Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 68

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 68

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fer. The mother lived but a few hours after being attacked but the father lin- gered for ten days. Their burial was in the sea. The ship, after forty-three days at sea, finally reached New York.

Jacob Snaufer was then sixteen years of age and was the eldest of the four chil- dren. When he landed in what seemed a very unfriendly country, he took his brother and two sisters to a small hotel and as he knew that he had two uncles living in Ohio, one in Logan and the other in Shelby County, he determined to com- municate with the latter, in the hope of getting some assistance. The letter was written to the uncle and one can easily imagine the anxious waiting for an answer which followed. It was a very serious position for a boy of his years to find him- self placed in, never having been forced to assume responsibility before this, and when ten days had gone by and no reply had come from the uncle, he decided to investigate the reason for himself. He left the three children in the shelter he had found for them and made his way to Shelby County, where he easily found his uncle. There were no rural mail carriers in those days and the boy's missive was found awaiting call in the country post- office, never having been delivered. With true German family affection, the uncle hastened to New York and brought the three waiting children to his hospitable home. Of these, John subsequently be- came a soldier in the Federal Army in the Civil War, in which he was so seri- ously injured that consumption attacked him and he died in 1892, in South Dakota. Margaret grew to womanhood and mar- ried Reuben Culp, and the youngest sis-

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ter, Magdalene, married John Keif, and both sisters live at Eureka, Illinois.

Jacob Snaufer remained in Shelby County with his uncle for two years and then worked with a farmer in Champaign County for three years, and at other work, up to 1862, having operated a rented farm for one year, and then he entered the army. He enlisted in August, 1862, at Urbana, Ohio, in Company H, Forty- fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he held the rank of corporal. This regiment was in General Thomas' command during a large part of the time and was prominent in the hard campaign- ing of that great force. Although Mr. Snaufer was a brave and fearless soldier and was always at the post of duty, he was never either captured or wounded, the worst that befell him was contracting rheumatism from the exposure and hard- ships. On one occasion a bullet went through his cap, coming that near to end- ing his life. He remained in the service until the close of the war and was mus- tered out at Nashville, Tennessee, June 12, 1865.

For some time prior to entering the army, Mr. Snaufer had work in a ceme- tery in Champaign County and when he went back after his military service he resumed this work for one year and then turned his attention to farming, in which he has been interested ever since. He continued to live in that neighborhood until February, 1882, when he came to a rented farm in Moorefield Township, in which township he has lived ever since, with the exception of one year spent in Harmony Township. In February, 1897, he purchased his present excellent farm and moved to it in the same year.

On December 21, 1865, Mr. Snaufer was married to Rebecca W. Sampson, who was born and reared at Urbana, Ohio. Her father is William Sampson and she is a first cousin of the naval hero, Rear Ad- miral Sampson. Mr. and Mrs. Snaufer have descendants numbering six children and fourteen grandchildren, as follows: Lura Belle, who married Walter D. Yea- zell, has two children, Bertha Belle and Mary Evalyn; Annie Grace, who married George T. Walton, has four children, Crystal, Edwin, Harlan and Margaret; Walter D., who married Claret B. Yeazell, has six children, Blanche, Ruth, Sevina, Edith, Carl and Hazel; John M., who re- sides at Springfield, is one of the pro- prietors of the Buckeye hat store; Flor- ence Edith, who married Harry R. An- derson, has two children, Maude and Mil- dred; and Jacob W., who lives at home and operates the farm. He married Jes- sie May Yeazell.

In politics, Mr. Snaufer is a Republi- can. He served for three years as a jus- tice of the peace in Moorefield Township and for ten years has been a township trustee. Since the age of twenty-one years he has been a member of the Odd Fellows. With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM A. MARTIN, president of the Central Publishing Company, at Springfield, and identified also with many of the city's successful enterprises, was born at Dayton, Ohio, in 1854. Mr. Mar- tin attended the public schools of his na- tive city and in boyhood began to learn the printer's trade, first with the old Oliver Crook Company and later with the

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. United Brethren Publishing Company, counted on to further religious move- where he completed his apprenticeship, ments. During five years of his earlier life Mr. Martin was a member of the Ohio State Guards. He is an Odd Fellow and a member of the auxiliary order of Re- bekahs, is past state councilor of the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics, and he belongs to the Lagonda and to the Springfield Commercial Clubs. remaining until 1880, when he came to Springfield. He was first with the J. S. Crowell Company, and when it became an incorporated concern he was a stock- holder and a director and was also super- intendent of the plant until it was sold to Eastern parties in 1906. Mr. Martin continued with the new owners until the summer of 1907, when he organized the Central Publishing Company. The of- J. QUINCY SMITH, one of Clark County's most substantial citizens, re- sides on his valuable farm of 287 acres, which is situated in Bethel Township, west of New Carlisle. Mr. Smith was born on this farm, April 5, 1843, and is a son of David Johnson and Sallie (Cory) Smith. ficers of this company are: William A. Martin, president and treasurer; Arthur Martin, vice president; and W. A. Mar- tin, Jr., secretary. The company estab- lished the family magazine known as "The Household Journal," a successful venture. Mr. Martin owns stock in a num- ber of other enterprises. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Merchants' and Mechanics' Building and Loan Association since its organization. He is president of the Board of Educa- tion, of which he has many years been a member, and is identified with many benevolent and useful organizations.

In 1878 Mr. Martin was married to Lucy Danneker, of Dayton, and they have the following children: Arthur, who is a graduate of Dartmouth College of the class of 1900; Elsie, who married Otto R. Largent, who is secretary of the Y. M. (. A. at East Liverpool, Ohio, Mellie; Will- iam A., Jr., who is a graduate of Dart- mouth College of the class of 1907; and Belle, Dorothy, Hortense and Paul A., all residing at home. Mr. Martin and family belong to the Blessed Hope Baptist Church, of which he is a trustee. He takes a deep interest in Sunday-school work and his influence may always be

David Johnson Smith was born in Scotland and was brought to America by his parents when he was a child one year old. He resided in New York until he was seventeen years of age, when he came to Clark County, Ohio. Prior to 1834, when he settled down to farming and stock- raising, he had done various kinds of work, always being a man of great in- dustry. In 1827-28 he was engaged by the Government on a stone and brick work contract at Sault St. Marie. Later he had a blacksmith shop at New Carlisle, which he conducted for two years. He was married in Clark County in 1827 to Sallie Cory, whose father, Elnathan Cory, came to Ohio from New Jersey in 1793-4 and to Bethel Township in 1803. At that time the present farm of Mr. Smith, which was the old Cory place, was a wild plum thicket. Mr. Cory had to grub out the roots of these trees in order to find space on which to build his log cabin, in

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which he lived for many years. A few Indians still remained in this section, and there was plenty of game, but few white settlers. He died in 1842 at the age of sixty-four years. Elnathan Cory mar- ried Hannah Jennings, who died of chol- era in 1834. Mrs. Smith was born in the log cabin on this farm, which stood until after her marriage, when David Johnson Smith erected the present commodious brick house. She died in March, 1903, at the age of ninety-three years. David Johnson Smith died in 1878, aged eighty- four years. They had ten children, two of whom died young. The others were: Nana, Henry C., David H., Hannah, El- nathan, John Quincy, Lydia and Fannie.

John Quincy Smith was reared on the farm he now owns and the clearing of which he helped to complete. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, be- coming a member of the Sixteenth Bat- tery, Independent Light Artillery. During his thirty-seven months of service Mr. Smith participated in many of the most important battles of the war, including Champion Hill, where Captain Mitchell was killed, the Vicksburg campaign, and many others, and when he was mustered out in September, 1864, he was with his battery on the Gulf of Mexico. Although he was exposed to almost constant danger during all this time, Mr. Smith returned home practically unharmed.

In February, 1879, he was married to Maggie Johnson, who is a daughter of John F. and Lydia (Shuman) Johnson, and who was reared on a farm adjoining the present one. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had nine children, namely: David J., Charles E., Raymond F., John H., George B., Harry B., Ralph Q., Lydia and

one that died in infancy. David, the eldest son, died at the age of twenty-three years.

Mr. Smith purchased his present farm from his mother's estate. He devotes considerable attention to raising draft horses, Shropshire sheep and Poland China hogs. He is a stockholder in the American Stock Breeders' Association. He is vice president of the New Carlisle Bank, of which he has been a stockholder since its organization. Mr. Smith is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of New Carlisle Lodge No. 100, Chapter No. 57, Council No. 30, Coleman Commandery of Troy No. 17 and A. & A. S. R., Valley of Dayton, and Syrian Tem- ple, Mystic Shrine, of Cincinnati. With his wife he belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Republican.

WILLIAM THACKERY, an enter- prising agriculturist and stock-raiser, of Pike Township, who owns about 374 acres of fine farm land in Clark and Cham- paign Counties, Ohio, was born January 30, 1852, on his father's farm in Cham- paign County, and is a son of Duncan and Susan (Ray) Thackery.

William Thackery spent his boyhood days on the home farm in Champaign County, growing to manhood as one of a family of nine children, namely: Ann Jane, who married Robert Smith, both de- ceased; Sarah J., who married John Neese; Mary, who is the wife of Andrew Ryman; John, who owns the home place, at Thackery Station; William, Finley, Joseph, Irey Bell, who is the wife of Michael Fadley, and Emma, who married A. Knisley.

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William Thackery remained with his Edith, who married John Group, lives parents until after his marriage, and one near her parents; Emery, who is a gen- eral merchant at Seth, and Edna, Elmer- and Elwood. year later came to his present farm, in Pike Township, renting 123 acres for sev- eral years and subsequently buying it Mr. Thackery is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of Northampton. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. from his father. He also bought a tract of 143 acres in Mad River Township, but sold it to Joseph Heffelfinger, who later sold it to C. Robbins. From time to time he has added to his acreage until he has become one of the large landowners of this FRANCIS E. MCKENZIE, vice presi- dent and general manager of the Mc- Kenzie Lumber and Coal Company, with yards at Grand Avenue and the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, Springfield, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, October 4, 1876. section. Mr. Thackery has always fo !- lowed farming and has made all of the improvements which make this one of the most valuable farms in the township. He cleared about fifteen acres of the land, re- moved the old log house, which he re- placed with a more substantial and mod- ern dwelling, and has expended money and exercised taste in bettering his sur- roundings in every direction.

Mr. Thackery was married February 27, 1876, to Lucretia Shaffer, a daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Kirkle) Shaffer, both still living. Mr. Shaffer was born in Virginia, in 1826, and at the age of five years came to Ohio with his parents. Mrs. Shaffer is also a native of Virginia and came to this state with her parents when a girl of ten years .. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have had ten children: Lucretia, Marley, Jacob W., Anna, Warren, Arthur and Lottie, living, and Viola, Samuel A. and Edwin, deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Thackery have reared a family of eight children: Edward, who lives near Christiansburg, married Gert- rude Stephens, and has one child, Gladys; Emmet, who married Bessie Wilson, has two children, Zelpha and Mildred; Earl, who lives near his father, married Eliza- beth Gabriel, and has one child, Marie;

Mr. Mckenzie was eight years old when be accompanied his parents to America. They located first near Tiffin, Ohio, and the son soon learned to be self-support- ing. He was first employed in burning lime. When fourteen years of age he went into the logging business, which he followed until he began to manufacture lumber at West Mansfield, purchasing a mill and continuing there until 1897, when he and his partners bought a saw and planing-mill and lumber-yards at Dela- ware. The fine plant there is still main- tained, together with a saw-mill at Nor- ton, and in October, 1907, they bought a saw-mill at Springfield and Mr. Mc- Kenzie took up his residence in this city. The company is one of importance in the business world and is interested in other holdings outside of lumber and coal.

In 1901 Mr. Mckenzie was married to Gurnetta Said and they have two sons- John and Robert. Mr. Mckenzie is a Mason, and he belongs to the Springfield Commercial Club and to the Young Men's Christian Association, at Delaware.

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ELIJAH L. DAVISSON, one of Pleas- He was married (second), in 1894, to ant Township's representative citizens, Mary Stateler, and their one child died in infancy. owns a valuable farm of 137 acres in Clark County and 100 acres in Cham- paign County, Ohio. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, April 12, 1840, and is a son of Lemuel and Susan (Lott) Davis- son.

The grandparents of Mr. Davisson, Isaac and Sarah Davisson, came to Clark County from Pennsylvania at a very early day. Both died in this county, the grandmother living to be almost one hun- dred years of age .. Lemuel Davisson was born in Clark County, June 14, 1812, and married Susan Lott, December 31, 1835. She was born December 11, 1812. They had eight children, namely: Isaac, Eliz- abeth, Elijah L., Mary, George, Daniel, Isaac and Thomas William. The first Isaac of the above family was born Sep- tember 18, 1836, and died February 19, 1840. Elizabeth, born July 18, 1838, died February 21, 1840. Mary Ann, born Jan- uary 21, 1842, died September 6, 1888. She was married (first) to John Hendricks, who died from wounds received in the army during the Civil War. He left one son, Wilbur. She was married (second), in 1879, to Eli H. Adams, who died in 1907. George W., born November 23, 1843, married Elizabeth J. Jones and they had eight children, namely: Ida M., Lawrence E., Minnie, Mertie, Hayes, Net- tie, Wilbur and Omar. Daniel D., born December 31, 1845, died September 9, 1860. Isaac (2), born December 31, 1848, died September 6, 1860. Thomas Will- iam, born March 31, 1851, died May 21, 1902. He was married (first) in 1880 to Lizzie A. Stipp, who died April 19, 1891. They had one child, who never breathed.

Elijah L. Davisson attended the district schools when he was a boy and grew to manhood on his father's farm. In 1862 he joined Company C, One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, for service in the Civil War, but the regiment had gone no further than Piqua, Ohio, when he was prostrated with typhoid fever and instead of going out to fight, he was brought home and struggled through a serious spell of sickness. On September 1, 1869, he was married to Dorothy Jane Neer, who was born April 14, 1851, and is a daughter of Joseph F. and Margaret (Arbogast) Neer. The parents were born in Clark County, May 4th and September 6th, 1825, respectively. The mother still survives. There were the following children in the Neer family : Amy, the eldest daughter, residing with her mother at Mechanicsburg, was born July 1, 1845; Sarah C., who was born in 1848, died in 1860; Dorothy Jane; Bruce, born in 1857, married Mary Wilkison and they have two children, Esta, who is the wife of Clarence West, and Cloice E., of Champaign County, who married Bessie Everhart; William, born in 1863, married Anna Kimble and they have three chil- dren, Foster and Florence, twins, and Milburn; and Grant, born in 1865, mar- ried Fannie Loveless and they have one son, Paul, born in 1893. Mr. Neer had married (first) Dorcas Bodkin. She left one daughter, Margaret Ann, who died in 1904. In 1860 all this section was af- flicted with a scourge of diphtheria, and both the Neer and the Davisson families lost children from this disease.

ADAM LENHART

MRS. ISABELLA B. LENHART

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Mr. and Mrs. Davisson have three chil- dren, Charles Clifford, Clarence W. and Harry L. Charles Clifford was born May 15, 1871. He was married February 5, 1896, to Nellie B. Woodmanse, and they have three sons: Floyd L., born Decem- ber 13, 1897; Bruce R., born November 23, 1903; and Kenneth E., born March 3, 1907. Clarence W. was born August 6, 1877. He was married to Lelia Dodson in May, 1900, and they have one daughter, Mabel Corinne, who was born October 8, 1901. Harry L. was born November 29, 1887, and he assists his father in manag- ing the large estate.

Mr. Davisson has resided on his present farm since 1870. He has been continually adding to its acreage and making im- provements. With the assistance of his son he carries on general farming, rais- ing large crops of the natural products of this climate. He is one of the leading members of Nation Chapel, and is a stew- ard in the same and is one of the trustees. For fifty-four years Mr. Davisson has been the chorister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving in three differ- ent churches in this period. All of his family are members of the chapel men- tioned, which is situated not far from his farm. He takes no active interest in pol- itics, but he is always ready to perform the duties of a good citizen.

ADAM LENHART, the efficient super- intendent of the Children's Home, of Clark County, Ohio, has filled this impor- tant and responsible office since March, 1885. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1840, and is a son of Abraham and Leah (Shettler)

Lenhart. The Lenhart family is of Ger- man extraction and is well represented in Pennsylvania and adjoining states.

Abraham Lenhart came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, removed from this state to Hamilton County, Illinois, and still later to Kansas, where he died, aged sixty-four years. He had nine children, as follows : Adam, whose name appears at the head of this article; Christopher, who died aged thirteen years ; Susan, residing in Kansas, who is the widow of William Cox; Mar- garet, residing in Kansas, who married Washington Hutchinson; Abraham and Henry, both of whom went to Kansas, where the former died; Sarah, residing in Kansas, who married James Charles- worth; William, who resides in Missouri; and Anna, who died in young woman- hood.

Adam Lenhart engaged in farming and also worked as a stationary engineer prior to coming to Springfield, Ohio, in 1875, where he was employed on the work of fitting up the plant of the St. John Sewing Machine Company. Later he be- came foreman of the Stand departments, having also assisted in completing that plant. After two years of retirement from business Mr. Lenhart was called to become superintendent of the Clark Coun- ty Children's Home.

This great county charity was founded six years before Mr. Lenhart took charge, and under his wise and capable manage- . ment it has greatly increased in useful- ness. The records show that more than 1,500 children have found refuge in the institution and have been sent to private homes, where they are kindly cared for, although not released from the protecting supervision of the Home. It may sur-

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prise many of the readers of these lines born in 1867. She is the widow of Dr. John to know that the average age of the chil- G. Kennan, who died in 1897, at Spring- field, leaving three children-Isabella, Gardiner and Lucile. Mr. and Mrs. Len- hart, her daughter and the latter's chil- dren, are members of the First Baptist Church of Springfield, of which Mr. Len- hart has long been one of the trustees. dren received is three years, and they are assured of an education and comfortable surroundings until they are sixteen years of age, unless in the meanwhile they have found other homes. When they leave this institution they are well equipped to take their places in the battle of life. Mr. In politics Mr. Lenhart is a stanch Republican and has served as a member of the Republican County Central Com- mittee, a very strong political organiza- tion. Fraternally he belongs to Red Star Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and to Eph- raim Lodge No. 146, I. O. O. F. Lenhart has also the supervision of the farm of sixty-five acres, which belongs to the Home. He has been so earnest in his work that the county has readily respond- ed to his appeals, and modern machinery has been installed in the buildings, giv- ing heat, light and water; also modern methods of control are followed in the management of the county charges. Mr. Lenhart seems to be particularly fitted for the position he fills. His attention was first called to the claims of the county's indigent while serving as one of the di- rectors of the county infirmary, and dur- ing that time he impressed his fellow- directors by his practical suggestions and intelligent ideas.

In 1864 Mr. Lenhart was married to Isabella Bolen, whose father was a well- known contractor and bridge-builder. Mr. Bolen was twice married and the fol- lowing children of his are living: John, who is superintendent of buildings for the Dayton, Springfield & Urbana Rail- road, resides at Springfield; Harry, who is a stockman and farmer and resides in Indian Territory; Isabella, who became Mrs. Lenhart; and Jeannetta and Loretta, twins, residing in Colorado, the former of whom married Joseph Sample.

Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart have had four children, three of whom died in infancy. One daughter survives, Elsie L., who was

Mr. Lenhart is deeply interested in all charitable and philanthropic work, but at the same time is a man of very practical ideas. He is never swayed by false senti- ment and thus is well fitted for official po- sition. He is a member of the Ohio Char- ities and Corrections Association, which has supervision of all the charitable in- stitutions of the state, and in 1900 he was chairman of the body representing the Children's Home in that organization. In June, 1902, he was appointed a dele- gate to a National Conference of Char- ities, but was unable to attend on account of pressing duties at that time connected with the affairs of the Children's Home.

J. L. FLATTER, a prosperous farmer residing about five miles south of Spring- field, in Green Township, was born in Greene County, Ohio, February 29, 1852, and is a son of Samuel J. and Sarah A. (Welsh) Flatter, and a grandson of Lud- wig Flatter.

Ludwig Flatter, grandfather, was born

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in Maryland of German parents. He came to Ohio as early as 1815, locating in Greene County, where he owned a half section of land. He lived three miles south of Yellow Springs and farmed there the remainder of his life. He and his wife were parents of twelve children.

Samuel J. Flatter, father of our sub- ject, was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1828, and farmed the home place until his death on December 16, 1903, when he was aged seventy-five years and two days. He married Sarah A. Welsh, who died September 18, 1861. They were the par- ents of six children, three of whom are now living.

J. L. Flatter was reared on the home place and attended the district schools of his home locality in Greene County. He remained at home, assisting his father, until he reached his majority, and then began working on his own account. He bought his present farm in 1895, having eighty-five and one-half acres five miles south of Springfield. He had worked out for some years and had rented a place for seven years prior to making this pur- chase. His wife also owns a tract of fifty acres about four miles south of Spring- field. He is a successful farmer and all that he now possesses is owing to his own untiring energy and good management.

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 68

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 1086

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086