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 53
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LEWIS RUTLEDGE
JANE TIDD RUTLEDGE
Earl& Rutledge.
Ero. It. Rutledge
Audio Rutledge
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1903. George W. Rutledge and his wife had four children, those besides Earl E. being: Carl C., intercollegiate secretary of the Y. M. C. A., of Philadelphia ; Donna D. and Warren W., the two latter being in Los Angeles, California. George W. Rutledge was again married, to Mrs. Sallie (McBride) Davis, October 26, 1905, less than three months prior to his death. She survives him and lives with her son Ray Davis, in Columbus, Ohio.
Earl E. Rutledge is the oldest child, and the only one now living in Hardin county. He was six years old at the time his parents located in Kenton, and there received his education in the public schools. H graduated from high school in 1893, and attended Eastman Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating from same in June. 1894. He became associated with his father in the insurance business in August of that same year, and continued in this business until November 1, 1906, when he sold a half interest to E. A. Loop, of Craw- fordsville, Indiana. February 1. 1909. Mr. Rutledge bought him out and sold a half interest to E. C. Sells, the firm now being Rutledge & Sells, doing a flourishing business in general insurance and real estate. Both members of the firm are wide-awake, enterprising business men. with keen insight and good principles, and the affairs of the concern are in promising condition. Mr. Rutledge was inspector of public accounts under the Bureau of Inspection and Supervision of Public Offices, hold- ing this office from December, 1906. until February, 1909.
April 27, 1899. Earl E. Rutledge married Eda M. Stahl a daughter of G. A. and Elizabeth (Fink) Stahl. G. A. Stahl, who was born September 12. 1843, is a native of Esslingen. Wertemburg. Germany. Elizabeth (Fink) Stahl who was born June 30, 1842, is a native of Hardin county. Her father was Benedict Fink, a native of Berne. Switzerland, and one of the early pioneers of Hardin county. Eda M. Stahl was born May 26, 1873, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Rutledge and his wife have one child living. a son, Edwin Stahl. born September 10, 1903. Three children died in infancy.
Mr. Rutledge is a member of the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar, and he is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. belongs to the Church of Christ. ITe is secretary of The Kenton Gas & Electric Company, and is a director of The Home Savings & Loan Company. He is well known throughout Hardin county, where his entire life has been spent, and is highly respected, having a multitude of friends. He is actively interested in public affairs, and politically supports the cause of the Republican party. He was chairman of the Hardin County Republican Central Committee for two years, and was recently selected as chairman of the Republican Executive Committee.
WILLIAM DIBLE, a prominent and successful farmer of Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, was born near Tiffin, Ohio, March 10. 1846. and is a son of Frederick and Eureka Dible, both natives of Prussia. Frederick Dible emigrated to America with his family in 1836, and became one of the first pioneers of Wyandot connty. He was a black- smith by trade and worked many years near Tiffin. Ile died at Spring- ville. Ohio, at the age of fifty-four years, and his widow died in 1894. at the age of fifty-four years. He was one of eight children. Ile and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church. They had children as follows: William ; Henry, a farmer in Kansas; Ferdinand. a farmer of Seneea county, Ohio; Napoleon, a farmer of Ohio; and two daughters who are deceased.
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After reaching the age of eighteen years William Dible cared for his mother and followed farming until her death. He worked for others four years and then for five years rented a farm. After living two years on a farm near Kenton he then located in that City and spent two years teaming and two years working in a factory. However, he preferred farming and for three years rented the Spensler farm. In 1890 Mr. Dible purchased his present farm of forty-two acres, where he made a specialty of high-bred horses. Ile has been very successful as a farmer and is now able to retire from the more active labor, though he still resides on his farm. He is a member of the local Grange and is well known in the community. He has many friends and has a repu- tation for honesty and industry. Politically he is a Republican, though he takes no active part in local affairs.
Mr. Dible married Martha Jane Smalley, who was born in Hancock county, daughter of George and Magdalena (Reinhart) Smalley; she died in 1907, at the age of fifty-five years. Mr. Smalley was a farmer and spent his entire life in Hancock connty. Mr. Dible and his wife became the parents of children as follows: Lemuel C., of Kenton, Ohio, now thirty-six years of age, married Mary Roberts, and they have one child; Ferdinand Edward, of Taylor Creek township, married a Miss Wilcox, and they have three children; Clarence, of Kenton, married Mande Lane, and they have one child; Mary Alta ; Lola Bell, who married John Bortsch, of Kenton, and they have one child; and Virgil Carlin, at home with his father.
DARIUS M. SIEG .- One of the prosperous young stock farmers of Hardin county, Ohio, is Darius M. Sieg, who lives in the brick house built by his grandfather, Jacob Sieg. Mr. Sieg was born on the farm where he now lives, March 22, 1884, and is a son of Paul K. and Marga- ret Evans. Paul Sieg was born in Augusta county, Virginia, June 5, 1818, and died March 27, 1884. Ile came to Ilardin county, Ohio, with his father when fifteen years of age. Ilis father, Jaeob Sieg, was born in Pennsylvania, May 29, 1784, and died in Hardin county, January 26, 1855. Ile settled on the farm that is still in the family, and built a log cabin in the woods. He spent the remainder of his life here. He had two sons, Jonathan and Paul, both teachers. Jonathan was the first teacher in Taylor Creek township. Jacob Sieg moved to West Liberty, Ohio, in 1828, and from there to Ilardin county in 1839. He built on his homestead the fine brick house that is still standing, and manufactured the brick for the same. This is the oldest and largest building of the kind in the section of Ohio where it is located. He mar- ried Lydia Haines May 3, 1810; she was born in Pennsylvania January 8, 1793, and died January 15, 1878.
Paul K. Sieg remained at home with his parents and helped carry on the farm, and at the death of his father he managed the home farm until his own demise. He was one of the pioneer members of the St. Paul Methodist church, and was elected its steward in 1856, serving until his death. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1852, served six years as township trustee, and for twenty-seven years acted as town-
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ship treasurer. He was also a member of the Agricultural Board at its organization. Mr. Sieg was married. October 10. 1841, to Rebecca Van Meter, who was born June 18. 1816, and died in October. 1852. Of this union five children were born, the only one living being Lavinia. wife of H. C. Collett, of Ansonia, Ohio. Mr. Sieg married on April 7, 1854. Margaret MeBeth, who died December 5. 1857. Two children were born to this union, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Sieg married for his third wife, March 27. 1859, Margaret E. Evans, born February 24. 1839. She is a daughter of David and Lovina (Price) Evans of Delaware county, Ohio. David Evans came to the United States from Wales, with his parents when four years old. He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Evans, who were farmers and settled first at Gallipolis and later in Delaware county. In 1853 David Evans moved to Hardin county and located in Buek township. where he died. Ile was born June 5, 1818, and died in 1884, and his wife died in 1890. Mrs. Sieg lives with her son, Darins M., on the old homestead. She has twenty- three grandchildren. Her children who survive are as follows: Henry, a farmer of Cessna township; Robert E., of Richwood, Ohio; Lovina, wife of William Cook, of Buck township; Jacob, a farmer, living near Mt. Victory ; David, of Hale township; John. a farmer, of Taylor Creek township; Mary, at home; Paul K., a farmer of Buck Creek township ; and Darius, the youngest child.
After attending the public school until fifteen years of age Darius M. Sieg attended Ada University three terms and then settled down to farming and stock raising on the home farm, where most of his life has been spent. HIe makes a specialty of sheep, hogs and cattle, and is very successful in this line. He is an industrious and enterprising young farmer, and his management of the farm is able and thorough. He is a member of the Methodist church and politically is a Republican, being at present a member of the school board.
In 1908 Mr. Sieg married Elizabeth Moser, born June 11. 1882. daughter of J. H. Moser, who died in 1895. He was a native of Switzer- land, where Mrs. Sieg was born, and married Elizabeth Bassiger, who survives him. He brought his family direct to Kenton, Ohio. In his native country he worked at blacksmithing and iron furnace mannfae- turing. Hle and his wife had children as follows: Adolph, of Xenia, Ohio; Rose, wife of E. Born, of Kenton; Freda, a teacher, living in Kenton ; Anna. John H. and Minnie, at home; Katherine and Carl. twins ; and Helen, now deceased. Mr. Sieg and his wife have one child, Richard Moser, born November 6, 1909.
CHARLES H. RICKETS, a successful baker of Mt. Victory, Ohio, was born in Logan county, March 8, 1871, and is a son of William A. Rick- etts a native of the city of New York, a son of George Ricketts of New York state. William A. Ricketts came with his parents to Ohio before the Civil war, and they settled in Logan county. His father, after the death of his wife, moved to Lima, Ohio, where he died in 1887. at the age of eighty-eight years.
William A. Ricketts was a carpenter and cabinet-maker, having
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learned the trade at Bellefontaine, Ohio; he spent two years working at his trade at Toledo, and in 1861 he enlisted in the Thirteenth Ohio, serving four years and nine months. He participated in many of the important battles of the war and at its close married Mary Jane Wheeler, who is now sixty-six years of age. She is a daughter of Robert and Jane Wheeler, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ricketts still follows his trade at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and has now reached the age of sixty-eight years. Besides Charles H. he had children as follows: Lyda, Eddie, Addie, Bertha, Margaret, George, Robert and John.
The education of Charles H. Ricketts was acquired in the public schools and he lived on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age. He then learned the trade of baker at Bellefontaine, and worked at same there until 1902, then removed to Van Wert, and for one year was engaged in the bakery and confectionery business. He sold out and re- turned to Bellefontaine, where for three years he was employed as fore- man by the Richter Baking Company. In 1908 he located in Mt. Victory to take charge of the present bakery. He is thorough master of his trade and has won a reputation for fine work in his line.
Mr. Ricketts married Fannie A. Longfellow who was born February 16, 1870, daughter of Rev. J. M. Longfellow a Methodist Episcopal pas- tor at Bellefontaine. His wife, Hannah J. (Hartley) Longfellow, died in 1905, at the age of seventy-eight years, and he is now eighty-two. Mr. Ricketts and his wife became parents of children as follows: Mary, aged sixteen, wife of Charles Palmer, of North Dakota; Bernice, aged fourteen, attending school; Van Arthur, aged twelve; Miles, aged six ; and Byron, aged two years. In his business relations Mr. Ricketts has always shown a strict adherence to the highest principles, and he has won his success in life through his own efforts. He has always paid close attention to his work and financial interests, and has good business judgment. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
MRS. NANCY (NORMAN) BAILEY, who lives on her farm in Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, has been a resident of the county since childhood. She was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, February 13, 1832, a daughter of James and Mary (Brown) Norman, the former of Vir- ginia, Mr. Norman came to Taylor Creek township when his daughter was eleven years of age. The family came by wagon and had two yoke of oxen for making the trip. They stopped on their way at Wheeler's Tavern, on the Sandusky Road, also at Furney's Tavern in Kenton. They located opposite the present home of Mrs. Bailey and took up one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, there being then but one house between their farm and Kenton,-the Scott house. Their first home was a hewed log affair, and at the raising of the house little Nancy did all the cooking, providing food for all who attended, though she was then only eleven years old. Mrs. Norman died in 1869. Mrs. Bailey is the only survivor of the family of five children. James Norman was a son of Henry and Nancy (Knotts) Norman.
Nancy Norman spent her girlhood on a farm and in 1849 she
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married Silas Bailey, who was born in Logan county, Ohio, in 1824, a son of William and Mary (Olcott) Bailey, who married in 1817. Wil- liam Bailey was born in Martinsburg, Virginia, and moved to Hardin county in 1827; he died December 6, 1853. After their marriage Mr. Bailey and his wife lived some time in a small cabin on the Norman place, and in 1868 came to what is the present family homestead. They began housekeeping there in a small log cabin which is now in the rear of the pleasant, modern farm house. Mr. Bailey was a successful far- mer and stock raiser and an enterprising, progressive citizen, who was actively interested in public affairs and in every good cause. He en- listed in the Union army in 1864, serving until the end of the war, in Company B. One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. He died March 10, 1882, and his loss was mourned by a large circle of friends. He and his wife became the parents of children as follows: Nathaniel, deceased; Jonathan, a farmer of Buck township. married Sarah Frey; Martha, wife of W. Bailey, had one child, Cora, who married W. Short, and she is deceased; Fletcher, of Goshen town- ship, married Ida Kelley, and they have three children; B. Wells, mar- ried Joan Newell and lives in Georgia; Curtis, living at home, married Ada Stevenson, and they have one child, Martha and Curtis both live with their mother and care for her interests. Mrs. Bailey is well known in the community. having spent so large a part of her life in the township, and has a large circle of friends. She is blessed with good health and after a life of industry and toil enjoys a well-earned rest. She is a member of the Disciples church.
GEORGE ELMER MITCHELL, a prominent farmer and a justice of the peace of Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, Ohio, is a native of Franklin county, Ohio, born July 13, 1861. He is a son of Charles and Nancy M. (Drake) Mitchell, both natives of Ohio, the former born in Franklin county and the latter in the southern part of the state. Charles Mitchell died in 1898, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a son of Hugh Mitchell, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, who moved with his parents to Dublin, Ohio, where they bonght a piece of land with the expectation that the state capital would be located there. Hugh Mitchell spent the remainder of his life in this vicinity and died in 1862, at the age of sixty years.
After attending the district school until a young man Charles Mitchell helped his father with the work of the farm and remained with his parents until after his marriage, when he rented a farm and also worked by the day. In 1867 he moved to Hardin connty and remained in Lynn township nntil his death, which took place in 1898. In May. 1864, Mr. Mitchell enlisted in the Union army for one hundred days' service, in Company K. One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio National Guard, and was discharged in September of the same year. He was a Republican in his political views, and for several terms served as town- ship clerk ; he also served as a justice of the peace. He married Nancy M. Drake, daughter of James H. and Caroline (Marshall) Drake, the former a United Brethren minister from southern Ohio. Charles
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Mitchell and his wife had children as follows: George E .; Clementine, wife of William Burger, of Kenton; Auta, living with her mother at Kenton ; Lester, a farmer; Caroline, wife of Gilbert Hamilton and lives in Columbus: Beecher, living on the home farm; Emma, wife of R. W. Longbrake; and Elsoda, wife of James B. Mitchell of Altoona, Pennsylvania.
George E. Mitchell attended the country schools and received a fair education. He remained with his parents until his marriage in 1888, and then began farming for himself. Politically he is a Republi- can, and is active in the interests of the party. He has been a member of the school board and township elerk. besides holding other township offices. In 1896 Mr. Mitchell was elected a justice of the peace and in 1910 he was again elected to this responsible office. He served ten years as a member of the state militia, and while belonging to this organization attended the funeral of the martyred Garfield, at Cleveland, being part of the guard on duty. He was also at the Cincinnati riots. Mr. Mitchell has the full confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens and makes a good publie official. He gives the affairs of the public the same thoughtful and careful consideration he does his own private affairs, and is popular with all parties.
Mr. Mitchell married Minnie M. Richards, who was born March 4, 1872, daughter of Ira C. Richards, a veteran of the Civil war, who has now attained the age of sixty-five years. Mr. Richards is a retired farmer and Methodist Episcopal preacher. He is a native of Hardin connty and son of Leonard Richards, who came to IIardin county from Ross county, Ohio, and was a Methodist preacher, as was also his father. James. Ira C. Richards married Bethany Evans, who has now reached the age of sixty-seven years. She is a daughter of David and Lavina (Price) Evans. Mr. Mitchell and his wife have had children as follows: Bessie, born in 1889, a graduate of the Kenton high school and now living in Kenton; Ira, born in 1892, at home; Wilbur, born in 1896, attending school ; Avice, born in 1899; Dora, born in 1902; DeArlo, born in 1905; Earnestine, born in 1907; Margaret, born in 1909; and three deceased, Ernest, Theresa and Everett.
OTIS MARION HOPKINS .- Among the most enterprising and suc- cessful farmers and stockmen of Taylor Creek township, Hardin county, is Otis M. Hopkins, who was born on the farm where he still resides December 12. 1865, a son of Marion and Elmira (Bailey) Hopkins. His great-grandfather, Archibald Hopkins, was born in 1791, and died August 15, 1879. He married Jemimah Gosley, who died January 14, 1834. Their son Robert, born July 3. 1820, died March 30, 1877. He married Sallie Robertson, who was born October 28, 1819, and died March 15, 1884. Their son Marion was born in Logan county, Ohio, in 1842, and in 1850 moved with his parents to the present family home- stead, where they took up a homestead of one hundred and fifty acres of Woodland. They erected a log house and spent the remainder of their lives on this farm.
Marion Hopkins remained with his parents as a young man, teach-
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ing school winters and helping with the farm work summers. Iłe enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. After returning home he spent the remainder of his life farming, and died November 28, 1870, of sickness contracted during the military service. Ile was a Republican in political views and held many townships offices. His wife was born September 26, 1841, and died August 1. 1867. She was a daughter of Silas and Harriet (Stevenson) Bailey, of this community.
The only child of Marion Hopkins and his wife now surviving is Otis M., the subject of this biography. He received his education in the common schools. He was a small boy when his mother died, and only four years of age at the time of the death of his father. He was reared by his grandparents and they died before he was eighteen years of age. He is now owner of the family homestead and earries on farming and stoek raising with excellent suecess. Mr. Hopkins is a prominent and influential eitizen and actively interested in public affairs. IIe is a stanch Republiean and has rendered valuable service in the interests of his party. He has held various publie offices and discharged his duties in a manner that was highly satisfactory and proved his ability and good judgment. Mr. Hopkins served three terms as township elerk, two terms as county infirmary director, and has also acted as delegate to state and congressional conventions. He is well known and popular in the community and has many friends. He belongs to the United Presbyterian church of Silver Creek, to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Kenton and also to the Elks at Kenton.
On June 1. 1887. Mr. Hopkins married Maggie J. Stevenson, daugh- ter of Homer and Mary Ann (Hullinger) Stevenson, who are given more extensive mention elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Stevenson is a widow and resides on her farm in Taylor Creek township. Mrs. Hopkins was born April 11, 1865. She is also a member of the United Presbyterian church, and is active in the work of the missionary society and other church work.
JOHN M. FISHER, a retired farmer and stock dealer of Taylor Creek township. was born in Logan county, Ohio. January 31, 1843, a son of John H. and Elizabeth (Marshall ) Fisher. John II. Fisher was a native of Laneaster county, Pennsylvania, born in 1808. and he moved to Stark county, Ohio, when a young man. He returned to his native state, where he was married, and later removed to Logan county. Ohio. where he took up forty-five acres of land in the timber. Ile built a cabin and improved his land. spending the remainder of his life on this farm; he added more land from time to time and at his death. in 1874. owned one hundred and twenty-five aeres. In early life he was a Presbyterian, but as there was no organization of that denomination in the neighborhood where he lived he finally joined the Christian church. Mrs. Fisher was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and was a daughter of Conrad Marshall; she died in 1875. Besides John M. they had another son. Conrad N. Fisher. M. D., of Rushsylvania. Ohio.
Vol. II-27
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After attending the local schools and securing a good education John M. Fisher helped his father on the farm and at the same time taught four terms during the Civil war. He remained with his parents until 1873, then moved to Hardin county, where he first purchased one hundred acres of land, where he now lives. Later he added one hun- dred and forty acres more, and still later added more land until he now owns three hundred acres. A large part of his land was in the swamp, but he has made all modern improvements and has his land in a high state of cultivation. He has erected a comfortable home and is very successful in his enterprise. He is engaged extensively in stock raising also and feeds a number of cattle each winter. He ships to market in
carload lots. For two years from 1880 he was in partnership with William Callahan, of Logan county, and they shipped extensively. Later he engaged in partnership with Marshall Stewart, shipping stock and buying wool. He has carried on business in this line for fifteen years in Hardin county.
Some years ago Mr. Fisher located in Kenton, and there continued dealing in stock, but six years later he returned to his farm, where he now lives. He has retired from active business life, but keeps well informed as to his business interests. Hle is one of the most successful and influential citizens of the county, and his reputation as a stock and wool dealer has traveled over a wide territory. Politically he is a Democrat, and he served two terms as township trustee. Ile is well known in the community and is recognized as one of the public spirited, representative men of the county.
In 1865 Mr. Fisher married Anna E. Musselman, born July 22, 1846, in Logan county, Ohio, a daughter of Jerome and Elizabeth (Ansley) Musselman. Her father was born and reared in Virginia and came to Ohio with his parents. Michael and Ann (Coover) Mussel- man. Mrs. Fisher's father died in 1903 and her mother in 1874. She was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Ansley. Besides Mrs. Fisher they had children as follows: Mary, wife of Thomas Kautzman, of Indiana; Leah, widow of L. Carson, of Marion, Ohio; Georgie, wife of E. E. Wickersham, of Logan county, Ohio; and Lucian, a farmer of Taylor Creek township. Mr. Fisher and his wife became the parents of children as follows: Louis N. who married Myrtle Collins; Willis, on the home farm, married Eva Swallow, daughter of John and Harriet (Copp) Swallow, of Kenton, and they have three children, Hazel, Mabel, and Mary ; Charles E., living in the west, married Mary Williams, and they have two children, Ralph and Evangeline; Mary Elizabeth mar- ried Marshall Porter, an undertaker of Kenton, and they have one child, Emerson ; Claude, living in the west. married Mary Carr, and they have one child, Francis; Hattie married G. A. Vincent, a merchant of Hiram, Portage county, and they have one child, Myron. Mrs. Fisher is a member of the Disciples church of Kenton, and is an active worker in the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. Fisher has gained success in life mainly through his own efforts. He is a keen business man of sound judgment, and has made the most of his opportunities. He still owns the family homestead where he was born, in Logan county.
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