USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 65
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Samuel F. Moss was born in Perry County, O., and for many years was a mer- chant in Fairfield County. His father, Sanı- uel Moss, was born in England and when he came to America located first in what is now West Virginia, moving later to Perry County, O., and still later to Fairfield County, where he followed farming and where his death occurred. Samuel F. Moss met an accidental death, being run down by a passenger train while driving over a railroad crossing in Fairfield County. He was survived by his wife who was a native of New Jersey.
George W. Moss obtained his education in Fairfield County and studied law in the office of George E. Martin, at Lancaster, O., where he was admitted to the bar, December 7, 1901. He opened his office at Lancaster and has been actively engaged in practice here ever since. He is a director in the Eureka Savings, Loan and Build- ing Company of Lancaster, and is its attor- ney, and is also a director in the Equitable Savings, Loan and Building Company, of this city.
Mr. Moss married Miss Anna C. Eslinger, who was born in Fairfield County, O., and they have one child, Estella May. They 'are members of the Church of Christ. In politics Mr. Moss is a Republican and for the past seven years he has been a member of the Board of Deputy State Supervisors of Elections. His fraternal connections in- clude the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum, the Macca- bees, the Pythian Sisters and the Rebeccas.
GEORGE S. COURTRIGHT, M. D., physician and surgeon, at Lithopolis, O., enjoys the distinction of being the oldest continuous medical practitioner in this city. He was born in Walnut Township, Pick- away County, O., in April, 1840, and is a son of Jesse D. and Sarah (Stout) Court- right.
Jesse D. Courtright, father of Dr. Court- right, was a son of John and Elizabeth (Grubb) Courtright, a grandson of Abram Van and Effie (Drake) Courtright, and a great-grandson of John and Margaret (Denmark) Courtright. John Courtright was a private in Capt. Henry Shoemaker's company, 5th battalion, Northampton County, Pa. militia in 1782. Jesse D. Courtright was born in 1812 and died in 1874, aged sixty-two years. He married Sarah Stout, who was born in 1808 and died in 1882, aged seventy-four years.
Sarahı (Stout) Courtright, mother of Dr. Courtright, was a daughter of George and Mary (Dunkle) Stout, and a granddaugh- ter of George W. and Christina (Weiden- hammer) Stout, the latter of whom had one son, George, and three daughters. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Courtright was born in Germany, September 5, 1771 and died March 7, 1846. He married Mary Dunkle, who was born November 3, 1771, and died April 6, 1840. They came to America on the ship "Samuel," landing at Philadelphia August 30, 1730, and George W. and Mary (Dunkle) Stout came to Ohio in September, 1808. George W. Stout was an ensign in the Berks County, Pa. militia in the Revolutionary War.
Jesse D. Courtright was born in Fairfield County, O., and followed an agricultural life. He was a man of considerable prom- inence politically and was elected to the state legislature, serving in 1854-5. His
Surge & Courtright.
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family of nine children was as follows : Mary Jane, deceased, who married Thomas Cole; Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of E. Westenhaver; Elizabeth, widow of E. F. Berry; John, residing in Walnut Township, Pickaway County; S. W., residing 'at Circleville, O .; Alva P. and E. B., both of whom are deceased; George S., and a daughter who died in infancy.
George S. Courtright attended school in Walnut Township and later was a student in the South Salem Academy and in 1862 in the Medical College of Ohio. In 1861 he was resident physician of St. John's Hos- pital and later of the old City Hospital of Cincinnati. In November, 1862 he entered the Union Army as a surgeon and con- tinued a contract surgeon until August, 1863, when President Lincoln appointed him an assistant surgeon in the U. S. vol- unteers serving in the Department of Ohio, under General Burnside. In September of the same year he received an order from the Secretary of War to report to the gen- eral commanding the Department of New Mexico at Santa Fe. At that time the. only railroad constructed reached no farther west than St. Joseph, Mo., a small branch being projected a little farther to touch Fort Leavenworth, but he found that his best method would be to travel by boat to Kansas City and during the voyage an exciting incident was the lodging of the boat on a sand bar. After finally reaching Kansas City he traveled the intervening 1,000 miles in the Government mail coach, along the mail route, stopping only long enough to change horses at irregular dis- tances. The young surgeon finally reached his destination and served until December, 1865, his headquarters having been at Santa Fé, New Mexico, and later at Fort
Craig, N. Mex. During 1866-7, he was demonstrator of anatomy in the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1867 was resident physician of the Cholera Hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1868 he came to Lithopolis, where he has been established ever since. While he had charge of the Cincinnati Cholera Hospital, there were 2,000 victims in that city. He was also one of the four physicians who survived the succeeding epidemic of smallpox. He is a member of the Hocking Valley and Fair- field County Medical Associations, is a life member of the Ohio State Medical Society, belongs also to the American Medical As- sociation and is an honorary member of the medical society of Middleport, O. For four years he served as president of the Pension Examining Board and has often been particularly honored by various medical bodies.
In May, 1868, Dr. Courtright was mar- ried to Miss Margaret Cornelia Stevens, of Lebanon, O. They have one son, Jesse Stevens Courtright, who is a farmer in Pickaway County. He married Eveline Pontius, of Franklin County, and they have six children. For forty-five years Dr. Courtright has been a member of the Pres- byterian church at Lithopolis, of which he is treasurer. Politically a Democrat, he has been tendered many offices and for twenty years has served on the school board, fre- quently as its president. He is a prominent Mason, having attained the 32nd degree ; also a member of Lancaster Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar, and an Odd Fel- low. His interest in the G. A. R. organiza- tion and thic Loyal Legion, has been con- tinuous and he has been president of the Soldiers' Relief Committee of Bloom Township, since its organization. Few
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men in this section of Ohio are better known or more universally esteemed than Dr. Courtright.
RAYMOND R. SNYDER, owner and proprietor of the Baltimore Monumental Works, at Baltimore, O., is one of the suc- cessful, self-made men of this place and is an energetic and enterprising citizen. He was born November 13, 1887, at Thurston, O., and is a son of Edward and Flora (How- ard) Snyder. His father was a railroad man who died in 1896 at the age of thirty- six years, leaving three children-Raymond R., Howard and Floyd.
Raymond R. Snyder attended school at Thurston but as the responsibilities of car- ing for the family fell on him when he was but twelve years old, he had but few oppor- tunities for self-improvement. These re- sponsibilities he carried until he was twenty- one years of age. His first work was done in a livery stable, after which he took up railroad work and became assistant agent for the T. & O. C. Railroad at Thurston. He continued to be useful and industrious for some years in various lines before he was financially able to purchase his present business, which was formerly conducted by J. F. Albright. Mr. Snyder carries a fine line of foreign and domestic granite and has built up a business that requires an exten- sion of space and at the present writing he is rebuilding his works. He has modern machinery equipments and is prepared to do any kind of stone, granite or marble work.
On November 26, 1908, Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Grace White and they have one child, Alta, who was born February 26, 1910. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Snyder
is a Democrat and fraternally he is identi- fied with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men and the Modern Woodmen.
EDWARD GEORGE KIRN, who has been established in the practice of law at Lancaster, O., since 1904, is a native of this city, born August 5, 1881, and is a son of Jacob H. and Elizabeth (Beery) Kirn.
Jacob H. Kirn was born in Baden, Ger- many, in 1845. His father died in 1866 and in 1869 he accompanied his mother and one brother and three sisters to America. The mother died January 1, 1909, when within a few years of her ninetieth birthday. C. F. Kirn, brother of Jacob H., is the owner of the Kirn Building, a business structure at Lancaster. Two of his sisters survive- Catherine and Mrs. Mary Bentz, a widow, and a resident of Cleveland. The other sis- ter, Elizabeth, who was the widow of George Ellinger, died recently.
Edward G. Kirn was educated in the Lan- caster schools and the Ohio State Univer- sity Law School at Columbus, and imme- diately after securing his diploma of law, was admitted to the bar and entered into professional work. He devotes himself ex- clusively to his practice. In politics he calls himself an independent Democrat. Mr. Kirn is unmarried. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
L. H. FRITZ, who devotes eighty acres of excellent land, situated three and one- half miles north of Baltimore, O .- to which he is one of the heirs-to general farming and stock raising, is a well known citizen of Liberty Township. He was born on this farm on April 30, 1860, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Ann (Alt) Fritz.
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Joseph Fritz was born in Ohio, his par- ents having come to this state from Penn- sylvania at an early day. For one year after marriage he was connected with the postoffice at Columbus, O., and then came to this farm in Liberty Township, Fairfield County and engaged in farming until his death, at the age of forty-one years. He married a daughter of Martin and Mary Alt, one of the early Swiss families, and seven children were born to them, namely: Mar- tin, who died at the age of thirteen years; Ella, now deceased, who was the wife of Adam Poff; L. H .; Joseph William, who lives at Lancaster, O .; Hannah, who died at the age of sixteen years ; Ida, who is the wife of Jesse Snyder, of Lancaster; and Etta, who is the wife of L. Taggard, of Balti- more, O.
L. H. Fritz obtained his education in the country schools. Farming has been his main business in life and for seventeen years before returned to the homestead he fol- lowed agricultural activities in different parts of the county. In 1906 he located permanently on his present place, where he has made improvements and very satisfac- torily carries on crop growing and stock raising. He married Miss Sarah A. Snider, a daughter of Noah and Mary Snider, of Liberty Township, and they have five chil- dren : Ethel A., Ella E., Erma I., Joseph Leroy and Mary E. Mr. Fritz and family belong to the United Evangelical church. Politically he is a Democrat and is serving as a member of the township school board.
P. D. TURNER, who is engaged in the milling business at Bremen, O., where he is a representative citizen, for the past two years being a member of the town council, was born September 13. 1873, in Berne
Township, Fairfield County, O., and is a son of Jacob B. and Mary (Miller) Turner.
He obtained a public school education in Fairfield County, after which he went into the milling business at Bremen, the firm name being the J. B. Turner & Sons Milling Company, later the Turner Brothers Mill- ing Company, but since 1910 P. D. Turner has been sole proprietor, having purchased the interests of his partners. His plant is modern in every particular and his three buildings are well equipped with first class machinery. Employment is given to six ex- perienced men. Mr. Turner is also a di- rector of the Bremen Manufacturing Com- pany and one of the charter stockholders. In politics he is a Democrat. The Turners have all been men of enterprise, and busi- ness Bremen owes much to the late Jacob B. Turner, who came here in 1890 and showed his confidence in the future of the place by investing largely in business enter- prises here.
On April 9, 1902, Mr. Turner was mar- ried to Miss Frances Wolfe, who was born at Lancaster, O., August 13, 1875, a daugh- ter of Ezra and Frances Wolfe. They have three children, all residents of Bremen- Miles, Herbert and Frances. Mr. Turner is a member and a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family residence is on Marietta Street.
A. R. MCCLEERY, who, in association with his brother, J. E. McCleery, operates the old McClecry homestead farm of 196 acres, situated in Liberty Township, was born on this place, and is a son of W. C. and Martha (Leonard) McCleery.
WV. C. McCleery was born near Hooker, O., but spent many years of his life as a farmer and stock raiser in Liberty Town-
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ship, Fairfield County, where his death oc- curred in August, 1909, when he was aged sixty-two years. He married Martha Leonard and of their family of children there are seven survivors, namely: E. L., F. W., A. R., J. E., R. R., Nellie and Flo- rence.
A. R. McCleery and his brother, J. E., were both born on their present farm, the former in 1879 and the latter in 1881. The brothers are not only bound by the close ties of kinship, but their interests have always been more or less identical, both having attended the same schools, inter- ested together in the neighborhood social life and associated in business. They are progressive and enterprising in their agri- cultural undertakings and are numbered with the good farmers and highly respected citizens of this township. Both are mem- bers of the Reformed church and in poli- tics both are identified with the Republi- can party.
WILLIAM E. FENSTERMAKER, a representative and reliable business man of Pickerington, O., and senior member of the firm of W. E. Fenstermaker & Son, manufacturers of drain tile and dealers in cement, coal and lime, was born in Violet Township, Fairfield County, O., May 16, 1863. His parents were Philip and Sarah (Langle) Fenstermaker.
Philip Fenstermaker was born in Violet Township, Fairfield County, a son of Wil- liam Fenstermaker, who was of German ancestry but was born in Pennsylvania. Philip Fenstermaker spent a few years of his life at Carroll, O .: the rest was passed in Violet Township, where his death oc- curred in 1900. For forty years he followed farming and during this time served in local
offices, being township trustee and during the Civil War a member of the Soldiers' Relief Committee of the township. He married Sarah Langle, who was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage, who survived until 1905. Of their family of chil- dren the following are living: William E., of Pickerington, O .; Ida, also of Pickering- ton; Lydia, wife of Lewis H. Stemen, of Violet Township; Emma, wife of J. J. Step- pert of Violet Township; Della, wife of Frank E. Hempey, of Madison Township, Franklin County ; and Clara, wife of Perry Fattig, of Athens, O.
William E. Fenstermaker was reared to man's estate in Violet Township where he attended the public schools, in which he has always taken a deep interest, at present being a member of the township board of education. In the summer of 1888 he estab- lished his present plant at Pickerington and is doing a large business. From 1888 until IQII he was sole proprietor but on August 5, of the latter year he admitted his son, Frank R. Fenstermaker to partnership, when the present firm style was adopted.
Mr. Fenstermaker was married June 17, 1885, to Miss Hattie J. Hoy, who was born in Violet Township, a daughter of William M. Hoy, and they have five children : Omar R., secretary of the Columbus Pump and Supply Company and bookkeeper, who re- sides at Columbus; Cora G., Frank R. and Helen M., all of Pickerington; and Mait- land H .. who is now deceased. Mr. Fen- stermaker and family are members of the United Brethren church, of which he is a trustee. For many years he has been one of the leading men of township and village. For five years he served as township clerk, at present is a justice of the peace, has been village treasurer and a member of the coun-
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cil and for two years served as mayor. He hold a political office, this being against his is a wide awake, progressive man, one who principles. He was a liberal member of the Baptist church. has always recognized the gravity of truc citizenship and has striven to bring about conditions favorable to the public at large. A stanch Democrat, his party places re- liance on his judgment and for a number of years he has been a member of the Demo- cratie County Central Committee. He is identified with the order of Odd Fellows at Pickerington and with agricultural bodies of local importance and has been appointed a delegate to the International Congress of Agriculture, to be convened at Colum- bus, O.
JAMES KOONTZ, was long ago one of the representative men of Liberty Town- ship and was respected and esteemed by all who knew him during a long and peace- ful life. He was born in Union County, O., and died in Fairfield County, August 8, 1908, at the age of seventy-four years.
James Koontz was a school boy when he was brought to Fairfield County and here completed his education, which was better than that acquired by many of his school mates, as he had a very enquiring and re- tentive mind. His chosen vocation was farming and he made his seventy acres one of the most productive in the township, giv- ing it constant and intelligent care. He was practical and thorough-going in everything he did and his farm activities were carried on in this way and with excellent results. Taking an owner's pride in his surround- ings, he erected the substantial buildings that remain on the place and, as oppor- tunity offered, made many improvements that added to the health and comfort of his family. Although a stanch Democrat in his political views, he never consented to
Mr. Koontz was married to Miss Sarah Miller, whose father, Peter Miller, once owned a valuable farm in Fairfield County. They had six children, as follows: Cora, who married Lewis Newbaner (their one child, Jessie, married William Turbin and they have a daughter, Ruth) ; Charles M., who lives in Columbus, married R. Weaver, and has one son, Gardner; P. D., who ope- rates the home farm for his mother, mar- ried Lilly Rife, and has had four children -Coral, Rife, Ona, and Chester, now de- ceased; B. F., who is a farmer in Licking County, O., married Ida Miller and has six children-Earl, Elzie, Ruth, Hazel, Olive and Jesse; Nettie, who married Clifford Reese; and Maude, who married Charles Stanbery, a newspaper man of Zanesville, O., and has two children-Jennings W. and Donald S. Mrs. Koontz and family belong to the Baptist church.
ROSS F. JOHNSTON, who is secretary and treasurer of the Bremen Mill and Lum- ber Company, of Bremen, O., which has a branch yard at Rushville, O., is a represen- tative business man of Bremen. He was born September 16, 1888, in Rush Creek Township, Fairfield County, O., and is a son of C. A. and Clara (Purvis) Johnston, old residents of Rushville. Of their six chil- dren, Ross F. was the first born.
Ross F. Johnston attended the Rush- ville schools and then took a business course in the Bliss Commercial College, at Colum- bus, O. On April 1, 1909, he came to Bre- men and identified himself with the Bremen Mill and Lumber Company, which is an in- corporated concern, and of which he is sec-
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retary and treasurer. Although somewhat young to fill so important a place in a large enterprise, he possesses what is known as business faculty and ably keeps up his branch of the company's work. In politics he is a Republican and belongs to the Pres- byterian church of West Rushville. He is identified with the Odd Fellows at Bremen. He was married Sept. 7tl1, 1911, to Miss Esta O. Morrow of West Rushville, O., a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Morrow.
SAMUEL GOSS, whose valuable farm of eighty acres is situated one and one- half miles northwest of Basil, O., is one of the old and highly respected residents of Fairfield County. He was born in Pleasant Township, Fairfield County, November I, 1833, and is a son of John and Anna (Doomy) Goss.
The parents of Mr. Goss were born in Switzerland. John Goss came to Fairfield County in 1817, where he cleared up a farm from the wilderness and lived on it until his death, at the age of seventy-four years. He married Anna Doomy, who was brought to America when a child of seven years. Her father lived into extreme old age, being two months over 100 years at the time of his death. She was the third wife of John Goss and became the mother of five chil- dren, three of whom are yet living : Samuel ; Abraham, who conducts the old farm in Pleasant Township; and Mrs. Maria Gundy, of Huntington County, Ind.
Samuel Goss obtained his education in the district schools of Pleasant Township and then helped his father on the home place until his marriage. He has resided on the present farm since 1865 and has placed all the improvements here. Five years ago he lost his barn by fire but
erected a new one. He still looks after the operation of the farm himself and is called one of the successful agriculturists of Lib- erty Township. He is a Democrat in poli- tics and at different times has served accept- ably in local offices, having been township treasurer and school director. For many years he has been a member of the Grange.
Mr. Goss married Miss Amanda Buchan- nan and they have had eight children, namely: Ida Florence, who is deceased; J. V., who lives at Basil, O .; Lizzie Dell, who lives at Pittsburg, Kans .; Emily J. and Bertha, both of whom reside at home; Frank S., who is engaged in the practice of dentistry at Spencerville, O .; Jessie M., who lives at home; and Edna F., who re- sides at Columbus. Mr. Goss and family belong to the Reformed church.
WILLIAM O. HUSTON, a general farmer in Pleasant Township, and a mem- ber of the township board of trustees, was born in Richland Township, Fairfield County, O., November 17, 1869, and is a son of Alexander E. and Sallie (Murphey) Huston.
Alexander E. Huston was born in Pick- away County, O., and was nine years old when he accompanied his father, William Huston, to Fairfield County. The latter was a native of Ireland who came as an early settler to Pickaway County and died in Fairfield County about 1890. Alexander E. Huston has been a resident of Fairfield County for about sixty years. He married Sallie Murphey, who was born in Richland Township, Fairfield County, and of their children the following survive : William O .; Mrs. Margaret Ruff, of West Rushville, O .; Arley, living at Amanda, O .; and Arthur A., residing in Richland Township. During
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the Civil War, Alexander E. Huston was a soldier for eleven months and during that time took part in numerous battles and was made a prisoner and confined in Libby Prison at Richmond.
William O. Huston was reared in Rich- land Township and attended school there. Farming has been his main business through life and it is one he thoroughly un- derstands. On December 24, 1895, he was married to Miss Lizzie M. Black, who was born in Rush Creek Township, a daughter of James Black, a former resident, and they have two daughters, Miriam L. and Olive E. Mr. Huston and family are members of the Presbyterian church at West Rush- ville. He is identified with the Masons at Rushville and with the Odd Fellows at West Rushville. Mr. Huston has been a Democratic voter ever since casting his first ballot. He was elected to his present office of trustee in January, 1910, and is proving acceptable to his fellow citizens in this capacity.
EDWARD P. SPARKS, M. D., a phy- sician and surgeon at Basil, Fairfield County, O., is engaged in a general practice at this place, although formerly he made a specialty of surgery and in that field of prac- tice won many professional triumphs. Dr. Sparks was born at Shawnee, Perry County, O., June 5, 1875, and is a son of Rev. L. B. and Josephine Morgan (Holmes) Sparks.
Rev. L. B. Sparks and wife were both born in Licking County, O. He is a clergy- man and is pastor of Spencer Chapel, of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Ironton, O. There were four children in his family: Edward P .; Grace, who is the wife of a Mr. Sharp and resides in Nova Scotia ; Olive,
who resides with her husband at Colum- bus; and an infant, now deceased.
Edward P. Sparks attended school in the various places to which his father was sent as a Methodist preacher, and secured his medical training in the Ohio Medical University, where he was graduated in 1898. Through merit he was appointed superintendent and surgeon in charge of the hospital at McKendree, W. Va., while there being also surgeon for the C. & O. Railroad. He is a member of the West Vir- ginia Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Medi- cal Association and a life member of the Surgical Club at Rochester, Minn. On July 1, 1911, Dr. Sparks located at Basil and has every reason to be satisfied with his choice of permanent home and field of use- fulness.
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