USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
Mr. Willison was one of ten children born to Oliver and Roanna (Iliff) Willi- son, natives of Perry county, this state, who in their early days located in Licking county on a farm where they still reside, the father still engaging in active labors. Here Addis B. Willison's childhood was spent and during the summer months he assisted his father in the daily routine of the farm and during the winter attended the district schools, thus acquiring his education. Since completing his studies he has since been giving his attention to the cultivation of hay and grain and also stock-raising.
On November 13, 1884, Mr. Willison wedded Miss Emma Duke, daughter of George and Charlotte (Lewis) Duke, natives of Monroe township. Immediately after their marriage he and his wife settled on their farm, containing one hundred and sixty-one acres, where they have since resided. The property presents a neat and well kept appearance, being provided with a comfortable home, barns, outbuild- ings and all conveniences with which to successfully pursue agriculture. Mr. Willi- son is well known and highly respected throughout the community and the favor in which he is held is manifest by the fact that he is now serving his eighteenth year as treasurer of the township, on the school board of which for several years he also officiated as a useful member. He belongs to White Cross Lodge, No. 308, K. P., in Johnstown, in the affairs of which he takes an active interest. Politically he is a democrat, believing thoroughly in the principles of his party, and during cam- paigns he is enthusiastic in his endeavors to win success for its candidates. Mr. Willison is in every respect an enterprising and aggressive man and one whose uprightness and excellent business judgment enable him to court the respect of his fellow citizens and be accounted among the representative men of Liberty township.
ANDREW JACKSON BLINE.
A. J. Bline, who is devoting his time and energies to the cultivation and im- provement of a farm in Newton township, was born in Licking county, March 23, 1841. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Frederick) Bline, who are men- tioned on another page of this work.
A. J. Bline obtained his education in the common schools and remained at home until he had attained the age of thirty-three years. March 26, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Libbie E. Stewart, whose birth occurred in Licking county March 20, 1836, her parents being Alexander and Fannie (Evans) Stewart. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bline. who was a weaver by occupation, was one
Digitized by Google
584
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
of the first settlers of this county. Alex. Stewart, the father, was a native of Glas- gow, Scotland, and when two and a half years of age was brought by his parents to the new world. His wife, a native of Pennsylvania, came to this county when there was but one shingle roof house in Newark. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were born eleven children, of whom Mrs. Bline is now the only survivor. The father passed away at the age of fifty-nine years but the mother, long surviving him, attained the venerable age of ninety-six years.
Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Bline rented a part of his father's farm, but in 1874. bought his present place of thirty and a half acres in Newton township, which he brought under a high state of improvement and in the cultivation of which he has been successfully engaged to the present time. Ilis place has a well kept appearance and the fields annually bring forth rich crops, for the work of plowing, planting and harvesting is systematically done, due attention being given to the condition and quality of the soil.
In his political views Mr. Bline is a stalwart democrat, but has no desire for the honors or emoluments of office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his private business affairs. He belongs to the Grange and his religious belief is indi- cated by his membership in the Lutheran church. His wife is connected with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Mr. and Mrs. Bline are unassuming and com- panionable people. They stand among the first in the county for integrity of pur- pose and general high character. They have, moreover, witnessed the development of this part of the state from a pioneer region into a rich agricultural district and have taken an active part in the arduous toil which was necessary to bring about this wonderful transformation.
WILLIAM D. FULTON.
William D. Fulton is practicing at the Licking county bar as a member of the law firm of Fulton & Fulton. Moreover, he is a public-spirited citizen concern- ing whom many tangible evidences may be given of his interest in municipal affairs and his co-operation in the general advancement and welfare of the community. his latest work of this character being in connection with the Newark library. of which he was the originator and promoter.
Mr. Fulton is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Homer, May 27, 1863. He pursued his studies in Olivet College, Olivet. Michigan, and was graduated from Denison University, Ohio, in 1883. with the degree of Bachelor of Science. For one year he was engaged in teaching school and then took up the study of law in the office of Hon. J. B. Jones, being admitted to the bar in 1886. He has since been engaged in practice in Newark and a liberal and growing clientage has been accorded him. His legal learning. his analytical mind, the readiness with which he grasps the point in an argument. all combine to make him a strong, forceful lawyer, while the public and the profession acknowledge him the peer of the ablest representatives of the legal fraternity in Licking county. In 1888 he was elected city solicitor and the capability with which he discharged his duties during his first term was indicated
Digitized by Google
W. D. FULTON
.
Digitized by
Digitized by
1
587
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
in his re-election in 1890, so that he remained the incumbent in the office for four years. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to positions of public trust. He served for three years as city school examiner and was also a member of the city council from the second ward. He takes a most active and helpful interest in public affairs and has not only co- operated in many measures for the general good, but has instituted various plans and projects whereby Newark has been greatly benefited. He originated the plan for the Newark library which was opened in August, 1908. He has also been a very progressive member of the Board of Trade and through that avenue has aided largely in securing the location of a number of factories in this city, thus promoting its industrial development. He introduced the bill in the city council for closing the old canal in the city and the work is being done.
On the 3d of November, 1883, Mr. Fulton was married to Miss Josephine M. Wintermute of Licking county, and they have five living children, Bertha, William D., Martha, Frances and Margaret. The family is one of prominence and their beautiful home is the scene of many attractive social functions. Theirs is one of the finest residences in Newark, and in addition Mr. Fulton owns much very valuable property including a number of store buildings, residences, vacant lots and six hundred and thirty acres of choice land. His investments in real estate have been judicially made and they constitute important features in his annual income. Socially Mr. Fulton is connected with the Elks, the Woodmen, the Red Men and the Camels. His associates in these orders find him a generous, courteous gentleman who holds friendship inviolable. He is justly accounted one of the prominent and representative citizens of Newark and Licking county. Possessing a broad, enlightened and liberal mind, his has been an active career in which he has accomplished important results, contributing in no small degree to the expansion and material growth of the county, and from which he himself has also derived substantial benefit.
WILLIS R. PECK.
Willis R. Peck, who was for a number of years well known throughout the state as a heavy poultry shipper and who is now devoting his attention to general farming in Lima township. Licking county, is a native of Harrison township, where his birth occurred November 4, 1858. His paternal grandparents were Solomon and Elizabeth (Nutt) Peck, in whose family were eight children, including Dexter Peck, whose birth occurred at Topsham, Vermont, April 25, 1833. He was only five years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, the family home being established in Harlem township, Delaware county. There amid pioneer conditions he was reared to manhood but when a young man came to Lieking county and spent his remaining days in agricultural pursuits in Union and Harrison townships. He wedded Miss Comfort Parkerson, who was born in Etna township, Licking county, and was a daughter of John and Mary (Slack) Parkerson. Her father's birth occurred in Sawley, England, July 25, 1793, while his wife was born in Pennsylvania about 1796. John Parkerson, the grandfather
Digitized by Google
588
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
of Mr. Peck, was one of a family of seven children, namely : Martha, John, Samuel. Ann, William. Thomas and Edward. With his parents, John and Anna Parker- son, the grandfather, John Parkerson, crossed the Atlantic to Connecticut about 1800 and on leaving New England became a resident of Zanesville, Ohio, where his marriage was celebrated. He served his adopted country as a soldier of the war of 1812, holding the rank of colonel. Following his marriage in Zanesville he removed to Lieking county and for some time resided in Etna township, and thence went to Union township, but his last days were passed in Kirkersville, this county. where he died when about eighty years of age. His wife passed away in 1874.
Following his marriage Dexter Peck established his home on a farm in this county and throughout his remaining days devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in Union and Harrison townships. In his chosen life work he met with gratifying success and at one time was the owner of about three hundred acres of rich and productive land but divided this with his children. He died upon the home farm upon the day following the seventieth anniversary of his birth. while his wife died in 1886 at the age of fifty-two years. He was a member of the Kirkersville Baptist church and in early life gave his political allegiance to the democracy, while later he became a supporter of the republican party. Unto him and his wife were born six children : Perry, of Harrison township, this county : W. F., deceased ; Willis R., of this review ; Mary J., who has passed away : Anna V .. the wife of Charles Camp, of Lima township; and Loren B., of Harrison town- ship.
When Willis R. Peck was about a year old his parents removed to a farm two miles north of Outville. Harrison township, and there he resided until he was mar- ried, in the meantime acquiring his knowledge of husbandry under the instruction of his father and during his boyhood days taking advantage of the educational opportunities of the district schools. After his marriage he purchased sixty-seven acres of land on York street. on which he remained actively engaged in general agriculture, and to some extent in stock-raising, until the year 1903, when he sold his farm and purchased one hundred acres of land located three miles and a half north of Pataskala on the Green Church road. His place, which is known as Maple Grove farm. is highly improved, being provided with substantial buildings. and is as productive a plot of land as can be found in this part of the county. While residing in Harrison township Mr. Peck dealt extensively in poultry, which busi- ness he followed for more than eleven years, and during one season shipped east forty-five thousand pounds and had on hand at one time eight hundred head of turkeys and his last shipment of chickens was twelve hundred. Aside from engag- ing in the various departments of general farming he pays a great deal of atten- tion to stock-raising. making a specialty of breeding high grade sheep. Aside from his home interests he owns a valuable lot on Lake Higgins, Michigan, and is a stockholder in the Pataskala Oil Company.
On September 9, 1880, Mr. Peck wedded Emma Artz, who was born in Har- rison township. September 29, 1855, and resided there, on a farm two miles east of Pataskala, until her marriage. She is a daughter of Henry and Katherine ( Fisher) Artz. The father was born in Woodstock, Virginia, July 4. 1825, and in 1821 was brought to Harrison township by his parents, Jacob and Sarah Artz, who bought six hundred acres of land adjoining the Disciple church property and
Digitized by Google
589
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
there erected a small house in which they spent their remaining days. Henry Artz now resides in Union township, this county. His wife was a native of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, where she was born October 3, 1815, and where her parents departed this life. She came here when a girl, having made the trip, cover- ing two hundred miles, on horseback and all the education she received was that which she obtained at Sunday school but if she was not possessed of learning of the schools she was gifted with a strong constitution which stood her well in the battle of life and she could shear sheep with as great dexterity as a man and also worked as efficiently in the field. She departed this life near Fredonia, Mckean township, December 29, 1891. In her family were five children, namely: Sarah Frances, who became the wife of John Holler, of Granville; Almeda Katharine, who was united in marriage to Thomas Pierce, both of whom are deceased; Lewis Fisher, of MeKean township : Emma ; and Henry Wishard, who resides in Liberty township.
In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Peck went to Virginia and visited the burial place of her great-grandparents, Jacob and Mary Artz. who in their day were wealthy and possessed large tracts of land near Woodstock, and much of interest was found about the birthplace of his father-in-law, where many relatives are now residing. Mr. and Mrs. Peck are the parents of four children : Zelma I. is the wife of J. II. Wells. of Harrison township, and they have three children, Lewis E., Edna B. and Helen F .; Lester Roy, residing in Lima township east of Summit Station, wedded Ethel Cooper, and they have one son, Sherman; Gladys Ethel, and Russell B. re- side with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Peck also lost three children : Marion Dale, who passed away in his third year: Marie Pearl, who died in infancy ; and Glenn- dolyn C., whose birth occurred October 4. 1893. and who departed this life August 13, 1908.
Politically Mr. Peck has always been affiliated with the republican party. He is a man of admitted business ability, whose enterprise has done much to promote the general welfare of the township, and his transactions, being straightforward and honest. he is looked upon as a man of integrity and is favorably spoken of by all his neighbors.
JOHN NESBET MCKELVY.
John Nesbet MeKelvy, who at the age of eighty-one years is living retired in Washington county, Iowa, was for a number of years a resident of Utica, Licking county, and is still remembered by many of the residents of this section as one of the honored pioneers and business men. His ancestry can be traced back to an early period. His paternal great-grandfather, whose name is forgotten, lived to be one hundred and four years of age. He was married to a Miss Jane Mckinley who, with her brother, John. emigrated from their native country, Ireland, to America, in the early part of the fifteenth century. Her father was a wealthy lord of County Down and both he and his wife died during the early girlhood of their daughter Jane. On account of religious persecutions in the old country, on a certain Sunday, while the people of the neighborhood were attending church services John and Jane
Digitized by Google
590
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
Mckinley took passage on an old sailing vessel bound for the United States. They had no money and agreed to work three years for the captain of the ship, in order to pay for their passage. Landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they began their three years' labor but, at the end of that time, their services having proved so satis- factory, they were paid one year's wages, which was all they had to begin life in America. John McKinley was a noted singer. As above stated Jane Mckinley became the wife of a Mr. MeKelvy and to their union were born three sons and a daughter, namely: John, William, Robert and Elizabeth. At the beginning of the Revolutionary war the three brothers enlisted in the army, John and Robert serving three years, while William served eight years, or during the entire period of hostil- ities. The latter joined as a fifer and later was promoted to the rank of captain. The boys were in the battle of the Brandywine, near which place the family lived. The mother and daughter supposed that all would be killed by the British but at night John returned home and reported that all were alive. They had a narrow escape, however, for after the battle was over William found that his cap had been pierced with nine musket balls. His death occurred at Bucyrus, Ohio, about the vear 1838. Robert was married about 1783 and reared quite a large family, among whom were James, John, who became the father of our subject; and Elizabeth. Robert MeKelvy died in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.
John MeKelvy eventually took up his abode in Trumbull county, Ohio, and followed farming. He later removed to Putnam county, this state, the year 1846 wit- nessing his arrival there. He passed away in the latter county in 1848. His son, John Neshet MeKelvy, the subject of this review, was born August 17, 1827. He walked a mile and a half to school, pursuing his studies in an old-time log school- house, in which the seats were made of two-inch plank, supported by wooden legs, or pins, while a long board served as a writing desk. The methods of instruction were equally as primitive as the building. After completing his studies John N. MeKelvy, in 1844, was bound out to a man by the name of Hubbard, under whom he engaged to learn the tinner's trade. He was to serve four years, his compensa- tion to be thirty-five dollars a year, while in the event of sickness he was to be taken care of. Mr. Hubbard had in his employ five boys, who were engaged in making tinware, which was peddled through the country, and in exchange for which rags, beeswax, lard, tallow and other products were taken. After completing his appren- ticeship Mr. MeKelvy worked in Mansfield, Ft. Finley, Bedford, and other Ohio towns. Wishing to secure a better education than had been afforded him in his early youth, he spent one winter in an academy and also qualified for teaching in a night school. Having saved from his carnings about fifty dollars he invested this in a stock of tinware and engaged in business in Utica, where he continued a long period. Ile became well known as a pioneer resident of this section of Licking county and, although he is now living retired in Washington county, Iowa, he is still remembered by many of the residents of Utica and surrounding country. He has intimate knowledge of the early history of Licking county and during the early years of his residence here shared with the other pioneers in the hardships and pri- vations that had to be met in a frontier district.
Mr. MeKelvy was married in 1852 to Miss Margaret Darrah and their union was blessed with six children, of whom three died in infancy. The living members are: J. W .. of Washington county. Jowa : Anna J .. the wife of John D. Atherton. a resident of Cleveland, Ohio: and Dr. J. K. MeKelvy, now practicing in Chatham.
Digitized by Google
591
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
The mother died in 1869, and in 1872 Mr. McKelvy was married to Eliza Ferguson. They had one daughter, who died in 1883. Mr. McKelvy is a devoted and con- sistent member of the Presbyterian church and now, at the advanced age of eighty- one years, is living in Washington county, Iowa, enjoying the rest which he so well deserves.
JOHN M. BEEM.
John M. Beem, a son of George W. and Margaret (Myer) Beem, has practically spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits in Lima township, where his birth occurred January 22, 1854, since which time he has remained here with the excep- tion of the brief period spent in Iowa. He is widely experienced in all phases of farming, being an adept in the adaptation of crops and also in stock-breeding, his work in these lines having been successful from the outset, so that at present he is in comfortable circumstances and in possession of as fine a farm as exists in this part of the county. He owes his success to his own exertions, being a man of great energy and industry, at the same time being possessed of all those qualifications requisite to thrift, and through his practical economy and excellent management he has gradually attained the reputation which he well deserves as a progressive farmer and substantial citizen of the township.
Mr. Beem acquired his knowledge of farming from his father and during his boyhood days received his education in the neighboring schools, remaining upon the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, at which period of his life he was married and then removed to Benton county, Iowa, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, in the cultivation of which he engaged for four years. Then selling his property he returned to Licking county in 1878 and resumed the occupation of farming on fifty acres of land which he subsequently sold and then purchased one hundred and sixteen acres to which he later added sixty-eight acres and, including ninety acres of his father's estate, his farm at one time embraced two hundred and seventy-four acres of excellent land, all of which he kept under cultivation. He has been quite successful in agricultural life and has made considerable money in the sale of his farms, having several times disposed of his property, each time purchasing a new tract of land which he would improve and put upon the market. He has thus realized substantial profits in this way out of his real-estate transactions. He has now disposed of all but eighteen acres. Eight years ago he built an elegant residence at Summit Station, which he subsequently traded for fifty-two acres-a farm which he still owns. His present residence, which is one of the finest in the township, is surrounded by ten acres of land. He is interested in a number of commercial enterprises, being a stockholder in the People's Bank at Pataskala, the Summit Creamery, the Summit Chair Factory and the Pataskala Farmers Telephone Company.
On June 29, 1874, Mr. Beem wedded Margaret Beals, a native of Lima town- ship, born October 11, 1853, and a daughter of Enoch and Katherine (Beem) Beals. Her father was born in Etna township, this county, March 5, 1818, a son of Nathan and Elmira Beals, the former a native of Vermont who settled in this county in 1815. Mrs. Beals was born in Lima township, and passed away June 25, 1899, in
Digitized by Google
592
HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.
her seventy-( ghth year, her husband's death occurring February 10, 1895. They had eight children : Andrew, who resides at Summit Station; George, who passed away in infancy ; Adelbert, a resident of Indiana; Fidelia, the wife of Albert Beem ; Margaret ; Amanda, who resides with her husband, Alvin Peters, in Jersey town- ship; Belle, the wife of Amos Courter, residing in Jersey township; and Jane, who lives with her husband, Dennis Davenport, in Franklin county.
Mr. and Mrs. Beem have one daughter, Nerva Izora, who was twice united in marriage, first to William Dixon, by whom she had one child, Inzabelle, and, after becoming a widow, she wedded Jacob William Roshon, of this township. Politically Mr. Beem is a democrat and his religious convictions are with the Universalists. having served in the church of that denomination here as deacon since its organiza- tion and at the same time as a member of the board of trustees and, being an ardent church worker, he has for many years been superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a man of high moral and religious aims, living a daily life above reproach, striving ever to conduct his actions in harmony with the tenets of the Christian faith, while his excellent qualities justly command for him the respect and confi- dence which he enjoys from all who know him.
CHARLES H. WELLS.
Charles H. Wells, city engineer of Newark, was born in this city May 2, 1819, and is one of a family of seven children, whose parents were William C. and Mary E. (Hempsted) Wells. The father was a native of Lancaster, Ohio, a son of Jonas M. Wells, a leading tailor of Lancaster at an early date. As William C. Wells attained manhood he entered upon an apprenticeship under his father, and thus became familiar with the tailoring business. When but eighteen years of age he went to Columbus, Ohio, remaining only a short time, thence coming to New- ark. Here he worked at his trade as a journeyman for a short time, and in 1876 he established himself in business, desiring that the profits of his labors should come directly to himself. He was a young man of laudable ambition, possessing also a genial disposition and an carnest desire to suit his customers. Those who came to him once usually returned again, remaining with him as permanent patrons. As the years passed. therefore, he prospered, and continued successfully in business until 1902, when he retired from the field of tailoring to take up the management of Buckeye Lake Park. His time was thus spent for two years, after which he retired in order to give his undivided attention to the supervision of his real-estate interests in Newark which, in the meantime, had become extensive and important. In connection with William E. Miller he platted Park Addition west of the city of Newark. His carefully controlled real-estate interests brought to him a substan- tial and gratifying return. In his political views Mr. Wells is a stalwart democrat. and his personal popularity is indicated in the fact that he was elected to the board of education in a republican ward. He served for six years on the board. and for four years of that time acted as president and for two years as treasurer. He also served for some years as president of the board of trade, and has been an important factor in the location of all the important industries in Newark. In fact, for many
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.