Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, Part 27

Author: E. M. P. Brister
Publication date: 1909
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 913

USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 27

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Willard Warner was graduated from Marietta College in 1845, winning the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts, and in 1849 went to California in search of gold. In 1852 he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and came to Newark in 1854, becoming treasurer of the Newark Machine Works in that year, while in 1856 he was made general manager. In 1860 he was a delegate to the national

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WILLARD WARNER

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republican convention from the capital district of Ohio. At the outbreak of the Civil war he joined the Federal army as major of the Seventy-sixth Ohio Infantry and took part in the attack on Fort Donelson, the siege of Corinth and the Vicks- burg campaign. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and took part in the battles of Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold. He was appointed inspector general and served on General Sherman's staff during the Atlanta campaign; was promoted colonel of the One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio Volunteers, October 20, 1864; was brevetted brigadier general and major general of volunteers in March, 1865, and was mustered out of the volunteer service in July, 1865.

Returning to Newark, Ohio, he served as a member of the Ohio state senate in 1866-7, and went to Alabama, being there engaged in cotton planting in 1865, 1866 and 1867. He was a representative in the Alabama legislature in 1868, and was elected to the United States senate as a republican on the 25th of July, 1868, serving until March, 1871. He was a collector of customs at Mobile, Alabama, in 1871 and 1872, and declined the appointment of governor of New Mexico by President Grant and likewise that of United States minister to the Argentine Republic. He was a member of the republican national convention of 1860, 1868, 1876, 1880 and 1888. In 1873 he removed to Tecumseh, Alabama, where he built the Tecumseh Blast Furnace for the Tecumseh Iron Company, of which he was president and general manager until 1889. In 1887 and 1888 he built two char- coal blast furnaces at West Nashville, Tennessee. The year 1890 witnessed his removal to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and in 1897 he was chosen a member of the Tennessee house of representatives. The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on him by Marietta College in 1885. He was identified for several years as a director in the Chattanooga Savings Bank, Chattanooga Wagon Com- pany, Richmond Spinning Mill and the Chattanooga Coffin & Casket Company, being president of the last named concern. He was also first vice president of the Chattanooga Manufacturers' Association. He became a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in 1884 and in 1905 was elected as commander of the Ohio Commandery.

JAMES LEECH.

Among the men who have been influenced in promoting the agricultural inter- ests of this part of the state is James Leech, a prosperous farmer of Licking town- ship, whose birth occurred in Harrison county, Ohio, July 22, 1838. His parents, James and Annie (Teets) Leech, were natives of the state of Pennsylvania, the former, born near the battle-ground of Gettysburg, removed with his parents to Jefferson county, where he was reared, and subsequently went to Harrison county, where he followed the trade of shoemaking. In 1864 he removed to Iowa, locating in Henry county, where he engaged in the manufacture of shoes, in connection with operating a shoe store, until his death, which occurred in 1885. He was twice united in marriage, his first wife being Mary Hutton, of Jefferson county, Ohio, by whom he had three children, namely: Margaret, deceased; John, a

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retired farmer residing in Keokuk county, Iowa; and Abner H., deceased, who served for four years in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war and was con- fined in Libby, Andersonville, and Salisbury prisons. Their mother having departed this life, Mr. Leech was united in marriage with Annie Teets, who departed this life in 1888. Their children were: Catharine, deceased; Mary; James; Robert; Nancy C .; Samuel, who served four years in the Union army during the Civil war, taking part in every battle during General Sherman's cam- paign, and is now deceased; Henry, William and Jennie, all of whom are deceased.

The common schools of Harrison county afforded James Leech his education, and he resided upon the home farm, actively engaged in agriculture, until he was twenty-one years of age. In the spring of 1860 he went to Livingston county, Illinois, where he followed his occupation until 1862, when he engaged in the five months' service in the Union army, during which time he was on duty at Camp Douglas, where he contracted an ailment which has since caused him great suf- fering. In 1863 he returned home and when Morgan was conducting his raid through Ohio he had charge of eight hundred men and was among those who effected Morgan's capture. Subsequently he was made second lieutenant of the volunteer militia of Harrison county, and in this capacity was stationed for one week at Newark drilling troops. In 1864 Mr. Leech went to Henry county, Iowa, where he remained until the year 1888, during which time he traveled throughout much of the west, engaged in various occupations, and then came to this county, where he has since been engaged in farming. He owns seventy acres of good land upon which he devotes his time to general farming, and aside from this he is largely interested in real estate at Salem, Iowa.

Mr. Leech was united in marriage, in 1889, to Miss Margaret, daughter of George Griffith, a native of this county, with whom he has since been residing in the enjoyment of domestic happiness. He is quite popular in fraternal organi- zations and belongs to the Masonic lodge in Newark, and also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed through all the chairs of the local lodge of that organization. A republican in politics, he has never found cause to induce him to withdraw his loyalty from that party, and since he cast his first vote has always rejoiced in its successes and exerted his influence toward the election of its candidates. He holds membership in the Baptist church, to which his wife also belongs, and being a man of excellent parts, whose life has always been conducted in observance to right principles. he merits the respect and good word of all who know him.

HARRY D. BAKER.

Harry D. Baker, following his careful preparation for professional labor, is now successfully engaged in the practice of law in Newark. his native city. He was born on the 25th of October, 1880. and is a son of Levi D. Baker. The father was born in Hardin county, Virginia, in 1836, and in 1840 came to Licking county, settling at Claypole Mills, toward the eastern border of the county. He

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was the son of Daniel Baker, a tanner, who served his country as a soldier of the War of 1812. For a long period Levi D. Baker was connected with business inter- ests in this county, but is now living retired in Newark, having passed the Psalm- ist's allotted span of three score years and ten. He was reared here amid the environment of pioneer life and for more than two-thirds of a century has resided within the borders of the county, so that he has witnessed all its development and progress. He married Ella Rodgers, a representative of one of the old families of this county, where her birth occurred.

Reared in Newark, at the usual age Harry D. Baker was sent as a pupil to the public schools and was instructed in the various branches of learning, which constituted the public school curriculum. Later he enter Doane Academy at Granville, from which he was graduated in 1899 and afterward became a student in Denison University. He studied law in the Ohio State University, where he completed a course by graduation with the class of 1904. He then opened an office in Newark, where he has since remained in the active prosecution of his profession and is gradually working his way upward, carefully analyzing cases and presenting his cause with that clear and cogent reasoning which shows his thorough mastery of the principles of jurisprudence and his correct application of those principles to the points in contention. Socially Mr. Baker is connected with the Phi Gamma Delta, a collega fraternity, and is also an exemplary member of Acme Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

GEORGE W. HOLTON.

George W. Holton, starting out in life as a farm hand, is now the owner of two good tracts of land which, carefully cultivated, are returning him a gratifying annual income. He was born in Eden township, Licking county, Ohio, December 17, 1858, and is a son of Washington and Margaret (Miles) Holton. The father was a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and in his early childhood was left an orphan, after which he was reared by families in the neighborhood. In early man- hood, however, he came to Licking county, where he was afterward married to Miss Margaret Miles, native of this county. Following his marriage he took up his abode upon a farm in Eden township and as the years passed he was very successful, his earnest, indefatigable labors bringing him capital sufficient to enable him to become the owner of two hundred and forty-five acres of rich and productive land. His life was well spent and honorable and covered a period of more than eighty-two years, his death occurring May 27, 1892.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for George W. Holton in his boyhod and youth. He attended the common schools and worked in the fields through the summer months, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. In 1883, when twenty-three years of age, he left the parental home and for two years worked as a farm hand. He was then married, November 25, 1885, to Miss Clara Hilleary of Eden township, a daughter of Samuel Hillcary, now deceased. Following his marriage Mr. Holton cultivated his father-in-law's farm until 1903, or for a

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period of eighteen years, after which he removed to Newark, where he made his home for nearly two years. However, farming had been his life work and he felt much more contented to engage in agricultural pursuits than to reside in Newark, unoccupied with business cares. In 1905, therefore, he purchased his present place in Mary Ann township, and it has since been his home. He is diligent and active in its management, practical and progressive in his methods of farming and as the result of his well directed labors is meeting with richly merited success. In addition to this place he also owns a farm of sixty acres in Eden township, which he rents.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Holton has been blessed with but one child, Samuel, who is still with his parents. Mr. Holton votes with the democracy, but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty. He is now one of the representative citizens of Mary Ann township, and while his life history has not been characterized by any thrilling or exciting chapters it contains val- uable lessons for those who thoughtfully consider it, showing what may be accomplished by perseverance, energy and honesty.

THOMAS D. JONES.

Thomas D. Jones, sculptor, was born December 12, 1811, in Remsen, Oneida county, New York, where he spent his boyhood and youth. His parents were David R. and Susan Jones, who were born in Wales but came to this country in childhood. With very meager opportunities for education the embryo sculptor reached the age of twenty, employed on a farm or at work with his father, who was a stonecutter. With his father's family he came to Ohio in 1837 and settled on what is known as the "Welsh Hills," about two and one-half miles north of Gran- ville, a well known college town. While living there he worked at carving tomb- stones out of freestone, which is abundant around Granville, and became skillful in cutting out figures of animals and faces. Much of the stone work on the Ohio canal was done under his supervision. During the winter months he taught school and while teaching studied the French language, in which he became pro- ficient. In 1841 he went to Cincinnati, where his first work was that of carving monuments, but before a year had expired he produced a bust of John H. Coleman of Cincinnati. His next work worthy of notice was a large bust of General William H. Harrison. In 1844 he modeled the features of Henry Clay and the next year carved the statue of Francis Marion in wood. Soon afterward he made busts of Thomas Corwin, Lewis Cass and General Winfield Scott. Then he went to New York city, where he lived for six years. His finest works in New York are a medallion of Henry Clay, one of Daniel Webster, one of George Washington, one of Queen Victoria and a statue of Julia Dean, the actress. The Lincoln Memorial which stands in the rotunda of the state house in Columbus, Ohio, is the grandest work ever produced by his hands. It will remain an endur- ing monument to his memory. His last works are of the highest order of merit and are universally admired. The winter following Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency was spent by Mr. Jones with Lincoln and his family in Spring-

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THOMAS D. JONES

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field, Illinois. He had many friends among distinguished writers and noted per- sons. It was pleasant to be with him, hear him read Shakespeare, tell anecdotes and talk of his travels and experiences in the different cities where he had been. In his last years he arose early and took a long walk before breakfast. In imag- ination I can see him now, as he started out for a walk, his long white hair hang- ing loosely over his shoulders, his broad-brimmed hat shading his face as he looked at the beauty of nature, or in the evening as he gazed at the stars. No one was ever able to fathom his thoughts at such times. He had a kind of faith in the stars which was apparent to those who knew him best but which he never communicated to any one.

He died in Columbus, Ohio, February 2, 1882, and was buried in the Welsh Hills cemetery, by the side of his father and mother. A large granite boulder of irregular shape, which he chose during his lifetime, marks his grave. On the stone is inscribed simply his name, date of birth and date of death. Of him it may be said truthfully, "The sculptor hath so nobly done his part, we see a living presence, not the art." MRS. MARY E. HILBRANT.

JOHN W. LEIDIGH.

In the legal profession, which embraces many of the most brilliant minds of the nation, it is difficult to win a name and a place of prominence. Many aspire, but few attain. In commercial life one may start out upon a more elevated plane than others; he may enter upon a business already established and carry it still farther forward. But this is not true in case of the lawyer. He must commence at the initial point, must build and win his first cause and work his way upward by ability, gaining his recognition and success by merit. People do not place their legal business in unskilled hands; it is the man of power before judge and jury who commands public patronage. Of this class Mr. Leidigh is a splendid type. He began as many others do in the practice of law, and has come to his present prominence as the result of earnest endeavor, fidelity to trust and recog- nized ability. He has been a member of the bar since 1875 and has practiced in Licking county since 1905.

A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Leidigh was born in Cumberland county, April 4, 1840, his parents being David and Catharine (Brownwell) Leidigh, who were natives of the Keystone state, the Leidigh family, however, coming from Germany, while the Brownwells were from England. Some of the family participated in the colonial wars, and in the pioneer development of the Cumberland valley they were identified, all following the occupation of farming.

John W. Leidigh was reared on a farm and attended the country schools. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities between the north and south he watched with interest the progress of events as he listened to the discussion of grave questions of that day, and with the inauguration of the war he joined the army on the 1st of October, 1861, enlisting as a member of Company C, Sixty-fourth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His service was with the Army of the Cumberland, and he was wounded in the battle of Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, by a gunshot

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which penetrated the left leg, and the ball has never been extracted. He was con- fined in the general field hospital of Chattanooga, Tennessee, until he could be removed to Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained in hospital No. 11 until transferred to the Clay general hospital at Louisville, Kentucky. He was forced to continue in these hospitals altogether for about one year, and then rejoined his regiment while on its march to Knoxville, Tennessee. After the siege of Knox- ville was raised he returned with his command to Chattanooga, and there veter- anized, reenlisting as a member of the same company and regiment, in which he served until December 3, 1865, when he mustered out at Victoria, Texas, having been a member of the army for more than four years. After rejoining his regi- ment he was promoted to quartermaster sergeant and later became sergeant major, while subsequently he was commissioned second lieutenant in the Sixty-fourth regiment, and was the last sergeant major of that command. At the funeral of the late Senator John Sherman, who was the first colonel of the Sixty-fourth Regiment, Mr. Leidigh had charge of the Guard of Honor, composed of the remnant of the old Sherman Brigade in the field. He was a warm personal friend of Senator Sherman, and after the funeral the senator's daughter, Mrs. James M. McCollum, of Washington, D. C., presented Mr. Leidigh with her father's sword, sash and belt, which he highly prizes.

When the war was over and the country no longer needed his military aid, Mr. Leidigh returned to his home in Richland county, Ohio, expecting that he would earn his living by farming and by work at the carpenter's trade, which he had partially learned before he joined the boys in blue. However, while operating a spoke lathe, which was out of order, he met with an accident, having his hand caught in the lathe, whereby all of the fingers and part of the left hand were cut off. Thus incapacitated for manual labor, he sought a new field of activity, and on the 1st of October, 1868, began the study of law in the office and under the direction of the Hon. Schuyler E. Blakeslee, of Bryan, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar March 25, 1875. In the meantime he had been called to official service, having in November, 1869, been elected on the republican ticket probate judge of Williams county, Ohio. He was reelected in 1871, receiving almost unanimous support, and held the office for six years, making an excellent record on the probate bench. While thus engaged he gave his leisure time to the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence and, as stated, was licensed to practice March 25, 1875, in which year he opened a law office in Bryan. Prior to his election as probate judge he served as township clerk one year. In 1882 he was admitted to practice in the United States courts. In 1905 he removed to Licking county and has since practiced in Utica and Newark. He is recognized as an able lawyer and a valued member of the Licking County Bar Association. He is now able to base his arguments on thorough knowledge of and familiarity with precedents, never failing to recognize the main point at issue and never neglecting to give a thorough preparation.

On the 1st of February, 1870, Mr. Leidigh was married to Miss Florence Estella Pollitt, a native of Ohio, and they have one son, Donald J., who is now a student in Denison University. Mr. Leidigh belongs to the Presbyterian church and to the Grand Army of the Republic. He is today as true and loyal to his country and her welfare as when he followed the old flag upon southern battle-

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fields, and in all matters of citizenship he has manifested a progressive and patriotic spirit. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in pro- fessional lines, and his mental capacity and power is stimulated by his faithful performance of each day's duty and by his strong interest in the science of law and government.

REV. J. L. WYLY.

Rev. J. L. Wyly has been identified with the Baptist ministry in Ohio since 1875. While he is not in active pastoral relation with the church at the present time, he is yet deeply interested in its work and in sympathy with its projects. He gives his time and attention to his farming and stock-raising interests, having two hundred acres of valuable land, whereon he is making a specialty of raising Duroc hogs, Galloway cattle and draft horses. His life history began in Car- michaels, Greene county, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1840, and he is the youngest of a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters, of whom seven reached years of maturity. The parents, Jacob and Hannah Jane (Way) Wyly, were also natives of the Keystone state, and spent the greater part of their lives in Greene county, the former of Scotch-Irish and the latter of English parentage and of Quaker faith. Both grandfathers of our subject served as soldiers of the Revolutionary war, while Jacob Wyly and his brother John did valued duty in defense of American interests in the war of 1812.

Rev. J. L. Wyly remained a resident of his native county until twenty years of age, and when not busy with the work of the farm pursued his education, attend- ing the public schools and the academy of Carmichaels. In March, 1861, he went to Iowa City, Iowa, and on the 13th of June of the same year he offered his services to the government in defense of the Union, becoming a member of Com- pany F, First Iowa Cavalry. He furnished his own horse and equipment, costing him over two hundred dollars, and did active service west of the Mississippi river, being connected with the army for three years and four months, while for three years he was in active service in the field. He refused a colonel's commission and served as a private. Such a record is hardly paralleled, for while there were many loyal hearts that never wavered in defense of the Union, most of the soldiers were willing and anxious for promotion. Mr. Wyly sustained two slight scalp wounds. At Black River he suddenly came upon eight rebels, six of whom were mounted and two on foot. Of the latter Mr. Wyly wounded one and killed the other and thus managed to make his escape. IIe participated throughout the Little Rock cam- paign, and after more than three years of faithful service was mustered out Sep- tember 9, 1864.

Mr. Wyly then returned to Pennsylvania and entered the Waynesburg Col- lege. He also read law with his brother, George L. Wyly, and for a time he engaged in the oil business. In the spring of 1865 he removed westward to Crest- line, Ohio, and was married in the fall of 1866, at Wooster, Ohio, after which he took up his abode near Iowa City, Iowa. There he engaged in farming and teach- ing, but later returned to Ohio, where he again spent a year. On the expiration

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of that period he went to Missouri and bought a farm, but because of his wife's health he returned to Wayne county, Ohio. In 1872 he entered the Baptist min- istry and was connected with the organized work of the church in Iowa and Illinois, while since 1875 he has made his home in Ohio and has done much effective service in behalf of Baptist interests here. In 1888 he came to Licking county and purchased his present farm, upon which he has since lived. He also erected his residence, which is a mile north of Granville, on Mount Vernon road. Here he has more than two hundred acres of land, and in carrying on his place makes a specialty of Duroc hogs, Galloway cattle and draft horses. He is likewise interested in coal lands in Pennsylvania.

In 1866 Mr. Wyly was united in marriage at Wooster, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Ann Rayl, a native of Wayne county, and a daughter of Isaiah and Cynthia Rayl. They had nine children, of whom one son died in the army in 1862, while one was wounded in front of Atlanta. Another, a graduate of Denison University, went to India as a missionary, where he remained about two years and died almost immediately after his return, his wife surviving him only twenty days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wyly there were born nine children: George A. B., who was prin- cipal of the high school at New Philadelphia, Ohio, for nine years and is now a teacher of Minnesota; Emma, who is the wife of A. A. Rich, connected with the office of secretary of state in Columbus; Edgar C., who is in partnership with his father and is located on one of his farms; Ida, the wife of Louis Ketchem, of Delaware county, Ohio; Nellie A., the wife of L. S., Osborn, of Granville; Harry, at home; Lillie A., who was graduated from Denison University two years ago, and is now a nurse in the Mercy Hospital of Chicago; and Black and Edith, who died in infancy.

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Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, Part 27

Author: E. M. P. Brister Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Number of Pages: 913

Author: E. M. P. Brister
Publication date: 1909
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 913