USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio > Part 60
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Monroe county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moffett have been born six children, namely : Joshua, Margaret A., Elsie A., Edith M., Wilbert P. and Annabelle.
Politically Mr. Moffett is a stalwart republican and has served as school director in both Monroe and Ashland counties, the cause of public instruction finding in him a warm friend. He is a public-spirited citizen whose support can be counted upon to further any movement or measure instituted to advance the general good and is a strong champion of all that tends to develop the com- munity along material, intellectual and moral lines. The members of his family belong to the Disciple church, in which he has been an active Sunday school worker and is now serving as elder. In their attractive home Mr. and Mrs. Moffett dispense a pleasing and gracious hospitality to their extensive circle of friends, who esteem them highly because of their many excellent traits of heart and mind.
GEORGE M. HEFFELFINGER.
More than a century ago George Washington said that, "agriculture is the. most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man." It is a well known fact that it is the basis of all prosperity for if crops are not abundant depression follows in all lines of trade. Upon the farmer, therefore, depends the growth and prosperity of the country at large. George M. Heffelfinger is among those who have done much to promote agricultural progress in this section of Ohio. He now owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, constituting the southwest quarter of section 4, Lake township, and pleasantly situated a mile south of McZena. His birth occurred in Washington township, Holmes county, Ohio, April 12, 1861. He was the eldest of a family of nine children whose parents were George and Solome (Wenner) Heffelfinger, natives of Alsace, France. The other sons and daughters of the household are as follows: Barney, living in Hanover township; Charles A., whose home is in Washington township, Holmes county ; Henry ; Minnie, the wife of John Snively ; Anna, the wife of Charles Arnholt, of Loudonville; Alice, who is living with her mother ; and Joseph and Fred who are upon the home farm in Washington township.
Working in the fields through the summer months and attending the district schools in the winter seasons George M. Heffelfinger thus spent his boyhood days and gained that practical experience which qualified him for carrying on farm- ing on his own account. He resided in the place of his nativity until he pur- chased his present farm in 1900. It has since been his home and indicates in its well kept premises the care and labor which he bestows upon it. The fields
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are richly cultivated and in the midst of the former stands a fine residence and commodious outbuildings, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. In 1901 he erected a large bank barn, thirty-six by ninety-one feet and the other buildings upon his place are equally substantial. He gives his attention to general farming and stock raising and his success follows as the logical sequence of his industry and perseverance. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of Loudonville and is regarded as a man of good business judgment and unfaltering enterprise.
In 1885 Mr. Heffelfinger was married to Miss Anna Hyde, who was born in Knox township, Holmes county, Ohio, May 30, 1862, and was a daughter of Frederick and Katharine (Myers) Hyde, who were natives of Alsace, France. The mother arrived in Ohio at the age of seventeen years, while the father was brought to the United States by his parents when three years of age. They are still residents of Knox township, Holmes county. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Heffelfinger has been blessed with two children: Clarence Earl and Ada Florence.
Mr. Heffelfinger is a member of the Trinity Evangelical church of London- ville and is interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of his community. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he is serving for the seventh consecutive year as trustee of Lake township, having first been appointed to fill a vacancy while twice he has been elected to fill the office. He is connected with the Patrons of Industry and is interested in all those things which are factors in the upbuilding and develop- ment of the community. He stands as one of the representative agriculturists of Lake township, meeting with well merited success, owing to his unflagging industry and perseverance.
JOHN E. SPRENG.
John E. Spreng, who has charge of the billing department of the F. E. Myers & Brother Machine Shops and who deserves honorable mention as an able business man of Ashland, was born in Wayne county, February 3, 1856, a son of Christian and Julia (Grimm) Spreng, his father a native of Alsace, Germany, and his mother of Bavaria. The former came to this country with his parents when he was sixteen years of age and the latter with her parents when she was in her ninth year, both families locating in Wayne county. where Christian Spreng was united in marriage. Subsequently he and his wife removed to Clinton township, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and thence went to Congress township, then to Akron, Ohio, where they spent six years, and thence to Naperville, Illinois, where they spent their remaining days, Mr. Spreng entering into rest February 22, 1908, in his ninety-first year, while his wife passed away in 1899 at the age of seventy-seven years. He supported the republican party but he never aspired to hold public office. Both he and his wife, being of a literary turn of mind, were broad readers of general literature and were thoroughly informed upon a wide range of subjects. They were faith-
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ful and zealous members of the Evangelical Association, endeavoring to live up to the highest moral and spiritual standard.
John E. Spreng pursued his early studies in the schools of his birthplace, subsequently completing a course in the West Salem high school, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1879. £ He also attended the Miami Business College, at Dayton, Ohio, after which he located in Akron, where for nine years he was a clerk in a mercantile establishment. £ Resigning his position in 1889 he immediately came to Ashland, where he entered the employ of F. E. Myers & Brother in a clerical capacity, performing his duties efficiently for two years, at the expiration of which period he was placed in charge of the billing department of the concern, the duties of which office he has since been performing.
On February 2, 1888, Mr. Spreng was united in marriage to Miss Savilla E. Myers, daughter of George Myers, of this city, and this union has been blessed with five children, namely: Julia Marie, member of the Ashland Musical Club, is organist of the Christian church and resides with her parents. Warren Myers, a pupil at the high school, will later be matriculated as a student in Northwestern College at Naperville, Illinois. The others are, Esther Pauline, deceased, Catherine Elizabeth and Virginia Rosalie. Mr. Spreng belongs to Ashland Lodge, No. 151, A. F. & A. M. and is also a member of the Colonial Club, of this city. He is a man whose genial disposition has surrounded him with a host of friends and whose business ability has enabled him to place himself in comfortable circumstances. He justly merits the reputation of being among the foremost commercial leaders of the city.
JUSTUS FOX.
Justus Fox, a prosperous and enterprising farmer and stock raiser of Montgomery township, was born in Hayesville, Ashland county, Ohio, on the 3d of November, 1854, a son of Frederick Fox. He acquired his education in the district schools and in 1880 started out in business life by working farms on shares. In 1888 he purchased his first farm, comprising a tract of eighty acres, to which he later added twenty acres and two years afterward bought sixty acres more. In 1904 he still further increased his holdings by a purchase of seventy-four acres and is now the owner of two hundred and thirty-four acres of rich, productive and valuable Ohio land. His time and energies are devoted to general farming and the raising of stock, especially horses, and in all of his undertakings he has gained a measure of success which entitles him to recognition among the most substantial, representative and progressive agricul- turists of his native county. He belongs to that class of self-made men who are the architects and builders of their own fortunes, for since starting out in life on his own account he has worked his way steadily upward, realizing that untir- ing labor is the basis of all success.
On the 6th of September, 1885, Mr. Fox was united in marriage to Miss Anise B. Stoner, whose birth occurred in 1863. Unto them have been born the
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following children : Effie M., Mary Lorella, Charles J., Blanch Esther, Florence Ellen and Dora L., all of whom were educated in Ashland. Charles J. Fox attended the Columbus Agricultural College for one winter.
In his political views Mr. Fox is a stalwart democrat, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Brethren church of Ashland. He is a quiet, home loving man, dividing his time between his family and business and takes great delight in adding to the comfort and welfare of his wife and children. He has been a resident of the county from his birth to the present time and has progressed with its development and growth, while in agricultural circles he now occupies a prominent place.
WILLIAM E. DONLEY.
William E. Donley, a representative and prosperous farmer and stock breeder of Orange township, has always resided on the farm in this township which was entered by his grandfather from the government in 1816. He was born on the 24th of February, 1852, a son of John and Sarah Ann ( Alberson) Donley. As stated, in 1816 the paternal grandfather, Thomas Donley, made his way from Pennsylvania to Ashland county, Ohio, and entered a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, which has continuously remained in possession of the family to the present time. He erected a little cabin home and then re- turned to the Keystone state for his wife and children, bringing them to this county in the spring of 1817. They reached their destination in March of that year and on the day following their arrival, March 20, the birth of John Donley, the father of William E. Donley, occurred. In early manhood Thomas Donley had wedded Miss Susan Urey and unto them were born the following children : Elizabeth, John, Samuel, Thomas, Susan, Mary Jane, David, and James. All were reared to manhood and womanhood in Ashland county and became active and prominent in the early development and upbuilding of the community. Thomas Donley, the grandfather, was called to his final rest in 1850, having survived his wife for several years. Like his father, John Donley became a helpful and influential factor in the affairs of the county and was highly es- teemed and respected by all. His demise occurred on the 26th of June, 1880, while his wife passed away November 21, 1887. Unto this worthy couple were born eight children, namely : Thomas C., Susan, Frances, William E., Mary J., Rachel, Elizabeth and Clara. All are living with the exception of the two last named.
William E. Donley was reared to manhood on the home farm and when not busy with his text-books assisted in the labor of the fields, thus early becoming familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His prelimi- nary education, obtained in the common schools of his native township, was supplemented by a course in Savannah Academy. Subsequent to the death of his father he came into possession of the homestead property and intends that it shall continue to be his place of abode throughout the remainder of his days. He has never left the farm for more than three weeks at a time and his has
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been a useful and busy life, devoted to the pursuits of agriculture and stock- raising. He is a breeder of thoroughbred Jersey cattle and registered Delaine sheep and is a recognized authority on the subject of high grade stock. In all of his undertakings he has gained a gratifying and well merited degree of prosperity and has long been numbered among the energetic, progressive and substantial agriculturists of his native county.
On the 5th of October, 1880, Mr. Donley was united in marriage to Miss Ella Ford, a daughter of Laban and Sarah (Pollock) Ford and a representative of a prominent and well known family of Ruggles township. Mr. Ford, who followed farming as a life work, passed away in July, 1906, while his widow still survives, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Donley. The latter has become the mother of six children, as follows: Bentley F., Mary L., the wife of Dr. Earl Roseberry; Edwin S .; Sarah, a successful school teacher; Clara and Ruth.
Politically Mr. Donley is a stanch republican and has served for years as a member of the board of education, the cause of public instruction finding in him a strong champion. He is an advocate of all public improvements tending to promote the material, intellectual and moral advancement of the community and is a most public-spirited and enterprising citizen. He and his family are faithful members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part. They are widely known and highly esteemed and their attractive home is a favorite resort with many of their friends.
CORNELIUS BRUBAKER.
Cornelius Brubaker, who is making a success in life as a farmer and stock dealer, to which occupation he has devoted his entire life, was born in Montgomery township, July 13, 1858. Reared under the parental roof, he acquired his education in the district schools and early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the farm lad. As the years passed and his strength increased he assisted more and more largely in the work of the fields, and when he at length laid aside his text-books he devoted himself entirely to this line of activity. He owns a fine farm of fifty acres of rich land two and a half miles from the city of Ashland, and here he carries on general agricul- tural pursuits, while for the past eleven years he has given much of his time to buying, selling and shipping stock in connection with his other interests. With the exception of a small start in the beginning of his business career, he has made his own way in life and has met with excellent success that now places him among the prosperous and representative agriculturists of the community.
On December 20, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brubaker and Miss Emma Hoover, a daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth Hoover. They have one son, Leroy Brubaker, who received his education in the district schools and is being reared to farm life, assisting his father in his agricultural interests. Mr. Brubaker gives his political support to the democratic party, and although he has never sought nor desired office, he uses his influence at the polls in behalf
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of the candidates of his party. He is a public-spirited gentleman, and al- though his private business interests demand his time and attention, yet he is in hearty sympathy with and lends his cooperation to all movements and meas- ures that have for their object the substantial and permanent upbuilding of the community. Personally his undustry and perseverance have won him an enviable place among the agriculturists of the community and his business in- tegrity and true worth of character have gained him many friends who enter- tain for him warm regard.
ALLEN THOMAS.
Allen Thomas, who exerts a telling influence in the commercial life of Ashland, as a member of the firm of Thomas, Myers & Wolf, lumber merchants, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 4, 1852, a son of John and Nancy (Piper) Thomas. natives of the Keystone state, who in childhood went with their parents to Wayne county where they were united in marriage, in 1862 removing to Ashland county, one year later permanently settling on a farm in Montgomery township where they spent their remaining days, Mr. Thomas departing this life in 1904, at the age of eighty-three years, while his wife, at the age of seventy- four years, entered into rest in 1899. Mr. Thomas was a republican in politics, loyal to his party throughout his life, and both he and his wife were faithful adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Allen Thomas spent his boyhood and youth at home under the attentive supervision of his parents, acquiring his education in the district schools. In the year 1875, leaving the parental roof, he began his business career, establishing himself in the stove and tinware business in partnership with James Pollick under the firm name of Thomas & Pollick, conducting the enterprise in this city. One year after the business had been founded Mr. Pollick disposed of his interest to Mr. Grindle, a new partnership being then formed and the business ran along smoothly for one year when their establishment was destroyed by fire. Mr. Thomas and his partner then engaged in the restaurant business for one year, at the termination of which time Mr. Grindle sold his interest to Mr. Reep. with whom Mr. Thomas conducted the business for six years under the firm name of Thomas & Reep, when again Mr. Thomas met with the misfortune of having his establishment destroyed by fire. Associated with his partner he rebuilt and started a grocery and queensware business, which they conducted success- fully for eleven years, selling out in 1894. They next purchased a sanitarium at Magnetic Springs, Ohio, which they operated until 1903. and after they disposed of it Mr. Thomas returned to this city where in March, 1906. in partner- ship with Jerry Wolf he purchased an interest in the lumber business of J. W. Myers & Company, at which time the firm was reorganized under the name of Thomas, Myers & Wolf, under which name they have since been doing business. It is one of the most important enterprises in the city, the company owning large lumber yards and planing mills and doing an extensive business throughout this and adjoining states. Among other enterprises with which Mr. Thomas
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is connected are the Ashland Steel Range & Manufacturing Company, of which he is a stockholder and director, and the Ashland Bank & Savings Company, being a stockholder and director in that institution. He is also one of the three men who own the patents on the block and cement mixing machines manufactured in Ashland.
On January 14, 1879, Mr. Thomas wedded Miss Katherine F. Reep, a native of this city and a daughter of Christian Reep, deceased, and to this union wert born Grace and an infant, both now deceased. The republican party has al- ways commanded the allegiance of Mr. Thomas, who takes quite an interest in local affairs and who served two terms as treasurer of Montgomery township and for three years as a member of the board of education of this city. He belongs to Mohican Lodge, No. 85, I. O. O. F. and is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, being on the board of trustees of that organization. His keen business ability is recognized throughout the city, in developing the interests of which he has taken an active part, and he justly merits the reputation he enjoys as one of its leading citizens.
ESTEY E. MILLER.
Estey E. Miller, conducting an extensive and profitable business as a grain, hay and coal dealer at Nova, is also prominently identified with the financial interests of the town as president of the Nova Banking Company. His birth occurred in Troy township, Ashland county, Ohio, on the 11th of September, 1873, his parents being Jonas S. and Mary A. (Swartz) Miller. The father, who was born in Redhaw, Ashland county, April 15, 1849, was the eldest son of George and Christina Miller. In early childhood he accompanied his parents on their removal to Nova, this county, and with the exception of three years spent in Cleveland, Ohio, there continued to make his home until called to his final rest. On the 6th of March. 1865, when less than sixteen years of age, he enlisted in defense of the Union as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Ninety- fifth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and was honorably discharged some months later on account of illness. In later years he maintained pleasant rela- tions with his old army comrades through his membership in C. P. Ogden Post, No. 560. G. A. R. In preparation for a business career, he familiarized himself with the blacksmith's trade at West Salem, Ohio, and in 1871 located at Nova, where he engaged in blacksmithing and carriage building until 1885, when he became a member of the Ohio Steel Thill Company. In 1896 he became the senior member of the firm of E. E. Miller & Company. dealers in grain and hay, and was a prominent factor in its successful control until the time of his death on the 4th of March. 1907. He was well known and highly esteemed throughout the northern portion of Ashland county and his efforts proved an effective element in the upbuilding and development of the town of Nova. He superin- tended the erection of the grain elevator at that place and for twenty years was a member of the Nova Cornet Baud. In September. 1872. Jonas S. Miller was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Swartz. of Redhaw. this county. and by this
MR. AND MRS. JONAS MILLER
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union there was born two sons: Estey E., of this review; and Charley F., who passed away when in his seventh year.
After obtaining a good practical education in the public schools of Nova, Estey E. Miller took up the study of telegraphy and subsequently secured a position with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad at Conneaut, Ohio, where he remained for nine months. He then worked for the same railroad at Mentor, Ohio, for a period of eighteen months but at the end of that time resigned his position and in 1892 became identified with the mercantile interests of Nova as a dealer in grain, hay and coal. As the years have gone by he has built up a large and profitable trade in these commodities and is widely recognized as a most substantial, enterprising and representative business man of the community. Public-spirited and progressive in a marked degree, he soon realized that a bank was necessary to care for the business of the town and undertook the organiza- tion of such an institution. In the summer of 1907, as the result of his efforts, the Nova Banking Company was organized under the banking laws of the State of Ohio with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, its doors being opened for business on December 4th, of the same year. The home of the bank is a substan- tial and attractive brick building, equipped with every modern convenience, time locks, safety vaults, etc. The fact that the institution supplies a long felt want and is fully appreciated by the business men and farmers of the commun- ity, is attested by its ever increasing patronage. At the time of its organization Mr. Miller was elected president and has since continued as the chief executive officer of the bank, his keen discrimination, sound judgment and excellent man- agement proving an important factor in its successful conduct. He was also active in founding the Nova Telephone Company, which was organized under the state laws in 1907 and has long distance connection with the Star and Bell companies. Mr. Miller capably served the company in the position of treasurer for some time.
On the 17th of October, 1895, Mr. Miller wedded Miss Ota M. Kosht, a daughter of Josiah and Adeline (Swartz) Kosht, of Troy township. By this union there are three children : Charles F., Beryl M .. and Juanita E., aged twelve, ten and eight years respectively.
In his political views Mr. Miller is a stanch republican and his fellow towns- men, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of public trust. He has been treasurer of Troy township for two terms and a member of the Nova school board for a number of years, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. At a party convention held at Ashland in 1906 he was nominated for the office of county auditor without his knowledge or consent, not being present at the convention. Notwithstanding the fact that this county has a strong democratic majority and that he made no personal effort to secure votes. he made an excellent showing at the polls. running far ahead of the ticket. Fraternally he is identified with Sullivan Lodge. No. 579. I. O. O. F. He is a great lover of music and is a valued member of the Nova Cornet Band, which is a splendid organization of its kind. His gun and fishing rod also afford him much pleasure and recreation and he is an advocate of all manly outdoor sports. His many sterling traits of character have won him the warm regard and friendship
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