USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 101
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The grandparents of Mr. Olinger, George and Rachel Olinger, came with
their children in 1832 to Clark County from Rockbridge County, Virginia. They resided for a time near Charleston, and then removed to Illinois, where both died in the fullness of years. Their children were: Peter, John, George, Robert, Joseph, Rachel and Eliza.
Joseph C. Olinger was born in Augusta County, Virginia, May 8, 1816, and from 1846 until his death, in 1894, he lived in Clark County. He bought his first land in 1834, near Catawba, but he subsequently sold that tract, after which, in 1855, he bought 484 acres from the Bailey heirs, and on this farm he lived until his death. He was married (first) February 28, 1853, to Mary Smith, who was born in 1828 and died in 1868. He was married (secondly) to Eliza Wilson, who survives him. The children were born of the first marriage, three dying in infancy and the following surviving to maturity: Jacob, born March 27, 1854, married Lizzie Hart- man, and they have one son, Joseph; George, born May 25, 1857, married Eva Tippie, who died in 1895, leaving one child, Mary; William Henry is the sub- ject of this sketch; Jasper W., born April 11, 1861, married Alta Wilson, and they have two sons, Ralph and Raymond; Clinton S., born January 27, 1864, is an attorney at Springfield, married Libbie Sparia, and they have two children, Frances and Robert; and Joseph C., born February 24, 1868, married Celia Shaffer.
In the division of the father's property the step-mother and the six sons each re- ceived a just share. William Henry re- mained on the home place, where the step- mother keeps house for him. In 1898 he purchased his brothers' shares and has managed the whole place ever since.
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When the Ohio Electric Line ran through here Mr. Olinger sold five acres to the railroad. This is a very interesting old farm, and, besides an old Indian mound, many relics of by-gone days have been found, but whether of peace or warfare, it is not easy to decide.
MISSES LUELLA AND SARAH ELIZABETH VERITY, who come of one of Pike Townships most prominent families, are descended from pioneers of Clark County, on both sides. Their pa- ternal grandfather, Matthew Verity, was born in Yorkshire, England, and accom- panied by his wife and family of four children, came to the United States. They settled in the woods near Dialton, in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, but later moved farther west, near New Carlisle, in the same township, where Matthew Verity died at the age of eighty years. He often told of his journey to Clark County, which was then regarded as very far west, and his wanderings were at- tended with hardships and he found him- self frequently in trying situations. His first night in Clark County found him oc- cupying a bed with a stranger. He had placed his money under the pillow and when his bedfellow persisted in using Mr. Verity's pillow the latter became so anx- ious about his money he could not sleep. His fears were groundless, however, as his money remained undisturbed. He first married Elizabeth Nickelson, who died after coming to Clark County, leav- ing seven children, four of whom were born in England: John and William, both deceased; Matthias, residing in Wis- consin; David, Henry and George, all de-
ceased; and Jonathan, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Matthew Verity subsequently married a Miss Ote- walt. This union resulted in no issue.
Henry Verity, father of the Misses Ver- ity, was born in the woods of Pike Town- ship, August 11, 1832, and during his life time witnessed a wonderful change in con- ditions in this locality. He and a brother rode horseback to Springfield to see the first steam engine enter the village. He followed farming all his days and ac- quired 100 acres of land, one mile west of Dialton, a part of which he cleared. He also taught school for a short time. He was joined in marriage August 30, 1860, to Louisa Jenkins, who was born in Pike Township, and was a daughter of Levi and Sarah (Shaffer) Jenkins, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Pike Township, Clark County, her people having come from Virginia at a very early period. The father of Levi Jenkins came overland from North Caro- lina in a wagon and was possessed of but fifty cents in money when he arrived. Levi Jenkins was industrious, and living frugally accumulated a handsome prop- erty, from which he gave each of his chil- dren a farm. Mr. Jenkins moved to Kan- sas in his latter years, but returned after his wife's death, dying six years later, to the day.
Henry and Louisa Verity were parents of three children: Albert B., who is now in California; Luella; and Sarah Eliz- abeth. The elder daughter was born on the farm of Levi Jenkins in Champaign County, Ohio, and the younger was born in Pike Township, on the farm which was the birthplace of her mother. All three children attended London Hill Academy
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at New Carlisle, as did their mother, who for some years was a school teacher. Henry Verity died at the home place Jan- uary 14, 1900, and was survived by his widow, who died December 3, 1904, aged seventy years. Prior to the death of their mother, the Misses Verity purchased a home in Dialton, where they now reside. They rent the seventy-five-acre farm in- herited from their mother, as well as one of one hundred acres left by their father. Religiously, both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
MILTON L. EVANS, who owns sixty acres of some of the best farming land in German Township, which is favorably sit- uated only five miles northwest of Spring- field, just off the Jordan Turnpike Road, was born in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, June 2, 1872. He is a son of William Perry and Mary Jane (Lough- rige) Evans, William Perry Evans being a well known farmer in Miami County.
Milton L. Evans remained on the home place until his marriage on August 22, 1894, to Emma F. Garst. Mrs. Evans was born in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, a daughter of John and Mary (Bozart) Garst. When she was five years old she accompanied her mother and her step-father, John Filbrun, to Miami County, her own father having died when she was very young. For two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Evans lived with Mr. and Mrs. Filbrun, during which time Mr. Evans was engaged in teaching school. In the fall of 1895 he purchased his present farm and in the following spring they moved to it and have now lived here for the past twelve years. Mr.
Evans is both a practical and progressive farmer, making use of modern methods and improved machinery. He and his wife have a family of eight children, namely: Robert Chesley, John Lebert, William Harold, Jasper Milton, Russell Frank, Tra Homer, Mary Caryl and Mor- ris L. Mr. Evans is giving his children every advantage in his power and they show the effect of the parental care be- stowed upon them.
ADAM GRUBE, a leading citizen of Springfield Township, where he owns one hundred and thirty-five acres of valuable land, is proprietor of the Adam Grube & Son brickyard, which is situated on North Limestone Street, just north of the limits of Springfield. Mr. Grube was born in Mackenbach, Rhine Bavaria, Germany, June 20, 1833, and is a son of Jacob and Philipena (Shaar) Grube.
In 1835 the parents of Mr. Grube came to America and settled in Tiffin, Ohio, where they lived for two years. During this time the father worked very hard, walking the whole distance to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he secured em- ployment on the Wabash Canal, and later worked on the Maumee Canal. In 1837 Jacob Grube decided to remove his fam- ily to Springfield, where there was a chance for him to secure work as a day laborer, and after this removal, Adam Grube had a chance to go to school. He also began to assist in the care of the family, earning his first money selling produce from house to house, before and after school, his honest measure and pleasant manner soon making friends for him among the housewives of Springfield.
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RESIDENCE OF MILTON L. EVANS, GERMAN TOWNSHIP
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Just as soon as his strength permitted he began to work at day labor, in the mean- while gaining a knowledge of the brick business. When he was only twelve years old he worked in James Robinson's brick- yard for his board and three dollars a month. He was patient, persevering, honest and saving, and it was a proud day for him when, in partnership with his brother, he was able to buy fifteen acres of land. Later he bought his brother's seven and one-half acres, and this remains his home place. For fourteen years he lived in a log house and then built his present fine brick residence. When he went first into the brick business he was associated with his two brothers, Jacob and Christian, and they continued to- gether for six years, after which he fol- lowed farming and gardening for several years and then started his brickyard, later entering in partnership with his son, Charles Elmer Grube. The plant is fitted with the Quaker brick-making machinery, and employment is given twelve men and five boys. The output is building brick, and the business is one of importance.
When he was about twenty-two years of age, Mr. Grube was married to Annie Mary Wilch, and they had born seven chil- dren, the three survivors being: John Adam, who is a farmer and brickmaker; William H .; and Charles E., who is in partnership with his father. After the death of his first wife, Adam Grube mar- ried Gertrude Rettig, who is also de- ceased. Of their nine children, four are living, namely; George Peter, Samuel, Frantz Joseph, and Gertrude.
Mr. Grube owns three farms, one piece of land consisting of sixty-nine acres, he owns in partnership with his sons Frantz
Joseph and Samuel David. In addition to his residence already mentioned, Mr. Grube owns four other houses which he rents. His property is all of considerable value. A review of Mr. Grube's life tells a story that carries its own lesson. It proves the value of industry and prud- ence. It is a long step from the little lad carrying his basket of produce from his parent's garden, from door to door, to the substantial citizen whose name at the bottom of a legal paper represents large and honestly earned thousands of dollars.
EDWARD H. RITCHIE, general farm- er, residing in Pleasant Township, owns two farms, comprising 240 acres of val- uable land. He was born in Loudon County, Virginia, and was six years old when his parents came to Clark County.
The father of Mr. Ritchie settled first on a farm three miles west of Catawba, which he rented for one year. He then removed to the J. Chance farm, one and one-half miles west of Catawba, a year later moving to what was known as the Yeazle farm. From there he removed to the Baumgardner farm and while liv- ing on the latter property commenced to build a house on a farm that he had pur- chased in 1859. It contained 101 acres and the father of Mr. Ritchie bought the land for $16 an acre. It now belongs to Edward H. Ritchie, and he would not sell it for $70 an acre, it being now very valuable property. When the Ritchies settled on that land it was covered with timber and brush and it required a large amount of hard work to clear, cultivate and improve it. The father died on that farm in 1901, the mother having passed
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away in 1889. There were four sons and one daughter in the family, namely : Mary, who is now deceased; Martin Luther, who died at the age of five years; John, who died in the army during the Civil War, aged twenty-six years; William, who re- sides in Champaign County, Ohio; Charles, who resides in Pleasant Town- ship; and Edward H., the direct subject of this notice.
Edward H. Ritchie was married in Pleasant Township, December 17, 1875, to Lucinda Jane Curl, who was born No- vember 1, 1849, in Clark County, Ohio, where she has passed her whole life. She is a daughter of John and Malinda (Frankelbery) Curl. Mr. and Mrs. Rit- chie have had four children, namely : Ni- na, born January 8, 1877, who married Edgar Evans, April 9, 1902, and they re- side on the Evans homestead in Cham- paign County; Ora born September 23, 1879, who married Oscar Mumper, April 18, 1900, they residing on what is known as the Rollins farm in Champaign Coun- ty; an infant daughter, who was born January 5, 1882, and died unnamed aged three weeks; and Elta M., born January 21, 1884, who married, May 29, 1906, Ed- gar Wood, a son of Henry Wood. The last mentioned reside on a farm near that of Mr. Ritchie.
Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie live on the old homestead farm of the Curls which Mr. Ritchie purchased in 1882. He is one of the leading citizens of his township and has filled many of its important offices at various times, just now being the pres- ident of the board of trustees of Nation Chapel. He belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias, Mechanicsburg Lodge, No. 474.
THOMAS A. PAINE, of the firm of W. E. Tuttle & Company, grain mer- chants, has been a resident of Spring- field, Ohio, since 1900, and takes rank among the most active and successful of the younger generation of business men of the city.
Mr. Paine was born in London, Ohio, in 1865, and was a small boy when his father, Bushrod Paine, was killed by a stroke of lightning, leaving his mother with three small children to look after. As a result he was obliged to enter the field of business at an early age, his edu- cational training being limited to the com- mon schools of London. He began as a messenger boy and while thus engaged learned telegraphy, after which he became operator and assistant agent at London. He continued in that capacity six years, then became identified with the grain business of James Hamilton in 1888. He continued in the service of Mr. Hamilton and his successors until 1900, when he moved to Springfield, Ohio, and began his connection with W. E. Tuttle & Company. He has continued here since, giving am- ple demonstration of superior business ability. He moves in the best circles, en- joying a wide acquaintance and a host of friends.
GEORGE J. TIPPIE, a representative citizen and successful farmer of Harmony Township, owns one hundred and ninety- five acres of fine land in this section, on which he has resided since 1881. He was born March 9, 1838, in Athens County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Anna (Wilkins) Tippie.
Joseph Tippie was born in Athens
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County, Ohio, in 1809, and was a son of John Tippie. In 1829 he married Anna Wilkins and he died in 1894. Their fam- ily consisted of eight children, namely : Sylvina, who married Ephraim Sayers, and whose children were Agnes, Ollie, Or- ran, Julia, Lizzie and George; Wesley, who married Elizabeth Brolley, and has five children-Addison, John, Warren, Silas and Nettie ; Eliza, who married Will- iam Ogg, and has three children-Sarah, Wesley and Joseph; George J .; Julia, who married William Keeffer, and whose children are Frank and Kittie; John, who died aged thirty-one years; Silas, who married May Bruner, and has three chil- dren-Ollie, Grace and John; and Martha, who married James James, and has two children-Freddie and Florence.
George J. Tippie received a district school education, such as was afforded the youths in his neighborhood, and his life has been devoted almost continuously to agricultural pursuits. In 1881 he pur- chased his present farm of James McMil- len and James Sprague. He has made many substantial improvements on it and has put the land under fine cultivation. Besides hay and the usual cereals he raises some cattle and other live stock. When the Ohio Electric Road was seek- ing a right of way through this section, Mr. Tippie sold the company five acres of his land and now the line runs directly in front of his residence.
Mr. Tippie was married in 1863, in Athens County, Ohio, to Orcha Stephen- son, who was born in that county, Octo- ber 29, 1845. Her parents, Jerome and Anna (Southerton) Stephenson, had ten children-Orcha, Bruce, Beulah, Priscilla, Jerome, Hattie, Media, Zelphia, Forestine
and Dollie. Mr. and Mrs. Tippie have had four children-Eva, Decatur, Owa and Etna. Eva, the eldest daughter, who mar- ried George Olinger, died in 1895, leav- ing one daughter, Mary, who was born in 1890, and who resides with her grand- parents. Decatur, the eldest son, born in 1865, married Fannie Smith and they re- side at Vienna. They have two children, Edna and Frank. Owa, the second daugh- ter, was born in 1869, and in 1890 married George Kephart. They have had two chil- dren, George Henry, born in 1895, who died in 1899, and Ruth, who was born in 1899. Etna, the youngest daughter, born in 1871, married Fred Kemp and they re- side at Dayton, Ohio. They have five sons-Fred B., George L., Homer F., Russell L. and Harry S.
Mr. Tippie has always been an active and public-spirited citizen. He has served three terms as township trustee and has shown his interest in the public schools by consenting to act as school director. He is a member of Lodge No. 345, Odd Fellows, at Vienna, in which he has held all the chairs.
JOEL L. LITTLE, a prominent citizen of Villa, formerly postmaster and also justice of the peace, was born in Ross Township, Greene County, Ohio, Decem- ber 20, 1836, and is a son of Cyrus and Susanna (Dalbey) Little, and a grandson of Jacob Little.
Cyrus Little was born in Frederick County, Virginia, in 1814, and died July 21, 1905, aged eighty-nine years. When he was three years old his parents came to Ross Township, Greene County, this being in the fall of 1816, and between that
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and 1820, Jacob's brothers, Martin, David and John, came also to this section of Ohio and all bought large farms. Their father, George Adam Little came from Germany to Virginia, in 1795. His trade was that of nail-maker and he manufactured some of the spikes that were originally used in the construction of the White House, at Washington City .. After the death of James Demint, who laid out Springfield, Ohio, his widow, Mrs. Nancy Demint, be- came the second wife of Jacob Little, the ceremony taking place July 12, 1821. A brother-in-law of Jacob Little was a somewhat noted character of that day. His name was Joseph Thomas, but he was known all through Ohio as the Singing Pilgrim or the White Pilgrim. He travel- ed all over the country preaching and singing his hymns, having published a hymn book of his own. He always dressed in white, hence his appellation, and he was a welcome visitor wherever his wander- ings led him. He married a sister-in-law of Jacob Little. He was born in Orange County, North Carolina, March 7, 1791, and died at Zanesville, Ohio.
Cyrus Little and his brother Joseph learned the blacksmith's trade with their father, and Cyrus ran a blacksmith shop in Ross Township, Greene County, until 1864, when he moved his shop to Van Wert, retiring after working as a black- smith for fifty-two years. He married Susanna Dalby, who died December 6, 1904, aged eighty-five years. The celebra- tion of their sixty-seventh wedding anni- versary had been planned, but Mrs. Little died three days before.
Joel L. Little learned the blacksmith trade with his father, in Greene County, and after the termination of his service
in the Civil War, he entered into partner- ship in a blacksmith business, with his father, at Van Wert, which continued for eighteen months. Mr. Little then came to Springfield and worked at his trade for eleven years, five of these being spent in the Champion Works. On December 13, 1863, he enlisted in a heavy artillery regiment, at Yellow Springs, Ohio, but at Camp Cleveland he was transferred to Company I, One Hundred and Twenty- eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served until July 13, 1865. He was in the Department of Ohio and during the larger part of his service, was under the command of Gen. Joseph Hooker. During fourteen months of this time he was stationed at Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bay, as a guard over Confederate prisoners.
In 1877, Mr. Little came to Villa and started a blacksmith shop which he oper- ated for fifteen years and then went into a grocery business for eleven years, dur- ing nine years of this period being post- master of the village. He succeeded his brother, Daniel Little, who had been post- master for six years previously.
On February 4, 1858, Mr. Little was married to Charity Gordon, who was born in Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio, on a farm adjoining the one on which her grandfather, Richard Gordon, had settled. Her father, Richard Gordon, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, and was nine years old when his father settled on a farm south of Springfield. The elder Richard Gordon had made a previous set- tlement in this region but had gone back to Virginia on account of the hostility of the Indians in Ohio at that time. Subse- quently he returned to his former farm
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on which he lived out the rest of his life, and on which he reared a family of seven- teen children all of whom reached matur- ity. When Mrs. Little was ten years old her parents moved to Ross Township, Greene County, where she was residing at the time of her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Little have three children, namely: Willis, who is engaged in a blacksmith business at Urbana, his father owning the property; Cyrus G., who died December 9, 1907, was a resident of Den- ver, Colorado, and he had been in an ex- press business for the past twenty-two years, until 1906 being agent for the Pacific Express Company, at Cleveland; and Ida M., who married Peter Lynch, who is principal of the Eastern School, at Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Little have fifteen grandchildren and six great-grand- children.
In 1881, Mr. Little joined the Odd Fel- lows and was a member of Ephraim Lodge, which he subsequently left in order to become a charter member of Lone Star Lodge, No. 732, Lagonda. He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Lagonda. For nine years, Mr. Little was a justice of the peace and is still familiarly addressed as Squire Little.
JOHN FREDERIC OTSTOT, residing on one of his father's farms, which is sit- uated in section 20, Springfield Township, and consists of ninety-four and one-half acres of valuable land, was born in Springfield Township, Clark County, Ohio, September 26, 1882, and is a son of John and Sallie (Kershner) Otstot.
John Otstot was born in the house which is the present home of his son, John F.
His father was William Otstot, who was a native of Pennsylvania and an early set- tler in this section. William Otstot built this commodious brick house in 1832 and at that time it was one of the finest resi- dences in all this part of the country, and many a social gathering has been held here and kind hospitality dispensed. It is still known as the old William Otstot place. John Otstot was reared in Spring- field Township and trained to be a good farmer. When he reached manhood he married Sallie Kershner, who was also born in Springfield Township, and is a daughter of William A. Kershner. To John and Sallie Otstot were born four children, namely: William A .; Mabel, who married August Getz; John Frederic ; and Harry, who remains at home. John Otstot is a large farmer residing east of Springfield, and is a member of the Springfield Township School Board.
John F. Otstot was reared in Spring- field Township, and attended school dur- ing his boyhood and youth, in the neigh- borhood of his home. He grew to man- hood acquainted with all the practical de- tails of farming and has ever since given his attention to this business. For some months following his marriage he lived at home and then moved to the present farm which he has successfully operated for the past three years. He raises wheat, corn, oats and hay, also some stock, and keeps enough cows to have a good private dairy. He is one of the sensible, in- dustrious and enterprising young farmers of the township.
On June 1, 1903, Mr. Otstot was mar- ried to Florence Self, who is a daughter of Joseph and Lettie Self. Mrs. Otstot was left an orphan when she was five
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years old and was reared by her grand- Metal Wheel Company, becoming its man- father, James Self, of Madison County, ager in August, 1903. He has numer- ous other interests and is a director of the Springfield Street Railway Company. Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Otstot have one son, a bright little child, whom they have named John Edgar.
W. H. STACKHOUSE, manager of The Bettendorf Metal Wheel Company, at Springfield, has been identified with the interests of this city for the past ten years. He was born at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1865, and was reared and educated at Davenport, Iowa.
His early business efforts were con- nected with railroading and he subse- quently became cashier at Davenport, for the Rock Island Railroad, and he served also as private secretary to the assistant president of the road, for eight years. He then turned his attention to life insur- ance, representing the Northwestern Mu- tual Life Insurance Company of Milwau- kee. About this time he also entered ac- tively into politics, becoming an import- ant factor in the Democratic ranks. For some years he continuously represented his party at district and state conven- tions, and he was sent as a delegate to the Democratic national convention, in 1896, and was still further honored by an ap- pointment as a member of the committee selected to notify the vice-presidential nominee. From 1889 until 1893, he was associated with the Democratic national committee. During the second adminis- tration of President Cleveland, he was appointed collector of internal revenue, for southern Iowa.
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