USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 106
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109
his children and now lives on the old home place with his daughter, Mrs. Free- man.
In April, 1837, Mr. Ray was united in marriage with Margaret Overpack, who was born near North Hampton, Pike Township, and was a daughter of George and Martha (Kerns) Overpack, who came from Virginia. She died in March, 1892, aged seventy-two years, being survived by her husband and three children: Lewis, who married Jane Davis, both now deceased; George, who married Sarah Howell, both deceased; and Mary, with whom Mr. Ray now lives.
In 1862 Mary Ray was married (first) to David Otewalt, who died in 1882, leav- ing a daughter, Rosella, who is now the wife of Elihu Hiatt, of Columbus, Ohio. Her first union was with Matthew Wones, and they had one son, Ross, who married Cora Hardin. Mrs. Otewalt was married (second) in 1892 to George Freeman, who is now operating the old Ray farm. Mr. Freeman was born in New York state and is a son of Warren Freeman,
The venerable John Ray has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than sixty years. He is a Republican in politics.
ROONEY WASHINGTON JONES, re- siding on his valuable fruit farm of three acres, situated within the limits of Vien- na, in Harmony Township, fills the im- portant office of treasurer of the village. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, Jan- uary 18, 1875, and is a son of Newton R. . and Frances (Sullivan) Jones.
The maternal grandparents of Mr. Jones were Samuel and Mary Sullivan.
1027
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Samuel Sullivan was born in 1800 and was an apprentice to an officer during the War of 1812. He came from Baltimore, Maryland, to Clark County, in 1837, and settled near Vienna, where he conducted a cooper shop for many years. At the time of his death, in 1898, he was the old- est man in Clark County. His wife died in 1881. They had three daughters: Mary Catherine, who married William Young; Frances Ann, who was born in Maryland in 1834; and Clarissa.
Newton R. Jones was born in Virginia in 1836 and died in 1890 in Clark County, Ohio. He served in the Federal Army during almost the entire period of the Civil War, enlisting November 2, 1861, at Vienna, Ohio, in Company C, Eleventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and being honorably discharged at Omaha, Nebraska, April 1, 1865. This regiment was mainly used to fight the Indians and their service was constantly one of great danger. On one occasion Mr. Jones was among the mountains in very inclement weather and was almost frozen to death. After his military service was over he re- turned to Clark County and resided near Vienna during the remainder of his life. In 1860 he was married to Frances Ann Sullivan, and they had three sons born to them, all of whom survive, namely : Vancy, who was born in 1868, resides with his brother, Rooney W .; Noah, who was born April 18, 1871, married Sylvia Smith, a daughter of Amos Smith, and they have one daughter, Gladys; and Rooney Washington.
Rooney W. Jones was educated with a view of becoming a teacher, taking the course at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, and subsequently engaging in teach-
ing for a number of years. On May 26, 1900, he was married to Cora A. Stafford. They have a little adopted daughter named Bessie. Mrs. Jones was also edu- cated at the Ohio Normal University and is a lady of high attainments. She for- merly taught school.
Mr. Jones is a Republican and has taken an active interest in politics ever since he became a voter and has been hon- ored by his party on many occasions. In 1900 he took the census in this vicinity. He has served as chairman of the Clark County Central Committee of his party, and at present is corporation treasurer of Vienna, having previously served two terms as township treasurer. In 1908 Mr. Jones was nominated by his party for county recorder, a nomination in Clark County on the Republican ticket meaning an election. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Vienna, in which Mr. Jones is a trustee and a steward. Mr. Jones is one of the prominent members of the order of Knights of Pythias at Vienna, belonging to Lodge No. 660, and also to Lodge No. 15, Junior Order United American Mechanics. He is a valued member of the Franklin Society.
GEORGE GRIESER, a prosperous farmer living on a farm of eighty-three and one-half acres in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, was born November 8, 1844, in Hessen, Darmstadt, Germany, and is a son of John and Maria (Gearon) Grieser, both of whom died in that coun- try, he at the age of fifty-four years, and she at seventy years. The father follow- ed farming throughout life. They had
1028
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
eight children, as follows: ceased; John; Margaretta, deceased, who was the wife of John Domesberger; Philip; George; Gertrude, who is the wife of Jacob Gearon; Adam; and Gerhardt. The four youngest of the family came to America, but not at the same time. Mrs. Gearon being the first and George the next to come across the ocean.
George Grieser was reared on a farm in his native province, and there received an excellent education in the public schools. In May, 1872, he left home for America and reached Fort Wayne, Indi- ana, just three weeks later, to the hour. Crossing on the same steamer was his bride-to-be, Elizabeth Stineman, who came from the same neighborhood, and upon arriving at the home of her brother, in Fort Wayne, they were married. Two weeks later they moved to Clark County, Ohio, where his sister, Mrs. Gearon, lived, and there he worked in a stone quarry for five years. He then rented a farm of 110 acres in German Township, of Samuel Nesser, which he operated for four years, and later, the Henry Snyder place of 200 acres, near Enon, for two years. He next rented 110 acres of Gen. Rust, in North- ampton Township, for four years, after which he was again located on the Ness- ler place for three years. He then con- ducted the Anna Schooley farm of 160 acres for four years, after which he pur- chased his present farm of eighty-three acres, on which stands a large brick house. He subsequently added more land and erected good substantial farm buildings. He put up a commodious farm-house con- taining six large rooms, in which he now lives, and rents the brick residence. He has followed farming and stock-raising in
Mark, de- a general way, and has been very success- ful.
It was in June, 1872, that Mr. Grieser and Elizabeth Stineman were married. She is a daughter of Adam and Eve Eliz- abeth (Klinger) Stineman, who followed their children to America from Germany, late in life. Mr. Stineman died in Indi- ana and his wife died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grieser. They were the parents of eight children: Adam, who crossed the Atlantic in 1860, being the first of the fam- ily to come to America; Peter, who lives in Germany; Eve Elizabeth; Catherine, who is the wife of Jacob Bowers; John, who died in Indiana; Agnes, who is the wife of Charles Helms; and two who died in childhood.
George Grieser and his estimable wife have also had eight children, namely: Catherine, who died April 20, 1908, was the wife of Adam German, and had three children, Effie, Lena, and Edna; Agnes, who died in 1904, aged twenty-nine years, was the wife of Philip Roder, and left three children, George, Nellie and Flor- ence; John, who married Iva Boyers, has a son, Ralph; Adam, who married Julia Florey, has one child; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Elliott Neese, lives in the State of Washington; Effie, who is the wife of William Parks has two children, Al- fred and Edward; George, who is employ- ed as a bookkeeper at Springfield, Ohio, and Margaret, who died in 1906, aged eighteen years. Mr. Grieser is a Repub- lican in politics. Religiously he is a mem- ber of St. John's Lutheran Church at Springfield, Ohio.
Mr. Grieser has made his way in the world through hard and persistent effort, assisted only by his faithful wife. Com-
1029
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
ing to this country with little means, a foreigner, unused to Americans and American methods, it was an uphill fight from the first. Meeting adversity with a brave front, he struggled on until now he is reckoned one of the substantial men of his home community.
HON. MELVIN L. MILLIGAN, presi- dent of The Fairbanks Company, and vice president of The Indianapolis Switch and Frog Company, is a leading citizen of Springfield. Mr. Milligan was born in Perry County, Ohio, July 28, 1860, and is a son of Alfred P. and Rachel (Iliff) Milligan.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Mil- ligan were George and Priscilla (Thrap) Milligan, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio among the pioneers of Perry County. In the home they established Alfred P. Milligan, father of Melvin L., was born September 1, 1831. In early manhood he married Rachel Iliff, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, February 16, 1840. They reside at Deavertown, Ohio. Alfred P. Milligan was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits through his active years.
Melvin L. Milligan attended school in both Perry and Morgan Counties, com- pleted a thorough business course at Zanesville, and then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he was graduated in 1884, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Several years of close study of law followed and he was admitted to the bar at Columbus, in May, 1886, and later, at Kansas City, Missouri, in which city he engaged in the practice of his profession.
Having acquired business interests at
Springfield, Ohio, Mr. Milligan was led to locate in this city in 1891, since which time his connection with her important enter- prises has been strengthened. Mr. Milli- gan, with trained intellectual faculties, is also a man of very practical business con- ceptions, and the ability with which he has, for years, conducted large transac- tions, has served to make him a very not- able factor in the commercial life of this section. He has filled high official posi- tions with great industrial concerns. Since 1902 he has been president and general manager of The Fairbanks Company, which formerly did business as The Springfield Foundry Company, and which employs 325 people. For four years he served as president, and since then has been vice president of The Indianapolis Switch and Frog Company, which is one of the largest houses in the country en- gaged in the manufacture of switches, frogs and railroad specialties. It was in- corporated in 1892, with a capital stock of $300,000.
Although Mr. Milligan is necessarily greatly absorbed in his private business enterprises, he has always found time to devote to civic interests, and in such measure as to win the full confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. In April, 1901, he was elected mayor of Springfield, and during his serv- ice of two years the city made marked progress. Politically he is identified with the Republican party. Mr. Milligan is one of the board of directors of the American Trust and Savings Com- pany, at Springfield, a corporation which occupies the substantial nine-story struc- ture to which the city points as its larg- est and finest building.
1030
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
On August 30, 1887, Mr. Milligan was married to Jennie Fairbanks, who is a daughter of Loriston M. and Mary Ade- laide Fairbanks, of Columbus, and a sis- ter of Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, vice president of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Milligan have five children, namely : Loriston F., Harry S., Mary Adelaide, Robert L., and Rachel Iolene. The fam- ily residence is located at No. 1029 South Fountain Avenue, Springfield.
JOHN HENRY BLOSE, one of Ger- man Township's substantial and repre- sentative citizens, resides on his valuable farm of 150 acres, which lies directly north of Tremont, on both sides of the road. Mr. Blose was born in Mad River Township, four miles west of Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, August 29, 1838, and is a son of Daniel and Susanna (Pence) Blose.
Daniel Blose was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and was a son of John and Amelia Blose, who moved to Cham- paign County, Ohio, when Daniel was a child of two years. The latter grew up on a farm situated four miles north of that on which his son, John Henry, re- sides. In early manhood he married a daughter of Henry Pence, who came from Virginia to Champaign County, in 1801, and in that county Mrs. Blose was born: This marriage was a very early one and the couple went to live on the old Pence farm, where four children were born, of whom John Henry was the eldest. The other three were, Minerva, who died aged one year; Eunice Elizabeth, who married Samuel Sowers, and, with her husband, is now deceased, they being survived by
five children; and Marietta, also deceased, with her husband, who married Christian F. Rohrer. The first wife of Daniel Blose died in 1846 and he was married (sec- ondly) to Louisa Colbert. They had seven children, namely: James Irvin, who fol- lows farming and is also in the grain busi- ness at Urbana; Leroy, who is engaged in the grain business with his brother; Dan- iel, who is a traveling salesman; Emery, deceased, who was also in the grain busi- ness; Edward, who died in young man- hood; and two children who died in in- fancy. The father of the above mentioned family died in 1871, aged fifty-three years.
John Henry Blose was reared in Cham- paign County, where he attended the country schools, and when about seven- teen years of age he also taught school. His father owned a flour mill and also a distillery, and he worked in both of these and also engaged in farming. At the age of nineteen years he was married to Caro- line Steinberger, and for two years after- ward they lived on one of his father's farms. Mr. Blose then came to German Township, Clark County, and bought an interest in a farm of 200 acres, which was jointly owned by his father and a Mr. Jacob Seitz, and this he operated from 1859 until 1871, in connection with milling and distilling. He built a house near his mill, but occupied it only a short time, moving then to his present farm. After retiring from the milling and distilling business, which he did in 1871, he settled down to farming and stock-raising, serv- ing at various times in the important pub- lic offices to which his fellow citizens have frequently elected him.
Mr. and Mrs. Blose have had eight chil- dren, namely: Rose, who died an infant;
1031
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Alpha Williams, Charles Vallandigham, as one of the Congressional district dele- Ollie Estella, Frank Pendleton, Clyde gates to the Democratic National Conven- Edward, Mary Elizabeth and Lettie May. tion held at Baltimore, Maryland, which nominated as its candidate for president, Horace Greeley. The eldest son, Alpha Williams, has been a successful teacher for the past fifteen years and resides at home. The second son, Charles V., married Lida Dingledine and they have three children-Hazel E.,
Lucy May and Mary Margaret. Ollie Estella married Charles K. Collins, and they have had seven children-Martha Eunice, Tandy Blose, Ruth, Roger A., Pauline and Lucy and Edna, the latter two being deceased. Frank Pendleton, who is a teacher, and is also serving in the office of justice of the peace in German Town- ship, married Nora Weigel, and they have one child, Helen Iona. Clyde Edward Blose, the third son, who is train dis- patcher at Springfield for the D., T. & I. Railroad, married Viola May Kiplinger, and they have had nine children-James Elwood, Ruhl Willard, Lettie Eileen, Ethel Caroline, Emily Josephine, Flor- ence Nell, John Henry, Joseph Philip and Mary Louise. Mary Elizabeth Blose mar- ried U. G. Karg, and they live near Tre- . mont.
In politics Mr. Blose is a Democrat. From 1863 until 1893, he served as a jus- tice of the peace in German Township, and during this long period in this im- portant position adjusted many important cases and gave many valuable decisions. He was chosen as one of the Congress- ional district delegates to the Democratic National Convention held in New York City in 1868, at which Horatio Seymour was nominated for President. He was at that time a great admirer of George H. Pendleton, and earnestly worked for his nomination. Again, in 1872, he was chosen
In 1873 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of Ohio, which met then at Columbus, but was adjourned to Cincinnati, on account of the preva- lence of cholera at that time in the former city. In 1875, Mr. Blose was elected a county commissioner of Clark County and served faithfully as such for a term of three years. He is a member of the local Grange. As an active and interested citi- zen, he has always performed public du- ties with an eye to the welfare of his com- munity, and is held in high esteem by his neighbors, and by the public generally.
JOHN OTSTOT, a prominent citizen of Springfield Township and a member of the township school board, owns three valuable farms which aggregate 290 acres. He was born on the farm which is now occupied by his son, John Frederick Otstot, in Springfield Township, Clark County, Ohio, March 28, 1847, and is a son of William and Rebecca (Knaub) Otstot.
The Otstot family came to Ohio from that old German stronghold, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Adam Otstot, the grandfather of John Otstot, came to Co- lumbus, Ohio, in 1831, and was accompa- nied by his son, William Otstot, who had been born in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1811. The family remained at Columbus for two years and then came to Clark County, settling on the farm on which John Otstot was born. William Otstot
1032
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
was married in Clark County to Rebecca Knaub, who died in December, 1902. She was a daughter of George Knaub and was born in York County, Pennsylvania. The thirteen children of William and Rebecca Otstot were reared on the farm south of Springfield, and all of them, with one ex- ception, reached maturity. William Ot- stot died July 16, 1895, aged eighty-four years.
John Otstot attended school in the neighborhood of his home, but early be- gan to assist in the farm work and has continued to be interested in agricultural pursuits up to the present time. His early training was not lost, for there is little pertaining to farm work that he does not thoroughly understand. After his mar- riage he went to housekeeping on the Wil- liam Perrin farm, in Springfield Town- ship, where he lived until the spring of 1883, a period of seven years, and then came to the present farm, which he bought in the spring of 1882.
Hayman and has two children-Anna Ruth and Christel; Mabel who married August Getz and has one child-Lewis; John Frederick, who married Florence Self, and they have one child-John Ed- gar; and Harry, who is residing at home.
Mr. Otstot has always taken a good cit- izen's interest in public affairs and on several occasions has consented to serve as a member of the school board.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PRINCE, A. M., Ph. D. Benjamin F. Prince was born December 12, 1840, near Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio ; he is a descend- ant of some of the first settlers in west- ern Ohio. His maternal grandparents settled in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1805, and his paternal grandparents in 1809; grandfather participated in the War of 1812. Benjamin was raised upon a farm, and received the usual education in the country schools. In 1860 he entered
Mr. Otstot married Sarah Kershner, . the preparatory department of Witten- who is a daughter of William A. and berg College (Springfield) and graduated from that institution in 1865. He entered upon the study of theology, but was ap- pointed instructor in his alma mater in the spring of 1866, and has been connect- ed with that institution since that date, serving for more than twenty years as professor of Greek and History, and now occupying the professorship of History and Political Science. He is ex-president of Clark County Historical Society and a life member and trustee by appointment of Governor Bushnell, and re-appoint- ment by Governor Nash, of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical So- ciety. Ellen (Way) Kershner. Mrs. Kershner was born in Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a daughter of Capt. Michael Way, who operated a shoe factory there. He was an officer in the War of 1812. After coming to Clark County Ellen Way attended and graduated from the old Springfield Seminary, and for a number of years afterward taught school both in Springfield and in the country. She mar- ried William A. Kershner, who was born in Clark County and who was a son of Jacob Kershner, who came to this section from Hagerstown, Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Otstot have four children, namely : William A., who married Minnie Dr. Prince was married in 1869 to Miss
1033
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Ellen Sanderson of Springfield. She was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, her mother for many years was postmistress of Springfield. They have been blessed with four children, Gracella, Flora, Wal- ter and Mabel. Dr. Prince has always taken an active interest in public affairs, having served for many years in the city council, and is today, perhaps, one of the best known persons connected with Wit- tenberg College. Notwithstanding his nearing three score years and ten, he is exceedingly active and energetic and bids fair to add some years to his already long service with his alma mater.
WILLIS JACOB DRAKE, a prosper- ous farmer of Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, is located on a farm of seventy-one acres about eighteen miles northwest of the city of Springfield, and in addition has a tract of twenty-five acres in Jackson Township, Champaign County. He was born on what is now known as the Jacob Sultzbach farm in Pike Township, March 20, 1861, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Deaton) Drake. Thomas Drake was born in Eliza- beth Township, Miami County, Ohio, September 18, 1836, and was a son of Jacob Drake, who came from New Jersey to Miami County during pioneer days. Jacob Drake was first married January 12, 1814, to Phoebe Stout, by whom he had two sons, Thomas and William. He was again married June 27, 1839, to Ruth A. Titous, and they had four chil- dren, Ezra H., Willis H., Albert and Mary A. (Lamme).
Thomas Drake, father of our subject, spent his boyhood days on the home farm,
which he assisted in clearing. They lived in a log house for many years, and in 1853 Mr. Drake erected a magnificent frame house, the finest in the county at that time. After his marriage he moved to the Ful- ler farm in Pike Township, Clark County, which he rented for two years; then, dur- ing the following three years, lived on the farm of his wife's mother. At the end of that time he moved to Champaign Coun- ty, farming near Addison for five years, and then moved to a farm on the Clark County line. The family next lived on the Sheets farm near Tippecanoe for a period of eighteen years, then on the Strock farm in Pike Township for nine years. From there they moved to Jack- son Township, where they remained but a short time, locating soon after on a small farm that Mr. Drake bought near Addison. Three weeks after moving on the place, Mrs. Drake died, on Decem- ber 13, 1907. Mr. Drake is now retired and lives in the village of Addison. His wife, Mary (Deaton) Drake, was born in Pike Township and was a daughter of William and Catherine Deaton, early pioneers of the county. Six children were born to them: William, Willis Jacob, Elizabeth F., who died at nine years; Sherman, who died at eight years; Grant and Levi.
Willis J. Drake was reared on the farm and attended the district schools. He be- gan dealing in stock in a small way when a young man and also followed general farming. He lived at home until one year after his marriage. October 30, 1891, he" purchased his present farm from the Samuel Lind heirs and erected a fine nine-room frame house, a good barn and other buildings. He makes a specialty of
1034
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
hogs and cattle, particularly the former, ried. He was a collier by trade, which oc- and has nine acres in tobacco.
December 20, 1883, Mr. Drake was united in marriage with Catherine Wide- ner, a daughter of William and Amie (Rollins) Widener, her father coming from Pennsylvania and her mother from Indiana. Mrs. Drake is one of eleven children, as follows: Charles, deceased; Catherine (Drake) ; William Elmer; War- ren E .; John E .; Harry F. and Hattie F., twins, the latter, wife of James Dick; Caroline E. (Staley) ; Hays; Ross; and Laura (Cottingham). Mrs. Widener died in 1896 and is survived by her husband, who lives in Troy, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Drake have three chil- dren, as follows: Tully L., who was married December 15, 1907, to Amelia Group, and is now farming in Champaign County; Florence E., who died in in- fancy; and Eva E., who attends the Wil- lis Business College in Springfield. Mr. Drake is a Republican in politics, and served as supervisor in Elizabeth Town- ship, Champaign County; and many years as road superintendent in Pike Township. He and his wife are consistent members of the Christian Church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.