USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 53
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ing interested in the work about a farm, he decided upon agriculture as his life vocation and has been a prominent farmer of this section ever since. He possesses energy and executive ability to a marked degree and this, coupled with his honesty and integrity, has placed him amongst the foremost citizens of this community. He engages in general farming, paying par- ticular attention to the raising of live stock, which he finds the most lucrative line of his vocation and in which he is markedly successful.
On December 27. 1888, Mr. Yore was united in marriage with Emma Hutson, a daughter of George and Amanda ( Varner) Hutson, the former of whom was born in Columbiana county, this state. The latter years of his life were spent in Modoc, Indiana, where his death occurred and where he was buried, while his widow makes her home in Muncie, that state. They were the parents of eight children, Mrs. Yore being the third child of the family. The others are John, Ella, George (deceased), Charles, Maggie, Oscar and Lula. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Yore is without issue and in the kindness of their hearts they have taken a little child to rear. Although not legally adopted, this little child, Viola Coe, is being carefully reared and trained in all that makes for a life of useful womanhood. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yore are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent in the affairs of that society, being well known to a large circle of friends and highly respected by all who have the pleasure of their acquaint- ance. Mr. Yore fully appreciates the value of good citizenship and gladly does all within his power to raise still higher the standard of community ex- cellence in every phase.
JACOB WRIGHT.
A prominent farmer of Fayette county, who passed away more than half a century ago, was Jacob Wright, whose daughter is still living in this county at the advanced age of seventy-six. Jacob Wright was a typical pioneer and a man who exerted much influence in the community where he lived for so many years.
Jacob Wright was born on October 2, 1808, and died in Fayette county. Ohio, April 12, 1862. His father, Jacob Wright, was a native of Frederick county, Virginia, and first settled in Ohio on Sugar creek in this county. Later Jacob Wright, Sr., moved to the old Herr farm in Jefferson township. and bought this farm of one hundred acres on which he lived until his death.
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Jacob Wright, Sr., was educated in Frederick county, Virginia, and was a life-long farmer, although he carried on blacksmithing to some extent in con- nection with his farm work.
Jacob Wright, Jr., was married to Susannah Mason, who was born in 1797, and to this union two children were born, Joseph and Mary J. Joseph was born April 6, 1836, and married Martha Sherritt, and they were the par- ents of five children, John, Ella. Mary J., Martha and Esther.
Mary J. Wright was born March 28, 1838, and was first married to Joseph Maxwell, and by this union has one son, Joseph B. Joseph B. was married to Louisa Berry, and had a family of five children, John, George, Clarence. Chester and Forrest. Joseph B. Maxwell was educated in the schools of Fayette county, and is now a prominent farmer in Arkansas.
The first husband of Mary J. Wright died in 1862, and some time later she was married to Jacob Everett, who died March 12, 1881. There were no children by her second marriage. Since the death of her husband in 1881, Mrs. Everett has been managing her farm and has shown marked ability in operating it. She and her father were consistent members of the Baptist church, and she has always taken an active interest in the affairs of her denomination. Her father was a member of the first county survey of Fay- ette county. She has seventy-five acres of land, which is well improved and which she rents.
JAMES HOMER HUTSON.
One of the most successful of the younger farmers of Fayette county is J. H. Hutson, of Paint township, who started in at the foot of the ladder and by his own indomitable energy and good management has accumulated a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-two acres. He is entitled to great credit for the success to which he has attained. since it is due solely to his own efforts. The self-made man always appreciates his wealth more than the man who gets his wealth by inheritance and is usually more careful in taking care of it. While Mr. Hutson has been laying up a comfortable competence for himself and family he has not neglected to take his full share of the burdens of community life, and thus well merits a place among the representative men of his county.
James H. Hutson, the son of Rufus and Emma ( Vesey) Hutson. was born on the old Vesey farm in Paint township, February 15, 1880. His father was born in the same township and was the son of Trenton R. and
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Mary (Blessing) Hutson. T. R. Hutson was also a native of this county, his father coming to this county from England. Rufus Hutson and wife were the parents of three sons, James H., Edward and Frank.
J. H. Hutson attended the Larrimer school, now known as the Willis school, the Klever school and finally attended one year at the high school at Jeffersonville. He remained at home until his marriage in 1904 and then began farming for himself on his mother's farm. Shortly after his marriage he bought a farm of fifty-one and a fourth acres and, with this as a nucleus, has become one of the substantial farmers of his township. He was soon in a position to add eighty acres to his original holding and one hundred acres which was inherited by Mrs. Hutson, making two hundred and thirty-two acres. He understands crop rotation and is thus able to keep his farm to the highest state of productivity. He raises good crops every year and has been equally successful as a breeder of high class live stock.
Mr. Hutson was married October 12, 1904, to Lola Smith, the daughter of Eli and Minerva (Parrett) Smith. Eli Smith was born in Paint town- ship and is now living a retired life after accumulating a farm of seven hun- dred acres. Three daughters and one son were born to Eli Smith and wife: Rella, the wife of George Straley; Alberta, the wife of Abraham Blessing; Herman, and Lola, the wife of Mr. Hutson.
Politically, Mr. Hutson is an independent voter, preferring to cast his vote for the best men irrespective of their political affiliation. There are large numbers of our best citizens who are breaking away from the old parties and voting for men rather than for eagles, roosters and moose. The Methodist Episcopal church claims the hearty support of Mr. Hutson and his wife.
JEPTHA H. GOSSARD.
There are many excellent farmers in Paint township, but none more de- serving of mention in this volume than Jeptha H. Gossard, one of the gallant old veterans of the Civil War and a man who has been faithful to every trust which has been imposed upon him. Although he was only thirteen years of age when the war opened, he enlisted as soon as he was old enough and the county sent no braver soldier to the front. When this sixteen-year-old lad shouldered his musket and marched into battle, as he did several times, he never wavered, but pressed forward with his regiment and bore his share of
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the fighting. We can not pay too much honor to these men who fought for the emancipation of the black man and at the same time for the preservation of the Union.
Jeptha H. Gossard, the son of James and Catherine (Messmore) Goss- ard, was born July 5, 1847, in Madison county, Ohio. His father was the son of James and Catherine ( Miller ) Gossard and was born in Ross county, Ohio, his parents coming to this state from Greenbrier county, Virginia. The grandparents of Jeptha are buried at London, Ohio. The father of Jeptha H. Gossard located in Madison county, Ohio, when a young man and learned the shoemaker's trade in Midway and Danville. He farmed in addition to following his trade as a shoemaker and owned a good farm in Madison county. Eleven children were born to James and Catherine (Messmore) Gossard : George, Jeptha, Samuel, Marion, William, James, Earl, Theodore, Ida and two who died in infancy. The mother of these children died in Champaign county, Illinois.
The education.of Jeptha H. Gossard was acquired in the schools of Mid- way and Newport, Ohio. He learned the shoemaker's trade with his father and followed that until he enlisted in the Civil War. He enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and served until the close of the war. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and saw hard service in the South. He was mus- tered out at Camp Bradford, Maryland, and at once returned home. He worked out by the month until he was married and then bought his present farm in Paint township, where he has since resided.
Mr. Gossard has been married three times. His first wife was Josephine Slinker and she and two children born to the marriage are deceased. After the death of his first wife Mr. Gossard married Della Horney and to this sec- ond union three children were born, Pearl (deceased), Ida (deceased), and Thaddie, who married Charles Lowrey and has three children, Harry (de- ceased). Margaret and Dorothy. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Gossard married Elizabeth Vesey, the daughter of Burton and Rachel (Bushong) Vesey, and to the third marriage three children were born, Cath- erine, Verne and Burton.
Fraternally, Mr. Gossard is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. He has been a life-long Republican and served on the school board of his township for several years. Such, in brief, is the interesting career of a man who is held in high esteem by every one who knows him.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO.
SAMUEL VAN PELT.
The farmning profession has been revolutionized within the last fifty years, and the farmer of today knows few of the disadvantages which sur- rounded the pioneer farmers of Ohio. Scores of inventions have been put on the market which enable the farmer to lead a life of ease as compared with the arduous labors which his father had to undergo. The result is that an ever-increasing number of our best young men are remaining on the farm in preference to seeking their fortunes in the city. Ohio is known throughout the length and breadth of this country as one of the best agricultural states of the Union, and Fayette county ranks with the best farming sections of the state.
Samuel Van Pelt, a prosperous farmer of Paint township. was born May 28, 1848, in Highland county, Ohio, and is a son of Ellis and Nancy (Holliday) Van Pelt. Ellis Van Pelt was a son of Isaac and Sarah Van Pelt, while Isaac Van Pelt was the son of Jacob and Sarah (Ryan) Van Pelt. The father of Jacob Van Pelt came from the Netherlands and landed in New York, later settling in Loudoun county, Virginia, where Jacob was born. The Van Pelts went from Virginia to Pennsylvania, and Isaac Van Pelt was born in the latter state, later settling in Belmont county, Ohio. where Ellis, the father of Samuel, was born. Ellis Van Pelt came from Bel- mont county, Ohio, to Fayette county in 1860, and settled in Paint township. Ellis Van Pelt and wife were the parents of nine children, Sarah, John, Sam- uel. Amos. Mary Jane, Joseph, Elizabeth, Charles and Hettie. All of these children are deceased except Samuel, Joseph, Hettie and John.
Samuel Van Pelt received part of his education in Highland county and, since he was only twelve years of age when his parents moved to Fay- ette county, he completed his education in this county. After finishing the course in the Bloomingburg schools, he attended the Normal School at Leb- anon, Ohio, for one year, and then went to Bloomington, Illinois, where he was in school for a time. After leaving college he returned to Fayette county and began farming with his father. Upon his marriage, in 1872, he moved to his present farm of fifty-five acres in Paint township, where he has since resided.
Mr. Van Pelt was married on September 4, 1872, to Amanda Morris. the daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Groves) Morris, and to this union were born five children. Stella. Lula (died in infancy). Verna, Zeda and Ethel. Stella, who died in January, 1906, was the wife of Joseph Allemeng and left
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two children, Bernice and Mary; Verna is the wife of Dr. A. R. Core and has one daughter, Ercell; Zeda married David Whiteside and has one son, Robert; Ethel is the wife of Alva Skinner and has one daughter, Aileen.
Mr. Van Pelt is a Republican in politics and has always been interested in local affairs. He was a trustee in his township for several years and has been a member of the school board for the past thirty-two years, having held this position longer than any man in the township. He and his family are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose welfare they take a deep interest and to whose support they are liberal contributors.
SAMUEL MORGAN CORBITT.
Though more than a score of years have elapsed since Samuel Morgan Corbitt was transferred from the life militant to the life triumphant, his per- sonality still remains fresh in the memory of his many friends in Fayette county, where for many years he was regarded as one of the leading citizens. He was well known throughout this county and was a man respected and honored, not because of the vigorous training of his special talents, but be- cause of his daily life. He set an excellent example to the younger genera- tion, for he was a leader in his locality in all matters pertaining to its up- building and in a conservative manner did what good he could in all lines as he labored for his own advancement and that of his family. While advanc- ing his individual interests he never lost sight of his obligations to the com- munity in general and during his entire life held a high place in the con- fidence and esteem of all who knew him.
The late Samuel Morgan Corbitt was born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 5, 1844, and died on the farm where he was born, August 30, 1891. He was the son of Samuel K. and Catherine (Jenkins) Corbitt. Samuel Corbitt, Sr., was seventeen years of age when he came to Fayette county, his parents having died when he was a mere child. He grew to manhood in this county, married and reared a family of five children, William Hickling, Mrs. Ruth A. Calhoun, Mattison W., Oliver K., and Samuel Morgan, with whom this narrative deals.
Samuel Morgan Corbitt received his education in the schools of Jeffer- son township and finished at the high school at Jeffersonville, after which he took a business course in the Miami Commercial College at Dayton, Ohio, when he returned to this county and took up the occupation of farming, which
SAMUEL M. CORBITT
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FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO.
he followed until his death. He was a man of fine business ability, keenly interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community, and was justly regarded as one of the most progressive farmers of the county. At the time of his death he was the owner of two hundred and sixty-four acres of fine land, on which he had modern buildings of all kinds.
Mr. Corbitt was married, November 13, 1866, to Mary E. Rowand, the daughter of Benijah and Martha ( Correll) Rowand, and to this union were born five children : Jessie Mildred, the wife of P. L. Rodgers; Laura Vivian, who is married to Lewis Bates and has two children, Mary Lucile and Mor- gan Willard; Minnie Kee, the deceased wife of Charles Wilt; Lola B., de- ceased, and Roxa LeClare, who is still living with her mother.
Politically, Mr. Corbitt was a Democrat and, while never taking an active part in political matters, always took an intelligent interest in the civic life of his community. For many years he served on the school board of his township and in that capacity always cast his influence for every measure which he felt would benefit the schools in any way. He built up a reputation as an honest, upright and fearless business man and left a record which stamps him as a man of high ideals and sound moral principles. Though never animated by great ambitions for public honors, yet he always gave his aid to the furtherance of the general interests of his community. His life was a busy one and his every-day affairs made heavy demands upon his time, yet he never shrank from his duties as a citizen and his obligations to his neighbors and friends.
ENNIS STEVENS.
For many years Ennis Stevens has been the manager of the Willis estate of six hundred acres, known as the Maplewood Stock Farm, and in this capacity has demonstrated his right to be classed among the most progressive farmers of the county. His whole life has been devoted to agricultural pur- suits and, being a man of good business ability and boundless energy, he has made a pronounced success of the work to which he has devoted his life thus far.
Ennis Stevens, the son of John and Louisa (Landes) Stevens, was born June 9, 1870, in Highland county, Ohio. His father was a native of Penn- sylvania and moved when a small boy with his parents to Highland county, Ohio. In that county John Stevens grew to manhood, married and reared a
(36)
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large family of children, Temperance, Scott, Levi. Steward, Caroline (de- ceased ). Mock, Mary, Alfred, Jennie, Minta ( deceased ), and Ennis, with whom this narrative deals. The father of these eleven children died several years ago and the mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-eight.
The education of Ennis Stevens was received in the schools of High- land county. Before he reached his majority he started to work out by the month and, being a man who made a study of farming, gradually became thoroughly acquainted with every detail of agriculture. After his marriage he began farming in Fayette county and assumed charge of the Maplewood Stock Farm, where he has since remained. He is one of the most extensive stock raisers of the county and markets several car loads each year.
Mr. Stevens was married December 26, 1892, to Flora Roush, the daugh- ter of Joshua and Elizabeth ( Lemons) Roush. The mother of Mrs. Stevens died when Mrs. Stevens was only six days old and she was then taken and reared by her grandmother. Mrs. Lucinda ( Shaffer ) Roush. Joshua Roush is still living in Highland county. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are the parents of four children, Ethel ( deceased), Leland, Gerald and Orin.
Fraternally, Mr. Stevens belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he is a strong supporter of the Democratic party, but has been so engrossed with his heavy agricultural interests that he has not had the time to take an active part in political affairs. He and his wife are consistent members of the Christian church, in whose welfare they are interested and to whose support they are liberal contributors.
URBAN W. CANNON.
One of the most interesting things about the United States census of 1010 is the statistical history of agriculture. Here may be found a wide variety of information regarding every phase of farming. For instance, it is shown that the value of the 1.846 farms in Fayette county averages $14,494 per farm. with an average value for each acre of $84.93. The average acre- age per farm is 135 acres, with 112 farms having from three to nine acres and forty-three farms having more than 500 acres. The interesting fact is set forth that 1.080 farmers operate their own farms, while others than the owners manage the remaining 746. An insight into the financial standing of the farmers operating their own farms is disclosed by the statement that 718 farms are free from mortgage, 354 are encumbered with mortgages, while
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eight made no report. It would pay every farmer to get hold of these valu- able statistics and make a careful study of them since he would thus get into close touch with the growth of his county's agricultural property. One of the wide awake and successful farmers of Fayette county is Urban W. Can- non, of Paint township, whose interesting career is here briefly set forth.
Urban W. Cannon. the son of Levin M. and Jane ( Cockerill ) Cannon, was born April 30, 1850, in Adams county, Ohio. The Cannon family were one of the most prominent families in Adams county, Curtis Cannon, the grandfather of Urban W., being a hotel proprietor. A brother of Jane Cockerill, Col. J. R. Cockerill, had a national reputation as a representative from Adams county and a prominent attorney and soldier. Colonel Cockerill had a son. John, who was one of the leading newspaper men of Ohio for many years and died in Egypt while doing newspaper work in that country. There were six children born to Levin M. Cannon and wife: Annabel ( deceased ). Esther ( deceased). Urban W., Mrs. Anna Hamilton, Daniel C. and Mrs. Florence Hughes.
The education of Urban W. Cannon was received in the schools of Locust Grove, Ohio. He remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty and then began to rent land in Adams county. He came to Fayette county in 1880 as manager of an estate of six hundred acres and proved to be a very successful farmer. In the nineties he bought his present farm of one hundred and eight acres about three and a half miles east of Jeffersonville in Paint township. He keeps his farm to a high state of productivity by scien- tific crop rotation and raises all of the crops of the section of the state. He always keeps as much live stock on his farm as he can feed from his own farm and adds not a little to his annual income from the sale of live stock.
Mr. Cannon was married December 26, 1870, to Amanda McNeil, the daughter of Joseph and Susan ( Morrow ) McNeil. Both of Mrs. Cannon's parents are deceased and buried in the Fall Creek cemetery in Highland county, Ohio. To this union there were born five children, Curtis, Susan, John C., Harry, and Joseph, deceased. The first wife of Mr. Cannon died and in December, 1912, he married Mrs. Bertha ( Høimxs) Mergler, the widow of Joseph Mergler. Mrs. Cannon had one son hy her mist marriage, Rowe. a resident of Greenville, Ohio.
Mr. Cannon is a Democrat of decided progressive inclinations and had always taken a deep interest in political affairs. He has served on the school board of his township. The whole career of Mr. Cannon has been such that he has won the hearty approbation of his fellow citizens and is held in high esteein by all who know him.
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JACOB A. WEYER.
It requires something more than mere labor to make a success of agri- culture at the present time. A farmer might work from dawn to twilight in the year and yet fail to accomplish much. There must be sound judgment and discretion exercised at the same time, and the farmer must have a knowl- edge of his soils, grains, live stock and many other things if he wishes to make a success of general farming. Fifty years ago the idea of putting a course of farming in our public schools and colleges would have been laughed at, and derided even, but at the present time agriculture is being taught in all of the states of the Union. Farming has risen in dignity and the man who accom- plishes much as a tiller of the soil today should be accorded a place along with the men who succeed in other walks of life. It actually requires as technical an education for a man to be a successful farmer today as for a man to be a successful physician or lawyer, and the sooner the farmers of the country find this fact out, the better for the agricultural interests.
Jacob A. Weyer, one of the most prosperous farmers of Paint township. Fayette county. Ohio, was born December 5. 1850, in Highland county, this state. He is a son of William Henry Harrison and Huldah ( West ) Weyer. the father from Pennsylvania and the mother from Highland county, Ohio. Mrs. William Henry Harrison Weyer was the daughter of John and Barbara ( Platter ) West, and located in Highland county, Ohio, where she was born. The subject's father was a life-long farmer and at the time of his death was the owner of five hundred acres of fine land in Highland county. William H. H. Weyer and wife were the parents of nine children, James, William, Mrs. Mary Epperson, Anna R. Hill, Jacob A., Daniel, Ella, Isabella and Albert. All of these children are still living except Mary and Albert.
Jacob A. Weyer was educated in the schools of Highland county and completed his educational training at Hillsboro, the county seat of that county. He worked on the farm in Highland county until twenty-eight years old and then came to Fayette county, where he has since resided. He is now the owner of one hundred and ninety-three acres of land along the Danville pike about two miles north of Bloomingburg, where he has been living many years. As a farmer he ranks with the most progressive of the county and has always kept pace with the latest developments in agriculture, adding new machinery as it was brought into the market and otherwise increasing the efficiency of his work.
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