USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 66
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Frank Farquhar was born on a farm about five miles west of what then was the struggling village of Wilmington. in Unton township. Clinton county, Ohio, on April 10. 1835, son of Josinh and Abl (Linton) Farquhar, the former of whom was born In the state of Maryland in the year 1804. and the latter of whom was born in this county in the year 1808, and died in the year 1800.
Josiah Farquhar was one of the earliest settlers of this county, he having been but a baby when his parents emigrated to this section from Maryland and located in Union township, where they spent the rest of their lives. His father, Benjamin Farqu- har. was a man of substance in his day, owning a fine farm of three hundred acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation after clearing It and rendering it fit for agricultural purposes. Benjamin Farquhar and his wife were earnest Quakers and performed a fine service in alding to bring about proper social and moral conditions in the community to which they give their most intelligent and conscientious efforts. I'nder exemplary home conditions, even though that home was but a rude pioneer dwelling.
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Josiah Farquhar was reared to useful manhood on the Union township farm. In con- nection with his work as a farmer he also operated an oil mill for the manufacture of castor oil and flax-seed oil. His wife, Abi Linton, was the daughter of Nathan and Rachel Linton, pioneers of this county, the former of whom was the first county sur- veyor of Clinton county, a position which he held for thirty-six years. His original plats still preserved in the court house, are models of careful penmanship and were drawn with quill pens, Both Nathan Linton and his wife were natives of Bucks county, Penn- sylvania. They emigrated to this county about the year 1805, settling on a farm about three miles from Wilmington and were among the most influential pioneers of that neighborhood. In the year 1828 they erected a fine dwelling house, which, after weather- ing the storms of nearly a century, was but recently destroyed by fire.
Josiah Farquhar's useful life was cut short at the age of thirty-five years, his death occurring on April 9, 1838, his son, Frank, the immediate subject of this sketch, being then but three years of age. There was another son, Benjamin, the elder of the two, who for many years was a prominent merchant in Wilmington, his grocery store at the county sent town having long been a "land-mark" there. Benjamin Farquhar was a good man and a useful, honorable citizen, whose death some years ago was widely mourned. In 1842 Joslab Farquhar's widow married, secondly, Dr. Joseph K. Sparks, a substantial resident of that neighborhood, and to this unton two sons were born, Stephen L., who was a Union soldier during the Civil War. now deceased, and Josiah W., a prominent hardware merchant and banker, of Wilmington, this county. In 1848 Doctor Sparks erected a new house on the old Farquhar farm on the Waynesville road. Though he was an active member of the Baptist church and his wife a very devout Quaker, the two never permitted their religious differences to create a barrier in their home life. they for many years participating in the services of their respective communions without thought of personal dissension.
Frank Farquhar was reared on the old home farm in Union township, receiving his elementary education in the district school near his home, supplementing the same by a course of one year at Dennison College. He cast his first vote for John C. Fremont. In 1856 and 1857. Mr. Farquhar traveled extensively through the west, with a view to locating in one of the territories that then gave promise of the wonderful development realized within the next few decades, and went so far as to pre empt a claim for a tract of farm land In Kansas, and while there voted to make Kansas a free state. Giving up thought of locating permanently in the west, however. he returned to this county and in 1858 was united in marriage to Hanna A. McMillan, who was born in this county. daughter of Milton and Elizabeth ( Kirk) McMillan, pioneer farmers of Chester town- ship, Clinton county, to which union three children were born, Milton J .. one of Wilming- ton's prominent business men, a director of the Farquhar Furnace Company : Harriet, who married E. M. Nordyke and lives in California, and Henry. also identified with the furnace company. Mr. and Mrs. Farquhar also had an adopted daughter. Nellie R. The mother of these children died In 1913 and was widely mourned throughout the county, for she was a noble woman, her life ever having been devoted to all good works.
Frank Farquhar. enarly in life, gained the reputation among his friends of being a "natural mechanic." Following his natural bent be left the farm in 1866 and entered the manufacturing business. He resided in Richmond, Indiana. engaged in the manu- facture of feed cookers and evaporators of his own design. In 1872 he met with a serions accident that necessitated the amputation of one of his limbs. Feeling this to be a handicap. he sold his interests in Richmond and returned to Ohio and engaged in the hardware and rooffing business at Wilmington, in partnership with his half-brother. J. W. Sparks. Later. Mr. Farquhar and his sons re-entered the manufacturing business and organized a company for the manufacture of the Farquhar house-heating furnaces. Hle served a number of years as president of the Farquhar Heating Company, of Chicago;
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but in 1897 retired, and returning to his home in Wilmington, engaged in the coal busi- ness. In his activities this octogenarian has not yet experienced any "declining years," but each year has seen an appreciable increase in his business and acquaintance, and improvement in his business plant. His unique equipment for handling coal economically has attracted the attention of coal men, has been illustrated in the trade journals, and draws visitors from many parts of the country.
Mr. Farquhar is one of those energetic men who believe that the greatest happiness and contentment is found in the greatest activity, it being his firm conviction that a man will far more ensily "rust out" than wear out.
Mr. Farquhar is a devoted member of the Friends church, to which he came by birthright, and from the days of his early manhood has been one of the most earnest workers in that sturdy communion. No man in Wilmington is actuated by a broader public spirit than he and it is undoubted that the town. and this entire community, owes him much. He ever has been interested in educational affairs and is gratefully recalled as one of that faithful band of earnest subscribers who helped support Wilmington Col- lege during the first five precarious years of Its existence. Mr. Farquhar's interest in the development of the resources of Clinton county has been unflagging throughout all the years of his life and no man in the county possesses in a higher degree the confidence and respect of the people than he, a respect marked by the utmost esteem.
B. J. DARBYSHIRE.
B. J. Darbyshire, a venerable citizen of Sabina, Ohio, who is now almost ninety- two years old, was born on November 7, 1823, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, the son of John and Elizabeth ( Jennings) Darbyshire, the latter of whom was the daughter of Benjamin Jennings. of the Keystone state.
Mr. Darbyshire's paternal grandparents were Thomas and Anna (Covert) Darby- shire, of Pennsylvania, who had seven children, John, Thomas, Samuel. Morris, Jessle. Martha and Ann. Thomas Darbyshire was a furniture maker by occupation, who came to Guernsey county, Ohio, and from there immigrated to Wilmington. where he spent the remainder of his life.
John A. Darbyshire, who was educated in the common schools of his native county. owned land near Wilmington, consisting of eighty-three acres, where the ice plant is now situated. He married Elizabeth Jennings, the daughter of Benjamin Jennings, of Pennsylvania. John Darbyshire was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, B. J., Anna, who died at the age of twelve years, and a twin sister who died in infancy ; Thomas, Samuel, John and James. Thomas, Samuel and John are deceased. After the death of his wife, John Darbyshire was married to Elizabeth Hoblet, and to them were born six children, Joshua, Morris, Zenephen, Maggie, Mary Ann and Letitia. Maggie and Mary Ann are deceased.
B. J. Darbyshire was reared on a farm and lived at home with bis parents until of nge. He was married on April 6. 1851. to Maria Moore, who was the daughter of John P. and Margaret (Large) Moore, farmers of Fayette county, Obio, where they owned one hundred and twenty acres of land. Mrs. Maria Darbyshire died on August 17, 1905.
For many years Mr. Darbyshire was a brick contractor, but this was in the days when brick was made by hand. He built, with Robert McMillan, the college at Wil- mington and also the school house at the same place. T'ntil nine years ago, he lived on the farm, but at that time moved to Sabina, having deeded his land, comprising two hundred and seventy-six acres, to his children. In 1880 and 1881 he was engaged In the hardware business at Sabina. Near the close of the Civil War, Mr. Darbyshire was in the I'nion service and was a soldier for four months.
Mr. and Mrs. Darbyshire were the parents of seven children, Maggie, who died at the age of twenty-three; James died when five months old, A. J., Frank. Oliver M ..
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Lydia and Oma. Mr. Darbyshire served as township clerk of Riebland township for five years. He was also trustee of the township. For many years he was a school director in the township also. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 501, and of Encampment. No. 183. He is a charter member of Sabina lodge of Encampment.
CHARLES A. WARD.
In compiling a history of the movements of the present generation in Clinton county. the future historian will, perforce. be compelled to take into necount the enormous influence for good exerted by that earnest lund of conscientious educators which today is doing such a noble work in this community. Among these enthusiastic and zenlous educators few have brought a better equipment to their labors than has Prof. Charles A. Ward. principal of the Smith Place school at Wilmington, the county seat, and the biographer finds pleasure In here setting out the salient points in the brief though highly useful career of this cultivated gentleman. Though young in years, Professor Ward has had a wide experie as an educator and is accounted one of the leading factors in the excellent eduer ... d system of this county. the prediction being freely made that he is destined to a much wider field of usefulness than that which he now so creditably occupies.
Charles A. Ward was born on a farm near the pleasant village of New Antioch Clinton county, Ohio, on January 20. 18533, son of J. Wesley and Emma (Pond) Ward. the former of whom was born at Madisonville, Hamilton county, this state, on August 1. ISSs, and the latter of whom was born in Greene township, this county, on October 6. 1560; both of whom are still living, being very comfortably situated in a delightful farm home near New Antioch, where they have lived since their marriage.
J. Wesley Ward is the son of William and Mehala (Nofizger; Ward, natives of Hamilton county. this state, both having been born near the town of Madisonville. William Ward, who recently died at New Antioch, at the ripe old age of eighty-six. was n son of George Ward, who was born In New Jersey and upon reaching manhood end- grated to this state. locating in Hamilton county, where he married, entered a farm from the government and reared his family in the Baptist faith; the various members of this family becoming largely Influential in the affairs of that community.
At the age of twelve years. J. Wesley Ward came to this county with his parents and grew to manhood on the Greene township farm, he still owning one of the farms which his father bought upon coming to Clinton county.
On September 24. 1879. J. Wesley Ward was united In marriage to Emma Pond. who was born in this county, daughter of John and Mary ( Frost ) Pond, both of whom are still living, making their home in comfortable retirement at Columbus, Ohio, John Pond is a native of this county, being a son of William and Polly Pond. North Caro- linans, who emigrated to Ohio in the early days of the settlement of this section of the state and located on a farm In Green township, this county, where they spent the rest of their lives, being regarded In their day as among the most substantial pioneers of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are among the best-known and most influential people of the New Antioch neighborhood, and are held in the highest regard by all who know them. They are members of the Disciples church at New Antioch and for years have been active in all the good works of that tine community, Mr. Ward is an ardent Republican and has given intelligent and thoughtful attention to the political affairs of Clinton county, ever displaying his interest in all measures designed to promote the common good: his sound judgment and close acquaintance with local affairs in that neighborhood giving value to his counsels in the deliberations of the party managers.
To J. Wesley and Emma (Pond) Ward three children were born, of whom Charles A., the Immediate subject of this sketch, is the eldest, the others being Thomas Frank
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Ward, general manager of a large manufacturing concern at Columbus, Ohio, and May Elizabeth, who married Edward Brining, of Dayton, this state.
Charles A. Ward was reared on the home farm in Green township, receiving bis elementary education in the public schools at New Antioch, following which he took course of instruction in Wilmington College, later supplementing this by a course in the normal school at Oxford, Ohio. In the year 1903 he entered upon his career as a teacher. for three years bis activities in the educational field being confined to the district schools of this county. At the end of that time, his excellent record as a teacher in the district schools having attracted the attention of the school authorities, he was made principal of the New Antioch schools, a position which be filled with the utmost satis- faction to the patrons of the schools in that village for a period of six years. The excellence of his methods as a teacher having been proved so convincingly during this period of service, Professor Ward, in 1912, was elevated to the position of principal of the Smith Pince school at Wilmington, a post which he still retains and in the discharge of the duties of which he has further demonstrated bis admirable qualltles as an Instructor of the youth.
On July 19. 1911, Charles A. Ward was united tu Carriage to Auna Reynolds, who was born in Union township, this county, daughter of William and Jennie ( Brown) Reynolds, prominent residents of that community, both of whom still are living on their farm in I'nion township. To this union one child has been born. a daughter. Marjorie. horn on March 24. 1913.
Professor and Mrs. Ward are members of the Disciples church, to the affairs of which they give their close and unselfish attention, taking a warm interest in all good movements in the community of which they are so valuable a part. Professor Ward is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is an netive worker therein. His work as an educator has demonstrated his eminent fitness for the noble work to which he has devoted his life, and he has received many expressions of the entire con- fidence reposed in him by the city school authorities, as well as of the high esteem in which he is held by the grateful patrons of the school over which he presides so suc- cessfully.
MARTIN J. SPINKS.
Occupying a position of trust and of high responsibility in the industrial affairs of the community, with the affairs of which, both past and present, this history trexs. Martin J. Spinks, mechanical engineer for the Champion Bridge Company, of Whining- ton, this county, enjoys the unbounded confidence of the company in whose interests his talents are actively engaged and the esteem of all with whom he Is brought In con- tact. A fine native energy and the possession of a valuable sense of initiative, together with an inherent talent for the work which he is so aldy performing, have brought Mr. Spinks to his present position, and it is but proper that a record should here be pre- served of the steps by which he has attained to that position, a position requiring a special ability of a high order.
Martin J. Williams was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and when quite young was bereft by derth of both of his parents. At the age of nine years he w's formally adopted by William and Kate Spinks, prominent residents of the neighborhood of the pleasant vil- Irge of C'ubn. this county, the order of adoption legally conferring upon him the name of Spinks, by which he. of course, ever since has been known. He was the only child of his parents.
Growing up on the farm of his foster parents near Cuba. Martin J. Spinks was given an excellent home, receiving from Mr. and Mrs. Spinks all the devotion and ton- sideration they could have paid to a son of their own. They gave him a good ediea- tion, keeping him in the public schools until be bad completed the course there fre-
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scribed, and after that sent him to Wilmington College for a further course. Upon completing his college work, Mr. Spinks entered the ranks of Clinton county's excel- lent corps of school teachers, and for three years was very successfully engaged in teaching in the district schools of the county. At the end of that time he decided to improve his native talent for mechanical drawing, having long before discovered that this form of endeavor possessed for him an unusual attraction, and thoroughly grounded himself in the art of draftsmanship, after which, in 1806, he entered the service of the Champion Bridge Company, at Wilmington, as a draftsman, and has ever since been employed in the offices of that extensive concern. Displaying his aptitude for this form of work, Mr. Spinks rose rapidly in the ranks of that company's employes, and pres- ently was promoted to the post of mechanical engineer and designer, a position which he still holds, the substantial and scientific character of his work being demonstrated ou bridge construction throughout this entire section of the country.
On October 15, 1805, Martin J. Spinks was united in marriage to Ethel B. Williams. who was born at Lebanon, Ohio, daughter of Paul and Mary (Thompson) Williams, who now are living at Wilmington, this county, Mr. Williams, a well-known carpenter, being the constable of the township.
Mr. and Mrs. Spinks are members of the Methodist church and take a warm Inter- est in the good works of their home community and are very popular in their wide cir- cle of acquaintances. Mr. Spinks is a York rite Mason, belonging to the commandery at Wilmington, is past high priest of the chapter and past commander of the comman- dery. He also is a member of the Wilmington lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and in both of these popular orders takes a warm interest, being regarded with high favor by bis lodge associates.
Martin J. Spinks is doing well those things his hands bave found to do. Having cultivated bis natural talent, he has turned it to useful advantage and very properly muy be regarded as a prominent factor in the industrial development of this section of the state.
ULYSSES GRANT MURRELL, M. D.
Among the prominent physicians of Wilmington, Ohlo, who have endeared themselves to the hearts of the people of this city, and who are recognized as pre-eminent in their profession, is L'lysses Grant Murrell, M. D., who was born near London, Madison county, Ohio, June 19, 1868, the son of John and Mary (Coberley) Murrell, the former of whom was born in Virginia in 1841 and who died in 1908, and the latter of whom was born In Madison county. Ohio, in 1847 and who died in 1912.
Doctor Murrell's paternal grandparents were Thomas and Sarah Murrell, who were early settlers in Clinton county, Ohio, and who owned and lived on a farm in Liberty township, where they died. They belonged to the Methodist Protestant church. His maternal grandparents were Thomas and Louisa Coberley, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania, and of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. They were early settlers in Madison county. Ohio, and there lived on a farm at the edge of London.
The late John Murrell was a mere lad when the family came to Clinton county. Ohio. He grew up on the farm, and when nineteen years of age enlisted in the Union army as a soldier in Company D. Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He gave four years of his life to the service of his country, and during the war, while he was living in the barracks at Columbus. met the young woman, Mary Coberley, who afterwards became his wife, At the close of the war he returned to Columbus and was married, and thereafter lived in Madison county for four years, when he removed to Wilson township. Clinton county, and there lived until his death. When he had reached middle life he gave up active farming to devote his time to contract building in Wilson town- ship and vicinity. He was a Republican in politics and a man of more than average
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prominence. having served on the board of education for thirteen years. He was also a very active worker in the Methodist Protestant church. John and Mary (Coberley) Murrell had four children, of whom Dr. Ulysses G. was the first born; Allen lives in Wilson township, near Bloomington, aud is a cement contractor ; William lives on a farm in L'nton township, near Beech Grove; Ora married James Klein, deceased, and she now lives in Springfield, Ohio.
Ulysses Grant Murrell, M. D., attended the public schools of Bloomington, Ohio, and after finishing his common school education, worked in a dry goods store owned by F. S. Broomball, of Wilmington, for five years. After a time he entered Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, and was graduated with the class of 1896. Immediately after his graduation he located at New Burlington, in Chester township, Clinton county, and prac- tieed medicine there for nine years, at the end of which time, or In 1905, he removed to Wilmington. He has been engaged in the practice of his profession here since that time and has built up a large and lucrative practice, and possesses the confidence of the people of this city. He belongs to the Clinton County Medical Society, to the Ohio State Medical Association and to the American Medical Association.
On July 11, 1894, two years before his graduation from the medical college, Doctor Murrell was married to Ora Hinshaw, who was born at Westboro, Clinton county, Oblo. and who is the daughter of Garner and Maria Hinshaw, both of whom are deceased. The father was a dry goods merchant, first in Westboro, Ohio, and later in Wilmington. Doctor and Mrs. Murrell have had two children, Cordelia, born in December, 1898, and Mabel, born in February, 1901.
The Murrell family all belong to the Friends church. Doctor Murrell is a member of the Knights Templar, and also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellow&
PHILIP EDWIN SNYDER.
Philip Edwin Snyder, the proprietor of one of the large hardware stores in southern Ohio, has made a worthy success in life because he was never willing to quit, and beause, when the great test of his life came, he was unwilling to yield to misfortune or give up the battle he had previously begun. Stripped of practically all his property In 1.05, when the fire swept over Blanchester, he undertook to build up the business he had entered as a partner with a very small investment, and the years which he had spent working for others, and the reputation he had established for honor and Integrity gave him unlimited credit when it was necessary to start over again. He could have had fifty thousand dollars' credit had be asked it. There is certainly a lesson in this exper- lence for all young men, as it shows conclusively the value of upright dealing.
Philip Edwin Snyder. who began the hardware business with D. H. Moon on a salary of fifty dollars a year. and who worked the second year for eighty dollars, the third for two hundred and forty dollars, was born on October 13, 1869, In Butlerville. Ohto, the son of Phillp Augusta and Barbara Ellen ( Fox) Snyder, the former a native of Rochester, Ohio, and the latter a native of Germany. Mr. Snyder's paternal grand- parents were natives of Ohio, and his maternal grandparents were natives of Germany. His mother enme to America with friends, who first located in Indiana. His father, who was educated in the schools of Ohio, was a harness maker, and operated a large harness shop at Butlerville. During the last twenty-five years of his life he became active in real estate and worked as an abstracter until his death, in 1903. His wife died in 1007. He was active in religious affairs and In temperance work, the first prayer meet- ing held in Blanchester under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal church having occurred in his home. He was also active in the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church at Blanchester, and for many years served as steward and director in that (30)
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