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 46
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John W. Zimmerman was reared to manhood on the old home farm in McDonald township, and to the common schools of that section he is indebted for his early educational discipline. He continued to be associated in the work and management of the home farm until his marriage, at which time he was twenty-six years of age. He soon afterward turned his attention to the buying of live stock, being thus employed by David Cole and Jake Wise of Forest, Ohio, for several years, after which he engaged independently and successfully in the buying and shipping of live stock. After the death of his honored father he purchased the interests of the other heirs to the old homestead farm, which comprised one hundred and thirty-seven and one-half acres, and his ability as a business man. together with his progressive policies and discrimination in connection with the great basic industry of agriculture. is best vonched for in the splendid success which he has gained. He is now the owner of a landed estate of eight hundred and forty-five acres, of which six hundred and ten acres are located in Hardin connty; forty acres in Anglaize county; seventy-five acres in Logan county; and one hundred and twenty acres in Jasper county, Indiana, upon which last mentioned farm his eldest son. Arthur R. Zimmerman resides. On his finely improved homestead farm, one of the model places not only of Roundhead township but of Hardin county, Mr. Zimmerman erected in 1901 his attractive and spacious modern residence, which contains fifteen rooms, has more than one hundred feet of verandas, with basement under the entire building. The house is heated by furnace and was erected at a cost of more than four thous- and dollars, being one of the finest farm homes of this section and being notable for its generous and gracious hospitality. The timber for the
building was secured almost entirely from the farms of Mr. Zimmerman, and the appointments and finishings of the building throughout are of the most attractive order. In politics Mr. Zimmerman is a stanch sup- porter of the cause of the Republican party and while he takes a loyal and helpful interest in all that concerns the welfare of the community he has never been an aspirant for public office, the only official position in which he has consented to serve being that of member of the school board of hs district. Ile is known as a progressive, liberal and honor- able citizen and is held in unqualified esteem in the community that has ever represented his home and to whose social and material advancement he has contributed a due quota.
On the 29th of July. 1883. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Zimmerman to Miss Anna Ohler, who was born in Roundhead township.
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Hardin county, on the 27th of May, 1862, and who is a daughter of William and Martha Ohler, who were honored pioneers of the county, where they continued to reside until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman became the parents of nine children, all of whom are living and the four eldest of whom are married and established in homes of their own. The names of the children, with respective dates of birth, are here entered : Arthur R., July 8, 1884; Clara M., April 2, 1886; Esta L., November 8, 1888; James D., September 23, 1890; John, February 22, 1893; Snsan, November 4, 1895; Lloyd, October 12, 1897; Noble, May 25, 1901; and Martha E., Jannary 21, 1907. Arthur R., who resides in Jasper county, Indiana, as already noted, married Miss Lucretia Hankins, and they have one child named after his grandfather, John W .; Clara is the wife of Thomas Plummer, of Huntsville, Logan county, and has two boys; Esta L. is the wife of Midd Gossard, of Harrod, Ohio; and James D., who is engaged in farming on his grand- father Ohler's old homestead near Roundhead, which John W. and Anna his wife purchased after William and Martha Ohler's death. James D. married Miss Opal Harbert. All the children are farmers.
JAMES R. BURNISON .- Prominent among the thriving and progres- sive agriculturists of Hardin county is James R. Bnrnison, whose fine estate, adjoining the city of Kenton, is finely improved, and constitutes one of the most valuable and desirable farming properties in the neigh- borhood. He was born January 4. 1864, in Wyandot county, Ohio, where his father, the late Andrew W. Burnison, was a pioneer settler.
Andrew W. Burnison was born Jannary 30, 1828, and was reared in Stark county, Ohio. March 24, 1852, he was married to Jane B. Melvin and to this union two children were born: Josephine, born December 13, 1854, and John W. born June 15, 1857. In the year 1858, after the death of his wife, Mr. Burnison removed to Wyandot county and here was employed in general farming on Whetstone creek. On March 26, 1859, he was again married, the name of his second wife being Margaret A. Baker. To this marriage four children were born: Francis M., born May 27. 1860; A. Ellsworth, March 6, 1862, died November 21, 1884; James R., born January 4, 1864 and Charles O., April 10, 1873. In 1864 Andrew Burnison removed with his family to Hardin connty. locating on the Berdine farm in Dudley and Goshen townships where his youngest son was born. He resided on this farm until the death of his wife April 8, 1893. and then retired from active labor, making his home with his children until his death which occurred October 11; 1899.
Educated in the public schools, James R. Burnison subsequently assisted his father on the home farm until ready to begin life for himself. After his marriage he lived on a farm five miles south of Kenton for two years and the following year operated an elevator for the Marion Milling Company, in Hepburn. Ile subsequently conducted a general store in that place for a year, after which he was successfully engaged in mer- cantile pursuits in Alger until 1901. In that year Mr. Burnison pur- chased his present farm of eighty-six acres, which is most advantageously
AR Bunion
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located, and is highly improved, being under a high state of cultivation, with substantial and conveniently arranged buildings for carrying on his work of a general farmer and dairyman.
Mr. Burnison has been twice married. He married first, at the age of twenty-six, Edith Barrett, who was born in Goshen township, Hardin county, a daughter of George and Eliza Barrett. She died two years later, leaving one child, Helen, who died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Burnison married second, in 1899, Minnie A. Myers, who was born in Putnam connty, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas V. Myers, and grand- daughter of George W. Myers, a pioneer settler of Franklin county, Ohio.
George W. Myers was born in Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. and as a young man settled in Franklin county, Ohio, becoming a pioneer of Madison township, where for many years he followed his trade of a cabinet maker. Moving to Putnam county in 1854, he bought land and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits the remainder of his active life. He married Margaret Matilda Blakely, who survived him more than a score of years, her death occurring in 1879. while his occurred in 1858. They became the parents of eleven children, not a large family in those days.
Thomas V. Myers was born September 22, 1846, in Madison town- ship, Franklin county, Ohio. His father dying when he was a lad of tender years, he lived with his mother until 1864, when he enlisted in Company C. One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Camp Chase. Joining the Army of the Cumberland at Washington, D. C., he was on guard duty at the Capitol for some time. The most important battle in which he took part was one at Fort Stevens. Receiving his honorable discharge in September. 1864, Mr. Myers returned to Putnam county and resumed his agricul- tural labors. Buying a farm, subsequently, in Sugar Creek township, he lived there until 1884, when he purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies, in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county.
Thomas V. Myers married, in 1867, Matilda F. Garner, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, December 6, 1843. Her father, William Garner, born near Culpeper Court House. Virginia, was one of the early settlers of that township, where he entered a tract of government land, and there built the humble log cabin in which his danghter Matilda was born. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Stover, spent their last years on the homestead which they improved from the forest.
Fraternally Mr. Bnrnison is a member of Latham Lodge, No. 154. F. & A. M .; and also belongs to Hopkins Lodge, No. 619. K. of P., being a charter member.
FRANK M. MCKINLEY, a well known and prosperous citizen of Hardin county, Ohio, is a member of one of the pioneer families of the state. He was born August 12, 1857. in Champaign county, Ohio, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Pence) MeKinley, both also natives of Champaign county, the former born November 28. 1832. William MeKinley is a son of William and Mary (Me Kinley) McKinley, the
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former born in Kentucky and the latter in Monmouth county. Ohio. Though they bore the same surname they were not closely related. William McKinley, Sr., was a son of Michael McKinley, a soldier in the Revolution. The Mckinleys are of Scotch-Irish origin, and there is a tradition that Michael McKinley was a brother of the grandfather of the late president, William MeKinley, although the fact has not been established beyond doubt. Michael McKinley married a German woman, and they had sons John, Peter and William.
William, son of Michael McKinley, was one of the pioneers of Champaign county, Ohio, and bought one hundred acres there, paying for it working by the day, and he walked seven miles to and from this work. He was a prominent man in the community and served his country in the war of 1812. He and his wife were parents of children, namely : Sarah, Nancy, Mahala, Margaret, William, Mary, Ineinda and Michael.
William McKinley, Jr., was married in Champaign county, Ohio, by Reverend D. E. Scott, October 2, 1855; he and his wife removed to Jackson township, Hardin county, March 9, 1861. Here he purchased eighty acres of land in its virgin state, cleared his land, and became a successful farmer. He now has a well tilled farm, well equipped with machinery, and a comfortable home. He is a member of the Baptist church. William MeKinley and his wife became parents of the follow- ing children : Frank M., Aaron P., Mary T., Marie, Sarah E., Earl (deceased) and Arlo (twins), Lou E. (deceased) and William P.
Frank M. MeKinley has spent most of his life in Jackson township, Hardin county, where he was reared and educated. He now owns an eighty-acre farm, with first class barns and other buildings, and his land is in a high state of cultivation. He has a very comfortable home, which is heated and lighted by gas which he obtains just outside his door, and enjoys all modern comforts and conveniences. In 1879 he purchased his first forty acres of land, adding another forty acres in 1897.
Mr. Mckinley also owns two threshing machines, and these he operates during the season; he has followed this business for thirty-two years with gratifying success, and has never met with an accident. He is an industrious and enterprising man of affairs, and was one of the contractors for the construction of the MeKinley and Kelly Pike. Mr. McKinley is an earnest member of the Baptist church of Forest. By the nature of his business interests Mr. MeKinley meets a great many people, and is one of the highly respected and popular citizens of the county.
In 1883 Mr. McKinley was united in marriage with Wilhelmina Buess, who was born in 1857, and to this union have been born six children, namely: James, Otto B., Anna E., Edith G., Gladys C. and Joe.
GEORGE W. LIPOLD .- A systematic and thorough-going agriculturist, George W. Lipold is engaged in his free and independent calling on a highly improved farm in Pleasant township. Hardin county, where he is
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meeting with excellent pecuniary results, his land being rich and pro- ductive. Coming on both sides of the house from German ancestry, he was born, February 18, 1861, in Pleasant township, being a son of the late Albert Lipold.
Emigrating from Germany, his native land, to the United States in 1856, Albert Lipold lived for a year in Canton, Ohio. The following year he came with his family to Hardin county, and immediately bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Pleasant township. He eleared and improved a homestead, which, with fifty-six acres since added by his sons, who purchased it, still remains in the family. Ilere he carried on general farming to advantage for many years, residing on it until his death, July 2, 1880. He married Mary Lipold, also a native of the Fatherland, and she still survives. Five children were born to them, as follows: Nicholas, Andrew, Albert, George W., and William.
Having completed his studies in the district schools of his native township, George W. Lipold served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. He was afterwards in the employ of the Big Four Railroad Company for four years, subsequently working for other concerns for a period of six years. He then turned his attention to the occupation of his youthful days, and in 1898 bought his present farm in Pleasant township. It contains as fine farming land as can be found in this locality, and under his wise management is highly cultivated and im- proved, everything about the premises indicating the existence of cultivated tastes and ample means. In 1906 Mr. Lipold built a com- modious residence, with all modern conveniences, and he has besides convenient buildings for housing his stock and his bountiful erops.
Mr. Lipold married, in 1898, Anna, daughter of John G. and Hannah Loop, and into their home two children have made their advent. namely : Goldie, born June 10, 1900; and William, born July 30, 1902.
JOHN S. HARVEY, a prominent and enterprising farmer of Dudley township, Ilardin county, was born on the old Harvey homestead, Sep- tember 5, 1875, and is a son of Julius O. and Sarah (Sullivan) Harvey. The ancestry of the Harvey family is given further mention in connec- tion with the sketches of William L. and Marvin O. Harvey, of Mt. Victory, contained elsewhere in this work. Sarah Sullivan was born in Ross county, Ohio, March 22, 1836, a daughter of Henry Sullivan, a native of Virginia, who died in February, 1871, at the age of fifty-five years. He came to Logan county, Ohio, where he lived until 1838, and then removed to Perry county, Illinois, and there carried on farming until his death. He married Elizabeth Wilgues, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who died at the age of thirty-three years. Sarah Sullivan returned to Hardin county in 1866, and after her marriage to Mr. Harvey lived in Mt. Victory. She now lives on the farm with her son John S. Mrs. Harvey has one brother living, James Sullivan, a retired farmer of Iola, Kansas. The present home of Mrs. Harvey and her son is the old homestead of the Harvey family.
After receiving a good education in the public schools, John S. Harvey worked on the old home farm with his brother, commencing
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active work at the age of eighteen years. Ile has made many improve- ments on the farm, which has been brought to a high state of cultivation and where there is a fine maple grove. He carries on general farming and makes a specialty of stock raising. Mr. Harvey is an earnest member of the United Brethren church. He is an active Republican and takes great interest in the success of his party. He is a member of the school board, is central committeeman and has served several times as delegate to various party conventions.
October 26, 1898, Mr. Harvey married Willa Lusanna Lingo, who was born October 5, 1879, daughter of James II. and Harriet (Williams) Lingo. Mr. Lingo lives in Dudley township; his wife is a daughter of Anderson Williams, an old pioneer. Mrs. Harvey had two sisters, both of whom are deceased, and she was the youngest of the family. Mrs. Harvey died April 29, 1906, and her loss was deeply felt in the community. She was a devout. earnest Christian, having been a mem- ber of the church since the age of eleven years. She died after an illness of one year, a patient, uncomplaining sufferer, whose chief thought was always for the comfort and well-being of her husband and child; she had a lovely disposition, and her high character and beautiful life made her beloved by all who knew her. Her good deeds were not confined to the members of her immediate family, and she was always ready to lend her assistance to all who were in need of help or comfort, and her example has served as an inspiration to many. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey had two children: One born February 29, 1904, died March 11, 1904, and Irene Cleone, born October 22, 1899.
ALONZO T. HARVEY .- Farming operations in Hardin county, Ohio, are very profitable, and among those who have won success along this line is Alonzo T. Harvey, of Dudley township. Mr. Harvey was born in Taylor Creek, Ohio, June 29, 1874, and is a son of Julius Oscar and Sarah (Sullivan) Harvey, the former of whom died June 11, 1898, and the latter resides with Alonzo's brother, John S. Harvey, having at- tained the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Harvey is given mention at length in connection with the sketch of her son, John S., found elsewhere in this work. The ancestry of the Harvey family is to be found in connection with the sketches of Marvin O. and William L. Harvey, of Mt. Victory, also to be found elsewhere in this work. J. O. Harvey and his wife had three children, namely: Alonzo T .; John S., a farmer of Dudley township; and Ocis, wife of Carl Latimer, of Marion, Ohio.
After receiving a good education in the public schools of his native place, Mr. Harvey began helping on his father's farm at the age of eighteen years. He remained at home until his marriage in 1894, when he bought his present farm of seventy aeres, which was little improved. He has brought the condition of the farm up to a high standard, and now has one of the most attractive and best improved farms in this section of the country. He carries on general farming and stock rais- ing, and being enterprising and thrifty, has been accordingly rewarded for his labor. Mr. Harvey owns one of the best known horses in Hardin county, the stallion "Liberty," of the Percheron breed, Registered No.
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25,799, foaled April 29, 1900, at West Liberty. Ohio, by Boulanger (No. 11,352), the latter by Peoria and Brilliant.
Mr. Harvey is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Mt. Victory. Politically he is an active supporter of the Republican party, and is a member of the high school board. Mr. Harvey is well known in the county, and is accounted one of its useful, representative citizens.
In October, 1894, Mr. Harvey married Olive Smith, who was born in Dudley township, December 24, 1874, daughter of Samuel Smith, who died in 1890, at the age of forty-seven years. He was born in Logan county, and removed to Hardin county. Ohio, with his parents, when he was seven years of age. His parents. Jonathan and Susan (Cunning- ham) Smith, were among the earliest settlers of Hardin county. Jona- than Smith died in 1868, at the age of eighty-five years: he came from Maryland to what later became Washington county, Ohio, and there followed farming the remainder of his life. He assisted in building the old stage road. He came to Hardin county in 1845, and settled in Dudley township, near the present family homestead, containing one hundred and ten acres, which he cleared, being the first settler on it, and there he built a log house. He was the founder of the Methodist Episcopal church, helped erect the first church building, becoming class leader and local pastor. He was very active in church work all his life, and was a highly respected, useful member of society. He was a Whig and later became a Republican. His widow survived him many years, and passed away in 1893, at the age of eighty years.
MRS. MARY ANN STEVENSON, who owns extensive farming interests in Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, Ohio, was born near Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, May 25, 1822, daughter of Dan and Nancy (Hill) Hullinger. Dan Ilullinger was born in Virginia, and his father's name was also Dan. The elder man was also a native of Virginia and served in the Revolution. Mrs. Stevenson's father served in the war of 1812 and came with his father to Champaign county; the latter died in 1844. The son died in 1858, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife died in 1825.
In 1835, when thirteen years of age, Mrs. Stevenson came to Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, with a sister, and worked in various families until her marriage. For some time she earned her living by spinning wool. November 26, 1840, Mary Ann Hullinger married HIomer Stevenson, who was born in Green county, Ohio, May 31. 1816. and died in September, 1904. He was a son of William and Mary Ann (Hillis) Stevenson and came to Taylor Creek township in 1830. Mrs. Stevenson is one of the oldest living pioneers of Hardin county and the last of the older generation of the Stevenson family to survive. She has witnessed many changes in the community and the manner in which the people of the county live. When she came to the county many fine farms of the present day were mostly covered with a heavy growth of timber, and neighbors were far apart. She is known and loved by a large cirele of friends and is known to old and young alike as "Aunt Mary Ann."
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William Stevenson located in Xenia, Ohio, in 1800, being one of the very earliest inhabitants of the region, and he later settled on the Little Miami, being one of the early pioneers of that region. He served as county assessor and also as justice of the peace. He served in the war of 1812 and died in 1826. His widow died in 1841. Homer Stevenson helped build the first schoolhouse in his district, now known as the Stevenson schoolhouse. In 1844 he and his wife built the first cabin in the neighborhood where she now lives, and in 1862 they erected the honse which is still the family home. They first owned eighty acres
but soon added another sixty acres. They made their own furniture for keeping house and endured all the privations incident to pioneer life. In early days they took eggs to Kenton on horseback and received three cents per dozen for them. Mr. Stevenson was an industrious, enterprising farmer and met with gratifying success. He was a public-spirited, useful citizen and actively interested in public affairs. He was a strong Republican and voted for Harrison for president in 1840. He was highly esteemed and served thirty years as township assessor, also served as justice of the peace. The first school in the neighborhood was built near what is now the Moy farm and was taught by a brother of Mr. Stevenson. Another brother. Charles, was the first auditor of Hardin county. Mr. Stevenson won success entirely through his own efforts, as he started with almost nothing and at his death was possessed of a large property. When a young man and calling on his sweetheart, he came by horseback, and together he and she would travel on the same horse many miles to attend a party or dance.
Mr. Stevenson and his wife had children as follows: Rachel, wife of Leander King, has four children; Bartley E., who was killed in the battle of Winchester ; Miller, who lives near Bellefontaine, a veteran of the Civil war, married Lizzie Raney and they have three children and one grandchild; Elizabeth, wife of Albert Ranney, a farmer living near Kenton, has one child, Mary Ethel ; Perry, living near the old homestead, married Amy Burbey and they have one child, Scott; David, of Rushsyl- vania, Ohio, married Sarah Bailey and they have five children; and Margaret, married Otis Hopkins, of Taylor Creek township. Mr. Stevenson was a member of the United Presbyterian church of Silver Creek, Ohio. Mrs. Stevenson still resides on the old homestead, and is remarkable for her perfect health and activity. She does a large amount of work for one of her age, caring for her personal needs and doing small chores around the farm, such as helping with the milking, ete. She is a woman of high intelligence and remarkable for her good memory and ability to recount notable events in the history of the county where so large a part of her life has been spent.
JOSEPH A. RUBECK, an enterprising and practical farmer of Dudley township, Hardin county, Ohio, was born on the farm where he now resides, February 24, 1877, son of Peter and Barbara ( Winslick) Rubeck, both natives of Germany. Peter Rubeck came with his father, George Rubeck, to the United States, when five years of age. They located in
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Huron county and in 1874 he came to what is now the home of his son Joseph. He built the present house and carried on farming until 1901 and then retired and moved to Kenton. The home place was formerly owned by a company that conducted a saw mill along the Scioto river. Peter Rubeek married Barbara Winslick, who died in 1909, at the age of sixty-nine years. She came to America with her parents when she was sixteen years of age. She and her husband had children as follows : Joseph A .; Mary, wife of J. Steiner, a farmer; Anna, widow of George Schorff; Lizzie, wife of Il. Rohr, of Kenton; Rosa, wife of J. Rueber ; Maggie, wife of John Schorff; Tina, at home; John, a blacksmith in Marion, Ohio; and George, also a blacksmith of Marion.
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