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 44
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JOHN DILLON .- The substantial and well-to-do residents of Hardin county have no more worthy representative than John Dillon, of Roundhead, who ranks high among the keen, progressive and skillful farmers who have so actively assisted in developing the agricultural interests of this part of the state. A son of John S. Dillon, he was born, Angust 4, 1844. in Logan county, Ohio, John S. Dillon was born. September 19, 1814, in Clark county, Ohio, of pioneer ancestry. and was there brought up and educated. He subsequently moved to Logan county, and was there engaged in general farming until his death in 1887. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Martin, was born. August 9, 1817. in Highland county. Ohio. Of the children born of their union three sons served in the Civil war, Isaac, Thomas and John.
Having completed the course of study in the public sehools of his native county, John Dillon naturally turned his attention to the independent pursuit with which he was most familiar, becoming a most successful farmer. Locating near Jumbo, Hardin county, in 1866, he lived there thirteen years, after which he spent two years in Logan county. Returning to Ilardin county in 1881. he took up his residence in McDonald township, where he continued as one of its foremost agrieulturists until 1909. when he moved to his attractive home in Roundhead. When the Civil war was in progress Mr. Dillon enlisted for a period of three years in Company I. Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but was sent home owing to his youth, although he afterwards re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company F. One Hundred and Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the end of his term of enlistment, one hundred days, was honorably discharged at Camp Chase. During his service in the army he participated in several engagements
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of importance, including the battle of Richmond, the three days siege of Petersburg and the battle of Chattanooga.
Mr. Dillon married, February 16, 1866, Nerva Helpenstein, a daughter of Simeon and Elizabeth (Heath) Helpenstein, and to them six children were born, namely: Simeon, residing at Silver Creek, mar- ried Bertha Grundy, and they have one child, Lizzie; Emma, wife of James Taylor, of Lima, Ohio, has three children, Mary, Homer and one other; Marietta, wife of Amos Wheeler, of Foraker, Ohio, has three children, George, Homer and one other; Annie, wife of Robert Low, of Kenton, has one child, Ethel; George E., of Roundhead township, married Aggie Stont, and they have one child, Emerson; and a child that died in infancy. Mr. Dillon's first wife died January 28, 1884. IIe married on March 28, 1896, Mary Jane Hoon, daughter of George and Sarah Hoon, of McDonald township. Politically Mr. Dillon uni- formly casts his vote for the Republican candidate for office. Fratern- ally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and for upwards of sixteen years he has belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic. Re- ligiously he is a faithful member of the Christian church.
ARTHUR CLIFTON LEVALLY .- Prominent among the agriculturists and business men of Taylor Creek township is numbered Arthur Clifton Levally, who was born in Logan county, Ohio. September 2, 1866, a son of George William, a grandson on the paternal side of James Jeffer- son and a great-grandson of George Levally. This last named ancestor came to America during the war of 1812 and he afterward settled in Logan county, Ohio, the birthplace of his son, James Jefferson Levally. The latter married Emeline Wilklow and died in 1901, when seventy- five years of age. George William Levally born in Logan county, Ohio, in 1843, died in the year of 1889, when forty-six years of age. After leaving the school room he farmed and studied law at Ridgeway, and being admitted to the bar in 1880 he was afterward in practice in that city until his death. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and he served both as a justice of the peace and as a constable in Logan
county. IIe married Mary Anna Milner, who yet survives him and has attained the age of sixty-eight years. She is a daughter of Joseph Milner, from Logan county, and of Mary (Hines) Milner, his wife. George W. Levally served three years as a soldier in the Civil war, en- listing in 1861. The children born to him and his wife are: James Jefferson, of Logan county; William Burtis whose home is in Wood county ; Guy Carleton, also of Logan county; Anna, who is teaching school in Ridgeway; and Cora May, wife of Charles Tapp, of Taylor Creek township.
Arthur C. Levally, also of the above family, after leaving the school room farmed with his father until twenty-eight, and he then married and farmed for two years near Silver Creek, was then four years on the old Nash farm in Taylor Creek township, two years in Logan county, a similar period in Union county, and he then came to his present farm of seventy acres in Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, and engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Levally is an influential Democratic
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worker of his township, and while in Logan county he served two terms as a constable and is now serving his second term as the constable of Taylor Creek township, elected first in 1907.
In December of 1894 he was married to Nettie Smith, who was born September 18, 1873, in Logan county, a daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Wambaugh) Smith. The mother is a daughter of Paul and Hannan (Ross) Wambaugh, the former born in Hamilton county, Ohio, December 22, 1818, and died in 1868, and the latter, born April 13, 1825, died in 1855. Jonathan Smith, born on the 23d of March, 1851, is a son of William and Malinda E. (Bonnell) Smith. William Smith was born in southern Ohio and died on the 24th of August, 1876, when fifty-eight years of age, and Malinda, his wife, born February 19, 1820, died in 1896. The Smith family settled in Logan county, Ohio, many years ago, later moving to Delaware county, this state, and in 1873 Jonathan Smith and his wife came to Taylor Creek township in Hardin county and home- steaded their present farm there. Mrs. Levally is one of their eight children, the others being: Eber Smith, a Dudley township farmer; Frank Smith, living in Taylor Creek township; Charles Smith, a resident of Hale township; Fenton Smith, farming in Logan county; Everett Smith, on the home farm; Iva, wife of Seigle Williams; and Grace, wife of Orville Oglesbee, of Kenton. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Levally, namely: Eva, who died in infancy; Omah, born December 4, 1898; Kenneth, born October 13, 1900; Herbert, born May 21, 1908 ; and Anna May, born in January, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Levally are members of the Christian church.
IION. FRANK GIVEN is one of the representative men of Hardin county. He has proved a valued factor in its political councils, and represents one of its honored pioneer families. Ile was born in McDonald township on the 28th of April, 1846, a son of Alexander and Mary (Campbell) Given and a grandson on the paternal side of William Given, who was born in Maryland and was of Scotch descent. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and he died in IIardin county, Ohio, in 1848. Alexander Given, born in Ross county, Ohio, March 14, 1811, became one of the prominent characters of MeDonald township, Hardin county. He served for many years as a justice of the peace, also as the clerk and treasurer of MeDonald township, and he died in the year of 1895. The Campbell family were among the pioneers of Ross county and became residents of Hardin county prior to its organization. Daniel Campbell was the first recorder of Hardin county, and later served as one of its associate judges. Ile was a prominent worker in the local ranks of the Republican party. He died in 1864.
The IIon. Frank Given received a common school training in his early youth, and this fitted him for a teacher, which continued as his work during two or three terms. Hle moved to Roundhead township in the spring of 1865. Ile served as a justice of the peace, as treasurer and as clerk of Roundhead township, and in 1893 he was elected a probate judge on the Republican ticket, and was returned to the office in the following election of 1896. thus remaining the incumbent of that
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office for six years. At the expiration of this incumbency the judge returned to his farm in Roundhead township. He owns a splendid farm of two hundred and ten acres, located in both Roundhead and McDonald townships, and is actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits. He is a member of Bell Center Lodge, No. 347, A. F. & A. M., and is also associated with Kenton Chapter, R. A. M., and with Kenton Commandery, No. 58, K. T. and is a Knight of Pythias, belong- ing to the lodge at Roundhead.
In 1865 he was united in marriage with Eliza I. Marmon, a native daughter of Hardin county and one of its former educators. She became the mother of the following seven children: Walter C., Anna M., Boyd and Moses (twins), Eva B., Robert A. and Franklin. Mrs. Given died in March, 1880, and in January of 1882 Judge Given married Malinda Slaybaugh, by whom he had the following four chil- dren : Ada E., Mary C., Lewis F. and Gertrude M., all now living with the exception of the daughter Mary. Ada E. is the wife of C. C. Thomas, and they are living on the farm with her father. The second Mrs. Given is also deceased, her demise occurring in March of 1906. Judge Given is a member of the Methodist Protestant denomination at Hinkle Chapel, and is a member of the board of trustees of his church.
JOHN P. RICHARDS .- The development of Hardin county from a dense wilderness to a rich agricultural region has been a labor of years, and largely performed by men of brain and brawn, skilled in the use of tools of all kinds, and especially thorough in their knowledge of agri- culture. Noteworthy among this number is John P. Richards, a venerable and highly esteemed resident of Buek township, who has here been engaged in his honorable and pleasant occupation for upwards of half a century. A son of Rev. James Richards, he was born, February 27, 1827, in Seneca county, Ohio, coming from excellent New England ancestry.
His grandfather, John Richards, was born and reared in New Hampshire, and as a young man served in the Revolutionary war. He subsequently returned to his old home among the New England hills, and for a number of years owned and operated a flour mill, continuing his residence there until his death.
Rev. James Richards was born and reared among the invigorating breezes of the New England states, in New Hampshire. With the spirit of enterprise that is essentially American in character, he longed as a young man to try the hazard of new fortunes, and, with no capital to start with, journeyed westward on foot, stopping occasionally in some large place to earn a little spending money, continuing on his way until he arrived in Seneca township. He was one of the original set- tlers of that locality, Indians and the wild beasts of the forest being then plentiful. Buying a tract of land on the Sandusky river, ten miles south of Tiffin, he built a log cabin, and cleared a portion of the tract. Selling out in 1829, he, with his wife and five children, moved to Pike county, making the journey there with a team, and taking along all of their worldly goods. A few years later he settled on rented land
JAMES RICHARDS
MATILDA RICHARDS
SARAH M. HARBISON
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in Ross county, where he was soon licensed as an exhorter. by James B. Findley. He was subsequently licensed as a preacher by Bishop Soule, and for many years thereafter was active in the ministry, preach- ing in various counties, and making many conversions. Coming to Hardin county in 1848, he spent his last years in the family of his son, John P., passing away at the age of seventy-seven years. He married Matilda Perrel, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of John Perrel. She lived to the age of seventy-five years. She reared eight children, as follows; Leonard, Minerva, Sarah, John P., Esther, Jephtha, Harriet, and Frank.
Beginning life as a wage-earner as soon as old enough, John P. Richards began working by the day or month, and continued until twenty-four years of age to be thus employed. Renting land then in Pleasant township, he resided there three years, and then settled in Buek township, on the farm which he now owns and occupies, at once assuming possession of the log cabin standing among the trees. But ten acres of the land had then been cleared, but he has since cleared the remainder, and has made improvements of an excellent character on the place, including among others the erection of a substantial set of frame buildings.
Mr. Richards married, in 1851, Sarah M. Harbison, who was born in South Carolina, September 18, 1832. Her father, Matthew Harbison, a native of North Carolina, went to South Carolina when young, and lived there until 1834. In that year, accompanied by his wife and five children, he came with a colony from his neighborhood to Ohio, making an overland trip with teams. His wife rode on horseback, bringing Mrs. Richards, then an infant, in her lap. He and his family lived in Greene county until 1842, and then came to Hardin county, locating in Pleasant township, and there living with his sons until his death, at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah McCoy, was born in South Carolina, and died, in Hardin county, Ohio, in the ninety-fourth year of her age in 1894.
Mr. and Mrs. Richards have one son, Marion F. Richards. He married Viola Butler, and they have five children, Neva, John P., Earl, Hazel, and Carl. Neva married Horace Latimer, and they are the parents of three children, Ruby, Cleo, and Pauline. John P. married Ada Overly and they have two children, John C. and Evelyn. Earl married Rebecca Bishop and they have one child, Anna Belle. Mr. Richards was converted, and joined the Methodist Episcopal church. when he was twelve years old, and Mrs. Richards united with the same church when she was twenty-six years of age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Richards enjoy good health.
HUGH E. PEARCE .- Among the men who have acquired success in Kenton, Ohio, is Hugh E. Pearce, a life-long resident of the city, born there December 20, 1870. He is an enterprising. representative citizen, and is now engaged in real estate and insurance business. Mr. Pearce is a son of John M. and Mary E. (Whitney) Pearce; the former, a native of Bedford, Massachusetts, was reared and partly educated in his
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native town. John M. Pearce came with his father, Benjamin Pearce, also a native of Massachusetts, to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended school for a time and then entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated. Benjamin Pearce practiced dentistry some years in Cleveland, and spent his last ten years in Kenton, Ohio. John M. Pearce was connected with the Pennsylvania railroad, and upon settling in Kenton, about 1868, was elected county clerk, holding the office about four years. He was a life-long Democrat and took an active interest in public affairs. He was a Mason, and had a wide circle of
friends. His wife was a daughter of Dr. Benjamin Whitney, of Mansfield, Ohio. John M. Pearce and his wife were parents of five children, of whom Hugh E. is the youngest.
The boyhood days of Hugh E. Pearce were spent in Kenton, where he received his education, and when a young man began his business career as bookkeeper for the Champion Iron Company, of Kenton, where he remained seven years. He later became manager of the American Straw Board Company, at Kenton and Middletown, Ohio, which position he held about four years. His father died in February, 1899, and he succeeded to his real estate business.
Mr. Pearce is well known in the community, and enjoys universal respect and esteem. Ile is a stanch Democrat and takes an active interest in public affairs ; he is at the time secretary of the county board of elections. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 157, of the Knights of Pythias, the Sons of the American Revolution and the Modern Woodmen.
WILLIAM ALVIN BELT, M. D .- In the annals of Hardin county the name of William A. Belt, M. D., stands prominent, not only in the medical world but in business, literary, social, political and fraternal cireles, in each of which he is influential and popular. As one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Kenton, he has built up one of the best medical practices in the city, his professional knowledge, skill and ability being recognized throughout the community. He was born April 23, 1863, in Wapakoneta, Auglaize county, Ohio, oldest child of Rev. LeRoy A. Belt, D. D., and Rachel Burgett Belt. His boyhood was passed in Ottawa, Bellefontaine, Marion and Toledo, Ohio. From the high school of the latter city he graduated at sixteen.
In 1884, after completing a university course and taking prepara- tory medicine, he was graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, with the degree of B. S. Four years afterward, having complied with the requirements, the post-graduate degree of M. S. was conferred. In 1886, completing his medical course, he was graduated from the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, now the medical depart- ment of the University of Cincinnati.
In 1887 the doctor was married to Alba Webster at Kenton, Ohio, who died twelve years afterward, leaving two children, LeRoy Lorin, who is now in the Ohio Wesleyan University and Rachel A., now in Kenton high school.
Dr. Belt holds a place of prominence in the Masonic fraternity with
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which he has been officially connected in many ways for many years, and in 1902 and 1903 was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and has since served on its various committees. In 1906 and 1907, as chairman of the ritual committee, the Doctor re-edited the Ritual of Masonry for Ohio, and he has the distinction of being one of the five men chosen to write the "History of the Masonic Order in Ohio for the Past One Hundred Years," the first volume of which is now, in 1910, out of press, and will be of great interest and benefit to the Masons throughout the United States, but more especially to the Grand Lodge of this state and Ohio Masons. In 1909 Dr. Belt was chosen and received at Boston the thirty-third and last degree in Masonry, being the first man in the history of Hardin county to receive this honor.
Very active in polities, Dr. Belt is one of the prominent members of the Republican party, and from 1898 until 1900 served on the Ohio Centennial Board of Commissioners, being appointed by Governor Bush- nell to represent the Eighth Congressional District. For two years he was chairman of the county Republican executive committee. Ile is now a member of the state Republican executive committee. Ile was a member of the Kenton School Board for eight years, and for ten years was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Northern University from 1897 until 1907, serving also as their secretary, when he resigned the position. On February 22, 1908, when the Delta Kappa Epsilon literary fraternity was established at his alma mater the Doctor re- ceived the honorary degree of D. K. E., his standing in his studies throughout his college course having been above ninety. The Doctor holds membership in Ilardin county, North Western Ohio, the Ohio and the American Medical Societies.
Dr. Belt married, June 6, 1901, Barbara H. Garst of Greenville, Darke county, Ohio, and they have one son William Alvin, Jr. born July 13, 1903. In 1900, the Doctor took a trip abroad, visiting while away many places of historical interest, and the principal hospitals of the various European countries, including England, Scotland, Ire- land, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Belgium and Holland.
THOMAS YEARSLEY, deceased, one of the oldest settlers of Taylor township, Union county, Ohio, lived for many years near Broadway. He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1819, son of Thomas and Sarah Yearsley. Thomas Yearsley Sr. was also a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, born August 23, 1790; Sarah, his first wife, was also born there, October 9, 1789, and died in the same place, March 17, 1834. Ile remained a widower until January 6, 1836, when he was united in marriage with Mary Ilawley. In 1853 Mr. Yearsley removed, with his wife and three of his youngest children, to Union county, Ohio, and JJune 28, 1854, he died, being in his sixty-fourth year. Ilis widow survived him some time, and passed away July 18, 1870.
In 1849 Thomas Yearsley Jr. removed to Ohio, settling near Broad- way, Union county, on a farm, where he lived until his decease, in
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August, 1895. He married, October 18, 1860, Sarah Greene, a native of New York, born August 3, 1833. Mr. Yearsley became a successful farmer, and before engaging in this occupation spent some time in teaching, and also clerked in a store. He had acquired a good educa- tion and was a progressive farmer, at the time of his death owning one hundred and seventy-six acres of land, in a high state of cultivation. He was well known and highly respected in the community, and for some time held the office of trustee of Taylor township. Mr. Yearsley and his wife became parents of seven children, of whom the following five survive : Alben, Joseph, Ada, Burton and Emma. Mrs. Yearsley formerly belonged to the Christian church but later joined the Free- will Baptist church. Mr. Yearsley was a man of influence, and had many friends; his loss was deeply felt, and he was widely mourned.
DOUGLAS POE .- One of the prominent and successful farmers and stockmen of Hardin county, Ohio, is Douglas Poe, who owns land in Roundhead and McDonald townships. Mr. Poe was born in Round- head township, January 16, 1856, and is a son of Andrew and Lavina (Zimmerman) Poe. Andrew Poe, a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, was born May 1, 1816, and was a son of David Poe, a native of Kentucky, who settled in Ohio in 1812. David Poe was one of the pioneers of Ohio, and removed from one place to another in search of a suitable location ; finally in 1830, he located in MeDonald township, Hardin county, where he cleared and improved a farm of two hundred acres, where he lived until the death of his wife, after which he spent the remainder of his life in Roundhead township. Ile married Elizabeth Ritchey, a native of Ireland, who was brought to the United States when she was a year old. To this union twelve children were born.
Andrew Poe married Lavina Zimmerman February 11, 1837; she was a native of Ross county, Ohio. Mr. Poe was a prosperous farmer and became the owner of some five hundred and fifty acres of land. He died April 26, 1905, and his wife died May 26, 1895. They were par- ents of the following children : William, Milton, Ann M., Genova, Samantha, David and Donglas. Mr. Poe was a member of the Metho- dist Protestant church.
The boyhood of Douglas Poe was spent in Roundhead township, and when old enough he began to assist in the work of the farm. He attended school winters until he was eighteen years of age and then devoted his entire attention to farming. He has been very successful and now owns three hundred and twenty-three acres in his farm, where he carries on general farming and pays special attention to stock-raising. He has always looked carefully after his interests and has been amply rewarded by the results of his labor.
Politically Mr. Poe is a Democrat, though he has never cared for publie office. He married, December 9, 1891, Anna Borders, who is a native of Hardin county, born in McDonald township, December 3, 1858, and they became parents of three children, namely: Birdie, born April 2, 1896; Leah, June 18, 1900, and Tena, born June 18, 1900, died in August, 1900.
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Mr. Poe and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church of Hinkle chapel.
CYRUS MCGUFFEY was born in Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio, January 15, 1834, a son of John and Parmelia MeGuffey, both also born in the commonwealth. It was John McGuffey and sons that conceived the idea of draining the great Scioto Marsh. The lands lying on the north and east of the Scioto river were Congress and Military lands and were sold to whoever would buy them at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. When the lands that could be disposed of at that price were all sold there remained an extensive tract of swamp lands that the government was unable to sell. This land was regarded as absolutely worthless and was considered impossible to drain. The government then ceded these lands to the state. The state in turn to the county. At the time the state turned these swamp lands over to the county a law was passed directing how they were to be disposed of. The county commissioners were to advertise for bidders to do a certain amount of ditching under the direction of the commissioners and engineer. The contractors were to receive for their work land at one dollar and twenty- five cents per acre.
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