Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 91

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 91

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

actively in the harness until January, 1908, when he retired and is now living in North Hampton. He was first married in 1845 to Catherine Jane Miller, a daughter of David Miller, and she died in 1848, without issue. In 1858 he contracted a second marriage, with Mrs. Elizabeth (Dice) Spangler, whose first marriage, in 1850, to Henry Spangler resulted in the birth of two children: Emma, wife of J. W. Haines, and James W. Mrs. Kneisly is a daughter of Jacob and Jane (Weid- ner) Dice. Her marriage to Daniel Kneisly has been blessed with five chil- dren: Edwin Aaaron Spangler, John Franklin, Jennie, wife of Stephen Trout, and Lulu B. He is a Republican in pol- itics and fraternally has been a member of the Odd Fellows Order since January, 1850. He first joined Buckeye Lodge at Dayton and now belongs to Turner Lodge No. 414 at Osborn.

Aaron S. Kneisly was reared on the home place in Greene County and lived there with his parents until he was mar- ried. He has always followed farming and has met with good results, and is now located on seventy-five acres of the old Thackery estate. He was married December 20, 1888, to Emma E. Thackery, a daughter of Duncan and Susan (Ray) Thackery.

Duncan Campbell Thackery, father of Mrs. Kneisly, was born at the home of his father, John Thackery, in Pansgill, York- shire, England, December 13, 1813, and was sixteen years old when his parents sold their possessions preparatory to com- ing to the United States. Leaving Liver- pool March 18, 1829, they arrived in New York City after a voyage of twenty-one days, and immediately set out for Ohio,

where they expected to make their future home. They came to within one hundred miles of Columbus on the Ohio Canal, then proceeded in wagons to North Hamp- ton, Clark County, where they lived until the following October. They then moved to Champaign County, and in a single day erected a log cabin on their place in the woods. Duncan was twenty-six years old when his father died, leaving debts to pay, and it devolved upon him to look after the family. Thus handicapped he embarked on life's voyage, and the fact that he subsequently was owner of 900 acres of land reflects the energy of his work and his good business judgment. He married Susan Ray, a daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Zeigler) Ray, who came through from Virginia to Ohio with a four-horse team. The Rays located first at Cincinnati, then came to Clark County, where both lived at the time of death. They had the following children: John, Mary, Henry, Michael, Emil, Susan, Lewis and Sarah. Duncan and Susan Thackery were parents of nine children, namely: Ann Jane, Sarah E., Mary, John, William, Joseph, Eleanor Belle, Finley and Emma Etta. The eldest is deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Kneisly have one daugh- ter, Susie. Religiously they all are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for office. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at North Hampton.

WILLIAM H. TUTTLE, for many years one of Springfield Township's most highly respected citizens, was born on the

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

old Tuttle home farm, opposite the Sink- ing Creek Church, in Clark County, Ohio, August 2, 1838, and died March 8, 1885, in his forty-seventh year. His parents were Caleb and Mary (Prickett) Tuttle,

Caleb Tuttle was born in Virginia, in 1799, and was seven years of age when he came to Clark County, Ohio, with his father, Sylvanus Tuttle, in 1806. He married Mary Prickett, who was born east of the Allegheny Mountains, but who came to Clark County from Claremont County, Ohio. Caleb Tuttle's father-in- law, Nicholas Prickett, operated the first flour-mill at Lagonda. Of Caleb's eleven children nine reached maturity and two are now living, namely: Rachel, who is the widow of Jacob Leslie McClellan, and Miss Laura Tuttle.

William H. Tuttle spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the Sink- ing Creek School. He secured 100 acres from his father and to this he added by purchase until he owned 300 acres of ex- cellent land. Farming was his main busi- ness through life, combined with dealing in stock in his earlier years. Like all members of his family, he was a man of many sterling virtues.

On October 26, 1871, Mr. Tuttle was married to Mary Catherine Luce, who is a daughter of John and Martha Ann (Bird) Luce, and they had three children, namely : Frances A., Carrie and Clarence I. Frances A. graduated from the Springfield High School and later took a select course at Shepardson College, Granville, Ohio. Miss Carrie Tuttle graduated from the Springfield High School, the Wittenberg College and took the Library Course of the University of Chicago. She taught school for one year

near her home and for four years in city schools of Springfield, after which she be- came librarian at the Manuel Training and State Normal School at Ellendale, North Dakota, where she is still located. Clarence I. Tuttle graduated from the academy connected with Wittenberg Col- lege, attended the college proper for one year and later took a commercial course at the Nelson Business College.

Mrs. Tuttle continues to reside at her country residence with her son and daugh- ter. They occupy a beautiful brick man- sion which Mr. Tuttle completed so that it was ready for the family's Thanks- giving dinner in November, 1877.

RUSSELL SMITH, owner of a fine tract of seventy-three acres located in Mad River Township, Clark County, Ohio, was born on a farm near Springfield, Ohio, December, 1877, and is a son of T. A. and Catherine (Miller) Smith.

T. A. Smith, who, with his wife, resides at Enon. Ohio, was born in Clifton and has been a life-long resident of Clark County. His wife was born in Virginia and when a child came to Ohio with her parents, who settled at Catawba.

Russell Smith is one of a family of seven children, namely: George, Alva, Erwin, Russell, Estella, who married E. Crabill, Mary and Myrtle, deceased. When quite young the parents of Mr. Smith moved to Springfield, Ohio, and there his boyhood days were spent. He attended the public schools and also took a course at Nelson's Business College. When a young man he worked for two years in a meat market owned by J. G. Kramer, then was employed for two years

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by Phillip Folckemer. In 1902 he bought out the meat market at 124 Clifton Street, then owned by C. N. Slyer, and this he operated until he moved to his present home in April, 1907, which he had pur- chased in 1905 from Mrs. Joseph Baker. Mr. Smith was married June 10, 1903, to Emma Sumner, the only child of Richard and Sarah (Watson) Sumner. Mr. and Mrs. Sumner, who reside near South Charleston, Ohio, are natives of England, where they were married. They came to America in 1880 and settled near Spring- field on a farm which was owned by Steven Kirham, a relative. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children- Russell Barton and Norman Edwin.

GEORGE H. FREY, SR., owing to his prominence in the business, political and social life of Springfield for so many years, is rightly numbered with the city's representative men. He was born De- cember 19, 1825, at Philadelphia, Jeffer- son County, New York, and is a son of Samuel C. and Susan (Calhoun) Frey.

The Frey family is an old one in Amer- ica and has had many distinguished mem- bers. History tells of their connection with matters of the greatest public inter- est even prior to the Revolutionary War. Philip Frey, the grandfather of George H., was born in the Mohawk Valley, New York, but went to Canada when sixteen years of age. His last years, however, were spent in his native place, where he was engaged in the practice of law. He was married, first, to Marie Louise St. Martin, of Detroit, Michigan, who was a member of the family of General Mont-

calm, and, secondly, to Mrs. Elizabeth Howe.

Samuel Challott Frey, father of George H., was born of the second marriage. He followed the trade of jeweler and silver- smith at Canajoharie and at Syracuse, New York, until 1830, when he located at Brockville, Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, where he resided until 1837. He then returned to the United States and settled for a few months at Morristown, New York. In 1838 he removed to Can- ton, Ohio. In 1857 he came to Spring- field, where he was engaged in business until 1870, when he removed to Decatur, Alabama, in which place he died in 1877.

George H. Frey was afforded excellent educational advantages, and in June, 1847, after some time spent in the study of law, he was admitted to the bar at Xenia, Ohio, and immediately afterward opened a law office in Springfield. Here, soon after, he became interested in the "Republic," which was then the leading Whig journal of Clark County. In 1854 Mr. Frey became one of its owners and editors, retaining his interest therein until 1861. Mr. Frey had previously ac- quired a knowledge of telegraphy, of which he made practical use when, in 1849, he was placed in charge of the office of the Cincinnati & Sandusky Tele- graph Company, at Springfield. In 1850 he was elected superintendent of the line, and two years later he became presi- dent of the company and served as such until it lost its individuality through its . absorption by the Western Union cor- poration. After retiring from news- paper work, in 1861, Mr. Frey began de- veloping a valuable quarry property which he had acquired along Buck Creek,

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

and which became, in his hands, a very important business. Among other enter- prises with which Mr. Frey was connect- ed were the S. M. & P. Ry., in the organi- zation of which he was a prime mover, and which is now a part of the Big Four system; and the Jackson & Pomeroy Rail- way, now known as the D., T. & I.

In 1879, after over forty years of ac- tivity, Mr. Frey retired from the busi- ness field, taking with him the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

In 1851 Mr. Frey was married to Jane Quigley Ward, who was a daughter of Isaac and Mary Ward, of Springfield. Mrs. Frey died in April, 1881, having been the beloved mother of twelve chil- dren, the following of whom survive: Isaac Ward, residing at Joplin, Missouri; George H., Jr., residing at No. 297 East High Street, Springfield, who is president of the Springfield, Wilmington & Cincin- nati Railroad Company; Albert C., resid- ing at No. 204 North Fountain Avenue, who is an extensive real estate dealer; Robert R., who is manager of The Grand Detour Plow Company, at Dixon, Illi- nois; and Susan H.

Mr. Frey is a stanch Republican and for many years was active in political life. While serving as county commis- sioner, some important additions and im- provements were made in the county buildings, among them the county Court House and Jail, the Children's Home, the County Infirmary (main building) ; also several turnpikes and many bridges throughout the county were constructed. Mr. Frey was also president of the board of trustees of the water-works depart- ment which, in 1881-83, constructed the present water-works system.

Mr. Frey was an elder in the Second Presbyterian Church at Springfield. His name is associated with many of the city's benevolent enterprises and charitable or- ganizations.

CHARLES H. MERRITT, a highly es- teemed agriculturist of Madison Town- ship, and owner of 300 acres of fine farm- ing land, was born October 11, 1848, near Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, on the present site of the Springfield water- works, and is a son of Edward and Maria (Mullen) Merritt. Thomas Merritt, the grandfather of Charles H., came from Mt. Holly, New Jersey, to Clark County, in 1831, and here engaged in farming. He married Jane Gaskill, of New Jersey, and to them were born two sons and two daughters, Edward, father of our sub- ject, being the second in order of birth.

Edward Merritt was born April 8, 1820, in New Jersey, and came to Clark County with his parents, who settled near South Charleston. Here he followed farm- ing all his life, his death occurring near South Charleston, in August, 1906. His marriage with Maria Mullen, of Warren County, Ohio, resulted in the birth of four children, three of whom are living.

Charles H. Merritt was reared in Springfield Township, receiving his pri- mary education in the country schools and completing this by a course of study . at Wilmington, Delaware, after which he engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1880 he came to his fine farm of 300 acres in Madison Township, and has re- sided here continuously since, having one of the finest country homes in this local- ity.

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In 1886 Mr. Merritt married Alice Buf- fenbarger, a daughter of Peter and Eliz- abeth Buffenbarger, residents of Clark County, who were at one time large land owners in this county. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Merritt, namely : Beulah E .; T. Edward; Esther A .; Mary E .; and Charles H., Jr., all residing at home. In politics Mr. Merritt is a Prohi- bitionist, but votes independently. Re- ligiously he is a member of the Society of Friends.

CHRISTIAN L. HEISTAND, one of Clark County's most highly respected citizens, resides on a valuable farm con- taining 1211/2 acres, which is situated in Bethel Township, about six miles west of Springfield, and owns an additional 165 acres which is located in Springfield Township. Mr. Heistand was born on his father's farm in York County, Penn- sylvania, December 26, 1836, and is a son of Abraham and Leah (Lonnecker) Hei- stand.

The Heistand family in America is co-' temporary with William Penn's settle- ment in Pennsylvania. The first authen- tic record is when John Heistand sailed from Germany in the ship "Brittania," in 1731, accompanied by his two broth- ers, Abraham and Balser, and two sisters, Barbara and Anna, to join the Penn col- ony in Pennsylvania. They had fled prior to this to Switzerland on account of re- ligious persecution. These emigrants landed at Philadelphia in the fall of the above year and they settled in Lancaster County. According to family tradition the family had been represented in Penn's earliest settlements, but only au- 3

thenticated records are here given. The John Heistand above named took up 500 acres of government land, and 200 acres of this remains in the possession and the name of the Heistand family. John and Abraham remained in Pennsylvania, but Balser went to the South, and all trace of that line is lost.

Abraham, son of the above John Hei- stand, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he lived to the age of eighty-eight years. His occupations were those of the prosperous men of his day, tanning, distilling and milling. He was a man of robust constitution, and it is recorded that he frequently took a horseback ride of sixty miles between York, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland. He also traveled over the country by the same means and visited Niagara Falls. Later in life he removed to York County and engaged in farming, becoming a man of large means for his day. He was twice married, his children being those of his union with his first wife, Elizabeth, Inamely: John, Abra- ham, William, Balser, Sarah, Nancy and Susan. His second marriage was to Anna Carl.

Abraham Heistand, father of Christian L., was born on his father's farm in York County, Pennsylvania, where his whole life was passed, his death taking place at the age of seventy-eight years. He married Leah Lonnenecker, who survived to be ninety-two years old. They had eleven children, as follows: John, Cather- ine, Sarah, Christian L., Abraham, Susan, William, Jacob and Amanda, twins, Anna and Alice, all of whom still survive ex- cept Alice, who was the wife of J. Ro- baugh.

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

Christian L. Heistand remained on the of the Ohio Medical College at Cincin- home farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Baltimore and learned the machinist's trade in the Pool & Hunt machine shops, where he served an apprenticeship of four years. From there, in 1860, he came to Ohio and worked for a short time in the Pitts ma- chine shops at Springfield. His brother, Abraham, then joined him, and together they bought the old General Mason farm in Moorefield Township, situated on the Urbana Turnpike, consisting of 220 acres, and on this place they lived for four years.

On December 22, 1863, Mr. Heistand was married to Catherine M. Leffel, who was born on the present site of the Ma- sonic Home, which then belonged to her father, Daniel Leffel.

The latter married Margaret Sintz, a daughter of Peter Sintz, of Clark County. They had four children, of whom Cath- erine (Mrs. Heistand) was the youngest, and is the only survivor. On the site above mentioned Mr. Heistand then con- ducted the O. K. tavern, and is credited with having originated that abbreviation so generally used. In 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Heistand came to the present farm, hav- ing lived during 1866 at Sugar Grove. He bought this land from the Miller es- tate in 1868 and has greatly improved the place. He has erected substantial farm buildings and has placed the land under a fine state of cultivation. He carries on general agriculture and sells a large quantity of milk by wholesale.

Mr. and Mrs. Heistand have four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters, both of the former being physicians. They are as follows: Horace, who is a graduate

nati, is engaged in practice at Donnels- ville; he married Anna Minnick. Clin- ton, who is also a graduate of the Ohio Medical College, married Luella Forgy, and they have two children, Robert and Richard. Nora, who married Frank Car- ter, has three children, Floyd H., Chris- tian D. and Arthur H., and they reside on the home farm. Anna, who married F. E. Fundeberg, resides on the Spring- field Township farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Heistand are members of the Baptist Church. He has served as school director for some eighteen years, but otherwise has taken no par- ticular interest in official life.

CLAUDE F. RICE, residing in Green Township, Clark County, Ohio, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits, is also occupied extensively in the threshing and saw-mill business and is widely known throughout this section of the state. He is a native of this county, having been born a mile north of his present residence May 26, 1874.

Mr. Rice is a son of William and Matilda (Goudy) Rice, and a grandson of Edward Rice, who some time after his marriage came from the East to Clark County. The latter located on the old Rice homestead, now owned by Zella B. Kissell, and later traded it to his son, William. William Rice was born in the East and was three years old when he came with his parents to this county. He lived for the remainder of his days on the old homestead. He and his wife were the parents of six children, four of whom

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE A. SPENCE

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

are now living, and of these our subject was next to the youngest.

Claude F. Rice was reared on the home place and received his educational train- ing in the district schools. He lived at home until after his marriage, then pur- chased his present farm of eighty acres of the Stewart heirs. His residence is lo- cated half a mile distant on a tract of one . acre. In addition to general farming, as above noted, he operates extensively throughout this section of the state with a thresher in the season and is operating a saw-mill. His outfit represents an ex- penditure of $7,000, which exceeds the outlay of any two other men in the coun- ty, similarly engaged. He enjoys the patronage of his home community almost exclusively.

November 4, 1896, Mr. Rice was united in marriage with Autice Skilling, a daugh- ter of Lewis Skilling, and they have a son, Fremont Charles. Politically Mr. Rice is a Republican. In religious attach- ment he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is a member and past counselor of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and a member of Company Eight, First Independent Regi- ment, Junior Order United American Me- chanics. He also is identified with the Patrons of Husbandry.

GEORGE A. SPENCE, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, who owns a tract of 638 acres in Pike Township, was born January 30, 1852, in German Township, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Mark and Mary (Harshbarger) Spence. The Spence family was first established in this country by William Spence, who was

born and reared in England and who came to Ohio at a very early period, settling in Clark County, December 25, 1820. Here he spent the remainder of his life and be- came possessed of large landed interests, acquiring a tract of 638 acres, which is now owned by the subject of this sketch and his mother.

Mark Spence was born in Clark County and died January 8, 1878, aged fifty-seven years. In politics he was a Whig, always taking an active interest in the affairs of, his party, and although not seeking politi- cal honors, was elected county commis- sioner just previous to his death. He married Mary Harshbarger, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio with her parents when ten years of age, and who is still living, making her home with her son George.

George A. Spence was just eight years old when his parents came to his present farm and here he has spent his entire life, engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He received his education in the district school, and being the only child, much of the work of the farm fell to him. He is the largest landowner in Pike Township, the entire estate having been left to him and his mother. He has remodeled the large seventeen-room house, which was built by his grandfather, and has erected new barns, the old barn, ten horses, seven head of cattle and the faithful old shepherd dog having been de- stroved by fire April 20, 1890. Mr. Spence is extensively engaged in stock-raising, especially horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. He owns Chamberlin De Limelette, known as Jack, a bay stallion, weighing 2,000 pounds, Reg. No. 1568, foaled May 1, 1900, and imported from Belgium May 16,

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1904, by Mclaughlin Brothers, of Colum- bus, from whom he was bought by the North Hampton Horse Company July, 1904. Mr. Spence is treasurer and keeper manager of the North Hampton Horse Company. Besides his farming interests he is also financially interested in a hard- ware concern of Springfield.

Mr. Spence was joined in marriage February 12, 1880, with Anna J. Frier- mood, a daughter of Reuben and Mary Friermood, and of their union have been born the following children: Mary Etta, who is the wife of Asa Baker, who oper- ates a general store at Dialton, and has two children-Correne and Willard S .; Della, who died aged nineteen months; Millie Blanche, a teacher in the Dialton School; and Russell Mark.

Fraternally Mr. Spence is a member of the Knights of Pythias, White Star No. 292, North Hampton, and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, Don- nels Creek No. 121, and is trustee of both these lodges. Politically he is a Repub- lican.

HON. PHINEAS P. MAST, formerly president of the Springfield National Bank, was also the prime mover in the or- ganization of a number of Springfield's leading industries, and became the head of the great firm of Mast, Foos & Com-' pany, manufacturers of the Buckeye lawn mowers, force-pumps, wind-engines and iron fencing. The present members of this company are among the leading capitalists of Springfield, namely : R. H. Rodgers, president; W. H. Rayner, vice president and general manager; C. A. Harris, treasurer; and F. R. Burton, sec-

retary. Scarcely less important is that other great industrial firm known as P P. Mast & Company, in which the late Phineas P. Mast was also the leading spirit, and whose president and treasurer is now H. D. Maize, with P. A. Lewis, vice president. Its business is the manu- facturing of Buckeye grain-drills, seeders and sowers, cultivators and cider-mills.

Mr. Mast was financially interested in many more of the city's successful busi- ness enterprises, was a prominent and useful member of the Springfield Board of Trade, and as long as he lived, even after he had somewhat withdrawn from the arena of active business life, took a deep and helpful interest in the city's prosperity. Mr. Mast died at his beauti- ful home in Springfield November 20, 1898. He is survived by two daughters, Belle and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the wife of Hon. Francis B. Loomis, residing on the southeast corner of High Street and Western Avenue, who served under appointments from President Roosevelt as assistant secretary of state. Belle is the wife of George H. Frey, Jr., president of the Springfield, Wilmington & Cincin- nati Railroad, and resides at No. 635 East High Street.

Mr. Mast was a remarkably successful man from a material point of view, but he was much more. His intelligence and public spirit constantly brought him into active co-operation with his fellow-citi- zens on matters pertaining to the general welfare, and he was honored on various occasions by election to public office. For two years he served Springfield as its mayor. Science claimed many of his spare moments, as he was an ardent geologist. He was a man of genial pres-

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 91

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