Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, Part 38

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

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In 1902 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Cora Simpson, a daugh- ter of the late Thomas Simpson, a native of England, who came to Newark and here established the business which now bears his name. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both widely and favorably known in this part of the state, and their home is the center of a cultured society circle. He is a most enterprising business man, alert and energetic, conducting his affairs in keeping with the modern busi- ness spirit, and brooking no obstacle that can be overcome by determined and honorable effort. His labors have brought him gratifying success, and as the head of the Simpson Heater Company he is contributing as well to the material progress and upbuilding of Newark.

CHARLES AARON PENCE.

Charles Aaron Pence has been spoken of as the most popular man in the town of Hebron. This is due to the fact that in the midst of a very busy life he has always found time for those courtesies which are so agreeable to the recipient from the fact that they are the external indication of a kindly spirit and unfeigned interest. Mr. Pence occupies a position in the foremost rank of business men, con- trolling extensive and important interests. Tireless energy, keen perception and a genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time, joined to everyday common sense, are his chief characteristics and have constituted the basis of his prosperity. Thus well known as a prominent, prosperous and popular citizen of Hebron, his history cannot fail to prove of great interest to many of our readers.

Mr. Pence was born March 10, 1871, on a farm two and a half miles north of Hebron in Union township. His father was Samuel Aaron Pence, his grandfather, Aaron Pence, and his great-grandfather, David Pence. The last named was a native of Virginia and in 1803 became a resident of Fairfield county, Ohio, where

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he died. There he reared a large family and several of his children almost reached the century mark. His son, Aaron Pence, was born in Shenandoah county, Vir- ginia, in 1800 and therefore was only about three years of age when brought by his parents to Ohio, the family home being established at Pleasantville. They were about ten days in making the trip from Zanesville, Ohio, to their objective point in Fairfield county, for no roads had been laid out and they had to cut their way through the forest. David Pence purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at that time but afterward made additional purchases. For three or four weeks the family continued to live in the moving wagon, at the end of which time David Pence had completed a little cabin home. Indians were far more numerous in the state than the white settlers, for only here and there, principally along the banks of the rivers, had settlement been made. Wild animals were numerous and wild game of all kinds was to be had in abundance. The little homes were heated by fireplaces, over which hung the kettle suspended from the crane. It was amid such pioneer surroundings that Aaron Pence, the grandfather of our subject, was reared and as his years increased he aided more and more largely in the arduous task of developing a new farm. About 1835 he came to Licking county and built the Taylor barn on the Newark and Hebron road. He established his home upon a farm on the Granville road, two and a half miles north of Hebron, and there he continued to spend his remaining days, passing away at the age of eighty-four and a half years. He possessed much natural mechanical ingenuity, could cut stone, lay brick, do carpenter work, hew logs, make coffins and in fact do almost anything in a mechanical line. These qualities were very essential in the pioneers who, remote from the older centers of civilization, had to depend entirely upon their own labors for all that they wished done, as it was almost impossible in those days to secure help, for every one was intent upon the task of establishing a home and developing a place for himself. In his early manhood Aaron Pence wedded Maria Hand, who was born in Union township on the Granville and Hebron road, on a farm of one hundred and forty acres, which later became the home and property of her husband. She died on this farm in 1879 at the age of sixty-five years. She was a daughter of Samuel and Charlotte Hand, natives of Virginia, who in 1805 arrived in Licking county and established their home on the farm where Samuel Aaron Pence now resides. Two years prior to this time Samuel Hand had visited the county and from the government had purchased about eleven hundred acres of land, including the seventy-acre tract which is now the property of Samuel A. Pence and which has never passed out of possession of the family. Samuel Hand cleared a large portion of his extensive purchase and he and his family shared in all of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. They had driven across the country with horse teams and a pony and after reaching their destination their wagon afforded them shelter for about three months. In the meantime Mr. Hand had hewed logs and built a cabin. His possessions consisted of little more than two sheep, two hogs, three hens and one rooster, which he had brought with him. The woods were so dense that they had to clear a space large enough on which to build the cabin and in this work Mr. Hand was assisted by a neighbor, Mr. Lich- litner. Other residents of the neighborhood were Mr. Pratt, Mr. Stone and Mr. Taylor, who also aided in building the cabin. The nearest neighbor was two miles away and the nearest market and postoffice were at Zanesville, twenty-five miles distant. There was plenty game of all kinds and the red men were numerous in

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the neighborhood. At one time there were about five hundred Indians encamped near the Hand home, owing to the fact that there was a fine spring on his place from which they secured water. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hand were born eight chil- dren : Samuel, James, William, Stephen, John, Maria, Lottie Ann and Eliza.

Samuel Aaron Pence, father of Charles Aaron Pence, was born near Pleasant- ville, Fairfield county, Ohio, October 12, 1837, and when he was three years of age his parents removed to the farm upon which he has since resided, it having now been his home for almost seventy years. It is a tract of seventy acres on the Gran- ville road, two and a half miles north of Hebron. In addition to agricultural pursuits Samuel A. Pence joined Ambrose Smith in conducting a general mer- cantile store in Hebron for a year and a half but farming has been his real life work and in the cultivation of his fields he has met with good success. In politics he has been a life-long democrat, casting his first presidential vote for James Buchanan. He has served as both school and road officer and has always been active and influential in affairs of the community, for it is well known that he has always labored for matters of progress and improvement. In 1868 he wedded Mary Ashton, who was born in Granville, Ohio, October 14, 1836, and has always resided in this county. Her parents, Joseph and Harriet (Larimore) Ashton, were natives of Virginia and came to Licking county with their respective parents in pioneer times. The death of Mr. Ashton occurred in 1854 when he was forty-five years of age, while Mrs. Ashton long survived and died June 23, 1894, at the age of eighty-five years, eight months and thirteen days. Their family numbered the following children, namely : Louisa; Harrison; Mrs. Mary Pence; Stephen ; Har- riet ; Joseph ; Frances and Frederick, twins; and Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Pence now reside north of Hebron on the old home place, which has been in possession of representatives of the name since it was secured as a claim from the government.

Charles Aaron l'ence, an only child, spent the first seven years of his life on the farm where his birth occurred. At the end of that time his grandmother l'ence died and his parents removed a quarter of a mile south, where they are now living. Upon that place Charles A. Pence continued to make his home until May, 1902. when he came to Hebron. He had for some years before, however, been identified with commercial interests in the county. In 1891 he began business as a dealer in hay and grain and for over seventeen years extensively and successfully carried on operations alone. On the expiration of that period he admitted C. A. Swisher to a partnership under the firm style of Pence & Swisher and in 1908 they handled over two thousand carloads of hay and grain, buying all over the county and from other dealers. Their shipments in the past year were valued at over two hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars. They conduct the most extensive business of the kind in this portion of the state and make a specialty of dealing in hay. They also conduct a branch business at Millersport, Ohio, where they have an elevator and warerooms. They have an elevator, warerooms and two large hay barns in Hebron, furnishing a capacity for the storage of two hundred carloads of hay, while their elevator has a capacity of about ten thousand bushels of grain. Mr. Pence began baling hay seventeen years ago and has devoted his time and attention to his hay and grain business since. While the extent and importance of their trade relations in this connection place them in a foremost position in the ranks of the leading and successful business men of the county, Mr. Pence is also known in

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other associations. He is particularly prominent as a representative of financial interests, having been the founder and organizer of the Hebron Bank' Company in 1903, since which time he has acted as its president. His business interests have enjoyed gradual growth and development until they have reached mammoth pro- portions, constituting a source of large profit.

On the 24th of May, 1891, Mr. Pence was married to Miss Anna Warden, a native of this township and a daughter of Charles and Lillian (Granger) Warden, both of whom reside in Granville township. The former is a son of Hiram Warden, of Newark. Mr. and Mrs. Pence have a daughter, Ruth R. The parents are members of the Licking Baptist church and Mr. Pence is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Hebron Lodge, No. 116, A. F. & A. M., to the Chapter, Coun- cil and Commandery at Newark and to Scioto Consistory at Columbus, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Mystic Shrine. He votes with the democracy and for the past three years has been president of the village council of Hebron. He is interested in all that pertains to the general welfare and opposed to everything that indicates a maladministration of public affairs. His life has been indeed a busy and useful one and his various interests have brought him into important relations with the public. Moreover he deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, for when he started out in life on his own account his cash capital consisted of but twenty dollars. He bought a hay press for two hundred and fifty dollars, going in debt for all of it. It was the first full circle horse press in this part of the county. In those days he would receive from two to three dollars per ton for baling hay. When he bought he had to buy where he could get credit until he got a start. Though the beginning was difficult, he was careful in his business, made judicious investments and therefore suffered no losses. As time passed prosperity attended him and he now ranks among the most prominent business men of this part of the state. In all that he does he is found reliable and upright and through his close conformity to a high standard of commercial ethics enjoys the fullest confidence and respect of his fellowmen. Moreover he is a genial, cordial, courteous gentleman and these qualities have rendered him popular. It is safe to say that no man in the community has more warm and stalwart friends than has Charles A. Pence, now an honored representative of one of the prominent pioneer families of the county.

REES R. JONES.

Rees R. Jones, through the faithful performance of each day's duty and the improvement of opportunity, has made steady progress in the business world, and has gained that measure of success which always follows honorable effort intelli- gently applied. His entire life has been passed in Licking county, and that his record has ever been a commendable one is indicated by the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time. His birth occurred in Mary Ann township on the 15th of July, 1856. His father, John R. Jones, came from the little country of Wales, which has furnished to America a fearless, sturdy band of citizens who have been charac-

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terized by reliability in business affairs and loyalty in citizenship. Landing in the United States in June, 1844, he came by canal boat to Newark, and for three years lived in the city, after which he took up his abode upon a tract of land in Mary Ann township and began farming. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the cause of his adopted country, joining the Seventy-sixth Ohio Infantry. He was captured while on active duty and, while still at the front, became ill with typhoid fever and died in the service, when but forty-two years of age. Ere leav- ing his native land he had married Rachel Davis, also a native of Wales, and unto them were born six children, of whom the eldest and youngest are now deceased.

Rees R. Jones pursued his education in the country schools, but his opportu- nities in that direction were somewhat limited, owing to the fact of his father's early death, which made it necessary that he and his brothers aid in carrying on the home farm. His youth was a period of carnest and unremitting toil, as he carried on the task of plowing, planting and harvesting and the innumerable duties which constitute the life of the agriculturist. He continued to engage in farm work until twenty-two years of age, when he came to Newark and began clerking in a clothing store. That he was diligent and reliable is indicated in the fact that he remained in the service of D. Ambach for seven years. In the meantime he carefully saved his earnings, and when he felt that his experience and capital justified his embarkation in business on his own account he established a grocery store, which he conducted for two years. On the expiration of that period he became engaged in the clothing business with John H. Moore, but after eighteen months withdrew from that line to accept the appointment of superintendent of the county infirmary. He filled the position for four years and again came to Newark, where he engaged in the coal business. About that time he was elected infirmary director and acted in that capacity for three years. He then turned his attention to real estate and fire insurance, in which lines he still continues, writing a large amount of insurance annually, while at the same time he negotiates many important realty transfers. He also derives a substantial income from a good farm of one hundred and seven acres which he owns in Union township. In Octo- ber, 1887, Mr. Jones was married to Miss K. E. Turney, a native of Franklin county, and they have one daughter now living, Rachel Louise, but lost three chil- dren in infancy. Mr. Jones holds membership relations with the Modern Wood- men, the Eagles and the Maccabees. He has always given his political support to the democratic party and has served as city treasurer and also as alderman-at-large. His official duties have ever been discharged with promptness and fidelity, and in all of life's relations he has commanded the respect of his fellowmen by reason of the fact that he has held to high standards in business and has been most loyal to the ties of friendship and citizenship.

FREDERICK TYLER.

Frederick Tyler, whose high principles, strict integrity and business ability made him one of the foremost citizens of Monroe township, Licking county, was born in Gloucestershire, England, March 19, 1850, a son of Wickham N. and Louisa (Hayes) Tyler. The mother died in England and the father afterward

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FREDERICK TYLER

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came to the new world. The son acquired his education in the parish schools of his native country and in 1870 joined his father who two years before had arrived in the United States. The family home was established in Granville, Ohio, where they remained for a short time and then removed to Johnstown. Wickham N. Tyler was a harness maker by trade and for many years engaged continuously in business in Johnstown.

His son, Frederick Tyler, learned the trade with his father and was engaged in the business in Johnstown for a quarter of a century, establishing a reputation for superior goods and absolutely fair dealing. As a tribute to the honesty of the people of the locality he stated that although doing a very large credit business he practically never lost a dollar by bad accounts. This statement at the same time indicates something of the careful business methods of Mr. Tyler and the fact that his own fair dealing brought a return in kind from his patrons. He figured prominently for twenty-five years in the commercial circles of Johnstown and then retired from merchandising to engage in farming and stock-raising. He also conducted a dairy for about twenty years and at the time of his death was the owner of an excellent and well equipped farm in Monroe township.

On the 29th of April, 1873, Mr. Tyler was united in marriage to Miss Jane Peck, a daughter of Israel H. and Violet (Smith) Peck. They were among the pioneer families of the county, the Pecks coming to Licking county from Nova Scotia in 1815, at which time they purchased land near Johnstown which still remains in possession of their direct descendants. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler became the parents of seven children : Clara M., now the wife of Clyde Moore Ross, cashier of the Citizens Bank; Fannie, the wife of Forest B. Lillie, of Guthrie, Oklahoma; Bessie, the wife of Dr. L. L. Cramer; Blanche, who is the wife of William Harding; Fred H .; John; and Joseph. The sons are still at home on the farm.

In his political views Mr. Tyler was a stalwart republican and took a lively interest in the questions of local and national government. He was a member of the town council and of the board of education for a number of years. He was a charter member of White Cross Lodge, No. 308, K. P., and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The death of Mr. Tyler occurred January 10, 1909. One of the local papers, in speaking of his demise, said: "Sadness again spread over our city and community when it was learned that Frederick Tyler, one of our most highly respected and noble citizens, had died. Mr. Tyler was possessed with a strong memory, was well read in American and English literature, and his noble traits of character and ability caused even the most skilled. in business life to court his counsel and advice. His, indeed, has been a useful life, his force of character and prudent counsel have guarded many against the dangers that line the path of life. All through life he was a man of fixed principles and of the strictest integrity, a man whose word was never doubted or honor questioned,-true to himself, true to his loved ones and true to his God. Beautiful as the slow droop- ing mellow autumn of a rich glorious summer, nature has fulfilled her work and he is followed to the grave with a blessing, beloved by all. His toils are ended, the warfare finished, his battle won, his crown of glory gained. Sweet is the eternal rest to the way-worn and weary. He was a most companionable man and his deep knowledge of current events always made him a welcome visitor. As a

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citizen he was ever deeply interested in all that would tend to the welfare of our community and was always found on the right side. He was honest, honorable and conscientious in all his dealings with his fellowmen. As a husband and father he was affectionate and kind, finding his greatest pleasure in his home with 'wife and bairns.' His love of the beautiful in nature was a passion and the green fields, the bright sunshine, the blue sky, the floating clouds, the wayside flower, the waving fields of grain, the sweet song of the birds spoke a language to him that but few comprehend."

CHARLES W. VAN TASSELL.

Charles W. Van Tassel], who is well known throughout Newark township as a substantial farmer and valuable citizen, was born, July 30, 1861, in Richland township, Fairfield county, Ohio, where he resided until the year 1888, when he located in Licking county and hired out as a farm hand and since that time, through persevering efforts and careful management, has succeeded in amassing sufficient means with which to purchase the farm he now owns and cultivates. His parents, Andrew and Mary (Layman) Van Tassell, were natives of this state and in the year 1890 came to this county, where he followed shoemaking in con- nection with farming and where both departed this life, after rearing three sons and six daughters, Charles W. being the oldest child.

During his boyhood days Charles W. Van Tassell worked on his father's farm during the summer months and in the winter season attended the district schools, thus acquiring his education. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-seven years of age, at which time he settled in this county, where he secured employment on a farm and for a period of four years worked for wages. After his marriage in the year 1893 he rented a farm of his mother-in- law, Mrs. John T. Evans, on which he remained actively engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, also paying some attention to stock-raising until five years ago. IIe then purchased his present farm, containing sixty-two acres, located on Mount Vernon road, two miles north of the courthouse, the property being highly improved and equipped with a comfortable residence, together with a capacious barn, out- buildings and all the machinery requisite to successfully carry on his work. Mr. Van Tassell raises a great deal of hay, together with various grain crops, and gives some attention to stock-breeding and has some fine specimens of hogs and cattle.

IIis wife, Margaret E. (Evans) Van Tassell, who was born in this township in 1863, was a daughter of John T. and Ann (Williams) Evans, natives of South Wales. Mr. Evans was born in Cardiganshire, December 22, 1817, and was one of nine children. In company with his parents, John and Sarah Evans, he came to Licking county in the year 1833, settling in Sharon Valley, where he departed this life on September 3, 1882. He followed farming all his life and owned one hundred and sixty-eight acres in Licking county and two hundred acres in Fairfield county. all of which he kept under cultivation. He made a specialty of breeding shorthorn cattle in connection with producing a general line of crops. He was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation during his younger

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life, giving it up, however, to devote his time to agriculture. Mr. Evans was a republican in politics, and belonged to the Welsh Calvanistic Methodist church, in which he was an active worker, especially along temperance lines. John T. Evans married Ann Williams, who was born February 12, 1823, and came here in August, 1832, with her parents, William and Sarah Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Evans reared the following children: William, Sarah L. and Thomas, all of whom are deceased; Anna J., who wedded Rev. D. A. Evans, of Wayland, Ohio; Elenor, deceased, who was the wife of M. R. Jones; Morgan H., of Delphos, Iowa; William A., deceased; Jemima E., who wedded Glenn Wallace, of Utica, Ohio; Mary H. and Alice, deceased; and Margaret E.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Tassell are the parents of : Oscar K., Frances Gladys and Mary Ann. In politics Mr. Van Tassell has always been affiliated with the demo- cratic party, the principles of which he has thoroughly studied and considers in every respect adequate to subserve the highest interests of the country and effect its financial prosperity and permanent peace. Consequently he is ever ready to do all he can to assist the candidates of the party in securing the offices they seck. He has served the township in a number of useful offices and is now a member of the school board. Among the social organizations with which he is connected is the Tribe of Ben Hur. He is a member of the Plymouth Congregational church of Newark, in which he is an active worker, and is a man of excellent traits of character, endeavoring always to live an exemplary life.

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Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio, Part 38

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