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 57
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THOMAS CALVIN FERGUSON .- In the death of Thomas Calvin Ferguson, late of Kenton, Ohio, the entire community felt bereaved of a most beloved and revered friend and benefactor. Mr. Ferguson had been a teacher in Kenton schools for a period of thirty-four years, and during this time has figured more prominently than any other man in moulding citizenship and public sentiment in the city for two generations. He taught the fathers of many of the boys and girls who were his pupils up to the time of his death. Professor Ferguson came of a family who had been interested in education and culture for generations and in- herited a quiet, studious, character and an ambition to know all a man could learn of science, art, and the highest forms of learning.
Professor Thomas C. Ferguson was born on a farm near Tiffin, in Seneca county, Ohio, June 8, 1851, one of the five sons of William and Martha Chamberlain (Tittle) Ferguson. William Ferguson was a son of Thomas Ferguson, who was of Scotch descent, and settled in West-
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moreland county, Pennsylvania, about 1800. Thomas was a farmer by occupation and a man with a high order of culture and learning. Some of the letters he wrote to his children are still preserved in the family and show that he was a man of superior education. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church, owned a large farm, and was highly re- spected by his associates. He married Elizabeth Marshall, who died in middle life, and but little is known of her early life. Their children were all given good educations and all became prominent business men of Pittsburg and Allegheny, except William.
William Ferguson was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1820, and like his father, was a successful farmer. Ife was a elose student and was informed far above the average farmer of his day. He moved with his wife's people to Seneca county, Ohio, in 1845. His wife was born also in Westmoreland county, in 1821, eldest daughter of Jonathan and Susan Beatty Tittle. She possessed a good education and was a woman of culture and refinement. William Fergu- son and his wife lived together fifty-two years, until his death, in March, 1896, at the age of seventy-six years. ITis widow survived him and died in March, 1905, at the age of eighty-four years. They had five sons, of whom two died in infaney. The others were: Marshal Beatty, the eldest, Thomas Calvin, the second and William Wilson, the youngest. Marshal Beatty was a graduate of Wooster University, and would have graduated with high honors from Princeton Theological Seminary, but for his sudden death, during the spring before graduation, when he was thirty years old. His death was caused as the result of an accident. William Wilson Ferguson was a graduate of IIeidelburg University of Tiffin and of the Iron City Business College, of Pittsburg. Ile was a successful druggist in Red Cloud, Nebraska, and died at his father's farm in Seneca county, Ohio, in 1887, at the age of thirty-two years, from the effects of asthma. He left a wife but no children.
Professor Thomas C. Ferguson was edneated in Heidelburg Uni- versity, of Tiffin, and after leaving that institution spent the remainder of his life as a public instructor. In 1873 Professor Ferguson was chosen superintendent of the public schools at Dunkirk, Ohio, and in 1875 he came to Kenton to accept a position as teacher of Grade No. 9 in the Old Central building, which burned more than a decade ago, and when this grade was merged with the high school, becoming the freshman year, Mr. Ferguson was given charge of this division as a member of the high school faculty. He became teacher of mathematics, with his- tory, political science and languages as side branches when his services were necessary.
Some idea of the early ambition of Mr. Ferguson may be understood from the fact that when a child of three years he often cried until he was allowed to toddle with his older brother to the nearby country school, really beginning his education at that age. Ile was always a close student and had a burning desire to acquire knowledge. He was a broad and skillful teacher of mathematies, in which branch he espec- ially excelled, and was considered a very capable instructor in literature and history. An active and tireless teacher as well as student, he lived
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a life of service and self-sacrifice, of which his willing spirit and love of his work were the keynote. After his long hours of work he would spend hours in study and research and seemed never to rest. He was well known throughout the state through institute and round-table work, and the good he accomplished will stand as a monument in the character, mind and heart of each one of his students. His life was an inspiration and he had the faculty of investing each subject on which he spoke with peculiar interest. His position of prominence and respect did not come from a love of display or of being in the public mind, as he was of a quiet, retiring nature, and rather introspective, though he had many warm friends and was an enthusiastic speaker on any subject that interested him. He was beloved throughout the community in which he spent many years, because of his rare mind and wonder- ful powers of oratory. He had a never-tiring love of young people, and was never happier than in his work among them. He was ever patient and cheerful, and had high ideals of his duty as an instructor of the bright minds of his interesting pupils, who were just budding into manhood and womanhood.
We quote from the Kenton Democrat of November 25, 1909: "Pro- fessor Ferguson was a brilliant man, a deep student, a model teacher and a Christian gentleman. He was an orator, and no tongue was more eloquent than his. No more beautiful word pictures, enriched by gems of literature, deep thought and long experience, have ever been heard in this city, than those from the silver tongue of the white-haired orator."
The death of Professor Ferguson occurred November 17, 1909, at Kenton, Ohio. Hle had for some time been in a state of nervous col- lapse due to stomach trouble and overwork and his family were much worried about his health, but he loved his work and would not give up while he was able to carry it on. The immediate cause of his sudden death was brought about by the receipt on that evening of an evil anony- mous letter, attacking him in a very unmerited manner. It is supposed that, as was his enstom when worried or grieved over anything he had gone for a long walk, and since a heavy cold storm came on that night, he probably was overtaken with weakness and illness after walking to his farm about a mile and a half from Kenton. He was found lying under a tree and his spirit had passed to its reward with none by to wit- ness its departure. He was a man of delicacy of feeling and sensitive nature and with his failing health this attack was unbearable. He died of exposure and a broken heart.
He was an elder in the first Presbyterian church and a member of the Masonie Order, having served as Worshipful Master. He was a deep student of the Bible and was greatly revered for his help in church work. He prepared and delivered a number of instructive lectures from the bible for prayer meetings, brotherhood meetings and other church meetings. In political views he was a Republican, as was his father before him, but like him, did not care for public office.
August 14, 1873, Mr. Ferguson married Augusta M. Phillips, at Patterson, Ohio. She was the youngest daughter of G. T. Phillips, formerly of New Philadelphia, and her mother was Miranda Chrisman.
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Her father was a cultured and educated man and spoke several lan- guages .. He was ninety years of age at the time of his death, in September, 1896. He was from New York and his brother Edwin Phil- lips was a well known artist in New York City in the early part of the nineteenth century. The family contained many gifted musicians. The children born to Mr. Ferguson were as follows: Nellie F., born in Dunkirk, Ohio, November 13, 1874, graduated from high school and married Dr. William C. Snodgrass, a physician of Kenton ; Martha Louise, born November 26, 1876, graduated from high school, married Frank J. Baker, a shoe merchant of Portsmouth, Ohio; Grace C., born at Kenton, September 2, 1878, graduate of high school and of a business college of Toledo, Ohio, is a stenographer and book-keeper for Kenton Hardware Company ; Kate C., born September 21, 1880, died March 12, 1891; John Beatty, born February 5, 1886, unmarried, graduated from high school and from an architectural training school of Ada, Ohio, is an architect for the Northwestern Terra Cotta Company of Chicago; Sarah Agnes, born September 22, 1889, is a high school graduate; Edwin Phillips, born November 31, 1890, is in his senior year in high school.
D. L. FRYER, former mayor of Dunkirk, and now a justice of the peace at Dunkirk, is one of the most popular and highly respected citi- zens of that town. He was born in Carrollton, Carroll county, Ohio, in 1844, and is a son of Robert and Esther (Green) Fryer. Robert was a son of David Fryer, who was a soldier in Washington's Army during the Revolution, and was at Valley Forge, as was also Mrs. Fryer's father, Abram Green. Robert Fryer and his wife were both natives of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and both of Quaker descent. They were parents of four children, namely : John, D. L., Rachel and Lizzie. John served in the Civil war, in the same regiment as his brother, and took part in the same campaign.
D. L. Fryer was reared on a farm and attended the local schools; he was an earnest and persevering student, and became fitted for teaeh- ing, which profession he followed with marked success nineteen years, seventeen years of which he was school superintendent. In October, 1861, Mr. Fryer followed the call of his country, and joined the Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private. After serving his enlistment term of three years, he reenlisted in 1864, was promoted to the rank of first sergeant, and discharged with this rank in 1865. Thus, he spent nearly four of his best years in his country's service, and during this time never received a wonnd or encountered a serious accident. He had left teaching to go to the front, and upon his return he resumed his work. In 1880 Mr. Fryer located in Dunkirk, where he served as mayor from 1888 until 1896. About the same time he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which he has since filled with satisfac- tion to all. For about eight years he was notary publie; in connection with his present office Mr. Fryer has been for twenty years engaged in real estate and insurance business, and for some thirty years past has fol- lowed the vocation of auctioneer. Ile is well known throughout the
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community, and recognized as an enterprising, progressive man of affairs. He is actively interested in local public affairs, and a patriotic, useful citizen.
Mr. Fryer is a member of Dunkirk Lodge No. 549, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Ada Chapter and Kenton Commandery : he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is now Com- mander of Post No. 102, Grand Army of the Republic, which office he has already held four terms.
In 1860 Mr. Fryer married Maggie Dunlap, and they had no children. Mrs. Fryer died in 1896.
JOHN II. RADER is a native of Kenton, Ohio, born in 1857 and now resides in Kenton, although he has spent most of his life in farming. He is a son of Michael and Eve (Rader) Rader, the former born in Hessen, Germany, in 1816, and the latter born in Storfritz, Germany, in 1822. Michael Rader emigrated to the United States about 1848 and settled in Hardin county, Ohio. He had learned the trade of wood- worker and followed it for several years, but later went to work for a farmer of Hardin county, remaining three years at this occupation. He then returned to his native country and spent a year there. Returning to the United States, he landed at New Orleans, came up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati, from which city he walked to Kenton. Three years later he again returned to Germany for another year, and returning to the United States landed at Baltimore, where he met and married Miss Eve Rader. They located in Hardin county and began housekeeping first in an old schoolhouse, remaining in this until Mr. Rader bought some land and erected a small house, into which they moved. In 1862, Mr. Rader began farming on his own account, renting land for several years, and in 1871 he purchased fifty acres of land in Dudley township, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Rader died February 13, 1886, and his wife died September 3, 1876.
The boyhood of John H. Rader was spent on a farm and he acquired a very good education in the public schools. When old enough to work he became interested in farming, and successfully followed this line of work until about fifteen years ago, when he gave up active work, al- though he still looks after his place. He lives in the town of Kenton, where he has a very pleasant home. Mr. Rader was a most enterprising and industrious farmer and became one of the prosperous and represen- tative citizens of the county. IIe is a level-headed and straightforward business man, whose honesty and integrity have never been questioned. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Kenton, and is well known in the community. Although Mr. Rader favors the principles of the Republican party, in local affairs he casts his vote for the man he con- siders best qualified for any given office.
In 1876 Mr. Rader married Minerva, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Roby) Williams. Mr. Williams was born in Virginia, in 1806 and his wife was born in Ohio, in 1819. When he was about six months old his parents brought him to Ohio and located in Columbus,
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where he grew to maturity. Ile removed to Hardin county about 1831, and there worked at his trade of harness maker and also taught school. Mrs. Williams removed to Hardin county with her parents in 1832, and the family settled on a farm east of Kenton, where her parents spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Williams and his wife were married in 1849.
DAMOS KAHLER represents one of the pioneer families of Hardin county, and their name figures prominently on the pages of the history of Washington township. John Kahler, his paternal grandfather, born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1778, emigrated to the United States in 1834, and in the same year entered forty acres of government land in Washington township, Hardin county, while two years afterward, in 1836, he brought his family here. His wife before marriage was Martha Shively, and they had three children : Ludwig, John G. and one who died when young.
John G. Kahler, born April 26, 1821, in Wurtemburg, Germany, came with his father to the United States, and reaching man's estate he purchased land at different times until he accumulated six hundred and forty acres, which was afterward sold and willed to his heirs at differ- ent times and with the exception of forty acres the property is still in the possession of his children. John G. Kahler was a worthy citizen of his adopted country and an industrious and successful agriculturist of Hardin county. He served Washington township as treasurer for ten years. He was confirmed in the German Lutheran church and continued one of the members of that demonination until finally uniting with the Methodist Episcopal church, afterward living and dying in that faith. He married Miss Eve M. Markley on December 28, 1846. and nine children were born to them, namely: two who died in infancy, Damos, William, Simon. Mary (deceased). Frank, Emma (deceased) and Joseph. John G. Kahler, the father, died on the 18th of February, 1908, when eighty-seven years of age, and his wife died on the 19th of October, 1905. when seventy-six years of age. Their old family Bible shows with what earnest care and deep research the book was read and studied, and its many markings also show their familiarity with the Word of God. This Bible is one of Martin Luther's translations. and dates back to 1585.
Damos Kahler was born in Hancock county. Ohio, January 11. 1850, and was three years of age when his parents moved to what is now Doła in Washington township. On the 18th of December, 1876, he moved to his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres of valuable farming land, all under a high state of enltivation and his buildings are commodious and modern. He has served his township as an assessor and school director, and is one of the influential residents of Washington township. He married Miss Helmena, a daughter of Christian and Chris- tena HIeroe, December 6. 1876, and they have had two children. Olive M. and Edward C., but the son died on the 7th of September. 1884. The daughter is now the wife of W. W. Stump. Mr. Kahler and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Dunkirk, and he has served his church as a steward and trustee.
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NELSON ROBY .- Among the venerable and highly respected residents of Kenton is Nelson Roby, who served his country as a soldier in her time of need, and was for many years busily engaged in promoting the agricul- tural interests of Hardin county, carrying on general farming. A native of Ohio, he was born, November 14, 1827, in Madison county, two miles from Pleasant Valley, where his father, Henry Roby, was a pioneer settler.
Henry Roby was born and bred in Virginia. Following the march of civilization westward when young, he settled in Madison county, Ohio, where he followed his trade of gun smith until 1831. In that year he came with his family to Hardin county, making the removal with teams. The country roundabout was then in its primeval wildness, the log cabin then serving as a Court House being surrounded by forest trees, the Square not having beeen cleared. He bought forty acres of land lying three miles east of Kenton. and moved, with his family into the log cabin standing in the clearing. He began the improvement of a homestead, and continued his pioneer work until his death, at the age of sixty-eight years, about 1839. His widow, was left with four children to care for. But a small part of the forty acres purchased had then been cleared. All of the children had to labor hard in helping care for the land, while she, in addition to her other duties, raised sheep and flax, and carded, spun and wove the material in which she clothed her family. She was a most capable woman, and kept her family together until each of the children became self supporting.
The oldest child of his parents, Nelson Roby took largely upon him- self the care of the home farm, remaining with his mother until his marriage, when he rented land, and began farming for himself. Enlist- ing in 1864. in Company B. One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he went to Nashville, Tennessee, with his regi- ment, and after taking a part in the engagement at that place was en- gaged in guarding the city, being on patrol duty until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged from the service, and returned home. Mr. Roby was subsequently engaged in tilling the soil until 1904, when he sold his farm, and came to Kenton, where he has since lived retired from active pursuits.
Mr. Roby married, in his twenty-second year, Mary Surgeson, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Surgeson. She died in 1901, leaving seven children, namely: Urania, Scott, Susan, John, Edward, Charles and Minnie. Mr. Roby is a member of Cantwell Post, G. A. R., and belongs to the Fairview Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Roby was also a member.
HENRY W. EIBLING, of Dola, Ohio, is a representative of an old and well -- known family of Hardin county. Mr. Eibling's grandfather, Charles Eibling, was born in Germany, from whence, in 1834, he came to the United States and settled in Richland township, Marion county, Ohio, where he bought forty acres of land from the Government. Subsequently, he moved to Van Wert county, this state, and purchased two hundred and fifteen acres, which he owned at the time of his death. He died in
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1864, at the age of fifty-nine years. Ilis first wife, whom he married in the old country and who came with him to America, died in Marion county, and in 1848 he married Miss Rachel Meyle, who had come here from Germany two years previous to that time, and who survived him until 1900, when she died at the age of seventy-six years. His children by his first wife were Charles, Godlieb, Frederick, Rachel, Minnie and Christine; Charles and Frederick are deceased. The children of the second marriage also number six: C. T., Albert, John, Mary, Caroline, Matilda, of whom two, Albert and Mary, are deceased.
C. T. Eibling, eldest ehild of this second union, was born in Richland township, Marion county, in 1849; and in 1860 accompanied the family on their removal to Van Wert county, where he grew up and completed his education. He followed farming, saw-milling and threshing alter- nately in their seasons for a number of years, and in the mean time, in 1868, came to Hardin county. IIere, in Washington township, in 1882, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of cleared land, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies, and where he has sinee lived. In 1869 he married Miss Elizabeth Orth, who was born in Washington township, this county, in 1851, daughter of George and Martha M. Orth, and their union was blessed in the birth of seven children, five of whom are living, namely; Henry W., Clara, Emma, Otto and Louis.
Henry W. Eibling dates his birth in Washington township, in 1871. He was reared on his father's farm, and his education, begun in the common sehools, has been carried forward in the broad school of ex- perience. He followed farming until 1902, when he turned his attention to railroading. Two years, however, sufficed for that line of work, and on February 15, 1904, he became a Rural Free Delivery mail carrier, hav- ing previously to that time passed a rigid examination, in a elass of seven, and received a per cent of ninety-nine.
Mr. Eibling has been twice married. His first wife, Hattie Beard, whom he married in 1896, died in May 1902, leaving him with one son, Roscoe W. In 1904 he married Miss Sarah Stanyer, a native of Canada, and two children have been born of this union-Harold H. and Willis M. Previous to her marriage, Mrs. Eibling was a nurse. She is a graduate of the Lima (O.) Training School, with the class of 1898, and has had considerable hospital experience. They reside in Dola, where they have a comfortable and attractive home, and are held in high esteem. Mr. Elbling at one time served as township assessor.
Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellew.
PROFESSOR SAMUEL P. AXLINE, a man of broad culture and high mental attainments, has the distinction of being, in point of service, one of the oldest members of the faculty of the Ohio Northern University, with which he has been connected for twenty-seven years, for the past twenty-two years having been dean of its law department. A son of the Rev. P. H. Axline, he was born, March 31, 1849, in Muskingum county, Ohio.
Born and reared in Muskingum county, Ohio, P. II. Axline became Vol. II-29
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widely known throughout many parts of the state as an active teacher and preacher in the Christian church. He spent a full half century of his three score and ten years of earthly life in his religious work, at one time being located in Hardin county. He was of German ancestry on the paternal side, and inherited to a marked degree the tireless industry and sturdy integrity of his forefathers. He married Eleanor Lyle, of Muskingum county, the daughter of a pioneer settler, and she, too, at- tained the age of seventy years. Of their seven children, four sons and three daughters, all grew to years of maturity and five are now liv- ing, Samuel P. being the fourth child and third son.
Being fitted for a teacher in the public schools, Samuel P. Axline taught in Lieking county for a time, beginning when sixteen years of age, and afterwards learned the potter's trade, which he followed seven years. About 1876 he began reading law in Missouri, afterwards con- tinuing its study in Illinois and completing his law studies in Kentucky. For nearly fourteen years he was engaged in newspaper work, being located in Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. Coming to Ada in 1882, Mr. Axline taught for five years in the Ohio Northern University, and then assumed his present position in its law department, of which he has been dean for the past twenty-two years, as above stated. The Professor is a close student, and has received the degrees of LL. D., LL. B. and of A. M., to all of which he is justly entitled on account of his superior scholarship. Politically he is active in the ranks of the Republican party, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Woodmen of the World.
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