USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
when he went into the milling, grain and livestock business and continued until he was elected sheriff of Fairfield County, in 1908, assuming the duties of the same in January, 1909. His success at the polls was a flattering one, as he had one of the largest majority of any county officer. He has proved a resolute, courageous man in the line of duty and his Democratic friends have made him their standard bearer for reelection-an almost certain event, as he is popular with all classes except law- breakers.
Mr. Defenbaugh married Miss Ollie E. Allen, a daughter of Lyman P. Allen, an extensive farmer of Amanda Township, Fairfield County, and owner of about one section of land, and they have two children -Blanche and Maud. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Sheriff Defenbaugh is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging also to the K. of P., B. P. O. E. and I. O. O. F.
HENRY W. SHOWALTER, a repre- sentative citizen of Carroll, O., where he was engaged in the hardware business for over a quarter of a century, has been very active in the affairs of the Farmers and Merchants Banking Company of this place and is treasurer of its board of directors. He was born September 20, 1845, in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, O., and is a son of Samuel C. and Sarah (French) Showalter, both of whom were natives of Virginia.
Henry W. Showalter was about one year old when his father died and his mother passed away a few months later. He was reared to the age of thirteen years by Mrs. Nancy Showalter, of Bloom Township, when he went to live with his guardian, Daniel Boyer, of that township, and re-
522
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
mained there for the next five years. He (Strocks) Mondhank, natives of Germany then started out for himself, being equipped and early settlers in this section, where Grandfather Mondhank died in 1909, aged eighty-seven years, the grandmother being now in her ninety-third year. William Mondhank, the second, has followed farm- ing all his life. He married Mary Ackoss, a daughter of Daniel Ackoss, who was born in Vermont and now lives in Logan, O., be- ing in his ninety-third year. His wife, the maternal grandmother of Dr. Mondhank, was of German ancestry. She died of typhoid fever when aged forty-five years. Dr. Mondhank has one sister, Minnie, who is the wife of Charles Hummel, residing in Fairfield County. with a district school education. He con- tinued to live in Bloom Township for some years longer, following farming and thresh- ing, and then went into partnership with John Robertson, under the firm name of Robertson & Showalter, in contracting for public works, and continued in this asso- ciation and business for five years. For the next five years Mr. Showalter was in the grain buying and elevator business at Lock- ville, O., from which place he came to Car- roll, in 1884, and opened up a general hard- ware business. He has been a useful and enterprising citizen of this town, his efforts always having been public spirited and pro- gressive and he was one of the leading pro- moters of the Farmers and Merchants Banking Company, a financial enterprise which has been most beneficial to this sec- tion. During its earlier months after or- ganization, Mr. Showalter's store was bank headquarters. While at Lockville, O., he was postmaster and since coming to Car- roll has held offices of a public nature and for fifteen years has been treasurer of Green- field Township. Mr. Showalter married Miss Mary A. Stansbery, and they have had one daughter, Carrie, who is now de- ceased.
REUBEN WESLEY MONDHANK, M. D., who is president of the Fairfield County Medical Society and identified with the Ohio State and the American Medical Associations, has a professional experience behind him for fifteen years of continuous practice. He was born near Lancaster, O., his present home, and is a son of William and Mary (Ackoss) Mondhank.
William Mondhank was born in Fairfield County, a son of William and Nellie
Reuben W. Mondhank attended the local schools in boyhood and then became a stu- dent in the National Normal University at Lebanon, O., this being the first Normal college in the United States. In 1896 lic was graduated with his medical degree, from the Ohio Medical University at Colum- bus, O., and entered into practice at Royal- ton, where he remained for eleven years and then came to Lancaster, where he is in the enjoyment of a large practice. Dr. Mondhank continues to be a student in his profession, making use of every opportunity to increase his store of knowledge and to perfect his skill. In 1903 he took a post- graduate course in a New York Post Grad- uate institution.
Dr. Mondhank was married in the spring of 1896 to Miss Anna Cruit, a daughter of William and Mary Cruit, residents of Fair- field County, and they have had two chil- dren: Mary, who died at the age of six years; and Chester, a manly youth of twelve years who is making excellent progress at school. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Dr. Mond- hank is a Republican and fraternally he is
523
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
identified with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and the Masons, being a Knight Templar and a "Shriner." The Doctor's home and office are located at No. 408 Columbus street.
WESLEY HOLMES, formerly presi- dent of the Farmers and Merchants Bank- ing Company, of Carroll, O., and a success- ful merchant there for many years, was born in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, O., in October, 1835, and was a son of George and Nancy (McDonald) Holmes, also natives of the county, these families being old and substantial ones in this sec- tion.
Wesley Holmes spent his boyhood in Greenfield Township, assisting his father on the farm and securing the education then afforded by the district schools. As his in- clinations did not urge him to an agricul- tural life he went then to Carroll, O., where he became a clerk in a store and continued in that capacity for several years, when he embarked in a general mercantile business for himself and in the passage of years be- came one of the solid and substantial busi- ness men of the town. He was also public spirited and was one of the main promoters of the Farmers and Merchants Banking Company, an important financial institution of Carroll which enjoys the patronage and confidence of the whole county, and of which Mr. Holmes was made president. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Carroll and served offi- cially in that body. His views on public questions made him a Republican but he was never aggressive and never desirous of holding public office. His death occurred on April 8, 1910, and in his demise Fair- field County lost a worthy and honorable man. For twenty-five years he was post-
master and for many years was treasurer of the corporation.
On February 4, 1868, Mr. Holmes mar- ried Miss Catherine Aldred, who was born near Wilmington, Del., a daughter of John and Mary (Tally) Aldred. The father of Mrs. Holmes was born in England and was eight years old when he accompanied his parents to Delaware, and he subsequently was married to Mary Tally, who was born in Delaware. Mrs. Holmes in her fifth year was taken to Perry County, O. In 1861 she came to Carroll, O., and has been a resi- dent of Fairfield County until the present, being now in her eightieth year. She has a wide circle of attached friends and is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which she and her husband were deeply interested together for over a quar- ter of a century.
CHARLES D. GILL, whose valuable farm of 406 acres lies in Section 29, Walnut Township, is one of the representative men of this section, active in local affairs and respected and esteemed by his fellow citi- zens. He has been a lifelong resident of Fairfield County, and was born in Walnut Township, August 17, 1863, the only child of Edward and Catherine (Waddell) Gill.
The Gill family was established in Fair- field County by the grandfather, Nicholas Gill, who came here from Baltimore County, Md. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and after its close settled in Walnut Town- ship, Fairfield County, securing the quarter section which includes the present farm of his grandson, Charles D. Gill, for the sum of $3,500. He erected the present buildings and died in the residence still occupied, in 1844. He married Elizabeth Ambrose and twelve children were born to them: Am- brose, Dydimus, Sarah, John, Nicholas,
524
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Thomas, Edward, Tabitha, Ann, Mary and two who died in infancy.
Edward Gill, father of Charles D., was born on the present farm in March, 1828. He was a farmer and dealt in live stock and frequently drove his stock over the moun- tains to reach markets. He married Cath- erine Waddell, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Dr. David S. Waddell, who was one of the early medical practitioners at Pleasantville. Edward Gill bought a farm near the old home place and he and his wife died there, his death occurring in July, 1873.
Charles D. Gill attended the district schools in boyhood, later the Reynoldsburg High School and then entered the prepara- tory department of Kenyon College, at Gambier. Still later he was a student in the Fairfield Academy and Delaware Col- lege. From choice he has always been an agriculturist. In 1892 he purchased his present farm from George E. Martin. It is a fine property, well adapted to both gen- eral farming and stock raising. He owns a number of valuable horses, including two of the heaviest-boned Percheron stallions in Ohio-Caprice and Cadix. He owns also the valuable Shetland pony, Billy Barlow. He was one of the organizers of the Millers- port Bank Company, in which he is a stock- holder. Politically he is a Republican and in 1909 was elected a member of the school board and for the past ten years has been a member of the Fair board. He has been very active in the Grange movement and formerly was master of the organization at Millersport.
On October 13, 1895, Mr. Gill was mar- ried to Miss Mary Etta Ketner, a daughter of Nicholas V. and Catherine (Warner) Ketner, and they have four children: Flor- ence, Edward, Catherine and Nicholas. Mr. Gill is a thirty-second degree Mason.
HON. JAMES A. HOLMES, mayor of Carroll, O., and serving in his second term in this office, has been a resident of the city since 1904, and was born March 6, 1855, in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, O. His parents were James and Matilda (Kistler) Holmes.
James Holmes and wife were both born in Bloom Township, the former a son of Thomas Holmes, who was of English ex- traction. James Holmes was a Republican in politics and he was a man of prominence and served as mayor of Carroll prior to his death in November, 1864. He was twice married, first to Matilda Kistler, and second to Susan Saylor, and of his children the fol- lowing survive: Henry, who lives at Car- roll; Nancy E., who is the wife of E. D. Kraner, of Pickerington, O .; James A .; Matilda J., who is the wife of Wilbur Luckey of South Charleston, O .; Florence, who lives at Pittsburg, Pa. ; and Rachel, who .
is the wife of Frank Groves, of Cincinnati. The two last named are children of the sec- ond marriage.
James A. Holmes lost his mother when an infant and was reared by an aunt, the late Mrs. Rachel Pickering, formerly of Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, with whom he remained until her death in 1893. He was educated at Pickerington and Lith- opolis. Farming has been his occupation and he owns 132 acres of valuable land adjoining Carroll, and formerly owned a creamery at this place. For seven years he has resided here and has been a valued and appreciated citizen. Formerly he served as clerk of Greenfield Township and in 1908 he was first elected mayor and was subse- quently reelected and is giving his fellow citizens an admirable administration from every point of view. He is identified with the Republican party.
525
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Mayor Holmes was marred January 10, 1884, to Mary L. Euans, a daughter of Mar- tin Van Buren Euans, of Portsmouth, O., and they have three children: Nellie C., who is the wife of Elmer Miller, of Green- field Township; and James Jay and Rachel Juanita, who reside at home.
REUBEN S. HINE, president of the board of county commissioners of Fairfield County, O., is one of the best known citi- zens of Lancaster and for many years prior to accepting his present official position, was largely engaged in general contracting. He was born in Fairfield County, O., March 17, 1835. His parents were Jacob and Rebecca (Kanode) Hine, who had five chil- dren. Jacob Hine was a native of Pennsyl- vania and came to Fairfield County in 1820, where he engaged in farming and resided until the close of his life.
Reuben S. Hine was reared in Fairfield County and obtained his schooling in his native place. He worked on the home farm until 1870 when he embarked in a general contracting business with Mason & Stone at Lancaster. He continued in the same occupation until 1906, when he was first elected a county commissioner of Fairfield County. His services have been considered very valuable to the county and he has not only been reelected a member of the board but since 1907 has been president of this important county body. In politics he is a Democrat.
Mr. Hine married Miss Mary M. Kanode, a daughter of Benjamin F. Kanode, and they have six children, all of whom are well established in life. Mr. Hine and fam- ily reside at No. 711 E. Wheeling street, Lancaster, O.
HENRY D. DRUMM, for many years was one of the well known and respected citizens of Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, O., where he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits and owned a fine farm of II7 acres, which is now the property of his widow. He was born June 3, 1829, and died in Greenfield Township, March 17, 1909. His parents were Henry and Maria (Hauchman) Drumm. Henry Drumm was born, reared and married in Pennsylvania and came with his family to Fairfield County at an early date, locating at Lan- caster, where he became a man of conse- quence and at one time was postmaster.
Henry D. Drumm was reared at Lancas- ter and attended school there and in early manhood went into the sawmill business and worked at different points in Fairfield County. After marriage he turned his at- tention to farming, living at first in Pleasant Township and moving from there to Green- field Township. He was an honorable, up- right man and one who conscientiously per- formed every known duty and lived in peace and friendship with his neighbors. He was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was long a member and was one of its board of trustees.
On account of disability Mr. Drumm was rejected when he tried to enlist for service in the Union army. When the Governor called for volunteers on account of threat- ened invasion of the state, Mr. Drumm was one of the first to volunteer. The com- pany, known as "The Squirrel Hunters," elected Kit Ruffner as its captain and each man took his own rifle, ammunition and provisions. The family still have Mr. Drumm's discharge papers, and also a transcript of the resolution of thanks to the
526
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
"Squirrel Hunters," passed by the Ohio Legislature, March 4, 1863, and signed by Governor Tod.
On September 18, 1865, Henry D. Drumm was married to Miss Susan Fetters, who was born in Pleasant Township, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Bright) Fetters, both natives of Fairfield County, and a granddaughter of George Fetters, one of the early settlers in Pleasant Township. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Drumm, namely: Mayme J., who lives with her mother; Sarah D., who is deceased; Henry T., who lives in Greenfield Town- ship; Cora B., who is the wife of Frank G. McElroy, of Indianapolis, Ind .; and Maud M., who lives at Columbus, O. Mrs. Drumm is a member of the Hutton Chapel Methodist Episcopal church in Greenfield Township.
HENRY R. PLUM, M. D., one of the leading medical practitioners of Lancaster, O., who has been established in this city for the past twelve years, was born January 5, 1868, at St. Paul, Pickaway County, O., and is a son of William H. and Mary (Smith) Plum.
William H. Plum was born in Franklin County, O., a son of Henry Plum, and died in 1890, at the age of forty-nine years. He was a farmer and stock dealer during the greater part of his life. He married Mary Smith, who was born in Madison Town- ship, Pickaway County, O., a daughter of Reuben Smith, and died in 1881, when aged but thirty-six years. Four sons and two daughters were born to this marriage. Ora B. is the wife of William Hickle, of Pick- away County. Myrtie D. is the wife of Dr. J. P. Warner, of Canal Winchester, O. Wil- liam H. is a livestock dealer, residing at Ashville, O., and married Clara Steward.
Horace W., who is engaged in the insur- ance business at Circleville, O., was for- merly county clerk of Pickaway County." Harley M. is a teacher in the Cleveland High School. Henry R., of Lancaster, is the second born of the family.
Henry R. Plum was educated in the pub- lic schools of Pickaway County, attended the Madison Township High School and in 1891 was graduated from the Ohio Normal University at Ada. For about three years after graduation he taught school at Water- town, Wis., and one year in a House of Refuge Reform School near Philadelphia. He then entered Starling Medical College, where he was graduated with the class of 1898. He then came to Lancaster, with which city he has been identified profes- sionally ever since. He is a member of the state and county medical societies and keeps thoroughly informed concerning the won- derful advances being made in medical science.
Dr. Plum was married in September, 19II, to Miss Margaret Kirn, a daughter of Jacob Kirn. They enjoy a beautiful home at No. 135 W. Wheeling street, where Dr. Plum also maintains his office. In poli- tics he is a Republican. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.
JEFFERSON J. WINEGARDNER, de- ceased, for many years was a respected resident and useful citizen of Fairfield County, O., and was a member of a family of considerable importance in this section and of large estate. He was born in Rich- land township, Fairfield County, the only one of his parents' family of thirteen chil- dren to be born in Ohio, his birth taking place in 1809, just after the family had reached here from Virginia.
Herbert and Elizabeth (Barb) Wine-
JEFFERSON J. WINEGARDNER
MRS. MARY R. WINEGARDNER
529
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
gardner, the parents of Jefferson J. Wine- gardner, were probably born in Germany, or at least were of German parentage. Be- fore coming to Ohio the father operated a farm and also conducted a hotel in Virginia, and afterward in company with his sons engaged in farming, they becoming owners of gristmills and distilleries. To Herbert Winegardner and wife the following chil- dren were born: Adam, Maria House, Catherine Geiger, Betsey, Charity, Susan, Sarah, Mrs. Zimmerman, Herbert, Henry, Anthony, Jefferson J. and Absalom. Of these Sarah married Auditor Reichley, who was a prominent officer during the Civil War. Although the family was large, a number of the children died in early or mid- dle life and when but four remained they entered into a strange agreement, this be- ing that none of the four should marry as long as two were living. This did not oc- cur until Jefferson J., was sixty-two years of age and the sole survivor.
Mr. Winegardner was married in 1876, to Mrs. Mary M. (Miller) Rader, widow of John Rader, who already had a family of seven children, these being: Anna C., wife of William Miller ; Esther E., wife of Enoch Langle ; Wilbur W., who is deceased ; Julius L., Merit McClelland, Milo G. and Earl M., the last named being deceased. This proved a happy union and Mr. Winegardner was permitted to enjoy a number of years of domestic life, surviving until October, 14, 1891. Mrs. Winegarden had no children born to her second marriage. Few men were more public spirited or wisely gener- ous than was Jefferson J. Winegardner. He may not unjustly be called father of the town of Rushville, donating land and en- couraging business enterprises and being particularly liberal in his gifts to the Re-
formed church, bestowing thirty-eight acres of land on it and donating almost the entire $10,000 required in the building of the hand- some church edifice. He was the owner of about 3,000 acres of land. In politics he was a Democrat and always cherished the memory of President James K. Polk, who was his mother's first cousin. Mrs. Wine- gardner owns considerable property also, including one farm of ninety-three acres and another of twenty-one acres, a fine residence on Wheeling Street, Lancaster, and her handsome residence at No. 662 East Main Street. She is one of the active workers and devout members of the Reformed church.
EDSON B. FAST was one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Greenfield Township, where he was a lead- ing citizen for some years and one of the representative agriculturists. He was born May 9, 1863, in Berne Township, Fairfield County, and died August 31, 1909, in Green- field Township. His parents were David and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Fast, who spent many years in Berne Township, where the mother died. The father has passed his eightieth birthday and now lives in retire- ment at Columbus, O.
Edson B. Fast was reared in Berne Township and in early life had but few ad- vantages, but he grew into a useful man and good citizen. After he married he re- moved with his wife to Paulding County, O., but in the spring of 1906 returned to Fairfield County. Farming and stock-rais- ing engaged his attention through life and he was successful in these industries. He left a valuable estate of 234 acres, which is ably managed by his widow.
Edson B. Fast was married February 21,
81
530
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
1889, to Miss Elizabeth Idella Beery, a daughter of Lewis and Mary (Swartz) Beery, both natives of Fairfield County. The Beery family was a pioneer one in Berne Township and Daniel Beery, the grandfather of Mrs. Fast, spent his life there. Her father, Lewis Beery, died in December, 1908, and eight of his children still survive, namely: Frank S., of Pleasant Township; Edward T., Charles E. and David H., all of Berne Township; Cather- ine, wife of R. W. Graham, residing near Lancaster, O .; Emma J., wife of R. T. Gregg, of Lima, O .; Elizabeth Idella, widow of Edson B. Fast; and Nettie M., widow of S. J. Fickel, residing at Lancaster, O.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fast four children were born: Pearl D., Raymond B., Lewis E. and Florence E., all of whom live in Greenfield Township. In his political views Edson B. Fast was a Democrat. He was a liberal supporter of the public schools and of the Methodist Episcopal church at Carroll, to which he and family belonged, and of which he was a trustee. This family and its con- nections stands very high in public esteem in Fairfield County.
MILTON JONES NICKUM, who has been a resident of Fairfield County, O., since 1880, for many years has been en- gaded in the drug business at Pleasantville and has property investments here. He was born June 7, 1841, on his father's farm in Maryland, and is a son of James and Mary (Jones) Nickum.
The grandparents of Mr. Nickum came from Wales but both parents were born and died in Maryland. The father was a farmer and stock dealer. He lived into old age, dying in his ninety-third year. Mr.
Nickum has an older brother, Charles, and a sister younger, Alice, both of whom live in Kansas.
Milton J. Nickum remained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age and subsequently attended a school of phar- macy, at Baltimore, Md. He then spent several years as a drug clerk. Afterwards he was engaged as a traveling salesman through the West for a distilling house at Shelbyville, Ind., and continued that con- nection until 1880, when he had the oppor- tunity of buying the drug store that was then being conducted in the little village of Pleasantville. He had the good judgment that future developments proved reliable, that the then small place would develop into one of importance and in this develop- ment Mr. Nickum has been an important factor.
He was married at Shelbyville, Ind., to Miss Ella Callender, who was born in Ken- tucky, and they have had two children : Ray, who lives at Rushville, O., married a Miss Lewis and has one child; and Daisy, who died in 1909, at the age of twenty-eight years. She was the wife of Ilef Young and was the mother of two children, Margaret and Miltella. The latter died at the age of two years. Her mother, in love and honor for her parents, had given the babe its pretty name of Miltella, a euphonious combina- tion. For fifty years Mr. Nickum has been a Free Mason and for more than forty years a Knight of Pythias. Politically he is a Democrat.
EMANUEL HITE, a well known far- mer of Greenfield Township, who has occu- pied his present farm of sixty-one and one- fourth acres since 1908, was born in Pleas-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.