USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 47
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save for brief absences and he is one of its self-made men, who deserves all of the praise which that term implies. There are comparatively few who have to start out as he did when but ten years of age, but he early resolved to win for himself an honorable place in the business world and his energy and industry are carrying him into important commercial relations.
HON. WILLIAM A. ASHBROOK.
In the field of political and commercial activity Hon. William A. Ashbrook has won distinction. He is now for the second term representing the seventeenth Ohio district in congress and is equally well known in banking and other business circles. He was born on a farm near Johnstown, July 1, 1867, and is a son of William and Lucy Ashbrook, who were pioneer residents of Monroe township. In the common schools he acquired his education and with characteristic energy has attained his present high position in the industrial, commercial and political world. Before he was eighteen years of age he began the publication of the Johns- town Independent and has since remained at the head of this paper which is now one of the best country journals of the state. It is devoted to the dissemination of general and local interests, is well edited and presents a most neat and attractive appearance, while its increasing circulation makes it an excellent advertising medium. His ability and prominence as a newspaper man has been recognized by the National Editorial Association which elected him secretary. His efforts and activity have been extended to various other lines and he is now the secretary of the Johnstown Building & Loan Association, one of the strongest financial insti- tutions of its kind in the state. He is likewise cashier of the Citizens Bank of Johnstown, besides being connected in an official way with several banking insti- tutions of Licking county.
Mr. Ashbrook has long been active in political and state affairs and is a stal- wart champion of the democracy. He served as postmaster of Johnstown during the first Cleveland administration but never actively entered political life until 1905, when he was nominated for representative from Licking county in the Ohio legislature. The ensuing election indicated his personal popularity and the confi- dence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen for he led the ticket by several hun- dred votes. During his term as representative, after a three days' convention he was nominated for the sixtieth congress at New Philadelphia June 8, 1906, on the two hundred and seventy-seventh ballot. At the election he received nineteen thousand eight hundred and ninety-two votes against nineteen thousand, four hundred and seventy-seven cast for M. L. Smyser, his republican opponent. He resigned his seat in the Ohio assembly to accept congressional honors and his record in the national law making body during his first term was such that at the convention of his party in 1908 he was recalled by reelection and at the ensuing election held on the 3d of November defeated his opponent by a unanimous plu- rality of seven thousand five hundred and seventy-two votes, carrying his own county by the largest majority ever given any candidate. This is at once indic- ative of the commendation which the public has for his official work and also plainly evidences his personal popularity.
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Mr. Ashbrook was married to Miss Jennie B. Wilson, a member of a promi- nent pioneer family of Licking county, the wedding being celebrated on the 24th of December, 1889. At a recent date Mr. and Mrs. Ashbrook were with the con- gressional party that went to Panama to inspect the canal. They are prominent socially and Mr. Ashbrook belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Uniformed Rank, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, while in Masonry he has taken the Knight Templar and the Scottish Rite degrees and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine and of the Eastern Star. Such, in brief, is the life history of Hon. William A. Ashbrook, a man hardly yet in his prime, and his friends at home and abroad predict for him still higher honors in the political life of the state and nation. He is a democrat in politics but men of all parties delight to do him honor. He is held in the highest regard both in Columbus and in Washington, but in his home county has that warm personal friendship which arises from genuine appreciation of personal qualities.
DANIEL THOMAS.
Daniel Thomas, who is now living retired in Newark, was born in South Wales on the 22d of February, 1832. His parents, David and Mary Thomas, were also natives of that country and there passed away. Their family numbered eleven chil- dren, only two of whom survive, namely: Daniel, of this review ; and Griffith, who resides near Red Oak, Iowa.
Daniel Thomas acquired his education in the schools of his native land and in 1853 crossed the briny deep to the United States, taking up his abode in Licking county, Ohio. Throughout his entire business career he followed the plasterer's trade, being successfully connected with that line of activity until 1893, when he retired from active life and has since enjoyed the fruits of his former toil in well earned rest. Subsequent to his marriage, which was celebrated in 1856, he lived in Iowa for two years but on the expiration of that period returned to Newark, which has since remained his place of residence. He owns two store buildings and eight attractive and commodious residences in the city of Newark and is widely recognized as one of the substantial and respected citizens of the county. He is a self-made man, deserving of much credit for what he has accomplished in the business world, for though he came to the new world dependent upon his own re- sources for a livelihood, he has through his close attention, careful management and untiring industry, gained a success which now enables him to spend his re- maining days amid all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
In 1856 Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Evans, also a native of Wales, who accompanied her mother on her emigration to the new world in 1841.
Mr. Thomas gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has ever taken an active and helpful interest in the local work of the organization, having served for four years as a member of the city council. For more than fifty years he has been a Sunday school teacher in the Congregational church, of which his
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wife is also a devoted member. Having made his home in this county for more than a half century, he is largely familiar with its annals from a pioneer period down to the present time and is moreover well known and highly esteemed as one of the venerable and worthy residents here.
WILLIAM D. BELL.
William D. Bell, an enterprising and successful agriculturist, was born in Newton township, Licking county, Ohio, on the 28th of November, 1877, his parents being Meeker and Ellen (Donly) Bell, who were also natives of this county. The father passed away in May, 1908, having for two decades survived his wife, who was called to her final rest in 1888. Unto this worthy couple were born eight children, namely : Mary, who is deceased; Emma, a resident of Newark; Carrie, the wife of Charles Nash, of Newton township; Dell, the wife of George McClain, of Licking county ; William D., of this review ; John and Ora, both of whom make their home in Newark; and one who died in infancy.
William D. Bell acquired his education in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. Subsequently he operated a rented farm for four or five years, on the expiration of which period he purchased a farm of one hundred and thirteen and a half acres in Newton town- ship, in the cultivation of which he has been successfully engaged to the present time. He has placed many substantial improvements on the property and brought the fields into a state of rich fertility, so that he annually harvests good crops and derives therefrom a gratifying income.
September 20, 1900, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Miss Seba Keller, a native of Licking county and a daughter of Jacob Keller, who is mentioned on another page of this work. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children : Margaret, Leslie W. and Donald D.
In his political views Mr. Bell is a democrat, while his religious faith is in- dicated by his membership in the Congregational church, with which his wife is also identified. Although still a young man, he has already won a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity in his farming operations and both he and his wife are widely and favorably known throughout this county, where they have spent their entire lives.
J. E. HOUSE.
J. E. House, who owns and operates an excellent farm in Licking township. and is one of its worthy and enterprising citizens, was born on the tract of land he now cultivates, February 24, 18:3, his grandfather, John House. having come to this district at an early date with his family. among whom was William. father of the subject of this review, a native of Pennsylvania, who was then but two years of age. Settling on a tract of land which was then in a primitive condition he
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cleared and put it in condition for cultivation and there erected a log cabin which was their first dwelling. There William House was reared and subsequently was united in marriage to Effie Naylor, a native of Jefferson county, this state, who still survives, residing with her son, J. E. House, while her husband, who departed this life in 1897, was laid to rest in the Hebron cemetery in Union township. He was a man well thought of throughout this vicinity, and during his career his great energy and enterprise enabled him to so prosper that at the time of his death he owned two hundred and eighty-six acres of arable land. In politics he was a republican, his influence having been felt in local affairs inasmuch as he was a great advocate of improvements. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. In his family were three children, namely: Emma, wife of Oscar Pennington; Cora, who resides with her brother; and J. E.
On his father's farm J. E. House was reared and there he acquired his knowl- edge of the art of husbandry, and during his boyhood days obtained his education in the district schools. After completing his studies he devoted his entire time to the pursuit of agriculture on the home farm, where he has since resided. He owns one hundred and five acres of land, the soil of which is in excellent condition for raising general crops, and the premises being provided with all the appurtenances necessary to pursue agriculture, his farm is one of the most desirable in the town- ship. Mr. House has been quite successful in raising general crops such as wheat, oats and corn, and also in breeding stock, which he carries on on a small scale. His home is one of the fine country residences.
On the 23d of December, 1896, Mr. House wedded Miss Nellie Gray, a native of this county, by whom he has had four children, namely: William, John Benton, Pearl and Harold. The principles of the republican party have always appealed to Mr. House as worthy of his support, and at general elections he regularly casts his vote for its candidates. IIc attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member, and an energetic worker. Mr. House is a young man, and the aggressive spirit which he has thus far evidenced has already greatly added to his prosperity. Being a man of exceptional energy his enterprise will doubtless open up for him further opportunities so that he shall be able to be of even greater worth to the community than he is at present. His conduct is such as to merit the respect of all who know him, and being straightforward in his business trans- actions he is considered one of the township's most reliable citizens.
DAVID C. BROOKS.
David C. Brooks, who for many years was a noted educator in this state and who has rendered noble service as a lay preacher but is now engaged in agricultural pursuits in Liberty township, Licking county, where his ancestors have pursued the same occupation for more than a century, is a native son of this township, his birth having here occurred September 16, 1836. His parents were David and Jane (Butler) Brooks, his mother a native of Mckean township and his father of the state of Maine. David Brooks came to this county in 1818 and two years later settled in Liberty township, where he actively engaged in the pursuits of agricul-
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ture and stock-raising until he departed this life in November, 1896, having sur- vived his wife seven years. He was a man of considerable prominence throughout the community and, owing to his enterprising spirit and excellent qualities, he was esteemed by all who knew him, so that his memory will long linger among the residents of this county as that of a useful and noble man.
In the general routine of his father's farm David C. Brooks spent his boyhood days and in the meantime attended the district schools, where he pursued the course of study taught there. He next entered Hartford Academy and, upon being graduated from that institution, was matriculated as a student in Denison Univer- sity, at Granville, where he was graduated when twenty years of age. Immediately afterward he engaged in teaching, which profession he followed until he was forty- five years of age. In the year 1864 he moved to Hancock county and was made superintendent of schools at Vanlue, at the same time engaging in general mer- chandising. Returning to Alexandria, this county, in the year 1865, he became superintendent of schools, which position he held for a period of two years, at the expiration of which time he relinquished the duties of that profession and returned to his farm in Liberty township, where he now resides. He was considered one of the most efficient teachers in the county and during his incumbency as superintend- ent of the several schools over which he presided he won great popularity for his learning and at the same time for his executive ability. Mr. Brooks, since resort- ing to agriculture, has been as successful in this occupation as he was as an edu- cator. In connection with general farming and stock-raising he still to some ex- tent engages in teaching, teaching private pupils when called upon by the residents of the community. His studious habits have led him to delve deeply into the literature pertaining to farming and, consequently, he has infused many novel and progressive ideas into his work, which have enabled him to follow agriculture by the most modern principles. His farm is well improved and under a high state of cultivation and, having made a profound study of the nature of the soils and of the adaptation as well of the rotation of crops, he is one of the most successful agri- culturists in this section of the country, deriving from the ground the maximum yield per acre for the production of hay and the various cereals.
On October 23, 1862, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Miller, daughter of John and Nancy (Sommerville) Miller, their families being of prominence in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are parents of six children, namely : Ooloos; Nina May, who became the wife of William A. Rusler; Jennie L., the widow of Edward Bishop ; J. Miller; Willoughby D .; and Leota E.
Mr. Brooks has always taken a great interest in the Grange, having been mas- ter of that organization in Alexandria and also the organizer of the seventeen granges in this county. His studious habits and wide knowledge have enabled him to be of great benefit to farmers and he has introduced many new features into the various departments of that occupation. He is one of the most highly respected men in the county and as an evidence of the great confidence in which he is held. he has been chosen to serve in every office of the township except that of constable and is now officiating as justice of the peace, having been performing the duties of that position for the past twelve years. Until the year 1896 he gave his political allegiance to the republican party but since that time has broken away from par- tisanship and now takes the stand of an independent, asserting his right during elections of casting his vote and using his influence towards the election of candi-
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dates whom in his judgment he considers best qualified to promote the interests of the commonwealth. He is a stanch advocate of general public improvements, particularly of good roads. He has always been an advocate of an excellent school system, and has been instrumental in doing much toward bringing the schools of this country up to the required standard and keeping them in line with the progress of the times.
In church work Mr. Brooks is equally as active and enthusiastic as he is in political affairs. Although he was never ordained as a minister of the gospel, yet, his noble character and solicitation to do all he can for the moral and spiritual uplift of the community and to spread the glad tidings of the gospel, in which he finds the only hope of mankind and the restoration of society, has placed himself before the world as a minister and he has done much good in performing the duties of that office in many of the churches scattered throughout this and adjoining counties. He is a Wesleyan Methodist in religious faith and has always been an energetic worker both in the church and Sunday school. He is now a member of the board of trustees of the Congregational church at Alexandria and for years was superintendent of the Sunday school of that organization. Mr. Brooks is a highly educated man and one of refinement and culture and is known within a wide radius as one of the most valued representatives of the county.
ALLEN BARB.
Allen Barb, who owns a fine farm on the Hebron road in Etna township, where he makes a specialty of the dairy business, was born where he now resides October 23, 1863, and over a century ago when this part of Licking county was a vast forest, having in it scarcely an acre of developed land, his great-grand- parents came from Virginia, settling in Rushville, Fairfield county, with their family. Among their sons was Bathuel Barb, who there wedded Elizabeth Stur- geon, with whom he subsequently removed to a farm situated one and a half miles east of that on which his grandson Alva Barb resides, and there they spent their remaining days. In their family were four children, namely: Robert, Allen, Alva, and Hester Jane. In this part of the country the maternal grandfather of Allen Barb also settled and bore the reputation of being the most powerful man physically in this part of the state, holding the record for being able to lift a full barrel of whiskey as high as his head and thus imbibing of its contents.
Robert Barb, father of the subject of this review, was born in Rushville, Fair- field county, September 5, 1835, and spent a great deal of his time in this town- ship where he owned an eighty-acre farm, also possessing a farm containing one hundred acres in Fairfield county and another embracing twenty acres in Truro township, Franklin county, and after a useful career devoted to agriculture he departed this life March 9, 1906, in Reynoldsburg, in which place he had been living in retirement. His wife, Mary Ann Harmon, is a native of Etna township, where her birth occurred in July, 1838, and a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Myers) Harmon, natives of Maryland who with their parents settled in Lancas- ter, Fairfield county, this state, where they were united in marriage. Mr. Har-
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mon, who later removed to Etna township, where he cleared and cultivated a farm, passed away here in 1859, when in his sixtieth year. They reared a family of seven children : Orphie, Jacob, John, Sarah, Mary Ann, James Charles and Jane. To Mr. and Mrs. Barb were born : Jane, wife of M. D. Brock, of Summit Station ; Allen; Harry, a resident of Fairfield county; and Corrie, who lives in Rey- noldsburg.
On his father's farm in this township Allen Barb spent his boyhood days and while assisting in the duties of the fields also attended the district schools, where he acquired his education. In 1878 he removed with his parents to their farm in Truro township, Franklin county, where he remained for ten years, at the ter- mination of that time returning to his present place where he has since resided, cultivating one hundred and sixty acres of land located on the Hebron road, and here in connection with general farming he makes a specialty of dairying. This farm has always been in possession of the family and is bounded on the south by Fairfield county and on the west by Franklin county and, having had many years of careful attention it is in excellent condition and is one of the finest for the production of general crops in this part of the county.
In 1887 Mr. Barb wedded Elizabeth Bender, a native of Franklin county, where she was born September 15, 1866, and a daughter of Lewis and Helen (Ruppert) Bender, natives of Germany, both of whom passed away in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Barb have eight children: Frances, deceased; Eva; Lewis; Rob- ert; Hazel, deceased ; Lloyd, deceased; Ruth and Lawrence. Politically Mr. Barb is a strong prohibitionist and, believing that the prosperity of the country is more or less dependent upon the health and habits of its citizens and that the liquor traffic is detrimental and at the same time the arch degrader of morals, he stands on the side of those who are opposed to the manufacture and sale of intox- icants and, believing that the prohibition party must finally win, inasmuch as it is fundamentally right, he always votes that ticket and as far as possible uses his influence in the community to induce the citizens to espouse and advance its senti- ments. He is greatly interested in the moral welfare of the neighborhood and, being upright in all his dealings and one who upholds all measures designed for the public good, he merits the reputation of being one of the township's most worthy citizens.
GEORGE W. VAN FOSSEN.
One of the venerable and honored citizens of Monroe township is George W. Van Fossen, who is now past the eighty-seventh milestone on life's journey. He was born October 11, 1821, in Bennington township, Licking county, and is there- fore one of the oldest native sons living in this part of the state. Great changes have occurred within his memory. In his boyhood days the homes of the settlers were largely small log cabins scattered here and there in the midst of the dense forest, for the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun. His parents, Jesse and Catherine (Greiner) Van Fossen, came to Licking county in 1811 from Augusta county, Virginia, and settled in Burlington township. All
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GEORGE W. VAN FOSSEN
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around them was the green woods and there were still many evidences of Indian occupancy in this part of the state. Deer and many kinds of lesser game were to be had in abundance and there were other evidences of frontier life here. Many of the now populous and enterprising and prosperous cities had not then been founded nor had the county organizations in many districts been effected. The Van Fossens resolutely took up the task of establishing a home on the frontier and became factors in the pioneer development of this part of the state. They had been married in Virginia, September 11, 1807, and two children were born unto them ere their removal to Ohio. George W. Van Fossen was the seventh in a family of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters. Both parents have long since passed away, but during their life of activity they left the stamp of their individuality for good upon the community. The father was one of the first to begin clearing the land and in course of time became one of the large land- owners of the locality. He was a man of considerable influence, whose opinions came to be recognized as valuable concerning matters of public importance.
As a boy and young man George W. Van Fossen assisted in the arduous task of clearing the land and developing the fields. The forests were full of wolves and other wild beasts that frequently made the nights hideous with their howling. Game of all kinds was plentiful and the farmer boy was usually a hunter, early becoming skilled in the use of the rifle, his ability in this direction enabling him to keep the family larder well supplied with game. From his little log cabin home he made his way through the forest to another little log building, where he received instruction in the rudimentary branches of learning. In those days the requirements of teachers were not so rigid as at present and comparatively little instruction was given beyond reading, writing and arithmetic, and perhaps gram- mar and geography. Amid such surroundings, with plenty of hard work in the woods and in the cultivation of the fields, George W. Van Fossen grew to manhood.
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