USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 96
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€ DWARD M. HALL, M. D., has been a resident of Delaware, Ohio, since 1889. In 1862, when 16 years of age, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but, being under age and size, he was at first rejected by the ministering officer, who afterwards, when as- sured by the Colonel of the regiment that he was competent to perform the clerical duties to which he had already been assigned, per- mitted his name to remain on the rolls.
He served with his regiment till shortly after the battle of Chickamauga when, for special service rendered Gen. James B. Sted- man, he was appointed by him his division postmaster.
On the Atlanta campaign, however, he took up the duties of a soldier, and on the 6th day of August, when his division was occupy- ing an important and hazardous position, re- ceived a gunshot fracture of his left thigh and was sent to the field hospital, where he had careful attention from the late Dr. T. B. Wil- liams of this city, who was then division sur- geon. .A few weeks afterwards, on being transferred from Chattanooga to Nashville, Tennessee, the hospital train was thrown from the track and he was so severely injured that he was compelled to remain in the hospital many months.
While in general hospital at Jeffersonville, Indiana, and still obliged to use crutches, he was appointed executive clerk to the board of surgeons of the hospital. At the time Gen. Sherman's army was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky. to be mustered out of service, many soldiers from the hospitals, he among the number, were detailed to prepare the mus-
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ter-out rolls. His assignment was that of chief clerk in the office of Col. Flint at Gen. Palmer's headquarters, where he remained from May till August, 1865, when he was mustered out of service.
At Shelbyville, Tennessee, in 1863. he was taken sick with the prevailing camp disease. from the effects of which he has never fully recovered.
On returning home, broken in health and still suffering from his wound, he was obliged to abandon the idea of a university education, and spent such time as he was able during the next two or three years in reading, prepara- tory to taking up the study of medicine, which he did. later, graduating in 1871.
In 1874. Dr. Hall was married to Laura Beaver Nevius, daughter of Aaron C. Nevius of Fredericktown, Ohio. The Nevius family is of Dutch extraction, Aaron C. Nevius being fifth in descent from Johannes Nevius, who after being graduated from the University of Leyden, emigrated to New Amsterdam, now New York, in 1651, and in 1653, at its organ- ization, became a member of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, serving seven years as Schepen, and afterwards as city sec- retary, which office he held when the city sur- rendered to the English in 1664.
The wife of Aaron C. Nevius, Sarah Bea- ver Nevius, was a daughter of Rev. Peter Bea- ver, of the Philadelphia Conference, and a granddaughter of George Beaver. a Revolu- tionary soldier. She, also, was an aunt of ex-Gov. James A. Beaver of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Hall's maternal ancestors emigrated to New England about the middle of the eight- eenth century. David Brown and Hardy Run- clall. great-grandfathers. David Brown from Scotland. making his permanent home at Greenwich, Connecticut, and Hardy Rundall from England, at the nearby town of Nor- walk.
During the Revolutionary war, when the English troops, in 1779. raided Norwalk. Fairfield and New Haven. Hardy Rundall, Jr .. a colonel of light dragoons in the English army, took leave of his family at Norwalk, af- ter which he sailed for England, not to re- turn.
His paternal ancestors settled in New Jer- sey early in the eighteenth century in the vi- cinity of Morristown, where his grandfather. Caleb Ilall, was born in 1780. Ilis grand- mother. Sarah Anderson, was a daughter of Col. Richard Clough Anderson, a well known Revolutionary soldier.
Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Ilall: Mary, who died in 1893. in her seventeenth year, while attending the Ohio Wesleyan University; Aletheia, who married Philo MI. Buck, Jr., after their graduation from the O. W. U., and who reside in St. Louis, Mo. : Edward M .. Jr., who after gradu- ating from the Ohio Wesleyan University. took up the study of law and graduated from the law department of Harvard College, and is now practicing law in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Hall is a member of the American Medical Association, the State Medical and County Medical Societies, and was president of the County Society in 1905.
While not seeking political preferment, he has taken great interest in political questions since his boyhood, and has given ready sup- port to such measures as have had for their object improved conditions or better citizen- ship.
.At the time of his removal to this city. he was serving his fourth term as a member of the Board of Education of Fredericktown. and was a member of the Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions for Knox County. Ohio.
For about twelve years he has been presi- dent of the Board of Directors and Trustees of Oak Grove Cemetery Company, and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Delaware Young Men's Christian Association since its organization.
J OHN J. AYRES, one of Seioto Town- ship's leading citizens, an auctioneer, carpenter and stonemason, was born in Scioto Township, Delaware County, Ohio, May 24, 1865. Ilis parents were Col. Jacob and Mary P. ( Rhoades) Ayres.
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The father of Mr. Ayres has long been a prominent citizen of this section, having set- tled on his present farm in Scioto Township in 1870. He was born in Pickaway County. Ohio, March 12, 1841. During the greater part of the Civil War he served as a Union scout and only retired from the service after being severely wounded. For some years af- ter the close of the war he traveled through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan giving lectures on the battle of Gettysburg, in which he took a prominent part. He married Mary P. Rhoades, who died March 9. 1907.
John J. Ayres was educated in the public schools of Scioto Township and at Delaware, after which he taught school for three years. In the meanwhile he learned the carpenter's and also the stonemason's trade and has worked at these more or less ever since. now having a fine building and contracting trade through Delaware and Union Counties. He has done a large amount of work in this section and in 1887 he built his own commodious res- idence, in 1904 remodeling it and making it still more attractive and valuable. In 1882. Mr. Ayres began auctioneering in partnership with his father and they continued together until Igo7, when Colonel Ayres retired.
In 1887. Mr. Ayres was married to Annie MeCombs, a daughter of Frank and Catherine MeCombs, of Magnetic Springs, Ohio, and they have had five children, the three survivors being: Carl Abner, Goklie May and Myrtle Lucile. Mrs. Ayres is a member of the United Brethren Church, which Mr. Ayres attends and to which he gives a liberal support. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party. Ile is a member of Edinburg Lodge. Odd Fellows, at Ostrander, of which he is past grand.
T. MCCARTY, M. D., a practicing physician located at Cheshire, where he has built up a lucrative practice and identified himself with the town's various interests, was born in 1868. near the county seat of Washington County.
Pennsylvania, and is a son of A. J. and Ma- tilda ( Wilson) McCarty.
The father of Dr. MeCarty was born in Pennsylvania. For many years he followed farming and worked at blacksmithing, in Washington County, where he was a well- known and respected citizen. In his political life he was a Democrat. He died in 1904. aged 76 years. He married Matilda Wilson. who was also born in Pennsylvania, and she died. in 1897. in Delaware County, Ohio, aged 63 years. They had the following children : John, a resident of Washington County, Penn- sylvania: Dora C., residing with her brother at Cheshire; Simon C., who resides in Kansas City: Mrs. Martha Gleason, residing in Kingston Township. Delaware County; Mrs. Belle Harrison, residing at Marion, Ohio; and Dr. I. T .. of Cheshire.
Dr. McCarty came to Delaware County in 1880, and after completing his literary educa- tion he began the study of medicine and was graduated with his degree from the Western Reserve College, in 1897. He entered upon practice at Olive Green, in Kingston Town- ship, Delaware County, where he remained three years and then came to Cheshire. Here he has a wide circle of both personal and pro- fessional friends.
ESLEY G. MCCURDY was born on the old home place in Oxford Township. Delaware County. Ohio, July 7, 1869. and is a son of John and Amanda ( Kohler ) Mc- Curdy.
John McCurdy was born in York County. Pennsylvania, and lived there until 1849 or 1850. when he came west with his wife and three children. Hle located on swamp land about three miles south of Ashley, and erected a cabin on the highest part of his farm. It was in this cabin Wesley G. MeCurdy was born. In the early days, before tiling was made use of, a pan was utilized to scoop up water for washing purposes, and many make- shifts were necessary to make house-keeping
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possible in the wilderness. Mr. McCurdy set about placing his farm in tillable condition, made clearings and built a barn. These prim- itive buildings lasted some years, and were then replaced by modern structures. He lived on the home place the remainder of his life. dying at the age of about 84 years. He was united in marriage with Amanda Kohler, sis- ter of Charles Kohler of Ashley. This union resulted in the following issue :
Maria ( White). who lives in Kingston Township: Daniel, who lives southeast of Kilbourne; Charles, who is engaged in the horse business in Marion, Ohio: John J., who lives near Westfield. Morrow County; Joseph 1., who lives in Ashley : Elizabeth, who died at the age of 29 years: William, James, and Edward, who live on the old home farm; and Wesley G. Mr. McCurdy was a Republican in poli- ties and served some years as township trustee, also in other local offices. Mrs. McCurdy still resides at the old family home at the advanced age of 86 years.
Wesley G. McCurdy was reared on the home farm in Oxford Township, and attended the public schools of that vicinity. Upon com- ing to Ashley he clerked in a grocery for J. C. Eckals for one year, then formed a part- nership with J. T. Olds and conducted a hard- ware store with much success for a period of 12 years. Dissolving partnership in January, 1904, Mr. MeCurdy for three years dealt in high class horses extensively, buying and ship- ping to points where they could be sold to ad- vantage. An excellent judge and experienced handler of horses, he followed this business until the market value of roadsters became such as to preclude further profitable opera- tions along that line.
On April 1, 1896, Mr. McCurdy was joined in marriage with Miss Grace Sumner West- brook, who was born in Ashley and is a (laughter of Dr. E. A. Westbrook. Four children bless their union, namely: Lois Amanda, born July 27, 1897: Lawton W .. born September 9, 1898: Lloyd E., born April 23. 1901 ; and Rose Cunnard, born March 2. 1905. Mr. MeCurdy is a Republican in poli- ties and has served on the School Board and"
in the village council. A member of the Ma- sonic Lodge, he has served two years as its treasurer. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. MeCurdy is a popular man, following up-to-date busi- ness methods, and the success attending his efforts is well merited.
€ DWIN LUTHBEN HEMSTEAD for more than forty years was a well-known resident of Sunbury. lle was a native of Connecticut. where he was born in 1826. The larger part of his life was passed in Ohio, his father. Charles Hemstead, having brought his family to Delaware County at an early period. and Mr. llemstead died at his home in Sun- bury. July 2, 1901, aged 75 years.
The boyhood of Edwin L. Hemstead was spent on his father's farm but as the latter was a school teacher as well as farmer. the boy had excellent educational training and spent some time at Central College. When he left home he went to Columbus, where he learned the blacksmithi's trade. He married Eliza Williams, who was born April 5. 1825. at Ge- neva, Delaware County, Ohio, who is a daughter of Thomas and Phebe ( Seaburn) Williams. The Williams family came to Del- aware County from Pennsylvania. There were five children in the family. Mr. Wil- liams owned a farm in Geneva Township.
After his marriage, Mr. Hemstead contin- ued to work at his trade at Columbus, and his capable wife started a millinery business, hav- ing previously learned this trade, and they prospered and accumulated enough capital to invest in various properties after they came to Sunbury, in 1857. Mr. Hemstead carried on his blacksmith business there for some years. only giving it up after he had been seriously injured by a vicious horse. He was subse- quently appointed mail carrier and served for a long time between Mt. Vernon and Central College. He was a man of minch energy and enterprise and possessed excellent business judgment. In all his dealings with his fellow-
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citizens he was honest and upright, while to his family he was kind and thoughtful.
Mr. and Mrs. Hemstead had three chil- dren : Martha Augusta, Smith Webb, and Charles Burr. Charles Burr Hemstead is a prominent physician and surgeon who is lo- cated at Croton, Morrow County, Ohio. He has been called for consultation to Cincinnati and other points. Both of the older children died of diphtheria. Martha Augusta aged seven years and eight months and Smith Webb aged two years. Mrs. Hemstead is very com- fortably provided for. She resides alone at Sunbury where she owns two valuable lots of three acres each, seven acres of pasture land and other tracts, all being land that is yearly increasing in value.
In politics, Mr. Hemstead was a stanch Republican. He was a member of the Odd Fellows organization and of the Masens, hay- ing been instrumental in organizing the first Masonic Lodge at Sunbury.
OSEPII H. CUNNINGHAM, who is engaged in the florist business in Del- aware, has been thus established in his present location on West William Street, since 1800. He was born in Liberty Township about three miles west of Hyattsville, son of George and Mary J. ( Har- ris ) Cunningham. His father, a native of Edinburg. Ser tland, and a machinist by trade, emigrated to this country, settling in Marietta. Ohio, where he followed his trade for a while, subsequently removing to Liberty Township. Delaware County. Hle enlisted in Company F. Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in the spring of 1803. while serving with his regiment in the Civil War. He was a Free Mason, belonging to the lodge of that or- der at Marietta. His wife was a daughter of Joseph Harris of Concord Township. They had two children: Joseph 11 .. the subject of this notice, who was born July 25. 1855. and Edward, who is now a resident of Cleveland. Ohio. Mrs. George Cunningham died in June. 1905. at the age of about 65 years.
Joseph H. Cunningham acquired his edu- cation in the schools of Marietta and Liberty and the old High school at Delaware. He be- gan industrial life in the employ of George W. Campbell, who was formerly secretary of the Ohio State Ilorticultural Society, and later its president, and who was a man widely known in horticultural circles. Under his in- struction Mr. Cunningham acquired a thor- ough knowledge of horticulture and floricul- ture, remaining with him until 1890, when. as already noted, he started out for himself at his present location. His first greenhouse was 72x20 feet. With the gradual but steady in- crease in his business he enlarged his facilities until he now has 10,000 feet of glass. He does a general business in greenhouse, bedding and flowering plants, shipping his floral pro- ducts to all parts of the country. Few people in Delaware realize what a complete and well ordered establishment he has, containing ev- erything that can be needed for any kind of Horal decoration. His natural taste in such matters has been cultivated and perfected by the thorough training he received under his former noted employer, and the products of his art, in the line of floral decorative work. are in the highest degree tasteful, and appropriate to the occasion for which they are intended. The existence here of so complete an estab- lishment of this kind is another proof. added to the many contained in these pages, that Del- aware need not fear comparison with any city of its size in all that goes to illustrate the pro- gressive and up-to-date character of its cit- izens.
Mr. Cunningham is a Republican in poli- tics and has served four years as a member of the City Council. He belongs to Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M .: Olentangy Lodge, No. 53. I. O. O. F., and to Lenape Lodge. No. 29. K. P., all of Delaware.
Mr. Cunningham married Emma J. Gen- ier, a daughter of John S. Genier. of France. He and his wife have been the parents of five children, of whom four are now living. namely: Irene M., George W., Mary M., and Jean J. The family are members of St. Pe- ter's Episcopal Church.
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OEL LETTS, who was one of Berk- shire Township's most highly es- teemed citizens, successful business men and prominent farmers, was born in Morgan Township. Knox County, Ohio, August 18, 1822, and died at Sunbury, Ohio, May 25, 1896. His parents were John and Mary ( Hanna ) Letts.
The parents of Mr. Letts were born in Pennsylvania and they were among the pio- neer settlers of Knox County, Ohio. The father secured 400 acres of wild land and set- tled on dit when Indians still roamed through the uncleared forests and game and wild ani- mals were plentiful all through Morgan Township. The parents of Mr. Letts died there. They had ten children and all of this large family were sons with one exception.
Joel Letts was the third member of his parents' family and he remained on the home farm and assisted in the clearing and develop- ing of the land, remaining until his marriage. October 4. 1850, to Ella Pace. Mrs. Letts was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1830, and is a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth ( Jones ) Pace. They also were natives of Luzerne County, and the paternal grandparents. Michael and Anna ( Freeman ) Pace, were born in Pennsylvania. The great- grandfather, Michael Pace, was born in Ger- many. Mr. and Mrs. Letts had three children, nantely : Edward Howard, born February 18. 1861. died October 19, 1865: Arthur Reed. born February 4, 1866, residing in Florida : and Lillian M., who was born March 17. 1868. She married Frank Whittier, who is connected with the Sunbury Nous.
The late Joel Letts owned 100 acres of valuable ' land adjoining Sunbury, on the southwest. and also a good house and in- proved lot in Sunbury. He carried on farm- ing and for five years was also interested in a hardware business at Sunbury, for two years with a Mr. Payne and for three years alone. flis store was destroyed by fire and he never resumed business but lived retired for three years prior to his death. He was an upright. Christian man and for many years had been a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He was also a man who unswery- ingly followed the path he believed to be right and this was particularly shown in the matter of prohibition. He had been a temperance ad- vocate from his youth and when the question came up at the polls, he was the first voter of the Prohibition ticket in Berkshire Township.
K. JONES, M. D., physician and sur- geon at Radnor, was born in Troy C Township, Delaware County, Ohio, April 16, 1853. and is a son of Wil- liam and Hannah ( Humphreys) Jones.
The father of Dr. Jones was born in Mont- gomeryshire, Wales, in 1806, and died at Rad- nor, Ohio, in 1889, aged 83 years. He re- mained in his own country until a man of 35 years and then came to America, later settled in Troy Township, Delaware County, Ohio, where he carried on farming and stockraising until 1885, when he retired to Radnor. He married a daughter of Edward Humphreys. The latter was a native of Wales and an early settler in Troy Township. William and Han- nah Jones had three children to grow to ma- ture years, namely: Elizabeth, T. K. and Ruth A. Elizabeth is deceased. The father was a Welsh Presbyterian in his religious faith, but the mother was a Congregationalist. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the English army.
Dr. Jones was educated in Troy Township. in the Ohio Business College at Delaware and at the Normal School at Worthington. Ohio. For several winter terms he taught school, en- gaging in farming during the summers and while teaching began the study of medicine under Dr. Fowler, a practitioner at Delaware. He attended the Columbus Medical College. where he was graduated in 1883. He estab- lished himself at Radnor, where he has re- mained ever since. his practice extending over a wide territory. In carlier years he did a great deal of driving through the country, but latterly his practice is more restricted. He is a member of the Delaware County Medical
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Society and the Ohio State Medical Society.
Dr. Jones married Emma Harsh, residing at Radnor and they have three children, namely: Martha H., Albert H. A. and C. Ir- win. Mlrs. Jones is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, while Dr. Jones con- tintes in his mother's faith and for several years served as trustee of the Radnor Congre- gational Church.
Politically, Dr. Jones is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to Prospect Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Radnor Lodge of Odd Fel- lows, and has served as district deputy grand master of the latter organization. Alrs. Jones belongs to the auxiliary lodges of these orders, the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. Dr. Jones and wife are among the most esteemed citi- zens of Radnor.
TANLEY BELL, a veteran of the Civil War and trustee of Oxford Township, has been a life long resi- dent of this community. He was born two miles southeast of Ashley, Oxford Township, January 1, 1843, and is a son of Henry and Mary ( Miller ) Bell.
Henry Bell was born in Maryland, and came west to Zanesville, Ohio, walking and carrying his carpenter's tools. His wife came into possession of a piece of land in Oxford Township, Delaware County, upon which they moved. This they cleared and erected thereon buildings, some of which still stand. Mr. Bell became a man of prominence in this vi- cinity and was frequently called upon to fill local offices. He served several terms as township trustee. Ile married Mary Miller. who was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and was a daughter of Jesse and Mary Miller, her father being a shepherd and a very wealthy man. Henry Bell and wife became parents of the following children: John, who lives in Co- lumbus ; Sarah ( Poole) deceased; Mary, who lives on the old home place ; Stanley; Robert, who also lives on the old home farm; David, who lives east of Delaware; and Celia, who resides on the old home place. Mr. Bell was
an Abolitionist prior to the Civil war and later a Republican.
Stanley Bell was reared in Oxford Town- ship where he attended school and worked at home until the Civil War was in progress. He was very anxious to enter the service but could not secure the consent of his father who needed him at home and wished him to remain in school. In 1863, he accompanied his father to Ashley, to see some soldiers depart for the front, and while his father's back was turned jumped on the train. Ile enlisted for three months service in Company C, Eighty- fifth O. V. I., at the end of which time he re- turned home for three weeks. He then re-en- listed in Company II, One Hundred and Sev- enty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the war was over. He fought at Murfreesboro, Stone River and Nashville and in many skirmishes of importance. While in action, General Jones observed him in an act of bravery and had him advanced in rank to Sergeant-Major. He was with General Sher- man's Army at Raleigh, North Carolina, where the war closed, and from there returned to Washington, D. C., and was discharged af- ter taking part in the Grand Review. After returning home he remained there until March, 1866, when he located on 50 acres in Oxford Township. This land he improved, erected a residence and the necessary buildings and resided there about 25 years. He then moved across the line into Peru Township, Morrow County, where he lived until October 17, 1904, then bought 23 acres of the old B. S. Brundage place, lying within the corpora- tion limits of the village of Ashley. He has a comfortable home, built of brick, and de- votes his time to farming on a small scale.
In 1868, Mr. Bell was united in marriage to Harriet Watters, who was born in Oxford Township, and is a daughter of Hosea and Hannah ( Heverlo) Watters. They had the following children: Harry, who lives in Cleveland ; Bertha, who married Marion Hat- ton, lives in Brown Township: Lena, who married Frank Librock, lives in Delaware ; Arthur, who lives in Delaware, married Minta Hupp, and has a son, Clyde Stanley; Joseph,
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