USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 21
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When Mr. Mehaffey returned to his home from the arena of politics. it was with the ex- pressed intention of giving the remainder of his life to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, finding on his extensive estate enough to oc- cupy his time and fulfill his ambition. How- ever, this was not accepted by his fellow-citi- zens, and when the capitalists of this section of the State found a field open for the establishing of another financial institution at Lima, they called upon Mr. Mehaffey to accept the presi- dency of the Metropolitan Bank, a position of honor, trust and responsibility which he still fills.
During his service in the Senate he was ap- pointed one of the trustees of the institution for the feeble-minded youth of the State and has served for the past 19 years. His first appoint- ment was made by Governor Foraker and he has been continued in the office by every suc- ceeding Governor and during the most of the time has been president of the board, although its composition is Republican and he has been a life-long Democrat.
Mr. Mehaffey was married on August 19, 1856, to Mary Elinor Richardson, who was born in 1834 in Green County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Joseph H. and Edith ( Whitworth) (Smith) Richardson, natives of Wythe Coun- ty, Virginia. They were married there and
came to Greene County, Ohio, and in 1836 to Allen County, and settling near Lima on land which is now within the corporate limits of the city, but at that time was covered with timber, excepting a little space which had been cleared, only sufficient for a small garden plot. Mrs. Mehaffey remembers the old log house and that blankets were hung over the openings to exclude cold; and she also recalls the long nights when bright fires were kept burning out- side the cabin to protect the inmates from the wolves who howled in the near-by forest. Where this took place the prosperous citizens of Lima now hurry through busy streets and carry on traffic and pursue their social and busy life interests.
Mrs. Mehaffey had more educational advan- tages than were afforded many of the children of her time and locality. Her father was a scholarly man, had collegiate training in Vir- ginia, and taught the first public school in Ger- man township. When four years old, she was carried on his back to the little log schoolhouse and there laid the foundation for the perfected education and culture of later years. She was one of six children and the family has been identified with the educational interests of this section since her infancy until 1904, when a sis- ter resigned from her long connection with the public schools of Lima. The magnificent new school edifice, completed at Lima in the fall of 1904 and bearing the name of the Richardson School, was so named in honor of her father, Joseph Hicks Richardson, and a handsome pic- ture of this well-known educator adorns its walls. One of the pleasant avenues of the city was named Charles street, in honor of Mrs. Me- haffey's brother, Charles.
Mr. and Mrs. Mehaffey have had four children, viz: William R., a graduate of. Ken- yon College, Ohio, who is now editor of the Lima Times-Democrat; George E., assistant cashier of the Metropolitan Bank, of Lima, who was educated at the University of Tennessee; Alice, who died in infancy; and Eda Alice (Hill), a resident of LaFayette, who is a grad- uate of the Cincinnati Wesleyan College. Mrs. Mehaffey has long been interested in mission- ary work in connection with the Methodist
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MR. AND MRS. SOLOMON BINKLEY AND FAMILY (Four Generations)
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Episcopal Church. Since December, 1873, she has been identified also with that noble organi- zation, the W. C. T. U., and it was mainly through her efforts that the saloon element was overcome in LaFayette. She is a member of the State executive board and for a number of years has been county superintendent of the . press-work carried on under the auspices of the W. C. T. U. Mrs. Mehaffey is a lady of liter- ary tastes and accomplishments and has written more or less continuously for publication since she was 14 years old. For the past 10 years ยท she has devoted her pen exclusively to the in- terests of temperance and in her work has the support and approbation of her husband.
In addition to other honors shown him, Mr. Mehaffey was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of militia, during the Civil War, by Governor David Tod. He is a Royal Arch Mason, hav- ing been a member of the fraternity since he was 21 years of age. He belongs to the Protestant Episcopal Church.
OLOMON BINKLEY resides on a farm of 117 acres in section 35, Jack- son township, in one of the most at- tractive and desirable country homes in Allen County. Through his labors his farm was converted from a wilderness of trees and underbrush to its present highly culti- vated state. Mr. Binkley was born October 10, 1829, near Thornville, Perry County, Ohio, and is a son of Emanuel and Elizabeth (Snyder) Binkley.
His great-grandfather, Christian Binkley, who was a native of Maryland, was among the pioneers of Perry County, Ohio. He was of German ancestry and from the German inscrip- tion on his monument in Reading township, Perry County, it is learned that he died in 1832, at the age of 91 years.
Henry Binkley, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was also born in Maryland, and came with his father to Ohio in 1801. He died in 1825.
Emanuel Binkley was born in Reading township, Perry County, Ohio, December 27, 1806, and there reached manhood and married.
He came to Allen County in October, 1841, and remained here until his death on February 17, 1891, aged 84 years, four months and 20 days. He was a member of the Reformed Church. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife, Elizabeth Snyder, was born in Thorn township, Perry County, Ohio, June 28, 1808, and died in Allen County, March 9, 1894, aged 85 years, 8 months and II days. Her father was Daniel Snyder, an extensive land-owner and the father of a large family. Our subject is the eldest of 12 children, namely: Solomon; Katharine (Hulinger), who died in 1904; Samuel, who died in 1892; Simon, who died in May, 1904; Mary, who died in childhood; Millie C., who died in 1898; Daniel, who resides in Lafayette; Henry, of Richland township; Emeline (Mow- ery), of Henry County; Matilda (Sherman), who died in 1902; Saloma (Friedly), of Dun- kirk, Hardin County; and Elizabeth (Shaw), of Hancock County.
Solomon Binkley was 12 years old when the family located in Jackson township, on the Mar- ion road, where he lived for several years. In November, 1851, he purchased 40 acres of land adjoining his father's farm, for which he was to pay $5 per acre. He had worked three months for Dr. Newton Sager for $11 per month, and out of his earnings he had saved $30, which he applied on his purchase. By 1853 he had built a log cabin and began clearing the land, contin- uing its cultivation until the fall of 1862, when he sold the property for $1,200. He immed- iately purchased 120 acres of unimproved wood- land, for which he paid $1,500. Here, after building a cabin, he began clearing his land as before, and in 1869 purchased an adjoining 40 acres, which gave him a quarter section of land. He cleared and cultivated about 120 acres, and in 1875 erected a magnificent brick residence. Four years later he erected his barns, and other outbuildings to correspond, and now enjoys the comforts of a model home. He has allowed his son a portion of the farm, and retains only 117 acres.
Mr. Binkley was married April 29, 1852, to Anna Holman, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, November 27, 1834, and lived in Dela- ware County until 1848, when she located in
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Allen County with her parents, William and Sarah (Frederick) Holman. To this union have been born five children, namely: Cloyd, born August 2, 1853, who lives at home; Sarah, born July 24, 1855, wife of Mark Guyton, of Auglaize township; John H., born May 21, 1860, who is a resident of Hardin County ; Amos, born October 5, 1862, who lives on an adjoining farm; and Ida B., born March 29, 1869, who lives at home. Mr. Binkley is a Democrat and has served as trustee of Jackson township for two terms. He united with the Christian Church at LaFayette in 1855, and has served as a deacon of that body for more than 40 years. He takes a lively interest in all that pertains to agriculture, and is one of the most prominent members of Jackson Grange.
On a preceding page, in connection with this sketch, appears a family group, in which four generations of the Binkley family are rep- resented.
OSEPH C. ROSS, superintendent of the handle works of the O. B. Self- ridge Company, at Lima, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, in 1848, and is a son of Gilbert Ross, who is a resident of Meadville, Pennsyl- vania, and is in his 85th year. The family moved to Erie County, Pennsylvania, when our subject was seven years old, and he received his education in the common schools of that coun- ty. He was reared on a farm, remaining there until he was 21 when he struck out for himself. When our subject was 16 years of age, his father was drafted into the army and young Ross took his place, serving three months, until the close of the war, in Company A, 102nd Reg., Pennsylvania Vol. Inf., and taking part in the campaigns of West Virginia.
In 1870 young Ross went to Mckean, Pennsylvania, where he obtained work in the handle factory of F. Lamson, with whom he remained three or four years. He then went to Corry, Pennsylvania, and for about seven years was employed in the handle factory at that place. Removing from there to Ohio, he enter- ed the factory of Lamson & Cleveland at Leip-
sic. Four and a half years later he moved to Edgerton, Ohio, and after three years at that place accepted a position in the factory of Sel- fridge, Woods & Company, of Lima, where he is still employed. Upon the death of Mr. Sel- fridge about 17 years ago, Mr. Ross was made superintendent of the works, and has given to the work his most careful and conscientious ef- forts.
In 1870 Mr. Ross was married to Mary E. Cleveland, a daughter of the late Pliny Cleve- land. They have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Nellie Ross, whom they are giving the advantages of a good home and parental love. They are members of the Market Street Presbyterian church. Mr. Ross was a member of the Edgerton School Board while residing there; but has devoted his entire attention to his business since coming to Lima. He is a member of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R., and of Solar Lodge, No. 783, I. O. O. F.
OHN DEPPLER, well-known both as a contractor and farmer of Richland township, is a Swiss by birth and an CG American by long residence and sym- pathies. He was born October 10, 1847, in Tagerfelten, Canton Bern, Switzer- land. His parents were John and Fannie (Shifferly) Deppler, both of whom were na- tives of Bern. The father was a contractor and met his death a short time before the birth of our subject by the caving-in of a sand-bank. He was the father of two children, Elizabeth, who died in Paulding County, Ohio, and John. The mother married a second time, her second husband being Rudolph Smith, who brought the family to America in 1853. After remaining in Wayne County, Ohio, for a couple of years, they came to Allen County and settled in Rich- land township. Later they moved to Paulding County, Ohio, where the mother died in her 63rd year. By her second marriage she had two daughters and one son, all of whom have passed to the life beyond.
John Deppler resided in Allen County about
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10 years, being 18 or 19 years of age when he went with his parents to Paulding County. He was a carpenter and worked at his craft after returning to Allen County in 1869. Later he also engaged in contracting and continued this business until about five years ago, when he gave up the more arduous work and now enjoys the comforts of his pleasant home in well-earned ease. In 1889 Mr. Deppler pur- chased a small farm of 60 acres, to which he afterwards added an adjoining tract of 85 acres, the land lying in sections 11 and 12, Richland township. This he has converted into a most desirable home by erecting a good comfortable house and remodeling and build- ing the outbuildings to suit his needs. He car- ries on general farming, the work having been in charge of his son while he was engaged in carpentering and contracting.
Mr. Deppler has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Huber, daughter of Char- les and Nancy Huber, of Richland township. She left two sons-Albert, of Bluffton, and Eli. In 1888, Mr. Deppler was married to his present wife, who was Anna P. Garber, a na- tive of Wayne County, Ohio. Her parents, Peter and Anna (Shiverly) Garber, were na- tives of Switzerland. Peter Garber died in Wayne County. After his death, his widow and daughter came to Allen County where the latter met and married John Deppler. Three children, all sons, have been born to them, namely: John Calvin, who lives at home and looks after the farm; and Daniel Walter and Harry Edison, who are attending school. Mr. Deppler is a Democrat in politics. In religion he is a consistent member of the Mennonite Church.
ENRY VAN GUNTEN, who was elected sheriff of Allen County in No- vember, 1905, is the proprietor of the large piano and organ house which is located at the southwest corner of the Public Square in Lima. Here he carries a complete line of instruments of the best and most approved makes, and does a volume of business which not only embraces Lima, but ex- tends far out into the surrounding country. He
was born July 29, 1864, in Richland township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Anna (Snitter) VanGunten. His father has been a resident of this county since 1834 and is a prosperous farmer of Richland township.
Henry VanGunten was one of eight children and his early life was spent on his father's farm. In winter he attended school and assisted with the farming in summer. He learned harness- making and worked at this trade for about four years, until 1889, when he came to Lima and engaged in the sale of musical instruments, in which business he has been eminently success- ful. Determined to conduct a business to sat- isfy the most critical taste, he has stocked his store with only the most desirable instruments and those that he feels assured will meet the re- quirements of his patrons. He has the satis- faction of knowing that when a really superior article is wanted it is pretty sure to be VanGun- ten who makes the sale. Assisting him in his work is C. F. Woolery, who has charge of the piano tuning.
Mr. VanGunten married Amelia Beeler, daughter of the late David Beeler, of this coun- ty, and they are the parents of three bright boys -Avery L., Verrel D. and Leon F. The fam- ily are members of the German Reformed Church. Mr. VanGunten was elected sheriff of Allen County on the Democratic ticket on November, 1905. He is a member of the Im- proved Order of Red Men, Knights of the Mac- cabees, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Eagles.
7 C. PELTIER, whose farm of 160 acres is situated in section 4, Mar- ion township, is now numbered with the retired residents of this lo- cality, who have earned the esteem and confidence of their fellow-citizens, together with a comfortable amount of this world's goods. Mr. Peltier was born August 16, 1837, in Sugar Creek township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a grandson of Anthony Peltier and a son of James and Jane (Clark) Peltier.
Anthony Peltier was born in Canada, but was of French extraction. He located at De- troit, Michigan, in early manhood and became
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a successful Indian trader, continuing his resi- dence there during the War of 1812. Condi- tions having changed on the frontier there, he removed to Maumee City, which is now denom- inated South Toledo, and there he continued trading with the Indians up to the time of his death. He was trusted by them and dealt hon- estly, being a devoted member of the Catholic Church.
James Peltier, son of Anthony and father of our subject, was born at Detroit, Michigan, in August, 1806, and died at Bluffton, Ohio, at the age of 83 years. He spoke both the French and English languages, understood two or three of the Indian dialects, and became a trader like his father. In 1830, at Findlay, Ohio, he married Jane Clark, who was a daughter of John and Sarah Clark. They had these child- ren : Louisa, wife of S. J. Brand, of Bluffton ; William C., of Marion township; John W., of Lima; Enos, of Marion township; Joseph O., deceased; and Charles W., of Michigan. Four of his sons served in Ohio regiments during the Civil War. In 1834 James Peltier and wife moved to Lima, and in 1835 settled in Sugar Creek township, one and a quarter miles north of Elida, where he cleared a farm from the for- est, on which he resided until 1863. In that year he removed to Marion township and set- tled on the farm now owned by his son, William C. Peltier. James Peltier was reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, but after his mar- riage he changed his opinions, became identified with the Methodist bodies and for 20 years was a local Methodist preacher. In political senti- ment he was a Republican.
William C. Peltier was reared on his fath- er's farm and after completing a good, common school education began to teach. He became well known through Allen County as a teacher, his experience covering 23 winter terms in Sugar Creek and Marion townships. The opening of the Civil War aroused his patriotic feelings and he began to make preparations to enter the army. These culminated in his en- listment on August 1, 1862, at Lima, in Com- pany E, 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Capt. J. C. Walters. Three years of the best portion of his life were devoted to the service of his
country, his honorable discharge taking place in July, 1865, at Salisbury, North Carolina. Ohio people do not need to be told of the doings of the gallant 99th Ohio during that period. Mr. Peltier participated in almost all of the battles, skirmishes and long marches which this body was called upon to endure. He was one of those who so bravely fought on the bloody field of Chickamauga. At Lookout Mountain he was wounded in the side by a rifle ball, but took part in the Atlanta campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, participated in the battles of Pump- kinvine Creek, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain and the siege of Atlanta. He was with General Thomas at Nashville and fought through the two days of battle there, December 16-17, 1864. He was in every battle of his regiment with the exception of Stone River, when he was in a hospital. Mr. Peltier has every reason to feel proud of such a record.
After his return from the army, he resumed farming and school teaching. He has always been interested in agricultural pursuits. His farm is divided into two equal portions, 80 acres being on each side of the road. The tract on which his residence stands he cleared from the forest, living in the meantime in a log cabin. Through ditching, draining and tiling he has made his property one of the best in the township. He has done much in the way of encouraging public improvements and has al- ways supported movements looking to the mak- ing of good, substantial, permanent roads.
On August 16, 1866, Mr. Peltier married Leah A. McBride, who was born September 18, 1842, in German township, Allen County, Ohio, and was a daughter of Alexander and Leah (Wolf) McBride. Alexander McBride was of Scotch-Irish extraction and was a pioneer in Allen County. He had 10 children, Mrs. Pel- tier being the seventh in order of birth. Four of her brothers served in the Civil War. Alex- ander McBride died on his farm, aged 70 years. He was a member of the Christian Union Church. In politics he was a Democrat. Mrs. Peltier died November 18, 1887. She was a most worthy member of the United Brethren Church. The children born to our subject and wife were: A babe which died in infancy;
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Cora, born June 22, 1868, who married Rev. J. J. Richards, and at her death, September 22, 1897, left a son; H. M., born September 7, 1871 (a well known educator and one of Allen County's Board of School Examiners), who married Callie Baxter, a daughter of Levi Bax- ter; Nelson, born March 23, 1876 ( formerly a teacher, now a resident of Fort Wayne, In- diana), who married Nettie North of Van Wert, and has one daughter, Leah Janette; James, born December 14, 1880 (residing on the home farm and teaching the district school), who married, on August 16, 1905, May Ed- wards, of Delphos. Mr. Peltier has given his sons 80 acres of land, which they have divided among themselves.
Politically, Mr. Peltier is identified with the Republican party. In religious belief he is a Methodist and is a member of Morris Chapel. During the period of its building he was one of the trustees and is now a steward and class- leader. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic post, and to Hope Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M., both of Delphos.
J OSEPH HESLIP HARBISON. Among the honored residents of Spen- cerville, whose residence here for al- most a half century has been marked with uprightness of life and sterling business qualities, is Joseph Heslip Harbison, a worthy representative of a pioneer family of the State.
The earliest records of the family have been lost, but it can be traced three generations back, through the family Bible, to the time of the grandparents, who lived and died near a little village named Ballamany, in the North of Ire- land. The little home was the shelter of a large family, many sons and one daughter- the names of the sons that have been preserved were Mathew, John H. and Robert. The birth of the last named, who was the father of our subject, took place in Ireland, whence he came to America about the year 1780. He settled at Baltimore, Maryland, where he enter- ed into business as a flour merchant, and became
one of the prosperous men of his city. In the great panic of 1827 he, with many others who had been considered men of capital, lost all his possessions and in a short space of time was re- duced from affluence to poverty.
In this extremity Robert Harbison turned his thoughts to relatives who were of the same lineage, and were settled in the Western part of Pennsylvania. It became necessary to found a new home and it is possible that the first idea of Mr. Harbison was to locate with his rela- tives, but this plan was evidently abandoned. About 1830, with his wife and seven children, Mr. Harbison, with the family possessions. packed in wagons, left Baltimore and headed for the Western country. We may well be- lieve the month of journeying was a long and weary time, but without serious accident they finally arrived on the banks of Wills Creek, in Coshocton County, Ohio. Here Mr. Harbison took a life lease of his brother-in-law, Joseph Heslip, on some 80 or 100 acres of land in Lin- ton township, which had been originally enter- ed by his father-in-law. He did not live long enough, however, to develope this land or to place his family in comfortable circumstances. He was a soldier at North Point, in the War of 1812. His death took place December 1, 1833, and his wife survived him less than five years. Both were victims of consumption. Two of their children died in 1883, a son in February and a daughter in March.
Robert Harbison was married November 29, 1810, to Mary Heslip, whose death took place April 25, 1838. Her family were early settlers in Coshocton County, Ohio, where they owned vast tracts of land at one time. The children of this marriage were: Robert, Eliza Ann, Margaret, John Heslip, William, Susan, Mary, and Joseph Heslip, of Spencerville. The eldest son of the family was born May 1, 1812, and served in the Mexican War. He was on his way home when stricken with mortal illness and died at Cerralvo, Mexico, aged 35 yetrs and 23 days. Eliza Ann ( Platt) was born Sep -. tember 25, 1814, and died May 12, 1861. Margaret (McCune) was born December 27, 1817, and died December 27, 1865. Dr. John Heslip Harbison, a pioneer merchant and phy-
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sician, was born April 19, 1819, and died Feb- ruary 7, 1883, at Spencerville. He married Harriet Webb, sister of his business partner, and they had three sons and three daughters, two of the latter being twins, one of whom is Mrs. H. M. Ashton, wife of the postmaster at Spencerville, and the other, Kitty, is the wife of Dr. M. E. Renner, of Urbana, Indiana. William Harbison was born November 17, 1821, and died November 6, 1860, at Caledonia, Illinois. He married Harriet Cowgill; they are survived by a son and daughter-James and Mary. Susan (Julien) was born March 13, 1824, and died March 1, 1883, at Old Plain- field, Ohio, leaving no issue. Mary was born August 20, 1829, and died April 10, 1876. She first married J. C. Platt and was survived by a daughter, Luella, who is now deceased. Her second husband was a Mr. Ferguson.
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