USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio > Part 46
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GEORGE JUDSON MITCHELSON.
George Judson Mitchelson, devoting his life to the cause of education, in which connection he is doing a good work in developing and preparing the minds of the younger generation for the responsible and practical duties of life, is now occupying the office of superintendent of the Nankin schools, to which position he has recently been reelected for another term of two years. A native of Ashland county, where almost his entire life has been spent, he was born in Jackson township, April 19, 1874, a son of Benjamin and Rebecca (Matthews) Mitchelson, natives of Wayne and Ashland counties respectively. The former came to Ashland county about the year 1852 and has since devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. His wife, however, passed away February 11, 1908.
Reared on his father's farm, George Judson Mitchelson acquired his early education in the district schools and later attended the Polk high school. He supplemented his preparatory work by one year's work in Ashland College and for three years attended the Wooster University summer school. Thus well
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equipped, he took up the profession of teaching as a life work and remained for eight years as a teacher in the district schools, while in 1903 he removed to Nankin where he taught for three years, after which he spent one year as a teacher in the Polk high school. In 1906 he was appointed by the board of education to the superintendency of the Nankin schools and has since occupied this position, having recently been reelected by the board for two more years. A man of fine physical, mental and moral strength, Mr. Mitchelson is peculiarly well fitted for a profession that is conceded to be one of the most important to which a man may devote his time and energies, and in his chosen calling he has become recognized as one of the successful and progressive educators of his section of the county. He keeps in touch with the great forward movements along educational lines through his membership in the National Teachers Asso- ciation, the Ohio Teachers Federation and the Ohio Teachers Reading Circle, while he keeps abreast of the modern ideas and methods being continuously introduced in this line of activity. His ability and true worth, combined with a pleasing personality, make him popular alike with pupils and patrons, and that his work is receiving the endorsement of the community is indicated by the fact that for five years he has been a member of the county board of examiners, while he enjoys the confidence of teachers and all interested in the public-school system. He holds a five years' high school certificate.
On the 20th of August, 1902, Mr. Mitchelson was married to Miss Mary Young, a daughter of Frank and Ellen (Brillhart) Young, of Stark county, Ohio. The father is a commercial traveler and also engages in agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchelson have become the parents of one daughter, Opal Evangeline. A woman of refined and cultivated tastes, Mrs. Mitchelson is an excellent companion for her husband, in whose educational work she deeply sympathizes, while both are active and helpful members in the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Mitchelson also taking much interest in the work of the Sunday school. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, and while not active in political matters nor desirous of public office, he nevertheless keeps well informed upon all questions of vital importance to the community in which he lives and the country at large. Mr. Mitchelson is fond of athletics and finds needed rest and recreation from the daily routine of hard mental work in occasional hunting and fishing trips.
WILBERT TILTON.
Wilbert Tilton, a representative agriculturist and well known citizen of Orange township, is a native of Ashland county, having been born in this township on the 3d of September, 1850, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Tilton. The first representatives in America of both the Tilton and Ramsey families came from Ireland and were numbered among the industrious and frugal pioneers whose labors contributed so much toward the early development of this county. They cleared the land of the timber and as time passed developed good farms, becoming prosperous and substantial citizens.
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Wilbert Tilton attended the district schools in the acquirement of an educa- tion and grew to manhood on his father's farm, early receiving practical train- ing in the best methods of tilling the soil and converting the fields into a pro- ductive tract of land, bringing forth rich harvests. Throughout his active business career he has been identified with farming interests, his well directed energy and untiring industry being rewarded by a creditable and gratifying measure of success.
On the 25th of November, 1871, Mr. Tilton was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Countryman, a daughter of Christian and Barbara (Kline) Country- man. Her father came to this county from Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1846, became a prosperous agriculturist of Perry township and was a man of prominence and influence in the community. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tilton have been born two children, namely: Frances L., now the wife of William Kelley ; and John C., who assists his father in the conduct of the home place and is widely recognized as a progressive young farmer. He wedded Miss Bessie Lovering, a daughter of Joseph B. and Rilin (Lutz) Lovering.
Mr. Tilton exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy but has never sought office as a reward for party fealty, his official career having been limited to two terms' service as a member of the township school board. He is a most loyal and public-spirited citizen, ever giving his aid and influence on the side of progress and improvement. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, having been a consistent and devoted member of that church for many years. Both he and his wife have an extensive circle of friends throughout the county in which they have spent their entire lives, their many excellent traits of heart and mind having won them the kindly regard of all with whom they have come in contact.
JACOB FRIDLINE, M. D.
Dr. Jacob Fridline, a well known representative of the medical profession in Ashland, having for thirteen years engaged in active practice as a physician and surgeon of this city, was born in Ashland county on the 21st of October, 1863, his parents being Ludwick and Elizabeth (Boffenmyre) Fridline, the former a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of what is now Ashland county, Ohio, but was then a part of Wayne county. The grandfather, Conrad Fridline, became a resident of that section of Wayne county which is now included in Ashland county in the year 1821. It was largely an unimproved district, giving little evidence of settlement by the white race. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Perry township, the deed signed by James Monroe, then president of the United States. With characteristic energy he began the development of the fields and continued to make his home upon that farm until his death, when it became the property of his son, Ludwick Fridline, who spent almost his entire life upon that farm. As the years passed he devoted his energies to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and for many years was a leading agriculturist of the community. He
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died March 1, 1907, in his eighty-sixth year, while his widow still survives in her seventieth year and yet resides on the old Fridline homestead, which is still in the possession of the family, but one deed ever having been recorded and that to indicate the transfer of the property from the government to the grandfather.
It was upon the old homestead farm that Dr. Fridline was reared and he early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. In his youthful days he attended the district schools and in order to acquire a more advanced education he entered Wooster University, where he spent five years as a student. Before taking up his university work, however, he taught school for a time and thus earned the funds necessary to meet his tuition. While a university student he devoted the summer months to cultivating one of the three farms belonging to his father. Soon after the completion of his university course he supplemented his literary education by preparation for the practice of medicine, entering the Western Reserve Medical College at Cleveland, from which he was graduated in the class of 1896. Imme- diately afterward he located in Ashland and has since been connected with this calling, making steady progress in professional lines. For two years he practiced in partnership with Dr. L. B. Ash and since that time he has been alone, enjoying gratifying success in his chosen field of labor. He is a skillful practitioner and keeps in touch with the advance of the profession, knowing that investigation is continually bringing to light new ideas concerning the causes of disease and the methods of its treatment. . He belongs to the Ashland County Medical Society and enjoys the entire respect of his fellow practitioners because of his close conformity to a high standard of professional ethics.
In 1897 Dr. Fridline was married to Miss Anna Delsher, of Ashland, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Humes) Delsher. They now have one son, G. Delsher. Dr. Fridline is a member of Mohican Lodge, No. 85, of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Follows, and is also a member of Ashland Canton, No. 41. He is likewise connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and is a member of the Knights of Maccabees, being in hearty sympathy with the beneficent principles which underlie these organizations. In politics Dr. Fridline is a republican, interested in the growth and success of the party. He is one of the directors of the Ashland Board of Trade and one of the leaders in every move- ment pertaining to the good of the community, withholding his support from no measure which he believes will prove of substantial benefit in promoting the interests and upbuilding of his adopted city.
JOHN W. HARPER.
There are few men of his years-for he has now reached the age of eighty years-who displays such activity and energy as does John W. Harper who in appearance seems twenty years younger. He was born on his present home farm January 24, 1829, his parents being John and Eva (Friend) Harper, who were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively. When a young man the father accompanied his parents on their removal to Jefferson county,
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J: W. HARPER, AT EIGHTY YEARS OF AGE
J. W. HARPER, AT THIRTY-TWO YEARS OF AGE
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Ohio, where he was married and in 1816 came with his bride to the farm which has since been the family homestead. Upon that place the worthy couple spent their remaining days, the death of Mr. Harper occurring in 1880, when he had reached the venerable age of ninety years, while his wife passed away in 1873, at the age of seventy-four years. He always followed farming and was not only an interested witness of the changes which were wrought in pioneer times, but also aided in bringing about the development which was an import- ant factor in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present progress and prosperity of the county. His father, William Harper, was born in Virginia, of Scotch parentage. He died on the farm now owned by our subject, April 5, 1832, at the age of sixty-eight years, and his wife passed away August 2, 1859, at the age of ninety-six years.
The family of John and Eva (Friend) Harper numbered ten children; Eliza, who died at the age of eight years; Thomas and William, both deceased; Nancy, the deceased wife of John Grabel; Sarah, the deceased wife of D. E. Webster; Deliah, the deceased wife of David Myers; Mary, who married James Stafford and resides near Finley, Ohio; John W., of this review; Daniel, de- ceased; and Eva, who passed away in infancy.
John W. Harper can remember a time when there were still many log cabins in this part of the state and when considerable tracts of primeval forest still stood, engaging in the work of civilization and improvement which had recently been begun. He shared with the family in all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life and when still in his boyhood days became a factor in the work of the fields, assisting more and more largely in the tasks which con- verted the wild land into productive fields, annually bringing forth good crops. Throughout his entire life he has carried on general farming and has always resided on the old homestead with the exception of six or seven years in early manhood. Five years were spent in clerking in Hayesville and two years in the west, but in 1860 he began farming on this place in connection with his brother Daniel and in 1870 he purchased the property comprising two hundred and twenty-six acres on sections 9 and 10, Vermillion township, covering the southwest quarter of section 10 and sixty-six acres on section 9. This place was secured by the father and grandfather as military and school land and they settled upon it on the 17th day of May, 1816. This farm has never been owned by white men, save by John W. Harper and his father and grand- father. The father later purchased the sixty-six acres adjoining on section 9 and a tract of two hundred and twenty acres was cleared and put under cultiva- tion by the father and his son John and the present good buildings were erected by the latter. Everything about the place is kept in good condition, the farm presenting a very attractive appearance.
Mr. Harper has never married and when he returned to the farm to take care of his aged parents he had to employ help to do the house work. When he bought the farm in 1870 Miss Amanda Johnston came to work for him. She was at that time a young lady of twenty years and she remained in the family for nearly forty years, dying at the home of Mr. Harper in July, 1907. As the years went by she reared two young girls, Anna Abrams, who became a mem- ber of the household at the age of eight years, and Ethel Emminger, when three
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years old. They are now young ladies and remain upon the farm caring for the household for Mr. Harper. They, as well as Miss Johnston, have always been considered members of the family.
In his political views Mr. Harper has been a life long republican, casting his ballot for John C. Fremont and for each successive candidate since that time. He has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs which he is managing with signal success. He is widely known in the county where almost his entire life has been passed and where his substantial qualities have gained him the respect and regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
JACOB O. JENNINGS.
Jacob O. Jennings has the dual distinction of being the oldest living resident of the city of Ashland, and president of the First National Bank, one of the most considerable institutions in the state. He was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1819, and has therefore attained the advanced age of ninety years. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Jennings. His father was in all probability a native of New Jersey, while his mother, who was of Dutch lineage, was born in Pennsylvania, where her people settled at an early date. In 1833, when Jacob O. Jennings was about fourteen years old, his mother, with him and an older half brother, came to Ohio, settling on a farm in' what is now Perry township, this county, then a part of Wayne county, thence removing to Wayne county. After a sojourn there of about one year Jacob O. Jennings left the farm and took a position in a country store at Rowsburg, remaining there for about one year when he accepted employment in a general merchandise establishment at Jeromesville, clerking there for a few months and then removing to Wooster, Ohio, where he performed clerical duties in a general store for about three years. At the expiration of that period he removed to Loudonville where he acted as clerk from 1838 to 1842, finally returning to Jeromesville, where during the following year he was united in marriage. In 1845 Ashland county was incorporated and Mr. Jennings was appointed clerk of courts in the spring of 1847. There he retained his residence until 1849 or 1850, when with his wife and two children he removed to this city, where he has since lived continuously.
In 1852 when the private bank of Luther, Crall & Company was organized here Mr. Jennings was made cashier, and when the institution was incorporated in 1864 as the First National Bank he continued to perform his duties as cashier of the reorganized establishment, remaining in that position until the withdrawal of its president, Mr. Lucas, from partnership, at which time Mr. Jennings was elected president, in which responsible position he has since been serving. He is a man of excellent business judgment, thoroughly acquainted with all phases of the financial situation, and not only his institution but also the entire com- munity has been benefitted by his labors.
JOHN HARPER
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On November 7, 1843, Mr. Jennings was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Chappel, of Loudonville, a daughter of Caleb Chappel, who came to these parts at an early date from New England. To this union were born three children, all of whom are deceased, namely : Wayland C., whose demise was caused by a wound received at Hatchers Run, Virginia, during the Civil war; Arthur, who departed this life in his fourth year; and Ware, who passed away in his twenty-first year, while a student at the University of Michigan. Their mother entered into rest in September of the year 1856. In January, 1858, Mr. Jennings wedded Miss Mary E. Sloan, a native of this city, who passed away on May 9, 1885.
In politics Mr. Jennings is a republican, and early in life he took consider- able interest in the affairs of his party. While he is interested to the extent of using his vote and influence in behalf of the candidates of his party he has not entertained ambitions to hold public office. He has been very influential in religious circles. He united with the Presbyterian church in January, 1857, but sometime during the '80s he withdrew his membership from that denomina- tion and in company with others formed the Congregational church and was instrumental in having a church edifice constructed. Of the new body he was an active supporter and for many years served as a member of the official board, having also officiated as a deacon. He has an excellent business record, being one of the most prominent financial factors of the community, and his transactions always having been conducted on the basis of honesty he is rightly numbered among Ashland's influential and substantial men.
GEORGE W. JACOBY, M. D.
Among the younger men devoting their talents to the practice of medicine is George W. Jacoby, who is practicing his profession successfully in Savannah, his knowledge of materia medica and his skill in surgery rapidly gaining for him extensive patronage and during the few years he has been practicing medicine here he has been favored with a liberal patronage. A native son of the county, his birth occurred in Polk, October 23, 1880, his parents being John C. and Martha (McCarty) Jacoby, also natives of this county. His father, who for a number of years was in the mercantile and milling business, is now con- nected with manufacturing enterprises in Cleveland, Ohio, while the family home is in Ashland, Ohio.
The public schools of Ashland afforded Dr. Jacoby his preliminary educa- tion and his first step in the business world was that of a clerk in his father's store in this city, in which he was employed for a time. He then continued his studies in Poughkeepsie Military Institute, later becoming a student at the Hudson River Military Institute, from which he was graduated. Having a desire to adopt the practice of medicine as his life's calling, he was entered as a student at the Ohio Medical College, at Columbus, where he pursued a complete course of study and was graduated in the class of 1905. During the period of his medical instruction he was associated with Dr. W. U. Cole, an eminent
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physician and surgeon, and under his preceptorship he acquired much practical surgical experience, the benefit of which he now enjoys. Immediately upon being graduated he came to Savannah, establishing himself as a physician and surgeon, and has since, by his earnestness and attentiveness to his patients, won the confidence and esteem of the residents of the city and surrounding country and acquired a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Jacoby has a splendidly equipped office, provided with all of the scientific apparatus necessary to the practice of the various departments of medicine and surgery and is rapidly becoming widely known for his success and skill in performing difficult operations.
On October 22, 1907, Dr. Jacoby was united in marriage to Miss Frances Troxel, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Rudy) Troxel, her father being a prosperous agriculturalists of this county. They have one child, Kenneth O. Politically Dr. Jacoby is a democrat and, being a public spirited man, has favored every movement designed for the betterment of the municipality. He has been influential throughout the city in lending his aid to all measures de- signed to elevate his fellowmen morally, mentally and physically. He is a member of the Alpha Kappa Kappa, a medical society of the Ohio Medical College, and frequently reads excellently prepared and learned papers before its meetings and those of kindred associations. He is a deep student as well as a skillful practitioner and makes it a point to keep abreast with the age in all branches of study pertaining to his profession and has attained to a high point of medical learning. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs and both, being possessed of friendly qualities, are leading. factors in the social life of the city. During his college days the Doctor actively participated in various games, particularly baseball, football and polo and in these sports, being still enthusiastic, he finds recreation while at the same time he enjoys hunting and fishing and is a strong advocate of clean and manly sports of all kinds.
JOSHUA BOWMAN.
Joshua Bowman, still residing on the farm where his birth occurred and which has remained his home throughout his long and useful career, is numbered among the worthy native sons of Orange township, Ashland county, his natal day being November 13, 1823. His parents, John and Catherine (Altman) Bowman, made their way from Fayette county, Pennsylvania, to this county at a very early day, taking up their abode in Orange township when this section of the state was entirely covered with timber and but sparsely settled. With undaunted and determined spirit, however, they set about the task of establishing a home in this pioneer region, where they continued to reside until called to their final rest, their labors proving an important element in the work of early development and upbuilding here. From that early period in the county's history to the present time the name of Bowman has ever been a synonym for
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all that is honorable in every relation of life, standing for industry, honesty and uprightness.
On the 16th of April, 1852, Joshua Bowman was united in marriage to Miss Agnes McFadden, a daughter of Edward and Agnes (Smith) McFadden, who removed from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, to Wayne county, Ohio, and soon afterward came to Orange township, casting in their lot with the early pioneer settlers of this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have been born two sons: Emory, a grain and hay dealer of Polk, who is likewise an extensive landowner ; and Tully, who lives on the farm of his father.
Joshua Bowman and his wife began their domestic life upon the original Bowman farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres in Orange township, and here they have since remained in contented and happy companionship, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years have gone by. For many years they have been consistent and faithful members of the Presbyterian church the teachings of which they exemplify in their daily lives. The highest testimonial to their well spent and upright lives is found in the respect, admira- tion and honor which are uniformly accorded them by their associates and friends. Moreover, they have witnessed the transformation of this part of the state from a wild and unsettled region into a rich agricultural district, teeming with all the evidences of an advanced civilization, and can tell of many hardships and privations endured by the early settlers in their efforts to bring about this wonderful change.
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