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 55
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CHARLES VERMILLION has the distinction of being the oldest business man in point of years of continuous service in West Foraker. He located in Foraker in 1898, and in the same year opened a general mercantile store, and he is also engaged in the handling of coal. He owns all of his own buildings, and is conducting a prosperous and remun- erative business.
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Mr. Vermillion was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, November 6, 1846, a son of William and Mary (MeLain) Vermillion. When their son Charles was but a year old Mr. and Mrs. Vermillion moved to Virginia, but after a short time in that state they returned to Ohio and located in Guernsey county, which remained their home for several years. From there they finally came to Licking county, and in 1880 to Hardin county, where William Vermillion passed away in death in 1908, dying in the city of Kenton. Charles Vermillion, the son, was reared as a farmer lad, but later he learned the trade of a wagon and carriage maker and followed those trades for twenty-five years at Kirkersville, owning his own plant. In 1873 he was married to Jane Fairchild, and a son, Carl, was born to them on the 9th of August, 1877. He is a graduate of telegraphy at the Northern Indiana Normal University at Valparaiso, and is the present operator at Foraker. He married Ida Page, and they have two children. Mr. Charles Vermillion is allied with the Democrats in politics, and during two years he was the assessor of Cessna township.
JESSE SHARK .- One of the substantial and successful farmers of Dudley township, Hardin county, Ohio, is Jesse Shark, who is now re- tired from active business life, though he still resides on his fine farm. Mr. Shark was born in West Virginia, October 14, 1825, and is a son of Jonathan and Betsey (Edgar) Shark, the former of whom, a native of Virginia, died in 1853. He removed to Union county, Ohio, about 1825, settling near Peoria, where he took up a farm, and later moved to a farm near Somerville, where he remained about ten years, and after the death of his wife, in 1836, he discontinued keeping house.
After the death of his mother Jesse Shark remained with his father, and received his education in Ohio, although he attended school but little. He was one of ten children, and has two sisters living: Clarissy, wife of Al Brown, a farmer, and Charlotte, wife of Sam Walker of Kenton.
Mr. Shark early learned to look out for himself, and when a boy began work for the meager sum of two dollars per month and his board. In 1862 he settled down to farming on his own account. He worked eighteen years for one man, then farmed two years in Madison county, returned to his old employer for a time, and then bought a farm which he farmed ten years.
Mr. Shark enlisted in the army for service during the Civil war, in Company B, Eighth Ohio, and later transferred to the Fourth Ohio, at Cold Harbor. He fought under Grant and Hancock, serving until the end of the war. He stood guard at his post at the time General Lee surrendered, and his regiment was the first in the capital. Several times he was slightly wounded, and he was mustered out in July, 1865. He returned home and four years later located in Hardin county; in 1885 he settled on his present homestead, and he has one of the finest farm houses in his section of the county. Politically he is a Republican and though he is actively interested in public affairs, he does not care for public office. He has been hardworking and thrifty all his life, and
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has well earned his days of ease and comfort. He is a man of strict honesty and in his business dealings has always been governed by good business principles.
Mr. Shark married Elizabeth (Betsey) Holycross, who has now reached the age of seventy-four years. She is a daughter of James Holycross, also from Virginia, who removed to Marion county, Ohio. To this union ten children have been born, namely: Mollie, wife of John Macombs, of Magnetic Springs, has two children; Jason, married Ann Lynn and has two children; and Irene, wife of Ely Milligan, who has two children; William, married Louisa Moore and they have two children, Fred, unmarried, and Mary, wife of E. Terrill, of Indiana, who has three children; Emily, deceased, left five children, of whom one, Maggie, Mrs. Valentine, of Kenton, Ohio, has one child; Albert, of Magnetic Springs, married Louise Longstoff, and they have three chil- dren, of whom Merrill married Madge Hite, and Ethel, the wife of B. Dewitt, has one child; George, of Kenton, married Emma Bachman, and they have two children; Rosetta, wife of Ed Hildreth, a farmer, has two children; Leroy, a farmer of Dudley township, married Grace Gorman and they have three children ; Anna, deceased; Maude, wife of F. Warner, of Dudley township, has two children; and Howard, mar- ried Collie Stultz, and they have two children. The last named family live with Mr. Shark on the family homestead.
JOHN W. POWELL, a prosperous and prominent farmer and stock raiser of Hardin county, Ohio, was born in the county, in Marion town- ship, December 15, 1858, and is a son of William and Nancy (Lions) Powell. William Powell was born in England, about 1821, and accom- panied his parents to the United States when a small boy. They located in Hardin county, and there spent the remainder of their lives, on a farm in Marion township. Mr. Powell grew to manhood on his father's farm and married Nancy Lions, a native of Pennsylvania. To this union seven children were born, of whom four still survive (1910), namely : James Powell, of Kenton; Joseph, of Marion township; Sarah, wife of William Moore, of Liberty township; and John W.
The boyhood of John W. Powell was spent on a farm in Marion township, and when he was old enough he began helping with the work of the farm, attending school winters until seventeen years of age. He continued working on his father's farm until he reached his majority, when his mother was married a second time, to William Close, and the young man worked on the farm for him six years. Then in company with his brother Joseph, he carried on farming six years.
Mr. Powell married Emma Shetlon, and they became parents of one child, Opal, wife of Emmett Potter, of Cessna township. Mrs. Powell died in 1886 and Mr. Powell married (second) Miss Minnie Blooworth, a native of Liberty township. One son and three daughters were born to this union, namely : Ethel, a student in Ada high school; Beulah and Esther, attending district school, and Justin, born March 28, 1907.
Politically Mr. Powell is a Republican. In the summer of 1907 Mr. Powell erected his present fine residence, fitted with modern con-
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venienees. His other buildings are in good order, and his land in a good state of cultivation. He owns one hundred and sixty-eight acres in seetion 1, Marion township, and aside from three years spent in Kenton and six years in Pleasant township, he has spent his entire life in Marion township. He is well known and highly respected, having a wide circle of friends.
E. E. JONES .- Occupying a leading position among the wide-awake, enterprising business men of Kenton, E. E. Jones is identified with the mereantile interests of Hardin county as a wholesale and retail dealer in grain, coal, and hay, having an extensive and remunerative trade. A life-long resident of Hardin county, he was born, September 30, 1860, in Dunkirk, a son of J. M. Jones.
Born, reared and educated in Knox county, Ohio, J. M. Jones eame to Hardin eounty in early manhood, and here spent the remainder of his life, passing away July 3, 1907. He began his active career as a school teacher but afterwards engaged in agricultural pursuits, first in Washing- ton township, but afterwards buying a farm in Blanchard township, where he tilled the soil to some purpose for many years. Ile married Elizabeth Miranda Gillen, who was born in Dover, New Jersey, seventy- four years ago, and is now a resident of Kenton. Her father, James Gillen, a stone and brick mason by trade, eame with his family to Hardin county, and here spent his remaining days. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Jones, namely : Caroline, deceased; B. K. Jones, M. D., of Kenton; E. E., the subject of this sketch ; Ella, his twin sister, now the wife of Dr. W. D. Barnhill, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Christo- pher and Charles, twins, both deceased; Dr. U. O., Adelbert, a twin brother of Dr. U. O., and John Morgan, of Lincoln, Nebraska, an assistant elerk in the railway mail serviee.
Having laid a good foundation for his future education in the distriet schools of Blanchard township. E. E. Jones completed his early studies in the State Normal School at Ada. . Beginning life for himself, he was successfully employed in buying and shipping grain and hay in Dunkirk from 1885 until 1890. Coming from there to Kenton in the latter year, Mr. Jones has sinee developed a very large and profitable mercantile business as a wholesale and retail dealer in grain, hay and coal. He is also interested in agricultural pursuits, owning a farm of forty aeres in this vieinity, and having a half interest in an estate of ninety acres.
Mr. Jones married, September 30, 1885, Delpha A. Taylor, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, but as a child came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Taylor to Hardin county, and was here brought up. receiving her education in the Dunkirk schools. Two children have brightened the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, namely : Dean C. and Neil T. An earnest Republican in his political affiliations, and an active worker in his party, Mr. Jones was elected eounty treasurer in 1902, and served in that capacity two terms, being honored with a reeleetion in 1904. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a Royal Arch Mason, and a Knight Templar.
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WILLIAM CLARK WINDER, a prominent citizen of Mt. Victory, Ohio, was born in IIale township, Hardin county, Ohio, April 28, 1868. His father, Elihu Winder, who lived on the old Wilson farm in Hale town- ship, was born in Stark county, Ohio, and died December 16, 1904, at the age of seventy-three years. He was left an orphan when a small child, and with his two brothers and three sisters was reared by his grandfather, Thomas Bloomfield. Elihu Winder came to Hardin county, Ohio, at the age of twenty-one years, and worked on a farm for Thomas MeCall, until his marriage, when he carried on the present farm of his father-in-law, John C. Garwood. In 1884 he settled on the Hamp- ton farm in Dudley township, where he remained until 1901, and in that year located near Kenton, where he carried on farming until his death. He was a member of the United Brethren church of Mt. Victory, but never greatly interested in political matters.
Elihu Winder enlisted in Company H. One Hundred Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, under General Sigel. He was with Ferd Kopp and George Ansley, when Boyd was shot between them, at Maryland Heights. He served four months and was mustered out in 1865. Mr. Winder married Hopy Garwood, now living, at the age of sixty-seven years, with a daughter in Buck township, Hardin county. Besides William C., the children of Eliliu Winder and his wife were: Louis W., of Marion, in insurance business; Mand, a music teacher, living in Buck township with her mother; Rebecca, died at the age of forty-six years, and Rockey, died at the age of thirty years. Mr. Winder has two sisters living, namely : Anna, wife of Thomas Moreland, of Elkhart county, Indiana, and one other.
The education of William C. Winder was acquired in his native county, and he attended Mt. Victory schools until sixteen years old. He then helped his father on the farm and remained at home until twenty years of age, when he began learning the trade of barber, which he has worked at for the past twenty-one years. He is also engaged in the accident, life and fire insurance business, and for the past fifteen years has also worked at paper-hanging and decorating work. He is a good workman, and skillful in all the work he undertakes. His industry and honesty are well recognized, and he is held in high esteem by all who know him.
January 5, 1888, Mr. Winder married Anna M. Ponelson, born August 1, 1868, daughter of Rob and Susanna (Shanks) Ponelson. Mr. Winder and his wife became parents of children as follows: William C., Jr., born October 14, 1888, a student, living at home; Storley, born April 5, 1895; Lucille, June 16, 1898; Robert E. March 26, 1900; Rich- ard Carvel, February 22, 1902; Martin, February, 1904; Helen, June 26, 1906; and Minnie, September 26, 1908. Mr. Winder and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Mt. Victory, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed through the chairs of the latter; he also served twelve years as record-keeper of the K. O. T. M., of which he is a member. Politically he is a Republican, and served as corporation and township clerk eight terms each, or sixteen years.
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JOHN S. SCOTT .- Among the most substantial and influential busi- ness men of Kenton, Ohio, is a successful contractor and builder. He was born in Kenton, July 17, 1843, and is a son of James and Mary (Eaton) Scott. both natives of Pennsylvania. James Scott was of Scotch descent, and came to Hardin county, Ohio, in the spring of 1833, locating in Kenton. He also was a contractor and carpenter, and erected some of the first houses put up in the city of Kenton. He built up a good business, and became a prominent member of the community. Politically he was a Democrat ; he died when about fifty-seven years of age. He was married in his native state, and he and his wife reared six sons and six daughters, of whom two sons and three daughters sur- vive at the present time, John S. being the ninth child.
The early boyhood of John S. Scott was spent in Kenton, and when five years of age his father moved to a farm in Buck township. Hardin county, where John lived until fifteen years of age, attending the public schools, and then started in life for himself. He worked some time at the trade of carpenter, and in 1861 enlisted in Company B. Eighty- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. later attaining the rank of sergeant. He served until the close of the war, about four years altogether. H reenlisted at Chattanooga. Tennessee. in the same company and regiment. and took part in most of the important battles of the struggle, in Vir- ginia and along the Potomac. until after Gettysburg, when they were transferred to the Western Army. He was with Sherman at the capture of Atlanta and the march to the sea. Mr. Scott was first wounded in the right shoulder, with a minie ball. at the battle of Bull Run. He was again wounded in the forehead and left leg, at Chancel- lorsville, was taken prisoner and spent five months at Libby prison, returning to his regiment in October. 1863. He was present at the Grand Review at Washington, and was then ordered to Texas, but after proceeding as far as Louisville, returned home, arriving in Kenton July 29, 1865. Upon his return he worked twenty days and then had the ball removed from his shoulder. Since that time he has been en- gaged as carpenter, contractor and builder. IIe has erected more buildings in Kenton than any other three men engaged in the same occupation ; he has built business blocks, dwellngs, churches. school- houses and other public buildings, and has conducted his business in a creditable manner. He is an able workman himself. and employs several men.
In 1867 Mr. Scott married Almira Bridge, a native of Union county, Ohio, who was reared in Buck township. Hardin county, daughter of Thomas Warner. Mr. Scott and his wife have one daughter. Susa. wife of George A. Wendt. of Kenton. Mr. Scott is a stanch Republican and takes an active interest in public affairs. He served four years as sheriff of Hardin county, also served as a member of the city council. He is a member of the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, also of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a lifelong resident of Hardin county. and has been actively identi- fied with its interests. He is widely known throughout the community. and has the entire respect and confidence of his fellows.
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WILLIAM POE .- Among the honored native sons of Hardin county who have witnessed and assisted in its development from the virgin wilds into one of the most progressive and prosperous sections of the fine old Western Reserve is William Poe, who was born in the township that is now his home and who is a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of this county, where his entire life thus far has been passed and where he has been identified with the great industries of agriculture and stock-growing from his youth, being now the owner of a well im- proved and valuable landed estate of three hundred and fifty acres, in Roundhead township. His life has been guided and governed by the strietest principles of integrity and honor, and thus he has not been denied the fullest measure of popular confidence and esteem. He is one of the well known and representative farmers of the county and is specially entitled to consideration in this history of Hardin county.
William Poe was born in Roundhead township, Hardin county, Ohio, on the 18th of December, 1837, and is a son of Andrew and Lavina (Zimmerman) Poe. Andrew Poe was born in Kentucky, in May, 1816, and was a child at the time of his parents' removal to Fayette county, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood, receiving such advantages as were offered in the primitive schools of the pioneer epoch. IIis mar- riage was solemnized in Ross county, and he was one of the early settlers of Roundhead township, Hardin county, where he became the owner of
He made a clearing in which to erect his little log house and then essayed the herenlean task four hundred acres of heavily timbered land.
of reclaiming his land to cultivation.
IIe was a man of indomitable energy and sterling character, and he eventually became one of the substantial farmers of the county, where his name is held in high regard by all who remember him as a venerable patriarch of this section, where he continued to reside until his death, in April, 1906, only a few weeks before he would have ninety years of age. His devoted wife and himself were both devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of three sons and four daughters, of whom the subject of this review is the eldest; William Milton is a resident of Kansas; Ann M. is the wife of Hamilton Hill; Geneva is the widow of Daniel Carter; Samantha is the wife of James Smith; David; and Douglas.
William Poe was ushered into the world in the little pioneer home in the midst of the forests of Roundhead township, and his earliest labors were in connection with the arduous work of the farm. He assisted in clearing land and in other portions of the farm work, and to the pioneer schools of the locality and period he is indebted for his early educational training, which was limited, as a matter of course, but which has been supplemented by the lessons gained under the direction of that wisest of headmasters, experience. Mr. Poe has had no inclination to sever his allegiance to the great basic art of agriculture during the long interven- ing years, marked by "ceaseless toil and endeavor." He initiated his independent operations on eighty acres of land in his native township, establishing his home in the woods and reclaiming his land from the forest. Success of definite and generous order crowned his efforts and
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he is now the owner of three hundred and fifty aeres of well improved and most productive land, located in sections 4. 16 and 17. Roundhead township. He has given his attention to diversified agriculture and the raising of high-grade stock, and, well preserved in mental and physical powers, he still finds satisfaction in supervising the various departments of his farm work. IIe is a substantial, progressive and public-spirited citizen, has ever lent his aid in support of measures for the general good, and has contributed his quota to the industrial and civic upbuilding of this favored section of the Reserve. Ile is a stockholder in the Belle Center Bank and as a business man his ability is best indicated by the success which he has attained through his own well directed endeavors.
In politics Mr. Poe is found arrayed under the banner of the Demo- eratie party but he has never sought the honors or emoluments of public office, though he has consented to serve as school director of his distriet. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Pleasant Hill, and he is a valued member of its board of trustees.
Mr. Poe has been twice married. ITis first wife was Miss Helen M. Buffenbarger, who was born in Anglaize county, this state, and whose death occurred on the 1st of May, 1898. They became the parents of five children, coneerning whom the following brief data are entered : Florence, who was a successful school teacher when a young woman, is now the wife of James Patrick; Marquis is a successful farmer of Round- head township and he also found requisition for service in the pedagogie profession ; Ada N. is the wife of Frederick Davidson; Leota is the widow of Frank Tidd, of Roundhead township, where she still resides ; and Vesta is the wife of Edward Turner. Mr. Poe married for his second wife Miss Pauline Stinson, daughter of John W. and Selina (Brinton) Stinson. She was born in Logan county. Ohio, on the 18th of October, 1856, and was abont ten years of age at the time of her parents' removal to Hardin county, where she has since maintained her home, and where she has a wide circle of friends.
J. A. GRAFMILLER, a well-to-do farmer of Jackson township, Hardin county, owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres of well improved land, which has been in his possession since 1888. He was born in Crawford county, Ohio, in 1862, and is a son of Andrew Grafmiller, also a native of Crawford county, born in 1838, whose wife was born in 1840. He removed with his family to Hardin county, in 1869. first buying eighty acres and later adding to his holdings. In 1882 and 1884 he built a fine brick house; he served as township trustee. He and his wife are now residing in the state of Washington. Their children were: William A., Mary M. (Mrs. Gardner) and J. A. Andrew Grafmiller, is a son of Andrew and Siloam (Wizard) Grafmiller, both natives of Baden, Germany, who came to this county as early as 1834. and settled in Crawford county, Ohio. They were parents of children as follows: Andrew, Augustus (deceased), Christian (deceased), Jacob. Rudolph and Caroline (deceased).
J. A. Grafmiller was reared and educated in Crawford and Hardin counties, having come with his parents to the latter county in 1869. He
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took up farming after completing his education, with what success may be seen. He is well known and highly esteemed in the community, and takes an active interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
In 1885 Mr. Grafmiller married Sarah J., who was born August 22, 1863, in Goshen township Hardin county, Ohio, a daughter of James M. Baker. To this union have been born seven children, namely: Edna, Lydia, Matthew, Ollie M., Jessie, Ray and an infant.
J. N. HENSEL, a progressive farmer of Blanchard township, where he owns eighty acres of well-tilled and valuable land was born in Wash- ington township, Hardin county, Ohio, in 1865, and is a son of Adam and Thresa Hensel, both natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to this country in 1838. After spending two years in Columbus, Ohio, they located in Hardin county, which was at that time new country and the land was not cleared. Here Adam Hensel purchased eighty acres of land, to which he was soon after able to add another eighty. By
untiring energy and economy he was afterward able to purchase another one hundred and sixty acres, all in Washington township. He after- ward purchased eighty acres of land in Blanchard township, which is now the property of J. N .; he was thus at one time possessed of four hundred acres. Mr. Hensel was an earnest member of the Lutheran church. He was the father of children as follows: Kate, Louisa, Charles, John. J. N., George, Mary, William and three who died in infancy.
J. N. Hensel was educated in his native township, and has always followed farming. He has owned his present farm since 1891, and has been very successful. Mr. Hensel is an intelligent farmer, and looks carefully after his business interests. He stands well in the community, and is a publie-spirited, useful citizen. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church, and interested in all movements and causes for the general welfare.
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