Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 85

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 85

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FRED SNYDER, clerk of Clark Coun- ty and a life-long resident of Springfield, where he was born October 26, 1875, is a son of John Jacob Snyder, deceased.

John J. Snyder was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania, and in 1848 came to Ohio ·and located in Springfield, where he en- gaged in the practice of law until the time of his death in 1898. He served two and

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a half terms as Mayor of Springfield.

Fred Snyder was reared in Springfield, and obtained his education in the public schools and Wittenburg College, after which he was for six years manager for the New York Life Insurance Company, having three counties in this vicinity. In 1896 he became a member of the Signal Corps of the Third Regiment, Ohio Na- tional Guards, and served in the Spanish- American War in Company D., United States Regular Army. He saw service in Cuba and Porto Rico and was mustered out in Washington in November, 1898.

Mr. Snyder is a Republican in politics and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of that party. He was elected clerk of Clark County in November, 1905, and has served two terms as secretary of the Republican Central Committee. Fra- ternally Mr. Snyder is a member and past Exalted Ruler of the Springfield order of Elks, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.

In 1906 Mr. Snyder was united in mar- riage with. Miss Genevra R. Carey of Springfield, Ohio. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church of this city.

ELI F. SILVERS, general farmer and stock-raiser, whose farm of forty-three acres is situated in Pleasant Township, was born in Clark County, Ohio, July 27, 1854, and is a son of T. M. and Elizabeth (Ropp) Silvers.

T. M. Silvers was born in Clark Coun- ty, Ohio, February 15, 1828, and is a son of Francis Silvers. His occupation through his active years was farming. He was married July 23, 1850, to Eliza-

beth Ropp, who was born September 10, 1825, and is now deceased. They had three children-William, Eli and John W. William Silvers, born December 1, 1852, married Lida Melvine and they have the following children : Esther, Florence, Laura, Howard, Perry, Bertha and Omar.

John W. Silvers was born August 8, 1858, married Anna Erwin and they have three children: Chester, Celesta and Mary.

Eli F. Silvers attended the schools of Pleasant Township and grew to manhood on his father's farm, which he now owns. He was married, first, in 1877 to Floretta. Sewell, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Sewell, of Clark County. They had one child, William Clyde, who was born De- cember 17, 1880, and died in 1898. On March 22, 1903, Mr. Silvers was married, secondly, to Mary E. Tarbutton, who died December 6, 1907, leaving no chil- dren. She was a daughter of Jesse and Abigail Tarbutton. Mr. Silvers is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, Lodge No. 4, of Catawba, being past chief of the same and at present fill- ing the office of venerable hermit. He is a member of the M. P. Church, at Catawba.

H. E. BATEMAN, a retired agricultur- ist and highly respected citizen of South Charleston, Clark County, Ohio, was born in Greene County, Ohio, in -1837 and is a son of Daniel H. and Elizabeth (Surlott) Bateman, and a grandson of William Bateman, who was a native of Maryland, residing there when that present state was a colony, under the administration of Lord Baltimore. William Bateman mar-

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ried a Miss Ducker, also a Maryland colonist, and they became the parents of five sons and two daughters, Daniel H., father of the subject of this sketch, being the only one who married. William Bate- man was a soldier in the War of the Rev- olution, and was by profession an edu- cator.

Daniel H. Bateman was born and reared near Baltimore, Maryland, and was one of the early settlers of Greene County, Ohio, going there in 1816. He came to Clark County, Ohio, in 1851. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Surlott, a de- scendant of the Carrolls, of Maryland, and to them were born three sons and two daughters, all of whom are now deceased but two-A. L. Bateman, of London, Ohio, and H. E. Bateman, whose name ap- pears at the head of this article.

H. E. Bateman was about fourteen years old when he came to Clark County from his native county, Greene, and was for many years successfully engaged in farming in Madison Township. He is now living in retirement in South Charles- ton, enjoying a well earned rest after years of unceasing activity. Mr. Bate- man married in 1866 Ann Amelia Paullin, who was a daughter of Newcomb and Mary A. Paullin, and of this union were born two children-Howard D. and Mary A. Howard D., who is engaged in busi- ness in Cincinnati, Ohio, was educated at Andover College, Massachusetts. Mary A. attended Miss Phelps' school, of Co- lumbus, Ohio, and also the McDonnel- Ellis school, of Washington City. In politics Mr. Bateman supports the Re- publican party. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

HON, JAMES JOHNSON, JR., for- merly mayor of the city of Springfield and a leading member of her bar, was born in Springfield, Ohio, December 3, 1856, and is a son of James and Catherine (Eby) Johnson.

The late James Johnson was long one of Springfield's honored citizens and for many years he was prominently identified with her building interests. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, December 4, 1821, and was a son of James and Ellen Johnson. He was seven years of age when his parents came to America and, subsequently, to Springfield. James was the eldest of the family of eight children and he proved of great assistance to his father in the clearing of the 400-acre farm on which the family settled. When he reached his majority he learned the car- penter's trade and in the course of time . built up a business in this and other re- lated trades that brought him both posi- tion and wealth. Through his public spirit he became prominent in civic life and was tendered many offices of trust and responsibility by his fellow-citizens. He was a member of the city School Board, of the City Council and was twice postmaster of Springfield.

In 1845 James Johnson was married to Catherine Eby, who was born in 1824, in Virginia, of old Jefferson County stock. They had the following children: Louis, James, Albert, William, Emily and Anna B. Miss Anna B. Johnson is a lady well known throughout Ohio. After com- pleting her education at Vassar College she returned to her native city and be- came the principal of Springfield Semi- nary. James Johnson died June 10, 1902, , aged eighty-one years.

WILLIAM H. NEER

MRS. ANNA C. NEER

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James Johnson, Jr., was graduated from Wittenberg College in the class of 1877, after which he entered upon the study of law with the law firm of Bow-' man, Pringle & Scott. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1880, immediately afterwards becoming a partner with Mr. Pringle under the style of Pringle & Johnson. For seventeen years following this firm maintained high rank in the legal profession of Springfield, each mem- ber bringing to bear upon a case the peculiar talent with which he was en- dowed. When by mutual consent the partnership was dissolved, one of the strongest law offices of Springfield went out of existence. Mr. Johnson continued in practice and now occupies a very prom- inent position in the legal profession in this section of the state. From early manhood he has been a factor in Demo- cratic politics and his influence carries weight throughout Clark County. At various times his party has urged him to accept public office and in 1886 he was nominated for circuit judge of the Second Circuit of Ohio. In the contest he carried his own county, against great odds, by al- most one thousand votes. In 1893 fol- lowed his election as mayor of Spring- field, and during his two years in office he worked assiduously for public improve- ments, discouraged the dishonest and cor- rupt element which is ever ready to profit by lax discipline, guarded the city's in- terests on every hand and left the office at the close of his term with the con- sciousness of having performed every known duty with fidelity. In 1897 fol- lowed his election to the presidency of the Springfield Board of Trade. He has served on many important charitable

commissions and various civic boards, and has contributed time, money and in- fluence to furthering and fostering enter- prises which have resulted in the general welfare of the city. In 1888 Mr. Johnson was married to Blanche Obenshane, of White County, Indiana.

WILLIAM H. NEER, a well known and highly respected citizen of the village of Catawba, and owner of 380 acres of well improved farm land in Pleasant Township, Clark County, was born July 5, 1848, on his father's farm two miles west of Catawba. He is a son of Nathan and Mary Ann (Hunter) Neer (the for- mer born on the same farm above men- tioned), and a grandson of Amos Neer, a native of Virginia and one of the early settlers of Clark County, Ohio, who served in the War of 1812.

Amos Neer was born in Loudon Coun- ty, Virginia, and came to Ohio in 1817, settling on land entered by his father, Henry .. Neer. The latter was born in 1748 in Virginia, came to Clark County, Ohio, at an early day and died in this county February 3, 1828.

Nathan Neer was born August 15, 1822, and died November 13, 1886. He married Mary Ann Hunter, who was born on the adjoining farm March 1, 1823, and who died June 22, 1889. They had seven children, namely: Levi, William H., Miranda E., Luther, Charles F., Alonza W. and Laura J. Levi was a member of Company F, Eighth Ohio Cavalry, serv- ing five months and subsequently dying at the age of twenty-three years.

William H. Neer was reared on the old home farm in Pleasant Township, and

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his educational training was received in the district schools, after which he taught school for four years. Since beginning in- dustrial life Mr. Neer has been engaged in agricultural pursuits and is one of the most enterprising and substantial farm- ers of the township. His land consists of two farms, both situated in Pleasant Township, and although a resident of the village of Catawba since 1890, he still continues the management of both these farms.

December 29, 1874, Mr. Neer was united in marriage with Anna E. Cart- mell, and to them have been born four children: Estelle; May, who died aged sixteen years; Carrie Amelia, Laura Edna and Mary Cartmell.

Politically Mr. Neer has always given his support to the Republican party and has served in various township offices, having been a trustee for a period of eight years and treasurer of the township for two years. His religious connection is with the Methodist Protestant Church of Catawba ; he is now successor to Alex. McConkey as class leader and served as Sunday-school superintendent for about twenty years.

JOSEPH WEAVER, whose black- smith shop and thirty-five acres of valu- able land is situated at Vienna, and in Harmony Township, has been township trustee for the past three years and is an active and leading citizen of this section. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, April 13, 1859, and is a son of Abraham and Mary Ann (Jones) Weaver.

Mr. Weaver comes of Revolutionary ancestry, his maternal Great-grandfather

Hedrick having served, with two of his sons, during that struggle. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Weaver were Joseph and Sarah (Hedrick) Weaver, the for- mer of whom was born in 1794, and died in 1852, and the latter was born in 1796, and died in 1885. They had four chil- dren: Eliza, Nancy, Amanda and Abra- ham. Eliza was born in 1821, married John Dubree and had three children. Nancy, born in 1825, married Samuel Peters, had five children and died in Jan- uary, 1908. Amanda, born in 1828, mar- ried James ' Hicks and they had seven children.

Abraham Weaver, father of Joseph, was born January 24, 1823. He married (first) Sophia Sprague, who died in 1851, the mother of two children: Theresa and Orlando. Mr. Weaver was married (sec- ond) to Mary Ann Jones in 1852. She was born in 1827 and died in 1889. There were nine children born to this union, namely: Eliza, James, Charles, Kate, Joseph, Nancy, Hattie, Laura and Frank. The surviving members of this family, ex- clusive of Joseph, are: James, who mar- ried Caroline Ensley; Charles, who mar- . ried Ida Carr, has six children ; Kate, who married Fletcher Tumbelsion, has two children; Harriet, who married Samuel Prugh, has two children; Laura, who married John Sharp, has four children; and Frank, who married Lillie M. Tav- ender, has four children.

Joseph Weaver was reared in Clark County and attended the district schools. In 1885 he settled in Madison County, where he lived until 1890, when he came to Vienna, where he owns property and has conducted a blacksmith business and engaged in farming ever since. He is a

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well known and progressive citizen of William; Abigail Elizabeth, who is now Harmony Township.

In 1885 Mr. Weaver was married to Luemma Smith, who was born in 1861, and they have two children: Gilbert, who was born March 31, 1886, and is a student in the Ohio State University at Columbus, and Irene, who was born March 24, 1896. The father of Mrs. Weaver, Josiah O. Smith, was born April 15, 1831, and died April 27, 1907. On September 9, 1852, he was married to Nancy Lane, who was born in 1833 and died May 27, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had ten children, namely : Sarah, Edward H., Mary, Clara, Luemma, Warner, Dosa, Wade, Frank H. and Alice.

Mr. Weaver belongs to Lodge No. 345, Odd Fellows, at Vienna. He is a leading member of the Christian Church at Vienna and is a member of its board of trustees.

DAVID BENJAMIN BEARD, presi- dent of the Board of Trustees of Mad River Township and owner of 382 acres of valuable farm land, was born January 24, 1859, and is the son of John B. and Margaret (Shellabarger) Beard.

John B. Beard was born in Mad River Township on what is now known as the Fulton farm and was one of a small fam- ily of children, all of whom are now de- ceased. He was reared in this township, which was then wholly undeveloped and was always engaged in farming. He mar- ried Margaret Shellabarger, also a native of this township, and they became the parents of ten children, namely: Esther; Samuel, who died aged twelve years; Ephriam, who died aged fifty-six years; Ann Rebecca, now deceased; Mary Etta;

Mrs. H. R. Miller; John Samuel, who died aged twenty-five years; George, a practicing attorney at Springfield, Ohio; and David Benjamin, the subject of this sketch. John Beard died in 1870, aged fifty-six years, after which David oper- ated the farm for his mother until her death in 1900, when she was in her eighty- third year.

David Benjamin Beard was born on his father's farm one mile south of Enon, where he was reared and where he re- sided until about twenty-one years of age. His education was obtained in the district school at Maple Grove, and at the age of fifteen he began farming for himself. He was married November 24, 1880, to Anna Kline, a daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Herr) Kline, both her parents being na- tives of Pennsylvania.

Samuel Kline came from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with his father, Samuel, Sr., to Ohio and settled in the timber- lands near Medway. After his marriage he kept a toll gate on the Valley Pike at a small place called Texas, which is now a part of Dayton, Ohio. He shortly after purchased a small stock of provisions and opened a store on his porch. He subse- quently came to Mad River Township, Clark County, and bought a farm from James Bier and became one of the most successful farmers in the township. He died May 16, 1904, aged seventy-seven years, and his wife died in December, 1893, aged sixty-seven years. They were the parents of nine children, namely : Joseph, Sarah Jane, Mary Elizabeth, Benjamin, John, Anna (Mrs. Beard), Jacob, Elizabeth (Mrs. George Schauer) and Emma. Of these Joseph, Sarah J.,

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Mary E. and Benjamin died when young, and Emma died at the age of twenty years.

Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Beard came into possession of the Samuel Kline farm, which lies east of their present farm and they resided there until 1905, when they removed to their present property, which is situated on the Dayton Pike, about eight miles west of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Beard has turned all of the farm work over to his sons, who also deal extensively in stock, buying and selling cattle, horses, etc. Mr. Beard also has charge of another farm of one hun- dred acres.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beard as follows: John Sam- uel, who graduated from Wittenberg Col- lege in 1905, married Bertha Wahlay, and is a resident of Philadelphia, where he is clerk in the Navy Yard; Elmer Herr, who married Bessie Swadner, and lives on the old home farm across from his father, and has one child-Benjamin ; Harry, who married, November 14, 1907, Jessie Hup- man, and lives at home; and Esther

Thelma. Politically Mr. Beard is a Re- publican. For the past sixteen years he has served as school director and for seven years has been president of the Board of Trustees of Mad River Town- ship, having been the first Republican elected to that office in years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and was formerly associated with the I. O. O F. order.

MRS, ELIZABETH KAUFFMAN, widow of Emanuel Kauffman, who died January 12, 1895, and who was one of the

most prominent and highly respected farmers of this section, resides on a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio. She was born August 28, 1828, on her father's farm in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Hartman) Byle.

Jacob Byle was a native of Northamp- ton County, Pennsylvania, and his wife, who was born in Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania, died in Montgomery County, Ohio, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. Jacob Byle followed farming in Pennsyl- vania for some years and in the spring of 1833 brought his family to Ohio and set- tled at Fairfield, Greene County, where for some time he conducted a grocery. He then moved to a farm in Indiana, where he remained but a short time when he went to Dayton, Ohio, and operated a grocery store. He later returned to Greene County, where he bought and lo- cated on a farm on which he resided until his death at the age of eighty-five years. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Byle: Elizabeth, subject of this sketch; Solomon; Sarah, died aged five years; Catherine, deceased, was the wife of J. Bartman, deceased; Matilda, deceased; William, died in infancy; and Joseph. Elizabeth (Byle) Kauffman was a girl of nine years when her parents moved from Pennsylvania. They made the entire journey over the mountains in wagons, it requiring about four weeks. This sec- tion of the country was still in a wild, un- cultivated state, consisting mainly of tim- ber in which large quantities of all kinds of wild game found cover. At the age of twenty, Elizabeth Byle married Emanuel Kauffman, a son of Christian and Anna

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Kauffman, and the eldest brother of Levi Kauffman, mention of whom is made else- where in this work. Seven children were born to Mrs. Kauffman, namely: Theo- dore, who is engaged in the implement business at Osborn, Ohio, married Anna Hershey and has four children-Treva, Lloyd, Rodney, and Edwin; Franklin died at the age of seven years; Agnes died when young; Reuben also died young; Oscar who is now treasurer of Greene County, Ohio, and lives at Xenia, married Winifred Rall and has two children-Rall and Fred; and Walter, who farms the home place for his mother, married Myrtle Miller, a daughter of Oliver Miller, and has one child-Louise. Mrs. Kauffman is a member of the Reformed Mennonite Church, to which her husband also be- longed.

ELI C. BOWER, a successful farmer of Clark County, Ohio, is located on a farm of eighty-five acres in Pike Township, and is also owner of a tract of forty- eight acres in Bethel Township, Miami County. He was born in a log house on a farm in Perry Township, Franklin Coun- ty, Ohio, October 8, 1849, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Davis) Bower.

Henry Bower, his paternal grandfather, came west from York County, Pennsyl- vania, with his family, and settled in Franklin County, Ohio, near Columbus, when that city was about the size of a frog pond. They settled on a farm in the woods and it took three men two days to cut the timber and make a clearing for their cabin. Later Henry Bower moved to Clark County where he died.

Peter Bower was born in York County,

Pennsylvania, and was one of two chil- dren, having a sister, Rachael, now de- ceased, who married Jacob Miller. He there grew to maturity and during his early days learned the trade of a tanner. He was a young man when he moved with his parents to Franklin County, Ohio, and thereafter he followed farming. He ac- quired a tract of ninety acres near the Scioto River, in Perry Township, was married there and continued to make that place his home throughout life. Mrs. Bower died in 1874, and he survived her two years, dying at the age of seventy- six. He married Mary, a daughter of William and Mary Davis, she being a young girl when brought from their home in Maryland to Franklin County, Ohio. This union was productive of the follow- ing issue: Mary Ann, wife of John Reiley, both deceased; Joseph, deceased; William; John; Amanda, wife of R. Sells ; Sarah, deceased, formerly wife of James Thomas: Margaret, who died young; Alexander ; Eli Cicero, whose name heads this sketch; Walter; and Frank.

Eli Cicero Bower remained on the home place and cared for his parents until their death. He attended the common schools of his home district and has always fol- lowed agriculture. At the age of twenty- five years he started out for himself, go- ing to Plain City, where for some time he worked on the Pike. After his mar- riage he purchased a farm of forty acres of the Thomas heirs in German Town- ship, Clark County, and later bought ad- ditional land in Springfield Township, but continued to make his home on the former place for eight years. August 12, 1885, he purchased his present farm, known as the old Andrew Black farm, from Jeanette

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Dilly, remodeled and improved the build- ings and has resided there since. He has followed general farming and stock-rais- ing and the success attending his efforts has been the result of hard work and capable management.

Mr. Bower was married October 26, 1876, to Rebecca Thomas, who is a daugh- ter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Vale) Thomas, well known residents of Clark County. Five children have been born to them: Charles Eber, who married Nancy Funderburg and lives on his farm in Bethel Township, has two children- Herma and Ruth; Delbert, who married Bessie Musselman, has two children- Verna and Marie. (He lives in Miami County, Ohio, on his father's farm) ; Homer; Harrison; and Hazel. Our sub- ject is a Republican in politics, and while a resident of German Township served on the Republican County Central Com- mittee. He formerly was a member of the order of Odd Fellows, passing through all its chairs at Dublin, and is now a member of the Evening Star Lodge. He and his wife belong to the Brethren in Christ Church. Mr. Bower also served as member of the Board of Education of Pike Township for several years.

WILLIAM S. WILSON, president of the Springfield Savings Bank, with which he has been prominently identified since 1885, is one of Springfield's most highly respected citizens and representative business men. He was born in Moore- field Township, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Hugh and Martha B. (Ruther- ford) Wilson.

Hugh Wilson was a native of Pennsyl-

vania who came to Clark County, Ohio, in 1833 and here engaged in business until the time of his death, which occurred in 1860. He married Martha B. Ruther- ford, who was also born in Pennsylvania, and their union resulted in the birth of four sons and one daughter, three of whom are still living, namely : Moses S., who lives in Green Township; Mary E., wife of Jacob Barnett of Springfield, and William S., subject of this notice.

William S. Wilson was reared and edu- cated in Springfield and early in life en- tered the Old Springfield Bank, with which he was connected for some time, having been in their employ at two dif- ferent periods. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Seventy-first O. V. I., and was in the service for about four years, his regiment forming a part of the Army of the Cumberland. Beginning as a private, he was promoted to second lieutenant, and later to first lieutenant, and was mustered out October, 1865, as captain of his company.

Upon his return from the war, Mr. Wil- son engaged in the grain business in Springfield, buying and shipping grain for some ten or eleven years with much suc- cess, after which he served as treasurer of Clark County from 1881 until 1885. In 1888 he became president of the Spring- field Savings Bank, and has since been prominently identified with that institu- tion, retaining the presidency. Mr. Wil- son is also president of the Springfield Coal and Ice Company, and is interested in other business enterprises of Spring- field.

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 85

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