USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 62
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Mr. Wooster was married first to Miss Elsie Mesnard, who is survived by one child, Chalmers. The latter married Miss Alice Sims and they have three children- Evelyn, Mildred and Verna. Mr. Wooster's second marriage was to Miss Dora A. Smurr, a daughter of Charles Smurr, who is engaged in carpenter work and the build- ing trade at Basil. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wooster-George and Maric. They are members of the Luth-
eran church. Politically Mr. Wooster is a Democrat. For a number of years he has been an Odd Fellow, attending the lodge at I'leasantville.
JOHN W. TRUE, for many years a suc- cessful farmer both in Athens and Fairfield Counties, O., was a highly respected citi- zen in both sections, in which he and family became well known. He was born in Athens County, O., October 18, 1850, and died on his farm in Liberty Township, Fair- field County, April 10, 1899, aged forty- eight years, five months and twenty-three days. He was a son of Austin and Jane (Fuller) True.
John W. True was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools until old enough to leave him, afterward having collegiate advantages near Columbus. For nineteen years he was engaged in farming in Athens County and then, in 1883, came to Fairfield County, and here he again en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, continuing until his death, at which time he owned 150 acres of land. He was a member of the Church of Christ. In 1873 he was married to Miss Mattie Maxwell, and the following children were born to them: Elfie J., who is the wife of A. J. Brown, of Pueblo, Colo., and they have two children-Murriel Grace and Lorene: Laura E., who married Wil- liam Gilmore, of Liberty Township, and they have two children, Harold True, and Dorwin: Lydia O., who married Austin Myers, of Cleveland, and they have one son, Leland: Austin R., married Nellie Geiger, he is an instructor in electricity in an In- dian Agency School at Warm Springs, Ore- gon ; and Edith, who is the wife of Clifford R. Jolly and they have two children- Hulda and Helen. They live at Jamestown,
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North Dakota, and he is a telegraph operator.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. True has carried on farming operations for almost ten years, owning sixty acres, and has proved that her sex in no way stands in the way of success. Her late husband was noted for his ready hospitality and this family feature is continued. Mrs. True as an agriculturist is progressive and enter- prising and takes a just pride in the fine yeild of her fields and herds. In politics Mr. True was a Republican and while living in Athens County served efficiently in numerous public offices. He was an Odd Fellow. Mrs. True belongs to the White Ribbon and Rebecca orders and the Grange and Austin is a K. of P. Mrs. True is a member of the M. E. Church of Basil, Ohio.
H. M. SCHOLL, a prosperous farmer who owns eighty acres of well improved land situated in Sections 20 and 21. Rush Creek Township, was born in Hocking County, O., January 22, 1871, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Shaw) Scholl, and a grandson of Mathias Scholl.
Grandfather Mathias Scholl was born in Wertemberg, Germany, and was a young man when he came to the United States. He helped to grade the first steam railroad track between Baltimore and Ellicott's mill, and often told of witnessing a race between the railroad and the stage coach. In 1830 he moved to Lancaster, O., and worked on the canal then in course of construction and assisted to dig out stumps that then stood in the main street of Lancaser. From there he moved to Rush Creek Township, Fair- field County, where he lived until 1842, when he removed to Hocking County and settled on the place where his son Samuel
and grandson, H. M., were subsequently born. His death occurred there when he was seventy-eight years of age. In Ger- many he had married Christiana Weidner and when they left Germany they had one child. Another was born on the passage (both now deceased), while seven more were born on American soil, five in this county and two in Hocking County. They were members of the Lutheran church.
Samuel Scholl was reared in Hocking County and there married Elizabeth Shaw, a daughter of Joseph and Phebe Shaw. They became the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living and three of these live in Fairfield County-W. J., H. M., and Lorena S., who is the wife of J. H. Stuart. All have homes in Section 21, Rush Creek Township. In 1903, Samuel Scholl sold his farm in Hocking County and bought six- teen acres in Fairfield County, where his wife died in 1909. Both were members of ' the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Samuel Scholl is a Democrat and while residing in Hocking County served as school director and road supervisor and for twelve years was treasurer of his township.
After his own school days were over, H. M. Scholl taught school for eight terms in Hocking County. In April, 1899, he came to Fairfield County and bought his present farm in partnership with his father and later purchased the latter's interest. For some three years he hired farmers for his land and engaged in teaming himself, but since his marriage he has managed the place with much success, bringing his land to a high state of production and making improve- ments in every direction. Mr. Scholl has two fine orchards of mixed fruit and there is a five-barrel oil well on the place. He has put down a large amount of tiling, has
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enlarged his building and has brought modern methods into his agricultural opera- tions with good effect. He is a member of the local Grange and the M. W. of A., at Rock Island, Ill.
Mr. Scholl was married May 16, 1896, to Miss Mary H. Palmer, who was born in Hocking County, O., a daughter of Augus- tine and Barbara Palmer, and they have two children, Roy S. and M. Dow. Mr. and Mrs. Scholl are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bremen. He is a stock- holder in the First National Bank of Bre- men. Mr. Scholl owns a five passenger Overland automobile and finds pleasant recreation for himself and family in its use.
W. F. ALFORD, who resides on his well improved farm of 101 acres, which is situ- ated in Rush Creek Township, two miles west of Bremen, was born in Richland Township, Fairfield County, O., in 1848, and is a son of R. P. and Ann Jemima (Kilgore) Alford. R. P. Alford was born in Mifflin County, Pa., but he married in Fairfield County, where the Kilgores were early settlers. They became parents of eight children, W. F. Alford being the fourth in order of birth.
W. F. Alford attended the country schools in boyhood and later the Fairfield Union Academy, a well known educational institution in its day, and afterward, for eight years, was engaged in teaching school, also assisting his father on the home place. After coming to his present property he did a large amount of improving and his productive land, fine stock and substantial buildings indicate prosperity.
Mr. Alford was married to Miss Maria Driver, whose father, at that time was a farmer of this township. Four children
were born to them, namely : J. P., a minis- ter in the Methodist Episcopal church, who resides at Baltimore, O .; and married a Miss Turner, of Ada, O .; Sarah K., who re- sides at home ; Jolin F., who is a student in the Delaware University ; and one that died in infancy. In his political views Mr. Al- ford is independent. Although often ten- dered township office he has never served in any other than that of school director. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
J. M. NEFF, who is owner and proprie- tor of the Twin City Tile Works, situated in Fairfield County, O., between Baltimore and Basil, enjoys the distinction of being the oldest tile maker in the county. He was born in 1855, at Baltimore, O., and is a son of J. H. Neff.
J. H. Neff was born in Virginia and was brought to Basil, O., by his parents when a boy. His father died when he was young and he had but few advantages except those which he provided for himself. In early manhood he worked on a canal boat and when the Civil War broke out he en- listed in Co. A., First O. Vol. Cav., and served until the close of the great struggle. After his return, in 1866, in association with John Sands, he went into the tile business one mile north of Baltimore, O., and that partnership lasted for two years, when Mr. Neff, with Dr. H. J. Hummell built a tile yard between Baltimore and Basil, on the place now owned by J. J. Wagner. They made tile there until 1885. In 1875 they also had built a tile yard in Pickaway County, which was conducted for Mr. Neff by a son-in-law. His plant in Liberty Township by that time being out of date, Mr. Neff abandoned it and devoted his at-
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tention to the Pickaway kilns and he was accompanied by his son, J. M. Neff, who had previously been operating the other yard. Business was continued there until June, 1889, when Mr. Neff built this plant and took possession of his present property. As mentioned, he is the oldest tile maker in the county, never having missed a summer in this industry since 1866, with a single exception. He manufactures drain tile and turns out $5,000 worth of tile a season, giv- ing steady employment to six men.
In 1876 Mr. Neff was married to a daugh- ter of Samuel Fenstermaker, Miss Adelia Fenstermaker, who died in May, 1893. She was the mother of the following chil- dren: V. W., A. M., F. F., E. O., Ethel, Blanche, Lloyd, and two infants, deceased. In October, 1897, Mr. Neff was married to Mrs. M. J. Blizzard. They are members of the Evangelical church. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the Masons and the A. I. U. He is a busy, practical and successful business man and is widely known.
VERNON R. GEBHARDT, part pro- prietor of the Gebhardt Lumber Company, at Pleasantville, Ohio, and a representative citizen of this place, which has been his home since the age of three years, was born on the old Huber farm in Pleasant Town- ship, Fairfield County, Ohio, November 14, 1880. His parents were John P. and Julia A. (Soliday) Gebhardt.
John P. Gebhardt was born in Germany, December 24, 1845, and was the son of George Gebhardt, the latter of whom brought his family to America in 1851 and settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, where they all lived up to the time of their death. The family consisted of four sons,-Henry,
John P., Conrad and Thomas Gebhardt, of which family John P. was the second son. John P. Gebhardt engaged in farming when he reached manhood and was married to Julia A. Soliday on Feb. 11, 1869, which family was given three sons and one daugh- ter,-George L., William H., Mary C. and Vernon R. Gebhardt. In 1883 he moved to Pleasantville, Ohio (which town was a small village), and embarked in the retail lumber business under the name of Patter- son and Gebhardt, later as Irick and Geb- hardt ; the former firm included his brother Conrad in the partnership. In 1898, his two sons W. H. and V. R., were taken in the company, replacing Thos. Irick, and in 1910 Geo. L. took over the interest of W. H., which firm was in charge at the time of this preparation of the publication. John P. Gebhardt was a prominent citizen and busi- ness man and was highly respected in his town and vicinity up to the time of his death on June 13, 1904. His widow, Julia A. Gebhardt, still resides in Pleasantville, O., where she has many friends.
George L. is at present teaching in the Bliss Business College of Columbus, Ohio, having been a successful teacher in the com- mon schools for over twelve years; he was married to Lillie V. Rodgers in 1909.
William H., after years of experience in the lumber business, is now a traveling salesman for a large lumber concern in Pittsburg, and was married to Miss Estella Cull in 1906.
Mary C. is still single and resides with her mother in Pleasantville, Ohio, and is a prominent member of the Methodist Church.
Vernon R. Gebhardt was a graduate from the public schools in 1896, and from the Fairfield Union Academy in 1899, and is a
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holder of a teacher's certificate, which he has never used. He is a prominent Demo- crat and at this writing is serving as clerk of the village of Pleasantville, O., as clerk of Pleasant Township and the Pleasant Township Board of Education, Fairfield County, O. He lias had personal charge of the affairs of the Gebhardt Lumber Com- pany for a number of years, and was mar- ried to Olive Helen Irene Osbourne, sec- ond daugliter of Prof. W. R. and Tacie Osbourne of Baltimore, O., on September 21, 1910, and they have one little son, Bruce Osbourne Gebhardt, who was born Septem- ber 23, 1911. Since he was twelve years old, he has been a member of the Methodist Church and is identified with White Arrow Lodge, No. 341, Knights of Pythias, of Pleasantville, Ohio.
TAZWELL HIZEY, who is an honored veteran of the great Civil War and a well known and highly respected resident of Liberty Township, Fairfield County, O., where he owns a beautiful and well im- proved farm of 129 acres, situated five miles northwest of Basil, was born in Licking County, O., December 24, 1828, and is a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Newman) Hizey.
Both parents of Mr. Hizey were born in Shenandoah County, Va. The father was a blacksmith and farmer who for ten years before coming to Ohio lived in Rocking- ham County. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. His life was shortened by an in- jury received while shoeing horses. He died aged fifty-five years, leaving his widow with a large family of children. She was a woman of courage and resourcefulness and of physical strength that endowed her chil- dren with robust constitutions. In spite of
early hardships and deprivations, incident to farm life more than eighty years ago in Ohio, she lived for seventy-one years and retained her faculties to a remarkable de- gree. She was the faithful and unselfish mother of twelve children-Jane, Mary, Catherine, Caroline, Harvey, Tazwell, John, Jacob, Abraham, Amanda, George and Hattie. Of this family there are four survivors-Tazwell, John, George and Hat- tie.
In his extreme infancy, when, in fact, he was but three weeks old, the mother of Mr. Hizey carried him in her arms as she rode a distance of twenty-seven miles from Lick- ing County to Liberty Township, Fairfield County, on horseback, this being in the winter of 1828. Here he grew to manhood, receiving the elements of an education in the old log schoolhouse that stood nearest his father's farm. He then worked at farm- ing until 1864, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. F, First O. Vol. Cavalry, his regiment being a part of the cavalry force of 12,500 men under Gen- eral Wilson. He served as a second lieu- tenant in the 100 days' service, but resigned so that he could enlist for a longer period, and he served until the close of the War. Mr. Hizey is one of the commissioned offi- cers whose portrait appears in the history of the regiment to which he belonged. He is also one of thie very few men who went out for service and came home without having touched liquor or tobacco in any form. During his military service he par- ticipated in a greater number of important battles than did many who had entered the service in 1861 and continued until 1865, in fact his command was in the midst of fighting almost every day. Although often in danger Mr. Hizey escaped injury and
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returned home practically unharmed. He ship, Fairfield County, in 1849, and he is a then came to his present farm and devoted son of Benjamin and Susan (Wickliff) Bohrer. many subsequent years to farming and stock raising, in the meanwhile so improv- ing his property that now it is one of the most attractive and valuable in Liberty Township. Mr. Hizey has shifted the heavy responsibilities to younger shoulders but still preserves an interest in everything pertaining to his land and stock.
Mr. Hizey married Miss Hannah Jane Williams, who was born in Violet Town- ship, Fairfield County, O., September 5, 1831, and died at the present home, April 21, 1892, when aged sixty years. She was a daughter of Solomon Williams, one of the old settlers. To Mr. and Mrs. Hizey eight children were born, namely: William Morris, Albert Laurence, Oscar Deilon, Mary America, Hannah Jane, Sarah Ann, George W. and Angeline Elnora. Of the above mentioned four survive-William Morris, Oscar Dellon, Hannah Jane and Angeline Elnora. Mr. Hizey and his fam- ily are members of the United Brethren church. He has lived a long and useful life and has always been willing to put his shoulder to the wheel to improve public conditions, from the time he jeopardized his life for his country until the present, when his influence for good as a supporter of law and religion, is felt in his own community. He is what might be termed an old-line Re- publican in his political views.
J. R. BOHRER, who is one of Liberty Township's best known and most highly respected citizens, has spent all but six months of his sixty-one years of life on his present farm, which lies four and one-half miles north of Baltimore, Fairfield County, O. His birth took place in Walnut Town-
The Bohrer family traces its ancestry to Holland and the first of its representatives came to the shores of America in the May- flower. For many years members of the family lived in New England and from there the grandfather of J. H. Bohrer moved to Pennsylvania and later came to Ohio, when Benjamin Bohrer was about the age of 21 years. He then settled in Walnut Township, Fairfield County and in 1850, moved from there to Liberty Town- ship, where he was engaged in farming during the rest of his life, his death taking place when he was aged fifty-five years. He was twice married, first to Catherine Rutter, and secondly to Susan Wickliff. To the first marriage one child was born, now Mrs. Mary Tunison, of Kirkersville, O. Of the second marriage there were six children, namely : J. R. ; Sarah, a twin sister of J. R., who died aged seven years ; Mrs. Christian Fairchild; and Joanna, James M., and Amanda, the last three of whom are now deceased.
After his school days were over, J. R. Bohrer began to work on the home farm, and as years and experience increased, so did his responsibilities. Being the eldest and only surviving son, he continued on the homestead and has developed and im- proved it until it is numbered with the best farms in Liberty Township. He has 1371/2 acres here and has erected substantial farm buildings and carries on general farming and stockraising.
Mr. Bohrer married Miss Joanna Bell Friedly, a daughter of John Friedly, who was an early settler in Fairfield County, coming from Germany. Mr. and Mrs.
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ABSALOM J. ARNOLD
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Bohrer have two children, Rhuie and Clara M. Although he has never been in any sense a politician, Mr. Bohrer keeps well posted in public matters, understands pres- ent day issues and has always voted the Democratic ticket. Ile belongs to the Odd Fellows, attending the lodge of this order at Millersport, O.
ABSALOM JEFFERSON ARNOLD, formerly county commissioner of Fairfield County, O., resides on his well cultivated farm of seventy-five acres, situated in Greenfield Township, of which he is a lead- ing citizen. He was born in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, O., April 17, 1844, and is a son of Absolom and Sarah (Weist) Arnold.
Absolom Arnold, the father, was born in Pleasant Township, Fairfield County, and was a son of Frederick Arnold, who came from Virginia and was an early settler in Pleasant Township. The family is of Eng- lish extraction. Absolom Arnold was a carpenter by trade and also followed farm- ing and was one of the worthy and reliable men of his community. His death oc- curred in 1890. He married Sarah Weist, who was born in Greenfield Township and came of German parentage. Absolom Arnold was married twice and of his chil- dren the following survive: Wilson D., who is a resident of Springfield, O .; Man- son J., who lives in Liberty Township, Fairfield County ; George M., who lives also in Liberty Township; Frederick who now lives on the home farm, this township; Emma J., who is the wife of James Cow- den, lives at Denver, Colo .; and A. J., of Greenfield Township.
A. J. Arnold, our direct subject, ob- tained his education in the public schools
as they were in his boyhood, children hav- ing very few of the advantages they now enjoy. He grew to manhood on the home farm and has made farming his main busi- ness ever since. With the exception of a few years, during which he resided in Wells County, Ind., he has been a resident of Greenfield Township, where he is a prop- erty owner. He also has considerable real estate of value at Lancaster and at Du- montville, O. For many years Mr. Arnold has filled offices of responsibility in town- ship or county and enjoys the highest de- gree of respect and esteem from his fellow citizens. For eighteen years he served his county as superintendent of the turnpike roads. He also became a builder of new roads, contracting under the commission- ers, cutting hills, grading and performing all the necessary work in a satisfactory manner, as there were no complaints. For three years he was a trustee of Greenfield Township, for six years was a justice of the peace and for six years and eight months was a member of the board of county com- missioners of Fairfield County, and during a part of this period was its president. He is a Democrat in his political opinions but in the performance of public duties has never been swayed by party feeling. He has always been interested in educational matters and has served as president of the school board of his township. Frequently, also, Mr. Arnold has been called upon to settle up estates and has satisfactorily met every demand made upon him.
Mr. Arnold married for his first wife, Miss Barbara A. Miller, who was a daugh- ter of John Miller, a former resident of Liberty Township. She died Feb. 3, 1889, and is buried in Bethel Cemetery, called Arnold Cemetery, which as well as the
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church ground, was donated by our sub- ject's father. The first Mrs. Arnold was survived by four children : Matilda Mary, who lives with her father; Amanda J., who is the wife of Edgar Bretz, and lives at Lancaster, O .; Charles J., who lives in Greenfield Township; and Clara Alneta, who is the wife of Jesse M. Wagner, also of Greenfield Township. Mr. Arnold mar- ried secondly Mrs. Elizabeth Gehrett, of Bluffton, Ind. She died Sept. 12, 1908, and is buried at Bluffton, Ind. Mr. Arnold is a member of the United Brethren church.
JAMES T. PICKERING, a leading mem- ber of the Lancaster bar and a representa- tive citizen of Fairfield County, O., has been more or less identified also with public af- fairs in this section, and served twelve years as postmaster at Lancaster. He was born on his father's farm in Violet Township, Fairfield County, O., June 17, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Samantha (Ford) Pick- ering, and a grandson of James Pickering.
James Pickering was born in 1800, in Rockingham County, Va., a son of Abra- ham and Ann Pickering, and a grandson of William Pickering, who was born in Eng- land and was the founder of the family in Virginia. In 1806 the Pickerings came to Fairfield County, O., and since then the name has been a familiar one in this section and representative of the best class of citi- zenship. James Pickering acquired land in Violet Township and after marriage with Catherine Williams established what be- came the Pickering homestead. Of their five children, Jacob Pickering, father of James T., was the eldest and he was born in Violet Township in 1827. He followed agri- cultural pursuits and became a useful and honored citizen of the county. His mar-
riage was with Samantha Ford, a daughter of Philip and Nancy (Callahan) Ford. Her father, George Callahan, was one of the early pioneer preachers of the Methodist faith, in the wilds of Ohio. Her paternal grandfather, John Ford, came to Violet Township, Fairfield County, in 1806, from Fredericksburg, Va. The children of Jacob Pickering and his wife were: Jennie E., Charles C., James T., Emma and Etta S.
James T. Pickering was afforded school privileges in Violet Township until he was sixteen years of age, at which time his par- ents removed to Delaware, O. There he had high school and collegiate advantages and in the class of 1883 was graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University, taking his M. A. degree three years later. Having de- cided upon the law he began his prepara- tions for the bar and in the meanwhile taught school for three years, and in 1888 was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court at Columbus, Ohio. In 1890 he en- tered into a law partnership with his brother, Charles C. Pickering, under the firm name of Pickering & Pickering, and has continued in practice ever since. As a lawyer, Mr. Pickering stands high in ability and integrity at the Lancaster bar. In poli- tics he is a loyal Republican, as was his father, but has seldom accepted public office. In July, 1898, however, he was appointed postmaster at Lancaster, O., by the lamented President Mckinley and he proved faithful and acceptable in office. In 1902 he was reappointed postmaster, by President Theodore Roosevelt, and in 1906 was again appointed by President Roose- velt. During his service as postmaster of Lancaster, Ohio, Mr. Pickering devoted his best talents and abilities to the services of the public. One of the greatest achieve-
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