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 25
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one hundred and seventy-five acres, and this is now one of the best improved and most modern farms in the township. He has during the past many years been extensively engaged in raising and shipping stock in addition to his general farming. but he is now living retired and the work of the place is carried on by his two sons.
Mr. Fitzpatrick was married in 1869, on the 11th of November, to Emily F. Fleece, who was born in Morgan county, Virginia, January 29, 1853, a daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Dyke) Fleece. Joseph D. Fleece, who became a farmer and blacksmith, was born on the same homestead in Morgan county as was his daughter, and there too occurred the birth of John Fleece, the grandfather of Mrs. Fitzpatrick. The latter's wife was Mary Flynn. Joseph D. Fleece came to Hardin county, Ohio, in 1864, settling on a farm near Silver Creek, but his death occurred in MeDonald township. whither he subsequently moved, November 1, 1899, when seventy-one years of age. His wife, nee Rachel Dycke, died on the 8th of November of the same year, when sixty-five years of age. Mrs. Fitzpatrick has two brothers living, Albert and Charles, both farming in MeDonald township. The fol- lowing children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick: Ferrill, born in 1871, married Mary Ewing. by whom he has eight children, and he is a farmer in Taylor Creek township ; Florence, born in 1873, is the wife of Howard Vermillion, of Roundhead, and they have six children ; Mary, deceased ; Joseph, born in 1878, and now a Taylor Creek township farmer, married Emily Sherman and they have one child; William C., born in 1880, is living in Tacoma. Washington; John, born in 1883, and now a business man in Taylor Creek township. married Hattie Greentree, and they have two children; and Elizabeth, born in 1885, Randolph, in 1888, and Catherine, in 1890, all at the parental home. The family are members of the United Presbyterian church at Silver Creek.
SAMUEL EPLEY is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Hardin county, Ohio. His parents, George J. and Barbara (Wooster) Epley, natives of Germany, came to America some time previous to 1829, and stopped first at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, for a short time, the father worked at his trade, that of shoemaker. Soon the in- ducements offered by the Western Reserve attracted him to Ohio; he bought and sold a farm in Stark county, from Stark county he moved to Fairfield county, and in 1859 he came to Hardin county. IIere he bought a hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which Ada is now built, this part of the country being then a wilderness. And here he and his good wife endured the many hardships incident to life on the frontier, and also they enjoyed the advantages and opportunities which were offered for the development of a home and provision for their family. They had eleven children, whose names in order of birth are as follows : Mary, Elizabeth, Louis. John, George. Barbara, Catherine, Martin, Samuel, Jacob and Solomon. The mother died in 1849, the father in 1893, at a ripe old age.
Samuel Epley was born, in 1839, in Fairfield county, where he was reared and educated. Ile was just emerging from his teens and was
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still a member of the home cirele when the family settled in Hardin county, as above stated. When he was twenty-three he purehased a farm of eighty-aeres in Liberty township, virgin soil, which he improved and sold at a profit. Subsequently he bought and sold other farms, always realizing a good return for the money and labor expended. His present place comprises one hundred and forty acres of choice land, well improved and classed as one of the finest farms in Liberty township. His house and farm buildings are commodious and convenient. He uses the most modern methods and machinery, and he gives his personal time and attention to the care of his crops-in short, he is what may be termed a practical and successful farmer.
On March 3, 1863, Mr. Epley married Miss Caroline, daughter of Nicholas and Barbara Heigh, and two children were born to them, both now married: Mrs. Ida Bowers and Mrs. Daisy Carey. Mrs. Epley was born in Hardin county in 1841, and died in 1904. While in no sense a politician or a publie man, Mr. Epley has always taken a deep interest in various enterprises that have tended to promote the welfare of his township and county. lending both his influence and substantial aid whenever he could help along a worthy cause. When the university was started at Ada he was one of its first stockholders.
MRS. NANCY ANN WINDLE, widow of John H. Windle, of Taylor Creek township, was born in Maryland August 14, 1835. She is a daughter of John Halina, a native of Germany, who died in 1862. at the age of seventy years. His wife, Margaret (Vermond) Halina, died in 1860, at the age of fifty-six. They came to Ohio with their four chil- dren, and after his wife's death Mr. Halina moved west and settled near St. Louis, Missouri, where he died.
The childhood of Nancy A. Halina was spent in Maryland and in 1855 she married John H1. Windle, of Virginia, born in 1832, in that state, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Keller) Windle. After their marriage they lived four years in Virginia, engaged in farming, then lived two years near Columbus, Ohio, and a short time in Marion county. Later they located near Kenton, in Hardin county, where in June, 1875, they bought the present farm of seventy-five acres. Here Mr. Windle died and his widow has sinee resided on the farm, which is now managed by her son.
Mr. Windle enlisted for one hundred days' service in the Union army. He began farming in Franklin county and from there moved to Hardin county where he died in 1873. Mrs. Windle has brothers and sisters as follows: Sarah, wife of J. Stark, a farmer of McLean county, Illinois : Mary, widow of a Mr. Jones, an officer in the Civil war. killed during his service; and John, of Stanford, Illinois. Mrs. Windle is a member of the Methodist church and active in church work. She is one of the most highly esteemed residents of the community and has a wide circle of friends.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Windle are as follows: Samuel, deceased ; Catherine, wife of S. Swartz, of Kenton, has five children; Mary, wife of James Wells, of Kenton; John and George, twins, de-
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eeased; William H., who carried on the farm which he bought in 1899, married Ida B. Fenton; Anna, wife of Charles Bishop, of Crawford county, Ohio, has three children, Mary, Joseph and William, the last named married to Ethel Teets. Mr. Swartz and his wife have two children who are married. Burton, who married Flora Hanna and has one ehild, and Milla, wife of J. Frey, has two children.
William Windle, who owns the farm and with whom his mother lives, is a prosperous farmer, dairyman and stock raiser. IIe has some thirty head of cattle and considerable other stock. Mr. Windle is an enterprising, up-to-date farmer, and is very successful. His wife's father died when she was two years of age, and she was reared by J. R. Miller, of Kenton, with whom she lived until her marriage. She has one sister, Angeline, wife of M. Miller. Her mother was Harriet (Collins) Fenton. Mr. Windle and his wife became the parents of eight children, namely: Paul E., Marian J., Anna B., Roy W., Clyde V .. Cecil T., John R. and Grace. Politically Mr. Windle is a Democrat, and the family attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Sugar Creek, Ohio.
WILLIAM M. DUNSON, a prosperous farmer of Dudley township, Hardin county, was born in the county, in Hale township, April 16, 1863. He is a son of Louis and Margaret (Plew) Dunson. Louis Dunson, born in Logan county, Ohio, in 1822, was a son of Thomas Dunson, who was born in 1802, and was the first of the family to locate in Hardin county. He settled in Hale township, at what was then ealled Grassy Point, in 1840, and spent the remainder of his life clearing and improving his farm. He became the owner of one hundred acres. He married Beulah Patrick, a native of Virginia; he died at the age of seventy-two years. He was a member of the Christian church. Thomas Dunson served in the war of 1812 and hauled provisions as a mere boy. He moved from Virginia to Logan county, Ohio. Ile married Miss Cushing and both died in Hale township. Hardin county, on his farm.
After attending the district schools until he was a young man, Louis Dunson worked on his father's farm until his marriage and then located in North Washington. Later he purchased the old Doby farm in Hale township, which he sold in 1863 and bought another farm in the same township. In 1865 he located in Buck township, where he earried on farming until a few years before his death, then retiring to Mt. Victory, where he died in May, 1897. He was a prominent man and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Thirteenth Ohio, and was wounded at the battle of Stone River by a gunshot in his knee. He was discharged, and returned home February 20. 1863. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic of Mt. Victory. He was a successful farmer and made a specialty of breeding Poland China hogs. Ile married, in 1849. Margaret, daughter of William and Mary (Kelly) Plew, and they had children as follows: Beulah, wife of J. W. Thompson, of Kenton, Ohio; John, of Hepburn ; Benniah, a carpenter of Kenton; Thomas, of Idaho; Aliee, wife of J. Plattner; William M .; Cora, wife of W. Hastings; and Rush, of Defiance, Ohio.
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After reaching his majority. William M. Dunson helped his father on the farm one year and then followed the trade of carpenter ten years in Hale township. HIe then removed to Hepburn and spent eleven years at his trade and working on the railroad, and during that time also carried on a farm near Mt. Victory. In 1897 he sold this farm and bought his present farm of fifty-nine acres, where he makes a specialty of cattle, sheep and hog raising. He also owns some property in Hepburn. He owns one hundred and eighty acres of land in Lawrence county, Kentucky, where he spent one year about 1904 and which he now rents. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and also of the Grange. Though taking an interest in public affairs he does not take any active part in political matters, spending his whole time in carrying on his farm and caring for his business interests.
On April 15, 1888. Mr. Dunson married Sarah A. Piekett, born in 1858. a daughter of Peter J. and Hannah (McFadden) Piekett, natives of Muskingum county. Mr. Pickett came from Belmont county. Ohio, to Hardin county. Ile died in 1860, at the age of thirty-two years. having been born April 13, 1828. Mrs. Pickett was the daughter of Robert and Nancy (Barrett ) McFadden, natives of Belmont county. She died in 1863, at the age of thirty-four. leaving four children, Mrs. Dunson being then five years of age. Hler brothers are Marian, a farmer; William, of Dunkirk, Ohio; and James, of Fullerton, California. Mrs. Dunson, at the death of her mother, was adopted by Joshua and Elizabeth (Hopkins) Cope. He was born December 12. 1813. and died in 1902. His wife, a native of Pickaway. Ohio, daughter of Robert and Naney (Veney) Hopkins, was born February 26, 1817, and died in 1885. Mr. Cope came to Hardin county in 1832; he was a son of Joshua and Isabella (McCrea) Cope. Mrs. Dunson attended the public schools until eighteen years of age and later attended Ada University. She taught school seven years and then kept house for her foster-father after his wife's death. Her younger brother also lived with Mr. Cope and his wife. Mr. Cope raised, or partly raised, nineteen ehildren, including all of Mrs. Dunson's brothers and herself.
Mr. Dunson and his wife had children as follows: Lewis H., born in 1888. an architeet living in California; George A., born March 11. 1890. attending high school in Kenton; Mildred May, born in 1892. attending school in Kenton; Orpha, born February 21, 1896, also attend- ing school in Kenton; Beulah Alice, born March 23. 1899; and John William, born April 19, 1901. Mr. Dunson is a very successful farmer and is well known throughout the community. He is honest and upright. and his probity and good principles are unquestioned.
CHARLES A. GUIDER .- In the death of Charles A. Guider, at his home in the village of MeGuffey, on the 29th of November. 1902. there passed away one of the honored and sterling citizens of Hardin county, which had represented his home and been the scene of his endeavors during the major portion of his long and useful life. He was a man of great meehanieal genius and ability, and during nearly his entire busi-
Vol. II-13
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ness career he was identified with mechanical enterprises, through the medinm of which he attained independence and prosperity. He served with intrepid valor as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war, during nearly the entire period of which he was stationed with his regiment in the great northwest, where he assisted in holding the hostile Indians in subjection and also in other important military movements. It is said that he was the only man with an artificial leg who succeeded in enlisting in the army at the time of the Civil war, and this physical defeet was not discovered by the military authorities for some time after he had entered the service. The infirmity never interfered with his duties as a soldier, and his record was one of signal gallantry. He was a man of nnassuming characteristics but his intrinsie integrity, sincerity and honor were never questioned, so that it was a natural result that he should hold a secure place in the confidence and regard of the people of Hardin county, where he long lived and labored to worthy ends. It is a matter of gratification to be able to present in this work a brief review of his career.
Charles A. Guider was born in the city of Columbus, Ohio, on the 5th of November, 1837, and was a son of Augustus C. and Christena (Daniel) Guider, both of whom were natives of Schwartzburg-Rodolstadt, Germany, where the former was born in 1810 and the latter in 1812. Both passed the closing years of their lives in Hardin county, Ohio, where the mother died in 1852 and the father in 1870. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this memoir was of Spanish birth. Augus- tus C. Guider came with his wife to Ohio in 1834, and in 1841 they removed to Hardin eounty and settled in Washington township, where the father devoted the remainder of his life principally to agricultural pursuits. Of the six children Charles A. was the eldest son.
The educational advantages of Charles A. Guider in his boyhood and youth were limited, as he was reared to maturity in the pioneer wilds of Hardin county, but nevertheless succeeded in obtaining a good practical education and became proficient in three languages, namely: English, German and Sionxan ( Indian). Hle early began to lend his aid in the work of the home farm and manifesting from his boyhood most pro- nounced mechanical ability. As a youth he made all the tools and implements used on the farm, even manufacturing wagons and buggies. In 1858, shortly before attaining his legal majority, he secured employ- ment in the wagon factory of J. G. Orth, at Arcadia, Hancock county, and in November of the same year he went to Findlay, this state, where he engaged in the same line of work and proved himself a skilled artisan. In May, 1860, he returned to Washington township, Hardin county, where he secured a position in a saw mill, in which he was soon made head sawyer. Soon afterward he went to Indiana, but he remained only a short time. He returned to Hardin county and here, on the 21st of November, 1861, the accidental overturning of a wagon so severely crushed his right foot and ankle as to necessitate the amputation of the leg at a point midway between the ankle and knee.
To the average man such an infirmity as that noted would have precluded all thought of going forth for service as a soldier, but the
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loyalty and patriotism of Mr. Guider were such that he refused to recog- nize his injury as a handicap, when the integrity of the nation was in peril through armed rebellion. Thus, on the 23d of July, 1863, he enlisted as a private in a company recruited in Ilardin county for a term of six months. This company was sent to Camp Dennison at Columbus, and was finally disbanded, whereupon Mr. Guider and other members of the organization joined the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, which was forthwith assigned to service in the northwest. There he had charge of mail squads between Horse Station and Fort Marshall, a distance of fifty-five miles, and he also encountered his full share of dangers and ardnons service in other lines. He continued with his command for three years, during which he was absent from duty only six days. HIe was promoted to the office of corporal and was assigned to the charge of large squads of men sent forth on detail duty of danger- ons order, the Indians being a constant menace to the troops in their operations. In 1865 Corporal Guider and twelve of his men were assigned to duty at Fort Marshall, where, during the last three months of his service, he had charge of the artillery,-a preferment gained by his bravery and his skill as a marksman. In July, 1864, Mr. Guider carried a message, requesting reinforcements, from Colonel Collins, at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, to Major Mackey, at Fort Halleck,-a distance of one hundred and thirty miles through a country infested by hostile Indians. Hle accomplished this hazardous mission in one and one-half days. In the spring of 1866 his company returned to Fort Laramie, and on the 15th of the following June the command started for the east arriving at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, about the middle of the following month. There Mr. Guider received his honorable discharge on the 14th of July, 1866. Frank Weller, a member of the same regiment, con- tributed to a Kenton paper some time ago a most interesting and appre- ciative artiele relative to Mr. Guider, who was still living at the time, and it is but consistent that the statements be perpetuated in this memoir In the context only. slight elimination and paraphrase are made, to render the article consonant with the province of the sketch here presented.
"In reminiscent war talks with veterans of the Union army in different parts of the country. I have frequently mentioned a comrade of my own, who, I claimed, was the only soldier with an artificial leg ever mustered into the United States army. This statement is usually received with polite ineredulity by many old soldiers, while some who are more pointed than polite flatly contradict it. It does seem ineredu- lous that a man with one foot literally in the grave could pass the rigid medical examination that was supposed to prevail in the army, but that such a thing did actually happen, in one instance at least, can be verified by the officers and enlisted men of the regiment, as well as by the soldier himself, who has been a resident of Hardin county for many years. The soldier who is thus distinguished above his comrades is Charles A. Guider. Early in 1861 his foot was so ernshed by the overturning of a wagon that amputation was necessary, midway between the ankle and knee. Guider was confined to his bed by the injury when the attack
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upon Fort Sumter was made, and the president issued his first eall for troops. Ile is a patriot composed of the stuff of which good soldiers are made, and it grieved him deeply because he was debarred by the loss of his leg from offering his services to the country in its time of danger and need. When the stump was sufficiently healed the place of the missing leg was supplied by one of cork, which, after a few weeks use, could not be detected save by a slight limp in walking.
"Guider would have enlisted as soon as he was able to go about, but he felt that it would be impossible for him to pass the strict medieal examination to which volunteers are supposed to be subjected. How- ever, in 1863, he did enlist in a company of six months' eavalry that was being recruited in Kenton, hoping by hook or erook to slip past the examining surgeon. The six months' regiment was disbanded at Camp Dennison and Guider, with several other Hardin county boys, joined the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry, which was being organized at that place. The writer entered the company from another county at the same time, and was mustered into the service with Guider. It is singular, indeed, that an army surgeon would perform his duty in so careless a manner as to pronounce a man with an artificial leg as physically sound and fit for active service in time of war; and the only way it can be accounted for is that the surgeon was under the influence of liquor. The exami- nation in the case of the writer was superficial in the extreme and consisted of a few thumps on the chest and a silly question or two in regard to his physical condition. Guider's turn came next, and the inference is that his examination was conducted in the same free and easy manner, as he was accepted and the next day became a full-fledged soldier in Uncle Sam's army. When the organization of the regiment was completed it was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and after a short campaign in pursuit of the freebooter, Quantrell, was ordered to Fort Laramie, in the territory that is now embraced in the state of Wyoming.
"It was not until the regiment reached the latter place that it be- eame generally known that one of its members sported a wooden leg. Then it was that the regimental surgeon sent for Guider and tendered him his discharge on the ground of physical disability. But the intrepid cavalry man would not have it that way. He said that he had enlisted for three years or during the war, and he intended to stick to the boys until he was either killed or discharged. He was true to his word and proved to be one of the bravest and most valuable soldiers in the regi- ment. There was not a soldier in the regiment more respected by both officers and men, and he had been but a short time in the company until he was made a non-commissioned officer. During the three years the regiment was in the service he was on the sick report but three times, and never shirked a duty or asked a favor on account of his physical infirmity. Ile was always ready for duty and took an active part in all the marches, scouts, fights and skirmishes in which his company was engaged. Onee he volunteered with a single companion to carry a dispatch from Fort Laramie to Fort Halleck, a distance of nearly one hundred and forty miles, over plain and mountains, through a wildly
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desolate country literally swarming with hostile savages who never took a prisoner alive. This was a feat that few men in the regiment. how- ever daring would have cared to undertake.
"After three years of arduous, dangerous and honorable service Comrade Guider was mustered out with the regiment, at Fort Leaven- worth. July 14, 1864. He then returned to Hardin county, where he has since lived, proving himself to be as good and as useful a citizen as he was a brave and patriotic soldier. Mr. Guider is a modest and unassuming gentleman, as indeed are all good soldiers, and has never tried to gain fame or sympathy as the only one-legged man who ever enlisted in the army. He believes that he only did his duty, and has never sought fame on account of it. And it can also be added that up to this time his name does not appear on the pension rolls."
Upon his return to his home in Hardin county Mr. Guider began work in the construction of a schoolhouse in Cessna township. and for four years thereafter he followed the trades of carpenter and black- smith. In 1871 he married, and he then turned his attention to the manufacturing of wagons and carriages, establishing his shop in the village of North Washington. now Dola. From 1875 to 1881 he utilized horse power in the operation of the machinery of his shop. He manu- factured his own band saw. boring machine, drill and lathe. In the autumn of 1880 he engaged in the manufacture of himber, in Lynn township, and in this enterprise he was associated with M. L. Bridenstine and W. J. Obenour. In September. 1882, he sold his interest in the business and returned to his home in North Washington (now Dola) but in December, 1882, repurchased the business and moved to MeGuffey where he continued to manufacture lumber until November 29. 1902. when he met his death by the explosion of the boiler in his mill. He was unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party and took a deep and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the day. though he had naught of ambition for official preferment of any de- scription. Hle was a consistent and liberal member of the United Brethren church, an uncompromising advocate of the cause of temper- ance, and was a man who was signally true and loyal in all the relations of life. His heart was attuned to kindliness and charity, and he was a true friend to those in affliction and distress. In the precinets of his home, the center of his interests and affections, his nohle character best revealed itself, and to those nearest and dearest there comes a measure of consolation and compensation in the memories of the past and in having lived in touch with one so generous and one who so well exemplified the truth of the statement that "The bravest are the tenderest: the loving are the daring."
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