USA > Ohio > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 23
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Politically Mr. MeClure is a Repub- liean, and socially is a member of the Knights of Honor and the Grand Army of the Republic. He has made his own success in life, and is a man of whom all speak in terms of respect as a worthy
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citizen and a merchant of strict integrity. All of the family hold a high place in the community, and are much esteemed.
G EORGE EMERY, son of Jacob and Christina ( Lesh ) Emery, was born in what is now Ashland County, Ohio, in 1840. His grandfather, Jacob Emery, was a resident of that county, and there reared a family of five children, four daughters and one son. The parents of George Emery were also residents of Ashland County, where they were en- gaged in farming. Their family con- sisted of Franklin M. (who married Lydia Ortz, now residents of Nebraska), Mary (deceased ), John (deceased), George, Zachariah ( who married Margaret Wikle, now residents of Ashland County, Ohio), and Violet (now Mrs. A. J. Honser, of Wayne County, Ohio).
Of these, George Emery was reared and edneated in Wayne County, and in Sep- tember, 1561, in response to his country's call for men, he enlisted in Company (, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of Chickasaw Blutf's he received a wound, which disabled him, and for this reason he was discharged, and now receives a pension ; he however re-enlisted in the 100-days service. Returning home, Mr. Emery married in 1865 Mary A., ,
daughter of John Ginn, and located on a farm in Clinton Township, Wayne County, Ohio, their present residence. To them two children were born, Elizabeth Ellen (deceased) and Isa B. The family are members of the Evangelical Church. Mr. Emery is identified with the Repub- lican party. He is a practical farmer, and has very desirable property.
OIIN SHILLING was born in Cum- berland County, Penn., February 14, 1814. His father, Adam Shilling, also a native of that county, married Mary Roone, and in 1817 moved to Stark County, Ohio, where they purchased land near Massillon, and engaged in farming. being among the representative citizens of that county. They were prominent members of the United Brethren Church. The mother died there in 1858. The fa- ther afterward moved to Indiana, where he died in 1851, at the patriarchal age of nearly ninety years. Their family con- sisted of eight children, six of whom are. living, viz. : John: Polly, now Mrs. George Houke, of Indiana; Barbara Ann, wife of William Kitzermeller, of Stark County, Ohio; Solomon, in Indiana; Daniel. in Stark County; Eliza, wife of Daniel Gratz, of Bryan, Ohio.
John Shilling, the subject of this
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memoir, was reared in Stark County, Ohio, and obtained but little education, as he had to walk three miles to school, and was in constant danger from wolves and Indians. He remained on the home- stead until twenty-two years of age. On October 30, 1834, he became united in marriage with Miss Sarah, danghter of John Noftzger, of Congress Township, Wayne County, and she bore him three .. children, viz .: Mary, wife of Ezra. Smith, of Canaan Township (they have two chil- dren, Lorindla, now Mrs. George Hard, who has one child, Ezra, and Franklin Smith, in Canaan Township); Adam, in ('maan Township, married to Maria, daughter of Jesse Ritchie, of Medim County (they have one son, Jesse ) : Mel- vina, wife of John Cook, of Canaan Town- ship (they have two children, William and Annie). The mother of these chil- dren died in 1840, and in 1841 the father married Miss Elizabeth, danghter of George Frank, of Stark County, Ohio. She died March 9, 1875, having borne him three children, viz .: Emma, decensed wife of William Brinkerhoff; Frank, a farmer in Congress Township, Wayne County, married to Mary Keiser (they have two children, William and Nellie) ; Ada, married to Daniel Stratton, of Me- dina Connty (they have two children, Blanche and Ira). Mr. Shilling is a prominent member of the Burbank United
Brethren Church. He has always voted the Republican ticket, and has filled va- rious township offices. He moved onto his present farm, in Canaan Township, in the year 1835, and by hard work and perseverance has been successful, being now one of the leading farmers of the township.
C HARLES E. VAN METER, through his grandparents on both sides, is descended from the earliest pio- neer settlers of Wayne County. His pa- ternal grandparents, Abraham and Sarah ( Miller) Van Meter, came, in 1815, from Stark County, Ohio, to this county, bring- ing their children with them. Benjamin Miller, father of Mrs. Sarah Van Meter, was one of the very first settlers of Wayne County, and her sister, Mrs. Matilda Briarton, was the first white child born in the county. Grandmother Van Meter died in 1862, aged seventy-six, and grandfather Van Meter in 1570, aged eighty-sever.
John Van Meter, father of our subject. was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1\12, and was three years old when his parents brought him to this county. He learned in his youth the trade of a carpenter, and after he had grown to manhood was mar- ried to Elizabeth Van Blank MeGuire. a native of Pennsylvania. She was left an
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orphan when two years of age, and was reared by an uncle, Mr. Isaac Jolmson, father of Judge Isaac Johnson. Five boys were born to this union, all now living, viz .: W. C., in Wayne County; John W., in Colorado City, Colo .; C. E .; George A., in Butte City, Mont., and Walter, in Wooster. The parents are yet living, in Wooster, and have many friends. They are regarded as good, upright people, and highly respected.
The subject of this sketch entered the profession of dentistry, but followed it for a few months only, and then opened a grocery store in Wooster, which he car- ried on for some years. Later, for some five years, he was clerk in a shoe store, and in 1885 he opened a shoe store for his own account, which he is at present carrying on. September 29, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Nettie, daughter of James and Ellen ( Higgins) Hutchison, and a native of Mount Vernon, Ohio, aud educated at Mount Carmel, N. Y. Her mother died when she was nine months old, and her father was again married; when Mrs. Van Meter was ten years of age both her father and step- mother died. Her father was born in Fredericksburgh, this county, in 1522, and was of Seotch descent, his ancestors settling in this county at an early day. Her grandmother, Mary Higgins, is liv. ing in Athens, Ohio, and is ninety years
of age. Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Van Meter have been blessed by the birth of three children: Joseph Leroy, Jennie Viola and Susie Florence. The parents are members of the Order of the Iron Hall, and members of St. James Episcopal Church. Mr. Van Meter is well known in Wooster and vicinity as a progressive and enterprising business man, of strict integrity, who has gained the confidence of people by his straightforward conduet. and is liberally patronized. He has made his own way, and, although still a young man, his success has been gratifying.
S ILAS W. OGDEN was born in Dela. ware County, Ohio, August 26, 1548, and when he was but five years of age came with his parents to Wayne County. His father, Donald W. Ogden, was also a native of Delaware County, and was a farmer and cabinet- maker; he was married to Miss Mary _1., daughter of John W. C. Nimmons, In 1553 Mr. S. W. Ogden's parents settled in Wayne County, one mile south of Woos- ter, where the father died in IS61, at the age of forty-eight years. He was a stanch Republican, and hold the office of assessor: both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of three children, as follows:
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Lowell, who died when a child; James A., in Wooster, and Silas W. Since her hus- band's death Mrs. Ogden has made her home with her children, and is now living with her son, the subject of this sketch.
Silas W. Ogden remained at home until September 21, 1570, when he was united in marriage with Miss Frances M., dangh- ter of Jolm and Catharine ( Espy) Weav- er, and a native of De Kalb County, Ind. Mrs. Weaver was the mother of two chil- dren: William C., in Wooster, and Fran- ces Marian. Mrs. Weaver was a highly esteemed member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Wooster for twenty-five or thirty years. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Ogden resided in Woos- ter until 1884, when they removed to their present home in Wooster Township. Mr. Ogden was a tinner until he removed to his farm, and in 1882 was appointed railway postal clerk, serving four =
months, when he resigned on account of ill health. He has always been a stanch Republican, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum; was also a member of the Knights of Honor. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wooster, in which they are highly esteemed for their earnestness and active participation in church work. They are widely known in Wayne County, and universally beloved and respected.
Jacob B. Espy, grandfather of Mrs.
Ogden, was born in Bucks County, Pen., in 1790, and died in 1881, in his ninety- first year. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving in the Ohio regiment commanded by Col. Bay. Mrs. Ogden's paternal grandfather, David Weaver, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Rowsburg, Ohio. Reuben I. Tarr, a great- uncle of Mrs. Ogden. was an early settler in Wayne County, and carried on the pottery business, later purchasing the farm now owned by Mr. Ogden. He was born in 1801, and died in 1882. He came to Wayne County in 1815, and made his home with his sister, Mrs. Catharine Espy. Reynolds Espy, a brother of Mrs. Cath- arine Weaver, was born at Mt. Eaton, and died January 8, 1884, on the old homestead.
P ETER S. GREENAMYER, M. D., mayor of Smithville, Ohio, is a native of Columbiana, in the county of the same name, in this State, and was born May 2, 1836. On his father's side his ancestors were of German extraction, his great-grandmother, who was a Miss Wyse, having come from that country. She was sent to America for the benefit of her health, and on the voyage hither beenme acquainted with a follow traveler ummed Geiger, whom she married after her arrival at New Amsterdam, as New
P. S. Greenamyer, M. D.
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York was then called. She was connected with one of the royal families of Ger- many, and had two brothers, both of whom were unmarried, and were enor- monsly wealthy. One of these brothers willed his entire estate, valued then at seventy-two millions of dollars, to the de- scendants of his sister of the third gen- eration, of whom Dr. Greenamyer's father was one.
The notice of distribution was published at the proper time in Germany, about 1880, but unfortunately. did not become known in this country until after the lapse of a considerable time. When it did be- come known, efforts were at once made to complete the chain of evidence estab- lishing relationship, and when this was accomplished an agent was sent to Europe to present the claims of the American heirs. The distribution had already taken place, however, by order of the German Government, which refused to change it, and thus the American heirs got no part of their just claims. Mrs. Geiger died in this country, and was buried in New Amsterdam. After a lapse of about 150 years, in the efforts to complete the evi- denee as to her identity, her gravo was opened, and parts of the royal robes in which she was buried were found intact. She left a family of three danghters and two sons. One of the daughters married Solomon Greenamyer, and thus became 15
the grandmother of our subject. Her hus- band was a resident of Columbiana County, this State, where many of their descendants yet live, and where he held the office of justice of the peace for over fifty years. He died of diphtheria, about twenty years ago, in his eighty-sixth year. His wife had died about twenty-five years prior to that time. They had six sous and six daughters, of whom three sons and four daughters are yet living, viz. : David, a retired farmer, living in Michigan; Enos, a practicing physician of Palestine, Penn. ; Jehu, a farmer of Michigan; Sarah, wife of Daniel Stauffer, a merchant of Columbiana, Ohio; Eliza, who married a Mr. Heek, a farmer of Columbiana County ; Charlotte, wife of Israel Long, a wealthy farmer in Pennsylvania, across the line from Columbiana County, and Mary, wife of Rev. Samuel Sechrist, of Akron, Ohio.
William, the father of our subject, who was the eldest of the family, was born at the old homestead in Columbiana County, August 29, 1505, and died in Smith- ville, Wayne County, July 31, 1866. In his early life he taught school, but after- ward read medicine, and began practice in his native county, removing to Woos- ter, Ohio, in 1816, and the following year settling in Smithville, where he was on- gaged in the practice of his profession until his death. Ho rapidly made friends in his chosen home, and became known as
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a snecessful and highly esteemed physi- College. Leaving there, he read medicine under his Father, and later attended the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, where he graduated in March, 1858. He then engaged in practice in partnership with his father, continuing until the lat- ter's death. A year later his uncle, Enos, became his partner, this relation contin- ing for four years, during which time Dr. Greenamyer attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating iu March, 1872. He has since been contin- uously engaged in the practice of his pro- fession at Smithville, building up a large cian. As a Christian man and good citi- zen he was greatly respected, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends, to whom his many good qualities had greatly endeared him. He was for many years a member of the German Reformed Church, of which he had long been a deacon, and was a consistent Chris- tian, who fully believed in Him who " doeth all things well," and met death as only such a one can. He was married, in 1832, to Miss Maria Strickler, who was born in Page County, Va., in 1809. She went with her parents, while young, to , and lucrative business, and is universally Columbiana County, Ohio, and there met recognized as a conscientious and skillnl physician and surgeon, having studied the latter branch of his profession under the celebrated Prof. Pancoast, of Phila- delphia. On September 30, 1863, Dr. her future husband. Her father was of Scotch deseent, and her mother of Ger- man. She also died in Smithville, on December 15, 1873, aged over sixty-four years. She was a faithful wife and a de- ' Greenamyer was married to Miss Engenia voted mother, and an exemplary Chris- tian-a worthy helpmeet to her husband. They were the parents of two sons and one daughter. The younger son, Solo- mon, is a veterinary surgeon at Ashland, Ohio; the daughter, Isabella, is the wife of Jolm E. Zimmerman, of Smithville, and the eldest is Peter S.
The subject of this sketch was eleven years of age when his parents removed to Smithville, where he received his com- mon-school education. This was supple- mented by a partial course at Oberlin
Gertrude Christy, who was born May 16, 1844, in Jackson, Wayne County. Her parents were James and Roxana Christy, both of whom are now deceased. They were farmers in this county for many years, Mr. Christy being a noted stock raiser and dealer. He was a native of Wayne County, of Irish extraction, and his wife was born in the State of New York. Dr. and Mrs. Greenamyer have one child, Homer B., now seventeen years of age, who graduated in the class of '85 From the Northern Ohio Normal School,
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and intends studying pharmacy, but is now teacher of stenography at his Ahua Mater.
Dr. Greenamyer has always taken a warm interest in the affairs of his town. In April. 1888, he was elected mayor of Smithville, receiving all but three of the votes cast, a good illustration of the esteem of his fellow-citizens. He is a member of the Wayne County Medical Society, of the Northeastern Ohio Medi- cal Society, of the Ohio State Medical Society, and also of the American Medi- cal Society. He belongs to the Odd Fellows order and to the Knights of the Maccabees. In polities he is a Repub- lican. Asa physician, a citizen and neigh- bor, the Doctor is in the front rank of the citizens of Wayne County.
W ILLIAM EMMETT GEORGE, of the firm of George & Co., enbinet-makers and undertakers, and manufacturers of furniture, having the largest and most complete establish- ment of the kind in Wayne County, Ohio, of which he is a native, was born Jannary S, 1855. His father, John George, was a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and by occupation a carpenter. He was mar- ried, in Wooster, to Eliza Smith, whose father was one of the first settlers in that a dollar, and his gratifying success is
place, both of her parents dying in Wayne County. To Mr. and Mrs. John George five children were born, as follows: Two deceased in infancy; Anna Viola, wife of Calvin Van Nimmons, of Shreve, Wayne County; William Emmett, and John Franklin, a resident of Wooster. The mother was called to her rest in June, 1888, at the age of sixty-four years, and since then the father has resided in Woos- ter, and is now sixty-five years of age.
The subject of this sketch has passed his entire life in Wooster, where he re- ceived a good schooling. While still a boy he turned his attention to cabinet- making, and in 1880 formed a partner- ship with William Y. Landis, which con- tinued until 1588. During this time the business was greatly enlarged, so as to in- eInde furniture and undertaking, and now furniture manufacturing, and is at present the largest in the county. For some years after learning his trade Mr. George worked in various places, and was em- ployed in an organ maunfactory, in car- building shops, etc. In 1975 he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Lasier, a native of Pennsylvania, whose parents carly migrated to Ohio, where the father died. The mother is now living at Western Star, near Akron, Ohio. To this union one child, John Irvin, has been born. Mr. George started in business without
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wholly due to his close application and business ability. He has advanced him- self to an honorable place among the leading business men of Wooster, and is regarded as one of the best of its citizens, honored and respected by all. He is pro- gressive and enterprising, and in favor of all good projects for the advancement of the county. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church at Wooster.
W .S. BATTLES, M. D., for fifty- nine years a resident of Clinton Township, Wayne County, was born at White Hall Station, near Phila- delphia, Penn., May 12, 1827. His mother was of pure English extraction, descending from two old well-known Quaker families, Snowden and West. His father, Thomas S. Battles, for twenty- nine years a resident of the county, and still living at the age of eighty-seven years, was born in Philadelphia, January 28, 1803. On the paternal side he was descended from an old Pittsfield ( Mass. ) family; his mother was a native of Scot- land. His residence is now, and has been since 1861, on a farm in Montgomery County, Il., where his two other sons. Johnston and Thomas, with two dangh- ters, children of his second wife, also
live. Dr. W. S. Battles remained with his father on a Clinton Township farm nn- til he was nineteen years old, having had no other educational advantages save what the common schools of his neigh- borhood furnished. During the summer of 1816 he spent seventeen weeks at the Hayesville school, in Ashland County. On August 7, 1847. he entered the office of Dr. T. H. Baker, of Millbrook, as a stu- dent of medicine, and throughout ahnost the entire time of his medical student- ship with his preceptor he taught school. October 15, 1850, he matriculated at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, at which school he graduated Febru- ary 22, 1852. Returning to the village of Millbrook, he engaged in the practice of medicine with his preceptor until the winter of 1853-54, which he spent at the colleges and hospitals of Philadelphia, New York and Cleveland. Dissolving partnership with Dr. Baker, he went to Apple Creek, East Union Township, April 19, 1855, but remained there only eight months, when he removed to Shreve. where he has pursued the practice of medicine and surgery ever since, except- ing from November, 1865, to March. 1868, when he was engaged in banking at Ashland, Ashland Co., Ohio. November 20, 1855, he was married to Mahala Keister, daughter of J. A. Keister, Esq .. of Millbrook. He has Two living chil-
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dren, Mrs. Kate Brown and Emma Bat- tles. Although the Doctor is interested in horticulture and agriculture, as the owner and manager of a good garden and farm, he has given almost his entire life to the cultivation of his profession. He is a member of the American Medical Association, Ohio State Medical Society, Union Medical Association of North- eastern Ohio, North Central Ohio Medi- cal Society, and Wayne County Medical Society, of which he is now president.
The Doctor has to' some extent been a contributor to medical journalistic liter- ature, and though never having published in book form his poems, has throughout his whole medical career been an occa- sional writer of verse, of which the fol- lowing, written in 1869, upon the death of his preceptor's wife, Mrs. T. H. Baker, a beautiful woman, stricken down in the prime of her womanhood. is a specimen:
Gnsh flows our grief like floods; at the noontide, Where joy had been hidden to dine on the morrow, ; Instead of its fullness from love's sweetest wine cup, We drink to its dregs from the chalice of sorrow.
Life in its morning, like light from the castward, Where rays of rich crimson abolish the night, Bursts forth in its buddings of hope, in a promise That age in its fullness will yield us delight.
But alas! for these eddying gusts of our laney; "Tis folly to build in the dark, on a wave These castles of beauty, to emrapture the vision- Then vanish io vapor o'er an opening prave. .
Amanda, thy life was but a reflection Of all that a mortal can sip from this bowl; But, ah! it was more-a rich, full expression Of treasure immortal, the worth of the soul.
If, at his pleasure, God clothes in rare beauty Its casket of jewels just for a day;
At the invoice of Heaven, what estimate, valne, Will appear on the schedule, and what its array?
Were we but mortal, why give us such breathings, And till with emotion the soul, if He would Cut the thin thread of our spiritual being And drop us, forgotten, to oblivious flood?
Ah no! o'er thy tomb a golden-winged chernb. The Angel of Promise, bids Hope spread her wings;
A glorified Spirit mingles voice with our chorus, In numbers immortal forever she sings.
JOSEPH EICHAR, one of Wayne County's pioneers, residing on See- tion 5, Wooster Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pen .. March 13, 1813. His father, Joseph Eichar, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, and was a mill- er and merchant, also engaged in farm- ing. Upon arriving at manhood, on the 20th of November, 1500, he was married to Miss Anna Suman, and eight children were born to their union, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. In I811 the senior Mr. Eichar came to Wayne County and bought a farm. Soon after his arrival he started a salt well,
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boring 450 feet, and for a time refined salt, but the expeuse of carrying on the work being too great, owing to the scarcity of water, it was abandoned. The salt well was suggested by the presence of a deer-lick on the spot. After a time the family removed to Lower Sandusky, where the father died October 17, 1821, at the age of Forty-four. The family then returned to Wayne County, where the mother died in 1862, at the age of sev- enty-eight. Mrs. Eichar was a devout Presbyterian. The grandfather of our subject, Jacob Eichar, was in 1812 made prisoner by the Indians, and kept for some time, finally making his escape by running the gauntlet.
Joseph Bichar, the subject proper of this sketch, spent his early years upon the farm, and in 1841 was united in mar- riage with Miss Eliza Thompson, a native of Wooster, whose father, David Thomp- son, came to this connty at an early date. For some thirteen years after their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Eichar made their home on the old Fichar homestead; then removed to Millbrook, where they re- mained for one year, and where Mrs. Fichar died, leaving six children to mourn her loss. Mr. Bichar returned to Woos- ter, and for four years resided with his mother and sisters. He then purchased his present farm, which was mostly nnim- proved, except for the house, which had
been used as a hotel for the accommoda- tion of the many travelers who were then crossing the country in wagons. In 1858 he was married to Sarah Kobb, who died in September, 1877, in the faith of the Disciples Church, leaving two daughters.
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