USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio > Part 54
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
Upton Andress remained upon the home farm with his parents until six- teen years of age, when, thinking to find other pursuits more congenial, he began learning the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he worked for about eight years, but his ambition pointed to a professional career and he began reading law with David Fox and at once began practice. In this he has been very successful, having intrusted to him the largest amount of legal business of any man in Ashland county not admitted to the bar. He now has a good practice but never took the examination. He has practiced continuously in Hayesville since 1882 where he is also known as a general collector and successful insurance agent. He is likewise a stockholder in the Ashland Banking & Savings Company which he aided in organizing. He also owns the old Andress home- stead of one hundred and fifty-six acres a mile northeast of the town and which was once the property of his grandfather, Henry Andress.
On the 12th of April, 1888, Mr. Andress was married to Miss Myrtle E. Smalley, a native of this county, and a daughter of Methias Smalley, a wealthy farmer of Orange township. Her death occurred in 1902 and on the 28th of June, 1905, Mr. Andress wedded Millicent Coe, a native of Ashland county and a daughter of S. M. and Maria Coe. They have one son, Samuel Coe.
Mr. Andress has been called to settle many estates and altogether has been a most successful as well as most reliable man. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also to the Presbyterian church. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to office. For twelve years he served as mayor of Hayesville, being elected three terms without opposition, a compliment. that has been paid to no other man. His administration was characterized by a prompt and businesslike discharge of the duties of the office, together with the support of regulative and progressive measures which have been of the utmost value to the city. In 1905 he was chairman of the congressional convention at Mansfield and has been a delegate to many state conventions, while in 1904 he was a delegate to the national democratic convention at St. Louis which nomi- nated Parker. His words carry weight in the councils of his party and he is recognized as one of the influential representatives of democracy in this part of the state.
FRANK WILLIAM FREER.
Frank William Freer is largely identified with the commercial and financial interests of Ashland as a member of the firm of Freer Brothers, leading clothiers of this city, the firm being of thirty-five years standing during which time it has acquired a reputation in this particular line of business which has obtained throughout the country. He was born in Ashland March 5, 1855, a son of Randolph and Harriet A. (Smith) Freer, his father being a native of Ashtabula county. There he was reared and when still a young man, about the year 1849 or 1850, came to the city of Ashland, where he engaged in the hard- ware business. With this enterprise he was identified something over seven
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years when, desiring a broader commercial field in which to exercise his ability and gratify his ambitions, he disposed of the hardware business which he had established and began to deal in wool and grain, in which he met with success. After a few years his business had become so prosperous that he built a com- modious elevator and managed the enterprise with such skill and ability as to enable him to amass a considerable fortune. Finally he disposed of his interests and became identified with the First National Bank of this city shortly after the organization of that institution, and for several years officiated on the board of directors. In 1873, in partnership with a brother, Jonas, he organized the Farmers Bank of this city, of which he became president, the institution being one of the best known and most substantial in the state. In 1868, while in the midst of the pressure of his business affairs, Mr. Freer sought a season of recreation on one of his farms, but while there met with the misfortune of having one of his limbs amputated by a mowing machine, the injury resulting in a nervous shock which finally, in 1883, caused him to be stricken with paralysis. He then was compelled to withdraw from active life, upon which he transferred his banking interests to his sons. Aside from his excellent business career as a banker and promoter of commercial enterprises he was also prominent in local politics and for several years was a member of the city council, being recognized as foremost among the leaders in the city's advancement. Politically he was a stanch republican and an ardent advocate of party principles, never an office seeker, preferring to live within the retirement of private life. It
was only through his desire to become more efficient in adding to the city's progress that he consented to serve as a member of the council. As greatly interested in religious matters as in business, he was a member of the Presby- terian church, in which organization he was for many years a deacon. After a long and highly useful career death terminated his activities on July 21, 1884.
Frank William Freer was reared under the parental roof, acquiring his education in the Ashland schools and also in the college of this city, and subse- quently pursuing a commercial course of study at Iron City College, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated. Returning to Ashland in 1874, two years later he was established in the clothing business with his brother, Charles R., by his father, the firm being known as Freer & Sons, under which name the business has been conducted for the past thirty-five years. However, the enterprise is of far longer standing in this city, having been originally operated by Wiley, McCauley & Jones, from whom it was purchased by the elder Mr. Freer. Since taking hold of the enterprise the Freer Brothers have greatly added to its efficiency and volume of trade, and at present they hold the reputation of being the leading clothiers in this section of the country, the garments of their manufacture being known for style and workmanship through- out the country. Mr. Freer and his brothers, Charles and George, are still identified with the Farmers Bank as stockholders and directors, while George is cashier of the institution.
In 1879 Mr. Freer wedded Miss Flora G. Servis, of Canfield, Mahoning county, Ohio, to which union has been born one daughter, Minnie Louise, the wife of Roscoe S. Woodyard, of La Grange, Illinois. Mrs. Freer departed this
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
life August 8, 1883, and Mr. Freer was united in marriage July 29, 1890, to Miss Annie Secor, of Manistee, Michigan, by whom he has had three children : Ralph D., who attends the Ashland high school; Frank Secor; and Harriet. Mr. Freer is well known for his forwardness in advocating measures for the advance ment of the city's interests, and being a public-spirited man who desires th very best for the municipality in which he resides he is an influential member of the Commercial Club of Ashland, and also of the Board of Trade. Politically, he is a republican but has always declined to permit his name to be proposed for public preferment, being content with casting his vote and using his influence toward the election of the candidates of his party. Together with the members of his family he attends the Presbyterian church, his relations with this body being greatly to its benefit. A man of excellent character, Mr. Freer is known throughout the county as a representative citizen and substantial business man.
ALBERT BUTLER.
Albert Butler, who devoted his early life to the carpenter's trade but for many years has followed farming, now owns and cultivates one hundred acres of land on section 23. Lake township, and in his work displays the spirit of enterprise and determination that is leading him steadily onward to the goal of success. He was born April 3, 1852, in Holmes county, Ohio, a son of James and Mary (Ulrich) Butler, who were natives of Franklin county, Penn- sylvania. where they were reared and married. They arrived in Holmes county, Ohio. in 1842. and spent their remaining days there. The father was married twice and had ten children by his first union and eight by his second marriage. The father passed away in 1880 at the age of eighty years and his wife died in 1872. when fifty-six years of age.
Albert. Butler spent the first fifteen years of his life under the parental roof and then came to the neighborhood in which he is now living. Here he began earning his own livelihood. working by the month. He turned his at- tention to the carpenter's trade which he followed for several years but it was his ambition to own a farm and he very carefully saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to make the purchase of a tract of land. He has a farm of one hundred acres on section 23. Lake township, cornering also upon Holmes and Wayne counties. It was the last tract of land to be en- tered in this vicinity. It borders the State road leading from Cleveland to Columbus and is advantageously situated while the soil is rich and pro- ductive. The old Colonel Crawford trail also crosses this farm and the place has many historie associations. The land was entered from the government by George Wolf. the father-in-law of Mr. Butler, who. now has in his possession the original deed which was signed by President Jackson. Upon the place today are substantial buildings and all modern improvements, with good machinery. well kept fences and ample shelter for grain and stock. Mr. Butler annually harvests good erops for he pays much attention to the condition of the soil and carries on the work of plowing. planting and harvesting in the most approved modern methods.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
In 1879 Mr. Butler was united in marriage to Miss Rosanna Wolf, who was born on the present farm August 14, 1845, and has always made her home here. She is a daughter of George and Nancy (Gurwell) Wolf, the former born in Pennsylvania, December 17, 1795, and the latter in Maryland, Decem- ber 12, 1804. Mrs. Wolf came to Ohio with her parents, the family residence being established in Holmes county. Mr. Wolf also made his way to this state in childhood days in company with his parents who located in Ashland county. The marriage of George Wolf and Nancy Gurwell was celebrated on the 30th of December, 1824, and they spent their remaining days on the farm which is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Butler, his death occurring June 6, 1864, while his wife passed away May 4, 1889. The family numbered ten children : Solomon, deceased; Eliza, who died at the age of fourteen years; Jacob, who has passed away; William G., a resident of Seneca, Michigan; Mrs. Jemima Miller, deceased; Martin, who died in childhood; George of Montana; Helen, who de- parted this life in childhood; Mrs. Rachel Offineer, of Iowa; and Mrs. Butler. All were born and reared on the farm which is now occupied by our subject and his wife.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Butler has been blessed with four children: . Orpha M., now the wife of Ellis Aber, of Lake township; Harvey J., living in Wayne county; Emile L., at home; and Kate, the wife of Byron Metcalf, of Wayne county, Ohio. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Lakeville and reared their children in that faith. All of the family are now earnest supporters of the church and of all those measures and move- ments which are deemed essential in good citizenship. Mr. Butler votes independently, considering the capabilities of the candidate rather than his party affiliations. A life of intense and well directed activity has led Mr. Butler to his present position among the substantial residents of this part of the state. Starting out in life on his own account, empty-handed, when fifteen years of age he has since been dependent entirely upon his own resources and his unremitting industry and careful management have made him one of the representative farmers of the community, enjoying success which is the direct reward of earnest labor.
J. LEO HARTMAN.
J. Leo Hartman, one of the most successful educators in the county, now in charge of the Savannah schools which he has brought to a high state of per- fection, was born in Orange township, August 27, 1876, a son of Levi and Sarah (Fast) Hartman. His parents are still surviving, his father being one of the prominent and progressive agriculturists of that township. His mother, formerly Miss Sarah Fast, is a representative of a very old and influential family, the Fasts having been among the very early settlers of this county. His father was a teacher in the common schools for a period of twelve years, at the same time devoting the summer months to farming, to which he finally gave his entire attention. He is now numbered among the most extensive stock buyers and shippers in this part of the state.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
Upon his father's farm J. Leo Hartman was reared, acquiring his prelimi- nary education in the district schools and later pursuing a course of study in Savannah Academy. He completed his education at Wooster University, and in 1896 he began to teach school, being then but twenty years of age. Soon his ability became known and he was numbered among the efficient teachers of the county. For a period of three years his labors were confined to the district schools but afterward he became a teacher in the graded schools of Nankin, where he taught for three years and then spent three years in the schools at Polk, during which period he was instrumental in organizing the high school, which was a much needed and highly appreciated institution. In 1905 Mr. Hartman came to Savannah to take charge of the school system here and his work has been of such a high character and so beneficial to the entire school system that he has since been retained here continuously. Although he has gained the reputation of being one of the most efficient preceptors in the county he has by no means given up his desire for a still higher education and while he pursues his studies privately he also attends the summer normal school that he may keep abreast with the advanced ideas and methods pertaining to his vocation and make himself of still greater use in his chosen calling. Mr. Hartman holds a teacher's life certificate and for two years was president of the Ashland County Teachers Association, while at present he is secretary of the Ashland County branch of the Ohio Teachers Reading Circle.
Political matters command much of the attention of Mr. Hartman, who is a stanch supporter of the republican party, and at one time he served as a member of the republican county central committee. In 1908 he was nominated on the. republican ticket for the county clerkship, but the district being largely demo- cratic he was defeated although he made a splendid showing at the polls. He is among the progressive young men of the county and is always found favoring such measures as will in any way tend toward community advancement while as a church worker he is also held in high repute, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and superintendent of the Sunday school, while at the same time he takes an active part in all affairs pertaining to various departments of the denomination. His fraternal relations are confined to Ashland Lodge, No. 151, A. F. & A. M. Well known throughout the community in connection with political affairs and in whatever might advance the moral interests of the people, he is particularly well known as an educator, his ability in this line being widely recognized so that he is accounted among the strong men who are today handling the affairs of the school system of the county.
JAMES E. COVERT.
One of the beautiful country homes of the southeastern part of Ashland county is that owned and ocupied by James E. Covert, who in 1882 erected a fine residence upon his farm, which comprises one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 8, Lake township. The farm is equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences and presents a most attractive and pleasing appear-
MR. AND MRS. JAMES E. COVERT
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
ance. Upon this place Mr. Covert has lived continuously since 1855, when he came to this county with his parents as a little lad of eight years. He was born in Rochester, New York, on the 10th of July, 1847, and was the only child of John and Esther ( Hanby) Covert. The father's birth occurred in Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1817. He was a carpenter by trade and also worked in the cooper shop in Rochester. He possessed much natural mechanical skill and ability and could do almost anything in iron and wood work. In 1855, he brought his family from New York to Ohio, arriving on the 9th of November, at which time he took up his abode upon the farm which is now the home of his son James E. The family took possession of a little log cabin in which they lived exactly nine years when the father replaced the primi- tive structure by a modern farm dwelling. He purchased two hundred and twenty acres of land and in cultivating and improving this made it a valuable In addition to tilling the fields he also worked at the carpenter's property.
trade to some extent and operated a blacksmith shop on his own farm. On the 13th of May, 1844, he was united in marriage to Miss Esther Hanby, who was born in County Down, Ireland, July 10, 1824, and came to America in 1837 when thirteen years of age with her parents, the family home being established in Rochester, New York. She was the youngest of eleven children born unto
Patrick and Esther Hanby. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Covert visited Ash- land county, coming in 1839 with her brother, Thomas, who built the Rochester mill on Mohican creek in Lake township, this being the largest mill in the vicin- ity. It is still standng-a three-story building with three burrs that is not being operated at the present time. Following her marriage Mrs. Covert re- sided again in Rochester, New York, for a number of years and then with her husband and family once more took up her abode in Ashland county. She died January 25, 1887, while Mr. Covert passed away on the 13th of October, 1890. In his political belief he was a whig in early life, while subsequently he gave his support to the republican party. Both he and his wife were originally members of the Presbyterian church but after it was disbanded they joined the Reformed church in their home neighborhood and Mr. Covert served as one of its class leaders. They were worthy people, enjoying the warm regard and confidence of all with whom they came in contact, while the efforts and labors of Mr. Covert contributed in substantial measure to the growth and improvement of the county in agricultural and industrial lines.
James E. Covert was reared on the old home place where he has now resided for fifty-four years. He worked in the fields through the summer months, while the winter seasons were devoted to the acquirement of a public-school education. He also made substantial improvements upon the farm with the pas- sage of the years, erecting his present fine home, which contains twelve rooms, in 1882. It is conveniently arranged and comfortably furnished, and is one of the fine farm houses in this part of the county. His place comprises one hun- dred and eighty acres of rich and productive land on section 8, Lake township, for he has sold off forty acres of the original tract. A large barn upon the place was built by his father in 1868. £ The fields are well tilled and he annually gathers good crops, while from his fine orchard he reaps a substantial harvest of apples, peaches and pears.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
On the 17th of December, 1874,Mr. Covert was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Hannan, who was born in Lake township, October 18, 1855, a daughter of William and Martha (Sowards) Hannan. The mother died when her daughter was a little girl and the father afterward wedded Mary Goodal and fol- lowing her demise married Anna Mary Sowards, a sister of his first wife. The death of Mrs. Covert occurred April 28, 1899, and was deeply regretted by her many friends for she had ever displayed sterling traits of character that en- deared her to those with whom she came in contact. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Covert were born five children : Walter, who died in infancy; Nellie Irene, the wife of Frank Kilaver, of Green township, by whom she has one child; Robert Roy of Nashville, Ohio; Esther Elizabeth, at home; and Martha L., the wife of Hayes Baxter.
Mr. Covert gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a citizen of progressive spirit, loyal to the best interests of the community. In the fifty-four years which have come and gone since he lived in the county he has been an interested witness of its upbuilding and progress and has been a factor in the changes which have been wrought in Lake township. In his farm work he is energetic and persistent, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
ELMER SHOEMAKER.
Elmer Shoemaker, progressive and prosperous, is now well known as a res- taurant proprietor and confectioner of Ashland and is a worthy representative of the commercial interests of the city. He was here born August 12, 1862, and is the oldest of the four children of John and Nancy (Heiffner) Shoemaker, both of whom were natives of this state. The father entered business life as a miller in Ashland and continued in the same line until he lost his eyesight in 1904, when he retired. He has always lived a quiet home life and his unassum- ing manner and sterling worth have gained for him the respect and good will of those with whom he has come in contact. In addition to the subject of this review the members of his household were: Marion, who was born in 1864; Lodema, who was born in 1867 and died in 1907; and Mrs. Grace Owens, born in 1871.
In taking up the personal history of Elmer Shoemaker we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Ashland where he has spent his entire life. At the usual age he entered the public schools, mastered the branches of learning taught in successive grades and when he had put aside his text-books he became connected with photography and was associated with that art until 1904. He then opened the finest restaurant and candy kitchen in the city of Ashland and has continued in the business to the present time. He manufactures a portion of the confectionery used and all of the ice cream and he has an extensive family trade. He also manufactures syrups for his large soda fountain trade and is recognized as the leader in his line of business in Ashland, having an extensive patronage, his business having
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
increased more than threefold in the last four years. He is always courteous to his patrons and his reasonable prices and straightforward business methods also constitute features in his growing success.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Shoemaker was married April 8, 1908, to Miss Hattie Shaffer, a daughter of Henry and Sarah Shaffer of Ashland. Politically Mr. Shoemaker is a democrat, and in 1907 was elected city treasurer and received endorsement of his services in reelection for a second term, so that he is now acting in this capacity. His fraternal relations are with the Masons and Knights of Pythias, and his religious faith is evident in his membership in the Methodist church. That many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood up to the present time is an indication that his has been an honorable and upright career, meriting the good will and esteem of those who know him.
JAMES C. FARQUHARSON.
James C. Farquharson, who is largely interested in lumber and milling interests throughout several counties in this part of the state and who is now residing in Savannah, which he makes his business center, was born here April 18, 1860, a son of Robert and Jessie (Berry) Farquharson, natives of Aberdeen- shire, Scotland, who came to this country with their children, Andrew, Robert and Jessie, about the year 1854, first settling at New London, Ohio. The mem- bers of. the family being affiliated with the United Presbyterian church, remained there but a brief period and then removed to Savannah that they might enjoy the privileges of their denominational faith in this place. Nine children of a family of twelve were all born in this city, where the father departed this life in 1876 while his wife is still living at the advanced age of eighty-one years. He was a shoemaker by trade and plied his craft here until death terminated his activities. He was a man whose excellent qualities of character gained him high standing in the community and his high sense of moral duty enabled him to wield a telling influence for good among those with whom he came in contact. Of their twelve children eight are now surviving.
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