USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 65
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In Harrison township, on February 25, 1858, Mr. Thomas wedded Mary Chad- wick, daughter of Cyrus and Ann Eliza (Nichols) Chadwick, he having been born in New Hampshire, October 1, 1800, and his wife in New Jersey, September 27, 1813. They came here in the years 1830 and 1819, respectively, and both departed this life on their farm in Harrison township, Mr. Chadwick's death occurring May 10, 1870, his wife surviving him by twelve years, her demise occurring August 1, 1882. In their family were five children, namely: Mary; Charles, who died in his eleventh year; Albert, who resides in Washington; Byron, of Pataskala; and Sarah A., who departed this life in 1897. Mrs. Thomas was born in Harrison town- ship, September 3, 1835. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born: Charles, who had been connected with the Central Ohio Paper Company, of Columbus, and passed away in his fortieth year: Frederick N., who is affiliated with the same company. and resides in Westerville, Ohio; Katharine, wife of David O. Evans; C. B., of Westerville, Ohio, who is a traveling salesman for the Central Ohio Paper Com- pany ; and Ellis, who resides on the old Thomas farm in Harrison township.
In politics Mr. Thomas is a republican, having voted for John C. Fremont, the first republican candidate, and has since been loyal to the principles of his party. He has been quite active in the affairs of the township and served a number of terms as trustee, and throughout his career has always been public-spirited and favored the promotion of all measures purposed to advance the general welfare of the community. During his long career he has never permitted the pressure of business affairs to usurp the time required for the performance of his religious obli- gations and he has always attended divine services at the Wesley Methodist church. of which he is a liberal supporter. Mr. Thomas is a man who has so lived as to preserve his character above reproach, and now in his seventy-ninth year he may
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look back over a well spent life and inasmuch as he has always been a zealous Chris- tian, striving according to his power to disseminate the truth of the gospel to the moral and spiritual betterment of the community, he may look forward in his de- clining years for the dawning of the morning of joy.
CHARLES WELLS.
Charles Wells, well known as a sheep breeder and real estate dealer in Harrison township, was born on his present farm, which is located on the Johnstown road a quarter of a mile south of Outville, Harrison township, on April 16, 1849. His great-great-grandfather, George Wells, was of Scotch-Irish parentage, the family having emigrated from Scotland and settled in New York at an early date. Part of the family located in Virginia, and one son in Wellsville, Ohio, which city was laid out by him, and another son settled in the northwest. His grandparents. Joseph and Polly Wells, came here before the county was incorporated and located in the woods, at that time the entire region being covered with thick forest. He purchased a large tract of land, some of which he later disposed of, and spent his entire life here, his death having occurred in 1861, when he was in his eighty-eighth year. Although he disposed of the greater portion of his property he retained two hundred acres on which he pursued general farming, and in his day Zanesville, thirty miles distant, was his nearest market. In his family were Peter, Samuel, Joseph, George, William, John (who went to Oregon during the '50s), Katherine and Elizabeth, all the children having remained in Licking and Fairfield counties but one.
Charles Wells was a son of William and Mary (Zeller) Wells, his father having been born April 27, 1816, on a farm about three miles east of here in what is now known as Union township, but which at that time was part of Fairfield county. There he spent his entire life, following agriculture and also breeding stock to some extent. He cultivated an excellent tract of land, all of which he cleared and upon which he made all necessary improvements, erecting his dwelling house, barn, out- buildings and fences. He was an active member in the Presbyterian church and was one of the founders of the Kirkersville church of that denomination, the latter organization having later removed to Outville. Widely known for his high moral qualities, he was particularly prominent in church circles inasmuch as he devoted a great deal of his attention to religion and to the promotion of the various interests of the congregation, and also was a leading factor in advancing the moral and spir- itual welfare of the community. He died in 1890, in his seventy-fourth year. His wife. Mary Zeller, a daughter of Peter and Mary (Smith) Zeller. natives of Penn- sylvania, who departed this life in this county, was born near Harrisburg. Penn- sylvania. in 1821 and came to Ohio with her parents about 1836, settling near Columbus and later removing to Etna township, this county, where she resided until her marriage. She passed away February 2. 1909, at the home of her son Charles. The Zellers trace their ancestry back to King William, of Germany. the name originally having been Howenzeller, but when the family came to the new world they changed the spelling. In their family were two sons: Alfred. who departed this life in 1905. leaving six children : and Charles.
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Mr. Wells has been twice united in marriage, first in 1878 to Narcissus A. Brown, a daughter of James and Martha Brown, who died three years after her marriage. In 1906 he wedded Marilla Glinn, a native of Johnstown, this county, and a daughter of Nathaniel and Harriett (Miller) Glinn, both of whom were natives of this county where they departed this life. To the republican party Mr. Wells has always been loyal, inasmuch as a thorough study of its principles have convinced him that they contain those policies best suited to developing the natural resources of the country and give impetus to financial enterprises, and although he is not an active politician he does all he can by his vote and influence at elections to place the candidates of his party in office. He is a man who entertains a high sense of religion and its benefits to mankind and attends divine services at the Presbyterian church, in the affairs of which he is quite active and of which he is a liberal supporter. His noble character has been such as to command the respect and confidence of all his acquaintances, and he is acknowledged as one of the sub- stantial and valued citizens of the township.
CHARLES M. STINSON.
Charles M. Stinson, a substantial farmer and representative citizen of Bur- lington township, and a man who has taken considerable interest in politics in the county, was born on the farm where he now resides February 24, 1861, a son of Archibald and Nancy S. (Gillespie) Stinson. His father, who for many years was actively engaged as an agriculturist and who is now enjoying the fruits of his toil in retirement, was born in New Jersey, December 29, 1820, and was the son of Joseph and Mary (Garrison) Stinson, both of whom were natives of New Jersey and came to this county in the year 1832 locating on the farm which he now owns. He is the only surviving member of a family of four children. His father passed away in the year 1843, his wife surviving him seven years. Archibald Stinson dur- ing his boyhood passed through the usual experiences common to farmers' sons and his early life was spent in the usual uneventful manner of those reared amid the peaceful surroundings of rural life. During the winter season he attended the dis- trict school, in this instance an old log cabin which will long be remembered by those who were enrolled there as pupils, and having acquired his education still continued to perform his labors, in company with his father, on the old home place. Here he remained without intermission and early and late assisted his parents in the various duties incidental to agriculture. Upon the death of his parents he purchased the old homestead and its surrounding acreage and labored incessantly as long as his energy and vitality would permit, and now at the advanced age of eighty-nine years is enjoying as best he can the comforts of his hard earned toil. In the year 1856 he wedded Miss Nancy S. Gillespie, whose birth occurred in Lick- ing county in 1830 and, who after a happy domestic life of forty-five years, passed away, October 10, 1901. She had a family of six children, namely : Archie N., who resides in Crawford county, Ohio; Charles M .; and four deceased. Mr. Stinson is well known throughout the county as a man of sterling qualities, good judgment and high moral character, and during his long years of active life has lived in such a way as to command the respect of all with whom he has come in contact and now
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in his declining years can look backward with gratification upon the life he has lived, and forward into eternity with confidence that his well spent life will not fall short of a joyful immortality. In politics he has always given his allegiance to the democratic party and served the community for two terms as trustee of the town- ship. It has been some time since he has taken active interest in the affairs of his farm owing to his advancing years, but he is still enjoying a great measure of health and vigor.
Charles M. Stinson was reared on the farm where his birth occurred and in connection with assisting his father in the general routine work he attended the district school where he received his early education. On completing his studies there he attended the Utica high school, after graduating from which he also spent some time in study at Ada, Ohio. Upon completing his education he returned to the old homestead and assisted in the cultivation of the farm. In the year 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Eva Beaver, daughter of the late William Beaver, of Knox county. After a bridal trip he returned to the old homestead with his wife and continued his agricultural pursuits in company with his father until about the year 1898, when the elder Mr. Stinson, having attained an advanced age, felt dis- posed to spend the remainder of his life in retirement, and consequently placed the farm under the management of his son. Since then Mr. Stinson has devoted his time and attention to general farming, in which he has met with a full measure of success and amassed means with which to purchase several other valuable tracts of land, which, he keeps under cultivation in connection with the old home place. About 1896 he purchased a farm containing sixty acres in McKean township which he has extensively improved and kept under cultivation. Mr. Stinson takes great pride in his farm, employs modern methods in working his lands and has equipped his place with all modern machinery necessary to make agriculture in the highest degree remunerative.
Mr. Stinson is liberal in his political views and while he is a democrat and leans more toward the principles of that party than of those of other political cults. he does not consider himself bound by party ties as he is of the opinion that in politics a man should be free from coercion and, thinking more of the character of the candidate than of the party to which he belongs, he should judge candidly the qualifications possessed by office seekers and cast his vote for the man whom in his judgment will to the best advantage serve the interests of the commonwealth. In 1907 he was elected as a member of the board of trustees of the township, and in this capacity renders excellent service. He belongs to Centennial Grange, No. 1682, Patrons of Husbandry, in which organization he takes deep interest.
R. C. BIGBEE.
R. C. Bigbee, a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Richland county. Ohio. February 4, 1849. He was therefore but a boy when he entered the service and vet his loyalty and valor were equal to that of many a veteran of twice his years. His father, George Bigbee, was a native of Virginia and he was brought to Ohio in 1810 by his father, John Bigbee, who settled in Knox county. There his son
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was reared who, after his marriage, removed to Richland county where he took up the occupation of farming, being for many years closely identified with the work of tilling the soil there. He continued to live on the old home place until his death which occurred in 1881 when he was seventy-seven years of age. He had married Susan Shaffer, a native of Pennsylvania, who had gone to Mansfield, Ohio, with her parents in pioneer times. Her natal year was 1811 and in 1885 she was called to her final rest.
R. C. Bigbee was educated in the country schools of Richland county, and with patriotic ardor he responded to his country's call for troops when only fifteen years of age, joining the Union army as a member of the One Hundred and Forty Seventh Ohio Infantry. He did service in the vicinity of Richmond and Petersburg and was mustered out in 1864. He then resumed his interrupted studies but in the spring of 1865 he once more enlisted, serving in the army of the Cumberland until after the close of hostilities.
When the country no longer needed his military aid, Mr. Bigbee returned to Richland county and learned the carpenter's trade which he followed for several years. He worked hard and gained a start in life. In 1881 he turned his attention to the distillery business in Richland county where he remained until 1895 when he came to Newark. In 1905 he was elected city treasurer and held that office for two years.
In 1876 Mr. Bigbee was married to Miss Alice Hildebrand and following her death Mr. Bigbee was again married in 1887, his second wife being Susie Acton. He has one son by his first marriage, Alzura, and one by the second marriage, Cecil. Mr. Bigbee gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a stalwart advocate of its principles. ITe belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to Lemmert Post G. A. R., and has the distinction of being the only man ever reelected commander of Lemert Post.
DAVID V. BLINE.
A well improved farm comprising one hundred and five acres, situated in Newton township, is the home of David V. Bline, who is today numbered among the substantial agriculturists of this section of Licking county. He was born in this county July 29, 1839, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Bline, mention of whom is made on another page of this volume. The son remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-two years, during which time he was reared to farm labor and acquired his education in the common schools. It was about that time in his life that he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. McCoy, who was born in Licking county, November 10, 1842, a daughter of Mathew and Margaret (Gates) McCoy, both of whom were natives of Penn- sylvania, whence they removed to Lieking county in the '40s. The family of Mr. and Mrs. McCoy numbered eight children and both the parents are now deceased.
Following his marriage Mr. Bline rented the old Keller farm, which he oper- ated for eighteen years. During this time he carefully saved his earnings and at
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length felt justified in making a purchase of land, thus becoming owner of fifty- three acres in Newton township. As he prospered in his undertakings he added to his landed possessions until his property now embraces one hundred and five acres. He has made many improvements on the place, in the way of substantial buildings, while his fields have been placed under a high state of cultivation and annually yield abundant harvests.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bline has been blessed with eight children : Willis J., who is an engineer in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- pany, with headquarters at Newark ; Hezekiah, who resides at Chatham, this county; Frank D., at home; Della C., the wife of C. A. Holler, a resident of Newark ; Rovena, the wife of Clinton MeKinney, of Newton township; John, of Vanatta, who wedded Miss Louise Kirkpatrick, who was born in Knox county, their family numbering seven children ; Bessie M., the wife of Henry Wilkin of Licking county ; and Fred C., of Chatham. The wife and mother departed this life March 23, 1901, her remains being interred in Wilson cemetery.
Mr. Bline supports the men and measures of democracy and has served as township treasurer. He has met obstacles and difficulties in his path but these have been overcome through honest, earnest effort and he is now one of the substantial citizens of Newton township.
M. W. YOAKAM.
M. W. Yoakam, who is now living retired after many years of hard and honest toil as an agriculturist in Burlington township, is a native of West Virginia, where he was born August 25, 1825. Some time ago he relinquished the plow and left the active duties of husbandry to those who are yet blessed with youth and vigor, and at the ripe age of eighty-four years is now enjoying the fruits of his earnest labor. IIe was a son of Jacob and Jane (Womsley) Yoakam, both of whom were natives of West Virginia, in which state they lie buried. Of a family of twelve children but four survive, namely: Jane, who resides in West Virginia ; William, of Allen county, Ohio; Jacob, who lives in West Virginia ; and M. W.
When a boy in his native state Mr. Yoakam attended the district school, where he obtained his education, and then engaged in the active duties of farm life on the old home place. There he remained until 1847 when he came to this county and for a period of two years hired out as a farm hand. The opportunities for farming being extensive and grain and live stock being in pressing demand he felt confident that he could engage in agriculture for himself and out of it derive satis- factory recompense. Ceasing to work as a wage carner he rented a farm, which he immediately began to cultivate and met with such success as to enable him to lay by sufficient money with which to purchase seventy-five acres of excellent land in Knox county, upon which he lived for a period of three years and then disposed of his property to great advantage. After making the sale he did not invest in prop- erty for some time, but rented a farm which he cultivated for a period of four years. Ne then purchased the farm on which he is now located. The tract of land Mr. Yoakam now has under cultivation contains two hundred and fifty-one acres, which
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he has improved to such an extent as to make his farm among the very best in the county for the cultivation of all kinds of grain. In addition to a comfortable resi- dence his place is supplied with excellent barns and sheds, with machinery and all conveniences requisite to carry on agriculture according to the most modern methods. During his active career as an agriculturist he engaged more or less in everything pertaining to farming, with a special attention to raising and feeding stock.
In the year 1858 Mr. Yoakam was united in marriage with Miss Esther Weaver, who was born on their present farm and was one of a family of seven children, of whom she is the only one surviving. Mr. and Mrs. Yoakam have been blessed with four children, namely : Mary E., wife of William Moore; George W .; Charles N., deceased ; and John F. Mr. and Mrs. Yoakam have long since given up active life and are now living in pleasant retirement on the farm where they settled many years ago and which bears evidence of their unwearied toil, patience and energy. While the vigor and ambition of youth was theirs they worked with unabating zeal, providently bearing in mind the days when they should reach the evening of life, and day by day setting aside something of their earnings, thus gradually increasing their savings until now they are able to spend their declining years amid the grati- fying comforts which are the outcome of their former toil. They are both adherents of the Christian church, of which they have for many years been members so living in the observance of their religious duties as not to fear when the summons comes to call them to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns.
JUDGE E. M. P. BRISTER.
Judge E. M. P. Brister is a great-grandson of General Rufus Putnam, of the Revolutionary war, who settled the State of Ohio, at Marietta, April 7, 1788, his mother being a granddaughter of Gen. Putnam. Judge Brister was born in Cadiz, Harrison, county. Ohio, June 26, 1850. ITis father, M. P. Brister, who was a well-known and talented journalist, came with his family to Newark in 1852, and died in 1856, leaving the subject of this sketch fatherless at the age of six years. By the death of his father, young Brister was compelled, when a boy, to supplement his mother's heroic exertions to maintain herself and child, Mrs. C. P. Brister con- ducting her husband's newspaper with great ability for three years.
"Put" Brister, as he was generally called, began his life's labor when only eight years old, as a newsboy. When fourteen years old, he entered the office of the "Licking Record" to learn the printing trade. When seventeen years old, he. with L. F. Tenney, started a job printing office which the two carried on for three years. But Mr. Brister had long cherished the resolution of obtaining a classical education and in 1870 he bought Mr. Tenney's interest in the little printing office and removed it to Granville, the seat of Denison University.
There he entered upon the arduous undertaking of working his way through a six years' college course, at the same time supporting himself and his invalid mother. He did his studying at night and morning, studying until eleven o'clock at night and getting up to study at four o'clock in the morning. In this way he completed the six years' classical course, graduating from Denison University with
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high honors in 1877. Part of his course he took in Wooster University, Wayne county, Ohio, where he also moved his printing office. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Brister began to read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1880.
Judge Brister is a life-long democrat, and has been a hard and faithful party worker all his life. Some twenty-five years ago he began making campaign speeches for the democratic party, since which time his services, both as a campaign and public speaker, have been in constant demand, both in his county and throughout the state. He has also done good service on campaign clubs and committees and has always been liberal with his time and such means as he had, whenever the party needed them.
E. M. P. Brister was elected probate judge of Licking county in 1890 and served one term of three years with entire satisfaction, but was defeated for his second term in the landslide of 1893. He was again elected to the office of probate judge in 1905 and reelected to a second term of four years in 1908, which he is now serving, receiving a majority of 1,879, the largest majority ever received by a county officer in this county. Judge Brister has made quite a reputation for himself in the juvenile court work, to which he is devoted and in which he has accomplished much good for the children and the community. He began public speaking when a mere boy only sixteen years old, which he has continued ever since, making addresses upon all topics in different parts of the country. He has also acquired considerable reputation as a song writer and writer of poems. Judge Brister became a member of the First Presbyterian church of this city when he was only sixteen years old, in which membership he has continued ever since. He has been a member of the city board of education, the county board of examiners, is past president of the Ohio Society, S. A. R. He is also a Mason, an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, a Woodman, and a Knight of the Ancient Essenic Order, besides belonging to the ladies auxiliaries of the above orders.
MORGAN FAUSETT.
A well improved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred acres, situated in Madison township, Licking county, has been the home of Morgan Fausett since 1906. He is a native son of the Buckeye state, his birth having occurred in Knox county, July 13, 1845, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth (Hayes) Fausett, both of whom were natives of Knox county, where they spent their entire lives.
Morgan Fausett was reared to the pursuits of agricultural life, his boyhood and youth being spent on the home farm in Knox county, while in the common schools of that section he acquired his education. When he reached maturity the home farm, comprising three hundred and seventy acres of land, came into his possession and he retained the ownership until 1885, when he disposed of the property and removed to Kansas, where he invested his money in six hundred acres of farm land in Ness county. After eighteen months spent thereon, however, he traded the land for three hundred acres in Wayne county, Illinois, on which he took up his abode and made his home for four years. During this time he also engaged in the real-estate business. In this undertaking he met with excellent
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