USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
On the 4th of May, 1854, Mr. Castle was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Fassett, who was born in Johnstown, this county, January 31, 1835, and is a daughter of Harry and Clarissa (Peck) Fassett. The father was born in Cam- bridge, Vermont, May 17, 1794, and the mother in Halifax, Nova Scotia, January 7, 1803. She came to Licking county with her parents when fifteen years of age and Harry Fassett made the journey alone on horseback when twenty-seven years of age. He was educated in Middlebury, Vermont, and after removing to Ohio engaged in the practice of medicine in Johnstown for many years. He wedded Miss Clarissa Peck in this county and for a long period they were numbered among the most respected and valued residents of Johnstown but later Dr. Fassett retired from the active practice of his profession and for fifteen years resided in Granville. He afterward went to California, where he joined his children and there died May 19, 1872, while his wife passed away July 7, 1890. They were the parents of ten children who reached adult age: Elias, now deceased; Ann, eighty-four years of age, who is the widow of Parker Germain and has resided in California since 1851; Jane, who became the wife of Dr. Dalton but both are now deceased; N. Chittenden, who went to California in 1851 and died in that state in old age; Harris, who went to San Francisco in 1854; Mrs. Castle; John, who enlisted at Granville as a member of the Union army and died during the Civil war; Mary, who became the wife of Norman Adams, of Granville, and died in Iowa; Harry W., who died in California; and Willie, who is living in San Francisco.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Castle were born six children. Clarence Fassett, the eldest, received his education in Denison University, took a post-graduate course at Yale, where he won the Doctor of Philosophy degree and is now a professor of Greek in the University of Chicago. He wedded Mary Shirk, of Greensburg. Indiana. Albert A., who attended the Denison University and Princeton Uni- versity and the Law School of Cincinnati, after which he entered upon the practice of law, died at the age of forty years. Edward, who supplemented his course in Denison by study in Harvard University, was for a number of years a teacher of history in Columbia University but ill health obliged him to give up the posi- tion. William E., a graduate of Denison University, who pursued a post-graduate
Digitized by Google
298
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
course at Harvard, is now professor of zoology in Harvard and resides at Belmont, Massachusetts. He married Clara Bosworth and has three sons, William, Henry and Edward. Mary, a graduate of the Chicago University, who followed teaching until her health failed, is now with her brother in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Walter, who is likewise a graduate of Denison University and is now conducting the home farm, married Anna Patt and has two children, Carolyn and William. Mr. and Mrs. Castle have every reason to be proud of their family, for, endowed with strong intellectual force, they have won positions of distinction in educational circles and are an honor and credit to their parents.
In his political views Mr. Castle has been a stalwart republican since the organization of the party. He and his family are all members of the Baptist church of Alexandria and have ever been mindful of their religious duties and their obligations to their fellowmen. Mr. and Mrs. Castle have now traveled life's journey together for more than fifty-five years, their mutual love and con- fidence increasing as time has passed on and they have met together the joys and sorrow, the adversity and prosperity which checker the careers of all. There is no more worthy or highly esteemed couple in all the county, for their lives have not been engrossed with the material things in an effort to win success. They have put forth effective activity in their support of intellectual and moral advancement as well, their interest therein being manifest in the way in which they provided their children with advanced educational opportunities.
GABRIEL HOUCK.
Gabriel Houck, who makes his home on a well improved farm of seventy-five acres, located in Burlington township, is a worthy representative of an old and prominent pioneer family of Licking county and one that is noted for longevity. The paternal grandfather, James Houck, removed to Licking county from Pennsylvania, and, entering land near Homer, became one of the first settlers of Burlington township. He was identified with its very earliest development and improvement and carried on general farming throughout a long period, his death occurring in Burlington township when he had reached almost the century mark, for he was more than ninety-nine years of age at the time of his demise. His son, Jacob Houck, was born on the home farm in Burlington township, June 9, 1812, and there he was reared to general agricultural pursuits. After reaching man's estate, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Critton, who was likewise a native of Burlington township, born in 1819, daughter of Gabriel Critton, who came to Licking county from Fairfield county, Ohio, and thus became a pioneer settler of Burlington township. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Houck located on the farm now owned by T. D. Dean, located one mile south of Homer. Some years later, however, they removed to a farm adjoining our subject on the north. and there they spent their remaining years, the father passing away in 1895, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-three years, while the mother preceded him to the home beyond a year previously, her death occurring in January, 1894, when she was about seventy-five years of age. The father was a life long democrat
Digitized by Google
299
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
and although he was never active as an office holder he took a deep interest in the progress that was continually made in this section of the state and contributed his full share in bringing about improved conditions, which have eventually placed Licking county in the front rank with other sections of the state.
Gabriel IIouck was born on his father's farm, April 2, 1846, and early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the farm lad as he assists in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. His education was acquired in the common schools, wherein he obtained a fair knowledge of the English branches. When he was but eighteen years of age, feeling that he had been properly trained in the duties of the home farm and believing that he could successfully operate a farm on his own account, he rented his father's land and thus gave his attention to its cultivation for several years. However, in 1869, as a further means of establishing a home of his own, he was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe J. Dixon, a daughter of Archibald Dixon, a resident of Bennington township, Licking county, and now deceased.
Following his marriage Mr. Houck continued to operate the old home place as a renter, but after three years, through his own industry and careful manage- ment and the assistance of his estimable wife, he secured the funds which justified him in purchasing seventy-five acres of land in Burlington township. In the spring of 1873 he took up his abode on his newly acquired tract of land and this has continued to be his home to the present time. This has been made a valuable property through his own well directed efforts and careful cultivation of the fields. On the place stands a nice country residence and substantial outbuildings and the fields are devoted to general farming, in which Mr. Houck is meeting with good success. In addition to his home farm he also owns a tract of land in Bennington township, which is also a productive and arable property.
Mr. and Mrs. Houck have no children of their own, but out of the goodness of their hearts they have taken into their home five children, one of whom, Earl Clet, is still with them. Believing firmly in the principles and policy of the democratic party, Mr. Houck has given stanch support to its men and measures. Meriting the confidence of the public, he has served for four terms as township trustee and two terms as assessor of the township, and his faithful service in this connection is his best recommendation for future claims. His fraternal relations are with Burlington Lodge, No. 551, K. P. He follows high ideals in his daily living, and his personality, the history of his life and his profound sense of integrity could be made the text of a lesson from which the young men of today could study success.
FINNEY E. HAAS.
Finney E. Haas, who owned and operated three hundred and forty-six acres of valuable land in Washington township, was born in the house in which he lived most of his life, on the 18th of September, 1851. His parents were William and Isabelle Haas, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ireland. In 1808 the father accompanied his parents on their removal to Licking county, Ohio, where the grandfather entered a tract of land, on which he made his home until
Digitized by Google
300
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
the time of his demise. The property then came into possession of William Haas, who resided thereon until called to his final rest in 1869. His wife, long surviving him, passed away on the 1st of February, 1903. Their family numbered three children, namely: Mary E. and Martha, both of whom are deceased; and Finney E., of this review, also deceased.
Finney E. Haas enjoyed the advantages of a college education and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of thirty years. Subsequently he followed railroading for eighteen years, being employed successively as brake- man, conductor and yardmaster at Chicago, Illinois. In 1898 he returned to the home farm in this county and until his death gave his attention to the cultivation and improvement of the place, meeting with a creditable and gratifying measure of success in his undertakings. The property comprises three hundred and forty- six acres and in addition to the work of general farming he made a specialty of raising and breeding stock.
In 1888 Mr. Haas was united in marriage to Miss Rhoda Lawson, whose birth occurred in Missouri in 1854. In his political views he was a stanch republi- can, while fraternally he was connected with the Masons. He had an extensive circle of friends throughout the county of his nativity, his genuine personal worth commending him to the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He was widely recognized as one of the extensive landowners and pros- perous citizens of the county, and also as one of the worthy representatives of a pioneer family who aided in the work of early development and progress here. He was called to final reward October 13, 1908.
A. J. CADA.
A. J. Cada, a substantial and prosperous farmer of Mckean township, was born in Vermont, November 20, 1834. He is an enterprising and aggressive man, a representative citizen of the community and has creditably served the township in a number of political offices. His parents were Mowry and Abigail (Barber) Cada, his father having been a native of Rhode Island and his mother of Vermont. To this county Mowry Cada came in the year 1836 and dwelt in the same house, of which the subject of this review, who at that time was two years of age, is the present owner. He and his wife were the parents of the following children : Phoebe C., who was united in marriage with Frederick Smith, of Mckean town- ship; Sabra C. and Mary L., deceased; and A. J. Cada. The father departed this life, February 9, 1888, and his wife September 4, 1893.
In the district schools of this county A. J. Cada acquired his education, having pursued his studies during the winter season and in the summer time assisted his father in the labors of the farm. After leaving school he actively engaged in aiding his father in carrying on the pursuit of agriculture until he was twenty- eight years of age, when he assumed entire charge of the various interests of the farm. Since then he has remained on the old homestead and has applied himself energetically in the raising of various kinds of grain and stock. The tract of land which he has under cultivation embraces two hundred and eighty-five acres, in
Digitized by Google
MR. AND MRS. A. J. CADA
Digitized by
Digitized by
303
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
the development of which he uses strictly modern methods. Mr. Cada keeps abreast of the times in everything pertaining to agriculture and aside from having a comfortable residence, his premises also supplied with ample barns, out- buildings and modern machinery and in fact everything requisite to successfully prosecute farming. Aside from the old home place he also possesses one hundred acres of valuable land in Granville township, which he operates in connection with his farm in Mckean township. While he deals extensively in hay and grain he also raises and feeds cattle and has a number of head of the finest breeds.
On September 25, 1860, Mr. Cada wedded Miss Mary A. Conard, a native of this county, where her birth occurred November 19, 1840. She was one of the nine children of Mahlon and Mary Ann (Somerville) Conard, also natives of this county. Her mother departed this life September 24, 1889, and her father, August 27, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Cada have been blessed with the following chil- dren : Joel M .; Charles G., who resides in Newark; and Joseph E., who is a graduate of Denison University and is now in charge of the farm.
Mr. Cada and his wife have always been faithful to their religious obligations inasmuch as they have always considered that it is the first duty of man to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and consequently they have always been associated with church work and are now ardent supporters of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Cada is an advocate of the democratic party, the principles of which he has thoroughly investigated and highly appreciates their fundamental character. He has always been enthusiastic during campaigns and by his vote and influence is active to the extent of his power in assisting the candidates of his party to secure office. He has rendered the township service as school director, trustee and public clerk. Mr. Cada is a man of high integrity of character and throughout his long career has been very energetic. It is due to his excellent management that he has made a success of life and that now at the advanced age of seventy-five years he can afford to enjoy somewhat of the leisure and comfort won by his many years of activity and usefulness. He has always been honest and straightforward in his transactions and therefore commands the respect, and esteem of the citizens of the community in which he has so long resided.
CLEMENT L. RILEY.
Clement L. Riley, who has won recognition as an able representative of the educational interests of Ohio, is now serving as superintendent of the schools of Kirkersville. His record has at all times been that of a progressive and public- spirited citizen, and his history is therefore a credit to his native county. He was born about four and a half miles southwest of Utica, June 1, 1863, and in the paternal line comes of Irish lineage. His great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, but, coming to America in colonial days, aided the colonies in their struggle for independence. He married a niece of Mad Anthony Wayne, the intrepid American general whose fearlessness in the face of danger won him this altogether complimentary title. Robert Riley, the grandfather, was born in Mus- kingum county, Ohio, where his parents had located in pioneer times IIe married
Digitized by Google
304
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
and reared a family of nine children: Elizabeth, deceased; one who died in infancy; Jane, who has also passed away; John William, the father of our sub- ject; Margaret, the wife of Jacob Johns, of Missouri; Miranda, who is the widow of John Keller, of Missouri; Hannah and Martha, who are deceased; and Albert.
John William Riley was born in Newton township, Licking county, but removed with his parents at the age of five years to Burlington township of the same county, where he was reared amid the scenes and environments of frontier life. Having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Angeline Plummer, a native of Iowa, who was brought to this country in her early girlhood. She had the fol- lowing brothers and sisters: Eliza, who has passed away; Margaret; Amanda ; Sarah; Mary; Rose, deceased; and William. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John William Riley was blessed with fourteen children, as follows: Clement L., of this review; Ida E., the wife of J. R. Haas, of this county; Emma R., who is the wife of Lemuel Hammond, of Zanesville; Albert Plummer, a resident of Mckean township; John William, who lives on the home place in Burlington township; James Franklin, of Burlington township; Effie M., the wife of Ellis Claggett; Mary, who is the wife of Lester Peters, of Bennington township; Rob- ert, who resides with his mother on the home place; Clyde D. and Wesley E., both residents of Burlington township; Pearl, the deceased wife of Asa Wince, by whom she had two children; Bertha, who is the wife of Harry Hoar, of McKean township; and Fern, at home.
Clement L. Riley spent his youthful days on his father's farm and through the periods of vacation worked in the fields, and after he had completed his edu- cation gave a part of his time to farm work until he was twenty-five years of age. His early scholastic training was received in the district schools, and he later spent two terms in the Utica Normal, two terms in the Croton high school, one year in the Hanover high school, and two terms in the Denison Normal School. He also had tutors in Latin, and in 1884 he began teaching in the Centennial school in his home neighborhood, where he remained for two years. Later he spent a year as a teacher in Hanover township, and four years in Perry township. From the beginning his work in the schoolroom was highly satisfactory to the general public and led to his election to the superintendency of the Croton schools, where he remained from 1892 until 1900. He afterward engaged in teaching in Jersey for one year and for three years was superintendent of the Alexandria school. In 1905 he took charge of the schools at Kirkersville, where he has since remained. In the meantime he had taught in the normal school at Croton, in the Purity Normal in Eden township and in the Granville Normal, where he was teacher of mathematics. He has likewise been superintendent of the township schools of St. Albans township and in Kirkersville has done much to promote the standard of education, his work being followed by excellent results of a prac- tical as well as progressive nature.
On the 8th of November, 1888, Mr. Riley was married to Miss Clara M. Tay- lor, who was born October 6, 1868, a daughter of William and Catherine (Beck- ford) Taylor, the former a native of Fallsbury township and the latter of Mary Ann township. Mrs. Riley's maternal grandfather came to Ohio from Massachu- setts on horseback, traveling for many days through a wilderness in a district into which it seemed that white men had scarcely ever penetrated. Mrs. Riley
Digitized by Google
305
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
was one of a family of seven children: Flora, the wife of C. L. V. Miller, of Chesterville, Ohio; Virgil, deceased; Oliver, a resident of Chesterville; Eleanor, who is the wife of C. L. V. Smith; Mrs. Riley; Frank, of Eden township; and Barney, who has passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Riley were born two children : Walter Fay, born March 8, 1893; and a daughter who died July 10, 1900, when four months old.
Mr. Riley was county examiner from June, 1899, until August 31, 1905, covering a period of more than six years, and recently he has been elected county auditor, his public-spirited citizenship and well-known ability being a guarantee of what he will accomplish in this position. Mr. and Mrs. Riley both hold mem- bership in the Church of Christ. For about fifteen years he has been a member of Center Lodge, No. 326, F. & A. M., of Johnstown, and also belongs to Alex- andria Lodge, No. 704, K. P., in which he has passed all of the chairs. He like- wise belongs to Myrtle Lodge, No. 350, I. O. O. F., of Granville, and to Alexandria Camp, No. 6019, M. W. A. He is always interested in matters of public moment, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, political and otherwise, and has taken part in several debates on the tariff question. He has always been a student, reading broadly and thinking deeply, and his views are based upon logical conclusions drawn from the facts.
F. A. CRANE.
F. A. Crane, who since 1892 has been secretary and manager of the Ice and Cold Storage Company of Newark, is numbered among the prominent, energetic and progressive business men of the city, belonging to that class of representative Americans who in promoting individual success also advance the general prosperity. Ile was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 16th of February, 1846. His father, M. E. Crane, was also a native of Muskingum county, representing one of the oldest families of the state. The grandfather, Evan Crane, came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1805. Hardly two years had passed since the admission of the state to the Union, and there were great sections of Ohio into which the white race had not ventured. The Indian population was far more numerous than the white, and uncut forests and undeveloped prairies indicated to what limited extent the work of improvement had been carried forward. Casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers, Evan Crane turned his attention to farming and aided in reclaim- ing the wild land for the purpose of civilization. His son, M. E. Crane, was reared on the farm, but in 1873 removed to Newark, where he spent the remainder of his days in honorable retirement from business. He had led a useful and active life and had acquired a substantial competence. He died on the 2d of January, 1901, at the age of eighty-two years, and is still survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary M. (Huff) Crane, who is also a native of Muskingum county, and is now in her eighty-fifth year.
After mastering the elementary branches of learning in the public schools of Muskingum county, F. A. Crane continued his education in the Muskingum College at Concord and in Denison University, where he spent two years as a
Digitized by Google
306
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
student. From early youth he manifested considerable mechanical skill and ingenuity, and invented a patent hay carrier, at which he worked for three or four years. In 1873 he became a resident of Newark, where he has made his home for more than a third of a century. Here he engaged in the millinery and fancy goods business, in partnership with his brother, O. W. Crane, for nineteen years, the enterprise proving a profitable source of revenue, for the business was carefully conducted along modern and progressive lines, and the demands of the public were carefully studied. They were thus able to place upon the market goods that found a ready sale and their straightforward dealing also contributed to their success. In 1892 F. A. Crane withdrew from that line and organized the Newark Ice and Cold Storage Company, of which he has since been the secretary and manager. He is moreover a director of the Newark Trust Company and the Newark Gearwood Company. His business enterprise is undaunted by any ordinary difficulties or obstacles, his determination enabling him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
In 1878 Mr. Crane was married to Miss Lavonia L. Wright, a native of Licking county, and a daughter of Robert Wright. The Wright family came from Vermont to this city. Mr. and Mrs. Crane have one daughter, Lilian, now the wife of Charles F. Rhodes. They are constant and helpful members of the Second Presbyterian church, contributing generously to its support and taking a helpful part in its various activities, while Mr. Crane is serving as one of its trustees. He holds friendship inviolable, and as true worth may always win his regard he has a very extensive circle of friends and his life demonstrates the truth of the Emersonian statement that "the way to win a friend is to be one." No plan or movement for the benefit of the city along lines of progress and improvement seeks his aid in vain. The public work that he has done has largely been of a nature that has brought no pecuniary reward and yet he has cooperated in many move- ments for the general good. He is free from ostentation or display, but true worth cannot be overlooked and all who know him speak of him in terms of praise and kindly regard.
WILLARD WARNER.
Willard Warner was born in Granville, Ohio, September 4, 1826, his parents being Willard and Eliva (Williams) Warner, while his paternal grandparents were Daniel and Martha (Knowlton) Warner. He is a great-grandson of Captain Daniel Warner, a second lieutenant in the Revolution, and a descendant of the Vermont Warners, Holbrooks and Knowltons. He was married on the 4th of March, 1856, to Eliza, daughter of E. S. and Mary (Burnham) Woods, of New- ark, Ohio. His demise occurred on the 23d of November, 1906.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.