Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, Part 30

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

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On October 30, 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Shannon, a daughter of John and Kisiah (Rodgers) Shannon, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, having come to this county at an early date, settling in what is now known as Summit Station, Lima township. The Shannon family included nine

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children, namely : John, deceased; Thomas, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Ellen ; Robert, who resides in Hiawatha, Kansas, with his wife, Susan Bessee, a native of Summit Station, by whom he has had nine children; Margaret, deceased ; Minerva; David, who wedded Miss Anna Ramsey, of Columbus, Ohio, by whom he had nine children, the couple residing in Nebraska; and Emma, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Headlee were born: Phineas; Flora; Thomas ; Benson and Adda, who reside at home; Wilbur; Emma; and Zella; two children having departed this life in infancy. Mr. Headlee was a stanch republican and always took active interest in the affairs of his party. Prominent in local politics, he served for many years as justice of the peace and was so efficient in that office as to have established for himself a wide reputation throughout the county and many per- sons sought his advice in legal matters, since he was well known and respected for his fairness, wisdom and executive ability. He also performed the duties of' justice of the peace at Kirkersville all the while he resided there. Among other services which he rendered the county was that of trustee of the infirmary, the duties of which position he efficiently performed for a number of years. Mr. Headlee was a man of high moral character who, amid the pressure of his business affairs and agricultural interests, always found time to give to his religious obli- gations and attended divine services at the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was a leading steward and to which he was a large contributor. He was well known throughout the county not only for his industry and enterprise but for his extraordinary intelligence and legal knowledge and, being a man of upright character, who always endeavored to so shape his conduct as to keep his name above reproach, he was ever held in the highest respect by his fellow citizens.

SYLVESTER LEAMON.

Sylvester Leamon is an attorney at law at Croton, where he has practiced continuously for thirty years with the exception of two years passed in Newark. He was born June 5, 1840, in Hartford township, Licking county, a son of John and Hannah (Postlewaite) Leamon, who came from the Shenandoah valley of Virginia in the early period of the history of this county. He began the work of clearing the land, became a prosperous farmer and after doing his full share in the world's work passed away in 1890 at the ripe old age of eighty-three years.

Sylvester Leamon was reared on the home farm and was educated in the district schools of Hartford township. He won more than local fame because of the ability which he displayed in the many spelling contests which were popular in those days between the country schools. When not busy with his text-books he was employed in the labors of the farm and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He farmed until twenty- eight years of age but three years prior to that time he took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar on the 20th of June, 1879, before a committee of the circuit court in Newark, the committee stating that he passed the highest exam- ination of any applicant up to that time. Mr. Leamon located for practice in Croton, where he has maintained an office continuously since with the exception

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MR. AND MRS. SYLVESTER LEAMON

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of the years 1900 and 1901, when he practiced in Newark. He contiued to reside in Croton during that time and after two years returned to practice here and has since been a well known attorney of the town. He makes a specialty of probate court practice and is recognized as a lawyer of marked ability who is most loyal to the interests of his clients. He has enjoyed a liberal patronage as the years have gone by and in the preparation of cases is always thorough, so that he is well qualified to meet the attacks of the opposing counsel. For thirty-six years he has been a notary public and is a democrat in politics. He is recognized as a brilliant man in campaign work for his party but has never sought office for him- self and never was a candidate for any political position, although frequently urged to accept a nomination for office. He has preferred to do his public service as a private citizen and yet he is most loyal in his advocacy of the political principles in which he believes.

On the 2d of December, 1871, Mr. Leamon was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Crow, a daughter of William and Margaret (Payne) Crow, who were natives of Licking county. They had one son, who began teaching school when only fifteen years of age and soon became one of the most successful and popular teachers of the county. After following that profession for a number of years, however, he gave up the work to accept a position in the railway mail service with headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. There he contracted typhoid fever and died in 1903, leaving a widow, Mrs. Lillian (Hoover) Leamon, and four children.

Sylvester Leamon has a very wide acquaintance in Croton and Licking county, where he has always lived and where his sterling qualities of manhood have gained for him the unqualified regard and good will of those with whom he has been associated. While there are no exciting chapters in his life record, it is that of a man who has always been faithful to duty, performing every professional service with a sense of conscientious obligation.

DAVID A. BRICKER.

The part which David A. Bricker has taken in the early life interests of Utica and Licking county well entitles him to representation in this volume as one of the leading and influential citizens of his community. While in business life he has been active and energetic, he has at the same time found opportunity for coopera- tion in public measures that are deemed essential to the general welfare, and in social relations he has manifested the sterling traits of character that in every land and clime awaken confidence and good will. A native of Licking county, Mr. Bricker was born in Washington township, near Utica, April 5, 1854, a son of Hiram and Melissa (Bell) Bricker. The father was born in Morgan township, Knox county, Ohio, in 1827, while the mother's birth occurred in Washington town- ship, this county, February 14, 1836. She was a daughter of Isaac Bell, a native of Pennsylvania, who in his childhood days came to Ohio with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Bell, who were among the first settlers in this part of the state, estab- lishing their home just across the boundary line in Knox county. As the years passed James Bell aided in converting the wild land into productive farms and was

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among those who laid broad and deep the foundation upon which the present progress and prosperity of the county has been built. Hiram Bricker, the father of David A. Bricker, spent his entire life in this vicinity, following the occupation of farming in order to provide for his family. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted from Licking county in response to the call for men, and served for one hundred days. He joined Company A of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, entering the service as first lieutenant while before the expira- tion of his term he was commissioned captain. He was regarded for many years as a prominent and influential resident of this community and in days of peace, as in days of war, his patriotism was one of his marked characteristics. Unto him and his wife were born eleven children, so that there were thirteen at the family table when David A. Bricker was twenty-five years of age. He was the oldest of the family, the others being: Katharine, the wife of Ray McWilliams, of Newton township; Anna Bell, the wife of Frank Mercer, of Newark; Elizabeth, the wife of Hugh C. Harrison, of Jennings, Iowa; Virginia, the wife of James Seward, of Indianapolis, Indiana ; James F., living on the old home farm in Morgan town- ship, Knox county ; Emma, the wife of Frank Forey, of Marysville, Ohio; Cary T., a druggist of Newark; Laura, the wife of J. B. Warren, of Newark; Charles, living in Kirkersville, this county; and Nellie, who is with her mother. The death of the husband and father occurred February 23, 1901, and the mother still survives, now making her home in Utica.

The name Bricker is of German origin. Three brothers came to America from Germany, but at what date is not exactly known, and settled in Maryland. One branch of the family created by these brothers, went to eastern Pennsylvania, from Maryland, making that their permanent home. From this branch quite a numerous progeny sprang up, and subsequently a number of their descendants settled in Richland county, Ohio, near Shelby. Lewis (or Ludwig), the paternal great-grandfather of David A. Bricker, moved from Maryland to western Pennsyl- vania shortly after the Revolutionary war, in which he was a soldier, and from whom also sprang a large family. Sometime in the early part of 1800 the above men- tioned Lewis Bricker removed to what is now Liberty township in Knox county, and located two thousand acres of land, and induced a number of his children to settle thereon. He, however, never lived on this property. David Bricker, father of Hiram Bricker, who was the father of David A. Bricker of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania in 1799. He was married to Indiana Cox, in 1818, and her birth occurred in 1798. Sometime after this marriage they went to Knox county, but did not remain there any length of time; instead, they came to Morgan township, in 1821, where Mr. Bricker bought a farm on Tuma Run, which he at once pro- ceeded to clear. He soon became one of the well-to-do citizens of the community. His death occurred September 14, 1878, and took place at his residence in Utica, where he had resided for some time prior to his demise. David and Indiana Bricker were the parents of six children : Elizabeth, Christopher, Emeline, Anna- bell, Hiram and Demas, all passed away. Hiram was raised on the farm, was edu- cated in the common schools, and as a vocation dealt largely in live-stock, together with that of caring for a large farm. He drove stock over the mountains to the Baltimore market for several years. February 17, 1853, he was married to Melissa Bell, daughter of Isaac Bell, and moved to a farm in Washington township, where

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he remained twenty years. On this farm he often had as many as one thousand head of sheep at one time up to the year 1893, when the market became so unprofit- able that he cut down the size of his flocks. He finally moved to the old home- stead in Morgan township, and in 1893, retired to Utica, where his death occurred in 1901, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. His widow is still living in the Utica residence and is as active today as a woman of fifty. She is a strenuous worker in the Church of Christ, and a liberal contributor toward its support.

David A. Bricker was reared on the old home farm, remaining with his parents until 1872, when the family removed to Morgan township, Knox county. He was then a youth of eighteen years. His life had been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and merchandising, and he has always sustained an enviable reputation in business circles. In 1879 he married and returned to the farm on which he was born, there devoting his time and energies to general agriculture until March, 1893, when he removed to Utica, where he has since made his home. He still owns a farm and derives therefrom a substantial annual income. On taking up his abode in the town he established a hardware store which he conducted suc- cessfully until 1897, when it was destroyed by fire, causing a loss of ten thousand dollars, with only thirty-five hundred dollars covered by insurance. He then became clerk for C. W. Jewell, with whom he remained for ten years, or until April, 1907, since which time he has lived retired, enjoying the rest which he has surely earned and richly deserves. In all of his business career there has not been one esoteric phase. At all times he has been strictly honorable as well as active and enterprising, and the success which he has achieved represents the fit utilization of his time, talents and opportunities.

In 1879 Mr. Bricker was united in marriage to Miss Nannie S. Harrison, who was born in Clay township, Knox county, on a farm near Martinsburg, Ohio, February 23, 1859. She is a daughter of James and Mary Jane (Penick) Harrison, the former a native of Knox county and the latter of Pennsylvania. Her father spent his entire life on the place of his birth with the exception of a brief period of three years, and died at the age of seventy-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Bricker have become the parents of one daughter, Mary, who has just entered Oberlin University, having won a scholarship which entitles her to a four years' course in that institution.

In his political views Mr. Bricker is a republican, giving unfaltering allegiance to the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. In 1875 he was elected treasurer of Morgan township, Knox county, which was at that time very strongly democratic. After his first term he was reelected, serving until his marriage and removal to Washington township in 1879. In 1880 he was elected a trustee of his township and served for seventeen consecutive years a fact which stands in incontrovertible evidence of his promptness and fidelity in discharging his duties. He was also township clerk and a member of the village board and of the village council until 1904, when he was elected mayor of Utica and served for three years, or until the 1st of January, 1908, giving to the town a public spirited and progressive administration, characterized by the same substantial qualities which he has manifested in his business life. The American Issue, in speaking of his public life, says: "A man of high morals and a strong temperance advocate, he believed in law enforcement and proceeded to 'put on the lid.' For awhile, he was handicapped for want of a good marshal; but, after securing the

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appointment of Mr. Al Vance, he began his campaign against vice, for a clean town. In this he was supported by the law-abiding citizens, but was bitterly out- raged by the gambling and liquor element.

"Believing that the liquor laws were being violated, Mayor Bricker brought detectives, who secured evidence against two druggists, one doctor and one boot- legger. These were brought to trial and fined from one hundred dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars each. This met the approval of the temperance people, but increased the bitterness of the liquor element. Mayor Bricker has been bitterly attacked by the liquor element, but went right on doing his duty.

"In addition to many minor arrests for liquor violations, Mr. Bricker raided poker joints, fined the gamblers and did much more to punish vice, besides settling many cases out of court. Altogether, during his administration, more arrests were made and more than twice the amount collected in fines than in all the previous history of the town. As a result of this, although with increasing population, many of the rougher element came, Utica was one of the most orderly towns to be found."

He became a charter member of Morgan Grange, Knox county, being connected therewith from 1872 until 1879. He belongs to the Sons of Veterans and for the past thirty-two years has been a devoted and helpful member of the Church of Christ of Utica, in which he is now serving as elder and Sunday-school superin- tendent. Public spirited and progressive in his citizenship, he cooperates in all movements for the material, intellectual, political and moral progress of his com- munity and the work that he has accomplished and the methods that he has pursued have made him a valued and representative resident of his native county.

SAMUEL J. MOTHERSPAUGH.

Samuel J. Motherspaugh, who is largely interested in agriculture and stock raising in Franklin township, this county, is a native of the township, where his birth occurred November 27, 1850. His ancestors were among the pioneers of this part of the county, his maternal great-grandfather, John Fesel, having come to this region at an early date. His first dwelling consisted of a cabin constructed simply of four uprights supporting a roof made out of brush, which he later vacated and entered a log cabin having a split puncheon floor, and in this he spent his remaining days. The paternal grandfather, Daniel Motherspaugh, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came here early in life, locating on the farm in Franklin township where he passed his remaining days with his wife, who bore the maiden name of Christina Fesel, and who was a native of Shenandoah, Virginia, coming here with her people in childhood. Among their children was John, who was born and reared on his father's farm, which he finally inherited and operated until he departed this life, February 22, 1896, when his remains were interred in the Lutheran cemetery. His wife, also a native of Franklin township, survives him and resides with her son, Samuel J. In politics he was a democrat, and during his career held a number of township offices, among which was that of trustee. He was also quite influential in the Lutheran church, of which he

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S. J. MOTHERSPAUGH AND FAMILY

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was a member and in the affairs of which he was a leading factor and promoter, having served for a number of years on the board of deacons. They reared a family of four children, namely: Samuel J .; Lucinda, deceased; Amelia A., deceased ; and Ella, deceased.

During his boyhood days Samuel J. Motherspaugh passed through the expe- riences common to a country lad on his father's farm, assisting in performing various home duties during the summer season and in the winter availing himself of the educational opportunities of the neighboring schools, and upon completing his studies he remained upon the home farm until he was twenty-six years of age, at which period of his life he was united in marriage and settled down on a farm where he has since resided. He owns forty-seven acres and controls one hundred and fifty acres of fine farm land which at present is the property of his mother and which will eventually revert to him. He operates both farms, engaging prin- cipally in the production of general crops, carrying on stock raising on a small scale. His farm is in fine condition since Mr. Motherspaugh is very particular about the appearance of his premises and is always solicitous to keep his buildings and fences in repair, so that the entire place bears every evidence of the enterpris- ing spirit of the owner.

In 1875 Mr. Motherspaugh wedded Miss Anna R. Fravel, a native of Shenan- doah county, Virginia, the same county in which was born Mr. Motherspaugh's grandmother, and to this union have been born two children, the first having departed this life in infancy, while Chester C. was born May 17, 1885. The cir- cumstances attending the death of Chester C., an engraving of whom is shown on the opposite page, were very distressing. While mounting his horse he slipped and caught his foot in the stirrup, receiving injuries from which he never recovered. In fact he never regained consciousness after the accident and passed away ten days later, his remains being interred in the Lutheran cemetery on the 31st of July, 1899. The old saying, "Those whom the gods love die young" was exempli- fied in this instance. He was a young lad whom every one loved and admired and his death came as a great blow to his parents and was deeply mourned in the sur- rounding community. C. W. Seifert officiated at the funeral services. Politically Mr. Motherspaugh supports the democratic party, and has served efficiently in the township as road supervisor, and also as school director. He is a member of the local Grange and is affiliated with the Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs and in which both are ardent workers. He devotes his entire time to his farm and his aggressive spirit being well known throughout the township, as is also his reputation for integrity, he is a man who merits the respect of all as a substantial citizen.

FRED W. HOBART.

Agricultural advancement is well conserved through the efforts and industry of Fred W. Hobart, who owns and occupies what is known as the old Hobart homestead of one hundred and fifty acres. It was upon this farm, a mile north of Granville, that his birth occurred January 13, 1872, and it has been his place

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of residence continuously since. Here he follows general farming and makes a specialty also of raising good horses and operates a cider mill. His father, Henry Warden Hobart, long a prominent resident of the county, was a representative of old pioneer families. He also came of Revolutionary stock, his maternal great grandfather, Jonas Warden, having commanded a company with the rank of captain in the war which gave rise to the republic. The grandfather, Gabriel Warden, served as a captain in the war of 1812. His daughter, Mary Warden, was born in the state of Vermont, which was also the birthplace of Giles Hobart, to whom she gave her hand in marriage in Ohio, they having come with their respective parents to this city in early days. Unto them were born five sons and a daughter: Henry Warden, whose birth occurred in Granville township, Sep- tember 22, 1836; Martha, the wife of S. J. Everett, a farmer of Granville town- ship; Heman L., a farmer of Cass county, Missouri; Louis M., deceased ; George B., who follows agricultural pursuits in Kansas, and Wesley J., of Columbus. Giles Hobart continued a resident of Licking county until his death in 1873, when he was sixty-two years of age, while his wife died a few years later at the age of sixty-four years.

Henry Warden Hobart attended the district schools and the Academy at Granville. He chose as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared and became a successful agriculturist, remaining always a resident of Granville with the exception of the year 1858, which he spent in Kansas. He was married, January 31, 1859, to Miss Hattie E. Irish, the wedding being performed in Granville by the Rev. Jacob Little, one of the old-time and honored ministers. Mrs. Hobart was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, in 1838, and represented an old New England family. When fifteen years of age she came to Granville with an aunt and attended the old Episcopal Seminary, then under the manage- ment of Dr. Sanburn. She engaged in teaching for a few years prior to her marriage and afterward devoted her energies to the care of her household. Three children were born of this union : Ida May, who died in her seventh year; Carrie L., who was born August 19, 1861 and died April 27, 1904; and Fred W., whose name introduces this record. The father owned a valuable farm of one hundred and fifty acres and was engaged in breeding registered Spanish Merino sheep. His place was splendidly improved and gave indication of his careful management and progressive ideas. He erected a fine residence upon a natural building site in the midst of beautiful shade and ornamental trees, and made his place one of the finest country homes in the county. He could always be counted upon to further any progressive measure calculated to prove of benefit to the community, and while he usually voted with the republican party he did not consider himself bound by party ties. He remained an honored and respected resident of the county until his death, which occurred August 13, 1900. His wife still survives and is now a resident of Granville.

Upon the old home farm Fred W. Hobart was reared and in the public schools he acquired his education. As he advanced in years and strength, he assisted his father more and more largely in the work of the fields, and afterward came into possession of the old homestead, which comprises one hundred and fifty acres of rich and productive land, constituting one of the fine and well developed farms of the county. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of

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the fields, practices the rotation of crops, studies the condition of the soil and stands as an exponent of modern, scientific farming. In addition to cultivating the fields he makes a specialty of raising good draft and road horses and owns imported Belgium stock. He also has a cider mill on his place which he operates in the fall, a maple sugar bush, a peach orchard of twenty-five hundred trees and also an apple orchard. All these features make his place very attractive for the entertainment of many students at Denison University, and it is a popular thing with them to visit the sugar bush and the cider mill, so that he frequently entertains a hundred at a time.

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Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, Part 30

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