USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 79
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Michael Blue, Jr., was born in Virginia, June 14, 1783, and came with his parents to Ohio, later moved from Fayette into Fairfield County and located first at Thornville, after- ward moving one mile east of Cedar Hill, in Amanda Township. After his children were grown and married, he moved in with his son, John Q. A. Blue, where he died May II, 1863. He married Deborah Peters, who was born June 23, 1786, a daughter of Tunis and Fannie Peters, who lived near Ringgold, in Pickaway County. Mrs. Blue died April 28, 1868. They had the following children: Tunis P., Fran- cinah A., Jonathan W., Mary M., Louisa S., Harvey A., Michael, Abigail, Catherine, Ab- salom A., Deborah H., Jolın Q. A. and William A.
John Q. A. Blue, father of Charles E. Blue,
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was born on the Cedar Hill turnpike road, in Amanda Township, Fairfield County, O., March 6, 1829, and was reared here. After marriage he bought a place in Pickaway County, and later this one, which was well im- proved. For many years he engaged largely in buying and selling stock. In politics he is a Republican and in earlier years held many township offices and has settled many estates. He is a member of the old-school Baptist church at Turkey Run, of which he is a trustee and a deacon. He married Louisa Gallagher, who was born March 15, 1829, in Amanda Township, and died here December 25, 1898, and her burial was in the Amanda Cemetery. Her grandfather, Thomas Gallagher, secured a patent from the Government for the farm which Charles E. Blue now owns, and the plat called for 400 acres, the document bearing the signature of James Madison, President of the United States. This land descended to John Gallagher, who sold it to John Q. A. Blue, who, in turn sold it to his sons, Arthur and Charles E. Blue. John Gallagher moved to Illinois, after selling his Ohio farm, and there both he and his wife died.
To John Q. A. Blue and wife the following children were born: Matilda, who lives at home; Mary, who died aged two years ; George WV., who is a trustee of Amanda Township and a director in the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Amanda; Alma, deceased, who was the wife of George Waddle; Jonathan W., who lives in Missouri; Ida, who died when aged eighteen years; Jennie, who married George Waddle and they live in Fayette County; Frank, who died when six years old; Charles E .; Arthur U., who lives on the home place, married Flora Chester, of Ross County ; Ottie, who died at the age of fourteen years; and Atha, who died in infancy.
Charles E. Blue was two weeks old when his
parents settled on the old Gallagher farm and he has resided here ever since. He attended the local schools but has devoted himself al- most entirely to the development and improve- ment of his farm, which is one of the most productive and well kept in this part of the county.
Mr. Blue was married April 23, 1896, to Miss Maggie M. Rowles, who was born in Rush Creek Township, near Bremen, Fairfield County, O., a daugliter of Thompson and Re- becca (Holliday) Rowles. The mother of Mrs. Blue died on Thanksgiving Day, 1908. Grandfather William Rowles came from Ire- land when a young man. He married Maria Stewart and they settled in Rush Creek Town- ship, where Thompson Rowles was born July 28, 1840, and now lives on a small farm in Hocking County, O. The parents of Mrs. Blue had five children: Edward J., a contractor living at Lancaster, O., who married Anna Nixon; Mrs. Blue ; Bertis A., living at Bremen who married Anna Seifert; Ernest WV., living at Lancaster, who married Della Shuman; and Jennie A., who keeps house for her father. Mr. Blue has one son, Frank Corwin, who is a graduate of the Amanda High School and at present is a student in the Ohio State Uni- versity at Columbus, in the class of scientific agriculture. Mr. Blue is a Republican in pol- itics and for nine years has been a member of the school board of Amanda Township.
LEMUEL HITE, a well known farmer and stock raiser of Pleasant Township, residing on his well developed farm of 143 acres, was born on this farm. November 7, 1856, and is a son of Jacob and Jane (Dean) Hite.
Jacob Hite spent his entire life in Pleasant Township, where his death occurred February II, 1907. His father was Andrew Hite, who was a native of Virginia and came to the farm
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mentioned above not later than 1806, entering a one-half section of land, his patent being signed by President Thomas Jefferson. An- drew Hite died in 1818, his son Jacob being at that time in his second year. A long and use- ful life followed. Jacob Hite was a man re- spected in every relation of life. He was a member and liberal supporter of the Presby- terian church and gave political support to the Republican party after its formation. He first married Catherine Dean, by whom he had a son, Allen. He married secondly Jane Dean, a sister of his first wife, who was also born in Fairfield County, and of their children the fol- lowing survive: Emily C., wife of David E. Frank, of East Rushville, O .; Frances J., wife of John W. Keller, of Knox County, O .; Emanuel and Lemuel, both of Pleasant Town- ship; Mary A. and Sarah A., both deceased.
Lemuel Hite was reared in Pleasant Town- ship and obtained his education in the public schools and the Fairfield Union Academy, at Pleasantville, after which he turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits, in which he has continued. On January 1, 1895, he was mar- ried to Miss May F. Stover, who was born at Lancaster, O. She is a highly educated lady, completing a course at the Ohio Central Nor- mal College, after which she taught school for a number of terms in Berne and Pleasant Townships. She is a daughter of Henry and Ella C. (Seifert) Stover, the former of whom was born at Lancaster, O., December 5, 1842, a son of John and Margaret Stover, who were natives of Germany. Henry Stover owns a farm of over 100 acres located near Colfax, in Pleasant Township, on which he and his wife reside. The latter was born in Fairfield County and is a daughter of Hon. Abraham Siefert, who was probate judge in Fairfield County, a prominent man of his day. Mr. and Mrs. Stover had seven children, namely: Mary
F., wife of Lemuel Hite; Charles A., of Nel- sonville, O .; George, of Columbus, O .; Mar- garet, wife of Isaiah Shumaker, of Rush Creek Township; Birdie, wife of James Fisher, of Pleasant Township; William, of Pleasant Township, and one deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hite have had two children, Ralph and Florence M., the former of whom is de- ceased. They are members of the Reformed church at Colfax, in which Mr. Hite is an elder. He is not active in politics, but is iden- tified with the Republican party. These fam- ilies have long been numbered with the solid, substantial ones of Fairfield County.
HENRY KING, for many years one of the leading agriculturists of Rush Creek Town- ship, Fairfield County, O., a man of sterling character, whose spoken word was as binding as another's bond, and whose entire life was one of family and neighborly kindness, was born in 1842 on the old homestead farm in Fairfield County, a son of John King, and died in Rush Creek Township, February 17, 1909.
Henry King attended the township schools in boyhood but began to assist on the home farm while he was still young and later made farming and stock raising his leading business interests. He continued to live at home until his marriage and then moved to the Rush Creek property on which he lived during the remainder of his life. He was careful and provident in his business planning and took much pride and interest in the development and improvement of his place. All the build- ings now on the 140-acre farm he erected and all the improvements which mark it as a val- uable farm, were placed here by him with much expense and years of steady toil. Out- side his farm, family and church, Mr. King had few things that really interested him, for he cared little for public affairs and would
MRS. FLORENCE H. CRITES
EUGENE M. CRITES
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never accept any political office. He was ever was in the Reformed Lutheran churchyard. ready, however, to contribute to charity and He married Mary Stebelton, who survives and was liberal in his support of the German Re- lives at Stoutsville. Her parents Joseph and formed church. He is remembered as a man, Anna Stebelton, were old settlers in Fairfield of the highest integrity in every relation of life. County, O. To AAllen Crites and wife four sons were born-Eugene M., William .Allen, Edson O. and Frank L. The parents were members of the Reformed church.
On April 9, 1865, Mr. King was married to Miss Mary I. Poling, who was born in Hock- ing County, O., and five children were born to them, namely : John, who operates his farm of fifty acres situated southwest of the home- stead-married Vinnie Iman; William A., who died when aged twenty-two years; Birl, who is engaged in operating a farm to the east of the homestead-married Maggie Downhour and they have one child, Mary Ethel; Clinton, who operates the home farm for his mother, married Alice Klingler, who died in 1905, the mother of two children-Zema, deceased, and Noah Lloyd; and Bessie, who resides at home. Mrs. King is a member of the Reformed church in which her family has been prominent for many years. Her father, who lived to the great age of ninety-four years, was one of the body of twelve which organized the first Methodist Episcopal church in Hocking County, in which he was a class leader for fifty years.
EUGENE M. CRITES. undertaker, em- balmer and funeral director, doing business at Stoutsville. O., is one of the representative men of this place and owns considerable val- uable real estate here. He was born in Fair- field County, May 24. 1867. and is a son of Allen and Mary (Stebelton) Crites.
Allen Crites was born in Salt Creek Town- ship, Pickaway County, O., a son of Levi and Anna (Reichelderfer) Crites. He was a pros- perous farmer and followed agricultural pur- suits throughout his entire life. He died on his home farm some years ago and his burial
Eugene M. Crites after his school days were over learned the carpenter's trade and followed it in connection with painting, for some fifteen years, and he does not object to a little work in that line, as a change of em- ployment, even now. In the meanwhile he had been connected for some eight years with his uncle, William Baker, who was an under- taker, and then decided to go into the business for himself, in preparation for the same at- tending the Clark Embalming School at Zanesville. He opened his establishment at Stoutsville on March 26, 1897, and is well equipped for any service that may be required of him. He owns two funeral cars, an ambu- lance and all appurtenances necessary to sat- isfactory and dignified funeral directing and is frequently called as far as Lancaster and Circleville, O.
In March, 1900, Mr. Crites was married to Miss Florence Harden, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Stone) Harden, old residents of Stoutsville. Mrs. Crites is the oldest of their children, the others being: Lilly and May, twins, the former of whom is the wife of W. A. Crites, and the latter, the widow of Dr. Homer Valentine; and Iva, who is the wife of Clarence Barr. Mr. and Mrs. Crites belong to the Reformed church. In politics lie is a Democrat.
S. B. SWOPE, of the Huston & Swope Company, operating two grain elevators in the
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village of Amanda, has been a lifelong resident of Amanda Township, Fairfield County, O. He was born November 20, 1874, and is a son of Felix and Alice (Kraft) Swope. His father was born in the same school district in Amanda Township, and at present resides in Lancaster, O.
Thomas Swope, grandfather of S. B. Swope, was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., February 19, 1800, and was the youngest son of David and Mary (Cole) Swope. David Swope was born March 4, 1771, and was the owner of a farm in Huntingdon County, Pa., three and one-half miles distant from that of his wife's father, Thomas Cole, a mountain ly- ing between them. The records of Hunting- don County show the sale of the Cole farin on May 12, 1801, and that of David Swope on May 16, 1801. After disposing of their farms, they, with their respective families, moved, in May or June of that year, to Fairfield County, O. There, in the dense forest, they cleared land and built cabins, and, with their neigh- bors endured the privations and hardships of pioneer life. A convenient cabin was built by David Swope, with one window, a door hung on wooden hinges fastened with wooden latch on the inside and opened on the outside by means of a string that was tied to the latch and put through a gimlet hole in the door. The In- dians regarded those who left the latchstring of their cabin doors outside as friendly, but those who took in the string were objects of suspicion. David Swope set out an apple orchard and other fruits and early built a two- story, hewed log house, which contained two rooms below and two above. Two porches graced the building, one on the south and one on the north side. He also built a hewed log house with a threshing-floor between two com- modious mnows, wheat in those days being threshed by the trampling of horses upon it.
David Swope, by thrift and industry, ac- cumulated sufficient to give each of his chil- dren a property. The home farm at his death, August 9, 1826, went to his youngest son, David Swope, who, not inclining to farm life sold it later to his brother, Thomas Swope. The wife of David Swope, Sr., was born June 3, 1779, and survived her husband many years, dying February 20, 1857. Thomas Swope walled in a lot on the home place where his father, a brother and a sister, a niece and the oldest and the youngest of his own children were buried. In 1909 the last two named were removed to the family burying ground in Amanda Township Cemetery.
Soon after his marriage, Thomas Swope took possession of his farm which he cleared and on which he built a two-story, brick house, a large frame barn and other buildings needed in the successful operation of his farm. In the early days he carried on the business of freighting by means of a four or six-horse team and wagon, and hauled produce from the surrounding country to Baltimore, Md., and would there load for the return trip with sup- plies for the merchants of the towns near home. These trips were often attended with great difficulties and dangers, and sometimes were without financial rewards. Upon one oc- casion, having slaughtered some seventy-five hogs and cured the meat, he conveyed it to Baltimore, where it was disposed of to mer- chants, who failed before paying him. In 1819, with a man named Hooker, he built a raft and loaded it with produce for New Or- leans. The trip down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers was easy, but the return was most dif- ficult, and many miles of it were walked along the river banks. He died August 13, 1884.
Thomas Swope was married to Rebecca Le Fever, who was born October 10, 1805, and died August 15, 1887. She was a daughter of
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Jacob and Rebecca (Bechtel) Le Fever. Her father was born March 24, 1766, and died November 18, 1844, and her mother was born December 4, 1770, and died February 3, 1829. Thomas and Rebecca Swope were parents of the following children, of whom the oldest and youngest died during the lives of the parents. David, the eldest, in 1837, fell from a loaded wagon and was crushed beneath the wheels. Jacob died at Wellsville, Mo., in 1906. Mar- garet A. died in April, 1911, on the home farm. Mary E. is the wife of Robert Sturgeon and lives in Kansas. Rebecca died in 1906. Thomas J. lives at Reynoldsburg, O. Tilitha Jane, now deceased, was the wife of James Ingman and lived at Barnes, Kan. Abner R. lives at Bloomingburg, Fayette County, O. Louisa is the wife of B. F. Ashbrook and lives at Milo, O. Samuel lives at Toledo, O. Felix is a resident of Lancaster, O. Emma J. was the wife of Robert Peters and died in 1872.
Felix Swope engaged in farming in Amanda Township until 1908, since which time he has been a resident of Lancaster. He has been a stock dealer all his life and still operates along that line. He was married July 30, 1872, to Alice Kraft, who was born in Circleville, O., February 3, 1853, and died July 19, 1906, be- ing buried in Amanda Township Cemetery. She was a daughter of George H. and Caroline (Wilson) Kraft. Her father was two years old when he came to this part of Ohio, with his parents. He came later to Fairfield County, where for nine years he lived in Amanda Township. He then moved to Berne Town- ship, in March, 1872, living there until 1888, when he moved to Ashville, O., where he died April 22, 1905.
Grace ; Chester D., who is an osteopathic physi- cian practicing in Washington, D. C .; Ethel, who is a student in the New Haven Hospital, at New Haven, Conn .; Rebecca; Mary Alice, who is a student in the Ohio State University ; Bertha, who died June 4, 1895, aged three years; and Maria, who attends the Lancaster High School.
Scott Boyd Swope attended the local schools and later pursued a commercial course in Co- lumbus. He engaged in farming and also fol- lowed auctioneering until he came to Amanda, in 1909, and still continues in the latter voca- tion. On April 1, 1909, he started in the el- evator business, buying out A. E. Huston. On August 9, 1909, hie formed a partnership with Mr. Huston, they, at that time, purchasing the elevator of F. W. Ruff, which they operate in connection with the one Mr. Swope already owned. They handle grain of all kinds and also coal and have a well established business.
On August 21, 1901, Mr. Swope married MI. Ivy Dunnick, who was born in Madison Township, Pickaway County, O., and is a daughter of Henton Monroe and Sarah (Brobst) Dunnick, of Walnut Township, Pickaway County. Six children have blessed this union: Kathleen; Felix Dunnick; Fred L .; Alice Louise, born November 26, 1907, who died February 24, 1908; Elizabeth, born October 8, 1909, who died March 14, 1911; and Rebecca, born December 29, 1910, who (lied March 28, 1911. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Masons at Lithopolis, and of the Knights of Pythias at Ashville.
GEORGE HARTMAN, president of the Richland Natural Gas and Oil Company, with headquarters at Lancaster, O., has been a life- long resident of Pleasant Township, Fairfield
Nine children were born to Felix and Alice Swope, as follows: Carrie, who is the wife of A. P. Glick, of Columbus, O .; Scott Boyd: County and since 1905 has lived at the pleasant
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village of Colfax. He was born March 15, 1866, and is a son of William and Margaret (Mertz) Hartman.
William Hartman was born in Germany and in young manhood came to America and with his father, William Hartman, settled in Pleas- ant Township, Fairfield County, O. Grand- father Hartman died at Fort Wayne, Ind. William Hartman was a prosperous farmer and raised much stock and was numbered with the reliable and representative men of Pleas- ant Township. He was one of the pillars of the Lutheran church and all his life was a stanch and conscientious Democrat. He mar- ried Margaret Mertz who was also born in Germany.
George Hartman was reared in Pleasant Township, where he attended the country schools in boyhood and later became a sub- stantial farmer and still owns a valuable farm. On February 1, 1899, he was married to Miss Anna M. Hoffman, who was born in Berne Township, Fairfield County, a daughter of Gottleib Hoffman. When the Richland Nat- ural Gas and Oil Company was organized in January, 1908, Mr. Hartman was elected presi- dlent and has served in this office ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are members of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Lancaster, in which he has been a deacon for many years. He is a Democrat in his political affiliation.
SAMUEL CALEB SMITH, whose well improved farm of 250 acres, is situated two and one-half miles southeast of Lithopolis, O., was born in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, O., in March, 1851, and is a son of Henry Smith and a member of one of the old settled families of this county.
Samuel Caleb Smith obtained his education in the district schools and in boyhood was trained to some degree for his subsequent life
as a farmer and stock raiser. The large farm of Mr. Smith shows careful cultivation and in- telligent management and all its industries are carried on by its owner with little assistance. His substantial buildings and all the other im- provements which add to the appearance as well as the value of a property, have been placed here by Mr. Smith and he has reason to feel proud of his fine estate.
Mr. Smith was married to Miss Lydia A. Hoy, and they have one son, William Austin, who is associated with his father in farming and stock raising. He married Miss Jennie Stuckey, a daughter of Nicholas Stuckey, and they have two children, Leona and Carl, in whose welfare the grandfather is deeply inter- ested. Both Mr. Smith and son are Democrats in their political sentiments.
ALEXANDER M. SMITH, superintend- ent of the Pickerington and Raynoldsburg Turnpike Road, in Fairfield County, O., and a prominent citizen of Violet Township, was born in Seneca County, O., July 1, 1846, and is a son of William and Mary (Seymour) Smith.
The parents of Mr. Smith were natives of Franklin County, O. The father was a son of William Smith, who came to Ohio from the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, and married Mary Tussig, who was born at Basil, Switzer- land. William Smith, Jr., was reared near Canal Winchester, O., but after marriage moved into Seneca County, where he secured a tract of uncleared land and partly deevloped it before he removed with his family to Fairfield County and settled in Violet Township. His death occurred at Reynoldsburg, O., May 24, 1889, when he was in his sixty-sixth year. His widow survived until December, 1891, and of their children there are three living, namely: Alexander M .; Moses S., residing at Patas-
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kala, in Licking County, O .; and Jennie, wife of Frank Dovel, of Violet Township.
AAlexander M. Smith accompanied his par- ents to Fairfield County in 1866, having previously attended the country schools in Seneca County, an academy at Republic, O., and later the Fairfield Union Academy at Pleasantville. Subsequently Mr. Smith at- tended the Teachers' Institute held at Lan- caster, O., for six weeks and still later en- tered Duff's Commercial College at Pittsburg, Pa., where he completed the full course in eight weeks, making a record for speed and cf- ficiency. Prior to settling down to an agri- cultural life, Mr. Smith devoted a large part of the summer seasons for four years to study and taught school during the winters. His finely cultivated farm of 204 acres is favor- ably situated in Violet Township, and for- merly, for a number of years he devoted his at- tention, with much success, to the careful breeding of Shorthorn and hornless cattle. The activities on his farm are carried on along modern lines, Mr. Smith being one of the pro- gressive agriculturists. At one time he was very active in the Grange movement.
Mr. Smith was married to Miss Rebecca M. Roads, who was born in Licking County, O., a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Moore) Roads, and seven children were born to them, as follows: Closson G., who lives in Franklin County ; Andrea E., who is the wife of A. A. Tussing, a well known attorney of Browns- ville, Ore .; Wawklyn B., who is a resident of Franklin County; Converse G., who lives in Licking County; Vilura, who is the wife of Henry S. Taylor, of Violet Township: Carl W., who is a resident of Violet Township; and Alpha, who is the wife of George F. Ebner, of Franklin County, O.
Local matters as well as national politics have been given intelligent thought and close
attention by Mr. Smith and for twenty years he served on the Board of Education in Violet Township, during a large part of the time be- ing its president. He has served also as town- ship trustee and his advice and concurrence arc sought in all matters of public moment in this part of the county. . At one time, in the eighties, he was chosen as the candidate of the Peoples' party for Congress and the vote showed his great personal popularity in the district. Mr. Smith is a member of the Primi- tive Baptist church and belongs to its board of deacons.
GEORGE RUNKLE, an experienced and successful farmer, who has devoted all his mature life to agricultural pursuits, was born in 1850, in his present residence, on the old home farm, situated three miles southicast of Lithopolis, O., a son of George and Mary (Ware) Runkle.
The parents of Mr. Runkle spent their lives in Fairfield County and probably both grand- fathers came to this section from Pennsylvania. The father, George Runkle, was a farmer and also a blacksmith and he owned the above mentioned farm in Bloom Township, on which he died when aged sixty-six years. He mar- ried Mary Ware and seven of their family of children grew to man and womanhood.
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