USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 61
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home with the Edwards family of that locality until he came to America in 1842 in the twentieth year of his age. He was attracted by the broader business oppor- tunities of the new world and in company with his uncle, Emanuel Jones, he made the voyage across the broad Atlantic and at once came to Licking county, Ohio, retaining his residence in Granville township until some time after his marriage. He located on a farm in Harrison township in 1849 and continued its cultivation for more than a decade, after which he removed to what is now the old homestead farm, in 1860. It continued to be his place of abode throughout his remaining days and is yet the home of his widow.
It was in 184? in Granville that Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Morgan, who was born in Carmarthernshire, South Wales, August 6, 1821, and in February, 1840, became a resident of Gallia county, Ohio. In the spring of 1842 she arrived in Granville and made her home with the Rev. Jacob Little. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Jones) Morgan, who spent their entire lives in the little rock ribbed country of Wales. One of her sisters, Mrs. Ilannah Thomas, came to the United States after the arrival of Mrs. Jones, and died in Granville. Another sister, Susanna, was the wife of the Rev. John Griffis, a Methodist minister, and they resided for some years in Pennsylvania, where her death occurred. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born four children. Mary Jane, living with her mother, is the widow of Robert Williams and has two children, Elmer and Sadie, the latter the wife of Ernest Legg, of Granville, Ohio, by whom she had one child, Florence. Benjamin, living in Harrison township, has seven children, Earl, Clarence, Roy, Harold, Hugh, Curtis and Dorothy. David D., of Newark, has two children : Thomas, who is married and has one son, John David; and Paul R. The last child, Susanna, born October 10, 1868, died June 30, 1893.
The death of Mr. Jones occurred September 15, 1884, and thus was brought to a close a useful, active and honorable life. He had started out in business empty- handed and in fact had to earn the money with which to pay his passage across the Atlantic. After he arrived on American shores he worked diligently and per- sistently, however, and as the years passed he won success, so that at his death he left over two hundred acres of rich and valuable land which is still in possession of his family. He was a member of the first Calvinistic Methodist church in this county known as Sharon Valley, and was very active and helpful in church work. In politics he was a stanch republican and held some minor offices. He was ever faithful to the trust reposed in him whether in business or social life and was known as a man of unassailable integrity who in all of his trade relations was straightforward and honorable.
JOHN JACOB DEEDS.
One of the most successful and experienced sheep and horse breeders of the state of Ohio is John Jacob Deeds, who operates what is known as the Grasslick Stock farm, in . Harrison township, Licking county. He is a native of Pennsyl- vania, his birth having occurred at Buffalo Creek, Washington county, February 14, 1838. He is the third child of the family of four sons and four daughters born to Andrew and Lydia Ann ( May) Deeds. His parents removed to Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1840, locating in Rich Hill township, and there he was reared
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on a farm, remaining in that township until 1851 when, upon the death of his mother, his father and family came to this county, settling in Union township. The journey to this place was made in wagons and on foot, John Jacob Deeds being among those who walked, driving a flock of four hundred sheep, the trip requiring ten days. Since that time he has made a specialty of sheep breeding and wool growing.
Mr. Deeds had the usual meager educational advantages of the country lad, acquiring his knowledge of the "three R's" in the district schools during the short winter terms, the remainder of the year working on his father's farm. His father raised cattle, also engaged to some extent in butchering and had the hides tanned for leather. Out of the leather of his own curing all the shoes for the family were made, the work being done by a neighboring shoemaker, David Anthony. John J. Deeds still recalls with pleasure the incident that he was the first lad who wore a pair of cowhide boots to the district school he attended, which circumstance, need- less to remark, greatly excited the envy of the other boys, all of whom doubtless wished for a pair just like them.
It was while a mere lad that Mr. Deeds became interested in breeding sheep. Indeed he seemed to have a natural predilection for stock dealing and particularly the wool producing animal. In fact he was born to the business and relates many entertaining experiences which fell to him as a boy while on long jaunts behind a drove of his favorite animal. Herding and shearing were his first introduction to the business, and it was at the latter, for which he received three and one-half cents a head, that he earned his first money-the sum of seventeen dollars-the capital which gave him his start in life. This he invested in high priced sheep when he was but fourteen years of age, paying six dollars a head. It was his initial step in the sheep-raising and wool growing-enterprise and thereafter he was so suc- cessful and fortunate in his undertakings that in the year 1855 he drove nine hun- dred head of his own and his father's sheep to Illinois, where he disposed of the flock at top prices. At once investing the proceeds of the sale in other sheep, eight years after his first transaction he had cleared fourteen hundred dollars. During his carcer he has made four trips on foot to Illinois with sheep and on one occasion drove back one hundred and seventy-five head of cattle.
Mr. Deeds remained in Union township until he was united in marriage, at which period of his life he rented a farm in Jersey township, from which he re- moved after a two years' residence, owing to the death of his wife. In 1867 he pur- chased his present farm, known as Grasslick Stock farm, and it is equipped with excellent buildings. It is located three miles northeast of Pataskala, on the York street road a half mile north of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, which affords him ready shipping facilities. He originally purchased one hundred and thirty-one acres, later adding fifty-six acres, so that his farm now contains one hundred and eighty-seven acres of highly improved land. It is thoroughly equipped with a tile drainage system and, there being many springs on the property, in eight different places he can water fifty head of cattle. His specialty, as above mentioned, is sheep- raising and wool-growing and he breeds principally the Merino sheep, of which he owns about two hundred head, all of which are registered. Among his breeding stock are the following: King of Yorkstreet, No. 102, sired by No. 55, bred by James Mckibben ; g. sire Kirkpatrick's Major; dam No. 6; bred and owned by Mr. Deeds; and Deception, No. 29, sired by Wooly Head, he by Green Mountain, by
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Silverhorn, dam No. 28. He also breeds sheep of the finest type and all his sheep are noted for their good quality of thick and long fleeces and at the state fair in 1908 he carried off the first prize in the two-year-old class of rams and second prize for the ewe class. Mr. Deeds has also quite a reputation for raising pacing road horses, which he breeds from the finest registered stock, and moreover has engaged in the breeding of shorthorns and Gallaway cattle.
In addition to the home farm Mr. Deeds owns five other valuable farms, one containing one hundred and nine acres and another eighty-two acres, both of which are located in this township, two farms of one hundred and thirty-eight and one hundred and four acres, respectively, located in I'nion township, the former being part of his father's original estate and the latter lying west of Hebron, one hundred and eighty-four acres located near Hanover, Perry township, and a twenty acre plot in this township on which there are no buildings, Mr. Deeds owning a total of eight hundred and twenty-three acres. All these farms, with the exception of the eighty- two acre one, are operated by his children, Mr. Deeds himself having retired from active life as far as outside work is concerned, devoting his time to the general management of his affairs. Ile looks after all of the farms, seeing that his children keep them in good condition, but leaving the work to them while he looks after the financial side of the enterprise.
Mr. Deeds was united in marriage to Mary Keeran, who departed this life in 1866. after they had been married but two years. She had one daughter. Isabel. who died in infancy. On November 4, 1868, Mr. Deeds wedded Mrs. Ellen Belt Lane, a native of I'nion township, this county, where she was born November ?. 1839. She first wedded George Lane, by whom she had one child, Clara Edith, who is now the wife of Thomas Williams, of Union township, and has one daughter, Louise. Mrs. Lane was a daughter of William and Jane (Park ) Belt, natives of this county, who spent their lives in Union township on a farm, where he died in September, 1881. His wife was born December 21, 1819, and now resides in Gran- ville with a daughter. She was one of a family of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Deeds were reared together, their fathers' farms adjoining. To them have been born eight children, namely: Nora Belle is the wife of Albert Shank, has one child and resides in this township; Florence became the wife of O. L. Skinner, of Colum- bus, Ohio, and has one child, Thora B .: Jennie wedded Arthur Smoke, by whom she has one son, Neil, and they reside on one of her father's farms, near Hebron. I'nion township: Homer B., living on his father's farm north of Hanover. married Ella Richie: Daisy Pearl wedded Frederick Welch, an agriculturist of Granville. and they have three children, Bernice, John H. and Frances Ellen : Stanley D. wedded Daisy Brown, by whom he has one child, Harry Dale, and they reside on a farm in Union township; Traverse married Lee Palmer. lives in Etna township and has one daughter, May: and George W., who wedded Lettie Cunningham. and resides on his father's farm in this township.
The platforms of the several political parties do not appeal to Mr. Deeds to such a degree as to induce him to give his undivided support to any one of them and consequently he has always preferred to be independent in politics and during cam- paigns it is his habit to select candidates whom in his judgment are qualified for public office and to vote for them irrespective of the parties to which they belong. While he is interested in public affairs he has never desired to become an office holder although he has served as land appraiser and also as member of the school
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board. He belongs to the Ohio Merino Sheep Breeders Association and at one time was a member of the National Association. Mr. Deeds' industry and aggressiveness have been such as to largely contribute to the financial worth of the community and he is widely known throughout the state and in fact throughout the entire country as an expert sheep breeder and being a man not only blessed with a high degree of business ability but also a man of high moral character who has always endeavored to live in such a way as to better the conditions of the community in which he lived. He is favorably known as a good man and is numbered among the county's repre- sentative citizens and substantial financial factors.
FREDERICK KOCHENDORFER.
In a history of journalism in central Ohio it is imperative that mention be made of Frederick Kochendorfer, the founder, editor and owner of the Newark Express. He was born in Bonfeld in the kingdom of Würtemberg, Germany, Decem- ber 24, 1831, and is a son of Michael and Eva Dorothea (Deck) Kochendorfer, who were also natives of Bonfeld.
When a child of but four years Frederick Kochendorfer was left an orphan. Ilis father left him a comfortable estate, so that in his youthful days he was enabled to enjoy good educational privileges. In the public schools he mastered the ele- mentary branches of learning and afterward continued his studies in college, taking a course in preparation for educational work. At the age of seventeen years he became a teacher in the public schools and soon after received an appointment for a school at Stuttgart, the capital of his native state, this being considered an honor for a young man at that time. The opportunities of the new world attracted him, however, and in 1852 he bade adieu to his native country and sailed for the United States, taking up his abode in Newark, where for a time he engaged in teaching instrumental music and afterward for twenty years taught both German and music in the Newark high school. For two decades he was also the organist in the Second Presbyterian church and in all that time never but one Sunday was his place at the organ filled by any one else. In 1880 he founded the Newark Express and with the exception of one year he has since been its editor. He has been a very active man and even at his advanced age is still a factor in the world's work, although he is now in his seventy-eighth year.
In 1855 Mr. Kochendorfer was married to Miss Marguerite Madoery, who was born in Switzerland in 1831 and died in 1900. She came to the United States in 1850 with her parents, who located in Fairfield county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kochen- dorfer became the parents of four children: Charles, who is a fruit grower near Glendora, California ; Emma, the wife of Roe Emmerson, a clothing merchant of Newark ; Mary, the widow of J. M. Baggs; and Fannie, at home. There are also two grandchildren : Fred Kochendorfer, who is with the Western Electric works in Chicago; and Sherman Baggs, a student in Denison University. There is also a great-grandson, Charles W. Kochendorfer.
In his political views Mr. Kochendorfer has long been a stalwart advocate of democratic principles but the honors and emoluments of office have had no atrac- tion for him. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is an exemplary representa-
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tive of the craft. For fifty-seven years a resident of America, he has the strongest attachment for the land of his adoption and its free institutions and through the years of his residence in Newark has ever been the champion of those movements and measures which have tended to promote public progress.
MRS. CATHARINE S. WILLIAMS.
Mrs. Catharine S. Williams is the widow of Edwin Williams, who was a pioneer of this part of Ohio and served creditably in a number of government and county offices. He also enjoyed the reputation of being a substantial and prosper- ous merchant, farmer and stock-raiser. Ile was a son of George W. Williams, and a native of the state of Pennsylvania, whence he came to this county prior to the Mexican war through which he served as a commissioned officer. At the close of the war he returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until the year 1850, when he was united in marriage with Miss Catharine S. Scarle, and then located in Homer, where he engaged in a general merchandise business. While conducting this enterprise he became widely known throughout the county and his popularity enabled him to secure the office of postmaster, the duties of which he performed for several years. At the expiration of his term of office, in the meantime having given up his general merchandise business, he purchased the farm then owned and oper- ated by his grandfather, Crandel Wilcox. On that place he remained until the year 1871, when he was elected sheriff of the county and removed to Newark. When his term of office expired, after a period of four years, he came to Burlington township, where he resided until the date of his death in October, 1890. His political prefer- ments he secured because of his allegiance to the democratic party, to which he has always tenaciously adhered and for the election of whose candidates he was enthu- siastic during campaigns. He was a man whose leaning toward the democratic party was not the result of credulity but rather of profound study, leading him to the conclusion that its tenets are fundamental from an economic standpoint and in every respect adequate to assure the permanent prosperity of the commonwealth. Ever faithful to his religious obligations, deeming it a man's first duty to seek his moral and spiritual welfare and that of the community in which he lives, he was a regular and faithful attendant of the services of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Beside his widow Mr. Williams left the following children : James S., who now operates the home farm ; George W., a lawyer of Columbus, Ohio; Mary S., wife of Dr. Rouse, of St. Louisville, Ohio; Martha C., who wedded William Burner. of Columbus, this state; Ruth C., wife of Lewis Youst, of Homer, Ohio; Helen D .. who, having completed her education, remains at home; and Elizabeth, wife of Frank Yoakum, of Burlington township. The other children, John and Benjamin, are deceased.
Mrs. Catharine Williams was a daughter of John and Mary (Stark) Scarie and her parents, both of whom have departed this life, were natives of the state of Pennsylvania. She was one of a family of eight children. four of whom still sur- vive, namely : Elizabeth, who resides in Des Moines, Iowa ; Mrs. Ruth Searle Court- wright, of Kingston, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Mary Peck, who resides in Pennsylvania : and Mrs. Searle, who has attained the advanced age of eighty-one years. The last
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named is well-to-do and, among other interests, possesses one hundred and ten acres of highly improved farming land adjoining the village of Homer. She is widely known throughout the county and is held in high esteem for her womanly qualities and for her many years of usefulness. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Episco- palian church. with which she has been affiliated throughout her entire life.
HUGHI A. FLEMING.
Hugh A. Fleming is one of the respected and worthy residents of Newark. In former years he was connected with several lines of business and is now serving as notary public, which position he has filled almost continuously for twenty-seven years. He is one of the county's native sons, his birth having occurred September 16, 1837, in one of the pioneer hewed log houses of Perry township. His parents were Thomas D. and Rebecca (Hall) Fleming, who became residents of this county at a very carly period in its development. The father was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and in his childhood days was brought to Ohio by his parents, John and Mary (Caldwell) Fleming, who settled in Madison township, where the death of John Fleming soon afterward occurred. The children were thus left to the care of the widow.
On attaining his majority Thomas D. Fleming settled on a farm in Perry town- ship, where he spent his entire life and became recognized as one of the most prom- inent and influential agriculturists of the community. As the years passed he pros- pered in his undertakings and, making judicious investments in property, became the owner of three hundred and fifty acres of some of the best land in Perry town- ship. He died in August, 1880, in his seventy-fourth year and thus closed a life of activity and usefulness. He was a consistent Christian man, holding member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church. His political views accorded with the prin- ciples of the republican party and for twelve years he served as justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. For several years he was also one of the township trustees and ever discharged his official duties with promptness and fidelity, so that his course won for him the unqualified confidence of his fellowmen. His wife, who was born in Perry township, Licking county, in 1814, was a daughter of Allen and Nancy (Thropp) Hall, who were among the pioneer settlers of Perry township, coming here from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Fleming died in her eightieth year. Their family numbered four children, three of whom are vet liv- ing: Nathan Quinn, a prominent and prosperous farmer and stock breeder of Han- over township; Matilda J., now the wife of M. L. Montgomery, of Perry township; and Hugh A., of this review.
On the old home farm Hugh A. Fleming was reared and was a pupil in the district schools through the period of his boyhood and youth. He was nineteen years of age when his father sold the farm and went to Perryton. The son also took up his abode in the city but made daily trips to and from his farm in Perry town- ship, which had been given him by his father. IIe did not like this way of living, however, and told his father that he was going to get married and live upon his place on attaining his majority. He would not reach the age of twenty-one, how- ever, until the following fall but his father said that spring was the better time to
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marry if he wished to locate on the farm, that he might raise crops through the summer months and have something to keep him through the winter. Accordingly the marriage was hastened and in the spring his nuptials were celebrated, after which he took up his abode upon his land. It was in February, 1858, that he wedded Miss Catherine A. Wintermute, of Perry township, a daughter of Aaron Wintermute, one of the early settlers of that township. The farm was a tract of one hundred acres, on which the young couple took up their abode and with char- acteristic energy Mr. Fleming turned his attention to the development of his place, which he carefully cultivated until the spring of 1867 save for the period of his service in the Civil war.
In 1864 Mr. Fleming had enlisted in defense of the Union in response to the call for one hundred day men. He joined Company F of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he was connected for two years. He had previously had some military training, having formerly served as a member of the Ohio National Guard. His command was sent to North Mountain, Virginia, where the company to which Mr. Fleming belonged and one other were assigned to guard duty, while the remainder of the regiment was stationed at other points. This was in the month of May. On the 3d of July following four thousand rebels closed in on the little band of Union men, numbering only two hundred and after a desperate resistance of three hours fighting against such great odds they were obliged to surrender and were taken south to Andersonville prison, where they were incarcerated for five months. Mr. Fleming weighed two hundred pounds on enter- ing that prison and on his release scarcely weighed one hundred pounds. He was possibly the only man who was ever able to secrete a watch and yet spend five months in Andersonville and bring the watch out with him. When captured he secreted the timepiece in his boot and when searched in prison he had it concealed in his arm- pit. having been able to elude the man who had been assigned to watch over him long enough to sew the timepiece into the sleeve of his shirt, where it fell naturally into his armpit. In December he was exchanged on sick list and returned home broken in health. He tried to resume farming but after two years sold his farm and removed into the town of Perryton, where he engaged in merchandising, being connected with that business until 1877. He then sold out and turned his attention to the undertaking business, which he conducted for ten years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Pataskala, where he also conducted an undertaking establishment for five years and following his removal to Newark in 1893 he con- tinued in the same line of business until 1904. His impaired health, however. forced him to retire. He has never been a robust man since his military experience. much of his ill health being the result of his life in a southern prison. He is now practically living retired, although he is serving as notary public and has filled the position for twenty-seven consecutive years with the exception of the brief period passed in Pataskala.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fleming has been born but one child, Cora May, now the wife of Dr. D. H. Miller, Sr. Mr. Fleming belongs to Perryton Lodge, No. 733, T. O. O. F., of which he was a charter member. He also belongs to Lemmert Post, No. 71, G. A. R., and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army com- rades. His political allegiance is given to the republican party where national issues are involved and for sixty years he has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, his life being actuated by its teachings, while at all times he has been
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