientage and where he is held in high regard as a physician and as a loyal and progressive citizen.
Dr. Elliott reverts with no slight measure of satisfaction to the faet that he is a native son of the fine old Buckeye state, which has repre- sented his home from the time of his birth and with whose annals the family name has been identified for three or more generations. The Doetor was born on the homestead farm of his parents in Union town- ship, Auglaize county, Ohio, on the 7th of December, 1881, and is a son of Levi N. and Mary J. (Stamats) Elliott, both of whom still reside in that county. Dr. Elliott early learned the lessons of practical industry in connection with the work of the home farm, and his preliminary educational training was secured in the distriet schools, which he con- tinned to attend during the winter terms until he was sixteen years of age, in the meanwhile he assisted in the work of the home farm during the summer months. At the age noted he entered the high school at Wapakoneta. in which he was graduated as a member of the elass of 1901. In the following year he was graduated in the department of pharmaey at the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio, and thereafter he was employed for an interval as a pharmacist. Having decided to enter the medical profession and being well fortified in many of the scientific methods and processes pertaining thereto, by reason of his knowledge of chemistry and pharmacy. he finally was matriculated in the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he was graduated in 1905 and from which he received his well earned degree of Doctor of Medieine. He immediately took up his residence in Alger. where he has built up an excellent practice and established a stanch reputation as a physician and surgeon of distinctive skill and discrimina- tion. HIe is a member of the Northwestern Ohio Eclectic Medical Asso- ciation and continues a close and appreciative student of his profession. keeping in touch with the advanees made in the sciences of both medicine and surgery. Hle is medieal examiner for the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. the Prudential Life Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, the
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Maccabees National Life Insurance Company, of Vermont, and the Security Life Insurance Company. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with Hamer Lodge No. 167, Free and Accepted Masons at Wapakoneta and with the order of Elks.
In polities Dr. Elliott is found aligned as a stanch supporter of the eanse of the Democratic party, and the esteem in which he is held in Alger is well indicated by the fact that he is at the present time giving an admirable administration as its mayor having been elected to this office in November of 1909. This preferment is a definite assurance of personal popularity, and the Doctor is fully appreciative of the honor thus conferred upon him. He is liberal and progressive as a eitizen and municipal executive and gives his influence in support of every measure tending to promote the general welfare of the community.
In 1909 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Elliott to Miss Lauretta Wolgamot, daughter of Leon P. Wolgamot, a well known citizen of Logan county.
HARLEY N. WILLSON, an active and energetie farmer of Blanchard township, owns and operates eighty acres of valable land, which he devotes to general farming. His success has been reached by industry and good management, and he is considered a representative, useful citizen. Mr. Willson was born in Wyandotte county, Ohio, in 1870, and is a son of J. R. Willson, also living in Blanchard township, where he owns a valable farm of one hundred and sixty aeres. J. R. Willson purchased this land in 1872 and moved to it two years later; by hard work and untiring energy he evolved a productive and well tilled farm from the wilderness. He was born in Sycamore township, Wyandotte county, Ohio, July 19. 1838, was reared and educated in his native county and has always devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. In 1864 he enlisted as a member of Company H. One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at the end of the war. Ile was united in marriage, in 1865, with Lovina Longabangh, and they became the parents of five children, namely: Charles C .. John E., Harley N., J. R., Jr., and IInlda. Mr. Willson has for sixteen years been sorely afflicted, having lost his sight. J. R. Willson is a son of Elisha and IInlda (Shotwell) Willson, both natives of New Jersey, who came to Ohio in 1833. To them were born five children, namely : Elvira, J. R., Z. S., Rosella and Gilbert F.
Harley N. Willson was reared and educated in Hardin county, to which his father had come in 1874, and has established a good reputation in the community where he has so long resided. IFe chose the vocation of farming, and has followed it all his life. He has served as township supervisor, and is a member of the school board.
In 1895 Mr. Willson married Mary E., daughter of Calvin and Emma Reed, and to them were born four children, namely : Philip S .. (deceased), Edwin M., Kermit II. and Dorothea M. Mrs. Willson was born in Blanchard township, Hardin county, in 1876. Both she and her husband are devout members of the Christian church.
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WILLIAM S. ROBINSON .- On other pages of this work is entered a memorial tribute to General James S. Robinson, a distinguished figure in the military and public annals of the nation, and of this honored citi- zen of Hardin county, where he maintained his home until the time of his death. the subject of the sketch at hand is a son. As ready reference may be made to the memoir mentioned, it is not requisite that the data be repeated in the present article.
William S. Robinson was a native of Kenton, Hardin county, where he was born on the 14th of January, 1851, and where the major portion of his life was passed. He became one of the representative business men of his native city and as a citizen he well upheld the prestige of the honored name which he bore. He died in Kenton on the 27th of December, 1905, leaving the heritage of a good name and of worthy accomplishments as one of the world's noble army of workers. Mr. Robinson gained his early education in the public schools of Kenton and supplemented this by higher academie study. As a young man he served for several years as teller in the Kenton Savings Bank and later he went to Springfield, Ohio, where he assumed a clerical position in the office of the well known firm of Warder, Bushnell and Mitchell, manu- facturers of agricultural machinery, and he continued in the employ of this coneern for about two years, at the expiration of which he returned to Kenton, where he became associated with his cousin, Henry Spelman, and engaged in the retail hardware business under the firm name of Robinson & Spelman. This mutually pleasing business alliance contin- med about twenty years and was severed only by the death of the honored subject of this sketch.
Like his distinguished father, Mr. Robinson was a stanch and uneompromising advocate of the principles and policies of the Repub- liean party, and while he had naught of ambition for public office and never consented to permit the use of his name in connection therewith, he gave a liberal support to the party canse and as a citizen he was essentially loyal, progressive and public spirited. By reason of his father's service as an officer in the Civil war he became eligible for membership in the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He was affiliated with the Masonie fraternity and was deeply appreciative of its teachings and high ideals. In his native city he ever held a secure place in the popular confidence and esteem, and his death was deeply lamented in the community which had so long been his home. He was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, as is also his widow, who still retains her home in Kenton.
On the 27th of October, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Robinson to Miss Alice Powell, who was born and reared in Cincinnati. Ohio, and who is the daughter of James and Anna (Foley) Powell. Her father was born in the city of Chent, Belgium, and was abont three years of age at the time of the family's removal to America. His parents located in the city of Cincinnati, where he was reared to manhood and received excellent educational advantages. For a short time after his arrival in this country Mr. Powell resided in Illinois, and he then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he established a small brass foundry
Vol. II-6
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at the rear of his home. From this modest inception was built up a flourishing enterprise and he became one of the representative manufac- turers of the Queen City. Finally his son James became associated with him in the business and the enterprise is still continued, being one of the largest of its kind in Cincinnati. The parents of Mrs. Robinson continued to make their home in Cincinnati until their death.
To William S. and Alice (Powell) Robinson were born two children, Helen, who has been the principal of the West school in Hardin county for several years and who is one of the successful and popular teachers in connection with the public schools of the city, and James Sidney, the son, is a Senior in the high school class of 1910. Both he and his sister remain with their widowed mother. The family have a secure place in connection with the best social activities of the community.
ELLIOTT G. HARRIMAN, who now maintains his home in the attractive little village of Alger, has been a resident of Hardin county since his childhood days and has long been known as one of the substantial and representative citizens of the county, where he has been identified with agricultural pursuits and other lines of productive business enterprise and where he commands the popular confidence and esteem ever marking objective appreciation of sterling worth of character. He is a represen- tative of one of the honored pioneer families of Ohio and one that was founded in America in the colonial epoch.
Elliott G. Harriman was born in Delaware county, Ohio, on the 5th of February, 1851, and is a son of William and Evaline (Johnson) Harriman, whose marriage was solemnized in Logan county, this state. William Harriman was born in Logan county on the 6th of April, 1829, and was a son of Simpkins Harriman, whose father, David Harriman, was born in 1755, being a son of David Harriman, who was born in 1710 and died in 1778. The latter was a son of John Harriman, who was born in 1680 and whose death occurred in 1740; his father was Rev. John Harriman, who was born in 1647 and died in 1704. This honored ancestor was graduated in Harvard College as a member of the class of 1667, was a man of distinguished attainments and for twenty years served as pastor of a church in New Haven, Connecticut. He devoted thirty-four years to the work of the ministry and in the archives of New England history his name finds honorable mention. Ile was a son of John Harriman, who was born in Rowley, Yorkshire, England, in 1608, and who was the founder of the family in America, whither he came in 1638. settling in New Haven, Connecticut, and becoming a man of promi- nence and influence in the colony. His death occurred in 1681.
Simpkins Harriman, grandfather of the subject of this review, was a native of the state of Pennsylvania and came to Ohio about the year 1825, and he became one of the sterling pioneers of Logan county, where he secured a traet of wild land and reclaimed a farm, continuing his residence in that county until his death. There his son William was reared to manhood under the conditions and influences of the pioneer days and there was identified with agricultural pursuits until he moved to Delaware county, which continued to be his home for a few years.
Mrs Stella Harriman
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About the year 1853 William Harriman came to Hardin county and purchased a farm in Dudley township, where he became a successful agrienlturist and stock-grower and a citizen who wielded no little influ- ence in local affairs. He was a man of sturdy integrity, of strong individuality and of indefatigable industry, so that he attained to a due measure of success in connection with his business affairs. He lived and labored to goodly ends and his name merits a place on the roll of those who have contributed to the social and material upbuilding of the connty. He continued to reside on his old homestead farm until 1878. when he moved to Kenton, where he died, on March 7, 1895, at which time he was sixty-five years and eleven months old; his devoted wife, who had been a cherished companion and helpmeet, passed to the life eternal in 1900. at the age of seventy years, both having been members of the United Brethren and later of the Disciples church. Of their children Elliott G. was the first born; Sarah J. is the wife of Ray B. Thompson, of Kenton, this county; John E. died at the age of seventeen years; Mary E. is the wife of William Saunders and they reside near Marysville, Union county, Ohio; and Lydia A. is the wife of John MeMahon, a prosperous farmer near Kenton, Hardin county.
Elliott Green Harriman, the immediate subject of this sketch, was about three years of age at the time of the family removal from Delaware county to Hardin county, and on the home farm in Dudley township he was reared to years of maturity, early beginning to assist in the work of the farm and in the meanwhile attending the district schools, in which he continued his studies during the winter terms until he was about eighteen years of age. That he made good use of the advantages thus afforded him is evident when we revert to the fact that he became a successful and popular teacher in the district schools of his home county, having initiated his labors in the pedagogie profession when eighteen years of age. In the year 1871 he was a student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada, and after leaving this institution he continued teach- ing, to which vocation he devoted his attention for a total of about six years, being identified with farming during the summer seasons and act- ing as schoolmaster during the winter terms.
The active career of Mr. Harriman has been one of close and suc- cessful identification with agricultural pursuits until within recent years, and he is still the owner of a farm in Marion township. He took up his residence on his farm in that township on the 10th of January, 1892, and there he continued to live until 1903, when he moved to the village of Alger, where he is now successfully engaged in the real-estate and insurance business. Besides his farm in Marion township, near Alger, he is also the owner of a well improved farm of eighty aeres in Allen county, this state. He has been enterprising and progressive as a farmer and business man and has not been denied a generons measure of snecess in connection with his well directed endeavors. His hold upon popular confidence and esteem is most seenre. being based upon sterling elements of character and genial and kindly attitude in his relations with his fellow men. He and his wife are zealous and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church in their home village, and in a fra-
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ternal way he is affiliated with Ada Lodge No. 344, Free and Accepted Masons, at Ada, this county.
In politics Mr. Harriman has ever found the Republican party worthy of his unqualified allegiance and he takes a lively interest in the questions and issues of the hour, besides which he is essentially progres- sive and public-spirited in connection with civic affairs of a more local- ized order. While residing on his farm he served two terms as clerk of Dudley township, and for eight years he was a member of the board of trustees of Marion township. In Alger he has served as a member of the village council and as president of the board of education.
On the 6th of March, 1873, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Harriman to Miss Nancy E. Richey, who was born in New Dover, Union county, Ohio, on the 9th of November, 1854, and who is a daughter of Joseph N. and Edna (Farnum) Richey, both of whom were born in Union county, Ohio, the former on the 12th of March, 1822, and the latter in 1837. Joseph Richey was for many years successfully engaged in business as a buyer and shipper of live stock and he passed the closing years of his life in Union county, where he died on the 11th of May, 1882. His wife survived him until the 1st of February, 1907, when she too was summoned to the "land of the leal." William Richey, grand- father of Mrs. Harriman, was a native of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Harriman became the parents of four children, concerning whom the following brief record is entered: Calvin A., who was born February 9, 1874, is now a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of Allen county, this state; William G., who was born on the 27th of November, 1875, died on the 1st of the following May; Charles E., who was born November 27, 1879, is a telegraph operator, employed by the Erie Railroad Company at Boone Grove, Indiana ; and John E., who was born October 27. 1896, is a student in the graded schools of Alger.
DR. J. S. HEDRICK is one of the leading physicians of Dunkirk, Ohio, where he has been in practice since 1888. He was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1859, and received his primary education in the place of his nativity. IIe is a son of Isaac and Sallie (Mundis) Hedrick, both also born in York connty and both now deceased. There were four children in their family, and all are yet living, but Dr. Hedrick is the only one of the number who has entered professional life and the only one residing in Hardin county.
IIe attended Stewartstown Academy and the Millersville State Normal School, and then began preparing for the profession which he had chosen as his life's work. The first year was spent in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, was then two years a student in the Starling Medical College at Columbus and graduated with its class of 1882, and then after six years of active practice he entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College and graduated therefrom in 1888. This was followed by a post graduate course at the New York Post Graduate School, and in 1908 took a special course at the Johns Hopkins University. With this splendid training he came to Hardin county, and after a few years spent at Dola he located in Dunkirk and has since
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been one of its most successful physicians. He has accordingly built up a large and lucrative practice, and has won the confidence and esteem of the community. Dr. Hedrick is a member of the Hardin County Medical Society, of which he is a past president, and a member of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. IIe stands high in his profession, and takes a commendable interest in public affairs.
In 1884 Dr. Hedrick married Catherine Edwards, by whom he had two children, David I. and Laura M. The son graduated in 1909 from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, standing at the head of his elass, and he was immediately appointed to a position on board the U. S. battleship New Hampshire. Dr. Hedrick married for his second wife in 1899 Netta Williamson, of Hardin county, and they have a son, John S. Hedrick.
JOHN A. ROPP, a prosperous farmer of Jackson township, was born in this township on July 29, 1860. He is a son of Simon and Lydia J. (Stevens) Ropp, natives of Logan and Knox counties, Ohio, respec- tively. Simon Ropp's father entered eighty acres of wild government land previous to 1835, and this afterward became the property of Simon and now belongs to his son John A. Simon Ropp and his wife had the following children : Flora, May D., John A., Hattie (deceased), Dale (deceased), and two who died in infancy. Flora and May D. are resi- dents of Hancock county, Ohio. Simon Ropp was born August 15, 1829, and died February 28, 1907; his widow still resides on the home farm. Mrs. Lydia Ropp is a daughter of Jonathan Stevens, whose children were: Lydia J., Sarah, Lucinda, Mary, Nettie, Langford and Bryant.
John A. Ropp received his education in the common schools of his native township, and subsequently attended night school in Columbus, Ohio. He spent his early life on a farm, and when fifteen years of age entered the Athletic School of Columbus, from which he graduated in 1878. He then contracted with Sells Brothers as an acrobat, and his wonderful bareback riding and other feats delighted thousands of spectators in attendance at the "World's Greatest Show." In this capacity he traveled over the United States, Australia and New Zealand. One of the great attractions of the show was "Ropp," the fearless, dar- ing, intrepid bareback rider and leaper-at that time the world's famous leaper. Besides giving him an income, this afforded him the opportun- ยท ity of obtaining an education which can only be secured by travel, and he profited well by it. After seven years' successfully spent with this company Mr. Ropp returned to his native state and spent some years in Columbus, Ohio. In 1897 he returned to Jackson township, Hardin county, and has since been engaged in farming. His well improved farm of ninety acres he devotes to general farming. and has met with snecess in this enterprise.
In 1900 Mr. Ropp married Laura M., daughter of A. M. and May A. Bowers. Mr. Bowers was born at Green Springs, Seneca county, Ohio,
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and married Mary A. Pisel, a native of Hardin county, Ohio; their children were: Reuben, Libbie, William N., Laura M., James M. and Annie L. Mr. Ropp and his wife became parents of three children, Elmer H., Frank S. and Ellena. Mrs. Ropp is a native of Jackson township, and was born February 29, 1880.
NATHANIEL WILLIAMSON, late of Pleasant township, Hardin county, was a man of sterling character, straightforward and honest in his deal- ings, and ever ready to respond to any reasonable demand upon his time, energies or sympathies. Although the later years of his life were passed in agricultural pursuits. he taught school many years in his younger days, and was ever a friend of education. He was born, in 1828, in Richland county, Ohio, and died on the Williamson homestead in Pleasant township in 1885, aged fifty-seven years.
His father, William Williamson, a son of Bartholomew Williamson, emigrated from Virginia, his native state, to Ohio, becoming a pioneer settler of Richland county. A few years later he took up his residence in Ashland county, from there coming, in 1834, to Hardin county, making the journey through the well nigh pathless woods with teams, bringing his family and household goods with him. On March 13, after eight days' travel, he arrived in Pleasant township. Buying one hundred and sixty acres of timbered land, he cut trees to make room for a small cabin of hewed logs, which was the family's first home in this region. He began the improvement of a homestead, but ere he had accomplished very much of the necessary task his earthly career was cut short, his death occuring in 1836. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Bryte, survived him, attaining the age of seventy-one years. She married a second time, John Gumm, a farmer in Washington town- ship, becoming her husband. By her first marriage she had four chil- dren, namely: Nathaniel, Bartholomew, Rachel A., and Hannah J. John Gumm, Jr., the only child of her second union, was a soldier in the Civil war, and lost his life while in service.
A lad of eight years when his father died, Nathaniel Williamson continued to live with his mother and step-father, acquiring a practical education in the public schools, which was supplemented by home study and reading. While yet in his teens he began teaching during the winter seasons. On attaining his majority he, with his brother and sis- ters, returned to the paternal homestead in Pleasant township, and resumed the work of clearing the land which had been commenced by his father so many years before. Ile continued his professional labors, too, teaching the winter terms of school for twenty years, being employed one winter at Dunkirk, the remaining terms teaching nearer home. Even- tually Mr. Williamson purchased the interests of his brother and sisters in the old homestead, and was there successfully engaged in general farming until his death.
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