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 78

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108

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 78

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Harry Gaskill was born in Wilmington, Obio, where he now resides, on March 1. 1881, son of Mahlon R. and Laura ( Gustin) Gaskill, the former of whom was born In the town of Rochester, Warren county, this state, on March 28, 1838, and the latter of whom was born at. Enon, Ohio.

Mablon R. Gaskill is the son of Milton S. and Ann {Roach) Gaskill, the former of whom was born in Wilmington, this county, on October 5. 1811, the first white male child born in Wilmington, son of Thomas and Nancy Gaskill, whose names are enrolled among the very earliest settlers of Clinton county. Milton S. Gaskill grew to manhood in the then struggling village of Wilmington and married Ann Y. Roach, who was born in Vir- ginia on August 15, 1812, daughter of Mahlon and Elizabeth Roach, who came to Clinton county about the year 1815. Milton S. Gaskill was a tanner and operated a large tan- nery In Wilmington, the same having been located for some years on Main street, between South street and Walnut street. Later he traded this tannery for a farm of one hundred

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and sixty acres near Burtonville, In Union township. This farm then was mostly swamp land, but he drained the same and converted it into a valuable farm. Finding this opera- tion profitable, he followed the same course In numerous other instances, buying swamp lands, draining the same and then selling at a large profit, and in this way became one of the wealthiest men of his generation in this county. He presently bought a clothing store in Wilmington and after operating this store for a couple of years traded the store for a store and a farm at Westboro, this county, moving to that place where he spent the rest of his life.

Milton S. Gaskill was twice married, his first wife, Ann Roach, having died when Mablon R. Gaskill, Harry's father was two years of age. To this first union there were born three children, namely : Orlando, a merchant, who for thirty years was postmaster at White Oak, Iowa, where he died ; Thomas, now deceased, a former prosperous farmer in the neighborhood of St. Johns, Kansas; and Mahlon R., who is now living retired in Wil- mington, this county. Upon the death of the mother of the above children, Milton S. Gaskill married, secondly, in 1842, Louisa Tribby, and to this union there were born two children : Jennie, who married Spencer Vestal and lives in Yakima, Washington, and Charles, a farmer of the Westboro neighborhood, in this county, who died at the age of twenty-five years.

Mablon R. Gaskill was reared In Wilmington and learned the trade of house painter. In 1861 he went west, prospecting for gold, and made an extended trip through California and Oregon. On his return, and while prospecting in Colorado, he enlisted, in January, 1864. at Denver, in the First Independent Colorado Battery, for service during the Civil War, and served until the close of the war, this battery being engaged mostly in the frontier service, guarding against Indian depredations. At the close of the war Mr. Gaskill returned to Ohio and until his marriage farmed for his father. After his mar- riage he took a six-months prospecting tour through Kansas, at the end of which time he returned to Wilmington, where he resumed his trade of house painter in which he was engaged quite successfully until the time of his retirement from active business some years ago. Mr. Gaskill's wife was born in the village of Enon, near Dayton, this state, daughter of Jonathan and Lucinda (Mckay) Gustin, the former of whom was born in Warren county and the latter in Highland county, this state. Jonathan Gustin was a blacksmith and for many years conducted a smithy in Wilmington, in his day being one of the best-known men in the city. To Mr. and Mrs. Mahlon R. Gaskill there were born two children: Harry, the immediate subject of this sketch; and Carrie, who married Walter V. Connard, owner of a livery, feed and sales stable, as well as garage, on a very large scale at Newport News, Virginia, where he also is employed as an inspector of horses by the United States government and buys horses for use in the naval yards there.

Harry Gaskill was reared In Wilmington, the city of his birth, and was graduated from the high school. Upon leaving school he was employed for a time in the office of the local telephone company, where his ability as a clerk attracted the attention of others and on February 22. 1902. he was Installed in the court house at Wilmington as deputy county auditor, a position which he held for twelve years. In 1912 Mr. Gaskill was nom- innted by the Republicans of Clinton county as their choice for auditor and he was also declared the people's choice in the following election. His renomination and re-election in 1914 was a very flattering indorsement of the capable manner in which he had adminis- tered the important affairs of the auditor's office, and he is now serving his second term. to the general satisfaction of the entire community.

On October 19. 1902, Harry Gaskill was united in marriage to Lucy Ham, who was born at Ogden, In Adams township, this county, daughter of Finley and Martha Ham, both of whom are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskill are members of the Friends church. as are the former's parents, and all are deeply concerned in the general welfare of the com- munity, taking an active part in furthering all measures designed to promote the com-

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mon good. Mr. Gaskill in a jovial as well as a most capable young man and is immensely popular in and about Wilmington. He is a Mason, having attained to the chapter in that ancient order, and also is a member of the Elks, the Odd Fellows, the Eagles and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, in all of which he takes an active part, being popular with all his lodge associates.

Auditor Gaskill is a painstaking and thorough public official, his long familiarity with the books of the auditor's office having equipped him thoroughly for the proper transac- tion of the business of that office and he has the entire confidence of the community. He is widely known throughout the county, few men in Clinton county having a more ex- tensive acquaintance, and his friends are limited only by the number of his acquaintances.

LOREN M. HAZARD.

Almost from the time of the very beginning of the social order in Clinton county, the Hazard family has been honorably represented here. The first of the name to locate In Clinton county was Jobn Hazard, a Virginian, of English descent, who married Rebecca Conger. also a native of Virginia, of colonial stock, and emigrated to Ohio, locating in Clinton county in 1820, settling on a farm one mile east of the then struggling village of Wilmington, which farm is known in that neighborhood today as the Petticord place. Jobn Hazard and his wife were prominent figures in that section during pioneer days and did much to bring about proper social and civic conditions in the formative period of the neighborhood. After rearing a family of ten children, John Hazard died, at the age of sixty-five years, his widow surviving him many years, she living to the advanced age of ninety-two years. One of the sons of John and Rebecca (Conger) Hazard was Zebulon Hazard, born in this county in 1826, who died at the early age of thirty-five years Zebulon Hazard was twice married, his first wife, who was the widow of Isalab Dwiggins, bearing him three children, all of whom died without issue. U'pon her death he married, secondly, Phoebe Wolary, daughter of Michael Wolary, a native of Maryland, who, with his wife, settled on a farm west of Wilmington, in this county, about the year 1825, where they spent the rest of their lives, both Hving to advanced ages. To Zebulon and Phoebe (Wolary) Hazard but one child was born, a son, Frank T. Upon the death of Zebulon Hazard, in 1861, his widow married, secondly, Moses Hudson, dying five years later, without further issue.

Frank T. Hazard was but twelve years of age when he was left an orphan and be was reared by an uncle on a farm, subsequently buying a farm in Union township, on which he lived for three years. In 1857 he sold the farm and moved to Wilmington, where for one year he was engaged as a clerk in the hardware store of David Peoples. At the end of that time he was engaged by J. W. Sparks, as a clerk in the latter's hard- ware store, and ever since has been found attending to the wants of the customers of that store, he having been for some years manager of the store.

On October 26, 1876, Frank T. Hazard was united in marriage to Luella Miars, who was born in Union township, this county, daughter of Isaiah and Matilda ( Bahb) Miars, to which union two children were born, both sons, Ethelbert, who operates a laundry in Wilmington, and Loren M., the well-known merchant tailor of Wilmington, the immediate subject of this sketch. Additional details regarding the Hazard family in Clinton county are set out in a biographical sketch of Frank T. Hazard, presented elsewhere in this volume, while the genealogy of the Miars family is set out in a sketch relating to Frank B. Miars, to which the reader is referred for further details regarding the history of that well-known family in this county.

Loren M. Hazard was born in Wilmington, this county, on July 16, 1877, as noted above, son of Frank T. and Luella ( Miars) Hazard, and received his elementary education in the public schools of his home city, supplementing this course by a course in Wil-

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mington College. Upon leaving college he entered the tailoring establishment of William Sharkey, in Wilmington, and thoroughly acquainted himself with the details of the tailor- ing trade as well as modern methods of management, after which, in the year 1904, he opened a tailoring establishment of his own in Wilmington, where he ever since has been very successfully engaged in business. Mr. Hazard is an energetic and enterprising young man and his many customers have come to rely upon the excellent quality and the up-to-date character of the products of his establishment. He has educated his cus- tomers to expert none but the best treatment in his place and has built up a very fine and growing trade.

On May 8. 1914, Loren M. Hazard was united in marriage to Jeasie Smith, who was boru in Highland county, this stute, daughter of Elgar and Josephine ( Sammons) Smith.

Mr. Hazard is a Mason and has attained to the council degrees in that ancient order. He Is a member of the Wilmington lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is very popular in both these orders. He in public spirited and progressive and holds a high place in the esteem of his older associates in the commercial circles of Wilmington. He keeps a fine-looking place, his shop and show-room, located at No. 112 East Locust street, being arranged for the greatest convenience and comfort of his cus- tomers and is well equipped with the most modern appliances for the proper demonstra- tion of the latest developments of the sartorial art.

ALBERT L. HANNAH.

Albert L. Hannah, the proprietor of the Hannah funeral parlors, of Blanchester, Ohio, and a graduate of both the Champion College of Embalming, of Springfield, Ohio, and the Cincinnati College of Embalming, at Cincinnati, was born near Georgetown, in Brown county. Ohio, May 31. 1879, the son of James and Eva (Work) Hannah.

James Hannah is a well-known farmer of Washington township, born March 1. 1849, in Clermont county, Ohio, near Moscow, and the son of Fulton and Almeda (Bryant Hannah, the former of whom was born on February 6. 1819, in Brown county, near Georgetown, and the latter of whom was a daughter of Josiah and Sarah ( Gould} Bryant. Fulton Hannah spent all his Hfe as a farmer in Brown county and died there at an advanced nge in 1898. He and his wife were the parents of ten children. of whom James was the third in order of birth. The others were William H., Josiah, John, Jesse, George, Edward, Martha. Sarah and Ruth Anna. Fulton Hannah was a Democrat in politics. Educated ju the common schools of Brown county. James Hannah began life as a farm hand. In 1895 he moved to Clinton county, and farmed three years in Vernon township, after which he removed to Washington township. his present residence. On June 13. 1578, he was married to Eva L. Work, a native of Brown county, born near Russellville, the daughter of Elijah and Melinda (Brown) Work. Mr. and Mrs. Hannah are the par- ents of two children, Albert L. and Florence, the latter of whom married Ernest Hurt, and they have one child, James Edwin. The Hannah family are earnest and loyal members of the Friends church. For many years Mr. Hannah bas voted the Prohibitionist ticket.

Albert L. Hannah was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the public schools. At the age of seventeen years he began to learn the undertaking business, and on May 19. 1890, was graduated from the Champion College of Embalming at Spring- field. Ohio. He also graduated from the Cincinnati College of Embalming in 1912, and is now a member of the educational board of the Cincinnati College of Embalming. He is also a member of the Ohio State Embalmers' Association, with which organization he has been connected for the past thirteen years. Mr. Hannah has a beautiful, modern equipped establishment. He is regarded as the leading undertaker in this vicinity.

In February. 1902, Mr. Hannah was married to Blanche Urton, of Clinton county, who died on August 27, 1906. On May 6, 1908, Mr. Hannah was again married to Arena

ALBERT L. HANNAH.

Suzanne Google

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M. Jay, of Clinton county, and to this union one child has been born, D. Ben, who was born on January 21, 1914.

Fraternally, Mr. Hannah is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife belongs to the Friends church. Although Albert L. Hannah votes the Republican ticket, he has never been an aspirant for office.

EDWIN R. SHANK.

Clinton county may not only be proud of Its farming districts and of the men who manage and control them, but also in its towns are found men who have risen to prom- Inence in the business of buying and selling merchandise, and to these, too. Is due a measure of praise. Among this type of citizens is the man whose career the biographer is now to consider briefly, Edwin R. Shank having chosen to cast his lot with those engaged in mercantile business.

Edwin R. Shank, son of Samuel A. and Mary A. (Stump) Shank, was born In Marion township. this county. on November 5, 1885, his father being a native of the same county. After serving his apprenticeship as a worker on the farm, at the same time attending the public schools, the Clarksville high school, and Wilmington College, in which latter excellent institution he spent a year. For a time after completing his school work, Mr. Shank was engaged in various occupations, and on February 15, 1915, became a merchant in the dry goods, shoes and notions line in Clarksville, where he enjoys a liberal and growing patronage.

On December 26, 1912, Edwin R. Sbank was united in marriage to Allce Florence Whitacre. daughter of George Whitacre, of Vernon township, this county, who was born in Warren county. Ohio, on October 21. 185. To this union was born one child, a daughter. Mary Alma, who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Shank are stanch supporters of the Friends church. Mr. Shank has always adhered to the principles of the Republican party, and is a bellever in the benefits to be derived from membership In secret orders, for he belongs to the Clarksville lodge of Odd Fellows and to the Modern Woodmen.

Mr. Shank. since his removal to Clarksville, has been a distinct asset to that com- - munity, for he has always stood for fair and square dealing, honor and integrity in his personal and social relationships, and represents a high type of citizenship.

ALPHEU'S GADDIS.

It is, indeed, a distinguished mark of honor for those living In the present generation to be able to trace clearly their ancestry back to the Revolutionary War, and even a greater distinction when it is known that such ancestry fought with honor in that war. Such is the case with Alpheus Gaddis, the subject of this sketch.

Alpheus Gaddis was born on November 21. 1868, in a log house on the old Gaddis homestead in I'nion township. Clinton county, Ohio, the son of Andrew R. Gaddis. He attended the Dover district school and later the Shadyside district school No. 1. He was the only son of a family of ten children, so he remained on his father's farm and assisted in the work until his marriage. In 1895. He then moved into the brick house built by his grandfather, Rice Gaddis, on the same farm, and has run that farm ever since for his father, though practically on his own initiative.

Andrew R. Gaddis was the son of Rice Gaddis, who was the son of Col. Thomas Gaddis, the latter of whom was born on December 28, 1744, and died on June 10, 1834. He married Hannah Rice, who was born on February 4. 1835. and who died in her elghty-eighth year. They came to Clinton county to reside in September of 1814. Starting

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from Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where they formerly lived, they descended the Ohio river on boats, on which they transported their teams and wagons and household goods. and landed at Manchester, Oblo, proceeding thence to Wilmington, where they remained over night in Warren Satur's tavern. The next day Henry Batt. between whom and Colonel Gaddis some acquaintance and relationship existed, invited Colonel Gaddis to take possession of a house belonging to him, where the newcomers remained for that winter. On April 21, 1810, Colonel Gaddis purchased three hundred and twenty-five acres of land in Union township, this county, on which he located in 1815. and there made his permanent home, subsequently increasing his holdings to about eight hundred acres, all of which be purchased at the price of one dollar and twenty-five cents the acre. Hle built a log cabin, cleared a portion of the land and spent the rest of his life there. Hle was a small man in stature but a big man in affairs. He was the father of a large family. most of whom died when quite small. Colonel Gaddis commanded a regiment under Washington throughout the Revolutionary War and In Inter years took great pride in showing bis commission and discharge, both of which bore the signature of his great commander, the "father of his country."

Rice Gaddis, the son of Col. Thomas Gaddis, was born in 1784 and died on February 11, 1853. He grew up on his father's farm in Pennsylvania and had a fair education for one of that day. He was a private in his father's regiment in the War of 1812, and came to Clinton county with bis parents when they came from Pennsylvania. He had learned the printer's trade in I'niontown, Pennsylvania, and when he came to Clinton county located in Wilmington, where he opened the first printing establishment in Clinton county and got out the first newspaper ever published here. This paper was published in partnership with Israel Abrams and was called the True American. The paper was issued weekly and in 1816 Rice Gaddis became sole publisher and editor. The paper was issued every Thursday at an annual advance price of two dollars In 1821 Rice Gaddis discontinued the publication of his paper and removed the press to his father's home, where he continued to do job work and to print original essays, while caring for his parents. His father willed him two hundred acres of the old home place and in 1839 he built on that tract a brick house which is still standing. He was not married until the age of fifty-four and his only child was Andrew R. Gaddis, the father of the subject of this sketch. His wife was Sarah ( Andrews) Pendry, who was born in Virginia, near Sweet Briar, in September of 1504, and who died on November 22. 1901. Her first marriage was to William Pendry and there were born to that marriage six children, four sons and two daughters, only one of whom is now living, Mrs. Mary Ellen Gullet. of Lima, Ohio.

Andrew Rice Gaddis was the only child of Rice and Sarab (Andrews) Gaddis and was born on the place in which he now lives in Union township. Clinton county. on May 23, 1841. He attended the Dover district school as a boy. and after his father's death, which occurred when he was only twelve years of age, he took charge of the home place. He inherited this place at the age of maturity, and, in 1874, built the home where he now lives. On October 9, 1861, he married Amanda Smith, who was born in I'nion township. this county, on the Port William pike, the daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Babb) Smith. Joseph Smith was born in Virginia in 1812 and died in September of 1865. He was the son of Levi and Abigail Smith, and came to this county with his parents, when a mere boy, from Virginia and settled in Union township. Hannah (Babb) Smith was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Babb, and was born in Clinton county in 1815 and died on February 11, 1904.

The following children have been born to Andrew Rice and Amanda (Smith) Gaddis: Ella, who was born on January 8, 1863. and wbo married William S. Lisle, a mechanical foreman, of Springfield. Ohlo; Mary, October 19, 1864. who died on November 23. 1882: Emma, August 29, 1866, who married George E. Barlow, and lives on a farm in Liberty

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township; Alpheus, the subject of this sketch; Laura. December 7, 1870, who married William Toole and lives on a farm in Richland township; Elsie, November 29, 1872, who married George Slicker, and lives on a farm near Wilmington; Ida, January 7, 1875, who married Oscar Cbrisenberg, and lives at Knox, Indiana; Hattie, December 25, 1876, who died on June 27, 1905; Annie, December 9, 1870, who married Homer Ray, and lives on a farm in Richland township, and Daisy, July 24, 1882, who married George Johnson, and lives on a farm in Richland township.

Alpheus Gaddis, the fourth child of Andrew Rice and Amanda (Smith) Gaddis, and the subject of this sketch, was married on January 17, 1805, to Rebecca Huff, who was a native of Clinton county, and who died on May 10, 1913. She was a daughter of John and Sarah Huff.

Alpheus Gnddis had no children by his first wife, but on January 1, 1914, he contracted his second marriage with Anna Durtsche, and to this union has been born one child, Alpheus Alonzo, who was born on January 15, 1915. Anna Durtsche was born In Gallion, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob and Catherine Durtsche, the former of whom is now dead, but whose widow is still living.

Alpheus Gaddis comes of a family illustrious for Its Industry and honesty. He is a young man of humble claims but sterling worth. He is a Republican in politics and is found always ready to serve his party. He can point with pride to the work of his ancestors in the cause of American freedom, and to their helpfulness in all of the humanitarian and progressive movements which have helped maintain that freedom.

WILLIAM M. BRIGHT.

How dependent a community is upon its internal commerce. How helpless we should be without the wonderful medium of exchange which has been evolved by man out of the experience of the ages for the convenient merging of the Interdependent relations of supply and demand. A local community is well judged by the conditions of Its com- mercial establishments and it may properly be taken for granted that all is well with that town whose business houses are well ordered, well equipped and well managed; conducted with a view to the best and most helpful accommodation of the patrons of the same. The merchants of a city well may be considered its ablest conservators, for upon them depends so much in the way of keeping the "tone" of the city up to its highest pitch. The city of Wilmington. the county sent of Clinton county, is fortunate, Indeed, In the possession of an unusually high grade of local merchants, all of whom ever have the best interests of the city at heart. Among these typically representative citizens, few are better known or more deservedly popular than is the amiable gentleman with whom this biographical sketch is to treat more directly in the succeeding paragraphs, a sketch so well meriting a pince in this historical work that the biographer takes much pleasure In here presenting it for the consideration of the readers of this volume.

William M. Bright was born near the town of Wittelsford. in Cambridgeshire, Eng- land, on October 24, 1862, son of John and Amy ( Wilshire) Bright, both natives of the same place, the former of whom was born in the year 1824 and the Intter in the year 1826. Both the Brights and Wilshires in Cambridgeshire were farming people and adherents of the church of England.

John Bright was reared on the home farm in Cambridgeshire and was married there. Fired by the impulse which prompted so many of his fellow countrymen in that day to come to America, he made several trips to this side-as many as five trips within a period of four years. Deciding to make his home in this country, on the last trip be brought his family with bim, the journey being made on the sailing vessel, "Colorado," the same on which he bad made his previous trips. On the return trip the "Colorado" went down. carrying practically all hands to a watery grave. Upon arriving in this country. John Bright and his family proceeded to this state, locating near the village of

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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 78

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1108

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108