Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 92

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 92

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ence,and his attractive social qualities won for him many personal friends and sincere admirers.

CHARLES W. FISTNER, who oper- ates a seventeen-acre garden farm, situ- ated three miles southeast of Springfield, on the Burnett Road, was born November 15, 1859, in Clifton, Hamilton County, Ohio, and is a son of Michael and Marie (Thunhorst) Fistner.

Michael Fistner and his wife were both born in Germany, but were married after coming to this country. He was a gar- dener by occupation, and died when our subject was quite young, after which his widow married Frederick Butz, whom he had employed on the farm for some time. Three children were born to Michael Fistner and wife: Catherine, who died in infancy; Charles W., subject of this sketch, and Marie, the latter's twin sister.

Charles W. Fistner was four years old when his parents moved from Clifton to Winton Place. He attended the schools of Winton Place and became a gardener by occupation, assisting his step-father on the farm until the death of the latter in 1878. The step-father left one child, Fred Butz, with whom Mr. Fistner and his sis- ter Marie continued to operate the farm for the two succeeding years, after which they sold out.

Mr. Fistner was married December 25, 1881, to Minnie E. Thiede, who came from' Germany to this country with her father, Frederick Theide, the latter locating in Cincinnati. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Fistner came to Springfield and in 1890 purchased his present farm consisting of seventeen acres, twelve of which he has

planted in vegetables. He makes a spe- cialty of early vegetables, having a stall in the City Market and in the fall puts up a great deal of krout.

To Mr. and Mrs. Fistner have been born five children : Walter F., Alma Marie, Clara E., Anna M. and Bertha A. Fraternally Mr. Fistner is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the I. O. O. F., the F. O. E. and Mad River Encampment, I. O. O. F., of which he is a trustee.

CHRISTIAN M. SMITH, a representa- tive citizen and large farmer of Pike Township, where he owns two valuable farms, aggregating 222 acres, was born in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, October 14, 1837. He is a son of Peter and Jane (Maxon). Smith.

Peter Smith was born in Virginia and was a child one year old when his father, Christian Smith, brought his family to Pike Township, and settled in the woods near the present home farm of his grand- son, Christian M. Peter Smith grew to manhood in Pike Township and later bought a farm of his own, which he cleared from its native condition. He married Jane Maxon, a daughter of Jesse Maxon, who was a pioneer on Mud Run, settling there before the Indians had left this neighborhood. For many years Peter Smith remained on his farm, but later retired with his wife, to New Carlisle. He died there aged seventy-four years, but she survived to be ninety-one years old. They had the following children: C. M., Elzina and Perlina, twins, Christena, Sarah M., Jesse M., Lydia, Charles, Peter M., Mark and Ruth. Several of these chil- dren died in infancy.

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Christian M. Smith grew to manhood on his father's farm and from early boy- hood assisted in the work of clearing and cultivating it. For some five years he · operated a water-power saw-mill, but con- tinued to live at home until his marriage. He bought his first farm from Jacob Ote- walt and lived on it for seven years, when he traded for an interest in one of his present farms. He lived there from 1878 until 1906 and moved to his present home in 1907. Mr. Smith has always been counted with the successful farmers of Pike Township.

On January 9, 1862, Mr. Smith was married (first) to Mary Jane Zinn, a daughter of Daniel R. and Matilda (Stur- geon) Zinn. Mrs. Smith died March 21, 1883. She was the mother of the follow- ing children : Marcellus, residing at Troy, Ohio, married Nellie Tannehill and they have two children, Raymond and Hartley; Albert Z., residing at New Carlisle, mar- ried Laura Fuller and they have three children, Algie, Lona and Elva; Matilda Angeline, residing in Bethel Township, married Frank Shellabarger and they have four children, 'Delbert, Horace, Adella and Edward; Oren Z., residing at Portland, Oregon; Adella May, residing in North Dakota, married Charles Fun- derburg and they have two children, Cletus and Walter; Arthur Z., residing in Pike Township, married Bertha Jordan and they have two children, Harold and Lloyd; Clarence Z., who married Iva Rich- ardson; and Alla Eveleen, who married Casius Schaffner, has two children, Lewis C. and Mary Hetty.

Mr. Smith was married (second), Oc- tober 13, 1887, to Mrs. Caroline D. Tener, who died without issue, February 25,

1888. She was the widow of James Tener. On February 26, 1890, Mr. Smith was married (third) to Wilhelmina Dresher, who was born in Clark County and is a daughter of Nicholas Dresher by his sec- ond marriage, to Margaretha Suphert, who died aged fifty-four years. Mr. Dresher lived to be sixty-eight years old. The children of his first marriage were: Godfrey, George, Margaret, Barbara and Martin. Those of his second marriage were: Catherine, Mary, John, Henry, Peter, Caroline, Wilhelmina, Clara, Charles and Anna.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had the fol- lowing children: Margaretta Jane, Cyn- thia T., Vernon D., Helen C., Gilbert and Luther W. Vernon D. died aged nine- teen months and Helen C. at the age of six years.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are valued mem- bers of the German Baptist Brethren Church, in which he is a deacon and a trustee.

GUS SUN, president of the Sun Amuse- ment Co., and owner of the New Sun Theatre Building, Springfield, Ohio, is perhaps one of the best known showmen in this country. He has been identified respectively with the circus and minstrel branches of the amusement profession, and now stands at the head of one of the principal vaudeville circuits in this coun- try, known as the Sun & Murray chain. He has risen from the ranks of a per- former to the eminent position he now holds, and is identified with a dozen or more theatrical and amusement incorpo- rations.

Gus Sun was born in Toledo, Ohio, Oc-

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tober 7, 1868. From boyhood he was iden- tified with the show busines, at an early age he, with three brothers, started the well known Sun Brothers' Circus, which is still on the road, although Mr. Sun dis- posed of his interest in it some years ago. While with the circus he acted as manager and laid the foundation of the present successful circus organization. Also dur- ing this time he gained considerable prom- inence as a skillful juggler, and in 1889 joined the forces of the great P. T. Bar- num Circus, and his juggling turn was one of the featured attractions of the cir- cus.

After disposing of his interest in the circus business, Mr. Sun conceived the idea of forming a minstrel company, and in a few months the celebrated Sun Min- strels were touring the country, and inci- dentally during their existence played every first-class city from Maine to Cali- fornia. On October 1st, 1904, Gus Sun, as proprietor and manager of the Sun Minstrels, came to Springfield, Ohio, and started the first family vaudeville theatre in this section of the country. It was on October 19, 1904, that the pioneer family theatre in the Fisher Building was thrown open to the public. At first it was an up- hill battle; the public was skeptical, for heretofore, popular-priced amusements had been considered trashy, and it was some time before any profits were real- ized. In 1905 the little Orpheum Theatre, now an assured success, was moved to the Barrett Building on Fountain Avenue, where many new friends were made, as the change was for the better, and several improvements were made in the family theatre. Gradually the family theatres were opened in other cities and Mr. Sun

went into the vaudeville booking business. While the Orpheum was located on Foun- tain Avenue, Mr. Sun became associated in business with Mr. O.G. Murray, a prom- inent broker in Richmond, Indiana, and the firm of Sun & Murray now controls ten first-class family vaudeville theatres in Ohio and Indiana, and are recognized as one of the most flourishing theatrical combinations in the country. On July 1st, 1907, ground was broken in Springfield on the old Wigwam site for the New Sun Theatre, which was thrown open to the public November 24, 1907, and is known throughout the country as the home of "Approved" vaudeville.

Mr. Sun employs between four and five hundred acts weekly, in houses he books and those of the circuit with which he is identified. Mr. Sun has many interest- ing mementos of his professional career, and some old programs in his possession recalling the time when he worked on the same vaudeville bill with such well known entertainers as Macintyre & Heath, Wal- ters & Wessen, Billy Van, and others.

His three brothers are also in the theat- rical and circus business. George and Pete Sun own and still control the Sun Brothers Circus. On January 16, 1897, Mr. Sun was married to Miss Nellie L. Alfredo, of Youngstown, and they have three children, Louise, Nina and Gus Sun, Jr. Mr. Sun is prominently connected with fraternal organizations, among them being the Masons, Elks, K. of P. and Eagles. As a citizen of Springfield he has been identified with various move- ments for the good of the community, and is always ready to lend a helping hand in securing the advancement of Greater Springfield.

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

JOHN BUTCHER, a prosperous farmer and highly respected citizen of Madison Township, near South Charles- ton, was born in 1862 near Selma, in Green County, Ohio, and is a son of John Butcher, Sr., and a grandson of Joseph Butcher. The grandfather, Joseph Butch- er, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer, who located in Greene County, Ohio, at an early period.

John Butcher, Sr., father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was one of a family of three children, and was born in 1816 on the old home farm in Greene County, where, also, he was reared, and was en- gaged in farming during his entire life. He married, first, a Miss Wade, and later for his second wife, a Miss Wise, the lat- ter being a native of Clark County and daughter of Jesse Wise. Of the second union there were born five children, all of whom are still living.

John Butcher, Jr., grew to manhood on the old home farm in Greene County. Al- though at the present day a well informed man on general subjects, his educational opportunities in youth were limited to a short attendance at the district schools. He remained on the home farm until after his marriage, at which time he moved to Licking County. There he became owner of a farm, which he operated for about sixteen years very successfully. He then sold the farm, and coming to Clark County, purchased his present fine prop- erty in Madison Township, where he has now been a resident for six years.

Mr. Butcher married Eva D. Trout, a daughter of Hiram Trout, of Licking County, Ohio. Of this union there have been born three children, all of whom are attending the South Charleston High

School, from which the eldest son will graduate in the spring of 1908. Polit- ically, Mr. Butcher is a Republican and is a member and president of the school board of Madison Township.

MACK FOSTER, a representative cit- izen and prominent farmer of German Township, who owns 280 acres of valua- ble land lying in Section 22, about eight miles north and west of Springfield, was born January 26, 1850, in Fayette Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Eliza (Sampy) Foster. In 1856, the parents of Mr. Foster moved from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, to Fay- ette County, Ohio. His father enlisted as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, but was sent home sick in 1865, and died just one month before the company of which he was a member was mustered out of the service. The family continued to reside in Fayette County until 1868, when the mother and children together moved to a farm in Madison County.

Mack Foster remained on the farm there until 1885, when he moved to Clark County and rented a farm in German Township. Later he moved to a rented farm in Pike Township, and from there to another, in Harmony Township. In February, 1903, he purchased the Coffin farm, a valuable property in German Township, containing 200 acres, and im- mediately moved on to the place. In the fall of 1905 he acquired also the Bruner farm, consisting of eight acres, adjoin- ing his former purchase, and has ever since been engaged extensively in farm- ing and stock-raising. While the condi-

E. B. HOPKINS

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

tion of both farms at the time of his pur- chase was excellent, Mr. Foster saw room for improvement, and he has continued to improve the property in various ways up to the present time. He is a man of prac- tical ideas who understands how to make general agricultural both pleasant and profitable.

In Madison County, Ohio, Mr. Foster was married to Anna Hyer, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, where she lived until she was fifteen years of age, when she accompanied her parents, Samuel and Catherine Hyer, to Madison County. In 1877 they moved to Springfield and em- barked in a dairy business. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have five children, namely : Bertie, who married George Jordan and has one child, Ralph; Jennie, who married James Wallingsford and has one child, Anna Ruth; and Sterling, Charles and Nellie, all of whom live at home. Mr. Foster is a member of the Junior Order of Ameri- can Mechanics.

JOHN L. BUSHNELL, one of Spring- field's leading capitalists and progressive business men, was born at Springfield, Ohio, February 15, 1872, and is a son of the late Asa S. and Ellen L. (Ludlow) Bushnell.

Mr. Bushnell was reared at Springfield and was educated at Princeton Univer- sity, where he was graduated in 1894. Upon his return to his native city he en- tered into business here and now stands at the head of several large corporations and is interested in many others. He is president of the Springfield, Troy & Piqua Railroad, which was built by his father,

the late Governor Bushnell, and is also president of the Champion Construction Company. The officers of these two or- ganizations are the same, namely: John L. Bushnell, president; Frederick J. Green, vice-president and general man- ager; and Dr. H. C. Dimond, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Bushnell married Jessie M. Har- wood, who is a daughter of the late T. E. Harwood, and they have three children : Asa S., who bears his distinguished grandfather's name, Edward H. and Su- zanne. Mr. Bushnell and family occupy one of Springfield's most beautiful and luxurious residences, which is situated at No. 1203 East High Street. Mr. Bush- nell's business offices are in the Bushnell Building, which is the finest office struct- ure in the city of Springfield. In political sentiment he is a Republican. He is a member of Christ Episcopal Church and it was his privilege to present to this church a memorial chapel which was given by his mother in memory of her late hus- band, Asa S. Bushnell. The presentation took place April 24, 1907, and was an oc- casion long to be remembered, not only on account of the great value of the gift and the distinguished man of whom it is a. memorial, but also for the beautiful sentiments expressed by Mr. Bushnell as his mother's spokesman. The chapel was dedicated by Right Reverend Bishop Vin- cent of Cincinnati, bishop of the South- ern Diocese of Ohio.

E. B. HOPKINS, of the wholesale gro- cery firm of The Steele-Hopkins & Mere- dith Co., leaders in their line at Spring-

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field, has been a resident of this city since 1889. He was born at Foster, Rhode Island, September 19, 1847.

When he was nine years old, the par- ents of Mr. Hopkins moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio, mainly in order that their children might enjoy the educational ad- vantages offered by Antioch College, at that point .. When but sixteen years old, E. B. Hopkins put aside his collegiate studies and enlisted for service in the Civil War, serving four months in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in Virginia, and then entering Company K, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volun- teer Infantry. The One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment went to Nashville as a part of the Army of the Cumberland, and from there to Bridgeport, Alabama, where skirmishing was kept up for about nine months. The One Hundred and Eighty-fourth was then ordered to Texas, but had only reached Memphis when the surrender of General Lee put a practical termination to the war and Mr. Hopkins was mustered out at Nashville, at that time holding rank as orderly sergeant. After his discharge at Columbus, Mr. Hopkins returned to his home at Yellow Springs, going from there to Pittsburg, where he entered the employ of a large wholesale leather firm for four years. Following this he was a commercial trav- eler for about ten years in the boot and shoe line and then took the Ohio agency for Kingan & Company, pork packers at Indianapolis. In this occupation he con- tinued until 1889, when he came to Spring- field and in partnership with Mr. Steele and Mr. Meredith organized the present wholesale grocery business. In addition

to the interests above mentioned, Mr. Hopkins is a director in the Springfield Savings Bank. Since becoming a citizen he has always taken an active interest in good local government, and in the two years during which he served as president of the city council he was largely instru- mental in securing the present sewer sys- tem and the new depots. He is a mem- ber of the Board of Associated Charities and of the Board of Visitors to Charitable Institutions, in Clark County.

November 1st, 1874, Mr. Hopkins was married to Angeline E. McCoy, of Cin- cinnati, and they have three children, namely: Fannie B., who married Dr. J. F. Dolina, of Dayton, Ohio; Edna B., who married E. T. Nichols, of New York; and Henry H., who is a resident of Los An- geles, California. Mr. Hopkins is a mem- ber of the Lagonda and of the Country Club and is a member and ex-president of the Springfield Commercial Club.

ADAM STONER, a representative citi- zen of Moorefield Township, where he owns a very valuable farm of 182 acres, situated in Section 22, resides on his mother's farm, which is located in Section 21, on the corner where the Moorefield and Middle Urbana roads meet. He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1856, and is the son of David and Mollie (Bookwatter) Stoner.

David Stoner and wife were both born and reared in Lancaster County and all their seven children were born there, namely: Henry, now deceased; Martha, residing at home ; David, deceased; Maria, widow of Thomas Campbell; Lucy ; Adam, and Amanda.

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In 1865, when Adam Stoner was nine years old, his mother, then a widow, came to Clark County, Ohio, and settled on the farm above mentioned in Moorefield Township, where she resided until her death in 1895. When he was twenty-one years of age, Adam Stoner bought sixty- seven acres of his present farm from Henry Greiner and subsequently added the rest. Here he is successfully engaged in general agriculture. He is a well-known and respected citizen and formerly served as township trustee.

JOSEPH R. HOWETT, agriculturist and stock-raiser, residing on his valuable farm of 245 acres, located jointly in Clark and Greene Counties, was born in Clark County, Ohio, near Osborn, June 23, 1847, and is a son of Daniel and Eliza (Hast- ings) Howett.

Daniel Howett was of Scotch-Irish de- scent. With his wife and two eldest chil- dren he came originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Greene County, Ohio, locating in Bath Township, where he followed farming on a rented farm for the succeeding three years. At the end of this period he removed to near Med- way, Clark County, later moving to a farm in Mad River Township, near the one now owned by his son, Joseph R. While living here he met with the acci- dent-a kick by a horse-which caused his death in 1860, when aged forty-nine years. He married Eliza Hastings, who was of English descent. She lived to be seventy- two years of age. To them were born the following children : Rachel Ann, who died in 1884, married William Maxton; Morris P., who died in 1903; John A., who

lives in Dayton, Ohio; Peter, who has a home in Bethel Township; Mary Ann, who resides with her brother Joseph, who is next younger; James Taylor, who re- sides in Bethel Township; and Roberta, who married Thomas Snyder, resides in Osborn, Ohio.

Joseph R. Howett has been a resident of Clark County since birth, the greater part of his boyhood having been spent in Mad River Township. When Mr. Howett was young the only educational facilities were those afforded in the old-fashioned district school, which he attended in the winter seasons until he was about sixteen years old, when in February, 1864, he en- listed in the Eighth Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Cavalry, under Captain Winger, and served as a manly soldier until the close of the Civil War, being mustered out in August, 1865. Mr. Howett partici- pated in a number of engagements, and although only a boy in years, was one of the men who helped to open the battle of Lynchburg, Virginia. After his return from the war he worked on various farms by the month for eleven years for Henry Coines, of Bath Township, Greene Coun- ty. During this time he was married, on Christmas Day, to Jennie Molder, a daughter of Michael and Lydia Ann (Koch) Molder. Her death occurred one year later. On Christmas Day, 1878, he married Theresa Molder, a sister of his first wife, and to this union were born the following children: Harry, who gradu- ated from Antioch College, is now serving in the capacity of superintendent of the Bethel Township schools; Grace, residing at home, attended Otterbine College and was also a piano student at Dayton, Ohio; Ralph, who died aged eleven years;

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

Lloyd, who lives at home; and Mark, who is attending the Enon High School.

After his marriage Mr. Howett pur- chased a tract of sixty-seven acres in Greene County, where he lived a short time, when he sold this property. In 1883, in connection with his brother, Mor- ris P. Howett, he bought his present farm from Reuben Miller and moved on the same the following spring. Mr. Howett and brother operated this farm together until the death of the latter, since when he has had full charge of the place, carry- ing on general farming and stock-raising.

Politically Mr. Howett is a Republican, and fraternally is a member of the I. O. O. F., having belonged to this organiza- tion since 1874. He is a member of the Reformed Church and has served as deacon for the past ten years.

HON. WILLIAM S. THOMAS, presi- dent of the Mad River National Bank, at Springfield, and president and treasurer of The Thomas Manufacturing Company, has been identified with important busi- ness interests in Clark County during the whole period of his active life. Mr. Thomas was born in Springfield, Ohio, April 22, 1857, and is a son of Hon. John H. and Mary (Bonser) Thomas.

William S. Thomas received his early education in both public and private schools, and was fourteen years old when he entered Wooster University, where he was graduated with honors in 1875, being at that time and for years afterward the youngest graduate of that institution. His father, the late John H. Thomas, had been engaged in the manufacturing of agricultural instruments prior to this

time, and he subsequently organized, with his two sons, William S. and Findlay B., The Thomas Manufacturing Company, which has long ranked with the leading industrial firms of the state, and of which William S. Thomas became treasurer in 1886, and also president in 1901. The name of Thomas appearing on agricul- tural implements is a guarantee of excel- lence the world over, and the products of this company include every kind of useful agricultural implement, with a few manu- factured only by this concern. Mr. Thomas has other business interests, be- ing a leading financier of this section, and he is also a very large property owner, both in the city of Springfield and throughout Clark County.

On December 8, 1887, Mr. Thomas was married to Fannie Senteny, who was born at Louisville, Kentucky. They have had three children, namely : John Henry, Wallace Senteny, and Lucretia. The eldest son died June 26, 1906. The fam- ily home, at No. 345 East High Street, Springfield, is one of taste and elegance.

Mr. Thomas is an earnest Democrat, and since 1895 he has been continuously a member of the Democratic State Cen- tral Committee, and for years has never failed to attend all important Democratic conventions as a delegate. He has ably and unselfishly filled many of the impor- tant civic offices and in every way he is well qualified for any honor in the gift of his party. He was the president of and most zealous worker in that well- known organization, the Jefferson Club, from 1880 until 1890. In the various or- ganizations of a benevolent, educational, religious and business character pertain- ing to Springfield, Mr. Thomas has been

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 92

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