USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 80
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In the acquirement of an education F. M. Brooks attended the public schools and when he had attained his majority he purchased the farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Mckean township, on which he has since made his home. As the years went by he placed many substantial improvements on the property and in addition to the cultivation of the fields he made a specialty of raising and feeding stock of various kinds, both branches of his business proving remunerative by reason of his well directed energy and capable management. When he had acquired a comfortable competence he put aside the active work of the fields and is now living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil, being well-known and highly-esteemed as one of the substantial and representative citizens of the community. There are four gas wells on his property.
Mr. Brooks has been married twice. On the 25th of December, 1856. he wedded Miss Hannah Wilson, a native of Licking county and a daughter of Samuel and Angeline (Peasley) Wilson, whose family numbered three children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were natives of the state of New York, but became residents of this county at an early day, and here continued to make their home until called to their final rest. By his marriage to Miss Hannah Wilson, Mr. Brooks had eight
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children, namely : Lucy, who is the widow of William Farris and makes her home in Preble county, Ohio; Angeline, the wife of William Lake, of Licking county; Atta, the wife of Charles Jones, of this county; Wilson, who is also a resident of this county; Nancy, who is the widow of B. Scales and resides in Licking county ; Oscar, who is deceased; and John and Samuel, both of Licking county. The mother of these children passed away on the 2d of May, 1876, and on the 17th of June, 1877, Mr. Brooks was again married, his second union being with a sister of his first wife. Unto them have been born three children, as follows: F. D., who is on the home farm, born January 16, 1879; Mabel G., born July 25, 1882, the wife of C. J. Tatham, of Guernsey county, Ohio; and one who died in infancy. Mr. Brooks also has twenty-one grandchildren.
In his political views Mr. Brooks has always been a stalwart democrat and has capably served as treasurer and trustee of his township. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 350, at Granville, in which he has filled all of the chairs. Having made his home here for almost three-fourths of a century, Mr. Brooks has most intimate knowledge of the history of Licking county and especially of MeKean township, and it is with pleasure that we pre- sent his record to our readers. He has seen the wild prairie land converted into rich farms, roads laid out, the streams bridged, and churches and schools built until the county today bears little resemblance to the district in which his boyhood was passed, for then the settlers had to endure many of the hardships incident to pioneer life. His friends in the community are many and the fact that a large number of them have known him from his boyhood days to the present is an indi- cation that his has been an honorable and upright career.
CHARLES V. ARMSTRONG.
Charles V. Armstrong is cashier of the Johnstown Bank, which is the oldest banking institution of this city, and throughout the entire period of his connection with financial interests here he has borne an unsullied reputation while his con- centration of purpose, his close application and his unwearied industry have car- ried the bank forward to its present commendable place in the business world, bearing important relation to the public interest. Honored and respected by all who know him, and most of all where he is best known, Charles V. Armstrong may justly be classed with the representative residents of Licking county. He is one of Ohio's native sons, his birth having occurred in Cardington on the 5th of June, 1852. His parents were John and Caroline (Van Dorn) Armstrong. The father was a prominent farmer and the son was reared upon the homestead farm, assisting in the various tasks that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, from the time of early spring planting until crops are gathered in the late autumn. His preliminary education was acquired in the district schools and supplemented by two years' study in the Columbus high school. He also attended a commercial school in Cleveland, and was thus trained in business methods, afterward becoming a bookkeeper in the Central Bank of Columbus, where he remained five years. He resigned his position in the bank to engage in farming, and for five years devoted
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his energies to general agricultural pursuits. The need of a bank in Johnstown became apparent and in November, 1883, Mr. Armstrong became associated with Messrs. Derthick, Buxton & Kasson in the organization of the Johnstown Bank. He was then chosen cashier and has continuously filled this position, the success of the institution being attributable in large measure to his efforts and industry. 'This was the pioneer bank of Johnstown and as such has had much to do with the education of the people in the matter and methods of banking business. One year after the organization of the bank Mr. Armstrong became a partner and following the retirement of Mr. Kasson the firm name became Derthick, Buxton & Arm- strong. This continued until 1897, when Mr. Derthick died. Mr. Buxton and Mr. Armstrong remained as partners, conducting the bank under the original name. It is today one of the strong financial institutions of the county and the broad experience of Mr. Armstrong combined with his reliability and enterprise have been leading factors in its success.
On the 22d of February, 1882, Mr. Armstrong was married to Miss Mary M. Beattie, a daughter of John and Lamatta (Van Dorn) Beattie, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and they are well known in Johnstown, occupying an enviable place in the social circles of the city. Mr. Armstrong is a public-spirited man, manifest- ing deep interest in community affairs and is now serving as a member of the town board, while for a number of years he was a member of the board of educa- tion. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, which finds in him a stalwart champion. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Johnstown than Mr. Armstrong. He has been an important factor in its business circles and his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating industry and energy that never flags. Efforts to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community receive his endorsement and his hearty cooperation.
JOHN W. MOORE.
The free and independent life of the farm has elicited the energies of many men who have tilled the soil to their advantage, among whom is John W. Moore, an agriculturist of Harrison township, this county, his birth having occurred in Newark, January 10, 1846. He is a son of William and Katherine (Taylor) Moore, natives of England, the father having been born in Yorkshire, in May. 1815, and the mother on March 18, 1814, he having come to Newark with his brother, John B. Moore, when he was in his sixteenth year. By trade he was a plasterer and followed contract work for a number of years in partnership with Jesse Hoover. His mother came to this country with her brother, Andrew Taylor, and departed this life in Newark October 25, 1900, when in her eighty-fifth year. They had two children : Frances, deceased ; and John W.
Until he was nine years of age John W. Moore resided in Newark, Ohio, where ship, this county. He lost his father six months after their arrival and there, excepting the time he spent in the army, he resided, taking care of the farm until he attended school and later removed with his family to a farm in Mary Ann town-
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he was twenty-one years of age, when he enlisted on May 2, 1864, in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Legg, and was honorably discharged September 5, 1864. After the war he located in Madi- son township and, after a residence of three years there, returned to Newark, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick for three years, at the expiration of which time he gave up the enterprise and located on a farm in Union township and then in Harrison, where he has lived and has continued since 1879. His farm contains sixty-three acres located on the Lancaster road about one mile south of Kirkersville and he also owns an eighty acre farm situated about one mile east of that place, both farms being under a high state of cultivation and provided with all necessary means with which to pursue agriculture. In addition to doing a general farming business, producing hay and the various kinds of grain, he is also interested in stock-raising to some extent and deals lightly in cattle and sheep.
Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Olive Young, a native of this county and a daughter of David Young, and by her he had one daughter, Fannie, who resides in Newark. On October 10, 1871, he wedded Margaret M. Sumerville, a native of Brookville, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, where her nativity occurred December 30, 1846, and a daughter of James and Nancy (Caldwell) Sumerville, natives of Ireland, Miss Sumerville having come to this country alone. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have the following children: Mary Isabelle, wife of Sherman Rees, of Union township; William, who resides in Montana; Margaret, who became the wife of William McGregor, the couple residing in Monongahela city, Washington county, Pennsylvania ; and John W., who is at home with his parents. Politically Mr. Moore has always been affiliated with the republican party, by reason of the fact that after duly considering its principles he believes them to contain those protective policies by which the prosperity of the country may be maintained and its financial conditions enhanced and consequently, during campaigns he is always in evidence to do what he can in securing the election of its candidates. He belongs to Millersport Lodge, A. F. & A. M., meeting at Millersport, and is a member of Fletcher's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee and, being a man of noble, Christian character and one whose life has always reflected the goodness of the faith he holds, his example has always been such as to add to the moral and spiritual betterment of the community.
JACOB M. FRIDDLE.
Johnstown has high regard for Jacob M. Friddle, one of its active, energetic business men, now conducting an insurance and real-estate office. He is, more- over, one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Monroe township, December 20, 1861. His parents, Nimrod and Harriet (Huffman) Friddle, were both residents here for many years. The father came to Ohio from Virginia, while the mother was born in Knox county, this state. The year 1840 witnessed the arrival of Nimrod Friddle in Licking county, where he had turned his attention to farming, owning and cultivating a good tract of land, which consti- tuted the homestead upon which his son Jacob M. was reared. The latter early
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became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agricul- turist. He was educated in the district schools until he had mastered the elemen- tary branches of learning, while later he attended the public schools of Johnstown. Subsequently he pursued a course in pharmacy and in October, 1893, received his certificate from the state board of pharmacy, after successfully passing the examination at Cleveland, Ohio. Returning to Johnstown, he here opened a drug store, which he conducted successfully for twelve years, or until the store was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1904. He then opened a real-estate and insurance office, writing both life and fire insurance and dealing extensively in property. He has negotiated many important realty transfers, has made judicious investments and profitable sales and his comprehensive knowledge of realty values enables him to wisely direct the investments made by his clients. He has been closely identified with the business life of Johnstown since 1887, in which year he engaged in the grocery and meat business prior to establishing a drug store. In connection with his present business interests he is now acting as notary public and does consider- able business of this character.
Mr. Friddle is well known as a valued member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of democracy and is active in the work of his party. Moreover, he is a wide-awake. alert business man of sound judgment, who has not only furthered his own inter- ests but has done his full part in bringing Johnstown to its present commercial importance.
JOHN FRY.
John Fry, who is of that sturdy and aggressive Holland Dutch stock which is so prominent in the nation's financial circles and has done much to produce our present advanced state of civilization, is now carrying on farming and stock-raising in Franklin township. He was born in Hartford township, Licking county, Decem- ber 6, 1842. His grandfather, Michael Fry, came from Pennsylvania, in which state he located upon leaving his native land, and settled on a farm in Franklin township, Licking county, at a time when much of the surrounding country was in an undeveloped woodland state. Here he pursued general farming until he departed this life. Among his children was Thomas Fry, who was born in the Keystone state and accompanied his parents to this county, where his boyhood days were devoted chiefly to assisting his father in preparing the tract of land for cultivation. Here he remained, engaged in farming until his death in 188 ?. His wife, Ingober Bowers, was a native of this county, where she was united in marriage, and entered into rest in Franklin township in 1887. She reared a family of six children, namely: Jacob and Nancy, both deceased; Sarah, who resides with her brother; John; Susanna, deceased ; and Mary, deceased wife of Jonathan Tavenner.
John Fry was reared on his father's farm where he spent his boyhood days, assisting in the daily routine of agricultural life and during the winter seasons acquiring his education in the district schools. After completing his studies he
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settled down on the home place, where he has since been actively engaged in farming. He has always devoted his time and energies to tilling the soil and to stock-raising and has made a study of the soils and by carefully adapting his crops he has been successful from year to year in deriving abundant harvests. While he does not engage in stock-raising to a large extent he keeps on hand a sufficient number of head of thoroughbred cattle and sheep to make the invest- ment a paying one and his stock, being well fed and sleek, generally meet with ready sale and amply remunerate him for the energy he devotes to this department of his business. He owns sixty-eight and a half acres of land, all of which is improved, with the exception of a few acres which he keeps in timber, and is provided with every convenience with which to make farming a paying proposition. On his place is an excellent dwelling house together with a substantial barn and other outbuildings. Mr. Fry's political views have always been on the side of the democratic party since he is a believer in the low tariff policies it advocates and, being of the opinion that its principles, if constantly kept in vogue throughout the nation, will not only maintain the original freedom and liberty of its institu- tions but also insure its finances from destructive crises and preserve the permanent prosperity of the country. While he has never held any local offices he has always favored such measures as in his opinion were purposed for the general good of the community.
STEPHEN NESSLEY.
Stephen Nessley, who is numbered among the aggressive agriculturists of Union township, Licking county, and whose ancestors have for many years been associated with the farming and stock-raising interests of this part of the state, was born one mile south of Wagram, Etna township, this county, October 3, 1849. His grandfather, Abraham Nessley, who was a native of Virginia, located in this county at an early day and here engaged in farming, together with working at his trade as a carpenter, until he departed this life. In his family were five sons and two daughters, among whom was David Nessley, whose birth occurred in West Virginia, July 20, 1817, and who when a lad came with his parents to Ohio, set- tling near Pleasantville, Fairfield county, where he remained until he became a young man and then removed with the family to this county, where he spent most of his life in agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in Kirkersville in the year 1900, where he had spent his latter years in retirement. He had twice been united in marriage, first to Mary Ridenour, who departed this life February 19, 1872, and upon his second marriage he gave up active life. By his first wife he had three children, namely: Julia Ann, who departed this life on December 9, 1841, while in her thirtieth year; John II., born September 10, 1844, who resides in Omaha, Nebraska; and Stephen.
In 1850, when he was one year of age, Stephen Nessley was brought by his parents to Union township and they located on the farm he now cultivates, which is situated one mile east of Kirkersville. In the district schools of this place he acquired his education and under the instruction of his father perfected himself
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in the art of husbandry, in which he has since been successful. He owns the farm of ninety acres upon which his father settled and has made most of the improve- ments which are now in evidence upon the premises. He has a good dwelling house and his farm is provided with a roomy and substantial barn, together with all conveniences necessary to successfully pursue general agriculture and stock- raising. He produces general crops, such as hay and the various grains, and while he does not deal largely in live-stock he keeps on hand the best specimens of cattle and sheep. His farm, though small in acreage, is large in its yielding power, and inasmuch as Mr. Nessley has devoted much time to the study of soils, which has enabled him to enrich his ground and by the proper adaptation of crops derive from the soil its maximum productive power his harvests have been in excess of those reaped from many farms which have a greater number of acres.
On March 11, 1875, Stephen Nessley was united in marriage to Marcella A. Jackson, a native of Delaware county, this state, where her birth occurred Feb- ruary 8, 1852, and where she resided until the time of her marriage. She was a daughter of William and Katharine (MeKitric) Jackson, her father having been a native of England, who departed this life on December 13, 1895, in his eighty- fourth year. Her mother came to this part of the country in childhood with her parents, James and Mary (Smith) McKitric, who were among the early settlers of Etna township, coming from Pennsylvania, and she departed this life Novem- ber 13, 1890, when seventy-two years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Nessley have been born : Arlington C., whose birth occurred March 1, 1876, and who married Clara (Slough) Nessley, and now residing on a farm located one-half mile north of that of his father, the couple having three children: Mary L., George Pearline and Stephen S .; Bertha E., wife of W. H. Lane, residents of Newark, who have two children, Etelka N. and George E .; and Harold J., who was born November 29, 1890, a student at the university in Athens, Ohio. Mr. Nessley's political affilia- tions have always been with the republican party, its protective policies appealing to him as best adapted to develop the natural resources of the country and con- tribute to both the financial worth of the individual and the nation and hence he has always been loyal in his support of the party's candidates. He belongs to Lodge, No. 587, I. O. O. F., meeting in Kirkersville and, being a man who has always lived worthy of the respect and confidence of his neighbors, he is a valuable asset to the community and is numbered among the representative citizens of the township.
RICHARD SUTPHEN.
General farming commands the attention of Richard Sutphen in Union town- ship, this county, his birth having occurred near Basil, Fairfield county, August 20, 1840. His parents were James and Sarah (Williams) Sutphen, his father a native of New Jersey, his birth having occurred near New Brunswick, and his mother, of this county. At an early date the elder Mr. Sutphen came to Fairfield county, locating on a farm near the birthplace of the subject of this review, and there continued the pursuit of agriculture until his death, which occurred in his
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fifty-sixth year, his wife having survived him and lived to the age of eighty-four years. In their family were seven children, namely: William, deceased; Eliza- beth Weisner, deceased ; James, who passed away in Columbia, Tennessee, April 14, 1864, while a soldier in the First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry; Richard; Mary Katharine, who departed this life in her seventeenth year; Amanda Snyder, deceased; and Sarah, wife of Peter Fritz, of Columbus, Ohio.
On a farm in his native county Richard Sutphen was reared, assisting his father in his agricultural duties, and during the winter season taking advantage of the educational opportunities offered by the district school. He resided with his parents until he was united in marriage, at which period of his life he pur- chased a farm adjoining one which his father-in-law owned, the farm containing one hundred and forty acres of excellent land, which he cultivated until the spring of 1893, during which year he sold the property and took up residence in Colum- bus, Ohio, that his son might attend the state university. In 1894 he bought his present farm and five years later, after his son had completed his educatoin, moved here, where he has since resided. His farm contains one hundred and fifty-two acres of highly-improved land, the premises being provided with an excellent dwell- ing and every convenience with which to carry on farming to the best advantage, and aside from engaging in general agriculture he is also interested in stock- raising, making a feature of cattle and hog breeding. His property is very valua- ble, by reason of the fact that it is in the gas belt, and at present two pipe lines run through his farm, two wells being now on the property. Recently he disposed of his residence in Columbus, but owning other real estate there he is contemplating the erection of another residence in that place.
In 1865 Richard Sutphen was united in marriage to Mary A. Leonard, a native of Liberty township, Fairfield county, where she was born November 27, 1842, and a daughter of John and Hannah (Rees) Leonard, both of whom were born in that county and spent their lives there. He was at one time engaged in the merchandise business but subsequently gave it up and turned his attention to farming, which he pursued until he departed this life in his seventy-sixth year, his wife having passed away when in her sixty-fourth year. They reared a family of seven children, namely: Sebastian, deceased ; Mary A .; Martha MeCleary, of Fairfield county; Jesse, who also resides there; Frank, a resident of Columhus, Ohio; and Thomas and Minerva, both living in Fairfield county. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sutphen, namely: Clarence, who attended Delaware and Ada Colleges, and who for the past fifteen years has been engaged in the manufacture of mechanical fire apparatus in Columbus, where he resides with his two children, Harry and Queen; Zula, wife of Charles E. Meisse, of Hebron, the couple having two sons, Raymond and Richard, their mother being a graduate of the Granville schools; John, who resides in Outville, and who has two sons, Gail and William Richard; and James L., a druggist, who was gradu- ated from the state university and who is now residing at home. The principles of the democratic party have always appealed to Mr. Sutphen as embodying the wisdom of the nation's greatest statesmen and as containing those policies which are best suited to advance the nation's interests and preserve its financial integrity consequently, he has always been a loyal supporter of the party, and his influence is regularly in evidence during campaigns in order to do what he can in securing
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the election of its candidates. In local affairs he has taken considerable interest, and for seven terms served as township assessor and for a number of years was land appraiser. IIe is well known throughout the county for his political zeal, while in Fairfield county his home was noted as a meeting place for political can- didates, and during election times he has been accustomed to entertain many office-seekers. He and his family hold membership in the Presbyterian church at Outville, in which they are active workers, and Mr. Sutphen being a man who has aiways lived a deserving life, both from a religious and business point of view, is one of the most highly respected men of the township.
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