USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 17
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On June 27, 1883, Mr. Gaskill married Miss Sarah E. Meeker, eldest daughter of Judge D. L. and Mary (Deardorff) Meeker, and they have four children: Helen, Mary A. Esther A. and David, all of whom are living with their father.
At the time of his marriage, Mr. Gaskill established a home on a farm one mile east of Greenville, which continued his place of residence until 1890, and he still owns it. Mrs. Gaskill was a member of the Presbyterian church of Green- ville, and valued for her efficient work in its behalf. Mr. Gas- kill is quite prominent fraternally, finding relaxation as a member of Greenville Lodge No. 143, F. & A. M .; Greenville Chapter No. 77, R. A. M .; Matchett Council, R. & S. M. In politics he is a Republican, and was appointed by Governor Harris a trustee of Miami University, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Samuel G. Hunt in 1907, and still holds that office, having been reappointed for a term that expires in 1917. He was elected a member of the electoral college in 1896, from the Fourth district; was a member of the board of education for the city of Greenville for thirteen years; procured the Carnegie donation for the Carnegie library at Greenville, and had charge of that building and also the erecting of the north school building, and is ever found ready to do more than his part to forward any measures he believes will work out for the good of his city.
Mrs. Gaskill was born at Greenville, Ohio. She is a member of the prominent clubs and societies of Greenville and mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. Her sisters are Mrs. Anna Lecklider, Mrs. E. Lawrence and Miss Mary Stallman, of Greenville. Her parents were born in Darke county, Ohio, and lived at Greenville for many years, there dying. Their
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children were: Frank D., Walter S., Mary C., Nan E., Vir- ginia G., Alice M., Harry W. and Sarah E. Mrs. Sarah E. Gaskill died in 1905.
On January 20, 1913, David L. Gaskill was married to Min- nie M. Stallman, of Greenville, Ohio. Their home is at 303 East Third street.
ANANIAS H. BAUSMAN.
Education and special training often bring success in life to those who industriously seek it, but there are a few certain lines in which a natural talent proves of still more value. Auc- tioneering is one of these and the field is not crowded. Resid- ing at Greenville, Ohio, Ananias H. Bausman, is not only well known in this profession locally, but all over Darke county his services are in demand and in many sections the announce- ment of his presence will draw a crowd of possible purchasers, who might not be otherwise attracted. Mr. Bausman was born in Greenville township, Darke county, Ohio, March 18, 1880, and is a son of Daniel and Susanna (Fry) Bausman, and grandson of John Bausman and of George Fry.
John Bausman, the paternal grandfather, was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, from there came to Darke county, Ohio, and became a successful farmer in Neave township, where he died at the age of seventy-five years. He married Esther Wenerich, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, and died in Darke county at the age of seventy-three years. They had the following children : Eli, Thomas, David, Daniel, Har- riet, Elizabeth, Fanny and Susanna. George Fry, the maternal grandfather, was born in Miami county, Ohio, where he mar- ried Catherine Ditmer. In 1890 they moved to Darke county and settled near Arcanum and both he and wife died there, aged seventy-five and seventy-two years respectively. He was a merchant. They had children as follows: Granville, William, Charles, Lawrence, Susanna, Nancy, Ella, Cora and Ida.
Daniel Bausman, father of Ananias H. Bausman, was born in Darke county, Ohio, and was reared in Greenville town- ship, where he subsequently owned 116 acres of land, on which he reared his family. He continued to live on his farm until 1906, when he retired and removed to Weiner's Mill, where he now lives. He married Susanna Fry, who died in 1911, aged forty-nine years, a member of the Church of the Brethren, to.
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which religious body Daniel Bausman also belongs. They had two sons: Ananias H., of Greenville, and Earl, of Greenville township.
Ananias H. Bausman was reared on his father's farm and in boyhood attended the public schools, later taking a course in North Manchester College, at North Manchester, Indiana. After returning to Darke county he began auctioneering, de- veloping much talent along this line, and he has found it very profitable, during seven years of residence at New Madison first becoming prominent and has added to his reputation since establishing himself at Greenville. He has additional interests here, being in the life and fire insurance business, with offices at Suite 5, Anderson Block, 507-509 Broadway, and is general agent for the Ohio State Life Insurance Company.
On October 27, 1900, Mr. Bausman was married to Miss Lina Keener, who was born near Palestine, Darke county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Milton and Rachel (Dickey) Keener, and a granddaughter of David Keener and Abraham and Polly Dickey. The parents of Mrs. Bausman were born in Darke county, where the mother died October 19, 1912, aged sixty- three years. The father was a soldier in the Civil war and yet survives. Six children were born to Milton Keener and wife: David, Nora, Laura, Hattie, Lina and Fern.
Mr. and Mrs. Bausman have two children, both sons: Fred- erick D. and Robert E. Mr. Bausman is a wide awake, earnest citizen of his city, county and State, but has no political as- pirations. He casts his vote with the Republican party. The only fraternal organization with which he is identified is the Elks. The family residence is at No. 432 Washington avenue, Greenville.
ANDREW J. KLINGER.
What a privilege it must be to be able to look back over a successful and honorable career of eighty-four years. How much has happened in that span of life to those who have sur- vived into the twentieth century-what changes, discoveries. inventions in the great outside world, and what equal progress has been made in the individual life of each one. In the hurry and stress of business, when every thought must be directed to the carrying on of necessary undertakings in order to sus- tain life and provide for the welfare of others, a man often
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has few opportunities to pause and remember the good gifts and compensations that line his way. In the natural course of events the time comes when these cares may be put aside, but in the comfortable retirement then entered upon he may find his happiest and most useful days. Who so well fitted to give advice and instruction as he, who so well able to point out the danger spot to others on the mountain he has already climbed, and, with the ripened judgment of years, who so well qualified to encourage as well as warn the younger generation. Thus the retired citizens of a community occupies an impor- tant place in its daily life. In this connection may be con- sidered one of Greenville, Ohio's, most respected retired resi- dents, Andrew J. Klinger, who, for many years, was connected with the milling industry. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, March 19, 1830, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Cassel) Klinger, and a grandson of Philip Klinger and of Henry Cassel.
Philip Klinger was born in Virginia, November 10, 1754, and was not only an industrious farmer, but was a patriot as well and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was married in Virginia to Barbara Ekes, who was born June 26, 1759. In 1811 they came to Ohio and settled at Alexandria, in Preble county, and died there. They had twelve sons: John, Jacob, Henry, Philip, George, Samuel, Jesse, William, Peter, Michael, Nicholas and Isaac. Three of the sons married into the same family. Henry Cassel, the maternal grandfather, was . also a native of Virginia and a farmer. He married in his own neighborhood and he and wife came to Ohio and were among the pioneers in Preble county. They had the following chil- dren: Daniel, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah, Rachel, Eliza, Rhoda, Allen and Samuel.
Jesse Klinger, father of Andrew J., was born July 12, 1791, in Virginia, and was a boy when his parents came to Ohio and settled in Preble county. There he grew to manhood and fol- lowed farming. Some years after his marriage he moved to Indiana and located near Fort Wayne on a farm of one hundred acres, where he resided until death. He married Elizabeth Cassel, who was born July 4, 1799, and died in 1859. They were members of the Lutheran Church. They had six children: Daniel, Joseph, Peter, Elizabeth, An- drew J., and Samuel. There is but one survivor, Andrew J., the subject of this review.
Andrew J. Klinger was seven years and six months old
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when his father died and after this calamity the mother re- turned with her children to Preble county, Ohio, and in 1838 moved across the line into Darke county, her farm being lo- cated near Verona. There Andrew grew up, an industrious farmer boy, attending the schools of his district during the winter sessions. When eighteen years of age he exhibited signs of the business enterprise, which later led him into large undertakings, becoming his brother Daniel's partner in the butter and egg trade, continuing in the same for some years at West Baltimore, Gordon and Ithaca, Ohio, living at Gordon for five years, afterward moving to Ithaca. There he engaged in farming for two years and then bought a grist mill which be operated for five years. He then left Ithaca and bought a mill at Winchester, Ind., which he conducted for fourteen months. In the fall of 1867 he sold out and! moved to Arcanum, where he ran a mill until 1871, in March of that year coming to Greenville. At this time he was interested in a mill at Dawn, Ohio, and also in a farm near Arcanum. In 1876 he purchased the Turner warehouses and built a mill in Greenville, which he operated for many years on Martin street, just north of the D. & U. Railroad. In 1885 he erecced his handsome brick resi- dence at No. 322 Devor street, where he has lived ever since. He retired from active business life in 1912.
On June 13, 1856, Mr. Klinger was married to Miss Caroline Wert, who was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, July 18, 1835, and is a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Hartpence) Wert, and on the paternal side her grandparents were God- frey and Sarah (Slater) Wert, and her great-grandfather was George Wert. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Klinger were George and Sophia (VanKirk) Hartpence, who had four- teen children : Peter V., John, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Enoch, Esther, Sarah, Mary T., Susan, Sophia, Hannah, Elizabeth and Nancy. The father of Mrs. Klinger was born in New Jersey, July 24, 1810, and died November 6, 1897. Her mother was born in Stokes county, New Jersey, October 4, 1812, and died December 25, 1882. They came to Ohio in 1838 and located at Ithaca, where the father followed farming and shoemaking They had three children: Caroline, W. Watson and Sophia Adelia.
To Andrew J. Klinger and wife eight children were born: Sarah E., Frances, Laura, Alma, Cora, D. O., Watson, J. and Peter Wert. Frances married E. C. Porterfield and they live at Greenville and have one daughter, Lois, educated in the
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schools of Greenville and college at Granville. Laura married William Thomas and they live at Ithaca, Ohio, and have one daughter, Marie. She married Percy Hamilton of Ithaca and has a son Jasper W. W. Hamilton. Alma married H. M. Walsh of Dayton, Ohio, and they have three children : Robert K., Agnes C. and Kenneth. Cora, who is now deceased, was the wife of Alva Harless. D. O. is a resident of Greenville. He married Onda Peffly and they have two children, Katherine and Kenneth. Watson J. lives at Dayton. He married Cora Burch and they have two children, Ralph and Richard. Peter W. has his home in Dayton. He was married first to Harriet Sater, who died leaving two daughters, Mildred and Helen. His second marriage was to Susan Dills.
Andrew J. Klinger has always been identified with the Re- publican party since its organization, believing in the prin- ciples it has stood for. Both he and wife are members of the First Baptist church at Greenville and is one of the oldest of its board of trustees.
Watson J. and Peter W. were educated in the schools of Greenville and later graduated from the Polytechnic school of Terre Haute, Indiana.
Mr. Klinger cast his first ballot for President for Gen. Win- field Scott, in 1852. Then, in 1856, for Fremont. In 1860 for Lincoln and has supported the Republican nominee at every national election since.
WILLIAM ELMER GUNTRUM, M. D.
While the claims of medicine to the gratitude of mankind have never been fully recognized, yet medical practitioners in every age and every country, have been regarded with the re- spect and esteem that has set them in a niche a little above their fellow citizens and that they have not been accorded all that is their due, must, in large measure be attributed to ig- norance and selfishness. There is no profession in which such absolute accuracy of knowledge must be possessed, and none in which its practitioners must be so courageous, so persistent and so disinterested as to personality. Greenville, Ohio, has men of this noble type and in this connection is noted Dr. William Elmer Guntrum. Dr. Guntrum was born in Green- ville township, just north of Greenville, Ohio, his father's fer-
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tile farm lying on the Versailles turnpike road, October 13, 1863, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Jamison) Guntrum.
The paternal grandfather of Dr. Guntrum was born and reared in Pennsylvania and there married Martha Gingrich. They came to Darke county, Ohio, when this section was emerging from its wilderness days, and made their first home amid the great trees of a forest that stretched for many miles beyond. Grandfather Guntrum developed a productive farm and was a valuable man in his community. Both he and wife died on the scene of their labors, about 1865. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Guntrum was another early settler of Darke county, John Jamison by name. With his first wife, the grand- mother of Dr. Guntrum, he came to Greenville township when Indians still lived on its frontier.
John Guntrum, father of Dr. Guntrum, was born and reared in Darke county, Ohio. During his earlier years he followed farming and later, in Greenville township, he was engaged in the meat business for a number of years, but continued to re- side on his farm near Greenville. Still later he removed to Piqua, Ohio, where his death occurred October 6, 1903, his age being sixty-three years. He married Rebecca Jamison, who still survives, and the following children were born to them : William Elmer; Barbara, who is the wife of Luther Skeggs, of Piqua, Ohio; Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of Levi Rodabaugh, of Piqua; Laura Jane and Flora A., twins, the former of whom is the wife of George A. Wolaver, residing near Piqua, and the latter of whom is the wife of Enos Creak- baum, of Dayton, Ohio; and Hester R., who is the wife of Jesse Carr, of Piqua. The mother of the above family is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William Elmer Guntrum spent his boyhood on his father's farm, a privilege he now appreciates on account of the health- ful activities it called into play, and after attending the dis- trict school, became a student in the Greenville high school. After some preparation he then entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, in 1889, where he completed his first course in medicine, subsequently taking a second course in the Starling Medical College at Columbus, returning to the Medical College of Ohio in 1893 to graduate. He entered into medical practice in the village of Stelvideo, where there was a favorable opening at the time and remained there for seven years, in 1900 coming to Greenville, finding in this wider field more opportunity to exercise his skill and to add to his profes-
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sional usefulness. Dr. Guntrum has accomplished much, but still remains a student, taking an enthusiastic interest in every- thing pertaining to his science, a subscriber and occasional contributor to all the leading medical publications, and is a member of the county and State medical bodies and of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Guntrum was married May 1, 1904, to Miss Maud Rupe, who was born near Palestine, in Darke county, Ohio, a daugh- ter of Martin and Susan (Brooks) Rupe, both of whom are de- ceased.
In the well-known fraternal body, the Improved Order of Red Men, Dr. Guntrum is prominent, being one of the charter members of the organization at Greenville. He belongs also to the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of professional bear- ing but of genial, courteous manner, and he is pleasant and companionable with all his fellow citizens. In large measure he is a self-made man and takes justifiable pride in this fact and has often given encouragement to young men desiring an education by telling them of his own struggles in young manhood. Politically, Doctor Guntrum is a Democrat.
CHARLES R. MUSSON.
Charles R. Musson is a man whose colleagues upon news- paper work admit that he possesses industry, zeal, a real love of his work, clever wit, and an individual style, combined with a high ideal of journalism to which he subordinates any desire for material advancement which may conflict with his prin- ciples. These qualities have placed him in the editorial chair of the Arcanum Enterprise of Arcanum, Ohio. He was born at St. Paris, Champaign county, Ohio, October 31, 1855, a son of Dr. John J. and Caroline (Rogers) Musson, and grandson of John Musson, and Charles and Jane (Chambers) Rogers. John Musson and his wife were born in Virginia, but became pioneers of Highland county, Ohio, where he died when still a comparatively young man. His widow survived him for nine years, when she, too, passed away. John J. Musson was their only child. The reason for the family migration from Virginia to Ohio was the feeling entertained by James Mus- son towards the slavery question. Although his people had been slave owners for many years, and he inherited some, he
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could not feel that the practice was right, and freed those who had come to him, and made his way to another State where he would not be compelled to go against his conscien- tious scruples. Charles Rogers, the maternal grandfather of Charles R. Musson was a native of New Jersey, where his wife was also born. By trade he was a carriage builder, but when he and his wife came to Champaign county, Ohio, he did some farming. His death occurred in his new home when he was eighty-four years old, his wife having died at the age of fifty years. They had three children: Caroline, Charles L. and John S.
Dr. John J. Musson was a native of Ohio, but his wife was born in New Jersey. Early deciding upon a medical career, he took a course at Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated, and then practiced at St. Paris, Ohio, for half a century, dying there in 1899, aged over seventy years. His wife died at the same place January 13, 1873, aged forty-one years, firm in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she was an earnest member. Doctor Musson was a Mason. At one time he represented his district in which Champaign county was included, in the State Legislature, held various local offices, and had charge of the inspection of the internal revenue office, department of Ohio. He and his wife, who had come to Ohio in young girlhood, had five children: Ada B., who resides at Washburn, N. D., having been one of the early teachers at that point; Charles R., whose name heads this review; Mary, who is the widow of D. L. Glendenning of Flint, Mich .; John L., who resides at Washburn, N. D., and Callie, who resides at Los Angeles, Cal.
Charles R. Musson was reared at St. Paris, Ohio, and edu- cated in its public schools. Following his leaving school, he began learning to be a printer with the St. Paris Erie Dis- patch, later having charge of it from 1874 to 1889. In the lat- ter year he came to Arcanum, Ohio, buying the Arcanum En- terprise, which he has issued continuously ever since. Prior to locating at Arcanum he studied law for two years, but has never practiced, but his knowledge gained in his reading along this line has broadened his outlook and his range of in- formation. His newspaper occupies a recognized place among those devoted to the support and spread of democratic prin- ciples, for Mr. Musson is a stanch Democrat. He was post- office inspector under President Cleveland for two years, and superintendent of printing at the Soldiers and Sailors' Home
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at Xenia, Ohio. Locally he has held some of the municipal offices, and is a man whose devotion to his party and his de- sire to secure the progressive improvement of his community, is genuine and forceful. On April 29, 1880, Charles R. Musson was married to Miss Gertrude Snyder, a daughter of John and Caroline (McGrew) Snyder, and they had five children: Sam- uel J., who is in the treasurer's office of the National Cash Register at Dayton, Ohio, married Ida Klugel, and they have a son, Robert; Florence A. married A. C. Crossman, they live at Detroit, Mich., and have a daughter, Gertrude; Marie J., Ruth A. and Mabel C., the last three of whom live at home.
Mrs. Musson was born at Westville, Champaign county, Ohio, March 16, 1858. Her father was born in Ohio, and her mother in Indiana, and both are now deceased. They had seven children, as follows: Annie, Gertrude, Emma, Rosa, Charles, Harry and Frank. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Musson was Daniel Snyder and he and his wife had a large family. The maternal grandparents died so long ago that a record of their lives is lost. Mrs. Musson died June 24, 1911, aged fifty-three years. She was a fervent member of the Uni- versalist church.
CHARLES O. HOFFMAN.
During the more than twelve years that Charles O. Hoffman has served Arcanum as one of its reliable and conscientious druggists, he has proved his worth as a citizen, and his skill as a pharmacist. The druggist of today has to be a carefully trained man, his course extending over a longer period even than that of the physician, and Mr. Hoffman measures up to every standard for he appreciates the responsibility resting upon him, and his duty to the city where he has lived during the greater part of his business career. He was born at West Manchester, Preble county, Ohio, October 9, 1875, a son of John W. and Julia (Banfill) Hoffman, and grandson of John P. and Mary Ann Banfill. The paternal grandfather was born in Indiana, where he married Julia Richards, also a native of that State, and they came to Preble county, Ohio, at an early day, where he died. The grandmother died quite recently at Gordon, Ohio. During his lifetime they were farming people and so brought up their children who were as follows: John W., William, Alice and Emma. John P. Banfill and his wife
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were natives of Ohio, who lived during their married life in Preble county this same State, devoting their energies to farming. The grandfather died during middle life, but the grandmother survives, living at West Manchester, Ohio, be- ing now nearly eighty years old. These grandparents had the following children : Julia, Clara, Albert, Austin, Flora, Della, Alma, Ernest, Elsie and Harvey.
Both John W. Hoffman and his wife were born in Preble county, Ohio, where they were farming people. At present he resides at Eaton, Ohio, his wife having died in 1905, aged forty-eight years. In religious belief she was a Universalist. For eight years John W. Hoffman served Preble county as sheriff and was a fearless and conscientious official. The chil- dren born to him and his wife were as follows: Charles O. and Major C. of Dayton, Ohio, who lived to maturity, and five who died in childhood.
Charles O. Hoffman was reared on his father's farming property in Preble county, Ohio, until he was thirteen years old, and from then on resided at West Manchester until he attained to years of discretion, and during this period he en- joyed the advantages offered first by the district schools, and later the public schools, being the first graduate of the West Manchester high school, leaving that institution in 1893. For the following three years he taught school, and then entered the school of pharmacy of Purdue University, from which he was graduated in 1899. For the next year he was connected with a drug store at Dayton, Ohio, and for one year was a member of a co-partnership in a drug store at Eaton, Ohio. In 1901, seeing an excellent opening at Arcanum, he came to this city, and bought the drug store then owned by Hamiel & Johnson, since which time he has been conducting it in a manner that makes for successful business. During the time he has been the proprietor of this store, he has made many improvements, and now has his fittings and appointments of a character to command admiration, as well as facilitate the handling of business.
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