USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 72
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On April 26, 1891, Mr. Armstrong was mar- ried to Miss Laura L. Dodson, a daughter of Rufus and Mary ( Steele) Dodson. Mr. Dod- son was a merchant at Laurelville, Hocking County. His children were : Rachel, deceased ; Clara; Jennie, wife of David Pangle; Laura L., wife of Mr. Armstrong; Frank; Emma, wife of H. N. Armstrong; Effie, deceased; Bertha, wife of Hugh Egan; and Clifford. Four children, three sons and one daughter, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, namely: Guy C., Howard D., Lawrence and Elsie Irene, the eldest son being engaged with his father in the store. Mr. Armstrong and family attend the Presbyterian church. He is identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows at Adelphia, and the Knights of Pythias at Laur- elville.
ISAAC D. SHAFFER, a member of one of the old pioneer families of Fairfield County, O., settled on his present excellent farm of seventy-seven acres, situated in Pleasant Town- ship, in 1884 and has lived here ever since. He was born in Madison Township, Fairfield
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County, July 1, 1835, a son of Joab and Nancy Ann (Clark) Shaffer, and a grandson of Isaac Shaffer.
Grandfather Isaac Shaffer came to Fairfield County from Pennsylvania and settled first in Berne Township among the pioneers, remov- ing from there to Madison Township, where he developed a farm and continued to live on it until his death in 1852, surviving his son Joab by two years. Joab Shaffer was born in 1803 and spent his life in Madison Township, Fairfield County, where he died in January, 1850. He was a farmer and also owned and operated a grist-mill, continuing both indus- tries until within a few years of his death, when he gave up work in the mill. He mar- ried Nancy Ann Clark, who was born in Hock- ing County, O., and of their children the fol- lowing is a partial record : Isaac D .; Mrs. Julia A. Wolf, residing in Hocking Township; Mrs. Jacob Simon, residing at Lancaster ; Columbus C., living in Benton County, Mo .; Lewis W., a resident of Oklahoma; and Barbara V., who was shot at the age of 17 years.
Isaac D. Shaffer was reared in Madison Township on the old family homestead, at- tended the country schools and also select schools of Lancaster, under Dr. Williams, and later took a course at Wittenberg College, at Springfield, O. Mr. Shaffer became a teacher himself and spent twelve years in this relation in Fairfield County and has always taken a lively interest in educational matters for a number of years serving on the school board in Pleasant Township. Since locating on this farm he has devoted himself to general agri- culture.
Mr. Shaffer was married April 10, 1873, to Miss Maggie Bohrer, who was born in Fair- field County, a daughter of James L. and Diana Bohrer, former residents of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer nine children were born :
Charles C., residing in Greenfield Township; Alice C., living in Pleasant Township; Clara, wife of Harley O. Friesner, of Pleasant Town- ship; Sadie S., wife of Harley T. Miesse, of Greenfield Township; Daisy, wife of Pearle Wagner, of Lancaster, O .; Maggie B., wife of Jesse Carpenter, of Greenfield Township; and Ira, Grover F. and Darle, all residing in Pleasant Township. In politics Mr. Shaffer is a Democrat. He formerly was identified with the Odd Fellows at Pleasantville.
GEORGE E. TURNER, vice president of the Bremen Banking Company, of Bremen, O., of which he was a charter member, is interested in other large business enterprises of this sec- tion. He was born near Lancaster, O., August 8, 1859, and is a son of Jacob B. and Mary ( Miller ) Turner.
George E. Turner attended the Fairfield County schools and later took a business course in a commercial college at Lebanon, O. When he came to Bremen he was first connected with the mercantile and milling business, under the firm name of J. B. Turner & Sons, but is not now affiliated with that company. He has large individual interests, however, being treas- urer of the Highland Park Realty Company, and president of the Nelson McCoy Pottery Company, of Roseville, O., manufacturers of staple and stone ware. For four years after the organization of the Bremen Banking Com- pany, he served as cashier and then resigned to become vice president. He was treasurer of the Bremen Gas and Oil Company from the time it was organized until it was sold.
Mr. Turner married Miss Kate E. Stemen, who was born near Bremen, in Fairfield County, a daughter of Emanuel Stemen, for- merly of Rush Creek Township, and three children were born to them : James Ross, Fred W. and Russell M. The last named lived but
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eighteen months. The attractive family resi- dence is located at Highland Park, an addition to Bremen. With his family Mr. Turner be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Pol- itically he is a Democrat.
FRANK W. SMITH, one of the represen- tative and enterprising business men of Stouts- ville, O., dealing heavily in hay, straw, grain and coal, resides in this town, where his resi- dence property contains five acres, and owns additionally thirty-eight acres of excellent land in Clear Creek Township. He was born in Delaware County, O., a son of Charles and Mary (Wheeler ) Smith.
The parents of Mr. Smith were born in Ger- many. After coming to Delaware County, Ohio, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father engaged in the lumber business, also was a farmer and for many years dealt in horses. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. Their children were: Henry; Sophia, wife of Frederick Schultz; Frederick; Mary, wife of John Hess; Jennie, wife of John Inlow; Anna, wife of R. C. Craig; George J. ; Edward and Frank W.
Frank W. Smith obtained a common school education, after which he worked for some four years on farms by the month. He then embarked in the hay business in Delaware, Union, Marion and Monroe Counties for three years. In 1891 he located at Stoutsville and at first handled hay alone but later added straw, coal and grain. He has prospered and has very comfortable and tasteful surroundings, build- ing a substantial barn in 1895 and in 1905 erecting one of the finest and most modern res- idences in the place, equipping it with both gas and electricity and with a hot water system of heating.
On March 10, 1896, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Anna Stout, a daughter of Simon and
Louisa Stout, of Stoutsville, O., an old family that has given its name to this flourishing town. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children -Adaline, Edwin, Margaret and Harry. They attend the Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican and is serving his first term as township trustee. He belongs to Lodge No. 218 Odd Fellows, at Tarlton, O., and to other organizations at Circleville and at Stouts- ville, including the Cocoals order, an organiza- tion of coal men, the main office of which is at Chicago, Ill. He is a wide awake business man and an admirable citizen.
JOHN MERTZ, a well known agriculturist of Pleasant Township, residing on his well cul- tivated farm of eighty-six acres, was born in this township October 9, 1850, and is a son of George and Dorothea (Ellm) Mertz, natives of Bavaria, Germany. His parents, came to America in 1849 and immediately afterward to Fairfield County, settling in Pleasant Town- ship, where George Mertz died in his eighty- seventh year, on August 29, 1909. His wife died in April, 1888, in her sixty-seventh year. Four of their children are living, namely : John George and John, both residing in Pleasant Township, Frederick and Catherine also living in this township. The parents were members of the Lutheran church.
John Mertz has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since he became old enough to handle farm utensils, and he has the reputation of being one of the most thorough and success- ful farmers of the township. He was married February 17, 1887, to Miss Elizabeth H. Schaertzer, who was born September 4, 1855, in Pleasant Township, a daughter of Frederick and Barbara (Miller) Schaertzer. They came from Bavaria, Germany, to America in the early fifties and lived in Pleasant Township, Fairfield County during the remainder of their
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lives. Mrs. Mertz is one of a family of twelve children, the survivors being as follows : Eliza- beth H .; Clara M., wife of Andrew Ellinger, of Pleasant Township; Barbara, widow of William Gundelfinger, of Pleasant Township; Henry J., of Pleasant Township; Minnie, wife of Simon Boyer, of Walnut Township; Con- rad, living in Nevada ; Julia, widow of George Boyer, of Pleasant Township; and Charles, Henrietta and Philip, all of Pleasant Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Mertz had one daughter, Edna, who is deceased. They are members of the Emanuel Lutheran Church, of which he was formerly a deacon. He is a Democrat in politics.
SAMUEL T. GOOD, who is a general mer- chant at Studortown, Liberty Township, Fair- field County, O., belongs to an old Ohio family of Virginia ancestry. Many years ago his grandfather settled in the vicinity of Bremen, Fairfield County, probably bringing his family and household effects with him from Virginia. The father of Mr. Good was born in Fairfield County and, like his father, was a farmer and stock raiser. He was twice married and Sam- uel T. Good is one of the eleven children born to the first marriage, two others of whom sur- vive. Caroline and John. Five children were born to the second union, two of whom are living. Charles and Myrtle.
Samuel T. Good was born in 1856 on his father's farm in Liberty Township, Fairfield County and obtained his education in the dis- trict schools. After leaving the farm he em- barked in the mercantile business at this place and has prospered. He carries a well assorted stock, a complete line of groceries and general merchandise. He married Miss Malissa Mc- Daniels and they have had six children, namely : Burton L., Charles A., Lizzie F., Min- nie M., Elda V., and Ina Marie, who died at
the age of one year. Mr. Good is one of the leading citizens of the village and is active and influential in its public affairs.
JACOB COURTRIGHT. The pleasant town of Stoutsville, O., has, among its best citizenship, a number of substantial retired farmers, who have purchased homes and take an interest in the development of the place, while still retaining possession of valuable land in Fairfield County. One of these highly re- spected residents is Jacob Courtright, a mem- ber of one of the early families of this part of Ohio. He was born January 23, 1831, in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, O., and is a son of Abraham Van Camp and Catherine ( Snyder) Courtright.
The first of the Courtright family to come to Fairfield County, was John Courtright, in about 1800, from Pennsylvania, and he sur- vived until 1862. Abraham Van Camp, his son, was born in this county, as was also his wife. They were members of the Presbyterian church and were worthy and respected people throughout life. They had the following chil- dren : Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Enoch Fritter; Richard; Esther, who was the wife of William Julian; Jessie; Ellen, who was the wife of Grant Fritter; Rosanna, who was the wife of George Cawthon; George; Adam: and Mary, who was the wife of Abra- ham Ware.
Jacob Courtright attended the district school in boyhood and began to work on the farm at an early age. He spent all his active life as a farmer, with the exception of three years dur- ing which period he was with his brother-in- law in a general store, it being the first store opened in this town. He was obliged to dis- continue the business owing to ill health. He still owns his farm of 163 acres which is now managed by one of his sons, and for many
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years he was considered one of the most suc- cessful farmers of the township. He is a Dem- ocrat in politics but has never consented to serve in public office.
Mr. Courtright was married first in 1852, to Miss Lydia Stout, who died in 1866. She was a daughter of Benjamin Stout, a former prom- inent man in Clear Creek Township, Stouts- ville being named in his honor. To the first marriage four children were born: Simon; Alice, who is the wife of George D. Mowery; Benjamin and Irwin. His second marriage was with Mrs. Rachel ( Bowman) Myers, widow of Joseph Myers, and seven children were born to them, namely : Lillian and Willis (twins), Mary Ellen, Alva J., A. Van Camp, Jennie, and Addie Myrtle, wife of K. A. Gear- hart. Jennie is deceased. Mr. Courtright and family are members of the Reformed church.
THOMAS J. BERRY, who devotes his ex- cellent farm of 120 acres, which lies in Pleas- ant Township, Fairfield County, O., to gen- eral farming and stock raising, was born in Pleasant Township, September 5, 1858, and is a son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Patton) Berry.
Aaron Berry was born in Virginia and was a son of Elijah Berry who brought his family to Fairfield County and settled in Walnut Township, where he and wife spent the rest of their lives. Aaron Berry was twice married and of his children the following survive : Isaac, of Davis County, Ia .; Mary, widow of George Shumaker, of Shelby County, Ill .; Martin H., of Springfield, O .; Josiah, resid- ing near Roanoke, La .; Elizabeth, widow of Enos Shumaker, residing in Ringgold County, Ia .; John H., of Omaha, Neb .; Tunis, living in Licking County, O .; Martha J., of Pleasant Township; Emily, wife of Harvey Blue, of Hardin County, O. and Thomas J. Five of the sons of the first marriage-Isaac, Martin
H., Josiah, John H. and Henry, were soldiers in the Civil War and all survive except Henry. The father of the above family was a member of the Baptist church. He died on his farm in Pleasant Township in 1881.
Thomas J. Berry has spent his life in Fair- field County. Growing up on the home farm he attended the local schools and for a time was a student in the Fairfield Union Academy. He has since devoted his attention almost exclu- sively to agricultural pursuits and is numbered with the successful men in this line in Pleasant Township. On April 19, 1906, he was married to Miss Minerva Funderberg, who was born in Perry County, O., a daughter of Noah Funder- berg. In politics Mr. Berry is a Republican.
ISAAC W. FINKBONE, an extensive farmer, owning 360 acres, is one of the largest stock dealers and shippers in Fairfield County, O. He has two valuable farms in Liberty Township and occupies one of the handsomest country homes in all this section, his residence being five miles north of Baltimore, O. He was born January 30, 1876, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Pittsford) Finkbone.
Isaac Finkbone was born in Liberty Town- ship and was reared on his father's farm. He became an extensive farmer and stock raiser and at the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-one years, three months and twenty-five days, he owned about 800 acres of land in Fairfield and Lincoln Counties. His death took place on what is known as the Isaac Wilson Farm. He married Martha Pittsford and they had the following children: John, Mary E., Fannie, Sarah, Martha, William, Albert T., Thurman and Isaac W. Sarah married J. B. Moore and they live near Pataskala, Licking County, O., and Martha married Jacob Youman, of the same place. William married Ara Kirk and
MR. AND MRS. WILBER E. ARMSTRONG
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they also live in Licking County. Thurman married Carrie Weakley and they live five miles north of Baltimore. Fannie, John and Albert T. are all now deceased.
In 1906 Isaac W. Finkbone married Miss Zoa Baird and at that time settled on his pres- ent home place. He does an extensive business in handling stock and is one of the substantial men of this section. With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He votes the Democratic ticket but has always had too many business interests to find time to accept any public office.
WILBER E. ARMSTRONG, whose two farms-both lying in Clear Creek Township- aggregate 209 acres, is a leading citizen of this section, of which he has been a resident for the past thirteen years. He was born May I, 1866, in Perry Township, Hocking County, O., and is a son of Milton and Caroline (Mowery) Armstrong, and a grandson of William Arm- strong and Peter Mowery.
Milton Armstrong was born in Hocking County and has followed farming all his life. He is a stanch Democrat and for many years he has been an official in the Methodist Epis- copal church. His first marriage was to Caro- line Mowery, who died in 1890, his second was to a widow, Mrs. Ella (Everett) Haynes, and his third was to Leanah Markel. To his first marriage sixteen children were born and those still living are : Henry A., W. E., Judson, Har- ley N., John F., Ella, wife of Cecil Johnson, Ollie, wife of W. A. Burkhardt, Minerva, wife of Von Frazier, Durban W., Dora L., Pearl D., Clifford M., and Laura, wife of Guy Heff- ner. To his second marriage two children were born-Bert and Lilly.
Wilber E. Armstrong obtained his educa- tion in the public schools. Farming has been his chosen life work and he has been very suc-
cessful in all his undertakings. In 1898 he bought his Clear Creek Township land and has greatly improved it since coming here. In politics he is a Democrat and while a resident of Hocking County served acceptably in the offices of assessor and road supervisor, and since coming to Fairfield County has been a member of the school board and of the county agricultural association.
In 1892 Mr. Armstrong was married to Miss Cora L. McClelland, a daughter of W. E. Mc- Clelland, and they have three children: Emil D., Loren Lee and Lena Marie, all of whom are making excellent progress at school. Mr. Armstrong and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a charter member of lodge No. 674, Knights of Pythias, at Laurel- ville, O. At the time of Mr. Armstrong's mar- riage the family relatives to the first cousins numbered 324.
ELBIN J. HOY, who is manager of the Stoutsville branch of the West Side Lumber Company of Lancaster, O., is an active and efficient business man and an enterprising citi- zen of the place in which he makes his home, residing here with his mother. He is a native of Fairfield County, O., born in Bloom Town- ship, May 5, 1862, and is a son of John and Mary (Shride) Hoy. The father was born in Pennsylvania but came to Ohio before mar- riage and followed farming until his death. He was a member of the Lutheran church.
Elbin J. Hoy was the third born in a family of five children: Monroe; George; Elbin J .; Bertha, wife of B. F. Hessen; and Carrie, wife of William Spangler. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have one son, O'Donnell. Mr. Hoy attended the common schools only. His first work away from home was with the Valley Manufactur- ing Company, of Chillicothe, O., with which he remained for two years, after which he re-
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mained on the home farm with his father for ten years. After moving to Stoutsville he en- gaged in stock buying for one year and then accepted his present position. The West Side Lumber Company handles all kinds of lum- ber suitable for building purposes, Mr. Hoy managing their large interests here.
Mr. Hoy has never married. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally he is a member of Scipio Lodge No. 255 Knights of Pythias, and the Odd Fellows at Tarlton. With his mother he attends the Lutheran church at Stoutsville.
WILLIAM H. SCHISLER, whose excel- lent farm of seventy-seven acres lies one-half mile east of Pleasantville, Fairfield County, O., devotes it to general agriculture but makes spe- cialties of growing fruit and raising fine poul- try and Chester White hogs. He was born in Liberty Township, Fairfield County, O., May 28, 1862, and is a son of Emanuel and Sarah E. (Fairchild) Schisler.
Emanuel Schisler was born and reared in Liberty Township. He learned the trade of stone cutter and was an expert and reliable workman. He did the stone work for the Hocking Valley branch of the old Ohio Canal. He was a man of more than ordinary qualities, was a school teacher for nine years and served several terms as sheriff of Fairfield County, be- ing elected first in 1864, on the Democratic ticket. He married Sarah E. Fairchild and of their children the following survive: Martha, who is the wife of John K. Miller, of Hunt- ington, Ind .; Mary J., who is the wife of Al- len A. McNaughten, of the same place; Frank- lin P. and James B., both living in Pleasant Township; Elmira, who is the wife of Levi Hampson, of Pleasant Township; Anna E., who is the wife of C. P. Pence, of Pleasant Township; and William H., also of Pleasant Township. Emanuel Schisler died December
24, 1896, and in his death Fairfield County lost a worthy man.
William H. Schisler was in his third year when his parents moved to Lancaster, O., his father assuming then the duties of sheriff of the county. He attended the public schools of Lancaster and of Pleasant Township, also the Pleasantville Union Academy, and later took the teachers' course at this institution. He was only sixteen years old when he began to teach school and he followed educational work more or less regularly afterward until he was thirty- seven years old, when he turned his attention to his present business, in which he has met with success.
Mr. Schisler was married to Miss Anna C. Winter, who was born in Pleasant Township, a daughter of Ferdinand Winter, who was born in Germany but now lives retired in Amanda Township, Fairfield County. To Mr. and Mrs. Schisler five children were born, namely : Ralph W., Ruth C., Raymond H., Walter B. and Carl. In politics he is a Demo- crat and for three years served as a member of the Democratic Central Committee for Pleas- ant Township, and for four years was superin- tendent of the township schools. He is a char- ter member of the Knights of Pythias in Pleas- antville and belongs to the Old Fellows and the Encampment at that place and has been an official in all these organizations. His interest in the Pleasantville Farmers' Institute con- tinues and for two years he was secretary and for two years was president of the same, serv- ing also on its executive committee. He is one of the representative, reliable and useful men of this section.
OWEN W. CONRAD, one of the leading business men of Stoutsville, has been active in the commercial life of this place since 1896 and since the spring of 1903 has been pro-
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prietor of a well stocked grocery and dry goods store. He was born in Amanda Township, Fairfield County, May 23, 1861, and is a son of Nicholas and Sarah ( Mohn) Conrad.
Nicholas Conrad was born also in Fairfield County, a son of John Conrad of German an- cestry. Nicholas Conrad conducted a hotel for a number of years and also engaged in merchandising here. He was influential in the Democratic party and a liberal supporter of the Lutheran church. He married Sarah Mohn, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Mohn. They had seven children, namely: Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of Theodore Carl; Sarah, who was the wife of Peter Stout: Jessie; Isabel, who was the wife of Joseph Warner; Viana, the widow of Colse Walters; Owen W .; and Edward.
Owen W. Conrad obtained a common school education and as soon as he was able to com- mand the capital, embarked in merchandising at South Bloomfield, where he continued for eighteen months. He then rented a farm in Fairfield County and operated it for nine years, then purchased fifty-two acres and lived on his own place for two years. In 1896 he came to Stoutsville where he conducted a livery busi- ness for thirteen years, disposing of the same in 1909 in order to give more of his time and attention to his other interests.
wife of Charles Stein ; Benjamin Nicholas, de- ceased ; Mary, wife of Howard Hampp; Ethel, wife of Cliff Hanley; and John C., Harold, Glenn C. and Clarence. Mr. Conrad and fam- ily attend the German Lutheran church. He is one of the stanch Democrats of Clear Creek Township.
MRS. EMMA DRIVER, a highly esteemed resident of Bremen, O., the widow of the late Dr. O. P. Driver, for a number of years a lead- ing physician and surgeon at this place, was born at Bremen, and is a daughter of Jesse and Emma (Ruffner) Rowles.
Jesse Rowles was born at Bremen, O., in 1826, the family being an old settled one of this section. He spent his life as a farmer and owned 140 acres of well improved land in Fair- field County near Bremen. He was a Demo- crat in politics but sought no public offices. Both he and wife were members of the Baptist church and his burial was in the Baptist cem- etery, his death taking place in 1909, when he had reached his eighty-second year. He mar- ried Emma Ruffner, who was born in 1832 at Brushville. O., and died at the age of sixty- seven years. Her parents were Jacob and Mar- garetta Ruffner. They had the following chil- dren : Alva, who died when aged eight years; Mary, who resides at Bremen and is the wife of Eli Huddle; Jennie, deceased, who was the wife of the late J. J. Elder ; Isaac, who mar- ried Julia Houston, and lives in Colorado ; Belle, who is deceased; Alice, who is the wife of A. A. Bradford, of Bremen O., Emma, who is the widow of Dr. O. P. Driver ; Rebecca. who is deceased; Jesse, who married Viola Rankin, and lives at Columbus, O. ; Lewis, who married Lulu Cusac, and lives at Bremen.
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