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 54
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HON. FRANK B. WILLIS .- Talented and cultured, of broad and pro- gressive views, Hon. Frank B. Willis, of Ada, teacher of Law and Economies at the Ohio Northern University, has long been a conspicuous figure in educational eireles, and is also widely known in the political world. His literary and scholastic attainments have obtained wide recognition, and he has won a far more than local reputation, not only as an able and popular instructor, a brilliant and forcible lecturer, but as a leader in the Republican ranks, and as an earnest champion of needed reformatory measures. A native of Ohio, he was born, December 28, 1871. in Lewis Center, Delaware county, a son of J. B. Willis. He is of substantial New England ancestry, his grandfather. Buckley H. Willis, having been a resident of Vermont. while his great-grandfather, enlisting from Massachusetts. served as a soldier in the war of 1812.
Although born and bred in the Green Mountain state, J. B. Willis has spent the greater part of his life in Delaware county, Ohio, being now one of the prominent citizens of Galena, and an influential member of the Republican party. Inheriting the spirit of patriotism that inspired his ancestors, he volunteered in defence of his country in 1862, and served bravely in the Civil war. He married, in 1857, Lavina Bnell, and to them three children were born, as follows: Lloyd M., of Chicago, Illinois ; Buell B., a prosperous agriculturist ; and Frank B., with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned.
Laying a substantial foundation for his future education in the district schools of his native county, Frank B. Willis subsequently attended the Galena high school, where he won an excellent record for scholarship. Entering the Ohio Northern University in 1890, he was graduated from that institution with the class of 1893. and immediately accepted the professorship of the chair of Political Economy. Civil Government and United States History. A diligent and persistent student, with a natural taste and talent for legal study and work, Pro- fessor Willis was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1906, and is now teaching Law and Economics in the College of Law, of the Ohio Northern University.
Throughout his useful career as an educator Mr. Willis has met with distinguished success. Since 1900 he has been actively engaged for six or more weeks each year as a lecturer before Teachers' Institutes, his work in that direction covering twenty-five Ohio counties, and nearly as many in Pennsylvania; in the summer of 1910 several counties in Ohio and also in Indiana, receiving the advantage and benefit of his lectures on American History and Civics.
With patriotism as a virtue and an inheritance, Professor Willis has kept in touch with the politics of county, state and nation since carly manhood, and in 1894 made his first appearance as a political speaker. In 1896 he stumped the state in behalf of MeKinley's election to the presidency, and in 1899 he was elected to the General Assembly from Hardin county, and served his fellow citizens to such good purpose that he was reelected to the same office in 1901. this time his previous good majority of votes being largely increased. During his later term in the House, he was chairman of the committee on insurance, and a member of
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the committee on taxation, and took an active part in all debates on tax- reform measures. He was also vice chairman, or chairman pro tem, of the House Committee of twenty-three chosen to formulate a municipal code for the government of Ohio. Through the administration of the Willis Law, of which he was the framer, the state treasury is richer by far than it otherwise would be, while the revenues produced by its enact- ment have made it possible to reduce the taxes of the farmer and the home owner.
A candidate for congressional honors in 1904, Professor Willis was defeated in a long drawn out convention, famous in the history of the eighth district, his opponent being Hon. Ralph D. Cole, for whom he afterwards took the stump, working vigorously for his, and for the Republican party's success. Again a candidate for congress in 1908, the professor was again defeated after some eleven hundred ballots in the two spectacular and exciting conventions at Marysville and Kenton. In 1910 he was again a candidate for congress on the Republican ticket at the primary.
Since entering politics, Mr. Willis has been a simon pure Republi- can and is of that thorough kind known as progressive. He is a supporter and admirer of President Taft, whom he holds to be a great constructive statesman and an executive doing his best for his country. On the tariff question, Professor Willis adheres to the pledge which says: "In all tariff legislation the true principle of protection is best maintained by the imposition of such duties as will equalize the difference between cost of production at home and abroad together with a reasonable profit to American industries." On the wool question, his attitude is one that is satisfactory to the growers of the district. There are various reasons for the wool growers' confidence: Mr. Willis became an advocate of wool protection, when as a boy he heard Major Mckinley speak on the question ; all of the Willis people on "both sides of the house" have been wool-growers and dealers, Mr. Willis's father having been for years one of the prominent sheep men of the county and an uncle was the origi- nal Merino sheep man of Delaware county. Being the son of an old soldier, Mr. Willis has always been the eloquent champion of the rights of war veterans and is an associate member of Ada Post of the G. A. R. The Willis Guards of that town was named in his honor because of his work and interest in the cause of patriotism.
Mr. Willis is an active supporter of the Y. M. C. A. and other young peoples' societies, and on the platform of religious organizations he is a familiar, popular and eloquent speaker, his, often times impromptu addresses being full of courage, good cheer and inspiration to his hearers. In an informal talk to the members of the Presbyterian Brotherhood at Kenton, in the summer of 1907, he expressed a strong belief in the theory that right shall conquer, and made a plea for right living and right thinking in our daily walks of life.
Professor Willis married, in 1894, Allie Dustin, a daughter of John and Hannah Dustin, of Galena, Ohio, and they have one child, Helen Willis.
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HORACE E. SPONSLER .- Prominent among the extensive land owners and progressive agriculturists of Hardin county is Horace E. Spons- ler, proprietor of one of the most attractive and valuable estates in McDonald township. A native of Hardin county, he was born August 13, 1854, in Taylor Creek township, a son of Jacob Sponsler.
Jacob Sponsler was born and brought up in Pennsylvania, and there married Margaret Slonaker, also a Pennsylvanian by birth. Migrating to Hardin county, he bought a tract of wild land in Taylor Creek town- ship, and from the dense forest cleared and improved a homestead. The Sponsler family has ever been distinguished for its patriotism and loyalty to country, three of its members serving in the Civil war, George in the Artillery, Winfield B. in the Infantry, while Alvin served for more that three years in the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
Horace E. Sponsler received his early education in the district schools of his native township, and on the home farm was well trained in the various branches of agriculture. Finding the occupation of farming both pleasant and profitable, he decided to make it his life work, and began his operations by purchasing fifty acres of land in Taylor Creek township, to which he subsequently added by purchasing eighty-five aeres of adjoining land. At the end of four years he sold out at an advantage, and bought one hundred and eighty-seven acres of the land now included in his present farm, in McDonald township. Sue- cessful in his undertakings, Mr. Sponsler has added to the size of his farm, which now contains three hundred and fifteen acres as fine farming land as can be found in this part of Hardin county. He has made im- provements of an excellent character, and is carrying on general farm- ing with most satisfactory results, and, with his son, who assists him, owns and manages a threshing outfit. Since becoming of age, Mr. Spons- ler has supported the principles of the Republican party by voice and vote, but has never had official aspirations.
On July 29, 1884, Mr. Sponsler was united in marriage with Mar- garet Jane Carson, a daughter of William S. and Jane Carson, of Kenton. William Edwin Sponsler, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Sponsler, was born August 11, 1885, and has always lived with his parents, assisting in the management of the farm. He married Bessie C. Claypool, and they have one child, Margaret Alice, born May 14, 1907.
GENERAL DAVID THOMSON .- A man of whom all Hardin county felt justly proud during life and whose memory is held in tender reverence today is General David Thomson, who left in his war record a noble legacy not only to his family but to the people of his county and state. He died at his residence in Kenton, Ohio, in which he had lived many years, February 2, 1893. General Thomson was a native of Ohio, born in Marion county, April 27, 1823. He married Miss Margaret Espy, a native of Philadelphia and became a resident of Hardin county in 1849. He engaged in the practice of law, and continued in this occupa- tion until the beginning of the Civil war. In his service in behalf of his country he distinguished himself so that the expression was often
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made "Never did a braver man wear shoe leather." His record began with the formation of Company A of the Eighty-second Ohio, of which he was chosen captain. He was soon afterward appointed major of the regiment and after the battle of Bull Run he was made lieutenant- colonel. March 13, 1865, he was made a brigadier general, for "gallant and meritorious service during the war." He had many narrow escapes and figured as a hero in sixteen battles. At Peach Tree Creek his life
was saved by his pocket-knife, which was shattered to pieces. He made a fine record at the most important battle of Gettysburg, where a horse was shot from under him. His heroic conduct at this battle was testi- fied by a magnificent sword which was presented to him by the Eighty- second, and on it was this inscription: "Presented to Colonel David Thomson by the non-commissioned officers and privates of the Eighty- second regiment as a token of their appreciation of his noble conduct at Gettysburg, July 1, 2, and 3, 1863." He never fully recovered from the severe wounds he recived at the battle of Averysboro.
Among the battles in which he participated were: Cedar Mountain, Bull Run, Wauhatchie Valley, Resaca, Culp's Farm, Nancy Creek, Peach Tree Creek, Savannah and Averysboro, in all of which he commanded the brave boys of the Eighty-second. He was wounded at Dallas, and during the siege of Atlanta he commanded the regiment, when they were under fire continuously from June 29 to August 25.
General Thomson was a man to whom his friends gave their warm- est affection and confidence. He was a pleasant and friendly companion, being most refined in his tastes and fond of the finer things of life, He was entertaining in conversation, being full of general information, and was most highly esteemed by his comrades in arms, as well as by all who came to know and appreciate his high character and blameless life. As an amateur artist of landscape painting, he possessed unusual ability.
In the Masonic Order, as in all other places where he met with his fellows, General Thomson was highly regarded. He was initiated into Latham Lodge No. 154 F. & A. M., in November, 1853, and in December, 1857, was elected Worshipful Master, being re-elected the following year and again in 1865. He was a charter member of Scioto Chapter R. A. M. and was appointed its first High Priest. The following year (1870) he was elected to the same office, under the charter, and was reelected in 1871. He was buried with high Masonic honors as well as high Military honors and his funeral was one of the largest that ever took place in the community.
General Thomson's wife died in 1888. There remained of the family after his death two children: Metullis and Mary; Metullis and his wife Bessie, who was a daughter of General Moses B. Walker, removed with their family from Ohio a few years after the death of General Thomson and now reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their family numbers four, three sons and one daughter, named respectively: Theo- dore Walker, Margaret Mary, Metullis, and Willis Irving. With Mr. Metullis Thomson and his family, also resides Mary, the unmarried daughter of General David Thomson.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
MRS. SARAH SIMPSON, of Mount Victory, Ohio, widow of William Simpson, who died May 7, 1883, was born July 8, 1835. William Simp- son was born in Lieking county, Ohio, and was a son of Solomon and Ellen Simpson, who came from Licking county to Hardin county. They were among the earliest settlers of the latter county, and were very strong Methodists. William Simpson was reared on a farm, and lived with his parents until the time of his marriage, when he rented a farm for himself. In 1865 he removed to Mount Victory and there purchased a home. He was engaged in railroad work, and was one of the builders of the railroad now known as the "Big Four." Later he engaged in cutting and hauling timber which he continued the remainder of his life.
William Simpson enlisted in Company I. One Hundred Thirty- second Ohio National Guard, December 15, 1864, and was discharged after serving one hundred days. He was the victim of sunstroke while on guard duty, and never recovered from the effects. He was an active member of the Methodist church, and took great interest in public affairs. He was well known and highly respected in the community, and his loss was widely felt. He was a man of undoubted integrity, and greatly esteemed for his high character and pleasant, friendly manner.
Mr. Simpson's parents, Davis and Susan (Hann) Crane, were farm- ers, and came to Ohio from New Jersey, settling in Logan county. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Simpson and his wife became the parents of children as follows: David Edgar, Mack, Amanda and Ruth. David E., a merchant of Mount Victory, married Ida Frey, and they have one child, Rose. Mack, a farmer of Ilale township, Hardin county, married Susan Allen, and they have one child. Amanda, wife of Ham Cramer, a farmer of Hale township, has two children. Ruth married Clint Bird, also a farmer in Hale township.
William Simpson has three brothers surviving, namely : Sam, retired and living in West Mansfield; David, a farmer of West Mansfield; and Sylvester.
FRANK S. CHAPMAN, the introduction of the telephone system has, doubtless, been of more practical value to the residents of Hardin county than any other enterprise here established, not even excepting rural free delivery, which has been of inestimable value to the farmer, bringing the people in close communication with the events of the day, facilitating the business movements of the immediate neighborhood, the town, county, state, and even more remote parts of the Union. Actively identified with the success of this system is Frank S. Chapman, the well- known manager of the Kenton Home Telephone Company, at Kenton. A son of Wilson H. Chapman, he was born. December 15, 1871, in Seneca township, Lenawee county, Michigan.
Wilson II. Chapman, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, was brought up on a farm, and early became familiar with agricultural pursuits. When ready to begin life for himself he moved to Lenawee county, Michigan, where he purchased two farms, one lying in Seneca township, the other being situated just across the state line, in Ohio. After farm- ing there a few years, he moved, in 1876, to Morenci, Michigan, which
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was home for about twenty years. Settling then in Wayne county, Michigan, he resided there until his death, in 1907. He married Sarah G. Fink, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Fink, and she is still living in Wayne county, Michigan. Six children were born of their union, namely: Emma Frantz, Louis, William W., Fred A., Frank, and Vernon A.
Having completed the studies in the public schools of Morenci, Michigan, Frank S. Chapman attended the Toledo high school, acquiring a substantial education. At the age of seventeen years began learning telegraphy, the following three years being in the employ of the Wheel- ing & Lake Erie Railroad Company as a telegraph operator. He was then made train despatcher, first at Jewell, Ohio, and later at Massillon. During that time Mr. Chapman studied chemistry, electricity and steno- graphy, but the close attention to study and business impaired his health, and in 1895 he resigned his position with the railroad company, Going then to Toledo, Ohio, he was for four months inspector for the Central Union Telephone Company of that city, and subsequently had charge for two years of the Company's offices in Elkhart and Goshen, Indiana. Accepting then a position with the Bell Telephone Company, Mr. Chapman was manager of its Kenton office until 1903. Then, for nine months, he managed the Shelby office for the Shelby Telephone Company., Resigning that position, he became manager of the Kenton Home Telephone Company, which under his efficient management is carrying on a profitable business, and rendering to its numerous patrons most satisfactory service.
Mr. Chapman married in June, 1903, Maude Furney. She was born in Kenton, a daughter of Melvns and Almina Furney, and grand- danghter of Colonel Furney, of whom a brief biographical sketch may be found on another page of this work. Fraternally Mr. Chapman is a member of Aminta Lodge No. 79, I. O. O. F. of Scioto Encampment, No. 179; of Kenton Canton, No. 83, of which he is a patriarch militant ; and of Latham Lodge, No. 154, F. & A. M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chapman belong to the Danghters of Rebekah, and to Rispah Chapter, No. 53, O. E. S., of Shelby.
J. EDSON GORDON .- During many years the name of J. Edson Gor- don was interwoven with the history of the educational interests of Mt. Victory, an educator of well known ability. He was born near West Mansfield in Logan county, Ohio, on March 22, 1858, a son of John E. and Barbara E. (Keller) Gordon, and a grandson on the maternal side of Frederick and Rebecca Keller, who came from Virginia to Ohio about the year 1820. John E. Gordon. was born in Loudon county, Virginia, in 1831, and he came with his parents, John Woodford and Elizabeth Gordon, to Ohio in 1835, living successively in Adams and Highland counties, and later near West Mansfield in Logan county, his death oc- curring at the latter place in 1899, and his wife Barbara had died at their country home there in 1882. John Woodford Gordon, born in Wales in 1797, died in Logan county, Ohio, in 1867. J. Edson Gordon was the second of the ten children born to John E. and Barbara Gordon,
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two of his sisters dying in infancy and two after attaining the age of young womanhood, while six of the family, a sister and five brothers, are yet living, namely : J. Edson, of Mt. Victory; John E., living at West Mansfield; Ransom D. and Robert F., both of Bowling Green; Charles A., of Union county ; and Mrs. Mary E. Barber, who resides with her family on the old homestead near West Mansfield.
J. Edson Gordon spent the first seventeen years of his life on the parental homestead, attending meanwhile the country schools, and at the age of seventeen he entered upon his career as an educator, teaching in the country schools of Logan and Union counties. After a time he entered Ridgeville College at Ridgeville, Indiana, later passing to the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio, and he completed his training at the Champion City Commercial College at Springfield. Followng this splendid college training Mr. Gordon served seven years as superinten- dent of the public schools of West Mansfield and thirteen years in the same capacity in the schools of Mt. Victory, where he yet resides.
He was married in 1885 to Miss Nora A. Saylor, from New Carlisle, Ohio, and she is yet a primary teacher in the Mt. Victory public schools. Their family consists of a daughter Imogene, a teacher in the public schools of Alger, Ohio; a son Chester S., a student in the Ohio State University at Columbus; and Louva E., who is with her parents at Mt. Victory. Mr. Gordon during the past six years has been a member of the Hardin county board of school examiners, and he still retains his interest in educational affairs although he is not at present engaged in school work.
ALBERT GRANT WILLAUER, the enterprising manager of the lumber company at Mt. Victory, is a native of that town, born December 11, 1881, son of Theodore Willauer, now aged fifty-nine years, and Nancy (Latimer) Willauer, now fifty-six years of age. 'Besides Albert G. they had children as follows: Essie, operator at Mt. Victory; John, of Mt. Victory, a timber buyer; Edward, an electrician; Roy, an operator ; Frank, a lineman; Willis, a clerk; Fannie, a clerk ; and Helen, living at home.
Albert G. Willauer received his education in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen years took up the trade of carpenter, which he con- tinued until 1905, when he became manager of the present lumber com- pany of Mt. Victory. They are doing a prosperous business, and are established on a firm foundation.
Mr. Willauer is actively interested in public affairs, politically is a Democrat, and is at present serving as a member of the city council. He is a public-spirited citizen, well known and highly respected. Mr. Willauer belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Mt. Victory, and to the Elks of Kenton, Ohio.
January 20, 1902, Mr. Willauer married Anna, daughter of Milton and Lydia Jane (Riley) Mills, born December 21. 1882, in Marion county, Ohio. Milton Mills was born September 10. 1850, in Marion county, Ohio. His wife, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Powell) Riley, died in 1905, at the age of fifty-two years. William Riley was a
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pioneer of Marion county, and now lives at Larue, Ohio, at the age of eighty-six years. Milton Mills is a house mover and lives with his wife at Larue ; he is a son of Hiram Mills, born February 8, 1822, and married Ann Lake, who died in 1856, aged thirty-seven years. Hiram Mills is a carpenter by trade, and is a son of Richard Mills, born in New Jersey, in 1791. Richard Mills married Julia Wells, and they came to Marion county in 1822; their son Hiram was the first white child born in the county. When they settled first in Marion county Tom Lyons was the head medicine man among the Wyandot tribe of Indians, still living there.
Milton Mills and his wife had children as follows: Anna; William, a horse dealer of Marion, Ohio; Ida, wife of E. J. Davis; Ottie, wife of M. M. Pierce, lumber dealer, of Columbus, Ohio; and Bessie, living at home. Mrs. Willauer graduated at Larue in 1900, at the age of eighteen years. She is a member of the Methodist church, the Pythian Sisters of Mt. Victory, holding the office of Protector, and also belongs to the Rebekah Lodge of Mt. Victory. Mr. Willauer and his wife have one daughter, Ruth Ellen, born September 30, 1903.
PHILIP A. BRIELMAIER, one of the agriculturists of Lynn township, was born in Kenton, Hardin county, Ohio, April 1, 1877, a son of Philip and Margaret (Biehle) Brielmaier, the father born in Swatzwalt, Ger- many, and the mother in Springfield, Ohio. Philip Brielmaier came to the United States when thirteen years of age, and locating in Cinein- nati, Ohio, he grew to mature years there, and later spent a short time in Covington, Kentucky. The Biehle family had in the meantime located in Cincinnati, and it was at White Oak in Hamilton county that the young couple became acquainted and were married. They continued to live there until going to Pickaway, Ohio, and later they came to Kenton, where the husband and father died in 1900, being still survived by his widow.
Philip A. Brielmaier attended the parochial schools near his boy- hood's home until he was twelve years old, and since then he has given his entire attention to agricultural pursuits, being now one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Lynn township. He married Marie DeRaad, who was born in Iowa. Her parents died during her infancy, and going to Nebraska she was there married to Mr. Brielmaier on the 15th of July, 1906, and their two children are Margaret B. and Freder- ick, born respectively on the 7th of March, 1908, and on the 3d of October, 1909. The family are members of the Catholic church at Kenton, and in politics Mr. Brielmaier affiliates with the Democratic party.
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