USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 54
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Andrew Davidson was born near Blarney Castle, County Monagham, Ireland, and came to Canada when twelve years old. After three years he made his way to Fairfield County, O., and settled at Cedar Hill, in the western part of the county. He subsequently adopted the medical profession as his life work. After preparing with Dr. Boersther, Sr., he attended the Baltimore Medical Col- lege and practiced until 1867. He afterward conducted a drug store for many years at Lan-
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caster, where he died at the age of eighty years. He was married at Newark, O., to Sa- rah B. Moody, a daughter of William Moody and a sister of a well known Methodist preacher, Rev. Granville Moody. She died at the age of thirty-six years.
William Davidson first attended the local schools in Fairfield County, later the Lancas- ter schools and subsequently Delaware Col- lege, where he was graduated in 1871. He then applied himself to the study of the law and in 1873 was admitted to the bar and has been in active practice in this city ever since.
Mr. Davidson was married to Mrs. Mary (Miller) Wilson and they have one son, Henry Weaver Davidson, who was born February 10, 1895. In politics, Mr. David- son is identified with the Republican party. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum.
DANIEL RIDENOUR, whose home farm of fifty-eight acres lies in Greenfield Town- ship, along the Carroll and Baltimore turnpike road, is engaged in farming and stockraising on this and also on his second farm, which is situated in Bloom Township, near Carroll, and which contains seventy-five acres. He was born September 15, 1870, in Good Hope Township, Hocking County, O., and is a son of Solomon and Phebe (Dupler) Ridenour.
Solomon Ridenour was born in Hocking County, O., and died there in 1908. His father, William Ridenour, had been one of the early settlers in Good Hope Township and the family has long been a representative one of that section. Solomon Ridenour married Phebe Dupler, also born in Hocking County, and of their children the following survive : Sarah, who is the wife of Yearsley White, and lives at Marion, Ind. ; Daniel; Lucius W., who
lives in Hocking County; Ida, who is the wife of Judge John Stoughton, probate judge, and lives at Logan, O .; and Boyd C., who is a resident of Rockbridge, O. The parents of the above mentioned family were members of the United Brethren church. The father was a lifelong Democrat.
Daniel Ridenour was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the public schools of Good Hope Township. Trained from early youth in the various industries which make agriculture one of the most im- portant of all the occupations in which men engage, he has proved, in the management of his own lands, that his teaching was prac- tical and sufficient, and is numbered with the successful farmers and stockmen of the county.
Mr. Ridenour was married September 15, 1894-in which year he settled on his present home farm-to Miss Ella Wilbert, a daughter of Jacob Wilbert, a well known resident of Greenfield Township, and they have three chil- dren-Florence, Bernice and Kenton F. Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour are members of the United Brethren church. Like his late father, he is identified with the Democratic party.
WILLIAM T. McCLENAGHAN, for- merly prosecuting attorney of Fairfield County, O., for many years has been a leading member of the Lancaster bar. He was born September 17, 1855, in Richland Township, Fairfield County, and is a son of William and Mary E. (Ferguson) McClenaghan.
William McClenaghan was of Scotch ex- traction but was born in Ireland, in 1835, and came to America in 1847, and settled in Lan- caster County, Pa. In 1854 he came to Fair- field County, O., where he purchased land and during the remainder of his active life he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. Although his
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early educational opportunities were meager in comparison with those of the present day, he possessed the natural qualities which, with- out material assistance, develop men and make them leaders among their fellows. His con- victions of right and wrong were positive, his judgment of men and events was relied on by his neighbors, and local offices were tendered him on account of this public con- fidence. He served for six years on the board of county commissioners of Fairfield County, and performed every duty which his publie position demanded. He married Mary E. Ferguson, of Scotch extraction but who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1827. She survived until 1896. They reared the following children: William T., Mrs. Sophia Stevens, Mrs. Catherine Swartz, Samuel H., Horace S. and Charles D.
William T. McClenaghan was the only member of the above family to adopt a pro- fessional career but all his early life was passed on the farm. He attended the local schools and later Fairfield Academy and from there entered the University of Michi- gan, where he was graduated in 1880. Upon his return to Fairfield County he entered the law office of Hon. Charles D. Martin, with whom he continued until he was admitted to the bar in 1881, immediately afterward opening his own office at Lancaster, where he has been in prac- tice ever since. He was reared a Democrat and has loyally given support to the principles of this organization. Mr. McClenaghan has been prominently identified with public affairs in the county and has served acceptably in of- fice, being elected city solicitor of Lancaster and remaining in this office for six years. In 1895 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Fairfield County and was subsequently re- elected. He is recognized as a useful and rep-
resentative citizen and one who has ever unselfishly worked for the best interests of his community.
Mr. McClenaghan was married in 1882, to Miss Lottie Swartz, a daughter of Rev. .. Swartz, a well known minister in the Evan- gelical church. They have one son, William S., who is serving in the office of deputy county treasurer of Fairfield County. Wil- liam T. McClenaghan is identified frater- nally with the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, while William S. is a member of the order of Elks.
OZIAS M. KNODE was a well known and highly respected citizen of Walnut Township, where he died January 9, 1900, his life having covered a period of eighty years. He was born February 28, 1820, at Sharpsburg, Md., and his parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Hammond) Knode.
Ozias M. Knode was left an orphan when young and was cared for by relatives. His uncle, Benjamin Yontz, visited Fairfield County at an early day and was so pleased with the prospect that he decided to make a second trip. He started on horseback, accom- panied by his nephew. Ozias M. Knode, on foot, with two split-nose bull dogs, and after- ward it was often told in the family that the boy on foot reached the proposed destination two days before the man on horseback. He settled with his uncle at New Salem and there followed the shoemaking trade until his mar- riage, when he came to the present farm, on which his wife was born. He operated it for several years and then worked at his trade in New Salem for two years, after which he re- turned to the farm and remained here during the rest of his life.
Mr. Knode was married January 8, 1846, to Miss Sarah Harshbarger, who was born on
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the present Knode farm, February 28, 1828, and has spent the larger part of her life here. She is a daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Valentine) Harshberger, the former of whom came to Fairfield County from Virginia with his parents, Abraham and Catherine Harshbarger in 1804. They acquired the whole of section 24, Walnut Township and were true pioneers. The mother of Mrs. Knode was born in Maryland and came to Fairfield County with her parents, George and Mary Valentine, in 1801. Grandfather Harshbarger left each of his five children a farm and the farm of Mrs. Knode was the one given her father. Originally there were 118 acres but eighteen have been sold but the other 100 acres still remain and belong to Mrs. Knode. She had but one sister. Mary, who is now de- ceased. She was the wife of David Watson, who is also deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Knode a family of twelve children was born, namely: John. Jacob, Eliz- abeth, William, George, Anna, Ella, Frank, Mary, Sherman, Charles and David. Of the above, John, Frank and Sherman operate the farm for their mother, carrying on a general business in farming and stock raising. They are all members of the Odd Fellows, the Ma- sons and the Red Men and all belong to the Grange, being progressive and enterprising as well as thoroughly informed agriculturists. The three brothers are Democratic in their po- litical views. Two of the daughters, Anna and Mary. reside also with the mother ; Jacob, the second son, died in 1911. He married Ida Aires, who survives, with one son, Russell. and they live at Columbus. Elizabeth is the wife of John Hoover and they live at New Salem. O. They have four children: Ed- ward (married first Mamie Cult, secondly, Minnie Alspaugh) ; Florence (married Harry
Stevenson and has two children-Dorothy and Hugh), Benjamin and Ina. William died in 1883. George has been twice mar- ried. His first wife, Ida Williams, left five children at death, as follows: May, who married Charles McClenigan and has six children-Cothran, Bryant, Mary Belle, Wendell, Neil and George; Olive, who married Frank Andrews, and has two children-Mary F. and Catherine; Ethel, who is the wife of George Meissie, and has three children-Harold, Catherine and an infant; Sarah, who is the wife of James Love, and has one child, Lucinda; and Ida, who is the wife of William Crawford. George Knode married secondly Ella Raver, and they have two children, Joseph and John. Ella, the seventh member of the above fam- ily, is now deceased. She was the wife of Milton Jenkins and was survived by two children, Clara B. and Mary. Clara B. was married first to L. Tress, who, at death left one son, John. Her second marriage was to Arthur Delaskman. Charles Knode married Etta Berger and they had two children : Willis and Dewey. David Knode, the youngest of the family, married Edna Speaks. Mrs. Knode has seen many changes take place during her long life here and can, tell many interesting stories of early days. Her memory is excellent and she can recall that in her childhood Indians fre- quently camped near the borders of her fath- er's farm.
DAVID H. LEFFLER, general farmer in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, O., where he owns a productive farm of eighty- five acres, has resided here since the fall of 1907, but was born in Rush Creek Township, September 20, 1855, a son of George and Jus- tina (King) Leffler.
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George Leffler was born in Perry County, O., a son of Peter Leffler, who had moved from Maryland to Fairfield County and lo- cated in Rush Creek Township. In 1859 George Leffler and his family moved to Hock- ing County and settled in Good Hope Town- ship, and there both he and his wife died. They were highly respected people. The wife of George Leffler was born in Würtemberg, Germany.
David H. Leffler grew to manhood in Good Hope Township and went to school there in his boyhood, beginning to work at farming as soon as his strength was equal to heavy tasks and farming has been his main occupation through life.
Mr. Leffler was married in Hocking County to Miss Mary Everhart, who was born there, a daughter of George and Rose A. Everhart, former residents of Good Hope Township, of German ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Leffler have one son, David C., who assists his father. Mr. Leffler is a practical, well informed man and performs every duty pertaining to good citi- zenship, but he has never identified himself with any political party, his preference being for perfect independence.
HARVEY MARTIN SAMSON, M. D., physician and surgeon at Lancaster, O., with office at .No. 107 W. Main Street, was born at Stockdale, Pike County, O., June 10, 1869, and is a son of E. V. and S. J. (Brown) Sam- son, of old Ohio stock.
Harvey M. Samson was afforded excellent educational advantages. He passed creditably through the Waverly High School, at Wa- verly, O., and later attended the Baltimore Medical College and Johns Hopkins University, at Baltimore, Md., and still later attended the Chicago University, taking a post-graduate course in medicine in that in-
stitution. In 1899 Dr. Samson established himself at Lancaster, where he has built up a large and substantial practice and has also become an interested and useful citizen. He keeps closely in touch with every advance made in medical science and is a member of the National, State and County medical societies and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Samson married Mrs. Zenath (Musser) Leitnaker, who was born at Thurston, Fair- field County, O. He casts his vote with the Republican party but takes no active part in public affairs.
WILLIAM WHITE, who resides on his excellent farm of sixty-five acres, devoting it to general agriculture, is one of the represen- tative citizens of Greenfield Township, Fair- field County, O. He was born in Good Hope Township, Hocking County, O., March 20, 1859, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth ( Ridenour) White.
Robert White was born in Lancaster County, Pa., a son of William White, who was also born in Lancaster County, of Scotch- Irish parentage. During almost all of his active life Robert White was a man of impor- tance in Hocking County, where he still re- sides, being now in his seventy-sixth year, one of the venerable men of Falls Town- ship. For over twenty years he was treas- urer of Good Hope Township and was a trustee of the same for a long period. He lias always been a stanch Democrat. He married Elizabeth Ridenour, who was born in Good Hope Township, a daughter of William Ridenour, who was a native of Germany. She died in November, 1907.
William White obtained his schooling in Good Hope Township and resided in his na- tive county until March, 1886, when he came
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to Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, where he has resided ever since. He has al- ways taken a deep interest in the public schools and for some years served as a director in School District No. 3, but other- wise has accepted no public office. He is a Democrat, having been reared in that party faith.
Mr. White was married December 27, 1882, to Miss Sarah E. Sheets, who was born in Good Hope Township, Hocking County, a daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Patterson) Sheets, both now de- ceased. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White: Elizabeth B., Carrie, Homer, Clarence, Robert, Rose, Elmer and Florence. Elizabeth B. is the wife of Orville Sheets, of Grant County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the United Brethren church at Carroll, which he is serving in the office of treasurer and is also superintendent of the Sunday-school.
GEORGE CLEMENT MILLER, who has been a member of the bar of Lancaster, O., since 1897, is a representative citizen and lifelong resident of Fairfield County. He was born at Basil, November 28, 1863, and is a son of Samuel W. and Mary Ann (Goss) Miller.
The parents of Mr. Miller were born in Fairfield County, O. In his early business days the father was a merchant but at the time of his death, in 1868, when aged forty-one years, he was a farmer. The mother survives and resides at Los Ange- les, Calif. George C. Miller is the third of their four children, the others being James W., Anna and Adeline, all residents of Los Angeles, in which city James W. Miller is an attorney at law.
George Clement Miller attended school
at Basil, O., where he prepared for college and then entered the Normal University at Lebanon, O. After leaving school at Leb- anon he taught school for five years in dif- ferent parts of Fairfield County. He then entered the law department of the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio. In 1897 he was admitted to the bar and has been in active and continuous practice ever since.
On October 29, 1902, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Mary Louise Beery, a daughter of Abraham and Louise (Bury) Beery, and they have one son, Donald Clement, who was born October 29, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the First English Lutheran church of Lancas- ter. In politics he is Democratic in his views, and he has served two terms as clerk of the Board of Elections. He maintains his law office on the second floor of the Martens Building, Lancaster, where he has a fine law library. He is identified with Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No. 48, Knights of Pythias.
JOHN T. GIBBONY, a veteran of the great Civil War and a well known and highly respected citizen of Greenfield Township, was born in this township, December 31, 1837, and is a son of Jones and Rachel (McCall) Gibbony.
Jones Gibbony was born in Maryland, as was also his father, John Gibbony, the lat- ter of whom spent the larger part of his life in Virginia. Prior to his marriage, Jones Gibbony came to Fairfield County, O., where he became a man of consequence, serving many years as a justice of the peace in Greenfield Township, also as township trustee and in other positions of responsi- bility. He married Rachel McCall, who
MR. AND MRS. ISAAC RIEGEL
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was born in Greenfield Township, a daugh- ter of Thomas McCall, who came as early as 1801 to this section.
John 'T. Gibbony grew up on his father's farm and learned farm work when the larger part of it had to be done by hand. At that time much of the farm machinery that now relieves the greatest toil, was scarcely thought of. In the second year of the Civil War, in May, 1862, he entered the Union Army, enlisting in Co. I, 90tlı O. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland and before he again saw luis peaceful country home he had faced death on twenty-one battlefields, including Chickamauga, Peach Tree Creek, the siege and capture of Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Stone River, Nashville, Franklin and others,-names which stir the hearts of all who still re- member those terrible days of conflict on the field and of anxious waiting at home. In spite of all the dangers that he passed through, Mr. Gibbony survived to return home practically unharmed, being dis- charged in June, 1865, and resumed farm- ing in Fairfield County. Later he moved to Barton County, Mo., where he lived for several years and then went to Kansas, spending thirteen years in the two States. In 1880 he once more became a resident of Fairfield County and ever since has lived on his valuable farm of 128 acres, situated in Greenfield Township. He is a valued member of Ezra Ricketts' Post, No. 246, G. A. R., at Lancaster.
Mr. Gibbony was married in Missouri, March 21, 1875, to Miss Agnes Winebren- ner, who was born in Noble County, Ind .. and ten children have been born to them, as follows: Rachel W., who is the wife of Frank Oatney, of Greenfield Township; Arthur G., who is a resident of Messina,
N. Y., Morris J., who lives in Greenfield Township; Maud, who is the wife of Alva Fetherold, of Logan, O .; Stella, who is the wife of Harvey McClellan, of Lancaster ; Alvin, Florin and Austin, all of Greenfield Township; and May E. and Leona, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbony are members of the Lutheran church. In politics lie is a Republican.
ISAAC RIEGEL, who is one of Amanda Township's leading and substantial men, re- sides on his well improved farm of seventy- seven acres and is one of the large landown- ers of Fairfield County. He was born Jan- uary 10, 1842, on the farm in Amanda Township on which his brother, William Riegel now lives, and is a son of Jesse and Katie (Hoffert) Riegel.
Jesse Riegel was born in Pennsylvania and was twenty-one years of age when he accompanied his father to Fairfield County, O. The latter settled on Turkey Run, Amanda Township, but four acres of his large estate being then cleared, which in- cluded what now composes six farms in this neighborhood, all of which he divided among his children. The latter were six in number and all are now deceased. Daniel lived in the northern part of Ohio; Jesse lived in Fairfield County ; Solomon lived on Salt Creek; George lived in Amanda Town- ship : Mrs. Solomon Stout lived near Circle- ville ; and Tillie married Erasmus Blue, of Amanda Township. Jesse Riegel lived for some years on the old homestead after mar- riage and then moved to Cedar Hill, where his death occurred, his burial being in Am- anda Township. He married Katie Hoffert, who was born in Pennsylvania and who was a daughter of Isaac Hoffert, who settled in lived in Missouri; Sarah, now deceased, was
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Pickaway County. To them the following children were born: Josiah, now deceased, the wife of Mr. De Arman: Katie married John Lawrence; Isaac is the subject of this sketch; Julia Ann died when a young girl; George F. lives at Lancaster; Mary died young; and William remains on the old homestead.
Isaac Riegel has been engaged in farming all his mature life. For two years after marriage he lived in Pickaway County and then came to this farm, on which he has a big sugar camp. For a number of years after coming here he lived in a log house but when he decided to erect a new one lie set about preparing his own designs and the result is a handsome residence that cost him $10,000. He has erected other sub- stantial farm buildings, from his own de- signs and he also designed the frame church building near his home. Undoubtedly had Mr. Riegel turned his attention to the study of architecture he would have met with pro- fessional success, having a natural talent in this direction. To his first purchase of land Mr. Riegel subsequently added the fol- lowing farms: twenty-seven acres of the McKinley farm, 201 acres of D. K. Keller- man's, thirty-one acres of Isabel Miller's, thirty acres of the Allen heirs' property, eighty acres of Ephraim Murray's, 209 acres of the Z. Glick estate, and two and one-half acres and a store property at Cedar Hill.
Mr. Riegel married Miss Susanna Reed, a daughter of Benjamin and Lizzie Reed, and they have had the following children : Benjamin Franklin, who died when aged twenty-four years ; William, who died when aged twenty-two years: Charles, who died at the age of 30 years, married Leota Fogelsong and they had one son, Lee ; Clin-
ton H., who resides on a farm a half mile south, married Nora Ross and they have four children-Susie Aldenderfer, Bessie, Talmadge and Helen; Leaffa Annette, who is the wife of Lewis Campbell, residing in Washington Township across the Pick- away County line; Minnie D., who died in infancy; Clay, who lives one mile east of the home farm, married Laura Aldenderfer and they have four children-Iola, Chester, Lawrence and Mary: Jesse Catherine, who is the wife of Amos Waites, living one-half mile north of the homestead, and they have three children-Mary, Charles and Clar- ence : and Orley R. who lives on the Lan- caster road two miles to the northeast of the homestead, married Rebecca Frettin- ger, and they have four children-Harold, Dorothy, Clara and Turney. Mr. Riegel has the satisfaction of having his children set- tled near him and to see that all are pros- pering. He was married a second time, to Mrs. Almira (Davis) King, who was born in Hocking County, a daughter of William and Catherine (Dozer) Davis and a grand- daughter of Daniel Davis, a noted United Brethren preacher who came from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio to hold protracted meetings. Mrs. Riegel's first marriage was to Jesse Otterbein King. To the second marriage the following children have been born : Syl- vester Carl, who lives in Pickaway County, married Ola Clark and they have two daughters-Gladys Marie and Mildred Irene; Wilbert Owen, who lives on the Kellerman farm, married Bessie Waites, and they have one daughter, Cora Esther : Flota, who is the wife of Ray Fos- naught, and they live on the Glick farm; Hazel, who died at the age of twenty years ; Ray, who is employed near Ashville; Roy-
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who is at home; Floyd, who died at the age of sixteen years; and Ruth, who lives with her parents.
Since early boyhood Mr. Riegel has been active in church work, the family hav- ing been members of the Evangelical body since the days of his grandfather, when the Evangelical Association camp meetings were held on his land. Mr. Riegel became a class leader when but nineteen years of age and continued as such for forty-five years and is still a steward and trustee of the church. In National politics he is a Republican but uses his own judgment in local elections.
HARRY D. WORK was born February 5, 1853. His father, Joseph Work, came from Ireland to the United States in 1820. Harry was the eldest son, by Joseph Work's second wife, Maria Dusenbery Work. At the age of sixteen Harry entered into partnership with Mrs. John Sears, in the carriage busi- ness; they continued together until 1886 when Mr. Work sold his interest and began traveling for the Capitol City Carriage Co. In June, 1889, he was married to Miss Fan- nie V. Wright, eldest daughter of Judge Silas H. Wright. Mr. Work was a man of sterling worth and irreproachable character, honorable and upright in all his dealings. He was also of a bright and kindly nature, that made him in social and domestic life, a model of unselfish thoughtfulness, and con- sideration for others.
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