Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 96

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 96

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Frank Click spent his boyhood on a farm in Mad River Township, assisting in the work on the place until his mar- riage, after which he rented farms for a number of years, residing first on the John Arthur farm for three years. He then operated the Robert Durey farm for two years, after which he moved to the Snyder farm in Springfield Township, re- maining there for thirteen years, during which time he bought forty-five acres from the Snyder estate. This he sold in 1901 and bought his present farm, then consisting of one hundred and thirty acres, from Harry Detrick. He subse- quently sold thirty acres of this land and has spent a great deal of time and money since in improving the farm, which com- pares favorably with any in this section.

Mr. Click was married in Mad River Township to Elizabeth Green, who was reared at Enon, and to this union have been born six children-Harry C., book- keeper at the Owens Tool Works of

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Springfield, Ohio; Orva, who is employed by the Pure Milk Company of Spring- field; Stella, Raymond E., Frank, and William. Politically, Mr. Click is an In- dependent voter.

DAVID E. SHELLABARGER, who has been a life-long resident of Clark County, Ohio, was born October 13, 1826, on his father's farm in Mad River Town- ship, and is a son of Ephraim and Re- becca (Winget) Shellabarger.

Ephraim Shellabarger, who is a native of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, was a child of two years when his parents, Martin and Ann (Snyder) Shellabarger, removed to Cumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, where he was reared to manhood. His father was a farmer and also ran a mill and distillery, his six sons working the firm, while he attended to his other industries. During the winters, Eph- raim and his brothers cut timber, which was sent down the Susquehanna River, in the spring, on rafts, to a saw-mill. In 1814, Ephraim and his four brothers, Jacob, John, Samuel and Martin, came to Clark County, Ohio, in wagons, and formed a settlement in the timber lands of Mad River Township. The following year, Ephraim married Rebecca Win- get, a daughter of Reuben Winget, who was one of the first settlers of Clark County, having come from near Cincin- nati in 1806. Ephraim Shellabarger and his wife passed the remainder of their lives in this county, his death occurring in 1842 at the age of fifty-eight, his wife surviving him until 1872, passing away at the home of her son, David E. They were the parents of six children; Reuben; Mar-

garet, who married John B. Beard; Mar- tin; Elizabeth, who married T. P. Johns- ton; David Ephraim; and Anna, who married Abe D. Miller. All of the above family, with the exception of David E., are deceased.

David E. Shellabarger was born in a weather-boarded log house on his father's farm, and there passed his boy- hood days. He went to the old log school- house with its slab benches, and studied reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic. He remained at home until after his father's death, after which he worked as a tanner for one year, then returned home and learned the cooper trade with his brother Martin. He continued with him until his marriage, when he opened a cooper shop of his own on his present farm. For fifteen years he worked at his trade during the winter months, farming in the summers, since when his time has been devoted entirely to his farm of one hundred and seventy acres, of which fifty were inherited. When Mr. Shellabarger first came to his farm he resided in an old log house which was on the place until he built his present comfortable home. His two sons, David W., and Edgar M., now run the farm, renting the land from him.

Mr. Shellabarger was married October 14, 1847, to Rosanna Johnston, a daugh- ter of James Johnston. She died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Shellabarger became the parents of seven children : James E., who died young; Cassilus R., who died young; David W., who married Katty Durst and has seven children, Della, Rosina, Mary, Martha, Ethel, Catherine and John; Anson L., who married Mary Hedge, resides in Springfield, Ohio, and

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has two children, Eva and D. Paul; Edgar M., who married Florence Knott and has two children, Clarence and David E .; Clayton D., who married Beele Albin, and is the father of two children, Amy, and Lydia.

Mr. Shellabarger is a man of large pro- portions but enjoys exceptional good health, and although quite advanced in years, is still able to do a hard day's work. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias.

JOHN SHARP, a prominent farmer of Harmony Township, in which is situated his valuable farm of 187 acres, was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1858, and is a son of John and Mary (Dysart) Sharp.

John Sharp was born in 1808, in Vir- ginia, and came to Clark County in early manhood, where he married Mary Dysart, who still survives. She was born in 1823, in Pennsylvania. They had four children, namely: John, subject of this sketch; Mosuria, born in 1859, who married Fre- mont Wilson, they residing in Harmony Township and having six children-Mary, Lavina, Clara, Ross, Wealthy and Alme- da; Thomas, born in 1861, who married Fay Smith and died in 1907; and Henry, born in 1863, who died aged three years. The elder John Sharp was a farmer all his life and did a large amount of teaming over the National Turnpike Road long be- fore any railroads were constructed through this region.

John Sharp, the younger, has spent the greater part of his life in Harmony Town- ship. For two years he lived in Madison County and rented several farms after he reached manhood, living for eight years

on one in the vicinity of Plattsburg, which he had purchased. From there he came to his present farm which he bought in 1905, from the heirs of the Brooks estate. It is fine, fertile and well-situated land, and Mr. Sharp has it under excellent culti- vation.

In 1889 Mr. Sharp was married to Lau- ra Weaver, who is a daughter of Abraham and Mary Weaver, and they have had four children, namely : Mary and Mabel, twins, born February 24, 1891; Henry, born Au- gust 10, 1894; and John W., born Decem- ber 29, 1896. Mr. Sharp has taken an active interest in Odd Fellowship, having been united with Vienna Lodge No. 345, for a number of years, and having passed all the chairs in this organization.

CHARLES S. KAY, whose identifica- tion with the busines interests of Spring- field covers an extended period, was born November 4, 1853, at Miamisburg, Mont- gomery County, Ohio, and is a son of Dr. Isaac and Clara M. (Deckert) Kay.

Dr. Isaac Kay is the oldest resident physician in Springfield. He was born December 8, 1828, near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he lived until his parents brought their children to Ohio, in 1836. Dr. Kay was graduated from Star- ling Medical College, at Columbus, in the spring of 1849, after which he practiced medicine for four years at Lewisburg, Ohio, and then came to Springfield, estab- lishing himself in his profession here in May, 1853. In all that concerns medical progress in Clark County, Dr. Kay has taken a deep interest and his name is hon- ored in medical organizations all over the land. For years he has contributed scien-

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tific papers to medical journals and has spoken before medical conventions. He is a citizen in whom Springfield takes a just pride. On November 27, 1852, he mar- ried Clara M. Deckert, and they had two sons, Charles S. and Clarence H.

For about a decade in early manhood, Charles S. Kay was an editorial writer on the leading newspapers of Springfield and Cincinnati, and has always devoted more or less time to literary pursuits, thus find- ing relief from the engrossing cares of an active business life. In 1883 he entered the Superior Drill Company, which enterprise was incorporated in November of that year, and was its treasurer for twenty years. After a career of conspicuous suc- cess this extensive plant went into the American Seeding Machine Company in 1903, and Mr. Kay retired from active re- lationship, but retained his financial in- terest in the company. He was one of the incorporators and is now a director of the Citizens National Bank. Mr. Kay's other business interests are: The Springfield Metallic Casket Company, and The Peo- ple's Light, Heat and Power Company. He has always manifested great public spirit, and has been active in securing for Springfield various utilities of a public nature, and has in many ways contributed to the general welfare. He has never aspired to political prominence, but was for nine years a valued director of the Springfield public library. He is a mem- ber of the Commercial Club, of which he was once president, Lagonda Club, and Clark Lodge, F. & A. M., Springfield Chapter, R. A. M., and of Palestine Com- mandery, K. T. His church connection has long been with the First Baptist Church of Springfield.

In 1893 Mr. Kay married Belle C. Gunn, a daughter of Capt. John T. Gunn, of Lexington, Kentucky. They have four children: Clarence M., Edith W., Clari- bel and Robert.

SAMUEL ZIMMERMAN, a prominent citizen of Springfield Township, owns a beautiful farm and the comfortable old Zimmerman home, which is situated in Section 7, about four miles southeast of the corporation limits of Springfield. When the estate of 315 acres was divided among the Zimmerman heirs, Samuel re- ceived 132 acres. He was born July 9, 1861, while his parents were living on the Jackson farm above Lagonda. They were George and Eliza (Mech) Zimmerman.

George Zimmerman was born in Dau- phin County, Pennsylvania, and came with his family to Ohio, in 1859, settling on what was known as the old Jackson farm, north of Lagonda, which he rented for three years. In the spring of 1862 he bought the farm in Springfield Township, and in 1874-5 he erected the handsome brick residence and also built all the other substantial structures on the place. Here he engaged in farming and stock-raising and became a man of large means and a leading citizen of this section. He took an interest in public affairs and as one of the reliable men of his township, was elected on several occasions to the office of trus- tee. His death took place in July, 1899, surviving all three of his wives, the first of whom was Barbara Stoner, whom he married in Pennsylvania, where she died, leaving three children, namely: Henry N., residing in Kansas; Augustus J., re- siding in Kansas; and Mary, who married

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David Tonkinson, died in Kansas. One child died in infancy. Samuel Zimmer- man is the youngest of the six children born to his parents, the others being: Milton, residing in Kansas ; Simon A., re- siding on a part of the homestead farm in Clark County; Araminta, who married John H. Moore; Alice, who married James Ramsey, residing in Kansas.

Samuel Zimmerman was one year old when his parents came to the present farm. He obtained his education in the country schools and has devoted himself to farming and stock-raising. He has met with very decided success. He has never married, his sister, Mrs. Moore, making his home comfortable for him. He takes no active interest in politics, but neverthe- less entertains decided opinions on public affairs but not to the extent of letting these interfere with his business. He is a member of the Junior Order of Amer- ican Mechanics at Pitchin.

JOSEPH PEARSON, a retired farmer and old soldier, who lives on his improved farm of ninety-seven and two-thirds acres, near Catawba, in Pleasant Town- ship, was born February 12, 1827, at Lon- don, England, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Lockhart) Pearson.

William Pearson, father of Joseph, was also born in London and there learned the trades of cabinetmaker and wagon- maker. He there married Elizabeth Lock- art and they had the following children : Joseph; Henry, who was a member of the Seventeenth Regiment Iowa Volunteers, during the Civil War and was killed at Vicksburg; Maria, widow of Owen Davis, who has reached her seventy-ninth year,

is still able to do fine needlework; John, who served in the Civil War as a member of an Ohio regiment, died from wounds received in battle; George, who was a member of the Ninety-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, resided at Catawba; Martha, who is the widow of William Shanks, who served in the Civil War, a member of the Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Mary E., who is the wife of John Young, residing in Hardin County, Ohio; Millie Ann, who is the wife of Edward Gardner; Thomas, who served in the Civil War as a member of the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and Samuel, now residing in Kansas, who served with his brother Joseph in the forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This record shows that every son of the family testified to his loyalty to the Union by serving in her defense, several of them to the extent of yielding up their lives.

In 1832 William Pearson came to Amer- ica, accompanied by his wife and his two children, and they settled for a short time on the farm of his mother, who was then Widow Elizabeth Inman, residing in Harmony Township, Clark County, where she had three hundred and twenty acres. Her first husband, William Pearson, had died in England and she married again and with her husband came as a pioneer to Clark County. While her son, William Pearson, was looking around for land on which to locate, he was offered the pres- ent site of the Arcade Building at Spring- field, for four dollars an acre. It was then nothing but a swamp and Mr. Pear- son judged that Catawba, on account of its better natural situation and of its numer- ous sulphur springs, its fine dry timbered

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soil and its two cross-roads showed in- dication of being more likely to develop than did its neighboring town. Hence he settled at Catawba, on a farm of three acres, and followed his trade, making many wagons and constructing coffins for the country roundabout. He died from the effects of an accident, falling from his horse, when in his forty-seventh year. He was a man of great strength, and hav- ing taken boxing lessons in England he was also one of skill, and was made cap- tain of a light-horse brigade. In friend- ly contests, he overcame the local wrest- ling champions. His widow subsequently married Edward Shanks.

Joseph Pearson was five years of age when his parents came to America and was too young to recall the long voyage of thirty-eight days which the sailing ves- sel required. It was a new vessel and after it sailed for America, William Pear- son was employed, as a cabinetmaker, to finish the cabin which required five weeks more to finish after reaching Amer- ica. He spent all his time at the work during his journey. Joseph Pearson was reared at Catawba and recalls that the In- dians and the wolves made him about equally fearful through his boyhood. He had but meager school advantages. He worked around on the neighboring farms occasionally but spent a large part of his time in his father's shop, where he be- came familiar with tools, and probably also learned a great deal listening to the conversation between his father and his customers. From one of these, a local physician, he learned that he could qualify as a clerk on a river boat running between Cincinnati and New Orleans, and after securing the position he filled it for four

years. After he returned to Catawba, he operated a cooper shop, and was thus en- gaged when the Civil War broke out. Mr. Pearson had been in the South and he understood conditions and public feel- ing much better than did many of his neighbors and he was one of the first to start to recruit a company around his old home. With the men he secured he joined Company F, Forty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and subsequent- ly was sent back to again recruit. On this occasion he secured twenty-one men, one of these being his brother Samuel, and another his brother-in-law, Levi Porter, both of whom had been too young to go at first. Joseph Pearson served all through the long years of the war, taking an active part and always being found at the post of duty. He participated in many of the most important battles of the war but lays stress on that at Win- chester, September 19, 1863, when 19,000 of his brave comrades fell.

On several occasions, Mr. Pearson was offered commissions, but was never will- ing to take more responsibility than that entailed by serving as a sergeant. His first term of service was as a sergeant and when he re-enlisted at Knoxville, Ten- nessee, he served as commissary sergeant and always performed the duties pertain- ing to these offices in such a manner as to win approbation. One of the closest friends of Mr. Pearson was the brave Ma- jor Evans, the famous Zouave officer. Mr. Pearson was never seriously wounded, although, as stated above, several of his brothers were more unfortunate. The mother was a woman of strong character and during the war she was a member of one of the commissions which worked so

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unceasingly to secure and send supplies to the soldiers. On one occasion, when called upon to address the meeting she said in reverent mood: "I thank God that I have six sons defending the Stars and Stripes." This noble sentiment was published in the newspapers and when they were read in camp each soldier gave a cheer for the mother who, under the circumstances, could so bravely avow her patriotism. There undoubtedly were six soldiers who were very proud of that sacrificing mother.

While at home on a furlough, in 1864, Mr. Pearson was married to Ann Porter, who survived until after the war, leaving two children-Elta, who married Frank Hendricks, and Anna, who married Hugh Cartmell. His first marriage had been to Nancy Golden, who died shortly after- ward. They had one child-Martin Luther who died aged eight months. His second wife, was Mary S. Palmer, who is survived by five of her six children, namely: Joseph W., a farmer in Hardin County, Ohio; Francis B., who is prin- cipal of East High School, at Columbus, and a graduate of Wooster College; Jen- nie, who married Joseph Keescker and resides in Columbus; Frank, who resides in Champaign County, Ohio; and A. Lin- coln, who resides in Kansas. In 1869, Mr. Pearson was married to Sarah Porter, who is a daughter of Benjamin and Eliz- beth Porter, and they have one child, Levi, who lives at Anthony, Kansas.

Mr. Pearson has retired from active work on the farm. He is a stanch Repub- lican and has been a leading man in his party in this section for a number of years. He was a member of the Repub- lican Central Committee for sixteen years

and for the same length of time was dep- uty sheriff. He has held many township offices and he was a very useful member of the committee appointed by the county to provide burial for deceased soldiers and to assist their families. He is a valued member of the local Grand Army post, belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Mad River Encampment. For sixty years he has been a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.

WILLIAM GUNDOLF, a prosperous farmer residing on a farm of ninety-one acres in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, has been a resident here since his boyhood days and is generally known through the county. He was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, April 12, 1859, and is a son of John and Charlotte (Baker) Gundolf.

John Gundolf, father of William, was born in Germany where he was reared to maturity and there engaged in farming. He came with his wife and two children to America, settling first in Rockingham County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Val- ley, and some years later moved to Au- gusta County, Virginia. When he came with his family to Ohio, he rented a farm in Pike Township for a time, then pur- chased a small place near the home of his son, William, where he farmed and burned charcoal until his death in 1885, at the age of sixty-six years. He was sur- vived by his widow who died in 1897, aged sixty years. They were parents of the following children, the two oldest of whom were born in Germany and the re- mainder in Rockingham County, Virginia : Henrietta, wife of William H. Bear of

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Pike Township; Catherine, wife of A. G. Mumuma of Springfield; Ann, deceased, wife of James Hutchison; William; Frederick, residing in German Township; and Lewis, residing in Pike Township. Politically he was a Democrat.

William Gundolf attended the common schools in Virginia and also after his par- ents' removal to Pike Township, in 1873. He assisted his father in clearing his small farm and followed farming there during his younger days, and has continued in the same line, making a specialty of rais- ing hogs and sheep of high grade. The farm on which he now lives was owned by his wife's father, she inheriting a part of it, and the remainder of which he pur- chased of Fred Jenkins. He is a very suc- cessful business man.

On December 24, 1878, Mr. Gundolf was joined in marriage with Charlotte Jen- kins, a daughter of Wiley Jenkins, one of Pike Township's most prominent pio- neers. The latter was born in North Car- olina, December 13, 1810, and was ten years of age when brought to Pike Town- ship by his parents. He was more than ordinarily successful, owning some 466 acres of land, and was widely known over the county. He died in September, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Gundolf have three children, namely: Clarence, born September 26, 1879, married Olive Leonard, by whom he has a son, Paul, and lives near Thackery, Chio; Wiley, born April 27, 1881, mar- ried Maud Baugh, a daughter of Jacob Baugh, and lives in Champaign County; and Blanche, born June 20, 1889, lives at home. Mr. Gundolf is a Democrat in pol- itics, has served as school director and for nine years was township trustee. For ten years he was on the board of the Clark

County Agricultural Society, and during that time was superintendent of the sheep department.

HON. ORAN F. HYPES, a leading and influential citizen of Springfield, who has been successful in business and prominent in public life, was born at Xenia, Ohio, De- cember 18, 1862, and is a son of Samuel H. and Hannah (Van Brocklin) Hypes.

Mr. Hypes' great-grandfather, who came to America from Germany, took part in the Revolutionary War. He estab- lished his home near the Natural Bridge, in Virginia, and there his son, Henry Hypes, was born, who was the founder of the family in Ohio, settling at Xenia early in the Nineteenth century. Samuel H. Hypes, father of Oran F., was born in 1826, in Greene County, Ohio. He mar- ried Hannah Van Brocklin, of Holland an- cestry, who was born at Oneida, N. Y. The family home has remained at Xenia for many years.

Oran F. Hypes attended the schools of his native city and was graduated from the Xenia High School in the class of 1879. He then became connected with the mercantile interests of Xenia, where he resided until 1882, when he came to Springfield, opening his first store here on Main Street. Later he removed to his present location, No. 43 South Limestone Street, where he owns one of the leading business establishments of the city, deal- ing in hats and men's furnishings. He was not long in demonstrating to the pub- lic that he was worthy of their patronage. His business methods have long since es- tablished him as a merchant and citizen

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well known for his integrity, and the "Hypes Store" is classed as one that has helped to build up Springfield commer- cially.

Mr. Hypes made his choice of political companionship in early manhood and has long been a leading factor in the Repub- lican party in this section. In 1901 he was elected a member of the Seventy-Fifth General Assembly of Ohio and attended in the regular and extraordinary sessions of 1902, during the former serving as sec- retary of the committee on taxation; as chairman of the committee on public buildings and lands, and as a member of the committee on insurance. In the ex- traordinary session which was called to create a new code of laws for municipal government, Mr. Hypes was named by the speaker to serve on the special com- mittee to report a bill to the House. After serving with ability through two sessions in the Ohio House of Representatives, Mr. Hypes was twice unanimously nomi- nated for two successive terms in the Ohio State Senate, where he is now serv- ing to the public satisfaction.

In 1889 Mr. Hypes was married to Jes- sie B. Johnson, who is a daughter of Richard and Dorothy Johnson, of Spring- field, and they have two children, Doro- thy and Douglas. With his family he be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Hypes is a Knight Templar Mason, The following children were born to bless being past commander of Palestine Com- mandery, No. 33. He has been identified with many of the charitable and benevo- lent organizations of the city and has al- ways shown a deep interest in the Young Men's Christian Association, being one of the directors of this body at Spring- field. He is a charter member of the

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 96

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