USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 36
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Ora J. Green was born in Licking township November 6, 1846, and during his boyhood days on the home farm he worked in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. He also availed himself of the educational advantages offered by the district schools, attending the Brombeck school, which is one of the old-time schools of the county and is still standing on the Newark road. After putting aside his text-books he gave his undivided attention to the work of the fields and for sixty-one years remained on his farm, cultivating the crops best adapted to soil and climate and also engaging in stock-raising. His farm lies in Licking township and contains three hundred acres which he brought under a high state of cultivation. He also made many substantial improvements on the place, including a comfortable residence and sub- stantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He likewise secured the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and thus year after year carried on general agricultural pursuits until a recent date when he retired and removed to Hebron to enjoy a well earned rest.
On March 21, 1871, Mr. Green wedded Mary J. Pound, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah J. (Carr) Pound, natives of Orange county, New York, who came to this county in 1848, settling in Mary Ann township, where they spent their remain- ing days on the farm on which they located. The mother departed this life March 17, 1904. To them were born ten children, of whom two died in infancy. The others are as follows: Joseph, who resides in Newton township; Samuel, deceased ; Henry, a resident of Orange county, New York; Edson, who lives in Newton township; Mary J .; Sarah E., who became the wife of Benjamin Colwell, of Orange county, New York, where they died; Isabelle, the deceased wife of Albert Lock, who is a resident of Newton township; and Frances Ellen, who is the wife of Lee Atherton, of Delaware, and has an adopted daughter, Dora, whom they took when she was three years of age and who is now the wife of Harry Mussel- man, of Licking township, and the mother of one child, Mary Green Musselman, who is now attending school in Hebron.
Mr. Green is a stanch advocate of the cause of temperance and a strong oppo- nent of the liquor traffic. Because of this he gives his unfaltering support to the prohibition party and, noting the rapid growth of temperance sentiment at the present time, he believes that the date is not far distant when the manufacture
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and sale of liquor will be largely diminished. For the past thirty years he has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, regularly attending its services and closely following its teachings. His life has been actuated by high and honorable principles and characterized by many sterling traits so that in every respect he measures up to the full standard of honorable manhood.
E. G. YOWELL, M. D.
Dr. E. G. Yowell, engaged in the practice of medicine, was born in Licking township, Licking county, July 12, 1878. Ilis father, Franklin Yowell, a native of Virginia, came to Licking county when a young man. He was a representative of an old Virginia family and following his removal to this state was identified with general agricultural pursuits for many years. He married Miss Mary Grove, also a native of Virginia, who is still living, but Franklin Yowell passed away at the age of 58 years.
Dr. Yowell pursued his education in the country schools, was graduated from the Jackson town high school and also attended normal school at Granville and Delaware. Taking up the study of medicine he continued his preparation for the profession until he graduated from the Ohio Medical University in 1901. Indeed, he has always remained as a student of the science of medicine, carrying his research far and wide into the realms of scientific knowledge and investiga- tion. Following his graduation he commenced practice in Newark, where he has since remained, and a good patronage is accorded him, showing the public has confidence in his skill and ability. He is very careful and accurate in the diag- nosis of his cases and his judgment is seldom, if ever, at fault in determining the outcome of disease. He is a member of the County Medical Society and in more specific fraternal lines is connected with the Eagles and Home Guards. A young man of attractive social qualities as well as professional skill, he is popular with his fellow townsmen and has a large circle of warm friends.
GEORGE F. FRANKLIN.
George F. Franklin for many years has been prominent in the business circles of Newark, Ohio. Now in his eightieth year, after a long season of active and profitable service in the upbuilding of the interests of the community, he is now spending his remaining days in retirement. His straightforward business methods, his amiable disposition, together with his extraordinary ability, have given him a high reputation in the commercial circles of the city, winning him a host of warn friends, and according him unusual popularity. He is a man of fine parts, and, in addition to a pleasing personality, possesses those traits and qualities which leave a lasting and agreeable impression upon all with whom he comes in contact. He has always been upright and just in his dealings, and, during his long com- mercial career, has been successful in not only placing himself in comfortable
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circumstances but also in contributing much to the welfare of the community. He was born in Westbury, England, November 19, 1828, while his father, Edward Franklin, was a native of London, who migrated to New York city in the year 1831, and thence to Newark, Ohio, in 1837. In 1843 he founded the Franklin Bank, now known as the Franklin National Bank. His training in the banking business began early in life, for when a boy in his native land he was employed in a banking institution operated by an uncle. He continued in that enterprise until the time of his death, which occurred in 1858, while his wife, Mary Hooper Franklin, a descendant of a celebrated family by the name of Hooper, passed into the life beyond in 1876.
George F. Franklin received his preliminary education in the public schools of Newark, Ohio, and was then placed in charge of a private tutor, and subse- quently took a four years' course of study in Central College, Ohio. After com- pleting his education he assumed a clerkship in his father's bank, remaining in the employ of his parent until he had become familiar with the vanous phases of banking, when he went to Marion, Ohio, where he was engaged as teller and book- keeper in a similar institution. There he remained for five years, then resigned to become cashier of Colonel May's Bank at Rensselaer, Indiana. This position he held for several years. Severing his relations with the concern, he returned to the bank in Marion, Ohio, in which he had been formerly employed, and therewith remained until 1877, when he resigned his position and started in the fire insur- ance business. In the new venture, aided by the financial experience he had acquired in his long years of service in the banks, he became quite successful. He was well known throughout the community, and rapidly gained an extensive pat- ronage. In his business he represented all of the best insurance companies in the United States, and in 1890, after a long and uninterrupted career of useful endeavor, he retired, and was succeeded by his son, Hooper Franklin, who is now in charge of the business.
In 1856 Mr. Franklin wedded Harriet V. Beerbower, who departed this life in 1881. In 1882 he was united in marriage to Georgiana Wilson, daughter of Dr. John N. Wilson, a pioneer physician of Newark, Ohio. Dr. Wilson was born in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, while his wife, Sabra W. (Newton) Wilson, was a native of Massachusetts. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Franklin by the first marriage were the following children : Hooper and George Franklin, who are now conduct- ing their father's insurance business, and Florence Franklin, now the wife of W. H. Anderson. Mr. Franklin is a member of the Episcopal church.
JOHN H. WATKINS.
John H. Watkins, a substantial farmer of Newark township and who in many ways has rendered valuable service to the community, was born here November 7, 1850, a son of John and Helen (Daniels) Watkins, natives of Cardiganshire, North Wales, who were brought to the new world in childhood. Mr. Watkins was accompanied to this country by his brothers and for many years worked as a mill-stone cutter, but later took up farming, which he followed until he departed this life on January 1, 1860. His wife emigrated to this country
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with her parents, and after her marriage lived in this township with her husband until she passed away on December 27, 1850. Their family consisted of Morris, who resides. in Alexandria, St. Albans township; Mary A., who lives with her husband, Richard Beeny, in St. Louisville, Ohio; and John H., who was but seven weeks of age when his mother passed to her eternal rest. Upon her death Mr. Watkins remarried and had three children by his second wife.
When John H. Watkins was but a few weeks old he was placed in the home of Peter Holler, to whom he was bound until twenty-one years of age and under whose supervision he was reared and nurtured. Mr. Holler, being a good man, gave the child every possible advantage at his command, making it possible for him not only to regularly attend the common schools but also to pursue a course of study at Denison University. When Mr. Watkins reached the age of maturity he did not leave the home in which he had been reared, but remained with Mr. Holler and his wife, who had treated him with exceptional kindness, and out of consideration for them in their old days he took charge of the farm when they lost their son, and continued managing it and contributing to their comfort until they departed this life. Upon the death of Mr. and Mrs. Holler Mr. Watkins inherited the farm, which consists of seventy-five acres, on which he has since remained, devoting his time to raising general crops and to breeding stock.
In 1874 Mr. Watkins was united in marriage to Elizabeth J. English, a native of this township, where her birth occurred March 31, 1850, and a daughter of Nathaniel and Rachel (Helphrey) English, natives of this county, in which they lived all their days and reared a family of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins have one son, Guy, chief inspector of the telephone plant at Urbana. He wedded Ethel Barker, and they have two children, Nina E. and Guy Herbert. His polit- ical allegiance Mr. Watkins gives to the democratic party and has served as town- ship assessor and also as president of the board of education for several years. He is a man of excellent traits of character and through his industry and aggres- siveness has not only attained his own present prosperity but has contributed to the general improvement of the township in which he has so long resided.
GEORGE L. SWARTZ.
George L. Swartz, who is a worthy representative of the German element which has been instrumental in doing so much in agricultural lines for this and other states, owns and operates a large farm near Thornville, this county. His birth occurred in Licking county, December 25, 1856. His grandfather, John Swartz, a grape grower in Germany, came to this country at an early date, bring- ing with him a number of grapevines, and settled in Perry county, where for a number of years he operated an extensive vineyard. Among his children was Joseph Swartz, who was born in Lorraine, which was then a province of Germany, and was brought to this country by his parents when he was in his sixth year, locating with them in Perry county, where he was reared and united in marriage, subsequently removing to this county where he followed the occupation of farm- ing until his death, his remains having been interred in Mount Calvary cemetery,
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GEORGE L. SWARTZ
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at Newark. His religious convictions were on the side of Roman Catholicism and in politics he always gave his vote to the democratic party. A good man, favorably spoken of for his honesty, sobriety, and industry, he was well liked and respected by all who knew him. His wife was Lydia Trovinger, a native of Perry county, where they were married. She departed this life in Newark and was buried beside her husband in the Mount Calvary cemetery. She reared seven children, namely : John, deceased; Marion, who is in the grocery business at Newark; George L .; Sarah, deceased; Mary, deceased; Alice, wife of William Young, who is associated with the Consumers Brewery, of Newark, as bookkeeper; and Laura, who became the wife of W. J. Koos, bookkeeper for William Herdman & Company, of Columbus, Ohio.
George L. Swartz had the advantage of an excellent education. Having received his preliminary training in the district schools of Licking township, he subsequently spent two years in the schools of Newark, and had completed three years' study in St. Mary's College, at Dayton, Ohio, when his health failed, com- pelling him to return home, where he has since been engaged in farming. He owns three hundred acres of land, the entire tract being under cultivation and provided with a fine dwelling house and all necessary outbuildings, and here he engages in general farming and stock raising. He is in every sense a self-made man, the present prosperity with which he is surrounded being due to his unre- mitting energy, business ability and careful management, and particularly to the scientific study he gives to the various departments of agriculture.
On December 27, 1877, Mr. Swartz wedded Miss Rebecca B. Coffman, a native of this county, by whom he has six children, namely: Lulu, A. W., Susie, Carl, Mildred and Mary, all residing at home. The elder son operates one of his father's farms. Mr. Swartz votes the democratic ticket, the policies of that party appealing to him as fundamentally correct and wise, and although he does not want public office himself, yet, desirous of aiding his party to attain success, he is always willing and ready during campaigns to use his vote and influence on behalf of its candidates. His fellow townsmen elected him to office and for six years he has served efficiently as a trustee of the township. He belongs to St. Francis de Sales parish of Newark, and being a man who always endeavors to act in obedience to a high standard of morals, his character is above reproach and he is one of the township's representative sons.
WILLIAM HOLLER.
William Holler, who for many years has been identified with the agricultural interests of Newark township and who descends from an old Virginia family, the members of which followed farming in that state and came here at an early date, was born in Madison township, October 3, 1838, and, with the exception of few years, has spent his entire life here. His grandfathers spent their lives on farms in the vicinity of Newark. The paternal grandparents, Henry and Katharine (Helsley) Holler, were natives of Virginia and among their children was Henry Holler, Jr., the father of our subject, whose birth occurred in the Shenandoah
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valley of Virginia. When four years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Licking county and on attaining man's estate he wedded Miss Katharine Showman, a native of Maryland, who likewise came to this county with her par- ents at an early day. Her birth occurred on the farm on which the battle of Antietam took place and which was owned by her father, Jacob Showman. Her mother died of cholera in 1834. Henry Holler, Jr., departed this life in Newark in 1886, when he had attained the age of seventy-nine years, while his wife was called to her final rest at the age of sixty-seven years.
William Holler was one of eleven children, three of whom survive, one child, Hiram, having lost his life while serving with the First Iowa Cavalry during the Civil war. After acquiring his education in the district schools of his native township, Mr. Holler remained on the old home farm for a time and in 1854 removed with his parents to Newark township. On the 18th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with Captain David Thomas, and participated in all of the engagements of his regiment, includ- ing Richmond, Kentucky; Jackson, Mississippi; the siege of Vicksburg; Tupelo, Mississippi ; Spanish Fort, Alabama; and Nashville, Tennessee. In Richmond, Kentucky, he was taken prisoner, but was not detained long before being exchanged. Upon receiving his honorable discharge on August 14, 1865, after he had served throughout the entire war, he returned home and resumed the pursuit of agricul- ture, which he has since followed without intermission. His farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land and is provided with barns, outbuildings and machinery, with all conveniences required to carry on its cultivation by mod- ern methods, and in addition to producing general grain crops he has given con- siderable attention to raising stock. His residence, which is three miles north of the courthouse on the Mount Vernon road, is an elegant brick building, which was constructed in 1836 by General Thomas Wilson, who was commanding officer of the state militia, and in which he resided for a number of years. The grave of John Sparks, who was a guide and scout for the Lewis and Clark expedition, is on Mr. Holler's farm, marked by a thin sandstone slab and is looked upon by the citizens of the community as an old landmark.
On February 15, 1866, Mr. Holler wedded Mary Channell, who was born near Utica, this county, on March 8, 1842, and departed this life on December 4, 1904. after having passed all her days in Licking county. She was a daughter of Aaron Channell, who was captain of Company E, Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war and served from the year 1861 until 1864 and in June, of the latter year, lost his life in the battle of Cloyd Mountain, Virginia, of which state he was a native. Mr. Channell was among the early settlers of Licking county, to which he came with his parents when a lad. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his grandfather in the colonial army.
Mr. and Mrs. Holler have two sons: Edward, a farmer of Utica, this county ; and William, of Newark. In politics Mr. Holler has always given his support to the republican party because, after studiously deliberating upon the value of its principles, he long ago became convinced that they contained the secret of our nation's financial worth and are best suited to produce permanent prosperity. His religious convictions become apparent upon knowing that he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Newark, with which he has been affiliated for
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many years and of which he has always been a liberal supporter. He is a com- rade of Newark Lemert Post, No. 71, G. A. R. Mr. Holler is a man who is widely known throughout the county for his honesty and straightforwardness, and, as well, for his upright life, and stands in high respect among the citizens of the township.
ROBERT JOHN OWEN.
Robert John Owen, following the occupation of farming as a life work, was born May 31, 1844, on the farm which is now his home and which is pleasantly located on Burg street, about three miles north of Granville. He is a representa- tive of that valued class of Welsh-American citizens who have done so much toward developing and upbuilding this portion of the state. His parents, John R. and Ann (Jones) Owen, were both natives of the north of Wales, born in Montgomeryshire. The father's birth occurred in 1811, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day in 1816. John R. Owen was a young man of about twenty-one years when, in 1832, he crossed the Atlantic to New York. After working there for six years he returned to Wales and brought his parents and his future wife and her parents to the United States. He then worked for three years longer in New York and in 1841 came to Licking county, Ohio. In the mean- time he had carefully saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to purchase fifty acres of land and a horse and he traded his watch for a wagon. From time to time he added to his property as his financial resources increased until his holdings aggregated about five hundred acres. He had one hundred and seventy-five acres in the home place, one hundred and fifty-five acres adjoining, one hundred and forty-four acres in Newark township and twenty-two acres in Mckean township. His landed interests were the visible evidence of his life of well directed thrift, industry and careful management. He could justly be called a self-made man, deserving all the praise that that term implies. He had started out empty handed on coming to America and had worked in a dis- tillery in Waterville, New York, and also as a farm hand, but he was imbued with the laudable desire to achieve success and make a comfortable living for his family and as the years passed by his carefully directed labors gained for him a place among the substantial citizens of the county. After becoming a naturalized American citizen, he stanchly supported the republican party, believing its prin- ciples were most conducive to good government. He was also a member of the Welsh Calvanistic Methodist church and served as one of the elders at Granville. His life was upright and honorable, winning for him the favorable regard of all with whom he came in contact. He died in Newark township in 1882, while his wife reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years, dying in 1904. Their family numbered four children : Robert J., of this review; David, who is living in the same neighborhood ; Thomas D., who is represented elsewhere in this volume; and Dr. John J. Owen, a practicing physician of Philadelphia.
On the old home farm Robert J. Owen was reared and has always resided here with the exception of two or three years passed in Newark township. HIe owns and occupies the old home place of one hundred and seventy-five acres and
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devotes his energies to general farming and stock-raising. He knew that labor was the source of success and had been trained to habits of diligence, enterprise and business integrity. As the years have gone by he has carefully managed his farming interests and is now meeting with success in the cultivation of his crops and also in raising stock.
On the 17th of February, 1870, Mr. Owen was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Harries, who was born in Carmarthen, Wales, February 27, 1849, and during her infancy was brought to America by her parents, the Rev. David and Margaret (Lewis) Harries, also natives of Wales. In their family were seven daughters and one son. The father was a Presbyterian minister and his last charge was in Chicago, where he remained for eighteen years. During that time he was instrumental in erecting a beautiful house of worship known as Hebron church.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Owen have been born five children, of whom three are living: John Charles, who is with the Central Ohio Paper Company of Columbus; David Harries, teller in the Commercial National Bank of Columbus; and Robert Dwight, a student in the Ohio State University. Those deceased are Robert Wellelyn and Margaret Annette. The family attend the Presbyterian church of Granville, of which Mr. and Mrs. Owen are members, and Mr. Owen is an elder. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the principles of the republican party, but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty, preferring ever to give his undivided attention to his business interests, which, capably conducted, have brought him signal success.
PHILIP KRUMM.
Philip Krumm, a prosperous farmer of Lima township, whose family for many generations has followed the same pursuit in this part of the state, was born in Mifflin township, Franklin county, Ohio, March 31, 1842, a son of Martin and Mary Krumm, both of whom were natives of the fatherland. His father, accompanied by his second wife and seven children, after seventy-seven days voyage, landed in America in the year 1832, the journey being anything but agreeable, since in those days passengers were required to carry their own edibles and drinking water, and consequently they were obliged to suffer the pangs of hunger and the little food afforded them was obviously unsavory. In all he had fourteen sons and four daughters, seven sons and three daughters being by his second wife, and of these four sons and one daughter survive and a half brother is also living. Of his four sons three, Joseph, Harmon and Philip, were in the one hundred days' service during the Civil war, and the fourth, Louis, served three years in the Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. John and Gott- leib, half brothers, were among the "forty-niners" who during the gold excitement went to California where they successfully followed mining for a number of years. The elder Mr. Krumm departed this life in Franklin county, Ohio, in the year 1864, when seventy-seven years of age, and his wife survived him by twenty-five years, passing away March 2, 1889.
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