USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 38
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Charles B. Parker was reared in Washington C. H. and received the best education which was afforded by the city schools. Upon reaching his majority he went to Arizona and located in Kingman, where he engaged in the mercantile business and mining for three years. In 1896 he returned to Washington C. H., and a year later returned to the West, where he was en- gaged in railroad construction work. His father had been a builder and con- tractor and in this way he had acquired a fair knowledge of the business. He remained in the West and Southwest until 1904, when he returned to Washington C. H. and, in company with J. M. Wood and C. F. Parker. organized the Parker & Wood Manufacturing Company. They manufacture all kinds of wood work and have in their employ from twenty to thirty people all the time. Owing to the excellence of their work and their honest methods of dealing, they have built up a large trade in their line and are classed among the most prosperous and substantial firms of the city.
Mr. Parker was married June 21, 1910, to Harriett E. Swope, the daughter of George B. and Mary ( Pringle) Swope, and to this union have
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been born two children, Charlotte S. and Harriett Ann. The mother of Mrs. Parker is deceased, while her father is still living in Washington C. H. Mrs. Parker is one of three children born to her parents, the others being John and Opal.
Politically, Mr. Parker has always been allied with the Republican party, but owing to the fact that he has been away from the county so much and since returning been so busy with his manufacturing interests, he has not had the time to take an active part in political affairs. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, while he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
TOLEN E. BROWN.
To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is honored and respected from childhood deserves more than passing mention. One may take his place in public life through some vigorous stroke of public policy and remain in the hearts of his friends and neighbors, but to gradually rise to the same position, winning through sterling worth and faithfulness to trust. rather than by a craving for popularity, is worthy of the highest praise and com- mendation. Such has been the life of Tolen E. Brown, a prosperous farmer of Madison township and the present recorder of Fayette county, Ohio. The people are demanding better officials today and when a man proves satisfac- tory in office, it is becoming the custom to re-elect him, an honor which has come to Mr. Brown in the office of county recorder.
Tolen E. Brown, the only child of Isaac and Belle ( Vance ) Brown, was born in Madison county, Ohio, September 25, 1880. His father was reared in Madison county, and lived the life of a farmer there until his death, in 1881 ; his wife lives in this county. The parents of Isaac Brown were early settlers in Ross and Madison counties, Ohio, where they reared a family of four children, John, Isaac, Prudence and Anna. Isaac Brown's wife's parents were Thomas and Mary ( Harrison) Vance, both natives of Ohio. Thomas Vance was a farmer and died in Fayette county in middle life, his wife still surviving him, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Ten children were born to Thomas Vance and wife. Robert, Batteal, Eliza- beth, Rebecca, Benjamin, Martha, Fannie, Josephine. John and Belle, the wife of Isaac Brown.
Tolen E. Brown was reared in Madison, Ross and Fayette counties, Ohio, coming to Fayette county with his parents when he was eleven years
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of age. He received a good common school education in the district schools of these three counties. His father died when he was one year old and he lived with his mother and grandmother until reaching maturity. He married at the age of twenty-one and then began farming in Madison township, this county, where he has met with success commensurate with his efforts. He was farming in that township when was elected to the office of county re- corder in the fall of 1910, and since that time has lived in Washington C. H. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as township trustee of Madison township for one term before his election as county recorder, and so satis- factory was his first term that he was re-elected in the fall of 1912, and is still performing the duties of that responsible position in a manner which indicates that he is a man of ability and efficiency.
Mr. Brown was married December 24, 1901, to Rosa F. Chrig, the daughter of Philip and Laura (Hammond) Uhrig, and to this union were born two children. Selden E. and Beulah May, both of whom died in child- hood. Mrs. Brown was born in Ross county, Ohio, her mother being a native of this state, while her father was born in Germany. Both of her parents are now living at Madison Mills, Ohio, where they moved after retiring from the farm. Philip Uhrig and wife are the parents of four children. Anna, Rosa, Carrie and Laura.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown are both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, Mr. Brown belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Washington C. H. and the Knights of Pythias at Madison Mills, this county.
AMOS THORNTON.
From the pioneer period through many decades, Amos Thornton has been identified with the business and material interests of Fayette county and Washington C. H. and he has won for himself an honorable position in the circles in which he has moved. Not a pretentious or exalted life has been his, but one that has been true to itself and to which the biographer may revert with feelings of respect and satisfaction. He is recognized as a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the community along material, civic and moral lines, and for years he has been recognized as one of the representative men of his city and county.
Amos Thornton was born in Union township, Fayette county, Ohio,
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within three miles of the court house, on November 27, 1833. His parents were Thomas B. and Mahala ( Harper ) Thornton, who were born and reared in Virginia. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Amos, the subject of this sketch; James, of Oklahoma ; John Anderson, deceased; Will- iam H., of Washington C. H .: Elon, living in Washington C. H .; Thomas, of near Gallatin, Tennessee; Austin, deceased, and Noah, of Union town- ship. Thomas B. Thornton was a farmer and acquired the ownership of about six hundred acres of land in Union township, which he improved and developed into a valuable estate, and there he died in the ninetieth year of his age. His widow, who died at the age of eighty-six years, was born in Pen- dleton county, Virginia, and was a Baptist in her religious faith. Thomas B. Thornton was a man of good business judgment and unquestioned integ- rity and served his county efficiently as county commissioner.
The subject's paternal grandfather came from Norfolk. Virginia, with his wife, and they settled near Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio, where he died. Eventually his widow came to Fayette county and married again, her second husband being Mr. Coyle. She died near Van Wert. To the first union were born two children, James and Thomas. The former possessed a roving disposition and he drifted away, his subsequent history being un- known. The subject's maternal grandparents were Jacob and Phoebe ( Har- mon) Harper, natives of Pendleton county, Virginia. They came to Fayette county in 1829, but subsequently moved to Missouri, where the wife died. Mr. Harper returned to Fayette county and his death occurred in Union township. To him and his wife were born the following children: Sabina, Mahala. Tana, Phoebe, Delilah, Simeon. Enos, Elon, Isaac, Jacob, Noah and John.
Amos Thornton was reared in Fayette county and this has been his home for more than eighty years. He lived on his father's farm until seven- teen years old, and secured his education in the district schools. When seventeen years old he came to Washington C. H. and learned the trade of saddler and harness-maker, which vocation he followed for a few years. When nineteen years old he made the long, tiresome and dangerous trip across the western plains to California, lured by the wonderful tales of sud- den wealth to be found there, the trip requiring five months after crossing the Missouri river, and ox teams being used for motive power. Mr. Thornton engaged in mining gold and passed through many strange and memorable experiences. In December, 1856, he returned to his Eastern home and re- sumed work at his trade, which he followed until the outbreak of the Civil
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War, when he enlisted in Company A. First Regiment Ohio Cavalry. He served faithfully and courageously with this command until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge on May 31, 1865. Being in the cav- alry branch of the army, he took part in many of the most important move- inents of the southern armies and had some severe engagements with the enemy. He served in Virginia until 1864, when he went to Nashville, Ten- nessee, and was assigned to the quartermaster's department and given charge of about seventy-five men who were detailed to make saddles for the army.
After his return home Mr. Thornton engaged in farming in Fayette county, applying himself closely to this vocation for fifteen years and meeting with pronounced success. He then moved to Washington C. H., and in 1881 he engaged in the coal business, with which he is still identified, being num- bered among the enterprising and successful business men of his city.
On the 5th day of January, 1857, Mr. Thornton married Artie Allen, who was born in Union township, the daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Van Gorder) Allen. To this union were born two sons, James Allen and Charles Lawson. James A. is a partner with his father in the coal business. He married Louisa Reichart, and they have two children, Robert A. and Frank. Charles L., who also is associated with his father and brother in the coal business, married Annie Bell and they are the parents of four chil- dren, Esyl, Eva, Amos and James. Mrs. Thornton's parents were natives of Pennsylvania, who became early settlers of Fayette county, Ohio. They came here with one child, and at that time were very poor, the trip being made on horseback. However, Mr. Allen was industrious and ambitious and eventually became quite well-to-do, accumulating about three thousand acres of land. He died here when about seventy-six years of age, being survived several years by his widow. Their children were as follows : Ellen, Allen, Benjamin, Joseph, Eber, Ann, Madison, Elmira, Rebecca, Mariby, Esther and Artie. Mrs. Thornton's paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Allen, was a native of Pennsylvania.
Politically, Mr. Thornton has been a life-long supporter of the Re- publican party, while, fraternally, he is a member of Fayette Lodge No. 107. Free and Accepted Masons, and to Hayes Post, Grand Army of the Repub- lic. Mrs. Thornton is a member of the Presbyterian church and is a lady of charming personality, who has long been numbered among the good old ladies of Fayette county.
Mr. Thornton's long and useful life as one of the world's workers has been one of devotion to whatever labor he has addressed himself, and well
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does he merit a place of honor in every history touching upon the lives and deeds of those who have given the best of their powers for the betterment of their kind.
WILLIAM H. DIAL.
Few citizens of Fayette county are as widely and favorably known as William H. Dial, one of the oldest real estate and insurance men in Wash- ington C. H. and one of the community's most useful and highly esteemed men. His life has become a part of the history of the locality in which he has made his home for many years, and his long and honorable business career has brought him before the public in such a way as to gain the esteem and confidence of his fellow men. Keen perception, tireless energy and honesty of purpose, combined with mature judgment and every-day common sense, have ever been among his most prominent characteristics. and, while laboring for individual success and for the material interests of the commun- ity, he has also been largely instrumental in promoting the moral welfare of those with whom he has mingled.
William H. Dial is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having first seen the light of day in Clermont county on the 26th day of September, 1847. He is the son of Joseph S. and Lucinda (Weaver) Dial, who also were natives of Ohio. They were the parents of six children, four of whom lived to years of maturity, namely : Mary E., unmarried and living in Wash- ington C. H .; William H., the immediate subject of this review : Anna Belle, the wife of Barton Fairfield, of near San Francisco, California; David Franklin, of New Richmond, Ohio, and two who died early in life. Joseph S. Dial was born and reared in Clermont county, and there followed the vocation of farming, being the owner of one hundred and ten acres of splendid land, which he greatly improved and where he reared his children. He spent the greater portion of his own life there, his death occurring in 1896, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1904. They were both Methodists in their religious faith and exemplified their faith in their daily lives. The subject's paternal grandparents, David and Elizabeth ( Roh- inson) Dial, were born, respectively, in North Carolina and Ohio, and were farming folk. Their deaths occurred in Clermont county, he at the age of fifty-five years, and she eight years later, at about the same age. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely : John. Shadreck, William, Joseph, Stephen, Mahla, Mary, Anna and Caro-
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line. On the maternal side the subject is descended from William and Mary (Robinson) Weaver, natives of Virginia, where they followed farming. Eventually, William Weaver brought his family to Ohio, and they were numbered among the early settlers of Clermont county. There their deaths occurred, he when fifty-five years old and she at seventy-two years. To them were born two sons, twins, and four daughters, Wesley, Henry, Mary Ann. Cena. Catherine and Lucinda.
William H. Dial spent his boyhood years on his father's Clermont county farm, and secured his education in the district schools and the high school at Amelia, where he graduated. Later, to adequately prepare him- self for a business career, he took a course in a commercial school in Cin- cinnati, following which, for three years, he was employed as collector for a business house. In 1875 Mr. Dial came to Washington C. H. and engaged in the insurance, real estate and loan business, in which he has been success- fully engaged continuously to the present time, a period of almost forty years. That he has prospered and today enjoys one of the largest clienteles in his line in Fayette county is a matter of general knowledge and is due entirely to his zeal in going after business and the honorable way in which he has handled it, his relations with his customers ever being of the most pleasant and satisfactory character. He possesses a very accurate knowledge of real estate values and is considered an authority in the appraisal of values. Mr. Dial is a stockholder and director of the Washington Savings Bank and Trust Company, and is a man of far-sighted judgment and keen sagacity.
Politically, Mr. Dial has been a life-long supporter of the Democratic party and has filled several city offices with great satisfaction to his fellow citizens, being at the present time a member of the board of public safety for Washington C. H. Religiously, he is, with his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. of which he has been a trustee for many years, taking an active and effective interest in the various phases of church work. Fraternally, Mr. Dial has long been an active and enthusiastic member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in Lodge No. 107; Fayette Chapter No. 103, Royal Arch Masons; Fayette Council No. 100, Royal and Select Masters: Garfield Commandery No. 28, Knights Templar: Scioto Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons, at Columbus, and Aladdin Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He has filled practically all the chairs in these various bodies, excepting the Scottish Rite and the Shrine.
William H. Dial has been married twice. On the 13th day of Novem- ber, 1870, he married Susanna Foster, who was born at Georgetown, Brown county, Ohio, the daughter of Capt. John S. and Margaret (Thompson)
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Foster. These parents were both natives of Ohio, and both died in Clark county, being buried in Fayette county. Mr. Foster was a soldier in the Civil War and organized an independent company in Georgetown, of which he became captain and with which he served nearly all through the war. To him and his wife were born two sons and four daughters, Edwin T., Su- sanna, Belle, Catherine, Mollie and John K. John S. Foster's father was Thomas Foster. To William H. and Susanna Dial were born three children, namely: Sarah Frances, who remains at home: Georgia May, who died April 18, 1898, at the age of twenty years; John Franklin, who is his father's business assistant, married Ruth Stuckey, and they have a son, William Richard, born August 30, 1914. The mother of these children passed away on July 14, 1904, at the age of fifty-three years, and on October 12, 1905, Mr. Dial married Georgia Holcomb, who was born in Morgan county. Ohio, the daughter of B. M. Holcomb, who was the son of Elijah Holcomb. Her parents, who were natives of Ohio, lived at various times in Columbus, Washington C. H., and Circleville. They were the parents of five children. namely: Jennie, the wife of J. N. Riley; Luella Holcomb Arnold, deceased : Georgia, the wife of William H. Dial; William E. and Wildia Holcomb Morrow. Mrs. Dial is a woman of gracious qualities of character and is well liked by all who know her.
Mr. Dial is a man of genial nature, unassuming in his relations with others. and because of his genuine worth and high qualities of character he has deserved the high regard in which he is held by all who know him.
JOHN WESLEY ANDERSON.
The history of any city, county or state is the record of the lives and (leeds of those who have in various ways performed the duties of citizenship. In the complex system of society as it is today there is need for men in a great variety of occupations. It is fortunate that all men do not want to be preachers or teachers or lawyers; that all men do not want to be farmers or blacksmiths or railroad men. There are hundreds of occupations in the United States today, and a town the size of Washington C. H. will have at least a hundred different occupations. An important industry which is found represented in every town of any size in the country is the retail meat market business and this city boasts of one of the best equipped retail meat markets in the state.
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John Wesley Anderson, the proprietor of the White Tile Meat Market. was born near Leesburg, Ohio, September 9, 1870. He is a son of James C. and Hannah Ellen ( Swift) Anderson, natives of Ohio and the parents of seven children : William S., deceased; John Wesley, with whom this narra- tive deals; Chloe E., the wife of Stephen Rogers, of Seymour, Indiana ; Allie. the widow of Edward Teeters; Auber D., now in the Mt. Vernon hospital ; Dollie, the wife of Addie Coler, of Denver, Colorado, and James H .. of Washington C. H.
James C. Anderson was reared near Centerfield, Ohio, and spent his boyhood days on the farm. At the opening of the Civil War he enlisted in Company 1, Eighty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for three and one-half years. He participated in some of the hardest fought battles of that great struggle and was wounded three times while in the service. He was killed in a railroad accident at Leesburg, Ohio, in 1887, at the age of forty-four years. His wife lost her eyesight at the age of thirty- five and died at the age of sixty. James C. Anderson and his wife were both devout members of the Friends church, and were always greatly interested in the work of the church. He was a son of Rev. Benjamin and Rebecca ( Dimmick) Anderson, natives of Ohio and Scotland, respectively. Benja- min Anderson was a Methodist minister and one of the pioneer circuit riders of Ohio. The parents of the wife of James C. AAnderson were William and Nancy (Amos) Swift, natives of Ireland and Ohio, respectively. She (lied at the age of seventy-six, while he lived until he was ninety-two years old. William Swift and wife were the parents of eight children. Hannah E .. William E., John W., Mattie, Elizabeth, Stafford, Harrison and Ida.
John W. Anderson was reared on a farm in Highland county, Ohio. near Leesburg, and spent part of his boyhood days in town. He attended the public schools of East Monroe, and immediately after he left the school room began to learn the butcher's trade. He has been engaged in this busi- ness for the past twenty-seven years, twenty years of which has been spent in Washington C. H. He came to this city in 1894, and for six years worked in the shop of William H. Snider, and in 1900 he opened a shop of his own, and his place, known as the White Tile Meat Market, is a model of cleanli- ness and neatness. He understands every angle of the retail meat business and by his courteous treatment of his customers and his honest, reliable methods, he has built up a trade which is second to none in the city.
Mr. Anderson was married June 14, 1892, to Jennie M. Browder, the daughter of Harmon and Lydia Jane (Coweman) Browder, and to this union have been born three children, Harold B., William H. and Chloe.
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Mrs. Anderson was born near Greenfield, Ohio, both of her parents being. natives of this state. Harmon Browder and wife were the parents of four children, Mrs. Sallie Limes, Edward, Mrs. Cora Brown and Jennie. the wife of Mr. Anderson.
Mr. Anderson and his family are loyal members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum. In politics, he has always adhered to the Republican party, but has never been active in political matters.
JOHN CRAIG.
The life history of John Craig, ex-county auditor of Fayette county and a farmer living on his fine tract of eighty-five acres on the Jeffersonville pike about one mile from Washington C. H., shows what good habits, industry and stanch citizenship will accomplish in the battle for success in life. His record is one replete with duty well and conscientiously performed in every relation of life and special honor is attached to his career owing to the fact that he was one of those loyal sons of the Union who offered his services and his life if need be for the preservation of the nation during the dark days of the sixties. Throughout his life. Mr. Craig has been an advocate of whole- some living and cleanness in politics as well and has always stood for the highest and best interests of the community in which so many of his active years have been passed and which has been honored by his citizenship.
John Craig was born on December 25, 1839, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a son of William and Sarah (Van Pelt) Craig, who were the parents of ten chil- dren, the immediate subject being the second child in order of birth. The others are Mary Anna (deceased ), Charles W. ( deceased), Thomas M., Asbury J., Amanda E .. Russell, Arabella, Susan Jane and Elizabeth. Will- iam Craig, the subject's father, was born in the state of New Jersey and was brought to Cincinnati by his parents when a young boy. In that city he ac- quired his trade of a carpenter, at which vocation he worked almost the bal- ance of his life. He was married upon first coming to this county, where he remained for a comparatively short time, when he returned to Cincinnati, where the immediate subject of this sketch was born. While the subject was still a baby his father returned to this county, locating at Staunton. where he engaged in the general merchandise business and where he remained for about fourteen years, when he removed to Marion county, Iowa. It was at
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Staunton, therefore, that the subject received his earliest schooling, later at- tending the schools of Marion county when the parents took up their abode there. There he passed several years of his younger manhood and he later returned to this county with a sister. It was from this point, in answer to President Lincoln's call to arms, that he enlisted as a private in Company C. Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Thomas Kilby Smith. For three years he remained in the service and was in many of the most im- portant engagements of the war, among them being the battles of Shiloh, Haines Bluff and important skirmishes enroute to Vicksburg. He spent a tedious period of three months in the hospital at Milliken's Bend. After re- ceiving his honorable discharge from service, he returned to this county and for some time he traveled all over the state operating a notion wagon, from which he sold goods and took orders from rural merchants. Tiring of this unsettled life after a time, he secured a farm in this county, which he rented for some time and later purchased the farm which he now owns and where he has since made his home. Since obtaining possession of this land he has made many important improvements in it so that today it is considered one of the excellent farms of the community. Mr. Craig is a man skilled in many lines, as witnessed by the fact that he was in the restaurant and bakery business for a time and the additional fact that by his father he was initiated into the secrets of carpentry and he has followed this trade more or less ever since.
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