Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 89

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 89

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two and one-half years for Andrew Mouk and one and one-half years for Reuben Harnish. After he married he moved to Medway, and for one year worked by the day as a laborer and also raised tobacco and potatoes. Mr. Walhay then moved to the Andrew Mouk farm and operated it for six years, moving from there to the Tatman farm, a tract of 250 acres, where he remained for seventeen years. Dur- ing this period he laid the foundation of his present ample fortune and in the spring of 1898 he purchased his present farm, of Jacob Tippey. Here Mr. Wal- hay has carried on extensive agricultural operations ever since.

On January 14, 1880, Mr. Walhay was married to Margaret Mouk, who is a daughter of Andrew Mouk, and they have the following children: Bertha, who mar- ried John Beard, residing in Philadel- phia; Harry; Eva; Ward, who is em- ployed in the office of the auditor of the C., B. & I. Railroad ; Mary and Rita. Mr. Walhay is a member of the Lutheran Church at Osborn, in which he is a dea- con. Politically he is identified with the Republican party. Mr. Walhay is an ex- ample of a self-made man. When he came to Clark County, his whole capital was fifty cents.

RICHARD HENRY RODGERS, whose large business interests have been mainly concerned with Springfield enter- prises, was born September 23, 1836, at Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, where his family, coming from old pioneer stock, has been prominent for many years. He was educated in his native city, completing his course at Witten-

berg College. He was seventeen years of age when he became a clerk in a local drug store, and later he was for several years a member of the office force of the Sandusky Railroad. At this period his uncle was cashier of the Clark County Bank, and thus a promising opening was offered the young man and he became connected with the bank and remained with it until its reorganization, in 1857. Mr. Rodgers then left his native city for the first time, accepting a position with a wholesale and retail carpet house at St. Louis, Missouri, but one year later he returned to Springfield, and subsequent- ly was appointed deputy county treas- urer, in which capacity he served for five years. In the meantime he had been con- sidering a business proposition which re- sulted in his embarking in a book and stationery enterprise, in partnership with Captain E. P. Ransom, under the firm name of Ransom and Rodgers. After retiring from the county treas- urer's office, Mr. Rodgers gave his entire time to the book business, attending to all its details, while Mr. Ransom served in the army. After the latter's return Mr. Rodgers bought his interest, and con- tinued to operate his book store until 1867. At this date he purchased an in- terest in a business already established at Springfield, which later became known as the firm of Thomas, Ludlow and Rodg- ers, continuing thus until November 1, 1893, when the firm was merged into the Superior Drill Company. This subse- quently became a part of the American Seeding Company, which is still engaged in the manufacture of drills.

As indicative of Mr. Rodgers' grasp of business it may be mentioned that he is

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vice president and a director of the First National Bank of Springfield; president of Mast, Foos & Company; president of the Springfield Gas Engine Company, builders of gas and gasoline and traction engines, and president of the Corrugated Steel Nail Company, of which his twin brother, Isaac W., is treasurer. The lat- ter is also president of the Patric Manu- facturing Company. Both Mr. Rodgers and his brother reside at No. 206 North Limestone Street.

Mr. Rodgers was married in 1866 to Alice Kilgore, and they had three chil- dren-Charles Kilgore, Robert S., and Effie S., the last mentioned of whom died in infancy. Charles Kilgore Rodgers married Florence Mast, and died October 27, 1902, leaving one son, Richard Mast. His wife died in April, 1901. Robert S. Rodgers married Edith Winwood, and resides in Springfield, where he is super- intendent of the manufacturing depart- ment of the American Seeding Machine Co. He has one daughter, Alice K. Mrs. Alice Rodgers died February 12, 1884.

Mr. Rodgers is an excellent type of the modern business man, alert and progres- sive, yet careful and thorough-one who, while conducting enterprises of world- wide fame, still finds time to interest himself in various matters pertaining to the welfare of his native city, promoting her religious, charitable and philan- thropic causes and institutions. With his family, he is identified with the Pres- byterian Church.

WILLIAM L. SNYDER, proprietor of Snyder's flouring mill, which is situated on the Valley Turnpike Road about one

and a quarter miles north and west of the corporation lines of Springfield, is one of the largest landowners of Clark County. He was born in German Township, Clark County, Ohio, March 28, 1858, and is a son of Christian and Amanda (Layton) Sny- der.

Henry Snyder, the grandfather of Will- iam L., was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he learned the mill- ing business. At a somewhat early day he settled in Dayton, Ohio, where he lived for one year before coming to Clark Coun- ty, where the remainder of his life was spent. In 1825 he built the mill which is owned by his grandson, William L., and it is situated on a farm of 415 acres. Henry Snyder had five sons.

Christian Snyder, father of William L., was a babe when his parents came to Clark County, where he spent his life, his death taking place in 1907. For many years he operated Snyder's mill and was also engaged in a distillery business.

William L. Snyder was educated in the country schools and at the celebrated Mo- ravian Academy at Nazareth, Pennsyl- vania. His agricultural interests are large, as he owns almost 1,000 acres of land. It is divided into three farms, Mr. Snyder residing on his mill property, where he has a fine brick residence, which he completely remodeled in 1899. He has named his place "The Park Farm," which, on account of its location and nat- ural and artificial beauties, it is very aptly called. He raises horses, cattle and stock. In 1899 Mr. Snyder installed the Rich- mond milling machinery in his mill and his products are feed and flour, he making two special brands of the latter: "The Pride of the Valley" and "Solid Com-

ELBERT FINCH

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fort." The mill is operated and managed by his son and son-in-law. Mr. Snyder married Catherine Bernhill and they have two children-John L., who has one daughter, Catherine; and Glenna, who married John Taylor Gillard.

ELBERT FINCH, a well known manu- facturer of Springfield, Ohio, is presi- dent of The Finch Shoe Company, a con- cern extensively engaged in the manu- facture of shoes, shipping their products to many states of the Union. He was born in New York City, April 30, 1846, and has been a resident of Springfield since 1858.

Absalom Finch, father of Elbert, came from New York City to Springfield, Ohio, and here engaged in the shoe business until the Civil War. He entered the Union Army in 1861 and served continu- ously until the end of the war. He went out as quartermaster of his regiment, the Sixteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and later was advanced to the rank of brigade and division quarter- master. £ When the war ended he ob- tained a position in the Custom House at New Orleans and continued thus occu- pied until his death, in 1869.

Elbert Finch was twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents to their new home in Ohio, and here he learned the shoe business in association with his father. He later spent two years in a shoe factory in Cincinnati, and became well grounded in the details of the busi- ness. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Johns, but was subsequently transferred to the quarter-

master's department, where he was a clerk under his father until the end of the war. Returning to Springfield from Cincinnati, he worked in a shoe factory until February, 1872, at which time he established a business of his own on West Main Street. This he conducted successfully during a period of ten years, when he moved to South Fountain Ave- nue. In 1895, in association with Mr. Charles P. Kalbfus, he established the Finch Shoe Company on West Washing- ton Street, starting in a small way with eighteen or twenty employes. Success attended their efforts-from the first, and it became necessary to enlarge their busi- ness and increase their working force from time to time, until at the present the pay roll numbers one hundred and ten persons, the output being 700 pair of shoes daily. They ship to many of the states of the Union, the demand taxing the capacity of their factory.

Mr. Finch was first married in Decem- ber, 1877, to Miss Louise Crown, who died December 17, 1878, leaving one daugh- ter, Lizzie M., now the wife of John C. DeHart, of San Francisco. Mr. Finch formed a second union, January 18, 1905, with Miss Amelia Hoffman. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Py- thias, which order he joined in 1874. He is one of the leading business men of the city, and has always given his sup- port to measures tending toward its wel- fare.

THOMAS MATTINSON, owner of about 2,500 acres of the best farming land in Clark County, was born on the place on which he now resides, in Madi-

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son Township, December 18, 1864, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Wilkin- son) Mattinson.

Thomas Mattinson, the grandfather of the present bearer of that name, was born in Westmoreland, England, and came to America and directly to Clark County, in 1834. He was a farmer and he purchased land and erected the resi- dence in which his grandson resides. Among his seven children was Thomas Mattinson (2d), who was born in Eng- land and accompanied his parents to Clark County. On the death of his father Thomas 2nd took charge of a part of the present property and lived on it during the remainder of his life, dying Septem- ber 19, 1903, at the age of eighty-three years. He married Elizabeth Wilkinson, who was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and they had four children.

Thomas Mattinson, third of the name and the direct subject of this sketch, is the only survivor of his parents' family. He was educated in the district schools and assisted in the management of the home farm as long as his father lived, and later became its owner. He super- intends the cultivation of the entire prop- erty. Mr. Mattinson married Byrd D. Pugsley, who is a daughter of James F. Pugsley, whose farm adjoins the Mattin- son property. Mr. and Mrs. Mattinson have had five children, all of whom are living. Mr. Mattinson is a good citizen and takes an intelligent interest in local affairs. He votes independently.

WILLIAM THOMAS, proprietor and owner of the Indian Mound Fruit Farm, in Pike Township, comes of one of the old

pioneer families of Clark County. He was born in German Township, this coun- ty, March 6, 1831, and is a son of Thomas P. and Phoebe (Kiser) Thomas, and grandson of Leonard Thomas.

Leonard Thomas was born in Pennsyl- vania, whither his father had come from England in the days of William Penn, and he lived to the remarkable age of 100 years. Leonard Thomas resided in his native state until 1815, when he came west and located in German Township, Clark County, Ohio, at a time when it was largely a wilderness. He subsequently moved to Preble County, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-four years, longevity being a marked characteristic of this family.

Thomas P. Thomas was born in Penn- sylvania and was about sixteen years old when he accompanied his parents west to Clark County .. He had, prior to that time, worked in a factory, but upon com- ing here turned his attention to farming, assisting in clearing the home farm. After his marriage he and his wife were given a farm of 160 acres by her father, and they moved upon it, this being the farm on which their son William now lives. He cleared the land, assisted by his eldest son, and continued to reside here until his death in 1891. He held large landed interests in the far west, which at his death were valued at $35,000.00. He was joined in marriage with Phoebe Kiser, who was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and was very young when in 1811 she accompanied her par- ents to Clark County, Ohio, where her father, David Kiser, became the first county recorder. Her maternal grand- father, Thomas Norman, was a member Hauman

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of the historical "Boston Tea Party," and was also a pioneer citizen of Clark County, Ohio. The latter came in 1812 on horseback from Virginia and carried in his saddlebags seed for one of the first orchards grown in this vicinity. Thomas P. and Phoebe Thomas reared five chil- dren: William; David K., of Iowa; Susan, widow of John Holzhauer; Simeon A., of Iowa; and Mary, wife of George Brooks, deceased.

William Thomas was born in a log cabin on his grandfather's farm and was about four years old when his parents moved to Pike Township, where he grew to maturity. He well remembers the trip, first the visit at Dayton and a few months later the coming to his present place. He. attended the old log schoolhouse and later the high schools at New Carlisle and Springfield. He engaged in teaching school for a period of nine years and met with success as an instructor. As a young man he assisted his father in clear- ing the home farm and lived there until he was married. He then farmed for himself a short time in Pike Township, after which he spent four years at St. Paris, at the end of which time he located at Millerstown. He remained there two years during the Civil War, then moved to Auglaize County, where he still owns a farm of eighty acres. About 1894 he re- turned to his present farm, known as the Indian Mound Fruit Farm. Here he first set out some 200 trees and has added thereto from time to time until he now has the finest orchard in Clark County, con- sisting of apples, cherries, plums and peaches, in addition to berries and small fruits of all kinds. He conducts his busi- ness along modern and approved plans,

and is frequently called upon to read a paper before the Horticultural Society, of which he is a member.

Mr. Thomas was married September 18, 1856, to Martha Moore, a daughter of John and Rachel (Tannehill) Moore. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and upon one occasion killed a hos- tile Indian in the woods. Six children were born to bless this union, as follows: Clinton, who died young; John Charles, of Auglaize County, married Hulda Jane Swartz; Phoebe Jane, deceased, wife of John Hiderman; Laura, wife of Ells- worth Birt; Ida, wife of William Hen- ning; and William, who married Harriet Lipp. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for more than forty years. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, but has never aspired to po- litical honors.

WILLIAM B. PATTON, M. D., of Springfield Ohio, was born January 29, 1872, in Montgomery County, Ohio. His father was John B. Patton and his moth- er was formerly Caroline Brentlinger, both natives of that county. They are now living on a farm on the Urbana Pike, just across the line in Champaign Coun- ty. The family moved to Green Town- ship, this county, in 1879, where the sub- ject of this sketch spent his boyhood days on the farm. After completing the com- mon school work he entered Antioch Col- lege, where he spent five years. He taught in the public schools of Greene County for one year and then entered the Ohio Medical University, in 1895, gradu- ating from the medical department in 1898. He was elected to the position of

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house physician to the Protestant Hos- pital, at Columbus, Ohio, which he held for one year, and then came to Spring- field, where he has since resided and fol- lowed his chosen profession.

Dr. Patton has been a member of the City Hospital staff for a number of years. He is a member of the Clark County Med- ical Society, as well as of the State and National Medical Associations.

He was married September 28, 1899, to Miss Catherine Green, of Union County, Ohio, and to them have been born three children-Helen, Dorothy Bell and John Stuart.

CHARLES GEIS, who is engaged in general farming on a well improved farm of 125 acres in Mad River Township, was born November 21, 1861, on his father's farm in Bavaria, Germany. He is a son of Martin and Nan (Slate) Geis.

Martin Geis and his wife were both natives and life-long residents of Ger- many, where they were engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. Martin died in 1892 in his eighty-fourth year, and Mrs. Geis died in 1879, when about fifty-seven years of age. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Lawrence, who resides in Greene County, Ohio; Mar- tin, who is still a resident of Germany; Mary (Mrs. John Bigner), who lives in Greene County, Ohio; Charles, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Anna, who lives with our subject. The maternal grand- mother of Mr. Charles Geis came to America with some of her children and located in Greene County, Ohio, where her death subsequently occurred. One of

her children resides in Greene County, Ohio, another in Xenia, Ohio, and a third child in Tennessee.

Charles Geis was reared on his fath- er's farm in a small village in Germany and attended school until fourteen years of age, after which he attended school on Sundays for two years. In July, 1882, he and his sister sailed for America, and having relatives in Greene County, Ohio, first settled there. Having no money, young Geis worked out by the month on various farms, after which he rented a farm in Greene County from Frank Ful- ton. He continued on this farm for six years and in March, 1901, removed to his present farm, which he bought from the Feirstine heirs. He erected his large seven-room frame house in 1906, the barn having been built two years previously. Mr. Geis raises a great many hogs, and is one of the most successful farmers of the township. Mr. Geis is a Democrat in pol- itics and is a member of the Catholic Church of Yellow Springs, Ohio.

EDWIN S. KELLY, one of Spring- field's leading citizens, is president of the Home, Lighting, Power and Heating Company, and is vice president of the O. S. Kelly Company. He was born April 17, 1857, at Springfield, Ohio, and is a son of the late Hon. Oliver S. and Ruth Ann (Peck) Kelly.

Both parents of Mr. Kelly were born in Clark County, Ohio, and both passed away at Springfield, the father on April 9, 1904, and the mother May 9, 1901. They had five children, of whom two sons now survive. The late Oliver S. Kelly was one of Springfield's strong, intel-

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lectual, self-made men. He was identi- fied with many of her most successful en- terprises and was prominent in her pub- lic affairs.

Edwin S. Kelly was reared at Spring- field and received a collegiate education. He became associated with his father in business while still a young man and has continued his connection with important enterprises. Mr. Kelly married Martha Linn, who is a member of an old pioneer family that came to Clark County from Pennsylvania. They have three children. In political sentiment Mr. Kelly is a stanch Republican, but he is more of a business man than a politician. He owns a beautiful home at Yellow Springs, Ohio.

ABRAHAM C. HEISTAND, a repre- sentative citizen of Bethel Township, re- siding on his valuable farm of 110 acres, which is situated on the north side of the old Carlisle Turnpike Road, six miles west of Springfield, was born on his fath- er's farm in York County, Pennsylvania. January 11, 1838. His parents were Abraham and Leah (Longenecker) Hei- stand.

Some of the family records of the Heistand family indicate that members of it came to Pennsylvania in the days of William Penn, but the first authentic date is 1731, when John, Abraham, Balser, Barbara and Anna Heistand sailed for America in the ship Brittania. They were natives of Germany, but had been forced to flee to Switzerland- on account of re- ligious persecution, and for freedom of religious belief they crossed the Atlantic Ocean and established a home in what was then largely an unsettled country. In the

fall of 1731 they landed at Philadelphia and John and Abraham went to Lancas- ter County, where they took up 500 acres of land, 200 of which still remains a pos- session of the family. Balser went to the South and all trace of him or his descend- ants have been lost sight of.

Abraham Heistand, son of John Hei- stand, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he became a man of wealth and influence. He subsequently moved to York County, where his last years were spent. He was twice married and his children were of his first union, as follows: John, Abraham, William, Bal- ser, Sarah, Nancy and Susan.

Abraham Heistand, son of Abraham and father of Abraham C., was born on his father's farm in York County, Penn- sylvania, where he lived a long and use- ful life and died at the age of seventy- eight years. He married Leah Longe- necker, who survived to the age of ninety- two years. They had eleven children, as follows: John, Catherine, Sarah, Chris- tian L., Abraham, Susan, William, Jacob and Amanda, twins, Anna and Alice, all of whom survive with the exception of the youngest.

Abraham C. Heistand was reared on his father's farm and in boyhood went to school, a distance of three miles, when his services were not required at home. In 1861 he joined his older brother, Chris- tian L., in Clark County, Ohio, and to- gether they bought a farm of 280 acres, the old General Mason place, in Moore- field Township. They continued to farm that place for seven years and then sold out to Jacob Hertsler. Mr. Heistand then came to his present farm, buying the first seventy acres from Samuel Miller and

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the remainder he purchased from other parties as he has seen a chance for a good investment. At the time of purchase an old brick house stood on the place, which Mr. Heistand tore down and replaced with a comfortable eight-room frame dwelling. He erected all the substantial farm buildings and made all the very noticeable improvements. He carries on general farming and devotes considerable attention to raising fine Durham cattle.

In 1869 Mr. Heistand was married to Martha Fisher, who is a daughter of John Fisher. They have one son, Clarence. Mr. Heistand, like all other members of his family, is a Democrat.

MICHAEL HINKLE, until recently one of the representative agriculturists of Springfield Township, was the owner of 120 acres of excellent land and carried on farming and stock-raising on the home farm of 100 acres, lying in Section 26. Mr. Hinkle was born on this farm May 29, 1834, a son of John and Mary Ann (Way) Hinkle. He died at the age of almost seventy-four years, on May 6th, 1908, and in his demise the township lost a useful and highly esteemed citizen.

John Hinkle, father of Michael, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He remained there until his marriage, when he started for Ohio with his wife, driving overland to Columbus. During the summer of 1833 he lived at Columbus while prospecting for a desirable farm, at length finding land to please him in Clark County, on which he settled in the fall of the above-mentioned year. He pur- chased about 700 acres at that time and continued to live on that part of the farm

on which he first located, until his son Michael was several years old, when he changed his home to another part of the same farm.

About three years after Michael Hinkle was married he moved back to the origi- nal home place, after an absence of some twenty-seven years. His father still owned the land, but Michael received the place as his portion, after his father's death. There were five children born to John Hinkle and wife, Michael being the second-born, the oldest, a sister, dying in infancy.

Mr. Hinkle began making improvements on his farm as soon as he took possession, and erected every building now standing on it, including the residence, barns, sheds and out-buildings of all kinds needed in successfully carrying on large agricul- tural operations. He had eight children, namely: John, now residing in Green County, engaged in farming; Elizabeth, residing at home; Mary, who married Jo- seph Crabill, Jr., a member of the town- ship school board; Alexander, a resident of Springfield Township; Susan, residing at home; Alice, who died in childhood; Sarah, who married Alva Graham, who resides on Mr. Hinkle's second farm; and Margaret, who is the popular school teacher at the Cross Roads, near her fath- er's home. The Hinkle family is a promi- nent one of Springfield Township.

CALEB TUTTLE was long one of Clark County's leading citizens. He was born in Virginia, in 1799, and was a son of Sylvanus Tuttle, who was the pioneer of the family in Ohio, coming as early as 1806. Sylvanus Tuttle settled in

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 89

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