USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 70
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On the 2d of August, 1885, Mr. Pratt was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hursey, daughter of Simon and Charlotte (Bateson) Hursey, of Delaware county. Following his marriage Mr. Pratt began farming for himself, upon a tract of land which he purchased in Monroe township near the Delaware county line. There year after year he tilled the fields and harvested his crops, remaining upon that place until March, 1906, when he purchased from the heirs the old home farm, where his parents had so long resided and which thus again became the Pratt family homestead. Here he is now living with his family of four children, two sons and two daughters, John R., Benjamin H., Milley L. and Charlotta Louisa.
In addition to his extensive farming interests Mr. Pratt was engaged for three years, beginning in 1891, in the hay and grain business in Johnstown, and was an extensive buyer and shipper of farm products. He has also been for some years a large stock raiser and also a dealer in stock at certain seasons of the year, buying and shipping to the markets of this and other states. His business inter- ests have become extensive and important and have been well managed. Tireless energy, keen perception and a genius for formulating and executing well devised plans, are salient characteristics in his business career and have proven elements in a success which is as honorable as it is gratifying.
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In addition to his growing and prosperous interests, Mr. Pratt has held to the opinion that public affairs demand a certain share of every man's time and attention and he has never been tardy in performing what he considers a public duty. The work of general improvement and all movements calculated to pro- mote the public good have ever found in him a supporter and cooperant factor. He has served the public as justice of the peace and as school director and in other public capacities and his aid in matters of general welfare is never sought in vain. He is a republican in politics and in 1900 he was census enumerator for his township. He takes an active interest in promoting the growth and securing the success of his party, while frequently he serves as a delegate to county, district and state conventions. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, his membership being in their respective lodges in Johns- town. Ile is emphatically a prominent man of the community and is not only active in business but has also been influential in promoting the best interests of all the people and contributing to public prosperity as well as to individual success.
BERNARD J. MATTINGLY.
Stock-raising and general farming command the attention of Bernard J. Mat- tingly in Jersey township, this county, where he has resided for a number of years. His birth occurred in Muskingum county, March 22, 1861. His parents were Christopher and Theresa (Durbin) Mattingly, his father, who was a son of James Mattingly of the state of Maryland, having gone to Muskingum county, in 1849. He made the trip from his native home in Maryland over the rugged mountain trails on horseback and when he arrived in Muskingum county he had little cap- ital but possessed what was of far greater worth to him -- a strong constitution and ambition to succeed. Being a man of sterling qualities and thoroughly honest, his ambition to succeed materialized, as is manifest from the fact that he is now probably the largest individual landowner in that county, not only possessing large farms there but at the same time owning a vast acreage in Knox and Licking counties. Upon coming to Ohio he earned his first money by rail-splitting but subsequently, through industry, honesty, frugality and perseverance, he won pros- perity until he is now one of the most considerable financial factors in his county. Ile is also well known through his contributions to public and private charities. He has reared, educated and comfortably established in life a large family, and among his children are: James, of Zanesville; the Rev. Jerome B. Mattingly, pas- tor of the Catholic church at Lancaster. Ohio; Ida, who became the wife of John MeLaughlin, a farmer of Muskingum county; Dennis, also an agriculturist of that county, now residing on the old homestead of six hundred acres; Bernard J. : and Mary, deceased. The parents now reside near Zanesville, Ohio. Mrs. Mattingly is a descendant of the Durbin family of Knox county, well known and prominent in the affairs of that county.
On his father's farm Bernard J. Mattingly was reared and during his boy- hood days engaged in agricultural duties, in the meantime attending the district school where he acquired his education. He remained on the home farm until his
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marriage, when he began farming for himself on the Baptist Durbin farm, the old homestead of his mother's people, located in Knox county, where he remained until the year 1889, when he removed to his present farm, where he has since de- voted his time to general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He has an excellent tract of land containing four hundred acres, and makes a specialty of buying and shipping cattle, sheep and hogs. He was formerly one of the largest shippers of stock to eastern markets from this locality and also made extensive shipments of hay and grain. His farm is highly improved, being provided with a modern home, a capacious barn and other buildings, is also well fenced and drained, and in every particular is one of the finest pieces of land in the county.
On August 10, 1886, Mr. Mattingly was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Sapp, a daughter of George and Delia Ann (White) Sapp, her father being a well known farmer of Knox county, while her mother departed this life several years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Mattingly were born : Christopher; George C .; Mary Ann ; Jerome F., deceased; Lucy ; Theresa ; Burnadette, deceased; and Grace Genevieve Mr. Mattingly is a democrat and takes a deep interest in the affairs of his party, always doing what he can by his influence during campaigns to secure the election of its candidates. He has served the township as trustee and has also officiated on the school board of Knox and Licking counties, but not being ambitious for public preferment he does not seek higher office as he wishes rather to devote his time to his private business affairs. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, meeting at Johnstown, and with the members of his family attends the Catholic church. He is held in high regard by all who know him and always favors every measure providing for public improvement and which, in his opinion, will in any degree promote the interests of the community. Mr. Mattingly has an ideal country. home, permeated with refinement and culture, and his wife, who is a noble, christian lady, is well known throughout the community for her charity and hospitality. In addition to his country residence he also owns considerable business property and a dwelling in Johnstown, the house being furnished and always ready for the reception of the members of his family when they desire to spend a few months in the city.
MILTON KELSEY.
The commercial interests of Hebron find a worthy representative in Milton Kelsey, who is now conducting an extensive business as a dealer in lumber and building material. He possesses strong purpose and indefatigable energy and these qualities enable him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes. As he is widely recognized as a leading business man of the community, his record cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He was born in 1860, in Hebron, and has always remained a resident of the village, with the development and growth of which the name of Kelsey has been long inseparably connected. His father was Ira E. Kelsey, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume. Milton Kelsey was reared under the parental roof and attended the public schools of Hebron, afterward spending three years in the state uni-
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versity. Starting out in business life, he worked for his father in the tile factory until 1891, when, owing to his father's death, he succeeded to the business, which he managed for three years. He then entered the shipping business as a dealer in hay and grain and continued in this field until the fall of 1908, his annual sales amounting to about one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, and recently he erected a storeroom. On retiring from the hay and grain business he became a dealer in lumber and building material and has since been thus identified with the commercial interests of his native town. In addition to his business interests in Hebron he owns fifty acres, constituting a good farm within the corporation limits of the village.
Mr. Kelsey was married in 1887 to Miss Mary Hutchison, of Basil, Ohio, who died leaving one son, Irving, who is with his father in business. For twenty years Mr. Kelsey remained a widower and then was married in 1908 to Mrs. Minnie Carlile Faller. In his fraternal relations he is connected with the Masonic Lodge of Hebron and with the Warren Chapter, R. A. M., at Newark. In politics he is independent and is also interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community. He has served as a member of the village council and on the board of education. The same spirit of progressiveness characterizes his public service as is manifested in his control of his private business interests. Recognizing the fact that industry and diligence are the basis of all success, he has used those qualities in gaining the prosperity which he now enjoys. By the consensus of public opinion he is regarded as one of the leading business men and representative citizens of this part of the county.
JURDON PATTERSON.
For something over one hundred years the Patterson family has been identified with the agricultural and stock-raising interests of this county. Early in the nineteenth century his ancestors located in this region, being among the pioneer settlers who came into this section of the country when the land was in its primi- tive condition and, bravely meeting the hardships and privations of pioneer life, assisted in its cultivation until it was transformed into fertile fields. In those early days one could not come into that region and buy or rent a farm which stood in readiness for cultivation because most of the land was in its original state and had never felt the plowshare nor produced crops of waving grain. Tim- ber and stony ground greeted the eyes of the first settlers and while the soil was good, yet, being overgrown with underbrush and in every respect in a rough state. it was only by hard and incessant labor that they were able to convert it into pleas- ant and fruitful farming country. In was in Burlington township, on August 27, 1827, that the birth of Jurdon Patterson occurred. He was the son of Adam and Ann (Crow) Patterson and his father was born in Augusta county, Virginia. and his mother near Wheeling, West Virginia. In the year 1810 Adam Patterson emigrated to Licking county from his old home in Virginia and purchased a large tract of land which he cleared and put into condition for farming and upon which he lived and labored until he departed this life, in April, 1855, preceding his wife
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into that land from which no traveler returns by forty-five years. They reared a family of seven children, the following ones surviving: Matilda, wife of E. R. Moore; Cordelia, who was united in marriage with A. Householder, of this town- ship; Addison; and Jurdon.
In his boyhood days Jurdon Patterson attended the district schools during the winter season and in the summer time assisted his father in his labors on the farm. He remained at home, engaging daily in agricultural pursuits, until he attained the age of twenty-eight years and about that time, his father retiring from active life, he rented the homestead which he cultivated for a period of ten years, during which time he was especially successful and succeeded in accumulating the means with which to purchase a farm for himself. He bought seventy acres of land in Burlington township, which he cultivated and upon which he lived until the year 1870, when he removed to the farm which he now has under cultivation. He has altogether two hundred and thirteen acres of excellent land. He is among the enterprising and progressive farmers of the county and through careful manage- ment and hard work has become a wealthy and prosperous husbandman and has also won the respect of the entire community.
In the year 1855 Mr. Patterson wedded Miss Ellen Folley, a native of the state of Virginia. To this union was born one daughter. His wife passed away in the year 1856 and Mr. Patterson, in 1861, was united in marriage with Mary A. Warner, of this county. They had two children, one of whom died in infancy. The other, Mary E., is the wife of L. L. Edman, who resides in Burlington town- ship. Mrs. Patterson departed this life in 1863 and Mr. Patterson afterward wedded Eliza Stevens, who died January 20, 1867. Mr. Patterson next married Mrs. Amy Keckley, with whom he is now living. Mr. Patterson gives his political support to the democratic party in the principles of which he is a firm believer. He is a man of exceptional executive and administrative ability, as well as of keen business judgment, and has been called upon to serve the county in several respon- sible positions such as school director, county trustee and justice of the peace three terms. He has spent a long and useful life, being now in his eighty-second year, all of which time he has devoted to agricultural interests, and while he does not engage as actively in farming pursuits as in former days his health and vigor still permits him to attend to many farm duties although he prefers now to enjoy somewhat of the leisure and comfort with which his hard and earnest toil has generously rewarded him.
PETER H. GEIGER.
Peter H. Geiger, who for some time conducted a general store in Kirkersville, and subsequently engaged in general farming one mile north of Hebron but is now in partnership with his brother David, operating the Hebron Flour mills, was born near Hebron, Licking county, November 14, 1854, a son of David and Nancy (Roads) Geiger. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Geiger, served in the war of 1812 and departed this life at Pleasantville, this state. In the last named place, a small town of Fairfield county, David Geiger was born in 1822 while his wife's
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birth occurred in 1825, in Union township, where they located after their mar- riage. There Mr. Geiger spent his remaining days, entering into rest May 14, 1874, his wife, who survived him by twenty-nine years, passing away in the year 1903. He followed agricutural pursuits all his days on a farm containing three hundred and twenty-five acres and was well known throughout the community as an upright and industrious man. He was also a stanch democrat who was always enthusiastic in presenting the principles of his party. While he was not affiliated with any religious body he attended divine services with his wife who was a member of the Baptist church. Mrs. Geiger belonged to a family well known in this part of the state as they came here in the early part of the century when much of the land was occupied by the Indians. They were among the advance guards of civilization through whose energies the forest lands were cleared away and the ground made ready for cultivation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Geiger were born ten children : Jacob M., who passed away in his twelfth year; Emily, who resides in Fairfield county, near Hebron; Worthington R., who lives in Union township; Clara, the wife of David House, residing in Hebron; Jesse E., who resides on the old homestead a mile and a half west of Hebron: David M., who is in partner- ship with his brother; Peter H., in the milling business: Theophilus F., who oper- ates a farm situated in Union township a mile and a half south of Hebron; Millie, who resides with a sister in Newark; and Rhoda, the wife of Elmer Stewart, of Newark.
On the farm with his parents Peter HI. Geiger was reared, becoming acquainted with the work of the fields under the supervision of his father and acquiring his education in the village school. He remained at home until he was nineteen years of age, at which time he went to Fairfield county, where he remained for six years, cultivating thirty-five acres of land which he owned. At the expiration of that period, disposing of his property there, he invested in one hundred acres of land in Lawrence county, Tennessee, which he tilled for two years and then traded for a general store in Kirkersville. After conducting the business for the brief period of two months, he became dissatisfied with the enterprise and, disposing of his interests, purchased the farm in Fairfield county which he formerly owned, there spending six years. He next located on a farm one mile north of Hebron, where he tilled his fields for about eleven years, when he sold out and purchased an inter- est in the Hebron mills in 1903. In this enterprise he is in partnership with his brother David M., and the plant is one of the largest of the kind in this part of the county, being thoroughly equipped with modern machinery and the most advanced milling processes, the capacity of the mill being fifty barrels. Since asso- ciating himself with this enterprise Mr. Geiger, through his industry and business ability, has succeeded in adding largely to the volume of trade, which is gradually increasing so that the mill is among the most remunerative industries of the township.
In 1880 Mr. Geiger wedded Rachael Parrish, who was born in Walnut town- ship, Fairfield county, Ohio, October 14, 1856, and is a daughter of Alfred and Jemima (Parrish) Parrish. Mr. and Mrs. Geiger had three children: Gertrude, who entered into rest in her twenty-first year; and Perry C. and Frederick L., who reside with their parents. Mr. Geiger gives his support to the democratic party and although he does not aspire to office and is not an active politician he
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is familiar with the political situations of the day and is sufficiently interested in his party as to use his influence as well as his vote during campaigns to secure the election of its candidates. He is a liberal supporter of the Baptist church, where he and his wife attend services and, being a man who is upright in all his dealings, endeavoring as nearly as possible to conduct himself in harmony with the teachings of his church, he is a most desirable citizen and is held in high favor as a business man throughout the county.
JOHN P. SWISHER.
John P. Swisher, long prominent in agricultural circles of Union township, Licking county, is now living in retirement after a long life devoted to farming. He was born October 14, 1837, in Lima township, a son of Joseph and Dorothy (Houser) Swisher, his father having been a native of Virginia, while his mother was a native of Ohio. In their family were seven children, namely: Sarah, who became the wife of Oscar F. Wilson, of Columbus, Ohio; O. Rhoda, who was united in marriage to Ebenezer Graham, and lives in Madison, Indiana; John P., our subject ; Nancy, the wife of George Whitehead ; Mary, a resident of Columbus, Ohio; Jacob Sennett, who lives in Colorado; and Stephen, who makes his home in Omaha.
On his father's farm in Lima township John P. Swisher spent his boyhood days, acquiring his preliminary education in the neighboring schools and subse- quently taking a three years' course in the Columbus high school. After complet- ing his studies he remained on the home farm until he was seventeen years of age, and then taught school for awhile, later serving as a clerk for about eight years, at the expiration of which time he commenced farming in Licking township. He began his agricultural life on a farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres which he had obtained from his father-in-law, and to which from time to time he added until he owned a magnificent place consisting of something over six hundred acres. He has since given his son and his son-in-law each a farm of one hundred acres, and sold to them the reservoir farm, and has retired from active life and removed to Hebron locating in an elegant new residence on Basin street, in which he still resides.
On March 4, 1861, Mr. Swisher wedded Miss Sarah Green, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Green, born in 1839. They were the parents of two children, namely: Karey A., who resides in Millersport, Ohio, engaged with a Mr. Pence in the hay and grain business. He married Florence Stoolfire, a daughter of Charles Stoolfire, and they have one daughter, Louise; and Mary, who became the wife of George Stinson, of Utica, Ohio, and has had five children, two of whom survive, namely, Carl and Thelma. Mr. Swisher does not ally himself with any particular political party, as it has always been his opinion that one should vote for the can- didate, after having duly considered his qualifications, rather than for party prin- ciples. Consequently he reserves the right to examine the ballots of the several political cults and mark his ticket independently. For forty-seven years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is an active worker and of which he has served as steward for some time. Being a man possessed of those
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qualities of character which add dignity to his person and command respect, he has been very influential in his community, endeavoring to live in obedience to the teachings of Christ, in whom he anchors his hope for a higher and better life. His industry and enterprise have not only been a benefit to him and his family, but also to the entire county, in the financial circles of which he figures prominently, being a stockholder in the Hebron Bank, the Park National Bank of Newark, and the Millersport Bank. He is favorably known throughout that entire region and enjoys both the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact.
McKINDRA D. SHRADER.
No history of Johnstown would be complete without extended and personal reference to McKindra D. Shrader who is now the efficient and popular mayor of the city and is giving to Johnstown a practical, businesslike administration and is, moreover, well known through his connection with commercial interests here. being a dealer in hay, grain, live stock, vehicles and farm implements. A gentle- man of determined spirit and progressive ideas, he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and it was through no wish on his part but as the result of a desire on the part of his fellow townsmen that he consented to become the chief executive officer.
Mr. Shrader was born in Liberty township, Licking county, February 14, 1860, and is a son of Eliud and Lucy (Wise) Shrader. In his boyhood days the father came from Pennsylvania to Ohio with his parents and was reared in this state. The mother was a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and spent her entire life here. Eliud Shrader followed the occupation of farming as a life work and his son. MeKindra D. Shrader, remained upon the homestead farm until he was twenty-three years of age. His education was obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood, and when not busy with his text-books he gave his attention to the work of the fields, assisting in the cultivation of the crops from the time of early spring planting until after the harvests were gathered in the late autumn. He was married on the 18th of September, 1883, to Miss Alda Emerson, a daugh- ter of Monroe and Charity (Platt) Emerson. Two children have been born of this union, Grace, now the wife of Ralph Hubbard, and Roe, who is engaged in clerical work.
For six years after his marriage Mr. Shrader engaged in farming in Liberty township and then put aside the work of the fields to become connected with the commercial interests of Johnstown. He became a dealer in hay, grain, vehicles. farm implements and live stock, and from 1895 until 1903 was engaged in the lumber, coal and live stock business at Alexandria, Licking county. While resid- ing there he was called to public office, serving as clerk of St. Albans township for five years, and also as township trustee for two years. Since his removal to Johns- town he has engaged extensively in the hay. grain, live stock, vehicle and farm implement business and is reckoned among the largest and most successful dealers in his line. By energy and close application he has built up a profitable business. No matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge as to the cause of sur-
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