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 18
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JOHN LAUGHLIN CLARK .- During the greater part of his life John L. Clark has been identified with Hardin county and its interests, for many years one of its well known agriculturists, but he is now living retired in Kenton. He was born in Logan county of this state, near the town of Belle Center, on the 16th of October, 1835, a member of a family which was established in this country by Thomas B. Clark, a Scotchman. On coming from his native Scotland to the United States this Thomas B. Clark settled in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was a Presbyterian minister, and he organized churches and Sunday schools throughout northwestern Ohio, and he located in Guernsey county of this state in 1811. Ilis wife, Naney, was also from Scotland, and her first home in this country was in Erie county, Pennsylvania.
Alvin Clark, a son of Thomas B. and Nancy Clark, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1809. Ile received a college education, and chose farming for his life's work. During the war be- tween the north and the south he served in Company D, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but he was discharged in October of 1862 on account of disability, and from troubles contracted in his war service he died on the 10th of Angust, 1878. He was a stanch supporter of Republican principles, and a true and earnest Presbyterian he served for several years before his death as an elder in the First Presbyterian church at
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Belle Center and as a teacher in its Sunday school. In 1834 Mr. Clark married Mary Laughlin, who was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1809. In 1811 she moved with her parents from her native county of Erie to Guernsey county, Ohio, and with her husband in the fall of 1834 she moved to Logan county. She died on the 18th of September, 1881.
John L. Clark attended the academy at Washington, Guernsey county, and during the ten years after leaving school he was engaged in buying and shipping stock. In October of 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war, and being assigned to the Eastern Division he fought in the battle of Port Republie. He was discharged by order of the secretary of war on the 4th of August, 1862, being at that time a member of the board of engineers, and on the 10th of May, 1864, he was enrolled as first lieu- tenant of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged in garrison duty in Virginia. Following his return from the war Mr. Clark lived in Logan county until moving to a farm in Hardin county in 1876, and in 1896 he established his home in the county seat of Kenton. He too is a stanch supporter of Republi- can principles, and for one term he served his county as a member of its board of commissioners, was two terms trustee of Rock township, and for eight years was the postmaster of Kenton.
On the 15th of January, 1867, at Belle Center, Ohio, Mr. Clark was married to Elsie J. Ritchey, who was born in Logan county, February 11, 1844, a daughter of William and Martha Ritchey. She attended Geneva College at Northwood in Logan county. Her parents were among the early pioneers of that county, coming from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and settling in the town of Belle Center, where William Ritchey followed his trade of a carpenter. The following child- ren blessed the marriage union of Mr. and Mrs. Clark: William B. Clark, born April 18, 1869, at Belle Center, was educated at the Zaner- ian Business College at Columbus, Ohio, and is now a merchant at Huntingburg, Indiana. Alvin L. Clark, born September 7, 1870, at Belle Center, attended the Kenton schools and the Ohio Normal Univers- ity at Ada, Ohio, and is now assistant postmaster at Kenton. Walter II. Clark was born at Belle Center November 21, 1874. He attended the schools of Kenton, and is now a merchant at Marion, Ohio. James P. Clark, born May 5, 1876, at Belle Center, is engaged in fruit raising on MeKinley, Isle of Pines, Cuba. Mary J. Clark, born September 12, 1880, died on the 24th of August, 1898. Mr. Clark is one of the elders of the Presbyterian church at Kenton, and he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
W. O. WEIR, superintendent of the school at Dunkirk, IFardin county, Ohio, was born in 1868, at Forest in the county in which he now lives. His parents, John and Miriam (Case) Weir, were both born in Ohio, the former in the county of Coschoeton and the latter in Wyan- dot county. About a year previous to the birth of the subject of this sketch they moved to Hardin county and settled at Forest, where the mother died some years ago and where the father still lives. In their
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family were four children : Arthur J., Edgar C., C. O. and W. O .- all of Hardin county except Arthur J. who is a resident of Toledo, Ohio.
W. O. Weir received his preparatory education in the Forest high school. Then he entered Ada University, where he graduated in 1893, and subsequently he took a course at Lima College. He is a graduate of the last named institution with the class of 1908. In the meantime
he was engaged in teaching. When a boy in high school it was his intention to become a teacher, and his subsequent studies were pursued with this end in view-to fit himself for the responsible position not only a teacher but of a first-class teacher. He received a common school life certificate in 1899, and a high school life certificate in 1906. He taught successfully in the rural schools for eleven years and for twelve years has been connected with high school work, the past eight years as superintendent of the Dunkirk High School. This school
had its origin in 1866, when the union school system was organized, and in 1867 a four room brick building was erected, which was re- placed in 1883 by the present school building, erected at a cost of forty-eight thousand five hundred dollars.
In 1902 the school was reorganized as a second grade high school, and in 1904 it was raised to a first grade. At this writing (1909), the high school, which comprises four grades, has an enrollment of eighty-four, and the elementary school with its eight grades, has an enrollment of one hundred and twenty-one. At present nine teachers are employed in the schools numbering W. H. Mustard, H. B. Williams, J. W. Millette, S. D. Rank, J. R. Bowland, F. J. Stincheomb, E. W. Green, and W. O. Weir. The first man to preside here as superintendent was W. H. Mustard. He was followed by H. B. Williams, the present superintendent of the Sandusky City schools, and next came W. O. Weir, who as above stated, has been superintendent eight years. Professor Weir's principal and assistant in the high school are C. C. Barnes and John R. Bowland, respectively, both of whom are graduates of the Ada University.
Professor Weir married, 1894, Miss Anna O'Brien, a native of Forest, Ohio, born in 1869, and they have one son, Paul V., born in 1899, and who is now in the fifth grade of the public schools. In both fraternal and church circles the Professor is prominent and active. He is treasurer of Lodge No. 549, F. & A. M. and of R. A. M. No. 138, and has membership in the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. He worships with the Church of Christ. Hle has held the position of county teachers examiner for two terms, and has always stood for the advancement of the county's teachers. He has membership in all teachers' societies for advancement, is an ardent supporter of this town's welfare, eager for its advancement, and is a close student and an orator of ability, being in demand for teachers institutes and class addresses. His ad- dresses are classic and he never fails to prove he has a mission for the young student and teacher. Professor Weir is also at present president of the Perfect Gate Company, capitalized at ten thousand dollars and located at Forest, Ohio.
William, D. Smith
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WILLIAM D. SMITH .- The city of Kenton, Ohio, is the scene of operation of many thriving manufacturing enterprises, whose success has contributed not a little to the welfare and growth of the city. A- mong the efficient and enterprising men at the head of these institutions is William D. Smith, who is president and superintendent of the Ohio Machine Tool Company. Mr. Smith is a native of Kentucky, born at Newport, April 17, 1859, a son of Daniel and Caroline Wagner Smith. His father was born near Frankfort and his mother in Berlin, Germany, and they had six children, three sons and three daughters.
William D. Smith received his education in the public schools of Kentucky, but only got as far as the fourth reader. At the age of four- teen years he became an apprentice to the trade of machinist in Cincin- nati, where he served four years, a year and a half under special instrue- tion. He then took charge of a department for the MeFarland & Navgin- tonham Company, Cincinnati, manufacturers of machinery. Mr. Smith remained in their employ ten years, and then took charge of the Lodge- Davis Machine Tool Company, also of Cineinnati, with whom he remained eight years.
In 1867 Mr. Smith started in the machinist tool business on his own account in Cincinnati, and in 1891 moved this enterprise to Kenton, Ohio, where the business has since been carried on under the name of the Ohio Machine Tool Company. The concern has a capital stoek of fifty thousand dollars, with a paid up capital of thirty-five thousand dollars. Mr. Smith is president and superintendent, II. A. Wise, see- retary and treasurer, and Henry Gramlich, vice president. In times of great business activity the firm employs abont seventy-five men, and they do a general line of machine tool manufacturing.
In 1881, Mr. Smith married Bessie Williamson, daughter of Robert Williamson, and to this union two children have been born, Harry and Flora. Mr. Smith is a member of the Royal Arcanum. Politically he is a Republican and takes a commendable interest in public affairs. He is a self made man, and has reached his present position through his own energy and ambition. Ile has been engaged in his present oeeupa- tion since boyhood, and thoroughly understands every detail of the business under his charge. He is a man of high character and business probity, and is popular in business and social circles.
ROBERT L. SOUDER, M. D .- Prominent among those physicians of reputed experience, skill and ability who are enjoying a lucrative general practice in Ada, Hardin connty, is Robert L. Sonder, M. D., a man of much professional knowledge and wisdom. A son of William Sonder, he was born, February 13, 1851, in Crawford county, Ohio, near Sulphur Springs.
A native of Loudoun county, Virginia, William Sonder, when a boy, migrated with his parents to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and began his career as an independent farmer. He subse- quently moved to Crawford county, and for awhile continued his agricultural labors, owning a farm near Sulphur Springs. Giving up farming, he resided awhile at New Washington, from there coming, in 1861, to Ada, where he built a tannery, which he operated until his
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retirement from active pursuits. IIere he resided until his death, at the age of seventy-seven years. Ile was a man of sterling integrity, and a worthy member of the Presbyterian church. He married first, in Columbiana county, Nancy Stephens, who bore him eleven children. He married second, in 1840, in Crawford county, Margaret Latimer, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of George Latimer, who was of Irish descent, and to them four children were born.
The youngest of his father's family of fifteen children, Robert L. Sonder was ten years old when the family settled in Ada, where he acquired his preliminary education. After leaving the public schools, he studied under Dr. Lehr, before the organization of the college, and assisted his instructor as a pupil teacher. Ile afterwards taught in the public schools of Ada, serving one year as superintendent, in the mean- time spending all of his leisure time in reading medicine with Dr. Ralph Davenport, of Ada. During the winter of 1873 and 1874 he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, and the following winter attended lectures at the Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in the spring of 1875. Beginning the practice of his profession at North Baltimore, Wood county, Dr. Souder remained there three years, afterwards spending five years at Metamora, Fulton county. Going from there to Nevada, Wyandot county, he built up a large and remunerative patronage, re- maining there eighteen years. In 1902 the doctor came to Ada, and has since become one of the leading physicians of this part of Hardin connty.
On February 17, 1876, Dr. Souder was united in marriage with Jennie Melhorn, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, a daughter of Captain Michael and Martha (Ahlefeld) Melhorn, of Ada. Mrs. Souder is a woman of culture and refinement, and prior to her marriage taught several terms in the public schools of Ada. The Doctor and Mrs. Sonder have two children, namely: Donna, wife of II. L. Goodbrend, of Nevada, Ohio; and Ruth. The Doctor has accumulated a good property, and is the owner of the old Melhorn farming estate, which adjoins the village of Ada. He belongs to various medical organizations including the Hardin County Medical Society, the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and religiously he belongs to the Presbyterian church. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and while in Wyandot county served from 1897 until coming to Ada as a member of the Board of Pension Examiners.
DEMOIN EWING .- One of the most enterprising young farmers of Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, Ohio, Demoin Ewing, was born in Silver Creek, Ohio, June 19, 1876, a son of Robert I. and Orilla J. (Harris) Ewing, the former of whom died in 1898. Mrs. Ewing is a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Jewell) Harris, of Lincoln county, Ohio. The children born to Robert Ewing and his wife were: Demoin ; Roy, a farmer living near Kenton; Alfaretta, wife of Thad W. Carr,
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mentioned elsewhere in this work; and Glen, living in the state of Washington.
Demoin Ewing attended the public schools and received a liberal education. When about seventeen years of age he began working on a farm and he worked until about 1901 for Thad W. Carr. In 1901 he married Mary Carr Roberts, who was born January 29, 1879, daughter of Judson and Mary F. Roberts. Her mother died when she was an infant and she lived with her grandmother, Mrs. Lydia ( Howell) Carr, until her marriage. Her grandfather was Washington Carr, father of Thad W. Carr mentioned above. Mrs. Lydia Carr was a daughter of Halsey Howell. Judson Roberts still lives on a farm in this county.
Mr. Ewing and his wife have two children, Edna, born May 29, 1902, and Fred Judd, born June 25. 1907. Mr. Ewing is a member of the local Grange. He is a Republican in politics and though actively interested in public affairs, has never cared for office.
NATHAN AHLEFELD .- The honored subjeet of this memoir was a scion of one of the sterling families of the old Buckeye state, was himself for many years prominently identified with business and civic interests in Hardin county and was called upon to serve in various posts of dis- tinetive publie trust and responsibility and was a citizen who ever com- manded unequivocal confidence and respect in this section of the state. He passed the closing years of his life at his home in Kenton, this county, on the 9th of July, 1902, at which time he was sixty-eight years of age.
Nathan Ahlefeld was born in Richland county, Ohio, in the year 1833, and was a son of Rhinehard Ahlefeld, who was the founder of the family in America and who was a representative of a stanch old family of Germany where he was born and reared. About the year 1818 he immigrated to America and soon after his arrival came to Ohio and numbered himself among the pioneers of Richland county. In a remote way the ancestry is traced back to Danish origin, representatives of the name having moved from Denmark to Germany in the sixteenth century. In his native land Rhinehard Ahlefeld gained a good common school education and there he learned the miller's trade. After locating in Richland county, Ohio, he erected and operated a mill and there he also reclaimed from the forest a productive farm. In that county was solemnized his marriage to Phoebe Young, who was of German lineage and there all of their children were born. About 1849 the family removed to Allen county, Ohio, and later they removed thence to Hardin county and settled on a farm near Ada where the father died at the venerable age of seventy-six years.
Concerning the children of Rhinehard and Phoebe (Young) Ahlefeld the following brief data are entered: Mrs. Christina Moore resided in Allen county after marriage and there her death occurred when she was seventy-six years of age: Mrs. Martha Melhorn, a second daughter. was a resident of Hardin county after her marriage and she died at Ada, this county, at the age of seventy-six years; Mrs. Nancy Gilbert is now a resident of Burlington, Kansas; Mrs. Sarah Rockhill is a resident of
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LeRoy, that state; Nathan is the immediate subject of this memoir; Peter is a resident of the city of Cleveland, Ohio; and Jacob resides in LeRoy, Kansas. Nathan Ahlefeld gained his early education in the primitive pioneer schools of his native county and was about sixteen years of age at the time of the family's removal to Allen county. They settled near Rockport where they remained a few years, after which they came to HIardin county and established a home about one-half mile north of the village of Ada, a place now known as the Lowry farm. Nathan Ahlefeld early became dependent upon his own resources. At the age of seventeen years he went to live in the home of Dr. Sager at Lafayette, Allen county, and he remained with this pioneer physician until he was about twenty-one years of age, having been employed in a store conducted by Dr. Sager and at other incidental occupations. Short- ly before attaining his legal majority, in company with Calvin Gilbert, he set forth with an ox team and wagon for Minnesota where he secured from the government a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty aeres upon which a portion of the city of Minneapolis now stands. He there remained about two years and in the meanwhile perfected his title to the land. At the expiration of the period noted he returned to Ohio, making a short stay in the city of Chicago, which was then a place of compara- tive obscurity, and upon reaching Allen county he rejoined Dr. Sager who soon afterward entrusted him with a small stock of goods which he installed in a modest building in the village of Ada where he built up a successful enterprise. He was appointed the first postmaster of the town and also served as local railroad agent at that point. He eventu- ally bought a stock of goods from Mr. Sager, removed the same to another location in the village and succeeded in making the enterprise one of no inconsiderable scope and importance in the handling of general merchan- dise. He also became a successful dealer in real estate and his enterprise and initiative led him to identify himself with other lines of business through which he gained success, as he was recognized as a man of sterl- ing integrity and as one possessed of marked business aenmen. He served a second term as postmaster of Ada and shortly after the close of the war he erected the building in which was the first public hall of the town. This building, which is still standing, was also used by him for his mercantile establishment. Mr. Ahlefeld also became associated with his brother in the establishing of a bank at Ada and they conducted the same for a number of years. Still later, he served one term as county auditor, giving a most effective and acceptable administration.
In 1881 Mr. Ahlefeld disposed of his various interests in Ada and removed to Kenton where he entered into partnership with Curtis Wilkin, under the firm name of Ahlefeld & Wilkin, and they thereafter conducted a prosperous real estate and loan business until about 1893, when Mr. Wilkin retired from the firm, after which Mr. Ahlefeld con- tinned the enterprise until about seven years prior to his demise. During these years he lived virtually retired and when he was called to the life eternal, the community lost one of its honored pioneer citizens and able business men. While a resident of Ada, Mr. Ahlefeld was agent for the famous IIog Creek Marsh Lands and the sale of the same was effected
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through him. Through his own efforts Mr. Ahlefeld accumulated a competeney but he did not hedge himself in with selfish interests but was ever ready to give his support and influence in connection with all enterprises and measures attending to advance the general welfare of the community. In addition to serving as county auditor, in 1871, he was appointed by Governor James E. Campbell a member of the board of managers of the Ohio State penetentiary at Columbus, and he continued in this position during the administration of Governor Campbell. In politics he was a stanch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party. Both he and his wife were identified with the Presbyterian church.
On the 22d of May, 1856, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ahlefeld to Miss Celia E. Wiley, who was born in Worthington, Ohio, and who is a daughter of Dr. Isaac and Eliza (Lewis) Wiley, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio. Dr. Wiley traced his lineage back to Welsh origin and the founder of the family in America was Samuel Wiley, who came from Wales in 1765 and established his home at Snowhill, Maryland. He served as a patriot soldier in the war of the
Revolution. His wife was of Spanish descent and they reared a family of several children. Dr. Isaae Wiley was one of the honored pioneer physicians of Ohio and for many years was engaged in the active prac- tice of his profession at Worthington, this state, where his marriage was solemnized. He passed the closing years of his life in the home of his son-in-law, Nathan Ahlefeld, of this memoir, in the village of Ada, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-two years. The mother of Mrs. Ahlefeld was a relative of the historic Lee and Hull fam- ilies of Virginia and her paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Continental line in the war of the Revolution. Mrs. Ahlefeld still resides in the attractive and commodious residence, on north Detroit street, which was erected hy her husband upon his removal to Kenton.
In conclusion of this sketch is entered a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Ahlefeld. Ida is the wife of J. F. Andrews of Kenton; Albert G. is individually mentioned on other pages of this work ; Effie L. is the wife of J. B. Andrews of Goshen, Indiana ; Anna died at Ada, this county. at the age of two years, and Corinne is the wife of Curran Flanagan, editor and publisher of the Kenton Democrat.
HON. MOSES B. WALKER, LL. D .- The late General Moses B. Walker was one of the strong men produced by the state of Ohio. the proud mother of stalwart sons who have given such a splendid account of them- selves in the councils of commonwealth and nation. in the activities of the field, as well as of statesmanship. General Walker was a typical representative of the highest citizenship and patriotism of the Buckeye state. Ile was eminent as a brave soldier and a military leader ; honored for his ability as a lawyer and a judge and widely recognized by the Republican party as a man to be implicitly trusted-one of their most gifted and moral representatives. Wherever there was work to be done. either on the battlefields of the militia or of politics-work which required manly stamina and a high grade of courage-there could always be found General Walker in the thick of the fray.
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Moses B. Walker was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, horn on the 16th of July, 1819, and was a son of John and Mary (Davis) Walker. His mother was a native of Frederick county, Maryland, daughter of Ignatins and Mary (DeLamar) Davis, and was of French ancestry. John Walker, the father, was also a native of Maryland (St. Mary's connty). He was a planter in that section of the state-a Catholic and a Whig; and his polities may have had something to do with his coming to Ohio in 1798. In that year he settled in the Scioto valley near Chillicothe, where he prospered as a farmer and a good citizen. With trne sonthern spirit. he joined the other settlers in that part of the territory in their determined efforts to repel Indian attaeks and in- vasion, and was one of the pioneers who erected the famous Martin blockhouse in the Scioto valley. Likewise, he gladly left his plow to participate in the war of 1812 and the final settlement of the score against Great Britain, serving during several campaigns as lieutenant of the home militia. In his earlier years Mr. Walker was a Catholic, thereby adhering to the faith of his forefathers in Maryland; but later he beeame a member and a leading worker in the Methodist church. In 1842 Mr. Walker moved with his wife to Van Buren county, Iowa, loeat- ing large tracts of land along the Des Moines river, some of which he improved and handled others as investments. Ile died in this loeality about 1850. His wife was a woman of strong character and remarkable accomplishments. Through careful study, she gained a thorough knowledge of medicine and surgery, which she practiced to some extent- very unusual gifts and an almost unheard-of career for a woman of her day. Mrs. Mary Davis Walker died in Fowa in 1857. her son, Moses B., being then at the height of his standing as a citizen of Dayton, Ohio.
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