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 32
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His grandfather, John Francis Gasson, a native of France, left his native country about 1830, coming directly to Ohio. He located in Darke county, at Jacksonville, now called Versailles. He was a man of culture, well educated, but had never adopted a profession. Buying a tract of wild land, he turned his attention to farming, and there spent his remaining years, passing away at a ripe old age. His wife, formerly Miss Anna Paget, was born and bred in France. She died on the home farm, in Versailles, before he did.
Frank Gasson was born in the Department of Lorraine, France, and when scarcely a year old was brought by his parents to Ohio. Iu early manhood he went by way of Nicaragua to California, where he was employed in mining for a number of years. Returning to his old home in Versailles, Ohio, in 1872 he conducted a general mercantile and provision business during the remainder of his active career, and is now living there retired from business cares. He married Rachel H. Barley, who was born in Marion, Grant county, Indiana, a daughter of Conrad and Rachel (Rickel) Barley, both natives of Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania. They reared four sons and one daughter, namely: Daniel V., John F., George, James E., the subject of this brief sketch, and Clara L.
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After his graduation from the Versailles high school, James E. Gasson entered the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, and was gradu- ated from the Pharmaceutical Department with the class of July, 1895. He was subsequently employed as clerk in a drug store at Versailles until 1896, when he accepted a similar position in Kenton. In 1901 Mr. Gasson embarked in business, in Kenton, on his own account. and has here built up an extensive patronage as a druggist.
Mr. Gasson married. September 27, 1899, Jennie D. Pague, who was born in this eity, a daughter of Alfred W. and Sadie (Lee) Pague, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Gasson have one child, Vernon Joye. Mr. Gasson is a member of the National Association of Retail Druggists, and of the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association. Politi- cally he is a Democrat. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, to the Modern Woodmen of America, and to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Religiously he is a Methodist.
PHILIP AND PETER BOEHM .- Among the worthy and successful farmers of Washington township. Hardin county, Ohio, are the Boehm brothers, who own and occupy the old Boehm homestead, a fine farm of one hundred aeres, where their father. John Boehm, settled nearly thirty years ago.
John Boehm and his family emigrated from Germany to this coun- try in 1881, and came direct to Hardin county, Ohio, where he spent the rest of his life and died, his death occurring in 1891. At the time of his settlement here forty acres of his land were covered with a heavy growth of timber. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Neff) Boehm, were the parents of six children. all born in Germany. namely: Catherine, in 1855. is deceased; John, Jr .. 1857, is deceased; David, 1859; Maggie, 1861 ; Philip, 1864; Peter, 1866. The mother died in 1903.
Since 1892. the Boehm farm has been owned and occupied by the two sons, Peter and Philip, who have eleared away much of the forest and made many needed repairs in the farm buildings, and as a result of their energetic efforts the fields are under a high state of cultivation. and the general appearance of the premises indicates the prosperity which is theirs.
Both brothers are married. In 1894. Philip Boehm married Miss Anna K. Getzinger, a native of Minnesota, and they have one daughter. Mary. In 1890, Peter Beohm married Miss Mary W. Barkley. a native of Pickaway county, Ohio. To them have been given six children : Viola, who died at the age of eleven : Amelia, Cora, Henry W .. Kate A .. and Edward N.
Another brother, JJohn Boehm, Jr., deceased, spent his life on a farm in Hardin county. He left five children, namely: J. P., Elizabeth, Philip .l., John and Henry. Of this number Philip J. lives on the home farm, a tract of fifty acres. Hle was born here in 1884. In 1908, he married Miss Matilda Reddick. a native of Hancock county. Ohio. and they have one child, Lester H.
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L. L. DRUMM, a successful carpenter and farmer of Hardin county, Ohio, whose home is located in Mt. Victory, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, January 28, 1855, and is a son of William and Mary A. (Sidels) Drumm. William Drumm was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, December 2, 1824, and died in 1908; he settled in Dudley township, Hardin county, in 1883, and carried on a farm until 1906, then moved to Mt. Victory and retired from active life. He was a carpenter and worked some at his trade, besides being a very successful farmer. He was a member of the Christian church and affiliated with the I. O. O. F. Politically he was a Democrat and was actively interested in his party's interests. His wife, who was born February 12, 1825, was a daughter of Jacob Sidels, who died when she was an infant. William Drumm was a son of Peter and Permelia (Dowel) Drumm, natives of Pennsyl- vania, who came to Ohio in 1819 and later located in Muskingum, Dela- ware county. William Drumm and his wife were parents of seven children, all of whom are living, as follows: John Milton, of Union county ; Peter S., a farmer of Dudley township, Hardin county ; William A., a farmer of Buck township; L. L., the fourth child; George W., a laborer, living in Mt. Victory ; Virgil, a carpenter of Union county; and Emma J., wife of James Allen, of Bellefontaine.
The school days of L. L. Drumm were passed in Delaware county and he attended the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he began working in a saw mill, which he continued some time, and also worked at farming. At the age of thirty years he took the management of the M. M. Thompson, mayor of Kenton, farm of four hundred acres, and served twelve years. Ile then purchased his farm in Dudley township, which he successfully conducted until 1904, when he sold it and removed to Mt. Victory, following the carpenter trade since that time. Hle is an expert at his trade and has been very successful in all his undertakings. Mr. Drumm has now sold his farm and invested in property in Mt. Victory. He is a man of stability and influence, and actively interested in public affairs; he is a Democrat in politics and served five years as a member of the school board, also three terms as supervisor. He has a host of friends, and has been affiliated with the I. O. O. F. eighteen years. In his dealings with his fellowmen he has shown strict honesty and integrity, and is recognized as one of the representative citizens of the county.
In 1874 Mr. Drumm married Delilah Conklin, born May 3, 1857, danghter of William Conklin, a farmer of Marion county, and a soldier in the Civil war, who died in Andersonville prison. He married a Miss Preston, and they removed from New York to Ohio, becoming pioneers of Marion county. . The Preston family came from England and became pioneers of Hardin county, being among the earliest families in the county. Mr. Drumm and his wife became parents of children as follows: Wilbert K., married Lily Marten; they live in Mt. Victory and have three children; Henry A., married Jenny Marten, sister of his brother Wilbert's wife, and they have two children; Edith A., wife of J. O. Moore, a farmer of Hale township, has one child ; Floyd MeKinley is at home; and Pearl G. is also at home. It is a
JOHN WHITMORE AND FAMILY
7
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HISTORY OF IJARDIN COUNTY
notable fact in the Drumm family that until the death of Mr. Drumm's father, in 1908, there had been no deaths in the family for a period of forty-eight years.
WILLIAM KAHL, a hardware merchant of Dola, Hardin county, Ohio, was born in 1877, in the county and township in which he now lives, son of Nicholas and Wilhelmina (Heinish) Kahl, natives of Germany, who emigrated to this country about 1859. On his arrival in America, Nieholas Kahl settled at Kenton, in Hardin county, and subsequently he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Washington township, to which he moved, and on which he has since made his home. He and his wife are the parents of eight children, five of whom are living, namely : Fred, Emma, Caroline, Edward and William.
On his father's farm William passed his youth and early manhood, assisting in the work of the farm and attending the district school. IIaving a preference for a business life, he left the home place and en- gaged in general merchandising, and later devoted his attention exclu- sively to hardware. He has been in business since 1906, and recently, in 1910, entered into a copartnership with Delbert Reed. They carry a full line of first-class stock and are doing a prosperous business.
September 12, 1907, Mr. Kahl married Miss Lena Reth, a native of Ada, Ohio, born June 30, 1889. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens.
JOHN WHITMORE .- One of the best known citizens of Pleasant town- ship, Hardin eounty, Ohio, and one among its oldest residents is John Whitmore. He has met with gratifying success in his labors, and has now retired from active life and is spending his remaining years in the ease and comfort he has so well earned. Mr. Whitmore was born in Northumberland county. Pennsylvania, September 11, 1827. a son of Peter and Catherine Whitmore, both formerly of that state. Peter Whitmore and his wife had children as follows: Polly, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah, Louisa, Daniel, Peter and John. John is the only one who moved to Hardin county, Ohio, and he and Louisa, the latter of Richland county, Ohio, are the only surviving members of the family.
In 1856 Mr. Whitmore moved to Ohio and settled in his present. home, purchasing one hundred acres of land. He added to his land sixty acres and a half interest in fifty-five acres, both located in Blan- chard township, Hardin county. He set to work to improve his land and erected good buildings. He built a saw mill and operated it thirty years. Mr. Whitmore was an enterprising, thrifty farmer, and became very prosperous ; his honesty and high character were recognized by all, and he had the highest esteem of his neighbors.
On March 10. 1859, Mr. Whitmore married Margaret JJ. Gardner. who was born in Richland county, Ohio, September 22, 1834, and died in 1899. To them were born children as follows: Peter M., born in 1860. died in 1861; Elcey C., born in 1863, died in 1879; Sarah E., born in 1865, died in 1869; Ora L., Mrs. J. Il .. Cessna, born in 1868: Eliza J .. Mrs. O. W. Schwemmer, born in 1870; one child who died in infancy;
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
Clarinda, Mrs. S. C. Stewart, born in 1872; and Lulu A., Mrs. C. M. Cessna, born in 1877. Elcey Oates left three children, Lowel, Carrie and John. To Mrs. E. J. Schwemmer three children have been born, Hazel C., C. W. and Arline B. Mrs. Ora L. Cessna had three children born, Olda, Margaret and Dana. Mrs. Clarinda Stewart had one son, Irvin G. Mrs. Luln A. Cessna has two children, Geneva and Dwight. Mr. Whitmore has, therefore, twelve grandchildren. Ile has also two great-grandchildren.
In politics he was first a Whig then a "Know Nothing" and after- ward a Republican until he supported Bryan and became a champion of free silver and he is still a Bryan man. Mrs. Whitmore was a member of the United Brethren church and as is also the family.
D. II. DOME & SON .- The firm of D. H. Dome & Son, of Forest, Ohio, dealers in clothing, footwear and gent's furnishings, has one of the main business establishments in Forest. Their stock is kept np-to-date, and of a superior quality, which warrants the fine trade they enjoy. Their treatment of customers is at all times courteous and businesslike, and their store is well lighted and commodious.
D. H. Dome, senior member of the firm, was born in Richland connty, Ohio, where he was reared, and where he married Alice Kisor, of Wyandot county. He owns several farms in Wyandot county, which he rents very successfully, the date of his removal to Hardin county being 1904. To Mr. Dome and his wife but one child was born, U. J., junior partner of the firm above mentioned.
U. J. Dome was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, in 1888, was reared in his native county, and received his education in the common schools. He also took a course at Lima Business College, from which institution he was graduated in 1901. He is an enterprising and industrious business man, of pleasant manner and address, and takes great interest and pride in the success of the firm with which he is connected. Both he and his father command universal respect and have won many friends in Forest.
REVEREND J. F. HENKLE, D. D., pastor of the Methodist Protestant church of Forest, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, May 13, 1847. He was reared and educated in the public schools of his native county, and profited well by his years of study, being intensely interested in the acquirement of knowledge, so that he laid the foundation for his future career, that has always stood him in good stead. Hle is naturally of a studious, quiet disposition, and thinks deeply along any lines in which he is interested. In 1876 he was admitted to the Ohio Conference, and his first locations were in Fayette and Madison counties. During the thirty-four years he has been engaged in the ministry he has been eon- stantly working within the boundaries of the same conference. His life in the cause of the gospel has been a long and earnest one, and he has converted many souls for the church. He has been very successful in his work, and during his pastorate he has been instrumental in ereeting two new church buildings, at Milledgeville, Fayette county, and Big
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Springs, Logan county. He also built a parsonage at Manchester, Adams county.
Reverend Henkle has always been in excellent standing with the members of the Conference, for three years ably discharging the duties of the office of president of the Conference. His relations with his church members and attendants have been mutually pleasant, and he has closed his service in various places to the mutnal regret of all. He has held all important offices in the Conference, and is now treasurer of the Board of Church Extension, which post he has held twenty-one years. He is also treasurer of the Preachers' Aid Society, president of the Ohio Campmeeting Association at Sabina, Clinton county, Ohio, and was secretary a long term of years. For the last fourteen years he has served as a trustee of the college at Adrian. Michigan, and as recogni- tion of his erndition and general ability, this college conferred upon him the well deserved degree of Doctor of Divinity. Reverend Henkle is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Dr. Henkle has labored well and faithfully at Forest. Ohio, since 1906, and there enjoys the friendship and esteem of all who know him. He exponnds the principles of the Gospel in an able and scholarly manner, with an earnestness and force which have gained him a wide. reputation. He has a large congregation, and the stranger is always welcome within the precinets of the church.
Dr. ITenkle's parents were Captain Ephraim and Mary S. (Carr) HIenkle, both natives of Fayette county. Captain Henkle was a pros- perons farmer and owned two hundred and fifty acres of land. Al- though exempt from service in the Union army on account of age, he organized a company in 1864, at the time of the invasion of northern states by the Confederate army, commanded Company F, One Hundred Sixty-eighth Ohio National Guard, advanced to the front, and was captured by John Morgan, though soon recaptured by Union troops. Though his service was brief it was eventful, and he served his country well. Ile had the following children: Ellen, deceased : Mary J., Mrs. Bush ; William L .; Jason F .; Noah S. : Joel E .; JJesse C .; Catherine J .; Mrs. Ilver; Amanda S .; Mrs. Dowden: Almeda L .; Mrs. Cohogen; and J. F. Captain IIenkle began life a poor boy, and by his industry and ambition became well-to-do, at his death having an estate of $20,000.
Dr. Ilenkle married (first ) in 1872, Laura O'Day ; to them was born one child that died in infancy, in 1873, four months after the death of the mother. Dr. IFenkle married (second) in 1878, Nona Hamm, of London, Ohio, and to this union were born six children, only two of whom grew to maturity, Mary, born in 1881 and Allan E., in 1890. The former is a graduate of the classical course of Adrian College, in the class of 1905, and now a successful teacher in Montana. The latter is a student at Adrian College, where he is taking a scientific course.
H. DALE SHIELDS, a successful druggist of Forest, is one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of that town. He is a native of Forest, born March 22. 1878, and is a son of J. b. and Adeline ( Wilson)
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Shields. J. L. Shields was born in 1840, in Ross county, Ohio, and came to Hardin county in 1852; he learned the trade of shoemaker, at which he worked ten years, and about 1865 embarked in livery business, which he carried on ten years. For the last seventeen years he has been con- ducting a harness business in Forest. He was married in 1872, and had three children, two of whom survive, namely: H. F., a druggist, and II. Dale. J. L. Shields is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its Encampment. Ilis parents were Samuel and Mary (Clayton) Shields, who had three children, J. L., Rebecca and Nancy. Samuel Shields died when J. L. was six years of age, and his widow married (second) David Warrener, who was one of the first settlers of Hardin
county. Mr. Warrener took an active part in the construction of the Big Four Railroad; he had three children by this marriage, only one of whom survives, Mrs. Wilson, whose husband is a native of New York.
H. Dale Shields graduated from Forest high school, and later took a course in pharmacy at the Northwestern University at Ada, Ohio, graduating in 1901. Upon returning home he opened a drug store in Forest, where by his close attention to business and his ability and industry, he has built up a good patronage.
Mr. Shields served in the Spanish-American war, being enrolled in Company I, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for one year, and then honorably discharged. He belongs to Senate Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Forest, also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, having passed the chairs in the two last named. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum, of which he has served nine years as secretary. IIe is an earnest and active member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. During his business career in Forest Mr. Shields has acceptably filled the post of corporation clerk.
GEORGE A. HIVELY, who owns and occupies a fine farm of ninety acres in Washington township, Hardin county, Ohio, is one of the representative farmers and highly respected citizens of this locality. Mr. Hively was born on the farm on which he now lives, June 1, 1853, son of Samuel and Mary (Lower) Hively, natives of Columbiana county, this state. At an early day in the history of Hardin county, Samuel Hively came here and purchased three eighty-acre tracts, built a log house for his family, and in true pioneer style settled down to the work of clearing and cultivating his land. In time, his primitive cabin gave way to a substantial resdence of modern construction, and in place of the forest were well cultivated fields. To him and his wife were born six children, namely : Malinda A., Amanda A., George A., Elizabeth, David and Emma, all now living in Hardin county. The parents died here in 1899, the father's death occurring two weeks before the mother's. Her parents, Daniel and Barbara E. (Obenour) Lower, were prominent early settlers of Columbiana county. Daniel Hively entered two eighty- acre tracts from the government and gave the land to his children.
George A. Hively grew up on his father's farm and received his education in the district school, and here he has continued in the same
MR. AND MRS. FAYETTE SCHOONOVER
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
occupation in which his ancestors were engaged. His father cleared two of the three eighties above referred to, and he has cleared the other. Since 1875 he has owned the farm on which he lives.
In 1874, George A. Ilively married Miss Mary Lentz, daughter of John and Mary (Daniels) Lentz; and the fruits of this union are three sons : Anthony S., born May 16, 1876; David F., February 11, 1879, and William A., May 31, 1887. Anthony S., the eldest son, is a prosperous farmer and has eighty aeres of valuable land adjacent to his father's which he has owned since 1902. He was married in 1900, and has two children, Paul M. and Corlean M. His wife, formerly Miss Lena Casper, daughter of John M. and Minnie Casper, was born on her father's farm in Washington township, Hardin county, October 15. 1875; David F. married in March, 1909, Gertrude Slater, of Henry county, and they have one child Esther E., born November 7. 1909, William A. was married June 3, 1909 to Mary Haub of Washington township, Hardin county.
The Hivelys are worthy members of the Church of Christ, in which George A. holds the office of deacon.
FAYETTE SCHOONOVER .- For more than three score and ten years of his long and useful life Fayette Schoonover has been a resident of Pleasant township, Hardin county, and since attaining manhood has been conspicuously identified with the best interests of town and county, generously using his influence to promote the public welfare. As a successful agriculturist, a trustworthy citizen and a man of strict integrity and high moral principles, he has the respect and esteem of the entire community in which he has so long resided. A son of Joseph Schoonover, he was born, in 1825, in Tioga county, New York, where the days of his childhood were passed.
Joseph Schoonover was born January 5, 1775, in Delaware. Mov- ing from there to New York state, he lived a number of years in Tioga county. Following the tide of emigration westward, he came to Ohio in 1838, locating in Pleasant township, Hardin county. Buying eighty acres of wild and wooded land, he began the arduous task of reelaiming a farm. There had been erected thereon a small log cabin ; he and his family endured the trials and privations of life in a new country with fortitude and patience, and in due course of time he met with such success in his labors that he bought another tract of eighty acres. On the homestead which he improved he spent the remainder of his life, dying July 18, 1865, at a venerable age. He married, probably, in Tioga county, New York, Margaret Decker, who was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1782, and died in Pleasant township in 1852. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom grew to years of maturity, namely : Jacob, Daniel, David, Hannah, Lydia, Elias, Simeon, Maria. Fayette and Franklin.
When ready to begin the battle of life for himself Fayette Schoon- over purchased one hundred and twenty-five acres of land not far from the parental homestead in Pleasant township, but before assuming its possession he sold forty acres of the traet. Regretting, however, with
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the parting of any of his land he subsequently bought the forty acres back again. Meeting with excellent results in his agricultural ventures, Mr. Schoonover wisely made other investments in real estate, at one time holding title to two hundred and sixty-five acres of valuable land. During his years of activity he cleared and improved three farms, two of which he sold at an advantage, keeping his home farm of sixty-five acres. This he has brought to a good state of cultivation, rendering it one of the most productive estates in the vicinity.
On November 26, 1846, Mr. Schoonover was united in marriage with Elizabeth Holmes, who was born, February 22, 1829, in Carroll county, Ohio, a daughter of Richard and Catherine Holmes. Fifteen children were born of their union, namely : Emma, Alva, IIannah, Lydia, Mary, David, Iva, May, Della, Joseph, Eva, Richard, George, Frank and Kate. Mary, Iva, Richard and Frank are the only ones now living. Mary is the wife of C. B. Hickernell, and is the mother of five children: John, Helen, Warren, Bessie and Charles. Iva, who married W. A. Holmes, has four children, Leah, Amy, Roy and Ray. Richard married May Thompson, and they are the parents of three children, Merritt E., Karl T. and Harry F. Frank married Rosa Cake and they have two chil- dren, Irene and Edwin. A prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his family also belong, Mr. Schoonover has served as steward of the church, and for many years has held the office of class leader, filling the duties of the position with ability and dignity. The sixty-third anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schoonover was celebrated on the 26th of November, 1909, and was attended by their three children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
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