USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 89
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building the church of that denomination in his home locality. His demise, which occurred in Licking county on the 17th of April, 1891, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for his many excellent traits of character had gained him the warm esteem and regard of all with whom he came in contact. His wife, whose birth occurred at Martinsburg, West Virginia, January 13, 1815, and who was brought to this county by her father, Robert Fulton, passed away in 1887. Unto this worthy couple were born four children, namely : Martin D., who served as a soldier in the Civil war and is now a resident of Newark township; John F., who is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Newark ; Mary J., the wife of George A. Ball, of Newark; and Charles R., of this review.
The last named has always remained on the farm on which his birth occurred and has been engaged in general agricultural pursuits as a life work, though in early manhood he also taught in the district school during five winter terms. As before stated, his farm comprises one hundred and seventy-three acres in Newark township and in addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he makes a pecialty of raising shorthorn cattle, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income.
In 1876 Mr. Hartshorn was united in marriage to Miss Laura Glick, a native of Granville township and a daughter of George and Rosella (Caldwell) Glick, both of whom were born in Ohio. Hugh Caldwell, great-grandfather of Mrs. Hartshorn, participated in the Revolutionary war and in 1814 made his way from Pennsylvania to this state, passing away shortly after his arrival here. A widow and ten children were left to mourn his death. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn have been born six children : J. Walter, a practicing dentist of Toledo; William G., who conducts a theater and skating rink in Steubenville; and Harold, Eugene, Martha and Guy, all at home.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Hartshorn has given his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as a member of the township board of education for more than thirty years, having also acted as presi- dent of the board. His wife and children are devoted and faithful members of the Baptist church of Newark and, like the husband and father, are well and favorably known throughout the community. A man of integrity and worth, he has the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has been associated and well deserves mention in this volume as a worthy native son of Licking county.
JOHN PARKER.
John Parker is now living largely retired in Newark but for many years was actively and closely associated with agricultural and stock-raising interests. He started out in life empty-handed, early learning the value of unremitting dili- gence and determination, and by means of his unfailing industry has attained the substantial place which he now occupies as one of the men of affluence in Licking county. He was born in Mary Ann township, Licking county, March 15, 1852. His father, William H. Parker, was a native of Loudoun county. Virginia, born in December, 1821. and when six years of age he accompanied his parents to Lick-
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ing county, Ohio. He was a son of Farling B. Parker, who arrived in this state during the pioneer epoch in its history and entered from the government the northeast quarter of section 14, in Mary Ann township. There in the midst of the green woods he built a log cabin, cleared his land and also built and operated one of the first sawmills in this section. He was a blacksmith by trade and con- ducted a blacksmith shop for a number of years, being said to be one of the best workmen in that line ever in the county. He also made axes and edged tools and understood the tempering of steel as only a few smiths at the present time under- stand it. His business ability in various lines made him one of the best known men in this section of the county and all respected him for his personal worth as well as his business achievements. He was one of the active spirits in the carly development of the county and did much to further its material welfare and prog- ress. He died at the age of fifty-two years, having borne his full share in the work of public improvement.
His son, William H. Parker, was reared on the frontier and shared with the family in all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. There were few comforts in the little log cabin and much hard labor was required to develop and improve the farm as well as to carry on the other business interests with which the father was connected. On reaching manhood William H. Parker oper- ated the old water-power mill for about twenty-five years, when it passed into other hands. His entire life was passed in Mary Ann township, his last years being spent in a house on his son's farm, where he died at the age of eighty-five years, passing away in May, 1906. In early manhood he wedded Miss Ruth McVey, who was born in Pennsylvania and was a daughter of John McVey, one of the early settlers of Washington township, Licking county, Ohio. She died in 1881, at the age of fifty-eight years.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for John Parker in the days of his boyhood and youth. He acquired his education in the common schools and at the age of eighteen years started out to earn his own living. For three years he worked as a farm hand and then, desirous of estab- lishing a home of his own, he was married, on the 20th of January, 1874, to Miss Amy R. Evans, a daughter of Felix D. Evans, of Newton township. Following his marriage he began cultivating a farm belonging to his wife's grandfather, having charge thereof for two years. He then removed to the farm which he now owns, cultivating the place as a renter for three years. Later his wife died and he broke up housekeeping, after which he again worked as a farm hand. Two years later, however, he married Miss Susan M. Wince, of Fallsbury township, a daughter of Henry Wince, now deceased, who came to Licking county from Virginia, his native state. For a year following his second marriage Mr. Parker continued to work for his former employer and in 1881 he again rented the farm which he now owns. Three years later Mr. English, who owned the property, died, and Mr. Parker purchased a portion of the farm and as the years rolled by and he prospered, he added to the place from time to time until he came into posses- sion of the entire property. The farm today comprises two hundred three and a half acres and is one of the well improved properties of the county, equipped with good buildings, the latest improved machinery and other modern accessories. The fields are well tilled, good stock is raised and everything about the farm is indic-
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ative of the well directed labor and careful management of the owner. IIe is wholly a self-made man, having started out in life as a poor boy, dependent not only upon his own resources but also aiding in the support of his father's family. He was ambitious, however, and with a will to dare and to do he has continued to work indefatigably until he has become one of the prosperous agriculturists of Licking county. While he has given his attention to diversified farming for twenty years, he was also for a considerable period largely engaged in the raising of hogs and in fact was one of the most extensive hog raisers of the county, meet- ing with gratifying success in that undertaking.
By his first marriage Mr. Parker had one child, Cora E., now the wife of J. K. Mount, of Fallsbury township. The children of the second marriage are: Theodore and William A., who operate the home farm; and J. Rollen and Melvin, who are still under the parental roof.
In the spring of 1908 Mr. Parker left the farm and removed to Newark, while his two elder sons assumed the management and operation of the old home place. He, however, retains his stock interests on the farm and is now running some two hundred head of sheep as well as hogs, horses and cattle. His business interests have brought him a substantial return and his property gives him a very satisfactory annual income.
In community affairs Mr. Parker has taken a deep and helpful interest. He has served as a member of the township board of trustees for several years, was also a member of the school board for several years. He gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is an active and helpful member of the Christian church, who has served almost continuously on its official board for the past thirty- five years. Its teachings have been the guiding rule of his life and in all his business, social and political relations he has been honorable and upright, adhering to straightforward, manly principles.
JOHN COURSEN.
Mr. Coursen descends from a family which has been identified with the agri- cultural interests of the state of Ohio for many years and which is not only worthy of note in this line but which also deserves special mention inasmuch as it dates its history prior to the Revolutionary days and records the names of some of its members as having participated in the war for American independence. The family is originally of Holland-Dutch descent and the great-grandfather of Mr. Coursen was a soldier in the Colonial army. His grandfather, Isaac Coursen, a native of New Jersey, at a very early date migrated to the state of Pennsyl- vania and later located in this county. While a resident of Pennsylvania he made a trip in a flatboat on which he had a cargo of flour, pork and whisky, propelling it by means of a pole all the way to New Orleans. This was a long and weari- some journey and as it was taken during the season when the water is low in the Ohio river there was little current to run the boat and it was with difficulty that it could be forced down the river. On this trip he was accompanied by three companions and when they landed in New Orleans they not only sold their cargo,
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from which they derived a handsome sum, and as it was impossible to bring back the boat they disposed of it also. In those days there were very few steamers plying the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and one might be compelled to linger about for months before he could get passage from New Orleans up the stream. As there were no boats in sight Mr. Coursen and his companions agreed to start out for home on foot and walked all the way from New Orleans to Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania. Their tramp was largely through wild and uninhabited country and obviously food was scarce. However, they were inured to hardship and possessed all those qualities of endurance of the men of the early days and finally reached their destination in safety. On the way down the river they tied up for a time on the Ohio shores and were visited by natives from whom they purchased supplies and obtained information as to the excellent opportunities of that part of the country for farming purposes, and on the strength of this information Mr. Cour- sen later located in Licking county. He served in the war of 1812 and was among a number of soldiers who were detailed to drive the Greentown Indians from around about Newark, Ohio, back to their reservation, which lay somewhat to the north of that city. His paternal grandmother, Jane Orr Coursen, was a native of Pennsylvania, to which state her people emigrated from Ireland in the early days.
John Coursen was born in a log cabin on a farm which adjoins the one he has under cultivation, on May 27, 1845. His parents were Isaac and Elizabeth (Fresh) Coursen, his father having been born in this county where he spent his boyhood and when still of tender years was taken to Bowling Green township, where he spent his remaining days as an agriculturist. He was accounted one of the most successful farmers of the community and accumulated an estate which numbered something over three hundred acres and which he left in a highly improved condition. He labored almost incessantly until the time of his death in 1879 when he was interred in Fairmount cemetery. He was held in high repute for his honesty and straightforwardness and his death was lamented not only by the immediate members of his family, his passing being accounted a defi- nite loss to the community. In politics he always supported the democratic party and was ever active and enthusiastic during campaigns to enable the candidates of his party to secure the offices they sought. His wife was a native of Shenandoah county, Virginia, where she lived until she was sixteen years of age when she removed to Richland county, where she remained for one year and then located in Licking county, where she was married and departed this life. Her remains were interred beside those of her husband. They were the parents of the follow- ing children : Marion, who resides on a farm, adjoining the old place; Sarah Jane, wife of Clem T. Richter, a prosperous farmer of Bowling Green township; Harvey, who was an agriculturist of the same district; Susan; William; George W., who followed agricultural pursuits in Bowling Green township; and John.
On his father's farm John Coursen was born and reared and in order to obtain an education he attended the district school of Bowling Green township, pursuing his studies in what was known as the Orr schoolhouse. There he spent the most of the winter season and during the summer time assisted his father in performing his duties on the farm and thereby acquired that proficiency which later enabled him to so successfully carry on agricultural pursuits for himself. Having acquired his education he devoted his entire time to farming and remained
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on the old home place until about thirty-five years of age, when he then pur- chased sixty-eight acres of land on which he erected a house, barns and all the necessary buildings. At once he began the cultivation of his own land and has since continuously applied himself to general farming.
In 1881 Mr. Coursen was united in marriage with Miss Annie Field, of Bowling Green township and to this marriage was born one child, that died in infancy. His political faith has always been on the side of the democratic party and he has served as assessor and trustee of Bowling Green township. He is highly respected and esteemed throughout the community. Both he and his wife are adherents of the old school Baptist faith.
M. M. TAYLOR.
M. M. Taylor is a member of the board of public service, and received the compliment of being the only member reelected in 1907, a fact which is indicative of his personal popularity, of the ability with which he had previously discharged his duties, and of the confidence reposed in him. He was born in Newark Sep- tember 6, 1856, of the marriage of Jacob L. Taylor and Sarah E. McMullen. The father was a native of Annapolis, Maryland, and in 1853, arrived in Newark. He had been employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company in the city of Baltimore and at the removal of the headquarters of the road to Ohio he also came. After a few years in the employ of the company in this city he resigned to engage in business on his own account, believing that it would prove more profitable. He began dealing in ice and was a pioneer merchant in that line in this city. As the years passed he developed a good business which proved to him a profitable source of revenue, enabling him and his family to enjoy the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He was interested in politics, giving his support to the democratic party, but was never an aspirant for office. He married Sarah E. MeMullen, a native of Newark and a daughter of John B. McMullen who came from Pennsylvania in pioneer times, becoming identified with this city when it had scarcely emerged from villagehood and gave little promise of industrial or commercial activity. Mrs. Taylor still survives her husband and is now living in Newark.
M. M. Taylor is indebted to the public school system of his native city for the educational privileges he enjoyed. After leaving the high school he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store, and later entered the employ of the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad Company as baggage master, thus continuing for eighteen years, proving a most capable, trustworthy and trusted representative of the road. He was elected as a member of the board of public service in 1905 and as stated had the honor of being reelected in 1907, so that he is now holding that responsible position at this time.
Mr. Taylor belongs to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and is serving as secretary of the local organization. He also holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen, while in Masonry he has attained the thirty.
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second degree of Scottish Rite. He is a representative of a high type of American manhood and chivalry. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has worked his way upward, enjoying the full confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen by reason of his fidelity to every trust reposed in him.
GEORGE W. GUTRIDGE.
George W. Gutridge, who has for many years been identified with the farming interests of this county, descends from a family who for upwards of a century have been prominent agriculturists here. When his ancestors first settled in this region they were greeted by broad expanses of timberland with no ground in any con- dition for cultivation and it fell to them to hew their way through the thick forests and clear out the acres which they gradually improved and cultivated and which today are known throughout the United States as being among the finest farming lands in the country. To those familiar with the early farming history of this region it need not be mentioned that the pioneers were compelled to endure both deprivations and hardships in order to convert the land into a proper con- dition to till.
John Gutridge, grandfather of the subject of this review, emigrated from his birthplace in Shenandoah county, Virginia, and settled in this county on the farm now under cultivation by his grandson. The deed for the property was obtained from the government of this state and when Mr. Gutridge had obtained full possession of the land he constructed a log cabin, which afforded shelter to himself and family and at once undertook the arduous task of clearing off the land for cultivation, by which he might earn a livelihood. Little by little he suc- ceeded in cutting the timber, culling the stumps and finally, through long years of patient toil, converted many acres into rich fields. Associated with Mr. Gutridge in this venture was his father, Peter Gutridge, the great-grandfather of George W. Gutridge, and both grandparents spent their entire lives upon this farm, where they finally departed this life.
George W. Gutridge was born in Franklin township, this county, February 28, 1848, son of Elisha and Emily (Lampton) Gutridge. His father was born here and spent his life upon the farm and at his death was interred in Fairmount cemetery. His mother was a native of Shenandoah county, Virginia, and emi- grated to this county with her parents, who settled in Hopewell township, on a farm adjoining the one now under cultivation by George W. Gutridge, her son. Her parents were of German extraction and through their industry converted many acres into tillable fields, spending their lives on the farm on which they settled. George W. Gutridge was one of a family of eight children, the names of the others being: William, who resides in Newark, Ohio, and was county com- missioner for six years; James M., a well known and prosperous farmer of Hope- well township; John, a successful agriculturist of Bowling Green township; Mary, the deceased wife of James Vermillion; Lucinda, who was united in mar- riage to Samuel Hupp, of Bowling Green township; and Amos and R. N., both of whom are deceased.
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In the public schools of Franklin township George W. Gutridge received his education. He attended school during the winter season and during the summer occupied his time in assisting his father in the duties of the farm. When nineteen years of age he purchased a sawmill which he operated at different times in Mon- roe, Marion and Madison counties, Missouri, and after following this occupation for a period of three years he returned home with his portable sawmill, which he continued to operate until sixteen years ago, when he dropped the business and devoted his time exclusively to farming. In Hopewell township he possesses two hundred and forty acres of rich land, in every respect highly improved, equipped with a large and convenient dwelling house and supplied with capacious barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Mr. Gutridge does a general farming business and raises all kinds of grain. In addition to this he devotes a great deal of his attention to stock-raising, particularly sheep. He also has many head of fine cattle and his business on the whole, both as a farmer and stock-raiser, is exceedingly remunerative.
On August 1, 1867, Mr. Gutridge was united in marriage with Miss Hortense Brown. They are the parents of the following children: Carrie Deborah, wife of Henry Orr, a prosperous farmer of Hopewell township; Edgar F., who is engaged in farming in Bowling Green township; Estella May, wife of Frank Clagget, a Hopewell township farmer; Emma, who wedded Emet Hoskins, a farmer and dairyman of Hopewell township; Samuel, who follows agricultural pursuits in the same township; Ray, who owns a sawmill and thresher and who resides in Hopewell township; Warren, a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad engineer, residing in Newark, Ohio; Lottie, whose husband, John Graham, is a farmer of Hopewell township; and Mary, who resides at home.
Mr. Gutridge is well known and highly respected throughout the community. He has been a member of the school board for five years. In politics he is a demo- crat and is a member of the Baptist church.
FRANK B. DUDGEON.
Frank B. Dudgeon, who is now serving on the board of infirmary directors, was born in Mary Ann township, Licking county, October 16, 1856, his parents being William and Sarah Ann (Albaugh) Dudgeon, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. On the home farm Frank B. Dudgeon was reared, his youthful days being spent in the usual manner of farm lads of the locality and period. The common schools afforded him his educational privileges and he received his business training in his father's store. In early manhood he was married, on the 16th of March, 1882, to Miss Mary E. Nickols, also a native of Mary Ann township, and a daughter of Albert Nickols, now deceased.
Following his marriage Mr. Dudgeon engaged in farming, with which he has since been identified, although he is not confining his attention wholly to this work. In the intervening years he has been engaged in various other departments of labor and is especially well known because of the clerical work he has done at two hundred or more public sales. He was also for three years assistant secretary
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at the democratic headquarters of Licking county and he served for five years as a member of the board of township trustees. For five terms he filled the office of township assessor and for thirteen years he has been a director of the Licking County Agricultural Society, of which he was president for two years. For three years he also acted as superintendent of the fair grounds and is serving in that capacity at the present time. In November, 1908, he was elected to the board of infirmary directors. His official record is a most clean and commendable one and his election as an infirmary director brought him a large majority, being the endorsement of his previous public service and an expression of the favor which his fellow townsmen entertain in him. His political allegiance has always been given to the democracy which has found in him a steady and steadfast worker, whose labors are effective and whose methods are honorable.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dudgeon were born four children. Lola May, the eldest, is the wife of Ora E. Cochran and they reside with Mr. Dudgeon. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran have a family of three children, Harley W., Veva Grace and Mary Ade- line. Daisy Inez, Mable Gladys and Hazel Fern are still under the parental roof.
In 1904 Mr. Dudgeon and his family were called upon to mourn the loss of the wife and mother, who passed away on the 8th of September, of that year, since which time his daughter Lola has acted as his housekeeper. Socially Mr. Dudgeon is connected with the Woodmen of the World. His official service and his different business interests have made him well known in Licking county and he is warmly esteemed throughout this part of the state, his strongly developed traits of character being such as have gained for him the good will of those who know him.
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