USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 84
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
Ohio. Mr. Wyman and family are members of St. Peters Lutheran Church. He is a Demo- cratic in his political opinions and served twelve years as a director of the Fairfield County Infirmary. For some year's he was president of the Square Deal Building and Loan Association. In 1901 he erected his handsome residence at Lancaster and super- intended its construction.
DANIEL CRUMLEY, a well known and prosperous citizen of Hocking township, for- merly president of the Fairfield County, Agri- cultural Society, was born on his present farm, Dec. 22, 1839, a son of Conrad and Mary M. (Feller) Crumley. His parents were both na- tives of Pennsylvania, and he is a descendant in the fourth generation of Valentine Gram- lich, who emigrated to this country from the Duchy of Wurtemberg, Germany, arriving at Philadelphia, September 19, 1749. Valentine Crumley and his sons founded the Lutheran church at Weisenberg township, in Lehigh county, Pa., soon after their settlement in that county in 1749. Valentine was a man of in- fluence and high standing in his county and a leading and public spirited citizen. He was the father of five children, viz: George, who died near Danville, Pa .; Paul, who died at the old homestead ; Daniel; Ann M. and Christian, all three of whom moved to Ohio as early as 1805. The family name of Gramlich was soon anglicised by its bearers to Crumley and has thus remained since.
Three sons of Paul moved to Ohio in 1815-Jonathan, Jacob and Paul-and settled in Pickaway county. Paul died in March, 1826. He left four sons-James, Stephen, Thomas and William. William was born in Pennsylvania, March 19, 1813 and died in May, 1888, aged 75 years. He was the father of the Hon. T. E. Crumley, late a trustee of
747
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
the Boys' Industrial School and State Senator from Pickaway county, Ohio.
Daniel Crumley, later of Bloom township, was a son of Christian Crumley and grandson of Valentine, Christian being the grandfather of our subject. The direct line is Valentine (I), Christian (II), Conrad (III), Daniel (IV). Daniel Crumley, above mentioned, was born in Bloom township, this county, Dec. 11, 1807. He married Miss Jane Betzer, who was born July 5, 1811. Their children numbered fourteen and nine of them preceded their father to the grave. Those living at the time of his death (Nov. 30, 1891), were Mrs. A. WV. Killits, of Chicago, Ill .; Mrs. T. J. Arnold, of Lancaster, Ohio; E. M. Crumley, of Spring- field, Ohio, and A. I. Crumley, of Lithopolis, Ohio. Daniel Crumley was a very prominent and useful man in his township. He was a justice of the peace for twelve years and was for several terms a township trustee. He was a very competent administrator of estates and settled up thirty-five in his life time. His sec- ond wife was Mrs. Buxton of the county of Licking. Daniel Crumley was an upright, hon- orable man, widely known and highly es- teemed. He was grandfather of Frank Crum- ley, of the Lancaster Gazette.
Christian Crumley was born in Germany and accompanied his parents to this country. In the year 1803 he, with his family, left Pennsyl- vania to seek a new home in Lancaster, and during that time one of his children died. He purchased a section of Woodland in Bloom township and moved his family to the new home, about one mile west of Rock Mill. Here young Conrad remained until he became a Conrad Crumley was one of the grand old men of the past-one whose example for good was felt through a very large circle of ac- quaintances. He was for a number of years a trustee of St. Peter's Lutheran church, of Lan- man. He assisted his father in clearing up his farm and tasted the joys and endured the privations of pioneer life. When 18 years of age he was confirmed a member of the Luth- eran church, and to the end of his life was a caster, and later of Trinity, near his home.
faithful member and a consistent christian. His membership at this time was in the Glick church, Rev. M. J. Steck, pastor. Later in life he founded the Trinity Evangelical church in Hocking township. The site on which the family encamped on the first night of their arrival in this county lies on Colum- bus street, Lancaster. On two occasions Christian Crumley loaded flat boats at Galli- polis for New Orleans. Conrad drove the team that carried, or drew the produce to load thesc boats. He made nine trips in one winter through an almost unbroken forest to Galli- polis. a distance of 100 miles.
Feb. 23. 1824, Conrad Crumley was mar- ried to Miss Mary M. Feller. He then settled upon a quarter section of land donated by his father, entirely in the woods. He lived in a rude cabin and devoted his energies to clear- ing up his farm where his son Daniel now re- sides, in Hocking township. Here he lived a quiet peaceful life for 41 years and reared a large family of children, eleven in number. Two of his sons were in the Union army. In August, 1863, two of them, George and Dan- iel. were coming home from Columbus on fur- lough, having just enlisted, George for the sec- ond time, and Daniel, our subject for the first time-and took passage on the same coach with Colonel McVeigh and family. The coach was upset and McVeigh and his son were killed. The Crumley boys remained with the family and brought the dead to Lancaster. When a friend spoke to the old man and praised his boys for their good conduct, tears came to liis eyes, and he replied, "I'm proud of my boys."
748
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
He died March 8, 1879, aged 77 years. He a part was reorganized. They then went by had been married 55 years. His son David sea to Fort Fisher on the steamer Champion and took part in the capture of the fort. Later they were ordered to Newbern, N. C., and marched through North Carolina to Kingston. where they fought a battle, General Schofield being their commanding officer, and under the same general they were present at General Joe Johnston's surrender. After spending some time with the 23d Corps at Charlotte, N. C., doing guard duty, he was finally discharged June 29, 1865, having been nearly two years in the service, during which time he had had his full share of hardship and adventure. married Sarah, a daughter of the late Daniel Ward. John married Catharine Miller, of this county. Peter married Catharine, a daughter of the late George H. Strode. Daniel mar- ried Rebecca Strode, a sister of Catharine. George married Matilda Brobst. May became the wife of Daniel Hoffman. Elizabeth is the wife of Amos Graham. All are farmers and have fine homes in the neighborhood where they were born and raised. There are many grandchildren and great grandchildren of Conrad Crumley now living, but the list is too long for enumeration. Born on the 24th of January, 1802 and dying in March, 1879, Con- rad Crumley was a little over 77 years old at the time of his death. He was an active and progressive man, and built the first brick barn in Bloom township, and in him Fairfield county lost one of its most worthy pioneer cit- izens.
Daniel Crumley, our direct subject, was, as already stated, born on his present farm, on which he has since resided. In his youth he attended the public schools of Hocking town- ship and was a student for two years at Cap- itol University, Columbus, Ohio. In July, 1863, at the age of 23 years, he enlisted in the 129th regiment, O. V. I., Company D, and was detailed as quartermaster sergeant of the regiment. This enlistment was for six months, but he served about eight months, taking part in the battles at Cumberland Gap and Clinch River. He was in due time discharged and in June, 1864 he reenlisted in the 178th regiment, O. V. I. Company C, being made orderly ser- geant, and for much of the time he was in command of his company. He fought at Murphreesboro, Tenn., and in December, 1864 accompanied his regiment to Washington, where the 23d Army Corps, of which it formed
Returning to his home in Fairfield county, he then took up agriculture and stock raising, in which he has been very successful. He built his present fine residence in 1888. He owns altogether 230 acres of land, of which 160 acres comprises the old home farm and is one of the best known and most popular cit- izens in this part of the county. He is a charter member of Ben Butterfield Post, G. A. R., at Lancaster and has held the principal of- fices in the Post. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He served for two years as superin- tendent of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society and also two years as vice presi- dent, and for twelve years as a director of the same.
Mr. Crumley was married Sept. 24, 1868, to Rebecca Strode, a daughter of George H. Strode, a former well known pioneer citizen of Fairfield county. Of this marriage there have been four children, namely : Blanche L., Cloice H., Ralph L. and Glenn Irving. Blanche L., who is now deceased, was the wife of H. Orville Mechling. Cloice H. Crumley is a mechanical engineer and draftsman in the Cooper Engine Works, at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Ralph L. and Glenn I. both reside in Hocking township.
749
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
GEORGE H. STRODE, father of Mrs. Crumley, was born in Berkeley county, Va., Jan. 19, 1799. He came with his father, Ed- ward Strode to Fairfield county, O., in 1804, and for two years in early life he resided in Lancaster. On September 6, 1829, he mar- ried Rebecca Arnold, daughter of Daniel Ar- nold. In 1830 he removed to Lancaster and entered the tanyard of his father-in-law, where he learned the tanner's trade. This tanyard was on the lots now occupied by a frame row on Wheeling street, long known as the Mac- Cracken Row. After two years' apprentice- ship, he moved to his father's farm in Hocking township, where he sank a tanyard and car- ried on the business in connection with his farm. His son, Thomas Strode, was born in Lancaster. George H. Strode was a good cit- izen, an intelligent, well read man, and a model gentleman in every respect. He was a good business man and especially endowed with good common sense. He was a Christian from childhood, a member of the Methodist church. His mother was called " a saintly woman " by Bishop Asbury, who preached at her house. Mr. Strode reared a large family of children, who honor his memory and profit by his ex- ample. He died February 5, 1876.
GRANDVILLE M. TRIMMER,* county recorder of Fairfield County, O., has the rep- utation of being one of the most efficient and popular public officials of this county. He was born in Perry County, O., January 4, 1869, and is one of a family of five children born to his parents who were Conrad and Ella (Glenn) Trimmer, the former of whom is now de- ceased.
Grandville M. Trimmer was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the public schools and at a university. Farming was his main business, together with oil operating, un-
til he took charge of the recorder's office in September, 1906, when he moved to Lancas- ter where he has since resided, occupying a comfortable and attractive residence at No. 820 N. Broad Street. He is serving in his second term as recorder, having been reelected in September, 1909.
Mr. Trimmer married Miss Grace E. Stucker, a daughter of John Stucker, and they have one child, Laverta. Mr. and Mrs. Trim- mer are members of the Presbyterian church. He is identified fraternally with the Masons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
JOHN K. HENGST, who successfully carries on farming and stock raising in Berne Township, Fairfield County, O., owns 200 acres of valuable land and is one of the substantial men of this section. He was born in Hocking County, O., December 13. 1844, and is a son of Lewis and Mary (Kel- ler) Hengst.
Lewis Hengst was born in Prussia-Ger- many and his wife in Hesse, Germany. The former came to America and to Hocking County, O., with his father, John Hengst, who was born in Prussia. The family lived for a short time at Lancaster, O., but soon went on into Hocking County. He re- mained there until after he had a family of his own, when he came to Rush Creek Township, where he lived at the time of his death, in 1901. He was a worthy and re- spected citizen, a Democrat in his political beliefs, and when he was elected a trustee of Rush Creek Township, his fellow citizens knew that they had put an honest man in office.
John K. Hengst grew to manhood in Hocking County and attended the public schools in Washington Township. In 1865 he accompanied his parents to Rush Creek
750
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Township, Fairfield County. In 1871 he a native of Morgan County, O., and they took up a homestead of 80 acres, in Harvey County, Kansas, also 400 acres of railroad land, on which he resided for six years, and for two years in Newton, Kansas, and then came back to Fairfield County and has lived in Berne Township ever since.
Mr. Hengst married Miss Mary Clover, who was born in Berne Township, a daugh- ter of George Clover, and they have two children: Luella, who is the wife of Sam- uel W. Scott, of Berne Township; and Alva R., who is a prospering dental surgeon at Columbus, O. Mr. Hengst is a member of the First English Lutheran church at Lan- caster, O., of which he is a trustee.
PROF. E. E. RAY,* principal of the schools of Basil, O., has been engaged in educational work ever since he completed his university studies. He was born in 1875, at Ray, Jackson County, O., and is a son of Milton and Florence (Essex) Ray.
The Rays have been people of good re- port in Jackson County for many years and the town of Ray was named in honor of the great-grandfather of Prof. Ray. He was born in North Carolina and went from there to Virginia and came by flatboat on the Big Sandy and Ohio Rivers to Ohio and was the first settler in Jackson County, owning 1,000 acres of land, about 1800. His son, Samuel Ray, was born in Ohio, and he cul- tivated many acres of land. He married Elizabeth Dickson and they became parents of fifteen children.
Milton Ray, father of Prof. Ray, was born on his father's farm near Ray, and has been a farmer, mill operator and lumberman and is now a railroad man with the B. & O. S. W. Railway, and lives at Orient, Pickaway County, O. He married Florence Essex,
have seven children, as follows: E. E .; Ella, who is the wife of William Rhodes; Estilla, who is the wife of D. Lolles and has three children; Homer; Gertrude, who married Charles Osburn, and they have one son; Harry; and Cora, who married Earl Alkire.
E. E. Ray was educated in the schools of Ray and the Ohio Northern University, where he was graduated in 1903. He taught his first term of school in Vinton County, after which he was superintendent of the schools of Scioto Township, Pickaway County, for six years. In 1909 he was called to Basil as superintendent of the schools here and is also superintendent of the schools of Liberty Township. He is a broad-minded man and progressive edu- cator and spares no effort to keep the schools under his charge to the highest standard of working efficiency.
Prof. Ray was married to Miss Maud Marshall, of Pickaway County, an educated lady who for five years had been a teacher in Derby Township, and they have two children: Edwin, who was born July 30, 1905; and Mabel, who was born April 15, 1909. Prof. and Mrs. Ray are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He votes independently and is identified fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and belongs also to the Grange.
CHARLES A. PATRICK, who devotes his thirty-five acres of land in Violet Town- ship, to greenhouse purposes, supplying a large trade at Columbus and other points with flowers and early vegetables, is one of the prosperous business men of this section and a citizen who is held in high regard. He was born in Violet Township, Fairfield
751
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
County, O., July 23, 1868, and is a son of Thomas H. and Sarah (Poole) Patrick.
The parents of Mr. Patrick were born in England, and soon after their marriage, early in the fifties, they emigrated to Amer- ica. Before coming to Ohio, they lived in the State of New York, and after moving to Fairfield County, settled in Violet Town- ship. Here Mr. Patrick was engaged in farming for many years but when the in- firmities of age fell upon him, he retired to Reynoldsburg, where he and wife now re- side and where, on August 17, 1911, they celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniver- sary. Mr. Patrick was an active citizen during his many years of residence on his farm and successfully used his influence in numerous public-spirited movements, being notably useful in regard to the establishing of good roads. He was largely instrumen- tal in bringing about the building of the Pickerington & Reynoldsburg turnpike road, a highway that reflects credit upon the promoters, builders and taxpayers in Violet Township. Mr. Patrick and wife háve the following surviving children, all of whom reside in Ohio and all but two in Fairfield County. William lives in Violet Township. James O. resides in Pike County. Belle is the wife of B. F. French and they live at Reynoldsburg. Frank S. has his home in Licking County. Mary is the wife of G. L. Bowen, Clara the wife of J. H. Kraner, and Charles A., is the young- est-all of whom live in Violet Township. The parents of the above family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Charles A. Patrick was reared in Violet Township and obtained his education in the public schools. Before engaging in the greenhouse business, in 1901, he devoted himself to general farming and his success
along general agricultural lines and his natural interest in experimenting, turned his thoughts in the direction of his present enterprise-one in which he could give un- divided attention to specialties, such as flowers and early vegetables, for which there is a constant demand. He has four green- houses, each 20×114 feet in dimensions, which are heated by a modern hot water system, which he finds entirely adequate. His specialties are greenhouse flowers, lettuce and tomatoes, having a larger de- mand in the spring than he can supply.
Mr. Patrick married Miss Millie Bush, who was born in Franklin County, O., and is a daughter of Charles Bush, and they have two children-Mabel E. and Ralph R. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Reynolds- burg. Like his father, Mr. Patrick is a Democrat in his political views. For some four years he served as superintendent of the Pickerington & Reynoldsburg turnpike road but otherwise has accepted no public office. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, attending the Grange at Rey- noldsburg.
A. E. HUSTON,* of the Huston & Swope Company, at Amanda, O., has been in the grain business during almost all of his ac- tive career. He was born at Rushville, Fairfield County, O., April 10, 1880, a son of Alexander E. and Sally (Murphy) Huston.
A. E. Huston was reared and educated at Rushville and for a short time he engaged in farming and then went into the grain business in his native place with G. W. Ruff, with whom he later came to Amanda, con- ducting an elevator here and one at Rush- ville at the same time. After one year, Mr.
752
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Huston sold his interests and purchased the Jacob Balthaser elevator, which he oper- ated for five years and then sold to S. B. Swope, to become assistant cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Amanda. After a few months in that position, he associated himself with Mr. Swope under the firm name of the Huston & Swope Company, which took over the Ruff and Swope elevators. Operations started Au- gust 9, 1909, and have continued, an ex- ceedingly large business resulting. During 1909-1910 they handled 140,000 bushels of corn, and during the month of July, 1911, a total of 60,000 bushels of wheat. Mr. Huston is a stockholder in the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Amanda. He is a Democrat in politics and is treasurer of the village and a member of the school board.
Mr. Huston was married April 20, 1904, to Miss Ethel Lewis, a daughter of John W. Lewis, of Rushville, and they have four children : Dorothy Gertrude, Theodore Lewis, Paul William and Robert Elwood. Mr. Huston belongs to the Masonic lodge at Amanda, and to the Odd Fellows at Rushville.
FRANK P. STRAYER, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon at Bremen, O., was born at Sugar Grove, O., October 23, 1855, and is a son of Jacob E. and Sarah E. (Bran- don) (Pierce) Strayer, and a grandson of Nicholas and Evelyn Strayer.
Jacob E. Strayer was born in Maryland, one of a family of twelve children born to Nicholas and Evelyn Strayer, eleven of whom were natives of Maryland and one of Ohio. While making the overland jour- ney in their wagons and camping along the way between Maryland and Fairfield County, O., the entire family contracted
small-pox, but all recovered and finally reached their destination. They settled in the northeastern part of Berne Township, two miles from Bremen depot, on 160 acres of land which Nicholas Strayer purchased and improved after he was fifty years of age. At that time he was obliged to haul his wheat as far as Zanesville to find a mar- ket and often traded a part of it for barrels of salt, this commodity being one of the necessities on a farm and in those days both scarce and expensive.
Jacob E. Strayer, father of Dr. Strayer, was reared on this pioneer farm and assisted his father in his agricultural operations. At the age of seventeen he was trusted to make the necessary long trips to the East to dispose of stock from the farm, and drove cattle, hogs and sheep as far as Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia. In 1841 he went to Missouri, where he entered 160 acres of land in Madison County, on which he lived for several years, but as his neigh- bors were four miles distant, homesickness overcame him and he returned to Fairfield County. He married Mrs. Sarah E. (Bran- don) Pierce, a widow, who was born in Fairfield County and was a daughter of William Brandon.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Strayer set- tled on a farm in Fairfield County, north- west of Amanda, and there their lives were spent, the former dying in Berne Township, at the age of sixty-seven years and the lat- ter at Bremen, in her seventy-fifth year. Their burial was in the Pleasant Hill Ceme- tery. At times Jacob E. Strayer filled township offices, being elected to the same on the Democratic ticket. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and both he and his wife attended the Methodist Episcopal church. They had the following children
753
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
born to them: William J., now deceased, who married Laura Shoemaker, and had two children; Eliza J., who is the wife of Noah Seifert, and has four children ; Anna, who died in infancy; Frank P., subject of this sketch; Florence A., who is the wife of S. W. Lehman, of Bremen, and has one child; Charles B., residing in Illinois, who married Lillie Fox; and Ellen E., who is the wife of J. W. Haney, of Oregon, and has nine children.
Frank P. Strayer went from the public schools to Worthington Normal University and then to Delaware College, but illness prevented his completing the collegiate course. Later he studied medicine under the late Dr. Frampton, at Bremen, O., at- tended lectures at the Athens Medical Col- lege, and then entered the Ohio Medical College at Columbus, where he was gradu- ated with the class of 1879, immediately afterward locating at Bremen, where his fine office has been much admired. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank at Bremen, of which he is a director, and has been otherwise interested in local affairs of importance. In 1892 he started the movement for the improvement of the public roads in Fairfield County, and as evidence of his sincerity and public spirit, improved four miles between Bremen and Berne-a tract known as the Strayer road. Along this he has planted both shade and fruit trees, having the practical idea that the fruit produced would pay for the im- provements, in fact making this tract a kind of object lesson.
Dr. Strayer is a valued member of the Ohio State and Fairfield County Medical Societies. He served as a member of the first town council of Bremen, being elected on the Citizens' ticket, and for several years
was also a member of the Board of Educa- tion. He is a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Bremen, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of this place.
BENJAMIN D. CLUMP,* a representa- tive citizen of Pleasant Township, a mem- ber of its board of trustees and the owner of seventy-seven acres of well tilled land, was born in Hocking County, O., April 27, 1866, and is a son of Christian and Mary (Ruff) Clump.
The parents of Mr. Clump were born in Germany and the mother is now deceased. The father was quite young when his par- ents brought him to America. They settled in Hocking County, O., and spent the rest of their lives there. Christian Clump moved with his family from Hocking to Fairfield County more than thirty years since, liv- ing for a short time near Baltimore, O., and then settling in Pleasant Township and engaging in farming. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Of his children the following survive: Edward T., of Shelby County, Ill. ; Benjamin D., Charles, Eman- tel and Emma, all living in Pleasant Town- ship ; and Clara, wife of John Haines, a far- mer in Pleasant Township.
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.