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 79
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CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Goshen, in Clermont county. That was in the year 1868. Not being satisfied with their location there, the Brights soon thereafter came to Clinton county, locating on a farm near Martinsville, on which they lived, however, but a short time, a little later buying a farm near Westboro, on which Mr. and Mrs. Bright spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in 1888 and hers in 1892. John Bright was a man of large usefulness in his adopted country. He was a systematic master of drainage and during his residence in this county laid hundreds of miles of tile drains throughout the country bereabout. He was kept busy at this kind of work for years and gained a reputation throughout the county second to none in that line. Though reared in the church of England, Mr. and Mrs. Bright became attached to the Methodist church upon their arrival in this country and were among the most devoted adherents of that church in their home community in this county. Mrs. Bright was a woman of wonderful personality and was widely noted throughout the Westboro neighborhood for her cheery smile. her sunny disposition and ber devotion to all good works. She wielded a strong influence in ber community and the memory of her kindly ways long will be cherished in that part of the county. She possessed a wonderfully sweet and sympathetic voice and was more than locally cele- brated as an oral render. It is related that a great evangelist, a man of nation-wide note. once said, after hearing one of her readings, that he would rather hear Mrs. Bright's readings from the Bible than those of any other person he ever heard read from the Word. This bright and sunny charm was characteristic of Mrs. Bright, even in childhood, and in her girlhood, In the old home in England, she always was welcome among the great Indies of Queen Victoria's court, because of her sweet voice and, charming manner.
To John and Amy (Wilshire) Bright were born seven children, namely: Sallie. who married Emanuel Gaskell and lives on a farm in Clinton county, this state; Martha, married Andrew Frieberger and died a widow in 1893; Jennie, married Hon, William Harry Parks, a merchant of Dallas county, lowa, and one of the most prominent Masons in that state: Edward, a retired farmer, of Westboro, this county; Charlotte, who died unmarried; Ernest, a merchant, who was killed by being struck by a street car in Denver, Colorado, and William M., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch.
William M. Bright was six years of age when his parents emigrated to America. and he has a distinct recollection of the long journey over on the ill-fated "Colorado." He was renred on the home farm, acquiring an excellent education in the public schools of this county, remaining on the farm with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when be entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as station agent and telegraph operator. a position he retained for three years, at the end of which time he engaged in the dairy business at Westboro and Madisonville, marketing his product at Madisonville. This business he continued for nine years, building up u splendid trade. He then suffered a severe attack of typhoid fever and was confined to bis bed for several months, at the end of which time he found his business practically . wrecked and he was compelled to start all over again. Pursuing the resolution to engage In a new business in a new feld, he went over the line Into Clermont county and bought a butcher shop in Falenton. Starting in business there "on paper." Mr. Bright made decided success of his venture, gradually adding to his modest meat market other forms of merchandise until be had a quite extensive general store. He continued in business in Edenton for ten years, at the end of which time. in the year 1910. he sold out and returned to this county, locating in Wilmington, where he opened a fine grocery store. which business he has since continued with a large measure of success. Mr. Bright has a well-appointed, sanitary, bright-looking, up-to-date and well-stocked store and his well- pleased customers are his best advertisers.
On December 25. 1889, Willinm M. Bright was united in marriage to Sylvia Prickett. who was born In Edenton, Clermont county, this state, daughter of Hiram and Narcissa
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Prickett, both of whom are still living, making their home in Wilmington, Mr. Prickett being a retired farmer. To the union of William M. and Sylvia (Prickett) Bright four children have been born, namely : Mirlam Vesper, who married Allen C. Conger, of Lansing, Michigan, an Instructor in the University of Michigan; Floyd P., who assists his father in the management of the latter's store; Martha, a student in the Wilmington high school, and Catherine.
Mr. and Mrs. Bright are members of the Methodist church, in the faith of which their children have been reared, and they are active in all the good works of the com- munity, enjoying the highest esteem of all who know them. Mr. Bright has held several official positions in the Methodist church, and is a fine, jovial Christian gentleman. He Is a devoted home lover, regarding family ties superior to all other considerations in life. Being progressive in his methods and enterprising in business, he has made a success during his residence in Wilmington and has the respect and confidence of business circles generally throughout this part of the state, being regarded as one of the leading mer- cbants of the county seat of Clinton county.
SIMON GOODMAN.
Close and constant application and conscientious attention to the matter in hand spells success, in the common language of American commercial life. There are many practical examples in Clinton county of the truth of this oft-repeated rule, one of the most notable of which, perhaps, is noted in the life and career of the well-known business man of Wilmington, whose name the reader notes above. Simon Goodman came to America a poor immigrant lad with nothing to back him save those most valuable factors, a fine courage and a high will. Adding to these thrift and perseverance, he served his day of small things with profit, learned the language and customs of his adopted country, and has forged ahead until now he Is the possessor of a fine business and occupies a substantial and secure position in the commercial life of this county.
Simon Goodman was born near the town of Flatow, In West Prussia, Germany, the son of Herman and Eva (Drucker) Goodman, both natives of West Prussia, whose whole lives were spent In the neighborhood of the place of their birth, the former having been born in 1834 and died in June, 1913, and the latter having been born in 1842 and died on January 24, 1876. Herman Goodman was the owner of a general store in Flatow and he and his wife were devout members of the orthodox Jewish church, in the faith of which their children were reared. Three sons of this family are now living in the U'nited States, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Isador, living in New York City, where he is connected with the offices of Armour & Company, and another brother, Ben, who is engaged in the retail millinery business in Buffalo, New York.
Simon Goodman received his youthful education in the schools of his home town in Germany and served three years' apprenticeship at the tailoring trade. In 1800, while yet a lad. he emigrated to America, landing in New York City, where he remained for two months, at the end of which time he went to Niagara Falls, where for eight months he was engaged in work in a paper mill. He then came to Ohlo and for three years worked at the tailor trade in Columbus, all of which time he was carefully attentive to the manners and customs of this country, spending much time in perfecting himself in the written and spoken language of his adopted country and familiarizing himself with the institutions and traditions of the land to which he was preparing to give his entire devotion : also thoroughly acquainting himself with American business methods. At the end of his three years' service in Columbus, Mr. Goodman determined to enter business for himself and with this end in view opened a tailoring store in Grove City, this state. He operated this store for one year, at the end of which time he sold the business and. in August, 1895, came to Clinton county, locating in Wilmington, where he bought the
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Harrison tailoring establishment, which he ever since has conducted in a very successful and profitable manner. Mr. Goodman bas bullt up a fine trade in and around Wilmington and enjoys. in a high degree, the respect and confidence of his business associates throughout this part of the state.
In July, 1898, Simon Goodman was united in marriage to Bessie Isaacs, who was born in the city of New York, daughter of Charles Isaacs, who is a prominent cigar manufacturer in the city of Buffalo. Both of Mrs. Goodman's parents are still living. To the union of Simon and Bessie ( Isaacs) Goodman one child has been born, a son, Kennard E., a student in the Wilmington high school, who is preparing to enter business with his father, in due time.
Mr. Goodman has done well in business, having carefully laid the foundation of his present success by close application and diligent study of American business methods since coming to this country and is well entitled to the rewards which have come to him in his commercial career, a substantial position in business circles and the regard of many friends.
THOMAS MENROY BALES.
Each generation necessarily builds upon the foundation laid by the preceding genera- tions. According to the firmness of the foundation, the superstructure will he substantial or not. The future, of course, must be the judge of what character of foundation has been laid for the social, educational, moral and commercial edifice being erected by the citizens of Clinton county. However, from what the present historian notes of the high character, the determination of purpose and the exalted standards of conduct maintained by the leaders of thought and action in this favored section of the state, in their work of carrying on the labors of those who wrought so wisely and securely in the past, it hardly shall be doubted that the superstructure of the civilization of this region will be all that the present generation may hope for those who shall come after. It is partly the purpose of this volume to preserve for the future some account of the lives and the labors of those who now are doing so well their respective parts In bearing aloft the torch of civilization in this region, and it, therefore, is fitting and proper that briet biographies be here presented of those who are leaders in this noble work. As such a purpose would be but incompletely carried out without the Introduction of the names of the scholarly young gentleman who is made the subject of this modest sketch. it is a pleasure on the part of the biographer here to present for the consideration of the future historian a brief resume of the life's history of Thomas Menroy Bales, one of the most popular members of the faculty of Wilmington College.
Thomas Menroy Bales was born on a farm in Chester township. Clinton county, Ohio, on March 28, 1884, son of William H. and Cordelia Jane ( Faulkner) Bales, the former of whom was born In Greene county, this state, on August 25, 1854. and the latter of whom was born near the village of Paintersville, same county, on January 15, 1962.
William H. Bales was the son of Elisha and Margaret (Kiter) Bales, farming people, both natives of Greene county, the former of whom died some years ago, but the latter of whom still in living on the old home farm. The Bales family emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio about the year 1800, three brothers, one of whom was Ellsha Bales' father, having come through on horseback, carrying such possessions as they boasted of in saddlebags. They settled in Greene county and the family became one of the most substantial and influential in that section of the state. It was there that William H. Bales was reared, being well grounded in the practical elements of agriculture and acquiring such limited education as the schools of that place and period afforded. He married Cordelia Jane Faulkner, daughter of Allen and Elizabeth ( Hartanck) Faulkner. both members of pioneer familles of Greene county. and both of whom are still living on the farm on which the former was born, Allen Faulkner now being ninety-one years of
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age and his wife eighty-eight years of age, both retaining an active interest in current affairs and maintaining their life-long devotion to the Methodist Protestant church. They have been married more than sixty-eight years, their marriage. having been celebrated in July, 1847. Allen Faulkner is a son of Thomas Faulkner, a Virginlan, of English descent, who was one of the very earliest settlers of Greene county, where he became a man of large influence in the formative period of that now well-established section. He married a McGuire and he and his wife reared a large family, the numerous descendants of whom today are doing well their respective parts in whatever places their lines have fallen. The Hartsocks also are of Virginia origin and became a numerous and influential family in Greene county, as well as in neighboring counties, there being a large connection of this name in this section of the state.
Following his marriage, William H. Bales moved to this county and bought a small farm in Chester township, which he gradually enlarged as he prospered, until he event- ually became the owner of one hundred and eighty-five acres, all under excellent cultiva- tion. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church and were active in all good works In their community, being held in the highest esteem by all thereabout. Mr. Bales was a Democrat and gave a good citizen's attention to the political affairs of the county, state and nation, though be never sought public office, being content to confine his energies to those matters of Individual concern immediately at hand. In 1905 be and his wife retired from the farm and moved to the county sent, where he died on January 10, 1906, his widow's death following four years later, on March 23, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Bales had lived lives of fine Christian devotion to the common good and had a wide circle of admiring and devoted friends, among whom they were deeply mourned.
To William H. and Cordella Jane ( Faulkner) Bales were born five children, namely : Emery R., a well-known and enterprising real-estate dealer, of Wilmington, this county, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Thomas Menroy, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Allen, who died at the age of eleven years : Lorena F., who keeps house for her brother, Emery R .; and Ioh, who is an invalid.
Thomas Menroy Bales was reared on the home farm in Chester township. receiving his primary education in district school No. 9, which he supplemented by a course in the preparatory school at Wilmington, following which he entered Wilmington College, from which excellent institution he was graduated with high honors in 1904. receiving, in recognition of his high scholastic attainment&, an honorary scholarship in Haverford College. Pennsylvania, in which admirable old institution he Inter spent one year. Following this course, Professor Bales was engaged for one year as an instructor in the academy at Vawsalboro, Maine, at the end of which time, in the fall of 1906, he was called by the faculty of Wilmington College to the chair of mathematics in that well- known institution and has since been serving his alma mater in that capacity, his service having proved not only eminently satisfactory to the faculty, but to the pupils who are under his Instruction. In addition to his college duties, Professor Bales takes an active interest in public affairs, none being more deeply concerned in movements designed to elevate general standards in this community than he, and is now serving as a member of the Wilmington city council, to which office he was elected on the Republican ticket, and is doing well his part as one of the "city fathers" being accounted one of the leaders of that municipal body.
On June 23. 1900. Thomas Menroy Bales was united in marriage to Ada Probasco. who was born on a farm near Wilmington, this county, daughter of Charles and Anna ( Hadley) Probasco, the former of whom is still living on the home farm and the latter of whom died in 1914. To this happy union two children have been born, Mary Elizabeth, born on May 29, 1914, and William Charles, June 13. 1915.
Mr. and Mrs. Bales are members of the Friends church at Wilmington and are regarded as among the leaders in the congregation of that flourishing religious connection.
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giving unsparingly of their time and talents to the church. They also take their proper place in the social affairs of the county sent and are held in the warmest esteem by a large circle of friends, who admire them for their many high qualities of heart and head. Professor Bales gives due regard to the fraternal associations of his fellowmen and is the present master of the Masonic lodge at Wilmington, his active interest in Masonic affaire having made him one of the most prominent members of that ancient order in this part of the state. He has attained to the chapter degree and is a member of the council of the order at Xenia, this state. As an educator, as a citizen of fine public spirit ; in fact. in all the relations of life. Professor Bales has carried himself well, and none hereabout possesses in a higher degree the confidence and respect of the community than he.
ASHER CURLES.
Asher Curles, a native of Brown county, Ohio, a first lieutenant in the Civil War and. for many years, a teacher in this section of Ohio, was born near Fayetteville, Ohio, June 21. 1837, and was the son of Samuel and Hannah (Brown) Curles, who were pioneers in Brown county, Ohio. Both died near Fayetteville after having reared a family of thirteen children, of whom six, Mabala, Fannie, Hannah, Marlon, Mayme and John, are living.
Asher Curles was reared on a farm in Brown county, Obio, educated in the public schools and at the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. He taught school for many years and, during the Civil War, served as first lieutenant in Company I., Sixtieth Oblo Vol- unteer Infantry, having enlisted at Hillsboro, Ohio. After serving one year, he returned to his home in Brown county. Later in life, he became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Blanchester, Ohio. He was a Republican and served as justice of the peace for many years. Not only was be active in politics, but he was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1863 Asher Curles was married to Amanda Haines, a native of Marlon township. Clinton county, born on May 14, 1840, and the daughter of Mordecai R. and Susannah ( Rowan) Haines.
Mordecai R. Haines was the son of Isaac and Keziah (Woolman) Haines and was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, May 25, 1809. In 1811 his parents came to Clin- ton county and settled six miles north of Wilmington, where they purchased two hundred and fifty-six acres of land. In the fall of 1828 they lost their farm after having it nearly paid for. The following year they moved to Marion township and purchased four hun- dred and ninety-seven acres, giving in part payment one hundred and sixty acres which they owned in Greene county. Of this estate Mordecai R. Haines received one hundred and twenty-nine acres and was married on May 24, 1834, to Susanna Rowan, the daugh- ter of Jeremiah and Hannah (Greer) Rowan, who was born in Hamilton county, Ohlo. They were the parents of twelve children, Abigail, Zimri, Hannah, Amanda, Jeremiah, Salathiel, Granville, Robert, Merrill, Martha Ann, Keziah and Sylvester. After his mar- ringe, Mordecai R. Haines settled on the land given him by his father. Until the time of his marriage, he had attended school only three days in his life. He learned to read and write after bis marriage and was a farmer during his entire life. At one time he owned three hundred and sixty-five acres. Mrs. Susannah (Rowan) Haines died in 1875. Mor- decal Halnes was a Republican in politics and a member of the Friends church, although his wife was a Presbyterian. He died on April 15, 1901, and had he lived until May 25, 1901, would have been ninety-two years old.
In 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Asher Curles settled on a farm in Jefferson township. During the preceding years. Mr. Curles taught school in various places, especially In Blanches ter, Obio. Mr. and Mrs. Curles have been the parents of six children, Rev. Homer Grant, who is a minister In the Methodist Episcopal church, at Mechanicsburg, Oblo, where he has been for six years; Luella May; Osee D., the wife of Edward Brande-
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MR. AND MRS. ASHER CURLES.
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burg, of Arkansas; Elmer J., who is a farmer, and manager of a creamery at Blan- chester, lives in Blanchester: Carey Lee, who died in 1910; and one who died in Infancy. The father of these children died on January 9, 1907. He was a man highly respected in the community where he lived, honored by his fellow townsmen and respected by all with whom he had come into contact during his long life.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Blanchester and passed all the chairs
GEORGE E. CARROLL.
The late George E. Carroll, who, before his death on March 5, 1906, was a prosperous farmer of Clark township, this county, and a well-known dairyman, was born near Springfield meeting house in this county, on March 9, 1865, a son of Joseph and Mary (Bailey) Carroll, the former of whom was a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, and the latter of whom was born near Dover, in this county.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Carroll died when Joseph Carroll was a small boy. His widow later married William Burdsall and lived near Oakland, Obio. Joseph Carroll is still living at Harveysburg, and is a carpenter and farmer, still actively engaged In these vocations, although now more than eighty years old. For many years he has been an active member of the Prohibition party, and also active in the Friends church, of which he is one of the overseers. To Joseph and Mary (Bailey) Carroll were born five children. Mary ( Bulley) Carroll was a daughter of George and Lydia Bailey, the former of whom was reared near Dover, in this county, and who, before the Civil War, was active among the Abolitionists and lu the "underground railway" movement. He also was an active and earnest member of the Friends church.
George E. Carroll received his education in the public schools of Warren county, and in Wilmington College, having been a student in the latter excellent institution for three years. After leaving college he taught school for seven years in Clinton and War- ren countles, after which he engaged in farming near Harveysburg. After living there for three years, he moved to Clark township, in this county, and three years later pur- chased the farm of one hundred and sixty-one acres, where bis widow now lives. living on this farm from 1896 until the time of his death, in 1906. In addition to farming he was also interested in the dairy business and kept a fine herd of Jersey cattle. He had forty head of cows and used two silos during the period of his active career as a. dairyman.
On October 21, 1886. George E. Carroll was married to Cammie M. Townsend, who was born in Clark township, this county, a daughter of Josiah and Esther (West) Town- send. Mrs. Carroll's maternal grandparents were Peyton and Sarah (Hadley ) West, natives, respectively. of Virginia and North Carolina, who were married in Clark town- ship, this county. Sarah Hadley was a daughter of James Hadley, a native of North Carolina, and an early settler of Highland county, Oblo. Late in life he removed to a farm near Farmer's Station. All the members of the family were identified with the Society of Friends. Mrs. Carroll's father, Josiah Townsend, who was born on February 16, 1831, was a farmer by occupation and lived in Clark township. He and his wife renred a family of nine children. He died on November 18, 1892, and his wife on Decem- ber 22. 1991. She was born on March 25. 1830.
To George E. and Cammie M. (Townsend) Carroll were born seven children, namely : Inez, who was educated in Martinsville high school and in Wilmington College. is the wife of C. H. Hunter, a farmer of Clark township; Esther, a teacher, who lives at home with her mother, also was educated at Martinsville high school and at Wilmington Col- lege, while Willard, Glen, Cleve, Mary and Lucile also live at home.
George E. Carroll was an active Republican and was a strong temperance man, (85)
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