USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 67
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JOHN GROVE, who is a well known cit- izen and successful farmer residing three miles northeast of Bremen, O., was born on the old Grove homestead in Rush Creek township, Fairfield County, in 1874, and is a son of Wil- liam and Delilah (Derr) Grove.
William Grove was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Fairfield County by his parents when he was six years old. He re- mained here during the rest of his life and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. He was a well known and highly respected man. He married Delilah Derr, who survived him many years, her death occurring January 16, 1909. They had five children: Edward, Cleason, Kate, Hattie and John. Edward resides at Bremen and married Isabel Funk. Cleason lives on a farm one and one-half miles north of Bremen and married Hattie Hodge. Hattie married Walter Young and they live one-half mile northeast of Bremen. Kate married Wilbur Young and they live one and one-half miles east of Bremen. It was a matter of great satis- faction to Mr. and Mrs. Grove to thus have
their children so comfortably settled near them and within visiting distances of each other.
John Grove obtained his education in the Rush Creek township schools and has always lived on the old homestead, where he has eighty-seven acres of excellent land. In pol- itics he is a Republican but none of the Groves have ever been seekers for public office. They are all busy, industrious, practical and prosper- ous men. Mr. Grove has never married. He has five oil wells on his farm, producing about 23 barrels daily.
JACOB TAYLOR HUBER, one of Pleasant Township's most substantial citi- zens, resides on his estate of over 300 acres of fine land, which he devotes to general farming and stockraising. He was born January 13, 1847, in Pleasant Township, Fairfield County, O., and is a son of David and Hannah (Lamb) Huber.
David Huber was born in Pleasant Township, a son of Jacob Huber, who was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and came from there to Fairfield County quite early, settling in Pleasant Town- ship, where he lived until his death. David Huber spent his entire life in Pleas- ant Township, where his death occurred in 1876. He was a Republican in politics and was a member of the Reformed church, at Lancaster, O. He married Hannah Lamb, a daughter of Jacob Lamb, who was one of the early settlers in Richland Township. Fairfield County. Of the children of David and Hannah Huber, the following survive : Jacob Taylor; and Elizabeth, wife of Ed- ward E. Beattie, of Pleasant Township. Three memebrs of the family are deceased -William H., Harvey C. and Winfield S. J. Taylor Huber grew to manhood on the old homestead in Pleasant Township
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and was educated in the district schools and the Fairfield Union Academy. Agri- cultural interests have claimed his atten- tion all his life. He has one of the best im- proved estates in Fairfield County and his handsome residence which stands on the Pleasantville turnpike road, is a model rural home and is fitted with all modern comforts and conveniences.
Mr. Huber was married first to Cathe- rine Bush, of Greenfield Township, a daughter of Daniel Bush, and they had two children: Anna V., who is now deceased ; and Ada T., who is the wife of L. H. Pur- sell, of Lancaster, O. Mr. Huber was married secondly to Jennie Miesse, a widow, who had one daughter, Relnah F., who is a student in Delaware University, at Delaware, O. Mrs. Huber is a daughter of Henry M. and Catherine (Weist) Brandt, natives of Fairfield County. Her paternal grandfather came from Pennsyl- vania and at an early date settled in Green- field Township. Henry M. Brandt was a justice of the peace in Greenfield Township for a number of years and also township trustee. Mr. Huber is a Republican in politics. He is identified with the Odd Fellows at Pleasantville and with the Elks at Lancaster.
PETER FOGLESONG, who has resided on his well cultivated farm of seventy acres, which is situated on the Cedar Hill turnpike road in Hocking Township, Fairfield County, O., three and three-fourths miles from Lan- caster, for the past twenty-eight years, is one of the prosperous and highly respected resi- dents of this section. He was born June 6, 1846, in Pleasant Township, Fairfield County, and is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Stukey) Foglesong.
Christian Foglesong was born in Pleasant Township, his father, Christian Foglesong, having moved to Fairfield County from Mary- land, in 1800, his people having settled in Maryland after emigrating from Germany. The Foglesongs were pioneers in Pleasant Township and they found many Indians still roaming through the forests and wild animals were still a menace to the settlers. The older generation passed away in Pleasant Township and Christian Foglesong, Jr., came into posses- sion of the homestead and passed his entire life there. He married Elizabeth Stukey, who was born in Hocking Township, Fairfield County, and of their family of children three survive, namely: Emanuel, who resides in Pleasant Township; Peter, who is a resident of Hocking Township as mentioned above; and Simon, who is a resident of Lancaster.
Peter Foglesong was reared on the home farm and attended the country schools in boy- hood. Since 1883 he has resided on his present home, carrying on general farming, and has improved his property and carefully cultivated his land. He married Miss Minerva Miesse, a daughter of Joseph Miesse, who was once a well known citizen of Greenfield Township, and they have four children : Harley A., who is a farmer in Chippewa County, Minn .; William P., who also lives in the above county ; Ray M., who remains with his father in Hocking Town- ship; and Leota L., who is the wife of Ben- jamin Lape, of Circleville, O. Mr. Foglesong and family belong to St. Peter's Lutheran Church at Lancaster. Politically the Fogle- songs have always been Democrats.
JOHN H. MILLER, whose fine farm of 212 acres lies in Berne Township, Fairfield County, O., has been a lifelong resident of this county and for years has been a well known business man. He was born at Lancaster, O.,
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November 7, 1850, and is a son of Gottleib F. and Charlotte (Frederick) Miller.
Gottleib F. Miller was born in Wertemberg, Germany, a son of Frederick Miller, and was fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to America. They located first at Philadelphia, Pa., and from there came to Lancaster, O., where Frederick Miller fol- lowed the shoemaking trade during the re- mainder of his life. In his father's shop, Gottleib F. Miller learned the shoemaking trade, which he followed at Lancaster and for some years, under the firm name of G. F. Miller & Son, was in business with John H. Miller in the boot and shoe business at Lan- caster. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and in that connection and in every other he enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him. He married Charlotte Frederick, who was born in Baden, Germany, and of their children the following are living: Catherine, who is the widow of Henry Gerken, lives in Hocking Township; Mary, who lives in Hock- ing Township; John H .; Wilhelmina, who is the wife of John Zeisler, of Columbus; and William and Emma, both of whom live at Columbus.
John H. Miller remained with his parents and went to school at Lancaster, attending the regular public school and also having private instruction. He learned his father's trade and afterward was taken into partnership, as above stated, and continued in the business until 1896, when he turned his attention to agricul- ture and has resided on his present farm since the spring of 1900. He carries on general farming and stock raising, has fine orchards and has comfortable surroundings.
Mr. Miller married Miss Catherine C. Blume, who was born in Wertemberg, Ger- many, a daughter of John Blume who was a native of Germany who settled in Hocking
County, O., with his family and died there. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller : Ella E., who is the wife of Rev. Theodore Engelder, of Mt. Clemens, Mich .; Christian, who is deceased; William H., who lives in Berne Township; Dora, who is the wife of Lewis Bauer, of Clear Creek Township; and Laura, Edward G. and Carl T., all of whom live in Berne Township. Mr. Miller and family are members of the German Lutheran church at Lancaster, of which he is a trustee, and while a resident of the southern part of the township, he served for fifteen years as super- intendent of the Sunday-school of St. James German Lutheran Church. Politically a Demo- crat, he has frequently been called into local political councils and for nine consecutive years served as a member of the township school board.
DAVID CRIDER, who has been engaged in ' the mercantile business at Delmount Station, Fairfield County, O., since the spring of 1907, was born in Hocking County, O., October 18, 1845, and is a son of David Crider, a native of Pennsylvania, who was an early settler in Salt Creek Township, Hocking County.
David Crider attended the local schools in his boyhood and worked on his father's farm. During the Civil War he enlisted for the special 100-day service and did guard duty for about six months in the city of Washington. After he returned to Hocking County he followed farming until he came to Fairfield County. He was a farmer in Hocking County for about twenty-five years before embarking in the gen- eral mercantile business at Delmount Station and is well known all through this section.
Mr. Crider married Miss Elizabeth Van Fossen, who was born in Ohio and they have had eight children, namely: Hattie, wife of Marble Starling, of Minnesota; Allie, wife of
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Samuel Raymond, of Hocking Township; Stella, who is now deceased; Emma, wife of William Hamilton, of Pleasant Township; Josephine, deceased ; Rosella, residing at home ; Lucy, wife of William Cupp, of Greenfield Township; and Christina, wife of William Good, of Hocking Township. The mother of the above family died June 8, 1911, and left a wide circle of friends as well as her family to mourn her loss.
CHRISTIAN LECKRON, general farmer and stockraiser, residing in Rush Creek Town- ship, his property lying three and one-half miles northeast of Bremen, O., was born in 1843, in Fayette County, Pa. His parents were Christian and Catherine (Sprinkle) Leckron.
Christian Leckron, the father, was born in Pennsylvania and from there came to Rush Creek township, Fairfield County, in the thirties, settling on the farm on which his son Christian now lives. Here he spent a long and busy life, dying at the age of eighty years. In Pennsylvania he married Catherine Sprinkle, who survives, being in her eighty-seventh year. They had twelve children born to them, as fol- lows: Mrs. Mary Griggs, who lives at Rush- ville, O .; Reuben and Amanda, both of whom are deceased; James, who lives in Gallia County, O .; Mrs. Malinda Sennett, who re- sides at Bremen, O .; Catherine and Albert, both of whom are deceased; Christian ; Leroy, deceased, who was a physician; Gilbert, de- ceased, who was a school teacher ; John C., who is a resident of Columbus; and Mrs. Ellen Johnson, who is deceased.
Christian Leckron attended the district schools in Rush Creek township in boyhood and then took up farming on the homestead. He afterward learned the milling business to which he devoted his time for the greater part of twenty-three years. His mill is situated
west of his farm and is operated by water power. There are three productive oil wells on his place.
Mr. Leckron was married to Miss Lizzie Randolph, who was born two miles north of New Lexington, in Perry County. Her father, Isaac Randolph was born in Pennsylvania and moved from there to Perry County, where he was a fariner. He married Maria Ankron and they had four children: Angeline, who is de- ceased; Creighton, who lives on the old Ran- dolpli homestead; Everett, who also lives on the home place; and Lizzie (Mrs. Leckron). Mr. and Mrs. Leckron have one daughter, she being the wife of W. Guyton. Politically, Mr. Leckron is a Democrat. He has served in the office of school director and has always taken an interest in matters of local importance.
PROF. WILLIAM WALTER, a well known educator of Ohio, who has been prin- cipal of Crawfis Institute, located in Berne Township, Fairfield County, O., since the spring of 1907, is a man of scholarly attain- ments, one who is well qualified for the import- ant position he fills. He was born in Marion Township, Hocking County, O., November 20, 1864, and is a son of Mathias and Lydia (Ruff) Walter.
Mathias Walter was born in Germany and was brought to America by his parents when six months old. They settled in Hocking County, O., and there the child grew to man's estate and became one of the substantial farm- ers of Marion Township. He still resides on his farm there, being now in his seventieth year.
William Walter was reared on his father's farm in Marion Township and in boyliood at- tended the district schools. Having a love of knowledge and possessed of considerable am- bition, he was not satisfied with the learning so
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acquired, and later became a student in the uni- versity at Athens, O. When twenty years of age he taught his first term of school. He con- tinued his educational work in Hocking County for the next five years, coming to Fairfield County in 1889 and accepting school duties in Berne Township. He was principal of the public school at Sugar Grove for seven years and later, of the Rushville High School, where he taught for five years. In the spring of 1907 he accepted the principalship of Crawfis Insti- tute, and additionally is superintendent of the public schools of Berne Township. Students from all over Ohio come for educational train- ing to Crawfis Institute. It is a first grade pre- paratory High School for college and in its list of required studies may be found many that are in the usual college curriculum. This in- stitution also prepares teachers for the public school work. Prof. Walter has three teachers as assistants. This school was a philanthropic idea of John Crawfis, a former well known citizen of Berne Township, who founded and endowed it and it has been in operation since 1889, its aims and accomplishments being along the line of higher education.
Prof. Walter was married to Miss Sarah E. Kull, who was born in Fairfield County, a daughter of Lewis Kull, who is now a resident of Berne Township, and they have four chil- dren : Clara L., Edward F., Mabel M. and Ray- mond L. C. Prof. Walter has been closely identified with educational progress for many years and has shown his deep interest by con- necting himself with many of the leading or- ganizations of the county and state. He is a member of the Ohio State Teachers' Associa- tion, and of the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle of which he is county secretary. He belongs also to the Fairfield County Teachers' Institute and is a member of its executive committee ; and additionally is a member of the Ohio State
Association of Township Superintendents. He has served for six years as county examiner on the Fairfield County Board. In politics he is a liberal Democrat, and in his religious connec- tion he is a member of the German Lutheran body.
A. V. COURTRIGHT, a well known citizen of Bloom Township, was born on the old Courtright homestead, on which he lives, sit- uated on the Lithopolis and Lancaster turnpike road, May 6, 1860, and is a son of Zephaniah and Sarah (Williamson) Courtright.
Zephaniah Courtright was born in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, O., a son of Abram V. Courtright, who was a native of Luzerne County, Pa., and a grandson of John Courtright, who had also been born in that sec- tion of Pennsylvania. It was John Courtright who was the pioneer of the family in Ohio, and in 1802 he settled with his family on the farm now owned by his great-grandson, A. V. Court- right. His log cabin was built in the woods and a lonely place it seemed at that time, as he was the first landowner and settler here. Many pioneer hardships were encountered but never- theless the family increased and has prospered to the present day. Zephaniah Courtright spent his entire life in Bloom Township, fol- lowing farming and also raising and dealing in cattle. His death occurred February 13, 1897. He married Sarah Williamson, who was also born in Bloom Township. They reared a very creditable family and six of their children sur- vive, namely : Silas W., who lives in Greenfield Township; Mrs. A. J. Musser, who lives at Lancaster, O .; Mrs. H. J. Kneisley and Mrs. R. V. Allen, both of whom reside also at Lan- caster ; and Abram V. and Mary L., both of whom live in Bloom Township. In politics Zephaniah Courtright was a Republican. For some years he was a member of the Grange,
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Patrons of Husbandry, taking a deep interest in promoting the ends to which its efforts were directed, and he belonged also to the Odd Fel- lows and attended the lodge at Greencastle.
A. V. Courtright was educated in the public schools of Bloom Township, the High School at Lithopolis, afterward attending and graduat- ing from the Iron City Business school at Pitts- burg, Pa. Since then he has devoted himself largely to agricultural pursuits on the old homestead, where he lias 330 acres of land, and makes something of a specialty of buying and feeding stock. Politically a Republican, he takes an interest in his party's success but is more concerned in business affairs than in political matters, outside of the demands of good citizenship.
J. J. JOHNSTON, who carries on general farming and stock raising, owns the old family homestead of ninety-five acres, situated three miles northeast of Bremen, O., his grand- father's old farm, on which he was born in 1858 and has spent his life. He is a son of Ed- ward and Mary Ann (Barr) Johnston.
Edward Johnston was born on the farm above mentioned, August 6, 1823, and spent his long life here engaged in agricultural pursuits, his death occurring March 19, 1886. During his lifetime he made many improvements but continued to use the log barn his father used. On October 14, 1847, he married Mary Ann Barr, who was born in Fairfield County, April 12, 1824, and died here February 23, 1877. They had the following children born to them : Martha Elizabeth, born August 5, 1848, died April 25, 1849; Sarah Catherine, born Feb- ruary 24, 1850, married Frank Spiece; Henry Clinton, born December 13, 1853, resides at Bremen ; John F., born April 7, 1856, died July 22, 1861 ; J. J .; and Emma, born August II, 1863, who died on the same day.
When his father's estate was settled after death, J. J. Johnston purchased the interests of the other heirs and continued on the old home- stead. Through careful cultivation this has been converted into one of the best farms of Rush Creek Township. He was remodeled the house, which is now a fine home, and erected all other farm buildings. Mr. Johnston con- tinues in the active management of all his ac- tivities liere, producing crops and stock which are creditable to his industry and judgment and take first rank with any in this section. He married Miss Margaret Ann Poling. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bremen. He is a Republican in politics.
J. S. MATHENY, postmaster at Sugar Grove, O., and an honored veteran of the Civil War, was born in Berne Township, Fairfield County, O., March 28, 1841, and is a son of John H. and Elizabeth (Beall) Matheny.
John H. Matheny and wife were both born in Licking County, O., and the former was a son of Jacob Matheny, who moved from Lick- ing County to Fairfield County, when John H. was small. The latter was reared in Berne Township and became a surveyor and civil en- gineer. His death was accidental, he being drowned in Rush Creek, in November, 1852, when aged thirty-four years.
J. S. Matheny was reared in Berne Town- ship and obtained his schooling there and after- ward taught school for four winter terms, de- voting his summers to farming. He was one of the first in his section to respond when the call came in 1861 for soldiers to assist in sup- pressing rebellion, enlisting on April 16 of that year, in Co. B, 2nd O. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Potomac. He was on duty at Washington City, at Alexandria and Fairfax, Va., and during this first enlistment of three months, participated in the first battle
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of Bull Run. He was honorably discharged, but in July, 1863, reenlisted, entering Co. A, 5th Independent Battalion O. Cav., for six months and did duty during the Morgan Raid in Ohio, and later accompanied his command to Kentucky, it being called there to check the depredations of guerrilla bands. His period of service covered some eight months, when he was again honorably discharged and returned to Columbus, O., where he resided until 1876, in the meanwhile having studied law, been ad- mitted to the bar and engaged in practice and for a time was also interested in handling real estate there. Mr. Matheny subsequently re- turned to Berne Township, where he engaged in farming from 1876 until 1881, when he ac- cepted a position as night watchman at the Ohio Boys' Industrial School in Fairfield County, which he retained for twelve years. On Oc- tober 1, 1904, he was appointed postmaster at Sugar Grove and has resided here ever since. He is a stanch Republican and has been a strong party worker and has always been in- terested in educational matters, serving eleven years as a member of the township school board. He is commander of Chickamauga Post, G. A. R., No. 583, at Sugar Grove.
Mr. Matheny was married to Miss Chris- tianna Jackson, a daughter of Col. E. P. Jack- son, formerly of Hocking County, O., who was lieutenant-colonel of the 58th O. Vol. Inf., dur- ing the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Matheny had eight children born to them, namely : Mary E., deceased; Ezra S., residing at Cooksville, O .; Belinda A., wife of Thomas Smith, of Lan- caster, O .; Martha, residing at Sugar Grove; Grace, a teacher now in North Dakota; Edith, wife of C. C. Berry, of Sugar Grove ; Grant, of Sugar Grove; and Catherine, who is assistant postmaster at Sugar Grove. Mr. Matheny and . family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
GEORGE W. RUBLE, a substantial citizen and successful farmer of Bloom Township, in which section he has spent forty-five years of his life, owns 281 acres of fine land which he has under cultivation. Mr. Ruble was born in Hocking Township, Fairfield County, July 10, 1835, and is a son of George and Eliazbeth (Shore) Ruble.
George Ruble was born in Virginia and was six years old when he accompanied his parents to Fairfield County, O., the family settling in Hocking Township, then a wilderness, where the father died shortly afterward. The mother of George Ruble kept her family together and reared her children, probably enduring many hardships for their sakes. George Ruble be- came a farmer and carried on his agricultural pursuits in Hocking Township during his many years of active life, afterward retiring and liv- ing into his nineteenth year. He married Eliza- beth Shore, who was born in Fairfield County, and of their children there are two survivors- Isabel, still residing in Hocking Township, and George W.
George W. Ruble was reared in Hocking Township. He had as favorable school oppor- tunities as the neighborhod afforded at that time and very early began to learn practical farming. About 1866 he moved from Hocking to Bloom Township and took possession of his present farm, on which he has resided ever since, during which time he has enriched and improved it. On February 20, 1866, he was married to Miss Sarah C. Ingman, who was born in Hocking Township, a daughter of Eden and Mary (Williamson) Ingman, and a granddaughter of Henry Ingman, the latter a native of Virginia who came at an early day to Fairfield County. Mrs. Ruble has one brother, Henry J. Ingman, who lives in Pickaway County, O. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ruble, the second born, Clothilde, be-
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ing now deceased. The others are : William C., has been of great advantages to him in doing residing in Hocking Township; George E., also business and has made him independent of out- side help in many ways in carrying on the many activities that engage the attention of the modern farmer. For a time he resided in Amanda Township and while there was a member of the special school district of Amanda village. residing in Hocking Township; Samuel B., Raymond R. and Felix K., all residing in Bloom Township; and Lulu, wife of Bertram Alspach, residing in Franklin County, O. Mr. Ruble and family attend the Methodist Episco- pal church. Politically he is a Democrat.
FRANK E. KERN, a prosperous farmer and well known citizen of Hocking Township, Fairfield County, O., owns 103 acres of fine land here which he devotes to general agricult- ure. He was born in this township, December 8, 1854, and is a son of Francis and Catherine (Gerber) Kern.
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