USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 73
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CHARLES E. PATRIC
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was formerly Emma F. McKillip. She is a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Mc- Killip, people of substance and promi- nence in Moorefield Township. Mr. Mc- Killip died May 12, 1904, but his widow survives and resides on the old home- stead.
After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Swaidner took up their residence with Mr. and Mrs. McKillip, where they remained for ten years, Mr. Swaidner teaching school in Moorefield Township for several years. In 1892 they settled on the present farm in Springfield Township, on which Mr Swaidner carries on general farming. Mrs. Swaidner inherited the second farm from her father, and it is under rental. Mr. Swaidner fell heir to a third interest to 160 acres of his father's estate in Indiana in 1908. He and his wife have had three children, namely: Daniel B., who died aged five months ; Emma, Laura, and Jes- sie B.
Mr. Swaidner is a Republican in his political views. He was elected township trustee of Moorefield Township and served on the Springfield Township School Board for eleven years, during five of which he was president of the board. While thus serving he performed a useful and important work, as it was through his persistent efforts that music and school libraries were installed in the township schools.
CHARLES E. PATRIC, who may justly be termed the father of those agri- cultural implements, the Superior Drills, which have carried the name of Spring- field all over the United States and to re- mote foreign lands, came first to this city
in 1867, and has made it his permanent home since 1883. Mr. Patric was born at Poughkeepsie, New York, September 6, 1837, and is a son of Richard F. and Be- thia (Patric) Patric.
The founders of the Patric family in America were born in Scotland, and set- tled in Connecticut about 1635. Abel Pat- ric, the paternal grandfather, served in the Revolutionary War and had many thrilling adventures, through which he lived, and died in his peaceful home in Eastern New York. His son, Richard F. Patric, father of Charles E., was born in Connecticut, but later moved to a farm near Poughkeepsie, New York, and still later to Wayne County, in the same state. He was engaged in a lumber business during his active years. His death took place in Monroe County, New York, in 1855. His widow survived him until 1863. They were zealous and worthy members of the Baptist Church.
Charles E. Patric was the ninth child in his parents' family of ten children, and with his brothers and sisters he enjoyed the same educational advantages in the district schools. Later he had academic training at Hornellsville, after which he returned to Wayne County and for a time, prior to starting out independently, he was associated in business with his father. He was connected subsequently, until 1864, with manufacturing and milling in- terests at Victor, in Ontario County, and then entered into manufacturing, at Shortsville, New York. In the meanwhile, Mr. Patric had been quietly developing a natural talent for invention, one that in the course of time has closely approached genius. After many experiments and in- numerable valuable inventions, in 1865 he
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succeeded in completing what is known as the "double force feed grain distributor for grain drills." In the fall of 1866 he moved to Macedon, New York, where he was able to secure better facilities for per- fecting his great inventions. In May of the following year, Mr. Patric came to Springfield, and here he set forth the mer- its on his inventions before capitalists of this section, who quickly recognized their merits and lost little time in organizing for their manufacture.
In 1878 Mr. Patric returned to Roches- ter, New York, where he had established a foundry and machine works, and while experimenting, he succeeded in making an entirely new drill, one which was superior in every way to the former inventions, and this fact naturally suggested the name of the "Superior Drill." In the fall of 1883 Mr. Patric came back to Springfield, and here he organized The Superior Drill Company, which was then incorporated with a capital stock of $250,000. Mr. Pat- ric has continued as a director and one of the heaviest stockholders of this company, which, with the exception of one indus- try, controls the largest business done at Springfield. His brain is still active, al- though he has taken out more than forty patents on grain drills and seeding ma- chines.
His latest invention consists of a Seed Planter, adapted to the use of the gard- ener, florist, nurseryman or seedman. It FRANK H. ROLFES, city treasurer, and a life-long resident of the City of Springfield, Ohio, where he was born March 20, 1877, is a son of Frank H. Rolfes, Sr., and Mary (Storch) Rolfes. plants perfectly all kinds of seeds, from the finest seeds to and including the wrin- kle peas and lima beans, either in drills or hills. It is constructed upon thor- oughly scientific principles, using an ab- Frank H. Rolfes, Sr., who died in Feb- ruary, 1908, in his seventy-seventh year, solute "force feed," insuring absolute control of the quantity sown, and will sow was born in Germany, and came to this
exactly the quantity it is set to sow, and without injury to the seed. It opens the furrow, plant the seed, covers it, and presses the soil over the seed, all at one operation, and as fast as the operator can walk. It is a model of simplicity and will last for years. It weighs but nineteen pounds, and a boy can operate it with ease. A great deal of time and money have been expended in perfecting this lit- tle machine, on which patents are pend- ing.
Mr. Patric's other business connections include the vice presidency of The Foos Gas Engine Company, the presidency of The Springfield Metallic Casket Company, and a directorship in the Springfield Na- tional Bank. His name stands ever for business integrity and personal honor.
In 1907 Charles E. Patric was married to Mary Jane Veazie, who is a daughter of Judge Veazie, of Natchez, Mississippi. They reside in an elegant home at No. 1314 East High Street, Springfield.
In political sentiment Mr. Patric is a Republican, but his aims and thoughts have always been far removed from po- litical office. He has been an active pro- moter of Springfield's commercial inter- ests ever since making this city his home, and as such is one of her most representa- tive men.
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country in about 1854, locating in Spring- field, Ohio, where he followed his trade as machinist with success for many years. Mrs. Rolfes preceded her husband to the grave by several years.
Frank H. Rolfes, Jr., was reared in Springfield, and early in life left school to learn the tool-maker's trade with the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Company, with whom he remained for a period of twelve years, after which he was engaged with the Foos Manufacturing Company for two years. He then accepted the po- sition of secretary of the Springfield Water Works, serving in that capacity for two years, and on November 5, 1907, was elected city treasurer of Springfield. Mr. Rolfes has always taken an active in- terest in politics and his popularity among his associates was duly attested by his election as city treasurer, he being one of the only two Republicans elected to city office at that election.
Fraternally, Mr. Rolfes is a member of the Knights of Pythias order and the B. P. O. E., and is religiously affiliated with St. John's German Lutheran Church.
JOHN H. BECKER, general farmer . and stock-raiser, residing on his well-cul- tivated farm of ninety-three acres, which is situated to the east and south of Tre- mont, in German Township, was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1841, and is a son of John and Eliza- beth (Zimmerman) Becker.
John H. Becker accompanied his par- ents to Clark County in 1848, and although he was then a small boy, he remembers the long wagon journey and many of its hardships. For one year the family
lived near the present site of the Chil- dren's Home and then settled in German Township, near Eagle City, the father purchasing a farm at this point. This was the home of John H. Becker until he reached manhood. He attended the coun- try schools and assisted in the manage- ment of the farm. On February 22, 1862, Mr. Becker enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company E, Sixtieth Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and re- mained in the service for one year. At Harper's Ferry, following the battle of Antietam, Mr. Becker, with his whole reg- iment, was captured by the enemy, but was paroled two days later and was sent to Chicago, where he was finally dis- charged.
In 1864 Mr. Becker was married in Ger- man Township, to Elizabeth Neff, who is a daughter of Christian Neff, who was a pioneer and prominent citizen in the neighborhood of Tremont City. Mr. and Mrs. Becker have two children: Iva, who married J. E. Armstrong, a farmer of Logan County, Ohio, and has one daugh- ter, Elizabeth; and Carrie, who married Irvin Ilges, and has one son, John Ed- mund. Mr. and Mrs. Ilges reside with Mr. Becker, Mr. Ilges operating the farm. This was formerly the old Christian Neff farm. Mr. Becker is not actively inter- ested in politics. He is a member of the fraternal Order of Red Men.
SETH W. SMITH. Among the men who have helped lay broad and deep the prosperity of the community in which he lives is the subject of this review, who was born on the farm where he now lives, January 24, 1843. His parents were
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Seth and Deborah (Wildman) Smith. His father was born in Eastern Tennes- see, where they were temporary sojourn- ers, as the grandfather, Seth Smith, was born in Pennsylvania, and had gone thence to Virginia. Having lived fourteen years in Tennessee, they removed in 1800 to Highland County, Ohio, and in 1811 set- tled upon the farm where Seth W. Smith now resides. At this early day the grand- parents were among the first pioneer set- tlers of this part of Ohio, and the country was in an undeveloped state. The ex- periences which they encountered were varied and interesting. Indians were plentiful, but were peaceably inclined.
The grandfather purchased the Fitz- hugh survey, which was supposed to comprise 1,000 acres, but proved to con- tain 1,120 acres. On the land was a primeval log house, which they occupied until 1817, when they manufactured brick on the farm and constructed a substantial two-story brick house, which stood for many years, or until 1899, when the sub- ject of this record had it torn down and erected his present commodious and mod- ern residence. The grandfather resided in his home in Clark County, until he was an old man, honored and respected by all who knew him. He had come to Ohio when it was but a territory, landing at Paint Falls, Ross County, to which his elder brother, Jacob, had come in 1796. Of the brothers left in Tennessee, some of their descendants removed to Ver- milion County, Illinois, whence some members of the family removed to Ore- gon. In the pioneer spirit which caused the grandfather to seek a home amid the wild scenes of Ohio, may be traced with interest those sturdy qualities inherited
from his ancestor, the great-great-grand- father of the subject of this review, who was born in England about 1680 and was one of those who, actuated by their Chris- tian faith, became a follower of William Penn, and with him, accompanied by two other brothers, came to America. One of the brothers settled in New York, or one of the New England states, and one in the Carolinas. There has been no reliable ac- count of the descendants. One son, the great-grandfather, Joseph Smith, was born about 1720. He was educated and reared in the Quaker faith, as was also his wife, who in her maidenhood was Rachel Bales. After his marriage he set- tled in Maryland, near Bladensburg, and rented a farm and conducted a mill on Permugen Creek. He finally removed to a farm five miles from Winchester, Maryland, where they remained for a number of years.on rented land. After a few years they decided to make a change and accordingly drove across the moun- tains to where Brownsville, Pennsylva- nia, now stands, but not liking the loca- tion they returned without unloading their goods. While crossing the moun- tains they were attacked by robbers, but drove them off. They returned to the farm they had occupied near Winchester, and there spent their remaining days.
Among their many children was Seth, the grandfather of Mr. Smith, the name being thus handed down to the third gen- eration-the subject of this review. In the grandfather's family were the follow- ing children-Jacob and Samuel, who died in early childhood; Mary, who mar- ried David Littler; Rachel, who married Nathan Linton; Ruth, who married
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Jeptha Johnson; and Seth, the youngest child.
Seth grew to manhood in Clark County, receiving a good education for the period. The country was still new at that time and the educational advantages enjoyed were not those of the present time, but the brave and energetic spirit inherited from his forefathers and cultivated by his own efforts was his, and he did much to- ward promoting the growth and develop- ment of his community. He inherited about two hundred and sixty acres of land from his father, which he cultivated and improved, adding to it until he be- came the owner of considerable land and in time gave each of his chil- dren a good farm. In his remembrance Indians were very thickly settled around the locality in which the family lived, but they were friendly inclined and made very little trouble. While the fam- ily lived in Highland County one evening they had been away from home and on re- turning found the house lighted up, and on looking in they found the floor cov- ered with Indians, who had come in and built a fire in the wide, open fireplace, de- siring to warm and rest themselves. On receiving their supper they departed in peace. On one occasion a young Indian became enamored of his sister, the aunt of the subject, and desired to make her, as he termed it, his "pretty squaw." As the recipient of this adoration did not favor his suit, he showed his disfavor by taking a lump of charcoal, chewing it, spitting it in his hands and rubbing it over his face.
Seth Smith, the father, was born July 11, 1798. He was an anti-slavery man, a great temperance man and earnestly did he advocate the principles in which he be-
lieved. He was a birth-right Friend, be- ing a direct descendant on both sides of the family of members of that sect.
He was married February 25, 1824, to Deborah Wildman, daughter of John and Elizabeth Wildman. To them were born seven children, three of which died in early childhood. The eldest son, Samuel, married Esther Cook, who died in Sep- tember, 1885, leaving three children. He died in February, 1901. Ruth married Samuel Hadley, of Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio. Oliver married Margaret Negus and to them were born six children. After living for several years in Clark County, they moved to Kansas and thence to California, where he died in 1896. The mother, Deborah W. Smith, departed this life January 2, 1858. In 1860 Seth Smith, the father, married Anne Hollings- worth, with whom he lived until his death in 1876, being buried at Selma, Ohio.
The boyhood days of Seth W. Smith were spent on the home farm. He re- ceived a good common school education and after teaching a few years attended Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, for two years and one year in the Agricult- ural College, at Lansing, Michigan, thus being well fitted for the practical duties of business life in after years. In 1872 he married Marion Griffith, of Alliance, Ohio, and they took up their residence on the home farm, this union being broken by her death in just one year. In 1878 he married Hannah Lewis of New Vienna, Ohio, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Hos- kins) Lewis. They were blessed with five children, namely : Oscar L., Lewis H. and Mary Emma D., while two died in infancy.
Oscar L. Smith was born August 23, 1879. In 1903 he married Jean Blanche
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Ervin, of Cedarville, Ohio, where he is now engaged as Cashier of the Exchange Bank. Lewis H. Smith was born Janu- ary 30, 1880. In 1905 he married Eula Elder of Selma, Ohio. They wow reside on the old home farm. In 1906 there was born to them a son, Lewis Elden.
Mr. Smith has been identified with agricultural interests here and with bank- ing interests in Cedarville, Ohio, and his individual interests have been blended with the welfare and improvement of his county and township.
FREDERICK FISSEL, general farm- er, residing on his farm of fifty-one acres, situated in Section 17, on the National Road, about three miles east of Spring- field, was born in Prussia, Germany, De- cember 5, 1840. His parents were Charles and Susanna (Dihme) Fissel, both of whom died in Germany.
Frederick Fissel grew to manhood in Germany, where he learned the tailor's trade, after which he served for two years and two months in the German army. When released, after performing the mili- tary service demanded by the laws of the Fatherland, he sailed for America, land- ing at the port of New York, July 1, 1867. He worked at his trade in that city for one year and, July 1, 1868, reached Spring- field, Ohio, where he continued to work at his trade until 1881.
In 1869, Mr. Fissel was married to Amelia Vollmer, who is a daughter of John and Susanna (Eberle) Vollmer. John Vollmer was born and was reared in Wittenberg, Germany, and came as a young man to Reading, Pennsylvania, later coming to Springfield. He was a
shoemaker by trade and he acquired thirty-five acres of the farm on which Mr. Fissel resides. Mr. and Mrs. Vollmer had nine children, the four survivors of the family being: John, who lives with Mr. Fissel; Jacob, who resides in Harmony Township; Mrs. Mary Kemler, and Ame- lia, Mrs. Fissel.
Mr. and Mrs. Fissel moved to their own farm in 1874, and to his brother-in-law's farm in 1881, and have been engaged in agricultural pursuits since that time. They have seven surviving children, namely : Emma, who married Conrad Ger- hardt, and has four children-Agnes, Mary, Frederick and Catherine; Charles, residing in Florida, who has no family; Minnie, who married William Gebhardt, and has two children-Charles and Ed- ward; Mary, who married Thomas Dow- den, and has three children-William, Edith and Hazel; Frederick, who resides in Springfield; Augusta, who married Henry Dersch; and Henrietta, who mar- ried Wilbur Hoyle, and has two children -Elizabeth and Paul. George, who was the fourth born child in the family, died when two years old. Mr. Fissel is a mem- ber of the Fifth Lutheran Church at Springfield.
OLIVER J. MILLER, a well known resident of Bethel Township, who is en- gaged in general farming on a tract of fifty-five acres, situated about ten miles west of Springfield, on the south side of the Valley Pike, was born on the old home farm in Bath Township, Greene County, Ohio, April 12, 1846 and is a son of Sam- uel and Mary (Warner) Miller.
Samuel Miller was a native of Lancas-
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ter County, Pennsylvania, and when just a boy his father, Samuel, Sr., packed his household goods in a wagon and brought his family over the mountains to Ohio, where he settled on a tract of timberland in Bath Township, Greene County, and resided there the remainder of his life. Samuel, father of Oliver J., was reared on this farm and assisted in clearing the land. He married Mary Warner, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, whose parents came to Ohio when she was eight years old and settled in Bath Township, Greene County, on a farm adjoining that of Sam- uel Miller, and the two children were reared together, and became lifelong com- panions. Samuel Miller's death occurred first, when seventy-one years of age, his widow surviving him ten years. They were the parents of twelve children: George W., who enlisted in the Forty- fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, died in the army; Harrison, member of the One hundred and tenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died in the army; Henry, who served in the army, enlisting in the One hundred and fifty-fourth Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Chris- tenia, widow of John Shrodes; Oliver James; William, who died young; Leah C., who is the widow of Elias Trubee, who was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic ; Martha J .; Eliza Ellen ; Reuben A .; Mary Alice, deceased, who was the wife of Andy Miller; and John C.
Oliver James Miller was reared to man- hood on his father's farm, devoting his time to agricultural work and to his edu- cation, which was received in the district schools of the township. In 1862, after the outbreak of the Civil War, although a mere lad of sixteen years, he decided to
give his services to his country, and was twice accepted as a recruit, but was each time compelled to withdraw, by his father, who considered him too young to enter the army. His third attempt was success- ful, he enlisting on his eighteenth birth- day, April 12, 1864, in Company K, One and fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, remaining in service 120 days, and was mustered out in September, 1864. He participated in several skirmishes and the battle of New Creek, Virginia. He then returned to his father's farm and on Oc- tober 20, 1868, was united in marriage with Susan Kreider, a daughter of Henry and Susan (Kirkwood) Kreider. Mr. Miller and family continued their resi- dence in Greene County until 1900, when he came to Clark County and purchased his present farm of fifty-five acres, the old Reuben Harnish farm in Bethel Town- ship, where he has since been engaged in general farming. Mr. Miller grows about three acres of tobacco each year. The greater part of the improvements, includ- ing out buildings, the commodious house, etc., were on the land at the time of his purchase.
Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, namely: George W., married Sadie Turner and has a family of six children; Susan, married M. Wel- ter, and has four children ; Olympia ; Mary Ann, wife of Lewis Grindle, has two chil- dren; Gertrude; Myrtle, married W. B. Kauffman ; Harry, died aged eight years ; Orey O .; Grace, and Sarah.
Politically Mr. Miller is an adherent of the Republican party. Fraternally he is associated with the I. O. O. F. of Fair- field, Ohio, being a member of the En- campment.
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EDGAR W. ALBIN, superintendent ly: Daisy Maude, wife of Walter of the Clark County Infirmary, and a life- long resident of Clark County, is rec- ognized as one of the leading and repre- sentative citizens of this community. He was born April 27, 1854, in Mad River Township and is a son of George and Mary (Martin) Albin.
George Albin was born January 2, 1790, in Clarksburg, Virginia, and was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving with Duncan McArthur, and was in active service at the time of Hull's surrender. In 1810 he came to Ohio and located on a farm in Mad River Township, being one of the most prominent pioneer settlers in Clark County. The site of Springfield was then covered by timber, and when the streets were laid out Mr. Albin assisted in clear- ing off the trees and hazel brush. He continued occupied in farming here until his death in 1872 at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He was buried in the old Knob Prairie Cemetery near Enon. Politically he was a Republican.
Edgar W. Albin was reared in Mad River Township, receiving his primary education in the district schools later at- tending Wittenberg College for two years. After leaving school he spent some time in traveling, after which he en- gaged in farming in Green Township with much success for a period of thirty-one years. On February 1, 1907, he assumed the duties of superintendent of Clark County Infirmary and has since served very efficiently in that capacity.
In 1874 Mr. Albin was united in mar- riage with Miss Martha J. Ross, a daughter of E. A. and Elizabeth (Wright) Ross of Mad River Township. Mr. and Mrs. Albin have five children living, name-
K. Weimer of Moorefield Township; Evangeline, wife of Jacob Milton Gog- henour of Montgomery County, Ohio; George C., who is engaged in the experi- mental rooms of the National Cash Register Company of Dayton, Ohio; Earl, who is employed as inspector of the Na- tional Cash Register Company of Day- ton; and Rosa, who is attending Willis University at Springfield, Ohio.
Mr. Albin is a man of public spirit and enterprise and for over thirty years has taken a prominent part in politics, hav- ing served for many years on the Board of Education and in many other minor offices in Green Township. Fraternally he is one of the most prominent members of the Knights of Pythias, and has filled all the offices of that order and was a Rep- resentative to the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. Mr. Albin is an ac- tive member of the Bethel Lutheran Church.
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