USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 53
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THOMAS J. BARR. Fairfield County is fortunate in having a particularly fine board of public officials, and among the most capable and efficient is the sub- ject of this sketch, who has filled the position of county treasurer for the past five years. Mr. Barr is a man of high standing in his own community, one of substantial possessions, and a citizen who gives liberally to the support of schools, church and public improvements. He was born December 29, 1848, on the farm he now owns in Amanda Township, Fairfield County, O., one of the eleven children of Thomas and Hannah (Meyers) Barr; farming people of Fairfield county.
Thomas J. Barr was educated in the dis- trict schools and at Fairfield Union Academy, after which he took a commer- cial course at Miami Business College at Dayton, O. For the following 15 years he was engaged in teaching school mostly in his native county, teaching ten years in Amanda Township, three years in Hock- ing Township and two years in Washing- ton Township, Pickaway County. He then turned his attention to his 160-acre farnı, where he carried on general agriculture and dealt also in livestock. He has been active in public affairs since early manhood. In 1881 he was elected secretary of The Dutch Hollow Cemetery Company, Amanda Township, which office he still holds, and he also served on the school board and was four years township clerk of Amanda Township. In November, 1905, he was elected to the office of county treasurer, en- tering upon its duties in September of the following year, and through the amend- ment of the law governing the tenure of office, had an extension of office for one year. In politics he is a Democrat. Since
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1873 he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Amanda, the Chapter, Council and Com- mandery at Lancaster. He is a Past Mas- ter of Amanda Lodge and served as secre- tary several years. He joined Tarlton Lodge, No. 218, I. O. O. F., Tarlton, Ohio, in the spring of 1870, and when Amanda Lodge, No. 548, I. O. O. F. was instituted, he became a charter member and served as its first recording and permanent secre- taries. He and his wife and family are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Barr married Miss Nora Belle Strode, June 3, 1880, a daughter of Thomas and Isabell Strode, and they have nine chil- dren-Albert L., Clyde A., Ralph L., Mabel, Russell Strode, Wallace, Thomas Harold, Viola Bell and Paul Milton. The pleasant family home is situated at No. 135 E. King street, Lancaster, Ohio.
HON. GEORGE W. LAMB, for many years a prominent citizen of Fairfield County, O., and during two terms a mem- ber of the State Legislature, has also been a leading man in the affairs of Greenfield Township and of Hooker, O., in which place he is at present in business, having been identified with this town since 1878. He was born December 28, 1844, in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, O., and is a son of Peter and Catherine (Lane) Lamb.
Peter Lamb was a lifelong resident of Bloom Township and was a son of Philip Lamb, who was one of the pioneers in that section, entering land from the Govern- ment at that time, and was one of five brothers who located in Fairfield County. Peter Lamb married Catherine Lane, who also was born in Bloom Township.
George W'. Lamb was afforded excellent
educational advantages and attended Union Academy at Pleasantville for some years, after which he taught school for some four years and during this time was principal of the high school at Carroll, O. Mr. Lamb is a Democrat and has been an active and interested citizen since reaching manhood and his usefulness to his party and the pub- lic generally has frequently been recognized by his fellow citizens. He has served sev- eral terms as treasurer of Greenfield Town- ship, in 1896 was elected to the Lower House in the Ohio Legislature, and in 1898 was elected again to the same legislative position, in both cases proving himself an able and honest statesman. He has also served many years as a member of the Greenfield Township School Board and has been president of this body. In 1878 he came to Hooker and has served as post- master here for a number of years, and has filled other positions of responsibility. Since 1898 he has devoted himself exclusively to dealing in grain, coal, hay, tile, cement, fence posts and wire fencing, but for a quar- ter of a century previously he had also been engaged in a general mercantile business.
Mr. Lamb was first united in marriage with Carrie Brown, of which union there were two children, Edward Wirt and Odessa, the former of whom resides in Bloom Township, the latter being the wife of J. M. Brandt, of Enid, Okla. Mr. Lamb married secondly Almeda Fenstemaker, of Carroll, O., and they had one daughter, Leona, who is a resident of Detroit, Mich. Mr. Lamb contracted a third marriage with Miss Carrie Peters, who was born in Greenfield Township, a member of one of the old and respected families of that town- ship, she being a daughter of the late Silas Peters. Of this union there is a daughter,
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Catherine, who is attending the Ohio State University at Columbus, O .; and Alberta, who is a student. Mr. Lamb is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chapter, both at Lancaster, O.
HENRY C. SMITH, an honored veteran of the Civil War who now lives somewhat retired on his valuable farm of 147 acres, which' is situated in Walnut Township, Fairfield County, O., lying on both sides of the road and being partly in Section 4 and partly in Section 9, purchased this farm in 1881 from its former owner, Charles Heart. He was born January 16, 1841, in Walnut Township, Fairfield County, O., a son of Warren and Catherine (Peters) (Chenoweth) Smith.
Warren Smith was born at Penn Yan, Yates County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood and taught school and also learned the carpenter's trade. This trade he fol- lowed after coming to Ohio and assisted in the construction of many buildings in Fair- field County. He was twice married and lived to the age of seventy-five years, his death occurring when his son, Henry Clay, was sixteen years old. Warren Smith was first married to Lydia Cummins and they had three children: Stephen, George and Hester, the last named being the wife of Hiram Bolsley. All, including the mother, have long since passed away. His second marriage was to Mrs. Catherine (Peters) Chenoweth, widow of John Chenowethi. She had three children: Elizabeth, who was the wife of Jacob Culp, both now de- ceased : Joshua ; and Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of Noah Radebaugh. Mrs. Smith was born in Hampshire County, Va., in 1797, and died in 1881. Four children were' born to this second union, namely :
Allen P., who is deceased; Elijah G., who lives in Walnut Township; Laura, who was the wife of Jacob Radebaugh, both de- ceased; and Henry C.
Henry Clay Smith had but meager school advantages in his youth, but they were as much as any country boy enjoyed at that time and place. He very early began to be helpful to his father and by the time he was twelve years old was working for wages, by the month, for his brother Allen. Later he went to work for Henry Miller and was with this employer when the Civil War broke out, in the second year of which, August 19, 1862, he enlisted under Capt. H. C. Yontz, in Co. I, 126th O. Vol. Inf. He served faithfully until July 2, 1865, being mustered out near Washington, D. C., and honorably discharged at Columbus, O. At the battle of Spottsylvania, on May 12, 1864, he was so seriously wounded in the left leg that he was obliged to remain in a hospital and submit to treatment for nine months, and at the end of that time, when he insisted on returning to his regi- ment, he could walk only with the help of both a cane and a crutch. He took part in many other important battles, including Martinsburg, Va., the Wilderness and Lo- cust Grove, and in innumerable skirmishes, in which many of his comrades were killed or injured. After his long term of military service was over he returned to Ohio and as soon as his strength permitted resumed his former activities. He at first rented tracts of land near the old home and culti- vated them. Later, in association with his brother, Elijah G., he rented a farm of 150 acres which they operated together for several years. After purchasing his pres- ent farm he spent some time in improving it, rebuilding the residence and erecting all
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the other farm buildings. General farming and stock raising are the successful indus- tries on the place which is now under the capable management of his son-in-law, Charles Bright.
Mr. Smith was married October 15, 1870, to Miss Sarah Cooperider, a daughter of George and Irene (Gant) Cooperider, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Smith was born in Walnut Township, near the present home farm, where her parents set- tled early. Her father cleared off 160 acres of land through which ran the canal. He was one of twelve children to each of whom their father gave a one-quarter section of land. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith two children were born: Harley Marion, who died at the age of eleven years; and Lillie B. The latter was married first to Rev. Ira S. Snelling and after his death to Charles Bright, and they live on the homestead. Mrs. Bright had one child born to her first marriage, Ida Marie, who has lived with her grandparents since she was one year old. Mr. Smith and family are members of the U. B. church, in which he is a class leader and a member of the board of trustees.
ROBERT RUTTER, a prominent citi- zen of Pleasant Township, a director of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society and a trustee of the Fairfield County Children's Home, resides on the Pleasantville turn- pike road, Pleasant Township, on the farm on which he was born, March 14, 1871. He is a son of Samuel B. and Frances (Smith) Rutter.
Samuel B. Rutter was born in Pleasant Township and his wife at Lancaster, O., and both are now deceased. Samuel B.
Rutter was a son of Baltzer Rutter, who was of German extraction but was born in Lancaster County, Pa. From there he came with his family in 1815, making the journey by wagon and camping out by night on the way and finally settling on the farm which his grandson now owns. The fine highway passing the door of Mr. Rut- ter's residence is the much traveled Pleas- antville turnpike road but the same passing by his grandfather's log cabin, was an In- dian path. The Rutters became people of importance in the new section and one uncle of Robert Rutter became a member of the Ohio State legislature and served two terms, and his son, Edward C. Rutter be- came Judge of Probate in Fairfield County. The latter is a resident of Lancaster. Sam- uel B. Rutter died in 1906. His life had been entirely an agricultural one and he was well known. In politics he was a Re- publican. He married Frances Smith, who died March 26, 1909. Two children sur- vive them-Robert and Elizabeth C.
Robert Rutter attended the public schools in Pleasant Township and for two and one-half years was a student in the uni- versity at Athens, O., when he came under the instruction of the well known educator, President Super. Since then he has de- voted himself largely to farming and stock raising on the homestead of eighty acres. He is prominent in Masonry and belongs to the Shrine at Columbus, and to the Knights of Pythias at Lancaster. Both he and sister are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. Since 1904 he has been a director of the county agricultural society and for six years a member of the school board of Pleasant Township.
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CLEMENT V. BAKER, county treas- urer of Fairfield County, O., has long been one of the representative public men of the county, and has been especially prominent in Democratic political circles. He was born April 27, 1863, in Clear Creek Town- ship, Fairfield County, and is a son of George Staily and Rachel (Stout) Baker.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was George H. Baker, who was born at Hagerstown, Md., whence he came to Fair- field County, Ohio, settling in Clear Creek Township, where he was one of the first permanent land owners. He was married September 23, 1799, to Catherine Staily, who was born in York County, Pa., April 6, 1778, and was a daughter of Andrew and Mary Staily. She died at the age of 81 years, one month and 25 days, on May 31, 1859. At an early age she was received as a member of the German Reformed Church, and was "a dutiful wife, an affectionate and christian mother and a kind friend." Her husband, George H. Baker, had preceded her to the grave nearly two years before.
George Staily Baker, father of Clement V., was born in Clear Creek Township, Fair- field County, O., July 30, 1819, and was the youngest of his parents' children. He was educated in the backwoods school, near his home, where he stood at the head of his class, and he subsequently improved his education by a system of self instruction until he had claims to be regarded, for his day, as a very well educated man. He taught in the public schools for several years and was the first teacher in the Stouts- ville district. His regular occupation was that of farming, but he was also a fine mechanic-a good cabinet-maker and wood- worker, and an undertaker. While en- gaged in the last mentioned occupation, he
made all the coffins himself. Late in life he was a partner in business with his son, William M. Baker. He and his sons burned the brick and built the Custom Mills in 1871. He also erected the Baker Block in Stoutsville. At the age of 22 he was elected township clerk, which office he held for 35 years. He served as justice of the peace for 24 years, and was colonel of a militia regiment before the war. He also served five years as representative of Fairfield County, in the Ohio legislature. Few men had a larger acquaintance than he, and none were so well posted in the pioneer history of this part of the country. He was bap- tized in infancy by the Rev. George Weisc, and was confirmed a member of the Re- formed Church, in 1837, at the Old Zion Church, in Washington Township, Pick- away County, O., and it is said that at that time he could repeat the entire catechism. He was an active church worker all his life and was one of the principal organizers of the Heidelberg congregation at Stoutsville, and also in the building of the church edi- fice. He was ordained elder by the Rev. McConnell, in 1863, which office he held and faithfully filled until his death. The latter event took place on June 3d, 1896, when he was aged 76 years, ten months and three days. He had retired from active business five years previously, his retirement being induced by the loss of his beloved wife, whom he seemed anxious to follow. Mr. Baker was a plain unassuming man, of sturdy, self-reliant character and above the average in mentality. He was not a showy man, but got a good mental grasp of any subject that came before him, and his coun- sels were sought by many. His advice was always cheerfully given and was always on the side of clear unbiased justice. All re-
GEORGE S. BAKER
CLEMENT V. BAKER
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spected his capacity and his honesty was never doubted by those who knew him. He enjoyed good health all his life until within a few months before his death.
On May 8, 1845, George S. Baker was united in marriage to Rachel Stout, who was born September 14, 1826, on the Stout farm in Clear Creek Township, adjoining that of the Baker's. She was a daughter of Jonathan Stout, who was born in Berks County, Pa., June 1, 1800, and who died Dec. 29, 1884. At the age of eight years he had emigrated with his parents to Clear Creek Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, and he lived in the immediate vicinity of his father's original location the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Reformed Church. On October 24, 1824, Jonathan Stout married Miss Nancy Christy, daugh- ter of Abraham and Catherine Christy of Pickaway County, and this union was blessed with eleven children-four sons and seven daughters. Mrs. Nancy Stout died July 4, 1874. "Uncle Jonathan," as he was familiarly called, was one of those quiet, un- assuming men, who would rather suffer an injury than resent one. Politically he was an advocate of Jeffersonian principles, cast his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jack- son in 1824 and voted the Democratic ticket at each succeeding State and Presidential election down to October, 1884. He left three sons and five daughters, besides numerous grandchildren and great grand- children.
George S. and Rachel (Stout) Baker were the parents of six sons and three daughters, those who survived childhood being as fol- lows: Ephraim, a resident of Lancaster, married Mary Lathouse, who is now de- ceased. Amos, a young man of fine char- acter, died unmarried at the age of thirty
years. He was a sincere christian, and en- dured with patience and fortitude the long and lingering illness which his end. Wil- liam M., who has been superintendent of the Henry Brick Plant at Lancaster for a number of years, married Sarah Crites. Jonathan U., Superintendent of the Can- ning Plant and Notary at Stoutsville, mar- ried Mary Neff. Abraham, who is a car- penter, resides in Kansas ; he married Rosa Hoffman. Clement V. is the direct subject of this sketch. Mary E. is the wife of Dr. C. A. Kefauver, a practicing physician at Stoutsville. Mrs. Rachel Baker died, after a lingering sickness of eleven weeks, on May 19, 1891, aged sixty-four years, eight months and five days. She was a faithful member of the Reformed Church, in which she had been confirmed in 1845, and was a woman of sincere and earnest christian character.
Clement V. Baker, who, as above re- corded, was born on the old Baker home- stead in Clear Creek Township, attended school more or less regularly until he was twenty years of age and then turned his at- tention to general farmning and fruit culture, in which line of industry he has been emi- nently successful. He owns the old home- stead of fifty-five acres on which he was born, and has transformed the old farm into one of the most flourishing fruit farms and nurseries to be found in Central Ohio. As a scientific fruit grower he has attracted considerable attention and his big luscious strawberries have become famous. Mr. Baker has long taken an active part in pub- lic affairs. He served as township and school treasurer in Clear Creek Township for thirteen years continuously. always run- ning ahead of his ticket at election time, and has been an active member of the Dem-
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ocratic County, Central and Executive Com- mittees. On November 5, 1910, he was elected treasurer of Fairfield County, in which office he is still serving, having con- ducted its business with the same ability that he has shown in his private affairs and with unimpeachable integrity. He is per- sonally popular and, as already intimated, always draws out the full votes of his party at the polls. For twelve years he has been a member and a director of the Fairfield Agricultural Society, and he is identified fraternally with Amanda Lodge, No. 509, F. & A. M .; the Eastern Star; Scippo Lodge, No. 255, K. of P., and the Pythian Sisters, at Stoutsville.
In 1885 Mr. Baker married Miss Esba Tompkins, a daughter of S. M. Tompkins who, during his active life, was a farmer in Pickaway County. Mr. Tompkins is a veteran of the Civil War and since the death of his wife, in May, 1908, has been a member of Mr. Baker's household. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have one child, May, who is the wife of W. H. Crites, of Lancaster, O. Mr. and Mrs. Crites have a son and daughter-Vaughn and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the German Reformed Church.
BROOKS E. SHELL, one of the leading members of the Fairfield County bar, has been in continuous practice at Lancaster for the past fourteen years and has identified himself with the important public interests of this city. He was born in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, O., February 28, 1866, and is a son of James and Mary (Weist) Shell.
James Shell was born in Virginia and followed agricultural pursuits through ac- tive life. He accompanied his parents to
Ohio in childhood, and at one time was one of the most extensive farmers in Fairfield County. He died in 1901, at the age of sixty-three years. He married Mary Weist, who was born December 25, 1841, a daugh- ter of Jacob Weist. Two sons were born to James and Mary Shell-Brooks E. and William E. The latter is a commercial traveler for a hardware firm in Cleveland but maintains his home at Lancaster.
Brooks E. Shell was reared on the home farm and in boyhood attended the country schools. He later spent two years in the Northwestern University and three and a half years in the Ohio Western University at Delaware, O., completing his college course in 1889. Mr. Shell then became a student of law in the office of Judge George E. Martin. He went to Denver, Colo., in 1891, where he was admitted to the bar in January, 1892. Beginning practice there, he remained until 1898, during 1896 and 1897 being the police prosecutor of the city of Denver, Colo. In 1897 he returned to Lancaster and has been engaged here ever since, having a large and remunerative practice and having won a foremost place in his profession. In politics he is a Repub- lican and takes considerable interest in public matters.
On June 12, 1895, Mr. Shell was married to Miss Rosa Smith, a daughter of Samuel Y. and Florence (Wynn) Smith, who were residents of Galveston, Tex., at the time of Mrs. Shell's birth. Mr. and Mrs. Shell are members of the English Lutheran church.
CHARLES G. BUSBY, justice of the peace in Pleasant Township, who has filled this office for a quarter of a century and in his official capacity as well as personally is held in the highest regard, was born in this township.
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September 16, 1857, and is a son of John T. and Lavina (Smetters) Busby.
John T. Busby was a son of one of the early settlers of Pleasant Township but he was left an orphan at the age of fourteen years and from that time was entirely dependent upon himself. His successful and honorable career illustrated what industry. honesty and temper- ance may accomplish even under great disad- advantages. He learned the cabinet-making trade but after marriage settled down to farm- ing in Pleasant Township and was interested also in horticulture. He served two terms, of three years each, as probate judge of Fairfield County and for twenty-five years was a justice of the peace. In 1885 he moved to Lancas- ter, where his death occurred in 1908. He was a prominent man in many directions and his worth was acknowledged by his fellow citi- zens. For eight years he was deputy treas- urer of Fairfield County and served two terms as infirmary director. He was practically the originator of the movement which resulted in the establishment of the Pleasantville and New Salem turnpike road, and was also one of the company that first started the drilling of gas wells. Judge Busby was a Jacksonian Democrat. He was a member and generous supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lancaster. Of his children there are sur- vivors as follows: Clara C., who is the widow of James Robison, of Lancaster; Mary, who is the wife of James H. Smith, of Walnut Township; Samuel F., who is a resident of Cincinnati: Charles G .; James W., who re- sides at North Baltimore. O .: Susan, who lives at Lancaster ; and Myrtie and Sadie. both of whom lives at Los Angeles, Calif. During the Civil War, Judge Bushy was captain of a company of 100 men who went out to repel the invasion of Gen. Morgan, the raider.
Charles G. Busby attended school through
boyhood in Pleasant Township. later the Fair- field Union Academy at Pleasantville, and in 1884 was graduated from the Zanesville Busi- ness College. at Zanesville, O. In addition to his pubic duties he has carried on farining and stock raising on his farm of 103 acres, which lies near and northeast of Lancaster, O. For many years also he has been special agent of the National Stockman and Farmer, of Pitts- burg, Pa., and has also been similarly asso- ciated with other leading agricultural journals.
On January 20, 1885, Mr. Busby was mar- ried to Miss Ella I .. Scott, who was born in Jefferson County, O., and is a daughter of Rev. T. H. Scott, a member of the Muskin- gum Methodist Protestant Conference, and is the oldest member, being now in his ninety- third year. Mr. and Mrs. Busby have three children : Margaret B., Frank S. and Ruth S. Mr. Busby and family are members of the As- busy Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and fraternally is identi- fied with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, both at Lancaster.
WILLIAM DAVIDSON, a representative member of the Lancaster bar and an active, interested and useful citizen of Lancaster, O., was born at Newark, Licking County, O .. February 17, 1850, and is a son of Dr. An- drew and Sarah B. (Moody) Davidson.
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