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 31
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Charles Shuster was born on his father's farm, the homestead which he now owns, and he attended the common schools. Ile has added forty acres to the homestead, making him a farm of one hundred and forty acres. On the 26th of December, 1890, he was married to Miss
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Juines AB Bowilliso
WM J Boudle
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Anna, a danghter of A. C. and Julia Baker, and she was born in Beach- ton, Union county, Ohio, in 1865. Her parents were from Baden, Ger- many, the father born in 1821 and the mother in 1837, and the former was a son of Francis Baker, who with his family came to seek a new home in a new country in 1832. In 1837 he entered one hundred and twenty acres of land in Liberty township. but he resided near Columbus, where he owned a seventy-five aere tract, and he died in 1859, and his wife in 1888. A. C. and Julia Baker also came to the United States in 1837, and after the death of his father A. C. Baker purchased the latter's claim in Hardin county of the remaining heirs and moved thereto in 1865. By subsequent purchase he became the owner of one hundred and sixty aeres. Ile married Julia Hammer in 1855, and the following eight chil- dren were born to them: Lizzie, Sophia, Kate, Francis, Anna, William, Lonis and Mary. The four children, a son and three daughters, born to Mr. and Mrs. Shuster are Donald, Catherine, Julia and Incile C.
WILLIAM T. BOWDLE .- A native son of Hardin county and a member of one of its well known and highly honored pioneer families, Mr. Bowdle is a citizen of prominence and influence in Roundhead township, where he was reared to manhood and where he has maintained his home from the time of his nativity. Ile conducts a general store and operates a saw mill at Holden, in this township, and is also the owner of a well improved farm property of two hundred and five arres. He is famil- iarly known as Esquire Bowdle, from the fact that he has long been the ineumbent of the office of justice of the peace, and no citizen of the com- minity is held in higher confidence and esteem.
Mr. Bowdle traces his lineage back to stanch German origin, and the family was founded in America in the colonial epoch of our national history, while the name has been identified with the annals of the state of Ohio since the pioneer days. William T. Bowdle, the immediate subject of this review, was born on the old homestead farm in Roundhead township, Hardin county, on the 11th of December, 1847, and is a son of James B. and Elizabeth (Reed) Bowdle, both likewise natives of Ohio. James B. Bowdle was born and reared in Ross county, and was a son of Joseph and Lucretia (Brown) Bowdle, who continued to reside in that county until their death, though the father had early seenred a tract of land in Hardin county. James B. Bowdle was one of a family of eight children, the names of the others being as here noted: Jesse L., Nelson, Thomas, Milton, William B., Rebecca and Anna. Of this family two are still living, William B. and Milton.
James B. Bowdle received very limited educational advantages, owing to the exigencies of time and place, but he attended the primitive pioneer schools as opportunity afforded, and his entire active career was marked by excellent judgment, indefatigable industry and sterling integrity in all the relations of life. In 1831 he moved from Ross county to Hardin county, and in November of that year he settled on the land previously seenred by his father in Roundhead township. Upon him devolved the herenlean task of reclaiming a farm from the virgin forest, and he put forth his energies so effectively that in due course of
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time he reelaimed his land into productivity and made one of the good homes of this section. His original domicile was a log honse of the type common to the pioneer days, but with increasing prosperity he was enabled to avail himself of better facilities and to provide a substantial residence for his family. He continued to reside on the old homestead until his death, in 1890, at the age of eighty-two years, secure in the esteem and goodwill of all who knew him. He contributed to the mater- ial and civic npbuilding and development of Hardin county, and on the roster of its worthy pioneers his name shall have an enduring plaee. Both he and his wife, whose death occurred in about 1856. at which time she was fifty years of age, were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in polities he was originally a Whig and later a Republican. Of their children two died in infaney, and the names of the others are here entered: Sarah J .. Margaret, Mary F., Joseph A., John W .. David N .. William T .. Nancy S. S. and Caroline. The children now living are Joseph A. and William T., the family having numerons representatives in Hardin county at the present time.
William T. Bowdle is one of the sterling citizens of Hardin county whose memory forms an indissoluble link between the primitive pioneer epoch and the latter days of opulent prosperity in this favored seetion of the state. and his reminiscences of the early days are interesting and graphie. Ile was reared to maturity on the old home farm, early be- ginning to assist in the clearing of land and other parts of the farm work, thus learning well the lessons of practical and consecutive industry, the while he availed himself of the advantages offered in the little log school house, with its puncheon floor. wide fireplace and slab desks and benches. In the broader school of experience he has developed his naturally alert and vigorous mentality and is known as a man of wide general information and mature judgment. as well as one endowed with excellent business acumen.
Mr. Bowdle remained at the parental home until his marriage, at the age of twenty-two years, when he initiated his independent career as a farmer. He has never entirely abandoned his association with agri- cultural pursuits, and is now the owner of a well improved farm of two hundred and five aeres. in his native township. where he lives and eon- duets his general merchandise store. Mr. Bowdle conducts a well equipped general store at llolden, drawing his patronage from the excellent rural section of this vicinity and being known as a straight- forward. reliable and upright business man and as a eitizen of ntmost loyalty and public spirit. In addition to his store he is the owner of a saw mill, which he has successfully operated for a number of years past.
In politics Mr. Bowdle gives an uncompromising allegiance to the Republican party, and he takes a lively and intelligent interest in the vital issues of the day. In a more loeal way he has ever given his influ- enee and aid in support of those measures and objeets which eonserve the social, moral. educational and material well being of the community. He served as postmaster at Holden for several years, having been ap- pointed to this office under the administration of President McKinley. He has been justice of the peace in Roundhead township since 1892, and
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has so ably administered the affairs of the office as to make it justify its title. He is a member of Wayne Lodge No. 569. Free and Accepted Masons. Ile is recognized as one of the pillars of the Fletcher Chapel Methodist Episcopal church and has long been one of its most zealous and devoted members, being at the present time assistant superintendent of its Sunday school, as well as a valued member of its board of trustees.
On the 11th of March. 1870. Mr. Bowdle was united in marriage to Miss Laura Rutledge, who was born and reared in Hardin county, this state, and who was a daughter of the late B. W. Rutledge. Of the five children of this, union one son died in infaney, and Caroline A., Cora M. and Clara A. also are deceased. The one surviving is Otto E., who is now a resident of Akron, this state. On the 27th of November. 1892, Mr. Bowdle contracted a second marriage, being then united to Miss Amy J. Street, who presides with dignity over their attractive home. She was born on a farm near Ada. Ilardin county. Ohio, on the 29th of December. 1862. and is a daughter of Uriah and Lucinda Street, both now deceased. Concerning the five children of the second marriage the following brief record is given in conclusion of this sketch: Emmet ('. was born October 21, 1893; James W. died in infancy in 1895: Joseph II. was born May 28, 1897: Charles P. was born JJuly 16. 1899; and Oliver G., who was born September 30, 1901. died in 1902.
JAMES W. BOWEN, who has a general store at MeGuffey, Ohio, is one of the representative men of his locality. Mr. Bowen was born in Washington county, Ohio, October 23, 1876, son of George and Amanda (Wilson) Bowen, and was educated in the common schools of his native county. His father a farmer, he was reared to farm life in Washington county, Ohio, and in Lincoln county. Kansas. He remained with his father until he was eighteen, after which for several years, he worked out by the month on farms. In November. 1904. he opened up a stock of general merchandise at MeGuffey. Ilardin county. and devoted his attention to the business. In this he has prospered from the start. He earries a stock of well assorted goods, valued at about two thousand dollars, and ovenpies his own store, a frame building, thirty by sixty feet in dimensions, which he erected in 1909. Besides his store, he owns his home and other property at MeGuffey.
In December, 1897. he married Miss Ella Obenonr. a native of ITardin county, Ohio, born in 1878; and they have one daughter. Delorys. born in September, 1898. Politically, Mr. Bowen is a Democrat: fra- ternally. a Knight of Pythias, having membership in Golden Shield Lodge, No. 724. Also he is a Modern Woodman.
GEORGE F. STAMBAUGH, is one of the able representatives of that class of progressive business men who are giving marked impetus to the industrial and civie advancement of Hardin county. where he is one of the interested principals in the Scioto Land Company, which owns and has under cultivation an extensive tract of land in this section. the same being largely devoted to the propagation of onions, with enor- mous annual production.
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Mr. Stambaugh was born in the city of Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, on the 12th of June, 1870, and is a son of John and Caro- line (IFamilton) Stambaugh, who are now both deceased, the father having died in New York City, and the mother in Mississippi. George F. Stambaugh received his early educational discipline in the public schools of his native city, after which he attended the preparatory school at Saratoga Springs, New York, being graduated in this institution in 1888. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Stambaugh became associated with his brothers, Henry and John Stambaugh. in the raising of the best type of standard-bred horses, in Mahoning county, this state, and he continued to be identified with this line of enterprise for five years, within which the three brothers bred and had on the trotting turf many fine horses. The subject of this review has not lost his interest in racing affairs and is still the owner of several valuable and speedy trotters.
In 1893 Mr. Stambangh came to Hardin county, where he has since maintained his home and where he is one of the principal stockholders in the Scioto Land Company, which owns abont four thousand acres of the valuable land in this section, much of the same being the specially fertile marsh land, which has been reclaimed and which is utilized large- ly in the raising of onions, though other products are raised in large quantities. About four hundred acres are now under affective cultiva- tion and the company has made the best of improvements on the proper- ty, in the operation of which a large force of men is employed throughout the entire year. The output of onions alone aggregated fully sixty thousands bushels in 1909, and this brief statement indicates the seope and importance of the company's operations, which have marked bear- ing on the industrial prosperity of Hardin county. Mr. Stambangh re- sides in the attractive little village of MeGuffey and is known as a young man of marked business arumen and executive ability, being one of the substantial capitalists of his native state. In polities he is arrayed as a staunch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republi- ean party stands sponsor, and he is affiliated with the lodge of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks at Kenton, as well as with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is genial in his bearing, liberal and tolerant in his association with his fellow men, and is held in high esteem in the community in which he has elected to maintain his home and in whose welfare he shows a lively and helpful interest.
On November 5, 1902, Mr. Stambangh was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Conner, daughter of John P. Conner, a representative citizen of Hardin county. Mr. and Mrs. Stambaugh have no children.
WILLIAM A. FULLILOVE, general merchant at MeGuffey, Hardin county, Ohio, has been in business here sinee 1898. Mr. Fullilove is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Boone county, July 17, 1854, son of John IF. and Berilla ( Arnold) Fullilove; and was educated in his native state, for a time being a student at White Haven Boarding School. In 1880 he entered the employ of the T. & O. C. R. R., and with head- quarters in Marion county, Ohio, was on the road for many years. He was appointed postmaster of Martel, Ohio, and served as such under
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Grover Cleveland's second administration. Coming to MeGuffey in 1898, he turned his attention to general merchandising, and from the first has met with merited success. He carries a well assorted stock of first class goods, worth on an average six thousand and five hundred dollars, and ocenpies his own building which he erected in 1903. In addition to this property, he owns real estate at other places.
Mr. Fullilove married in Knox county, Missouri, Miss Susie Burton, and they have one daughter, Ethel, wife of Henry Wallace. Fraternally, Mr. Fullilove is identified with Calantha Lodge, No. 116, Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Fullilove is a member of the Disciple church.
GEORGE W. KLINGLER .- The Klingler name is an old and honored one in Hardin county, and it also belongs to some of the pioneers of the county. This family trace their ancestry in this country to John Kling- ler, who came many years ago from his native land of Switzerland to the United States and with his family located in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and there his children were born. That family included Adam Klingler, who finally moved to Perry county, Ohio, after his marriage to Elizabeth Fielder. There they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land during President Andrew Jackson's administration, reared their family and died in peace and plenty. They became the parents of twelve children, but only David, George, Jacob A., Joel, Margaret and Leah moved to Hardin county, but not all at one time, although inside of five years.
David Klingler came to this county in 1848, and the land which his father entered he gave to him, it being then in its virgin state, and it took hard and incessant toil to bring it to the productive place which it soon was. He built a hewed log house there with a board floor, it being rather a comfortable and commodious dwelling, and he married Miss Sarah Brosius, of German parentage. Her people, who were wealthy, emigrated to this country in an early day. To David and Sarah Klingler were born eighteen children, namely: Amos, Reuben and Joshua (twins), Charles, David, Melanchton, Adam, Jacob, Sarah, Calvin, Franklin, William, Mary and Amelia (twins), Douglas, Silome, Cyrus and Catherine. Amos, Douglas and Amelia are residents of Hardin county. David Klingler, the father, died in 1875, his wife Sarah having passed away twenty-four years ago.
Amos Klingler, the first born of the eighteen children. was born in Perry connty, Ohio, in 1842, and he has always followed agricultural pursuits. In 1865 he.bought his present farm of eighty acres of wild and nnimproved land, but this unproductive plaee soon gave way to a valuable and well cultivated homestead. In 1862 Amos Klingler married Miss Lucinda Greenawalt, from Allen county, Ohio, and their eight children are: David H., Reuben M., John C., George W., Clara, Isaiah, Nathan L. and Adam. Clara, the only daughter. is the wife of C. M. Clun.
George W. Klingler was born in Liberty township. Hardin county. June 6, 1867, and he was reared and educated in his native township. and adopting the vocation of his ancestors he has become a prominent
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and successful agriculturist. He began life for himself without capital save willing hands and ready mind, and his first investment in land was hut a small tract. To that he soon added forty acres more, then an ad- ditional twenty and kept on increasing his landed possessions until he now owns an estate of one hundred and seventy-five acres of the finest farming land of the community and improved with as fine a set of build- ings as are found in Hardin county. Ilis barn is a convenient and com- modious structure erected in 1904, and the home, modern and complete in its appointments, was built in the following year of 1905. Mr. Klingler makes a specialty of raising hogs.
On August 26, 1893, Mr. Klingler was married to Miss Bessie, a daughter of the Rev. Eli Beagle, a minister in the Dunkard church. She was born in Blanchard township of Hardin county in 1872. The four children of this union are: Chauncey V., born in 1894; Gladys, in 1898; Amos E., in 1902; and Raymond, in 1904. The family are members of St. Paul's Reformed church and Mr. Klingler is a member of the Grange.
HENRY ELROY DICKINSON, a banker and merchant of Mt. Victory was born July 16. 1857, in Logan county, Ohio, and is a son of Louis and Mary Ann (Beck) Dickinson. ITis grandparents were Quakers and the grandfather. Thomas Dickinson, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and came from Virginia to Ohio, where he settled near Zanesfield. They endured the hardships of pioneer life, and on account of Indian troubles had to move farther into the woods, as at that time Zanesfield was only a trading place. He located near Rushcreek lake where he lived until his death.
Lonis Dickinson was born in Logan county, Ohio, and in his youth tanght school. He became a farmer, which business he followed the re- mainder of his life, in connection with stock-raising. He was an earnest and active member of the Methodist church ; politically he was a Repub- lican and filled varions local offices. Ilis wife was born in Hardin county, and was a daughter of St. Leger Beck, a farmer. Louis Diekin- son and his wife had, besides Henry E., children as follows: Joshna Newton, a farmer of Elk City, Oklahoma ; St. Leger, a farmer of Cleve- land, Oklahoma ; Adelia, wife of J. M. Keller, a farmer of Houston, Texas; Margaret, wife of William Dixon, of Ray, Colorado. Mrs. Dickinson died in March, 1864, at the age of twenty-seven years. Mr. Dickinson married (second) Elizabeth Rosebrook, who is still living. Their children were: Minnie, wife of Rev. D. G. Hall, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Forest; Ella, wife of William Irick, a farmer near Rushsylvania; and Robert L., in dairy business at Findlay.
After reaching the age of sixteen years Henry E. Dickinson at- tended the Rushsylvania high school. Ada University and Delaware University and a commercial college. When twenty-two years of age he engaged in teaching school. In 1884 Mr. Dickinson removed to Kansas, where he spent five successful years in farming; for one year he was employed as clerk in a mercantile establishment, and returning to Ohio, he engaged in the implement business at Bellefontaine, Ohio. A year later he located in Mt. Victory, where he entered into partnership
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WATSON SPENCER
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with T. M. Wallace. in the hardware and implement line, and they had the most extensive establishment of the kind in Hardin county.
Mr. Diekinson has invested in various business enterprises, and is looked upon as a keen, elear-headed man of business. In 1893 he became cashier of Mt. Victory Bank, and in 1904 became its vice president. Besides his financial interests in other lines. Mr. Dickinson takes an active interest in farming, having several farms in Hardin connty. He is much interested in stock raising. He was promoter of the erection of the large business block, of brick, covering a square block, in Mt. Victory, and with his partner, W. Witcraft, promoted what is known as the Diekinson-Witeraft Addition to Mt. Victory. They improved and built up the road out of the city known as the West Mansfield pike. Mr. Dickinson is considered one of the leading business men of the county, and is highly esteemed by all.
Mr. Dickinson is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ile is a member of the Masonic order, being affiliated with the Blue Lodge, the Commandery and Conneil at Kenton, and Consistory of Dayton and Cincinnati. IIe belongs to the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks of Kenton, and the Knights of Pythias and Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of MIt. Vietory. He is strongly Repub- lican in political views, though he has never cared for publie office. He is now a member of the county executive committee. He also served as state delegate for years, is interested in education, having served for fifteen years as a member of the school board.
Mareh 5. 1884. Mr. Dickinson married Elizabeth Amanda Wallace, born July 1, 1863, daughter of Alexander and Mahala (Roberts) Wallace, pioneers of Logan county. Ohio, both deceased. Mr. Diekinson and his wife became parents of three children. Lewis Clyde, who died at the age of two and one half years. Mary Twila and John Alexander. Mary T. is a graduate of Mt. Vietory high school and of Ada University and also attended Delaware University two years, and is now attending National Park Seminary, in Maryland, where she will be graduated this year. John Alexander took a course in the Michigan Military Academy and entered Kenyon College at Gambier. Ohio, in 1909.
THOMAS J. SPENCER, who owns a large farm in Roundhead township and looks after his extensive interests. having practically retired from active business life, is a native of the township. born October 23, 1841, a son of Watson and Elnore (Rutledge) Spencer. Watson Spencer was born in Clinton county, Ohio. in 1812, and his wife's parents were from Maryland. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom lived to maturity : Mary A .. Elizabeth J., Lonisa, Melissa and Thomas J. Mr. Spencer and his wife moved to Logan county during their early married life, and about 1838 located in Hardin county, in Roundhead township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Spencer died in 1879 and his wife in 1851.
The boyhood of Thomas J. Spencer was spent on a farm, and he received a good education in the common schools. At the age of twenty years he enlisted in Company E, Eighty-second Ohio Regiment, the date
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of his enlistment being November 13, 1861. He went first into camp at Kenton, and the first battle in which he participated was the second battle of Bull Run. Ile served in the Army of the Potomac, and took part in the battles at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the fall of 1863 the Eleventh Army Corps was sent farther west and Mr. Spencer took part in the battles of Wanhatchie Valley, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga. Ile re-enlisted during the Atlanta campaign, and was present at the fall of Atlanta, was also with Sherman in his "march to the sea," and was disabled at Savannah. Mr. Spencer returned to Ohio and was mustered out June 23, 1865. He receives a pension of twelve dollars a month. At the close of his service he engaged in farming in Roundhead township, and was married September 29, 1867, to Mary A. Gossard, who was born and reared in Auglaize county, Ohio, the date of her birth being May 31, 1849. She spent her childhood on a farm and attended a common school. To Mr. and Mrs. Spencer eight children were born, namely: Francis, Nora E., Hiram F., Ely J .. Thomas J., Wilber E., Lewis V. and Alta.
Mr. Spencer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fletcher Chapel, and is one of the church trustees. He belongs to West Newton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and politically he is a stanch Republican. His farm of two hundred and seventeen acres is one of the best in the county, and he has been very successful in its conduct. He is an enterprising, industrious man, and is highly respected by all who know him.
JAMES E. GASSON .- Among the many enterprising and successful business men of Hardin county, James E. Gasson, a druggist in Kenton. holds high rank. A son of Frank Gasson, he was born, November 15, 1875, at Versailles, Darke county, coming on the paternal side of pure French ancestry.
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