USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 71
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William H. Oyler obtained school training in Bloom Township. His first employment away from home was teaming and afterward he engaged in farming. In 1902 he came to his present place and immediately started on its improvement and the erection of new build- ings. He carries on general farming and gar- dening.
Mr. Oyler married Miss Sarah A. Hun- secker, a daughter of Abraham and Susan Hunsecker. They were natives of Pennsyl- vania and both are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Oyler the following children were born: Bessie, who is deceased; Cora, who married Leonard Snyder ; and Blanche, Grace, Vernon, Ethel, Homer, Clarence, Chester and Paul. Mr. Oyler casts his vote with the Prohibition party. He is regarded as one of the reliable and substantial citizens of Bloom township and has served in the office of supervisor. He is a local preacher in the Nazarene church.
FREDERICK HORN, who is one of the substantial citizens and progressive agricultur- ists of Berne Township, Fairfield County, O., has resided on his home farm, which contains 240 acres, since 1897, and is also the owner of two other well improved farms in the same township. He was born in Berne Township, February 15, 1849, and is a son of John G. and Barbara E. (Elfline) Horn.
The parents of Mr. Horn were born in Ba- varia, Germany, and both came when young to Fairfield County, where they married and set- tled in Berne Township. John G. Horn was a
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good manager and careful farmer and accumu- lated property. Of his three children but one survives. He and wife were members of the Lutheran church.
Frederick Horn has been more or less en- gaged in agricultural pursuits since early boy- hood and is numbered with the most success- ful farmers and stock raisers of Berne Town- ship. For some years he owned and operated the grist mill at Horntown, which is now the property of David Clark. Mr. Horn's farm land is all well improved and is very valuable. After his school days were over and he had reached man's estate, he was married to Miss Barbara A. Cook, whose father, Jacob Cook, was, like his own, a native of Germany and a substantial farmer of Berne Township. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Horn, the survivors being: John G., Jacob, William, Nora and Albert, all of whom live in Berne Township. They are members of the Lutheran church at Sugar Grove, in which Mr. Horn is an elder and a member of the board of trustees. In his political attitude he is an In- dependent Democrat. The family is held in very high regard in Berne Township and par- ticular honor was shown Mr. Horn when the pleasant little hamlet of Horntown was given his name.
GEORGE SNOKE, one of the well known farmer-citizens of Hocking Township, who came to his present fine farm of 353 acres, in the spring of 1905, was born in Berne Town- ship, Fairfield County, April 1, 1857, and is a son of Adam and Sophia (Bentz) Snoke.
The parents of Mr. Snoke were of German extraction and both were born in Maryland. Adam Snoke accompanied his parents to Fair- field County when a boy and was reared and continued to live in Berne Township until his death, which occurred in August, 1888. He
was a man of excellent parts, worthy in every way and was a consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Of his ten children, the following survive : Sarah, wife of Richard McClane, of Carroll County, Ind .; Rebecca, wife of Andrew J. Beery, of Oklahoma; Wil- liam J., of Berne Township; Jemima, wife of Frederick Neubauer, of Berne Township; George of Hocking Township; Rosa, wife of Joshua Hamm, of Macon County, Ill .; Oliver, of Lancaster, O .; and Elizabeth, wife of E. A. Pierce, of Columbus, O.
George Snoke spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the public schools in Berne Township. He then taught school for fifteen terms and was very acceptable as an instructor. His attention was then turned and his interest aroused in the great lumber industry, with which he remained connected for eighteen years, but for some years past he has given his attention to farming and stock raising. After his marriage he removed to Madison Town- ship, where he lived for four years and during two of these years was a justice of the peace there. In his political opinions he is somewhat independent, but nominally is a Democrat.
On April 23, 1885, Mr. Snoke was married to Miss Susannah Shonk, who was born in Berne Township and is a daughter of John Shonk, who formerly lived in Hocking County and later in Berne Township, Fairfield County. Mr. and Mrs. Snoke have four children-Lucy C., Charles E., Cora E. and John L.
SAMUEL CAMPBELL, whose valuable property consisting of 190 acres of well im- proved land lies jointly in Madison and in Clear Creek Townships, Fairfield County, O., was born in Clear Creek Township, September 20, 1872, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fosnaugh) Campbell. The father died in 1889 and the mother contracted a second mar-
L. T. MARTIN
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riage, with Silas Hamilton, and they live at Oakland, O. To her first marriage the fol- lowing children were born: Jack, William, Samuel, Harrison, Jacob and Levi. Both par- ents belonged to the U. B. church.
Samuel Campbell attended the public schools in boyhood, after which he worked as a farmer, mostly by the month, until he came to his pres- ent farm, which he rented for five years prior to purchasing it from John Landis. While the land lies across the township line, the fine resi- dence he has built stands in Clear Creek Town- ship. He engages in general farming and raises stock but seldom has any for sale, aim- ing only to provide enough for his own use.
Mr. Campbell was married first to Miss Belle Knecht, a daughter of Daniel Knecht, of Stoutsville. O. She is survived by one son, Edgar Leon, a bright manly youth who is ap- proaching his seventeenth birthday and is a very satisfactory student in the High School at Amanda. On December 14, 1897, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Hattie Camp- bell, a daughter of George and Saralı (Con- , rad) Campbell, residents of Madison Town- ship. George Campbell is a veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Hattie Campbell is one of the fol- lowing family : Emma, who is the wife of Ed- ward Bliss; William; Charles; Nancy, who is the wife of Mathias Fosnaugh ; Lyman; Lilly, who is the wife of Matthew Fosnaugh ; Robert; Hattie; Francis; and Maude, who is the wife of George Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell at- tend the Reformed church. He is a Republi- can in his political views.
JOSEPH JOOS, one of Hocking Town- ship's well known citizens and experienced farmers and stock raisers, has spent his life in Fairfield County, O. He was born in Green- field Township, May 31, 1861, his parents be- ing Joseph and Theresa (Flamm) Joos.
In 1855 the parents of Mr. Joos emigrated from Baden, Germany, to the United States and settled in Fairfield County, O., locating for a time in Madison Township and afterward moving into Greenfield Township. There the older Joseph Joos died in 1876 and his wife in 1899. Of their children the following survive : Charles J., of Hocking Township; Mary M., Caroline, Joseph and John S., all also of Hock- ing Township; William E., of Lancaster, O .; and Frank T., of Hocking Township.
Joseph Joos, who bears his father's name, was reared and attended school in Greenfield Township and later moved to Hocking Town- ship, where he has carried on agricultural pur- suits and become one of the reliable and use- ful citizens. For two terms he served as town- ship clerk of Hocking Township, having been elected on the Democratic ticket, and he has always been numbered with that body of cit- izens who encourage local enterprises and show a large measure of public spirit. Mr. Joos was one of the organizers, with Frank A. Shaeffer, of Hocking Township, of The Farmers' Mu- tual Fire Insurance Company, for Fairfield County, and is one of its board of directors.
L. T. MARTIN, president of the Farm- ers' and Merchants' Bank Company of Carroll, O., and a prominent citizen of this place, with the interests of which he is largely identified, was born in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, O., July 23, 1837, and is a son of Gideon and Frances (Taylor) Martin.
Gideon Martin, the father of our subject, was born at Newark, N. J., where he was reared and married. From his native state he came with his family to Ohio, traveling in an old-style wagon and camping at var- ious points on the route, and even after reaching their destination the family had to
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live in a tent untl the first log cabn could be erected. Greenfield Townshp, or what is now called such, was then an uncleared wilderness, but the new arrivals were brave and hopeful and possessed their full share of pioneer resourcefulness, and the little, square 16-foot cabin served them as a happy home for many years. Gibeon Mar- tin became a man of importance in the new settlement ; at one time he owned 800 acres of lan dand he acquired the title of "Judge" Martin on acocunt of serving as associate judge of Fairfield County. He was for many years a justice of the peace and in addition to his other activities he taught a pioneer school. In early days an old line Whig, he later became a stanch Republi- can. His death occurred in 1887. He mar- ried Frances Taylor, who was born in New York, and of their children there are two survivors: Mrs. Samantha J. Messmore, of Columbus, O .; and Lebbeus T., of Carroll, the direct subject of this article. he other children of this family were Mrs. Emily Mason, Mrs. Mary Brandon, Evi (a son), Catherine, Mrs. Calista, Brandt, Mrs. Louisa Graybill and Mrs. AAngeline Hooker.
L. T. Martin was reared in Greenfield Township. In boyhood he attended the district school but the greater and better part of his education has been gained through his own efforts and in the practical school of life. Since his youth he has been closely connected with agriculture and he now owns 200 acres of land separated into two farms. His operations are carried on along scientific lines and have proved very successful. Besides cultivating the soil, he is a raiser of stock. He has been president of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank Company, of Carroll, since 1911, having previously served two years as vice president. He is an active Republican
and has proved himself a useful citizen, serving fifteen years as a member of the Special Dis- trict School Board, and for ten years as a member of the Town Council.
Mr. Martin was first married to Miss Har- riet Spangler, a daughter of Lewis Spangler, of Fairfield County. She died and was sur- vived by four children, namely : Charles H., who is a resident of Cincinnati; Fannie S., who is the wife of Frank A. Brown, of Ross County, O .; Edward L., who lives in Mon- tana; and Minnie D., who is now deceased. Mr. Martin married secondly Mrs. E. M. Bates, widow of Eli Bates, formerly a resident of Fairfield County. Mrs. Martin is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the Ladies Aid Society, also belonging to the Ezra B. Ricketts Relief Corps at Car- roll, O.
FRANK P. BEERY, whose home farm of 121 acres, together with an additional tract of twelve acres, lies in Clear Creek Township, Fairfield County, O., was born May 30, 1870, in Hocking County, O., and is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Mowery) Beery.
The Beery family is an old and respected one in Hocking County and the Mowery is an equally well established one in Pickaway County. Daniel Beery was a farmer in Hock- ing County and also a blacksmith, and died in Fairfield County in 1895. His widow survives and resides with her son, Frank P., who was the second son in a family of six children, the others being: Philip; Ella, wife of Clel Old- field; John; Minnie, wife of J. O. Hamilton ; and Josephine, wife of Harold Stepleton. The grandfathers of the above family were Daniel Beery and David Mowery.
Frank P. Beery went to live with his pa- ternal grandmother when he was four years old and remained with her until he was aged
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ten years, in the meanwhile attending the pub- lic schools. For some years afterward he worked by the month for M. N. Engle and afterward worked on shares on the farm for twenty years. He is numbered with the suc- cessful agriculturists of Clear Creek Township.
Mr. Beery was married April 22, 1904, to Miss Maggie Kuhn, a daughter of Perry and Emma (Geiger) Kuhn. Mrs. Beery was born in Hocking County and has one brother, James Kuhn. To Mr. and Mrs. Beery a son was born, September 19, 1906, whom they named Clarence M. They attend the U. B. church. Mr. Beery, like his father before him, is a Re- publican.
JAMES B. CLAYPOOL, president of the Fairfield County, O., Agricultural Society, and a prominent and substantial citizen of Hocking Township, resides on his valuable farm of 100 raising, making a specialty of Jersey cattle. He was born in Greenfield Township, Fair- field County, O., October 22, 1850, and is a son of Isaac and Nancy ( Meason) Claypool.
Isaac Claypool was born in Greenfield Town- ship and died in the same room on his eighty- first birthday, June 29, 1902. He was a son of Hon. Jacob and Margaret (Baker) Clay- pool, the former of whom was born in Rock- bridge County, Va., and from there came to Fairfield County in 1805. settling in Greenfield Township. He was one of the founders of the Hocking Valley Bank at Lancaster, since merged in the Hocking Valley National Bank, and he was instrumental in having the spur of the Ohio Canal constructed between Carroll and Lancaster, this later becoming the Hock- ing Valley Canal. Jacob Claypool also served Fairfield County as a member of the state leg- islature. The Claypools have been prominent in public life and estimable in private, and for
years have been numbered with the citizens of whom Fairfield County has been proud.
James B. Claypool was reared in Greenfield Township and was educated at Dennison Uni- versity at Granville, O. Prior to 1909, Mr. Claypool was a resident of Greenfield Town- ship but in that year came to Hocking Town- ship and now resides near Lancaster. During his residence in Greenfield Township he was prominent in public matters. For fifteen years he was township trustee and for a long period a member of the school board, serving some terms as its president. He is a Republican in politics but has never consented to be blindly led, on occasions voting independently. He is serving in his first term as president of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society and also as a trustee of the Fairfield County Children's Home, being vice president of the board.
Mr. Claypool married Miss Lizzie Peters, a acres, which he devotes to farming and stock . daughter of Newton and Lydia Peters, resi- dents of Lancaster, O., and they have two sons : Carl, who is principal of a High School in the Island of Luzon, in the Philippine group, being a graduate of the Lancaster High School and of the Ohio State University: and Clark W., who is an employe of the U. S. Post Office Department,-both being unusually gifted young men. Mr. Claypool and family are members of the Presbyterian church.
GEORGE HANGS, one of the representa- tive business men of Oakland, Fairfield County, O., is a practical blacksmith and wag- onmaker and owns his own shop together with other pieces of real estate here. He was born in December, 1855, at Chillicothe, O., and is a son of Joseph and Catherine (Enderlie) Hangs.
Joseph Hangs and his wife were both born in Germany, came when young to America and were married at Cincinnati, O. They later
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
went to Chillicothe and other points where the father found work as a carpenter. They were members of the Roman Catholic church. Their children were: Joseph; George; Anna, wife of Fred Steinhoof; Stancy, wife of Charles Heimley ; John, deceased ; Louisa, wife of Felix Mowrath; Rosa, wife of Lawrence Malonis.
George Hangs had but few educational ad- vantages in his youth but obtained some knowl- edge of books in the district school. He worked for about two years on a farm and then learned the blacksmith and wagon-making trades and has worked at them ever since. He has been a resident of Oakland for thirty-two years, has been careful and industrious and lias acquired valuable property. He has been a good citizen and has always done his part in advancing the general welfare of the town. He has been particularly interested in the schools and for twenty years has served on the school board.
In 1881 Mr. Hangs was married to Miss Rosa Ann Doring, a daughter of John and Re- becca (Shupe) Doring. Mrs. Hangs has one brother, Daniel Doring. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hangs. namely : Mary, Maggie, Louise, Georgia Ann, Ruth and John J. and William J., twins. The three older daughters are well educated young ladies who are popular teachers in Clear Creek Town- ship. Mr. Hangs is one of the leading mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Oakdale. He belongs to Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 48 Knights of Pythias, at Lancaster, O.
THEODORE G. HUFF, treasurer of Hocking Township, Fairfield County, O., and a prominent and substantial citizen of this sec- tion, resides on his excellent farm of ninety- six acres, which he devotes to farming and dairying, his dairy stock being Jersey cattle.
He was born in Marion Township, Hocking County, O., October 7, 1859, and is a son of Jolın G. and Magdalena B. (Walter) Ruff.
John G. Ruff was born in Hocking County, O., and was a lifelong resident of Marion Township, where his death occurred in 1885. He married Magdalena B. Walter, who was born in Germany and still survives, being a resident of Lancaster, O. Their surviving children are: Theodore G. and John G., both residing in Hocking Township, Ferd of Pleas- ant Township; August W., of Pleasant Town- ship, and Charles E., residing in Illinois.
Theodore G. Ruff was reared in Hocking County, where he attended a select school near Enterprise and afterward became a teacher, following educational work for about sixteen years, and in this way becoming well and fav- orably known in different sections. In 1882 he moved from Hocking to Fairfield County and located in Pleasant Township, and from there, in 1902, came to Hocking Township, lo- cating near Lancaster, on the Cedar Hill turn- pike road. Mr. Ruff has been an intelligent politician since early manhood and has been quite active in local affairs wherever he has lived, frequently serving in office, elected to the same on the Democratic ticket. While liv- ing in Pleasant Township he served two years as assessor, and also served two years as deputy treasurer of Fairfield County, under Treasurers William Ziegler and Theodore Becker, and at present is serving in his second term as treas- urer of Hocking Township.
Mr. Ruff married first, Miss Phebe Byerly, of Hocking County, who is survived by two daughters, Edna F. and Helen M. He mar- ried for his second wife, Miss Catherine Reiner, a daughter of the late John P. Reiner, of Violet Township, and they have four chil- dren : Harold T., Lawrence N., Albert E. and Mary C. Both father and grandfather of Mrs.
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Ruff were born in Germany, the latter, Martin Reiner, settling in Liberty Township, Fairfield County, more than a century ago. Mr. Ruff and family are members of the Lutheran church.
MILTON SHUPE, a leading citizen of Clear Creek Township, who is serving in his second term as township assessor, resides on his excellent farm of 125 acres which he de- votes to general agriculture. Mr. Shupe was born in the house in which he lives, November 20, 1875, and is a son of John M. and Sarah Ann (Valentine ) Shupe.
John M. Shupe was a son of Henry Shupe, who was one of the early settlers in this sec- tion, coming from Pennsylvania. John M. Shupe was a well known man and highly re- spected citizen and one of the liberal supporters of the Lutheran church. He died on his farm, the present homestead, June 12, 1896, and his burial was in the Conrad church cemetery in Clear Creek Township. He married Sarah Ann Valentine, a daughter of Noah Valentine, who was also an early settler in Fairfield County. Mrs. Shupe is a beloved member of her son Milton's household and in age is ap- proaching her eighty-first birthday. Six chil- dren were born to John M. Shupe and wife, as follows: William; Jane, who is the wife of Nelson Hedges; Mary, who is the wife of Charles Pierce; Charles, who died at the age of eighteen years; Minnie, who is the wife of Charles Bowers ; and Milton.
Milton Shupe attended the public schools during boyhood and afterward spent two years at college preparing for the profession of teach- ing. Although thoroughly qualified, Mr. Shupe has never taught school but has made good use of his superior education in carrying on his farm activities. In the management of his various industries he follows modern meth-
ods which produce results in every way satis- factory.
On December 31, 1896, Mr. Shupe was mar- ried to Miss Myrtle Burgner, a daughter of A. A. and Catherine (Crossin) Burgner. Mr. Burgner is now in the furniture business at Columbus, but formerly was a farmer and still owns the old farm in Clear Creek Township that adjoins that of Mr. Shupe. Mrs. Shupe has one brother and one sister-Joseph and Hazel. To Mr. and Mrs. Shupe two daughters have been born, Esther and Edith, both of whom are being given . both educational and social advantages. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Amanda, O. Mr. Shupe is a member of Center Star Lodge No. 489, Knights of Pythias, at Amanda. He is affiliated with the Republican party.
JOHN HARTMAN, who owns a valuable farm of 233 acres, situated in Pleasant Town- ship, Fairfield County, O., located on his pres- ent place of residence in Berne Township, east of and near Lancaster, in March, 1910. He belongs to one of the old and substantial county families and was born in Pleasant Township, March 20, 1861, a son of William F. and Mar- garet (Mertz) Hartman, both natives of Han- over, Germany.
William F. Hartman was a young man when he accompanied his father to America and to Berne Township, Fairfield County, O. His parents later moved to Adams County, Ind., but William F. Hartman continued to live in Pleas- ant Township and there became a large farmer and extensive stock raiser. He was a supporter of the church and an encourager of all worthy enterprises and was highly thought of all through this section. He belonged to the Em- manuel Lutheran Church at Lancaster, and was a Jacksonian Democrat.
John Hartman was educated in the district
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
schools of Pleasant Township and also at- had two children, Burton and Louisa. His tended the church school at Lancaster. From third wife was Liana Markle, no children being born to this union. early manhood he has devoted his time and at- tention to agricultural pursuits and is more or less of an authority on farming methods and the handling of stock for profit. For thirty- five years he remained continuously on his Pleasant Township farm. Mr. Hartman was married first to Miss Louisa Ruff, a daughter of Gottleib Ruff, formerly of Hocking County. His second wife, in maidenhood Miss Mary Reiner, was born in Fairfield County, O., and is a daughter of John P. Reiner. They are members of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church at Lancaster.
JUDSON ARMSTRONG, owner and pro- prietor of a general store at Stoutsville, O., one of the leading citizens and useful men of this community, was born in Perry Township, Hocking County, O., March 26, 1868, and is a son of Milton and Caroline ( Mowery) Arm- strong.
This branch of the Armstrong family has belonged to Ohio through several generations. The pioneers were the grandparents, William and Sophia Armstrong, who settled early in Hocking County, where Milton Armstrong was born and still lives, being now a retired resident of Laurelville. He devoted all his ac- tive life to agricultural pursuits. He married Caroline Mowery, who died in 1890. She was a daughter of Peter Mowery, an early settler in Pickaway County, O. They had sixteen children born to them, three of whom died in infancy. The survivors are : Henry A .; W. E .; Judson; H. N .; J. F .; Sylvia Ella, wife of Cecil Johnson ; Ollie N., wife of William Burk- hardt; Minerva N., wife of Vaughn Frazier ; Derbin W .; P. D .; Dora; C. M .; and Laura, wife of Guy Heffner. For his second wife Mr. Armstrong married Ella Ebert and they
Until he was about twenty-one years of age, Judson Armstrong attended the public school during the winter seasons and helped his father on the home farm in the summers. For three years after reaching his majority he worked on neighboring farms by the month and then em- barked in business in Laurelville, conducting a hardware store there for 14 years, then com- ing to Stoutsville. He carries a large and well selected stock of general merchandise and en- joys a satisfactory volume of patronage from town and surrounding country. Politically he is a Democrat and is a hearty party worker but not a seeker for office.
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