Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 102

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 102

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William McVey Humphreys has always lived on the old homestead in Radnor Town- ship. The fine two-story brick house was built by his father, in 1865. the material for its con- struction having been made on the place. The brick used in the building of the Baptist Church at Radnor as well as other buildings on the farm, were burned in the same place. Mr. Humphreys like his father, has carried on many industries here, making himself inde- pendent of outside help, to a large degree. He adopts business methods in operating his farm and has prospered accordingly. Formerly he raised many Percheron horses and now raises sheep, cattle and hogs, together with the grains which do well in this section.

On January 14, 1891, Mr. Humphreys was married to Martha Davies, who is a daughter of John B. and Mary Davies. Mrs. Humphreys was born in Blaina, Monmouth- shire, South Wales, April 26. 1863. They have had three children, namely : Walter

LEE ATHERTON

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John, born April 13. 1892; Mary Elizabeth, born December 3, 1899; and Margaret Ann, born June 25. 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Hum- phreys are members of the Congregational Church, in which he is a deacon.

During the closing years of her life, the mother of Mr. Humphreys was an invalid and to ease many weary hours she occupied her- self in compiling a family record which she subsequently published. To this memorial ot her patience and family pride, the present bi- ographer is indebted.

gustine

EE ATHERTON, general farmer, re- siding on his finely-improved farm of eighty-six acres, in Thompson Town- ship. was born near Newark, Ohio. March 9, 1848, and is a son of Au- Washington and Cynthia ( Taft) Atherton.

Thomas Atherton, the great-grandfather of Lee, came from Shippensburg. Pennsylva- nia, to Newark. Ohio, when the latter was a mere hamlet of log cabins on the frontier. His son. John Atherton, was probably the first manufacturer at Newark, his industry being the making of chairs. John Atherton was born at Shippensburg and he became a man of consequence in the new country where he and his father were pioneers. He gave up his manufacturing business while still young and bought a farm two miles north of Newark, which he operated during the remainder of his life. He married Achsa Ackley, whose father was a pioneer of Licking County, and a vet- eran of the War of 1812. John Atherton and wife had three children, namely: Augustine Washington: Walgrave, who resides near Madison, Wisconsin, and who married a Miss Fleek in Licking County, Ohio: and Gibson. who is now deceased. The latter was a very prominent member of the bar at Newark. was twice elected to Congress, and subsequently served on the Supreme Bench of Ohio.

Augustine Washington Atherton was born on his father's farm near Newark. February 10, 1824. and died June 15. 1880. He mar- 41

ried Cynthia Taft, who was born August 26. 1825, and who still survives, being in the en- joyment of health, and the center of a very devoted family circle. There were seven chil- dren born of the above marriage, namely : One son. Herbert. is serving his third term as mayor of Newark, Ohio: Lee, who is the di- rect subject of this article; Alice, now de- ceased, who was the wife of Felix Blizzard, of Newark; Wallace, who was killed on the rail- road, at Bement, Illinois ; Gibson, who died at Magnetic Springs; Warren, who is a black- | smith in Newark; John, who leit home and has not been heard of for many years. Au- gustine W. AAtherton served as lieutenant of a home company during the Civil War, but never enlisted. Otherwise, he spent his life in the section in which he was born. He was a member of a Masonic Lodge north of New- ark and always took an interest in the frater- nity. In politics he was a Democrat but he never consented to hold office. He was one of the founders of the Christian Union Church. 1

Lee Atherton remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He then went on the road as a commercial trav- eler, first handling notions, but later glass- ware, and covering a territory that reached into Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky. In 1877 he settled down to farming, in Licking County, Ohio, and in 1880 he purchased his present farm in Thompson Township. He has made all the improvements here and owns one of the most attractive properties in this section.

In 1876, Mr. Atherton was married to Ella Pound, who is a daughter of Isaac Pound, of Orange County, New York, and they have two sons-Bert, residing on the home place, and Edson, who is a resident of Scioto Township.

In politics, Mr. Atherton is a Democrat and has been township trustee for a number of years. . At the time of his last election he received every Democratic and Republican vote polled except one. He is a member of Pros- pect Lodge. No. 444. F. & A. M., and of Mag- netic Springs Lodge. No. 380. Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor, and he

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has been sent as a representative to the Grand Lodge.

H. GERHARDT, M. D., who for 20 years has been prominently identified with the medical profession of Dela- ware County, Ohio, is one of the leading citizens of Sunbury. Dr. Gerhardt was born near West Jefferson. Mad- ison County, Ohio, June 8, 1858, and is a son of Christian and Magdalena ( Gerich) Gar- hardt.

Christian Gerhardt was a native of Ger- many. where he held an important government position. Owing to reverses in fortune he came to America with his wife and six chil- dren, and settled in Madison County, Ohio, where for many years he engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. Later in life he removed to West Jefferson, where he conducted a bakery up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1872. in his 72d year. His wife died in 1891, aged 73 years. Both were Lutherans in re-

ligious belief. Christian Gerhardt and his wife had seven children, as follows: Caro- line. who is the widow of William Erb, re- sides at Lilly Chapel, Ohio: Lizzie, who is the widow of Peter Schmiegel, resides at Cincin- nati, Ohio: Catherine, who is the wife of George Haffner, of Columbus; Mary, who also resides at Columbus: Emil, who served in the Civil War, was accidentally killed at Columbus: Christian, who was accidentally shot by a comrade during the Civil War; J. H .. residing at Sunbury.

Dr. J. 11. Gerhardt was reared on his father's farm in Madison County, and when 10 or 12 years of age removed with the family to West Jefferson, where he assisted his father in the bakery business. His preliminary edu- cation was secured in the public schools, and he began the study of medicine at Columbus, graduating from the Columbus Medical Col- lege in 1882, at which time he chose the town of Ilebron as his field of practice and remained there for about one year. He then received an- appointment as assistant physician at the Ohio

State Penitentiary, in which capacity he served for three years, and in 1887 he came to Sunbury, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice.

On July 8, 1890, Dr. Gerhardt was mar- ried to Emma Ayres, who was born in Spring- field, New York, and is a daughter of Albert and Martha ( Casler) Ayres. Mrs. Gerhardt taught for 13 years in the Sunbury public schools and three years in the Primary Depart- ment of the Coshocton public schools. Jesse Ayres, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Ger- hardt, was a son of Jesse Ayres, a Revolution- ary soldier, and was born in Massachusetts. whence his parents had come from Ayrshire. Scotland, early in the 17th century. Jesse Ayres was a manufacturer of woolen goods until reaching old age, when he took up the growing of hops and continued in that occu- pation till his death, which occurred in his 94th year in New York. He enlisted in the War of 1812, but being under age did not see ser- vice. Mr. Ayres married Nancy Wyers, who (lied at the age of 67 years, and they had nine children. Mrs. Gerhardt's maternal grand- father, Solomon Casler, was a native of New York, of Dutch extraction, and was a con- tractor for ornamental work in the finishing of honses. He married Louvina Riker, and she died of cholera in 1851, leaving her hus- band four children. Mr. Casler lived to be nearly go years old.

Albert Ayres, father of Mrs. Gerhardt. was born in New York State, and in 1871 came to Coshocton County, Ohio, from whence he removed in 1882 to Columbus, and there has been engaged in the grocery business for a number of years. He married Martha Casler, who died in January, 1902, aged 62 years, and to them were born two children : Mrs. Gerhardt, and Renetta, who was the wife of Edward Sargent of Columbus.

Dr. Gerhardt and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, of which he is a trustee. He belongs to Sparrow Lodge, No. 400, of Masons, and Sunbury Lodge, No. 321, Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are also mem- bers of the Eastern Star. He was surgeon in the Ohio National Guards, Seventeenth Reg-

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iment, for eight years. Politically, the Doc- tor is a Democrat. and for several terms served as a member of the city council.

€ DGAR JONES, a representative citi- zen and prosperous farmer of Rad- nor Township, belongs to one of the early pioneer families of this section. He was born in Greene County, Ohio. January 21, 1854, and is a son of Philip and Jane ( Tomley ) Jones.

The paternal grandfather of Edgar Jones was John P. Jones, who founded this family in Ohio. Both he and his wife, Mary Penry. were born in Wales. With their three chil- dren they came to America in 1818. John P. Jones was one of the earliest settlers in Rad- nor Township, Delaware County, where lie purchased 180 acres of wild land, developed a fine farm and lived respected and esteemed on his own property until his time of death, in 1864. The maternal grandfather of Ed- gar Jones was also a man of sterling charac- ter. He was born in England, January 12, 1786, and died in Delaware County, Ohio, November 28, 1857. In early manhood he went to Wales, where he married and then en- gaged in farming in that country until 1840, when he brought his wife and four children to America. On the farm he subsequently bought in Radnor Township, Delaware County, he spent the remainder of his life. Of his five children those who reached maturity were: William, Hannah and Jane, all now deceased, and Richard B., who resides in Radnor Town- ship.

Philip Jones was born on the Penlyn farm, in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Ohio, July 17, 1820, and died at Delaware, Noven- ber 23, 1896. He followed an agricultural life until May, 1896, when he retired and took up his residence at Delaware, having lived continuously in Delaware County with the ex- ception of 1854-5, when he resided in Greene County. On the Republican ticket he was fre- quently elected to office and he served as town- ship trustee, clerk, treasurer and land ap-

praiser. He married Jane Tomley, who was born June 28, 1822, and died January 27, 1898. They had the following children: Ed- gar; Susan, who married J. D. Griffith, who holds the responsible office of assistant Con- gressional postmaster, Washington, D. C .; W. Guy, residing at Delaware; Jennie F., resid- ing at Delaware ; and Jessie, who married W. E. Harris, residing at De Graff, Logan County, Ohio. Mrs. Jones was a member or the Methodist Episcopal Church, while Mr. Jones was a Presbyterian. Both were con- scientious Christian people.

Edgar Jones was reared to manhood on the old home farm. His early education was obtained in the local schools, following which he spent three years in the Ohio Western Uni- versity, at Delaware. A decade of educational work followed, nine years of teaching through Delaware County in various districts more or less intelligent, and one year at Prospect. His vacations were usually busy seasons on the farm and since 1882 he lias devoted all of his attention to agricultural pursuits. To the grandfather's estate of 180 acres, Edgar Jones and his father added 20 acres. After the old home residence was destroyed by fire on No- vember 12, 1901. the estate was divided, Ed- gar Jones receiving 120 acres as his portion. In April, 1904, he bought his present farm of 108.acres. For a number of years lie gave a large amount of attention to growing Shrop- shire sheep from imported stock, and he has exhibited all over the State, but for the past 12 years he has made a specialty of hogs. He has a valuable herd of Shorthorn cattle and a number of fine horses. The hav, corn and oats lie raises he uses for feed but he sells his wheat.

Mr. Jones married Anna Davis, who is a daughter of John J. Davis, of Delaware. She was born June 28, 1855. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Delaware,

In political sentiment Mr. Jones is a Re- publican, but he takes only a moderate inter- est in party affairs. He is known to be a pub- lic-spirited and conscientious citizen and in 1907 his fellow-townsmen elected him town- ship trustee.

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P ELL TEED COURTER, senior pro- prietor of Pleasant Hill stock farm, which is located in Delaware Town- ship and is operated under the firm name of P. T. Courter & Sons, is one of this section's most progressive agri- culturists and stockmen. He was born in Es- sex County, New Jersey, August 25, 1840, and is a son of Henry M. and Desire C. E. (Teed) Courter.

The Courters are of Scotch and Dutch an- cestry, and although of several generations back, the solid qualities belonging to this com- bination are apparent in the present represen- tatives of the family. Henry M. Courter was born in Essex County, New Jersey, and was a son of Henry and Charlotte ( Terrell ) Cour- ter. He learned the shoemaking trade, which he followed until he came to Ohio in 1857, when he bought a home in Berkshire Town- ship, to which he brought his family in the fol- lowing year, and remained a resident of Del- aware County until his death. He passed the closing three years of his life at the home of his son, Pell T. Courter. The mother of MIr. Courter was a member of one of the oldest families of Essex County, New Jersey, and her father, Pell Teed, was a prominent mem- ber of a family that had been established at a very early date by burghers from Amsterdam, Holland, who settled in Livingstone Town- ship, Essex County. As Desire Teed, she was married ( first) to John Jones, who died in Co- lumbiana County, Ohio, a few days before the birth of her son, John F. Jones. She subse- quently married Henry M. Courter, and the following children reached maturity: George Il., deceased ; Pell T .: Josiah, deceased : Amzi, residing at Galena, Ohio; Charlotte, who mar- ried L. W. Miller, residing at Bellefontaine: and Wesley, residing at Mt. Pleasant, Michi- gan. The parents of the above children were faithful members of the Baptist Church.

P'ell Teed Courter, who bears his maternal grandfather's name, was eighteen years of age when the family came to Delaware County. Ohio. In those days a parent was obliged to pay the sum of two dollars a month in order to have his child attend school, and after hic

was eight years old, Mr. Courter was not af- forded many months of schooling. When 11 years old he went to work at the shoe bench and soon learned all the details of shoemaking. and by the time he was 12 yars old he went to a journeyman shoe shop and took a job to work on his own account. At that time it was the custom for the shoemaker to take his work home with him, and it was with some misgiv- ings that the proprietor of the shop gave the young workman his first two-dozen shoe or- der. flis attitude changed, however, when the well-made shoes were returned to him, a rigid inspection failing to show any defect. and after that, Mr. Courter had no difficulty in securing all the work he could do. The thoroughness which marked his boyish efforts has attended all his enterprises and undoubt- edly has been one of the factors in Mr. Cour- ter's business success.

Until 1883 Mr. Courter followed shoe- making, then became foreman in a shoe store for some three years, after which he engaged in clerking but became interested in farming in 1881, when he took charge of his father-in- law's farm, on the east side of the river. Here again his thoroughness and attention to detail brought about success and in the spring of 1894 he bought his present farm containing 60 acres. This he has operated mainly as a stock farm, making a specialty of thorough-bred swine and sheep, favoring the Chester White hogs and the Shropshire sheep, all registered, and giving a great deal of profitable attention to choice poultry, especially to Rose Comb Brown Leghorns. He raises also good crops of corn, oats, wheat and hay.

When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Cour- ter was 21 years of age and was making an ample living working at his trade and was busy with plans for the future. When the first call came for troops these plans were put to one side and he, with other loyal young men of his acquaintance, went forward and in a spirit of true patriotism, offered life and ser- vice in defense of country. In April, 1861. he became an enlisted private in Company 1. Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and with his comrades was sent to Camp Den-

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nison and kept there through the first enlist- ment. In October. 1861. he re-enlisted, en- tering Company E. Sixty-sixth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, which was soon sent across the river into Virginia. From Wheeling the reg- iment followed down the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Martinsburg, and thence to Win- chester and then on to Fredericksburg. On June 9. 1862, he participated in the fight with, General Jackson's troops at Port Republic. where he was unfortunate enough to be taken prisoner. He was sent first to the Lynchburg. Virginia. Fair Grounds, and from there to Belle Isle. where he was kept until September 13th, when he was paroled and transferred to Annapolis and thence to Alexandria, Vir- ginia. He was detained there until Novem- ber 20th, when he joined his regiment at Boli- var Heights. On account of disability he was then ordered to be examined and in Novem- ber. 1862. he was honorably discharged. He is a member of the George B. Torrence Post. Grand Army of the Republic. In his political affiliation, Mr. Courter is a Republican. He has never been an active seeker for office but has served as township trustee.

Mr. Courter married Eliza Kruck, who is a daughter of Mathias Kruck. She was born in Delaware Township. Delaware County. Ohio, where her father settled in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Courter have had three children : Harry. Clara and Walter. The latter is de- ceased but is survived by his widow and two sons, Ralph and Perry. Harry Courter, the surviving son of P. T. Courter. is associated with his father in operating the farm and is a very enterprising, intelligent and successful business man. He married Emma Salisbury and they have one son, Earl H. The only daughter. Clara, married John H. Maxton, re- siding at Van Wert. Ohio, and they have four children: Ruth. Jean Marguerite, Reid and Vesta.

Mr. Courter and family are identified with St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He has long been actively interested in the same. serving for years as one of the trustees and for some time was superintendent of the Sun- day-school. For a long period he has been

an enthusiastic and practical supporter of this congregation and in large measure, to his ef- forts its well being and strength is due. In like manner he has supported public-spirited enterprises in his community, being one of the first to recognize the importance of good roads to insure speedy and safe transportation, to introduce improved machinery on his own farm and to encourage its use by others, while his efforts to raise the grade of stock to a high standard, has been of great value to all this section. He is one of its most representative mell.

RIFFITH G. BENEDICT, proprie- tor of the Benedict Evaporating Company, manufacturers of evapo- rated sweet corn and fancy evapo- rated apples, and one of the leading business men of Delaware Township. was born in Peru Township, in what is now Morrow County, Ohio. October 3. 1.845, and is a son of Aaron L. and Phebe ( Wing) Benedict.

The progenitor of this old and honored family was Thomas Benedict, who was born in 1617 in Nottingham, England, where he married Mary Bridgum, and came to America in 1638. Their son, John, was born during the 1640s, and his son Joseph, had a son Aaron, who was born December 6. 1740. in Connecticut, and married Elizabeth Knowles. who was born Februery 20, 1741, and died August 15, 1821. Aaron Benedict, son of Aaron and Elizabeth ( Knowles ) Benedict, was born November 25. 1769, in New Mil- ford, Connecticut, and in the fall of 1795 emi- grated to New York State with his wife .- Es- ther Lancaster, who was born April 24. 1776. and died September 25. 1825. They came to Ohio in 1812, and here the remainder of their lives were spent. Mr. Benedict was an elder in the Society of Friends.

Aaron L. Benedict, father of Griffith (i .. was born in Peru Township. Clinton County, New York, the third child and only son of Aaron and Esther ( Lancaster) Benedict. He was eight years of age when the family came

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

to Ohio, and the larger part of his education was acquired in an old log schoolhouse. He grew up on the home farm, which he helped to clear and cultivate. Here his death oc- curred June 25, 1867. He was a preacher in the Friends Church. He married Phebe Wing, who was born July 22, 1808, and died August 20, 1884, and was a daughter of Ab- ner Wing, originally of Dutchess County, New York. Of their children, seven grew to maturity : Amelia, who married Jonathan Stanley, both now being deceased; Livius A., of Peru Township; Charity T., who is de- ceased ; Lydia, deceased, who married Joseph Johnson; Edward A., a resident of Salem, Columbiana County; Griffith G .; and Agnes S., who resides on the old home place.

Griffith G. Benedict was educated in the district schools as well as a private school, and remained at home until the death of his father. In 1876 he came to his present farm of 17 acres, where he embarked in trucking, in which he has continued to a certain extent to the present time, making a specialty of bush fruits and strawberries. He also keeps a small dairy, selling his milk to a creamery. Mr. Benedict started the first fruit and corn evaporating business in the county, in a small way, with a home-made dryer, but by 1888 his business had increased to such an extent as to warrant the erection of a large building, which he fitted with the most modern machin- ery. He now evaporates from 25,000 to 50,000 pounds of sweet corn and as high as 2,000 bushels of apples during the short sea- son, which lasts not more than two months, and his business is still the only one of its kind in Delaware County. Some years ago Mr. Benedict purchased an additional 33 acres, and also rents property. The home that stood on the original 17-acre tract has been changed into a modern residence, and large, substan- tial buildings have been erected, making his property one of the most desirable in this sec- tion of the township.

On July 23. 1874. Mr. Benedict was mar- ried to Ellen Willits, who is the daughter of Joel Willits, of Cardington Township, Mor- row County, Ohio, and two children have been born to this union : Ethel and Frances W.

Mr. Benedict is an active Prohibitionist. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Benedict are mem- bers of the Friends Church.

11. RICHEY, a leading business citi- zen of Warrensburg, and one of the substantial men of Scioto Township, where he owns two valuable farms. comprising 143 acres, was born in Scioto Township, Delaware County, Ohio, January 25. 1874, and is a son of James MI. and Ella ( Berlett ) Richey.

James M. Richey, father of F. H., is one of Delaware's representative citizens, and is a member of the firm of Bird, Richey & Chris- tian, proprietors of the White Sulphur Stone Company. He was born June 23. 1854. in Scioto Hownship and is a son of Isaac New- ton and Eliza ( McChire). Both the Richeys and the McClures were pioneer settlers in Sci- oto Township.

F. H. Richey was reared on the home farm and secured his education in the schools of Scioto Township. When he was 20 years of age he started out in life for himself, as a hay and straw dealer, and has remained connected with this industry ever since. He does a large business, shipping straw to Cleveland and hay to West Virginia, by the 100 car loads. He has a tenant on his farms, where he devotes four or five acres to apple orchards and raises 150 head of sheep and from 15 to 18 head of cattle.

Mr. Richey married Rosa Snyder, who is a daughter of Leonard Snyder, and they have three children: Eliza. Kilbourn and Amy Tola. Mrs. Richey is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In politics. Mr. Richey is a stanch Democrat and for six years he has been a member of the Board of Elec- tions, a township trustee and a member of the School Board for seven years. His fraternal connections include Ruffner Lodge, No. 330, Odd Fellows, of Radnor, of which he is past grand, Ruffner Rebekahs. Lodge No. 248, and Scioto Camp, No. 92, of Woodmen of the World, of which he is an official.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 102

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926