Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 90

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

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CALEB TUTTLE

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Moorefield Township, near the line of Springfield Township, and there both he and wife died.

Caleb Tuttle was seven years old when his parents brought him to Clark County, where he continued to live during the re- mainder of his life. He carried on agri- cultural pursuits on an extensive scale and invested his capital in land until he owned 1,000 acres, the larger part of which has more than trebled in value since then. He was a man of fine business in- telligence and he also was useful to his community in furthering public improve- ments and encouraging education and re- ligion. Caleb Tuttle married Mary Prick- ett, who was born in Clermont County and was brought to Lagonda by her fath- er, who settled first in Clermont and later in Clark County. Nicholas Prickett oper- ated the first flour mill at Lagonda and settlers came many miles to this mill in early days. Caleb Tuttle and wife had the following children born to them : Cath- erine, who married Herbert Byrd; Eliza Jane, who married John Monahan; Mar- garet, who married Silas V. Byrd; Eliza- beth B., who married Joseph Wallings- ford; Rachel, who is the widow of Jacob L. McClellan; Sylvanus, who died aged two years; Isaiah, now deceased, who never married; William H., who died in the spring of 1885, leaving a family; Thomas, who died in infancy; David, who died aged sixteen years; and Laura M. The only survivors of the above family are Mrs. McClellan and Miss Laura M. Tuttle.

Miss Tuttle was reared and educated in the locality in which she was born. She is well known and most highly esteemed. Miss Tuttle owns the old Caleb Tuttle

home place, containing 163 acres, which is situated directly opposite the Sinking Creek Church. Another very valuable piece of property is hers, this being four acres on the corner of Burnett and Main Streets, Springfield. This land has a pro- ductive orchard on it and a very fine dwelling, which is now occupied by Dr. Cromer, a well-known physician of Springfield.

CHARLES CHRISTIAN FREID for many years was one of Springfield's val- ued citizens, was born at Springfield, Ohio, May 13, 1842, and his native city was his field of endeavor through a use- ful life, which terminated April 18, 1907.

Charles C. Fried was eighteen years of age when he put aside his books, to- gether with his ambitious plans for the future, in order to enter the Federal Army and to perform his loyal duty to his country. He became a member of Company F, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and during the period of his enlistment bravely faced danger and met the hazards which attend a soldier's life. After the close of his military service he returned to Spring- field, where he completed the jeweler's trade. In 1870, in association with J. W. Mulholland, he established the busi- ness which is the oldest continuous jew- elry house at Springfield. In the course of time he acquired sole control of the same and when his son reached manhood he was admitted to partnership, the firm becoming C. C. Fried & Son. Mr. Fried continued to be actively interested until in September, 1905, when he retired from

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business care, but he retained his finan- cial interest and had been in the busi- ness for thirty-seven years at the time of his death. Since then Carl Knott Fried, Mr. Fried's only son and his partner, has had sole control, and he is numbered with Springfield's enterpris- ing and successful young business men.

In 1863, Charles C. Fried was married (first) to Sarah McBeth, who died in 1873, leaving one daughter, Jessie L., Mrs. R. L. Queisser, who is a resident of Cleveland. In 1875 Mr. Fried was mar- ried (second) to Anna Knott, who was then a resident of Springfield, Missouri, but was born and reared in Clifton, Clark County, Ohio. Mrs. Fried is a daughter of William H. and Lydia (Price) Knott, and a granddaughter of Peter Knott, who was a prominent pioneer of Clark County. William H. Knott at one time owned flour mills and large sections of real estate, and later was interested in farming. To the second marriage was born one daughter and one son: Anna, who died in infancy, and Carl K., who resides with his mother in the beautiful family home at No. 417 South Limestone Street, Springfield.

Mr. Fried was a life-long Republican, and for twenty-two consecutive years was a member of the city council, on sev- eral occasions being elected its presi- dent. His services were highly valued by his fellow-citizens, who relied upon his judgment and followed his lead in many public-spirited enterprises which have vastly benefited the city. Although failing health debarred him for several closing years of his life, from active par- ticipation in public affairs, he never lost his interest nor failed to express pride

in the prosperity of his native city, whose infant industries he had often assisted.

At the time of his death, Mr. Fried was serving as a member of the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, with which religious body he had identified himself in early years. He was prominent in both the Odd Fellows and the Masons, in the latter organiza- tion having attained the 32nd degree. Locally he belonged to the Lagonda and Commercial Clubs.

JOHN P. CRAWMER, a well known farmer and highly respected citizen of Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, has a fine farm of 204 acres located about sixteen miles northwest of Springfield. He was born in Miami County, Ohio, April 16, 1848, and is a son of Michael and Miranda (Mumford) Crawmer.

Michael Crawmer was born in Mary- land, of German parentage. After his marriage he left Frederick County, Maryland, and arrived in Miami County, Ohio, with a cash capital of fifty cents. He located in the woods, on the Dr. Beard farm, and thirteen years later moved to near Alcony, in the same county, where he and his wife both died. He lived as the pioneers of that period did, and met with more than common success, having 340 acres of land at his death. During his early life he followed the trade of a cooper. He and his wife were parents of eleven children, of whom the follow- ing are now living: George, Charles, James, John P., Miranda E., Mary, and Elizabeth.

John P. Crawmer was born on the Dr.

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Beard farm, in Miami County, and as a baby was rocked in a sugar trough, hewn from a log. His mother spun the cloth for his clothes until he reached the age of twenty years, and he now treasures among his possessions the old family spinning wheel. He was five years old when his parents moved to near Miami City, and there he grew to maturity, at- tending the district schools in his younger days. After his marriage, at the age of twenty-seven years, he moved on a farm he had bought in Pike Township, Clark County, from Thomas Meranda. He resided there for eighteen years, la- boring hard to establish himself well in a business way, and at the end of that time was enable to buy a tract of 118 acres from the McCagey heirs, which is a part of the farm on which he now lives. He met with success and added to his possessions, until he now ranks among the affluent citizens of the community. With the exception of the sum of $2,000 which he inherited, and $800 which his wife inherited, what he has was made through their individual efforts. He has retired from the active management of the farm, which is now operated by his son-in-law, Jacob Davis.

Mr. Crawmer was united in marriage September 30, 1875, with Miss Ella Weaver, a daughter of John and Eliza- beth Ann (Levina) Weaver. She died in 1902, at the age of forty-two years, and is survived by three children, namely : Iva Belle, who was married October 4, 1906, to Jacob Davis, son of Jacob Davis, Sr .; Ona, who was married May 27, 1902, to Harry Hunder, a son of Lewis Hun- der, and lives in Clark County; and Alta, who lives at home with her father. Mr.

Crawmer is a Democrat in politics, and religiously is a faithful member of the Christian Church.

JACOB MITZEL, a well-known citizen of German Township, who owns a valu- able farm of 118 acres, which is situated just west of Tremont, was born in York County, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1831, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Flinchbaugh) Mitzel.

Jacob Mitzel was reared on his father's farm in York County, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he learned several trades-brick-laying, stone-laying and coopering. In the fall of 1852, he came to Ohio and worked at his various trades for two years and then went to Moorefield Township and engaged for a short time in farming. He was working as a brick-layer when he was married, June 12, 1860, to Elenora Neff, who is a daughter of Adam and Margaret (Turman) Neff. Adam Neff was born at New Market, Shenandoah County, Vir- ginia, and was a son of Abraham Neff, who was an early settler in German Town- ship, Clark County, where he acquired a large body of land. Adam Neff mar- ried Margaret Turman, in Clark County. She was born in this section and was a daughter of Isaac Turman, who was a native of New England, who was first a pioneer in Kentucky and later in Clark County, Ohio. The mother of Mrs. Mitzel died when she was an infant, leaving two children, Mrs. Mitzel and a son, Turman. They were reared from infancy by a step- mother, their father having married Mary Neff.

Immediately after marriage, Mr. and

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Mrs. Mitzel located on a farm which had State of Maryland, where he owned large been settled by her grandfather and in- properties prior to the Civil War. He came to Clark County after his marriage to Frances Pierce, who was a daughter of William Williams, of Maryland, and they settled near South Charleston, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1860. His widow sur- vived him until 1900. herited by her father. It formerly con- tained 1261% acres, but Adam Neff gave six acres as a site for the German Re- formed Church and cemetery and the D. T. & I. Railroad took four and a half ad- ditional acres. Adam Neff owned three farms, one of which he sold, one, just south of Tremont, he gave to his son Tur- man Neff, and the third he gave to Mrs. Mitzel. Mr. Mitzel has made many im- provements on the place, where he has carried on general farming, but ever since 1860 he has also done more or less work at his trades and can point to many sub- stantial buildings, including the Reformed Church, as proofs of his skill and in- dustry.

Mr. and Mrs. Mitzel have had four chil- dren, namely: Arvilla, who died aged seventeen years; Laura, who married George Kohler, has three children, Ches- ter Neff, Quay Harrison and Mary Ellen ; Lucien Chandler, who died aged eight months; and Adam Jacob. The youngest son is a young man of bright mind and there is every indication that he has a suc- cessful future before him. He is a stu- dent of civil engineering at the Washing- ton and Jefferson University.

In 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Mitzel united with the Congregational Church at Springfield.

E. P. Flynn was the only child of his parents. He was reared on the Pierce homestead farm, three miles from South Charleston, where he resided until 1881. He enjoyed liberal educational advant- ages, attending Delaware University after graduating from the Delaware High School. When Mr. Flynn left the farm he took charge of the "Sentinel," at South Charleston and conducted it as an able organ of the Republican party until his appointment as postmaster, by the late President Mckinley. Mr. Flynn has been very active in politics for a num- ber of years in this section, and served for five terms as township clerk and six times was elected to that important po- litical office, central committeeman.

Mr. Flynn married Josephine Pratt, a daughter of A. G. Pratt, of London, Ohio, who was formerly vice president of the Farmers' Bank at Charleston. Mr. and Mrs. Flynn have one child, who died in 1903. They are members of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Flynn has been con- nected with the Elks organization and is also a Mason.

E. P. FLYNN, postmaster at South Charleston, was born at South Charles- ton, Clark County, Ohio, December 19, P. J. SHOUVLIN, proprietor of The Superior Gas Engine Co., at Springfield, has spent almost a quarter of a century 1858. His grandfather was a native of Ireland: John Flynn, father of E. P., was born, reared and educated in the in this city, where he occupies a position

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of business prominence. He was born February 1, 1863, on the northwest coast of Ireland, and is a son of Daniel and Bridget (Gallagher) Shouvlin.

In 1866 the parents of Mr. Shouvlin came to America and settled in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where the son attended school until he was eleven years of age. He then took upon himself the main sup- port of the family, owing to the death of his father, entering the anthracite mines, in which he continued to work until he was twenty years of age. Then coming to Springfield, he entered as an appren- tice the old Ohio Railroad shops and con- tinued there for several years, completely mastering every detail of the machinist's trade. In 1887 Mr. Shouvlin went to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was placed in charge of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad shops, and where he re- mained until the great railroad strike. His next location was at Tacoma, Wash- ington, where he was in charge of the Northern Pacific shops. Later on he re- turned to Springfield, where he purchased a small machine shop and conducted the same on Washington Street for several years and then moved into the East Street shops. From boyhood his active mind has been given to the invention of me- chanical appliances, and in 1893 he suc- ceeded in perfecting the Superior gas en- gine, and knew that his hopes of success had met with fruition. In 1902 he built his present plant on Sheridan Avenue, which is of brick, its dimensions being 300x75 feet, and it is equipped particu- larly for the manufacture of his engines. He is the proprietor of the Vulcanized Cup & Valve Co. He owns a considerable quantity of oil land situated in Illinois,

Kansas and Oklahoma. His industry at Springfield is one of large scope and im- portance and he affords constant employ- ment to 100 skilled workmen.

In 1885 Mr. Shouvlin was married to Catherine Burns, and they have six chil- dren, namely, Daniel, John, Raphael, Jo- seph, Anna and Mary. Mr. Shouvlin is a consistent member of St. Joseph's Cath- olic Church. He belongs to the order of Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the old Emmet club and the Lagonda club. He is a good reliable citizen and is a member of the board of trustees of the Springfield City Hospital.

CHARLES EDWARD FULLER, ex- tensive farmer and stock dealer of Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, has a val- uable estate of 240 acres, on which is lo- cated one of the finest brick residences in the county. He was born on his present farm July 14, 1864, is a son of James C. and Mary Jane (Verdier) Fuller, and grandson of James and Diana (Acres) Fuller.

James Fuller, the grandfather, was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, and in early manhood went to Kentucky, where he was married to Diana Acres. They spent the first few years of married life in the Blue Grass State, and in 1815 moved to Ohio, settling near New Car- lisle, in Bethel Township, Clark County. He remained there one year, then came to Pike Township, purchasing the first 160 acres of land from the government for $2.00 per acre. He put up a log house on the clearing which he made, and in a few years replaced it with a brick. He also erected the first bank barn in this

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vicinity, and it still stands on the place and is in use. He followed farming, and in addition bought and sold land exten- sively, being considered one of the sub- stantial men of the township. He was a Democrat in politics and served as town- ship treasurer and filled other local offi- ces. He survived his wife some years, and died in 1883. They were parents of ten children.

James C. Fuller, the father, was born in this old home place in Pike Township, January 19, 1820, and spent all his life in this county. He assisted in clearing the land and followed farming on a large scale, at one time owning as much as 640 acres in Pike Township. This success was not accomplished without hard labor, however, as he started with but $1,000 in money, and eighty acres of land. He was married April 14, 1842, to Mary Jane Verdier, who was born in Pike Township in 1824, and was a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Verdier, who also came from Virginia. Mrs. Fuller died February 6, 1897, and James C. Fuller June 6, 1899. They were parents of eight children, as follows: Altersa, deceased, who was the wife of David Fortney, of Osborne, Ohio; Columbus, deceased; Marietta, who makes her home with her brother, Charles Ed- ward; Martha, who is the widow of Jo- siah Knoop; James H., deceased; Edith, deceased, who was the wife of Edward Hoover; Charles Edward; and Bertha, deceased, who was the wife of Elmer Sultzbach. Mr. Fuller was a Democrat in politics and served in township offices.

Charles Edward Fuller was born on the home place, which had been secured by his grandfather, attended the district schools, and later pursued a course of

study at the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He came into possession of his parent farm by buying 1521/2 acres from his father, in 1897, and with his sister in- herited the remainder upon the death of his parents. He has followed general farming and stock dealing, but at the present time he rents the farm and gives his attention mainly to the stock business. The fine bank barn was erected by his father in 1879, and was at that time con- sidered the finest in this section of the county. Mr. Fuller is a progressive man and in his business employs new and modern methods, which have proved suc- cessful. He is a stalwart Democrat in politics, and from 1905 to 1907 he served the township efficiently as treasurer.

HARLEY TITUS, a well known citizen and prosperous farmer of Harmony Township, Clark County, Ohio, has a fine farm of 120 acres, a part of the old Titus home farm. He was born in Springfield Township, Clark County, Ohio, January 14, 1863, and is a son of James P. and Eliza (Price) Titus.

James P. Titus, father of our subject, was born in Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, and at an early age came west to Clark County, Ohio. He was a successful farmer and business man and upon his death left quite a large estate to be di- vided among his children, our subject's share being a part of the old home place and 120 acres of land. He died March 11, 1900, having been preceded to the grave by his wife some fifteen years. Six chil- dren were born of their union, four of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Her- man, Harley, James and Gustavus.

MRS. ISABEL B. STICKNEY

HENRY STICKNEY

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Harley Titus was reared in his native county and received a good common school education. He has always engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is one of the largest stock dealers in this sec- tion of the country, buying and selling all kinds and. grades of live-stock. He lived with his parents until 1885, since which time he has farmed his present place, which his father bought originally of Jo- seph Newlove.

Mr. Titus was united in marriage with Mary E. Hazzard, who was born in Vicks- burg, Mississippi, February 14, 1868, and who is a daughter of William S. and Mary L. (Hendren) Hazzard, her father a na- tive of Maryland and her mother of Vir- , ginia. She was reared in Vicksburg and attended the schools there until 1881, when she came to Columbus, Ohio, and lived with an aunt, Mrs. J. S. Morton, until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Titus ' have five children, as follows: Lamar C., born October 20, 1885, who is an auction- eer; Homer T., born October 1, 1887; Howard P., born August 31, 1890; Mor- ton S., born November 26, 1893; and Mal- com, born October 20, 1895. All of the children are living at home. There is liv- ing with the family an old colored woman, Rose Anabelle, of the Southern type, who is more than one hundred years old and who has been in the Titus family more than half a century. Religiously, our sub- ject and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM J. STICKNEY, residing on the old Stickney homestead, which is situ- ated in Springfield Township, on the Springfield and South Charleston turn-

pike, some five miles east of Fountain Avenue, Springfield, is a representative member of an old pioneer family of this section. William J. Stickney was born on this farm in Clark County, Ohio, Sep- tember 27, 1852, and is a son of Henry and Isabel (Baird) Stickney. The grand- father, John Stickney, was born in Eng- land and came to Clark County, Ohio, at a very early day, locating and dying on the farm now owned by his grandson, William J.

On this farm Henry Stickney, the father of William J., was also born, and in a house which is, still used as a residence. When the present fine brick residence was built, the old house was sold and was moved off the farm. Here Henry Stick- ney was reared and inherited 160 acres from his father, to which he subsequently added, until he had in all about 400 acres. He married Isabel Baird, a daughter of William D. Baird, who was an early pio- neer in Harmony Township, to which lo- cality he came probably from Virginia. Henry Stickney and wife went to house- keeping on a tract of twenty-two and one- half acres of the old farm, which he bought, and this portion is now owned by Mrs. Robert Rodgers, a daughter. Two children were born to them, William J. and Sarah, the latter of whom married Robert Rodgers and resides in Spring- field. Henry Stickney became a promi- nent and succesful man. He died on this farm December 30, 1893, at the age of seventy-two years. His widow survived until July 17, 1899.

William J. Stickney attended the neigh- boring schools in his boyhood, and has always given the larger part of his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. At the age

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of thirty-five years he was married to Catherine Huffman, who is a daughter of Samuel and Barbara Huffman, and they have become the parents of six children, namely: Baird, who married Emily Hayes; Howard, a student at Berea Col- lege, Kentucky; and Clark, Mary, Mar- garet and Isabel. When first married, William J. Stickney and wife settled on the farm in Harmony Township which belonged to his mother, a fine property of 338 acres, on which he remained for seventeen years. In February, 1903, he returned to his home farm. He has been largely engaged in raising Shorthorn cat- tle and Poland China hogs and is the old- est breeder of the latter variety in Clark County, making his initial effort in boy- hood. Mr. Stickney has done a great deal for this locality in raising the standard of both stock and cattle. He is a stock- holder in the W. F. Tuttle Hardware Company of Springfield.

AARON SPANGLER KNEISLY, a well known citizen of Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, resides on a fine farm of seventy five acres located near the village of Dialton. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, October 2, 1861, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Dice) Kneisly.

Daniel Kneisly was born in Cumber- land County, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1822, is a son of John Kneisly and a grandson of George Kneisly. The family is an old one in this country and was es- tablished here by three brothers, who came from Switzerland, one of whom was the father of George, above mentioned. John Kneisly, grandfather of Aaron S.,

was born in Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania, and was a farmer and distiller. With his family he moved from his native state to Ohio in 1827, locating near Day- ton, in which city he died at the age of seventy-seven and his wife at the age of eighty-seven years. He married Susan Whitmer, by whom he had twelve chil- dren, as follows: George, deceased; Daniel; Catherine, deceased; John W .; Benjamin F., deceased; Jacob, deceased; Mary Ann, deceased; Abe; Susan, de- ceased; William; Emma; and Samuel F., deceased.

Daniel Kneisly was five years of age when brought by his parents to Ohio, who located on Mad River, six miles east of Dayton, in Bath Township, Greene Coun- ty. They bought the old grist-mill, now known as the old Kneisly Mill, and oper- ated it many years. Daniel grew to ma- turity there and attended school in the log schoolhouse, which was equipped with slab benches and desks. The legs of the benches were wooden pins driven into the slabs, while the slab desks were support- ed by wood pins driven into the walls. The pupils sat with their faces to the wall, the desks being along three sides of the room, and when recitation time came swung their feet over the benches and faced the center. The fourth side of the room was equipped with a fire-place, in which big logs were kept burning. From 1835 to 1850 Mr. Kneisly worked in the mill and in a small store conducted by his father. In the latter year he went west to the gold fields of California, where he mined with some success for four years. He then returned to Bath Township, re- maining until 1877, when he came to Pike Township, Clark County, and continued

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 90

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