USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 74
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
663
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
the standard of efficiency. His service in the and is a son of Jacob and Rebecca ( Reichel- derfer) Aldenderfer.
educational field has covered a period of thirty-five years in all.
Prof. Groves married Miss Mary J. Crouse, a daughter of Levi and Harriet Crouse, her birth taking place in 1863. Her father, Levi Crouse, was born in Maryland in 1818, and was of German extraction. He came to Wal- nut Township with his parents at the age of five years and they settled on the farm where he spent the remainder of his life and died in 1889. He was married twice. His first wife was Catherine Bibler and to this union were born four children. The second marriage was to Harriet Norris, who was born near Balti- more, O., in 1824. To this union were born nine children-one son and eight daughters. She died in 1903.
Five children have been born to Allen D. and Mary J. Groves, namely : Blanche C., who is the wife of Rev. L. R. Herbst, of Glen Rock, Pa., a minister of the United Evangel- ical Church at Columbus, O .; Nettie A., who is a popular teacher in Fairfield County ; Ray S., who lives at home; Russell L., who is also a teacher; and Doyt E., who resides at home. In politics Prof. Groves is a Democrat. He has served two terms as assessor of Pleasant Township, several terms as judge of elections, and at present is clerk of the election board. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, while the children belong to the United Evangelical Church.
SAMUEL ALDENDERFER, residing on his excellent farm of seventy acres, which is situated in Clear Creek Township, devotes his land to farming and stock raising and is one of the substantial and representative men of this section. He was born August 8, 1854, in Salt Creek Township, Pickaway County, O.,
Jacob Aldenderfer was born in Pickaway County, a son of Henry and Catherine Alden- derfer, old settlers there, of German extrac- tion. Jacob Aldenderfer was a blacksmith by trade and later became a farmer in Clear Creek Township, Fairfield County, where both he and his wife died, their burial being in Dutch Hollow. He served one year in the Federal Army during the Civil War. He married a daughter of Henry Reichelderfer, of Pickaway County, and their children were Henry, Amos, George, Ely, Salina, Salem and Samuel. Salina is the wife of Michael Nigh. Jacob Aldenderfer and wife were members of the Lutheran church.
Samuel Aldenderfer attended the country schools and remained at home assisting his father until he was twenty years of age. He then started out for himself and worked by the month for three years, when he married and at that time moved to the old home farm, purchasing the interests of the other heirs after the death of his father. He has remained on the place ever since, making many improve- ments as the years have passed and prospering as the reward of industry and good manage- ment. He is a Democrat in politics but has never accepted any office except that of school director.
Mr. Aldenderfer was married October 20, 1879, to Miss Lydia Stout, a daughter of Henry and Susanna (Bolender) Stout, and a granddaughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Bolender and of Isaac and Esther Stout. The parents of Mrs. Aldenderfer now live retired at Stoutsville, where they are well known and highly esteemed. To them were born the fol- lowing children: Sarah, who is the wife of Simon Courtright; Catherine, who is the wife
38
664
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
of George Kocher; and Lydia, who is the wife of Samuel Aldenderfer. To Mr. and Mrs. Aldenderfer four children were born, namely : Pearl, who married Samuel Young, and has one son, Roy; Hazel, who is the wife of Ernest Justice; and Bernice and Bessie. Mr. Aldenderfer and family attend the Reformed church at Stoutsville. For some years he has been a member of the order of Knights of Pythias and attends the Amanda lodge.
JOSHUA MILLER, one of the representa- tive citizens of Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, O., of which he was a trustee for twelve years and president of the board a part of this long period, was born in this township, May 8, 1832, and is a son of John and ,Mary (Young) Miller.
John Miller was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and came from there to Fairfield County very young, his parents moving to this section when he was but four years of age. The Millers are of German extraction and are nu- merous in Fairfield County and distinguishing names are frequently given them, for instance, Grandfather John Miller was known as "Honey John," on account of his having many hives of bees. He survived to the age of eighty-two years. His son, also Jolın Miller, was but in his fifty-second year at the time of his (the latter's) death. He was a well known man in Greenfield Township and administered for many estates. He married Mary Young, who was born in Germany.
Joshua Miller was reared on his father's farm and his early life was that of the usual country boy-some attendance at school and many duties around the farm, including the taking care of stock. He owns a fine farm of 100 acres which for many years he successfully 'operated and still oversees. Mr. Miller has been twice married, first to Mahala Arnold,
and they had three children, the one survivor being Orpha, who lives with her father. He was married secondly to Mrs. Isabel Hoover, widow of John Hoover and daughter of Thomas Fetters, once a prominent citizen of this township. Mr. Miller's two deceased children were J. E., who was a practicing phy- sician at Fort Wayne, Ind., a graduate of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, N. Y .; and Diana. For fifty-six years Mr. Miller has been a member of the United Brethren church, in which he has served as class-leader and trustee, and for thirty-five years was Sunday-school superintendent. He belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry, at Carroll, and in his political opinions is in accord with the Republican party.
NELSON F. SHUPE, a well known citizen and busy farmer of Clear Creek Township, Fairfield County, O., where he is operating I20 acres of land and meeting with the success that attends careful farming, was born in Ohio, in 1854, and is a son of George and Christiana (Stout) Shupe. The father of Mr. Shupe was born in Fairfield County and was killed while serving as a soldier in the Civil War. The mother was born in Pickaway County. They had three children-Nelson F .; Mary, widow of E. J. Hardin ; and Jerome, deceased.
Nelson F. Shupe was young when he lost his brave father and thus had fewer oppor- tunitiee than would have been his had this par- ent lived to provide for him. After his school days were over he became a clerk in a general store and remained four years in this capacity with M. F. Poole. Since then he has followed farming. In September, 1878, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah E. Hartranft, the only daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Leist) Hartranft. They had but two children, a son that died in infancy and Mrs. Shupe. Mr. and Mrs. Shupe have two children, Ollie B. and
JOSHUA MILLER
667
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Katie M., the latter being the wife of Harley E. Pearce, who assists Mr. Shupe on the farm. Mr. Shupe and family belong to the Re- formed church. He is a Democrat in politics and has served in the office of judge of elections.
JOHN C. HOFFMAN, a successful hor- ticulturist residing in Pleasant Township, Fairfield County, O., was born October 28, 1865, in Berne Township, this county, and is a son of Jacob J. and Wilhelmina (Hartman) Hoffman.
Jacob J. Hoffman was born in Wertem- berg, Germany, while his wife was born in the province of Hanover and both came to Amer- ica with their parents when aged respectively thirteen and fourteen years. Both families settled in Berne Township, Fairfield County, and both prospered and increased. Jacob J. Hoffman died in 1886, being then in his sixty- second year. He was a highly respected man and was a member of the Emanuel Lutheran Church at Lancaster, O.
He was the father of six children, as fol- lows: Louisa, who is the wife of William Kaehler, of Milwaukee, Wis .; Henry W., who lives in Pleasant Township; Minnie D., who is the wife of Harry Knollman, of Columbus, O .; Christina M., who is the wife of John Knollman, of Indiana; John C .: and Sophia M., who lives also in Pleasant Township.
John C. Hoffman was about four years old when his parents moved to Pleasant Township and settled on the farm on which he now lives. He attended school through boyhood, but even then he began to be interested in horticulture. Of his farm of eighty-five acres, he devotes thirty-five acres to fruit, making a specialty of apples and producing very fine ones. He is a member of the Ohio Horticultural Society and attends the meetings of this body where he im-
parts and also gains knowledge along the line of fruit growing. He is able to market his apples both locally and at distant points. He is a member of the Emanuel Lutheran Church. Mr. Hoffman's family in Fairfield County dates back to 1838 and at that time all of Berne Township was covered with woods and his grandfather had to clear a place before he could build his log cabin. One of the sons worked on the construction of the old Ohio Canal.
NATHANIEL DONER, one of Stouts- ville's highly esteemed retired citizens, for many years was actively engaged in agricult- ural pursuits in Fairfield County, and in his early manhood was a successful school teacher. He was born in Clear Creek Township, Fair- field County in 1840-where he owns a farm of 115 acres-and is a son of David and Amelia (Munninger ) Doner.
The parents of Mr. Doner have long since passed away but during life they were well known and highly respected residents of Clear Creek Township for many years. The father was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Virginia and bothi came early to Ohio. They were members of the Lutheran church. They had six sons and one daughter, namely : Hiram, Christian, Isaiah, David, Henry, Na- thaniel and Martha, the last named being de- ceased. She was the wife of Richard Conrad.
Nathaniel Doner attended the early schools in the neighborhood of his father's farm in early hoyhood and afterward a select school for three years and secured a certificate which entitled him to teach school. For some four years he engaged in teaching in Fairfield County and then returned to take charge of the home farm for his father, where he con- tinued until he was twenty-eight years of age. For about nine months he rented farm land
668
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
and then bought his first thirty-six acres which he subsequently sold and then purchased eighty-seven acres of his farm in Clear Creek Township, to which he later added land bought from his father. In addition to his Clear Creek Township farm he owns a farm of sixty-five acres situated in Amanda Township. Altogther Mr. Doner owns 225 acres.
Mr. Doner was married in 1868 to Miss Mary A. Steward, who was born on her father's farm in Amanda Township and died December 5, 1908. Her burial was at Israel Church in Amanda Township. She was one of the following family born to her parents, Charles and Sarah (Koontz) Steward, natives of Pennsylvania : Lucy Ann, deceased, who was the wife of Jeremiah Zerung; Thomas; Hannah, who is the wife of Joseph Christy; William; Mary A .; Lewis W .; Susan, de- ceased, who was the wife of Thomas Reigle; and James, Saralı, Charles and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Doner had but one child, Charles D., who in 1905 married Melva E. Valentine. Mrs. Charles E. Doner is a daughter of George L. and Lavina (Baldoser) Valentine, old resi- dents of Clear Creek Township. Mr. Doner has never taken a very active part in political campaigns and is not identified with either of the great parties. At present he is serving as a member of the school board of Clear Creek Township. He has long been united with the Lutheran church.
WILLIAM BOLENDER, who during the larger part of his life was a prosperous former in Clear Creek Township, Fairfield County, O., where he owned an excellent farm of 114 acres, was born in Fulton County, in January, 1866, and died July 7, 1909. He was a son of Levi and Catherine (Wannamaker) Bo- lender.
The parents of Mr. Bolender were old resi-
dents of Fairfield County, the father being a sucessful farmer for many years. Later he and his wife retired to Stoutsville, where they died. They had the following children : Elizabeth, who was twice married, first to Elmer Imes, and secondly to Andrew Hoff- man; George; Jacob; Benjamin; William; Cora, deceased, who was the wife of Kirby Conrad; and Isaac.
William Bolender obtained his education in the common schools of Clear Creek Township. He grew up on the home farm and made farm- ing his business. He was gifted with musical talent of a high order and not only was at the head of the church choir from youth and in demand whenever music was a part of any en- tertainment, religious or otherwise in his sec- tion, but for twenty-seven years was leader of the Stoutsville Band, an organization known all over Fairfield County. He was a Democrat in his political views but never took more than a good citizen's natural interest in politics.
On October 27, 1886, Mr. Bolender was married to Miss Anna Stout, who is a daugh- ter of John and Mary Jane (Shupe) Stout, and a granddaughter of Benjamin Stout, for whom the town of Stoutsville was named. John Stout was born about two miles distant from this town and spent his life on his farm in Clear Creek Township. Mrs. Bolender was the third born of her parents' children, the others being : Ida, who is the wife of Theodore Creager ; and Emma, Charles E. and Florence, the last named being now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bolender five children were born, namely: Edna, Mary Grace, Dorothy and Lucile, twins, and William Arnold. Mr. Bo- lender was a member of the Reformed church. He was a man of sterling character, a highly respected citizen, an affectionate husband and a careful father. Mrs. Bolender has rented her farm and now resides at Stoutsville where
669
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
she is giving her children many educational and social advantages. She is a member of the Reformed church.
JOACHUM W. FRIEND, judge of the Board of Township Elections of Pleasant Township, resides on his excellent farm of ninety-six acres, which he devotes to general agriculture. He was born in Pleasant Town- ship, this county, October 10, 1853, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Ruffner) Friend.
John Friend was born in Richland Town- ship, Fairfield County, a son of Jonas Friend, who came to this county with his wife, from Pennsylvania. The Friends were poor people at that time, Grandfather Friend having only fifty cents with which to begin life in the new western home, but they lived to see the time when they could purchase both necessities and luxuries had they so desired. They died in Richland Township. John Friend lived in Richland Township until after his marriage and then moved to Pleasant Township, where he became a highly respected citizen and a man of standing. Although he never united with any church body he contributed to the cause of Christianity and he lived an upright life. His death occurred in 1890, and four of his chil- dren survive, namely: Joachum W .; Mable, wife of Jacob Barr, of Pleasant Township; Alice, wife of Charles Basore, of Walnut Township; and Jennie, wife of S. L. Eymon, of Pleasant Township.
Joachum W. Friend attended the district schools in Pleasant Township and the Fairfield Union Academy at Pleasantville. His busi- ness has been farming and stock raising and he has been a very successful agriculturist. In June, 1880, he was married to Miss Sophia Furry, who was born at Rushville, O., a daughter of the late Hiram Furry, and they have had four children : Gertrude M., wife of
Edward H. Geiger, of Walnut Township; John F., residing at home; and two who are deccased. For twenty years Mr. Friend served continuously as a member of the school board and during a portion of this long period was its president. In politics he is a Republican and for several years has been a member of the Board of Elections, of which he is now serv- ing as judge. He belongs to the Odd Fellows at West Rushville and to Pleasant Grange, No. 1615, at Pleasantville.
LEWIS F. CRITES, vice president of the Farmers and Citizens Bank of Stoutsville, O., and one of the leading citizens and substantial farmers and business men of Fairfield County, was born in Salt Creek Township, Pickaway County, O., October 7, 1847. His parents were Levi and Anna ( Reichelderfer) Crites.
Levi Crites was born in Pickaway County, a son of Daniel Crites. In his earlier years he was a weaver, but later became a substantial farmer. He married a daughter of Henry Reichelderfer, also of Pickaway County, and they had the following children : Charles ; Car- oline, wife of D. C. Valentine ; Allen; Adaline, wife of Mahlon Meyers; Lewis F .; Sarah, wife of W. M. Baker ; Julia A., wife of David Lape; and W. T. The parents of the above family are deceased, their burial being at Stoutsville. They were members of the Ger- man Reformed church.
Lewis F. Crites grew up on his father's farm and obtained his education in the schools of Fairfield County. He early developed busi- ness talent and for years has been successfully conducting different business enterprises. He owns 175 acres of rich farming land, ninety- eight of this being in Fairfield and the re- mainder in Pickaway County. He is an ex- tensive cattle buyer, owns and conducts a large market at Stoutsville and has much other real
670
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
estate in the town. His name as an official, adds much strength to the Farmers and Citi- zens Bank of Stoutsville, which is one of the prospering financial institutions of the county.
Mr. Crites was married first in 1872, to Miss Harriet E. Luce, who was a daughter of William and Catherine Luce, of Maysville, Ind. One daughter, Katie V., was born to that marriage. In 1885 Mr. Crites was mar- ried to Miss Amanda Ernst, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Ernst, of Stoutsville. Mrs. Crites' father still survives. Two chil- dren were born to the second marriage, Florence and Lewis Ernst, the last named be- ing the only survivor of the children. Katie V. was the wife of U. S. Repp and at death she was survived by one child, Cosey E. Repp. Mr. and Mrs. Crites attend the German Re- formed church. Nominally he is a Democrat but has rather independent views. He is identified with Maysville Lodge No. 296, F. & A. M., at Maysville, Ind.
HOWARD A. BROWN, M. D., of Car- roll, O., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Fairfield County, has been in con- tinuous practice in this city and the vicinity for the past thirty-five years. He is a native of Fairfield County, having been born at Sugar Grove, March 15, 1854, and is a son of Dr. R. H. Brown and a grandson of Benjamin Brown, the last mentioned of whom was a native of Maryland and of English extraction.
Dr. R. H. Brown was born in Perry County, Ohio, where his father was an early settler. He entered Starling Medical College, at Columbus, O., at its opening session, and was a class mate of the venerable Dr. Starling Lov- ing, lately deceased. For many years Dr. Brown was a medical practitioner at Sugar Grove. He was a leading citizen in his locality and an active member of the Democratic
party.
His death occurred in November, 1860. He married a member of the Arm- strong family, who were of English descent and were early settlers in Muskingum County, O. The Armstrongs traced their descent back to the year 1040 to the Earl of Northumber- land. After her husband's death, Mrs. Brown married Jesse Stuckey, of Fairfield County, and they had one son, John J., who is a dental surgeon at Lancaster, O.
Howard A. Brown was six years old when his father died, and for several years after- ward he lived with an uncle, Peter Moore, in Hocking County, O. Later he resided with his step-father, Jesse Stuckey. In 1875 he was graduated from Starling Medical College, Columbus, O., and practiced his profession first at Sugar Grove, but in 1876 he came to Carroll, where he has remained ever since. He is one of the representative citizens and med- ical men of this section. He served as a men- ber of the village council for a number of years and as a member of the school board, of which he has frequently been presiding officer, and he has always given that time and atten- tion to matters of public importance which good citizenship demands. He is identified with the county and state medical associations, serving one year as president of the county society, and belongs also to the American Medical Association. Fraternally Dr. Brown is one of the active members of Mount Pleas- ant Lodge, No. 48, F. & A. M., at Lancaster, where he belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and is additionally connected with the Modern Woodmen at Carroll.
Dr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Emma E. Ackers, of Fairfield County, a daughter of Ephraim Ackers, a former prom- inent resident of Berne Township, who was once auditor of Fairfield County. Two sons were born to Dr. and Mrs. Brown-Robert H.
671
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
and Archie A. The former is now deceased. The latter, a practicing physician, is associated professionally with his father. Dr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Church.
ALLEN DONER, who successfully carries on his agricultural activities on his excellent farm of eighty-five acres, situated in Clear Creek Township, was born in this township, July 20, 1864, and is a son of David and Malinda (Crites) Doner and a grandson of David Doner. Mr. Doner has two brothers and one sister-William Wilson, Milton and Sarah.
Allen Doner has devoted himself to farming ever since his brief school period was over, earning his first money by doing farm work by the month and working on different farms for some ten or twelve years, after which he pur- chased his eighty-five acre tract in Clear Creek Township. Mr. Doner is a careful farmer and practical man and thoroughly understands his business.
In 1903 Mr. Doner was married to Miss Ellen Phillips, a daughter of Jacob and Sopliia (Crites) Phillips, formerly well known resi- dents of Amanda Township. Mrs. Doner has the following brothers and sisters: John; Louisa, wife of David Young; Lena, wife of Henry Keiger ; Sarah, wife of Edward Keiger ; Flora, wife of George Murray; and William. Mr. Doner takes a good citizen's interest in politics but is not an office seeker. He is a Re- publican. He belongs to the Knights of Pyth- ias and attends lodge at Amanda, O.
FREDERICK W. KING, postmaster at Lockville, O., and a member of the firm of King & Gundy, dealers in and shippers of grain at this place, is a man thoroughl yrepre- sentative of the important business interests of this section of Fairfield County. He was born
in Violet Township, Fairfield County, Jan- uary 28, 1868, and is a son of Michael and Mary A. (Boyer) King, old and prominent residents of the county.
Michael King was born in York County, Pa., August 3, 1837, a son of Michael and Susanna (Schelgal) King, natives also of Pennsylvania. Grandfather Michael King brought his family to Fairfield County late in 1837. They lived for a short time in Bloom Township and then moved to Lockville and lived in this village from 1838 until 1851. In the latter year the Kings moved to Violet Township and lived there until 1862, when Grandfather King made one more removal, going to Fulton County, Ind., where he died in I868.
Michael King, Jr., father of Frederick W., was six months old when his parents came to Ohio and he was mainly reared in Fairfield County. He learned the trade of carpenter and builder and subsequently followed build- ing and contracting for about fifty years. He also engaged in farming and stock raising and still owns his farm of 253 acres, which is lo- cated in Violet Township, near Lockville. Mr. King has been one of the leading Democrats of Violet Township for many years and in 1901 was elected a county commissioner of Fairfield County, and served in this important office for seven consecutive years.
Michael King married Mary A. Boyer, who was born in Violet Township, a daughter of Jacob Boyer, a former well known resident of this township and children were born to this union as follows: Charles M., who is a resi- dent of Sacramento, Calif .; Frank M., who resides at home with his parents; Laura, de- ceased, who was the wife of Chas. Fishbaugh of Huntingdon County, Ind .; Irvin E., who lives in Liberty Township; Frederick W .; Jesse, wlio is a farmer in Violet Township;
672
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
William W., who is a resident of Canal Win- chester; Jacob L., who lives at Carroll, O .; John E., who is employed at Baltimore, Ohio; James R., who lives in Violet Township; and Mary E., who is the wife of Eugene Moore, a well known attorney in Licking County.
Frederick W. King was reared on the home farm and attended the Violet Township schools. Prior to entering upon his present business enterprise at Lockville, he engaged in farming, but since 1901 has been postmaster at Lockville and has been engaged commer- cially as above indicated. He married Miss Ida M. Corcoran, who was born at London, O., a daughter of the late James Corcoran, and they have two children, Helen L. and Ruth L. Mr. and. Mrs. King are members of the Luth- eran church. With the exception of one term as constable of Violet Township, Mr. King has accepted no local office outside that of post- master and in the latter capacity is popular with his fellow citizens, giving them efficient, quick and cheerful service.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.