USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 56
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William I. Henkle was born on September 5. 1845. in Union township on a farm one mile west of Washington C. IL., being a son of Ephraim and Mary S. (Carr) Henkle, Ephraim also being a native of this township. born in 1818 on the old Irvin farm. His mother's name was Barbara and Ephraim was one of the pioneers of the county, owning one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he placed in an excellent state of cultivation, and was in his day one of the leading men of his community. In his youth he attended the old pioneer schools in the crude little log school houses, his spare time being de-
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voted to working with his father. When he came to manhood he followed the vocation of farming and was considered one of the leading agriculturists of this section. , He approved advanced methods of farming, eagerly adapting every new idea as he acquired it and owned the first reaper which ever came into the township. He also believed that the best strains of live stock were none too good for the ordinary farmer and was especially interested in fine hogs. He was the father of ten children. Ellen, Joel and Mary are de- ceased, the latter having been the wife of J. A. Bush. William L., the im- mediate subject of this sketch, was the third child in order of birth ; then came J. F. : N. S., who lives in Indiana ; Jesse, who lives at Springfield, Ohio; Cath- erine (Mrs. Hire) ; Amanda, wife of W. L. Dowden, and Almeda L., who married J. B. Cohagen.
When the subject was a youth he attended the school taught by H. C. Burnett, later went to the Judge A. Williams school and finished his school days in John Parrott's school. From the time he was a small boy and during all vacations he assisted in the work of the home place and when twenty-two years of age he started out in life for himself, first hiring out to farm labor by the month. At the age of twenty-six he began farming for himself on a tract of twelve acres and now owns a farm of sixty acres located about three miles west of Washington C. 11. on the Wilmington pike.
On April 16. 1868, Mr. Henkle was united in marriage with Thursea Bush, daughter of William and Phoebe ( Fults) Bush, both of whom were natives of this county. To their union have beeen born five children, the eldest of whom, Miles N., is deceased. The others are Mary E., wife of Grant Miller : Effie. William L., Jr., and Carey E., who remain at home. Since the subject has retired from the active work of the farm, his two efficient sons, William L., Jr., and Carey E., have taken oved its management. Both re- ceived their educations at the Midland school and were early trained by the subject in all that pertained to successful farming. Carey E. devotes especial effort to the raising of such grains as are especially adapted to this section, while William gives particular attention to truck farming. Both belong to the Sons of Veterans and the religious affiliation of each is with the Methodist Protestant church, and to the maintenance of the local organization each gives liberally of his means.
William M. Henkle's political affiliation is with the Republican party and he has always taken a keen interest in the affairs of same. He has been a school director and has also served the township as pike superintendent. effi- ciently discharging the duties of both offices. His church membership for the
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past fifty years has been with the Methodist Protestant church and he is sin- cerely interested in the success of the local society. Mr. Henkle is a quiet, unassuming man and it is unnecessary to add that he is highly respected throughout the locality where he lives and where he has spent his entire life. In all the relations of life he has been found faithful to every trust and be- cause of his sterling worth, uncompromising integrity and friendliness, he has won and retains the warm regard of all with whom he associates and is widely known throughout the county.
ABNER J. BRYANT.
A man who occupied a conspicuous place in the life of his community for many years was the late Abner J. Bryant, who lived a life which en- deared him to everyone with whom he was associated. He was successful in his life work and left the impress of his personality upon the community where he resided. In his daily walk of life he conducted his affairs in such a way as to reflect credit upon himself and, being upright and conscientious in everything he did, it is justly fitting that his history be included among the representative men of his county. He will always be remembered as a man who had the interests of his fellow citizens at heart, and in everything he did lie was also actuated by the highest motives.
The late Abner J. Bryant, the son of Gideon and Anna ( Mouser ) Bryant, was born in Ross county, Ohio, near New Holland, on the 22d day of August, 1860, and died in Marion township, this county, on the 16th day of October, 1910. His father was born in Virginia and was one of the early settlers of Ross county. Twelve children were born to Gideon Bryant and wife, John, William, Frank, Charles, Ida, Laura, Rena, Maida, Cora, Nathan. Benjamin and Abner J.
Abner J. Bryant received a good common school education in the schools of Ross county and remained on the home farm until he was married. After his marriage he continued to live in Ross county until he was about forty years of age when he removed to Fayette county and located in Marion township, near New Holland. He bought a farm in this township and con- tinted to reside on it until his death.
Mr. Bryant was married on February II, 1882, to Flora Bennett. the daughter of John W. and Joanna (Karney) Bennett. John W. Bennett was a native of Pickaway county, and was one of the largest land owners in this
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section of the state, owning more than twelve hundred acres of land in Pickaway county. Six children were born to John W. Bennett and wife: Mrs. Sarah Dick, Melton, Flora, one who died an infant, William and James. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are the parents of five children, Iva, Oma, Opal B., Audrey and John Bennett. Iva married Harry V. Heath; Opal is the wife of Warren Briggs, and has one daughter, Charlene, while the other children are still unmarried.
Mr. Bryant was a devoted Methodist in faith and lived a life consistent with the teachings of the church. Politically, he was a Democrat and, while taking an intelligent interest in political matters, yet was never an aspirant for public office. He was a man of kindly impulses, devoted to his family and friends, and throughout his long life was interested in everything which might better the community in which he resided.
WILLIAM WORTHINGTON.
No better eulogium can be pronounced upon a community or upon its individual members than to point to the work they have accomplished. Theories look fine on the printed page and sound well when proclaimed from the plat- form, but in the end it is effort in the various lines of industrial, commercial and financial activity which develops the man and tells on society. This is essentially a utilitarian age and the man of action is very much in evidence. The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is such a man. and as such it is pleasant to contemplate briefly his career and character. Intimately associated for years with the development and prosperity of the thriving city of Washington C. H., and taking prominent part in the business affairs of his section, he is not under-estimated by a people who long since learned to appreciate his true value as a potent factor in business matters of importance. In early life he laid the foundation of a character which has stood the test of the years and which has made him a leader in the affairs of men.
William Worthington is a native son of the county which is now honored by his citizenship, having been born about eight miles south of Washington C. H. on the 19th day of April. 1870. He is a son of Robert and Jennie (McDowell) Worthington, both of whom were born in Ohio, the former in Highland county and the latter in Ross county. Besides the subject, they had one other child, Margaret, the wife of Spencer Calvert. Robert Worthington
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was reared in Highland county and in about 1850 he came to Fayette county, locating in Concord township, where he accumulated a large tract of land, owning between sixteen hundred and eighteen hundred acres, the greater part of which was devoted to grazing purposes, stock raising being his principal vocation. He was a successful man in his business affairs and enjoyed the confidence and respect of the entire community. He died in 1898, at the age of sixty-seven years and one month. His widow died on January 9, 1906, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. They were earnest and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Worthington enlisted for service dur- ing the historic Morgan raid, and, while he did not capture Morgan, he used to laughingly say that at that time he did capture Mrs. Worthington.
The subject's paternal grandparents were Joseph C. and Harriet ( Shields) Worthington, the former a native of Virginia and the latter ot Ohio. They became pioneer settlers in Highland county, Ohio, where he bought a large tract of land, and also bought land in Fayette county. He settled in the wilderness near East Monroe, Highland county, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He died in 1897, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, his wife dying at the age of about eighty years. They were the parents of four sons, Thomas, Robert, Joseph and William.
William Worthington's maternal grandparents, Andrew and Margaret (Murray) McDowell, were natives of Scotland, who, upon their emigration to the United States, settled in Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio. There Mr. McDowell engaged in the mercantile business, handling chinaware and kindred lines, and there he and his wife died when well advanced in years. They reared the following children: Isabel, George, Hugh, Jennie. Andrew, Margaret, Carrie, William and two who died in infancy.
He to whom this review is mainly devoted was reared on his father's farm in Concord township, and secured his elementary education in the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood and the graded schools of Staunton. He supplemented this by four years' study in the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business University at Valparaiso, Indiana. He returned home in the fall of 1892 and remained on the farm until the following year, when for a short time he was engaged in the poultry business at Sabina, Clinton county. He then sold his interests there and secured employment in a bank at Sabina for two years. His business and banking experience were valu- able in an educational way and he was well qualified when, in the fall of r895, he accepted the position of teller in the People's and Drovers' Bank in Wash- ington C. H. He faithfully and efficiently performed the duties of that posi-
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tion until the spring of 1899 and in the summer of that year he organized the Fayette County Bank, of which he was cashier for several years, since which time he has served as president. The Fayette County Bank was organized with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, which was afterward increased to one hundred thousand dollars. Its career from the beginning has been a notably successful one and today it is numbered among the strong, reliable and influential banks of western Ohio. The present officers of the bank are as follows: William Worthington, president; Dr. W. E. Ireland, vice-presi- dent; Robert Howett, cashier, and Fred Cline, assistant cashier. Much of the success of this popular institution has been directly due to the sound judg- ment and sagacity of the president, who has devoted himself indefatigably to its interests. Mr. Worthington has also other interests, being a director of the Fayette Grain Company and a stockholder in several other concerns, besides which he owns one thousand acres of good land in Concord township and one hundred and seventeen acres in Marion township. He is essentially a man of affairs, sound of judgment and far-seeing in what he undertakes, and has won and retains the confidence of all classes.
On the 24th day of November, 1895, Williani Worthington was married to Mepha Overman, who was born in Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of W. C. and Elizabeth Ann ( Young) Overman, and to their union have been born two children, Edith and Jean. Mrs. Worthington's parents were natives of Ohio, the mother dying when her daughter was a child of but eight years. Her father is still living. There were two children in this family besides Mrs. Worthington, Bruff and Ella. Mrs. Worthington is a well educated woman, having supplemented her public school course by attend- ance in the Lebanon Normal School. She is a lady of many gracious qualities of mind and heart and is well liked by all who know her.
Politically, Mr. Worthington is a supporter of the Republican party and takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, being a wide reader and a close observer of passing events. Fraternally. he is a member of the Fayette Lodge No. 107, Free and Accepted Masons, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is also identified with the Young Men's Christian Association, in the various activ- ities of which he is deeply interested. He is a warm supporter and ardent advocate of every measure which, in any way, promises to benefit the com- munity, and is rightfully numbered among the representative and influential citizens of the community.
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JAMES M. HARTMAN.
The men most influential in promoting the advancement of civilization and in giving character to the times in which they live are of two general classes, the men of study and the men of action. Whether we are more indebted for the improvement of this age to the one class or to the other is a question of honest difference in opinion. Neither class can be spared and both should be encouraged to occupy their several spheres of labor and in- Huence. J. M. Hartman is a man who combines the leading characteristics of the scholar and the energy of the public-spirited man of affairs. For more than a quarter of a century he has been a teacher in Union township, Fayette county, Ohio, and has made his influence felt, not only in the school life, but in all phases of the life of his community.
James M. Hartman, the superintendent of the Union township schools, the son of John and Sarah (Smith) Hartman, was born April 19, 1869, in Marion township, this county. His father was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and settled in Fayette county before the war. fle served in that memorable conflict as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Army of the Potomac for three and one-half years. After the close of the war he returned to Fayette county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Union township, where he is still living. John Hartman and wife were the parents of seven children, Charles, Frank, James M., Edward, Thomas, Margaret and Maud. All of these children are still living except Edward, Margaret, Maud and Thomas.
James M. Hartman received his education in Fayette county and later took a course in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He began teaching at the age of nineteen and has been connected with the schools of this county ever since. For the past five years he has been superintendent of the town- ship schools of Union township, being the only township superintendent in the county and he is now district superintendent of Union, Wayne and Marion townships. He keeps fully abreast of the latest methods of teaching and. being a diligent student of educational matters, is recognized as one of the ablest teachers of the county. He lives on a small farm of twenty-four acres about three miles from Washington C. H.
Mr. Hartman was married October 7, 1897, to Grace McCoy, the daughter of Thomas and Eliza ( Cockerell) McCoy. Mrs. Hartman's mother is one of the oldest settlers of the county and is still hale and hearty.
Mr. Hartman is a Democrat in politics and has always been interested
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in political matters. AAt the present time he is a candidate for the office of auditor of his county. Mr. Hartman has devoted his life to the teaching profession and has lived an unselfish, helpful and altruistic life, whereby the hundreds of young people who have gone to school to him will become better men and women. Because of the good he has done and the life he has lived, he is eminently entitled to representation in the history of his county.
LEONDIS BAUGHN.
There are several families in Fayette county, Ohio, who are descendants of the pioneers who settled here more than a century ago. One of the sturdy Virginian families to come to this county in 1811 was the Baughn family. Lester Baughn was the first member of the family to locate in Fayette county, and he came with his wife, Margaret, and his three brothers a year or so after the county was organized. One of the children born to Lester and Margaret Baughn was James, the grandfather of Leondis Baughn, with whom this narrative deals. James was born in this county, grew to man- hood and married Elizabeth Bush. William Baughn, the father of Leondis, was one of the children born to James and Elizabeth (Bush) Baughn. He grew to manhood in Union township, where he was born, and enlisted on August 9, 1862, in Company C, Ninetieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He served until the close of the war. His regiment was in twenty- six battles of that memorable struggle, and he was never found missing from roll call when duty demanded that he should be there. After the close of the war he returned to Fayette county and began farming in Union township. where he is still living today. His wife died February 28, 1911, and is buried at the Sugar Creek Baptist church. Three children were born to William and Mary C. (Hines) Baughn, Jesse, Leondis and Pearl. Jesse married Etta Hidy and has three children, Floyd, Inez and Loren; Pearl married Stella Wilson.
Leondis Baughn, the fourth in direct descent from the first member of the family to come to this county, was born in Jefferson township. January 30, 1872. He received such schooling as was given in the district schools of his neighborhood and later attended the graded schools in Bloomingburg. As a youth he was studious and, being interested in educational matters, it was natural that he should turn to the teaching profession after leaving school as a student. He taught very successfully in Madison county for four
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years, but upon his marriage decided to leave the school room and engage in farming. He bought a highly improved farm of eighty acres three miles south of Bloomingburg in 1896, and has made a pronounced success along agricultural lines. He is a man of wide reading and is thoroughly in touch with all of the latest methods in farming.
Mr. Baughn was married July 30, 1896, to Eva M. Thornton, the daugh- ter of Anderson and Rachel ( Snook) Thornton, and to this union has been born one child, who died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Baughn is a member of the new Progressive party, hav- ing joined it upon its organization in the summer of 1912. He believes that the Progressive party is the expression of the people's aspirations for a larger, freer and better political, economic and social life. Being a man of broad education, it is but natural that he should be deeply interested in political matters, although he has never been an aspirant for a political office. He and his wife are affiliated with the Baptist church, in whose wel- fare they are interested and to whose support they are contributors.
CHARLES T. LYNCH.
The well known gentleman to a review of whose life the following lines are devoted is a native of the old Buckeye state and of this county, having been born on August 25, 1858, in Perry township, the son of E. J. and Hester (Cockerill) Lynch. E. J. Lynch was a native of Virginia, born at the family home on the Roanoke river, and throughout his life was a farmer. He was a son of Kentchen and Mary (Edmonds) Lynch, the former of whom also was a native of Virginia and was a son of William Lynch. The family first came to this state in 1843, Kentchen (the subject's grandfather) emigrating westward with his family in search of better opportunities than their native state offered. At that time E. J. was a young man of eighteen years, having been born on December 25, 1825. The family first settled on the Trimble prairie, near Sabina, and lived there for many years. Kentchen Lynch was the father of the following children, namely: Edward J., father of the subject; George H., Margaret, Elizabeth, Hezekiah and Mary C., all deceased, while Lily, the wife of R. Brake, resides in California and Martha is deceased. E. J. Lynch had no school advantages when young and learned reading and spelling at home. However, when twenty-six years of age an opportunity came for him to obtain a better education, and so eager was he
CHARLES T. LYNCH
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to do so that in spite of his age he faithfully took up the studies which should have been his when a youth, and he became a fairly well educated man. When a young man, together with several friends he journeyed into the West in search of a better location than Ohio afforded, but not being impressed with anything they saw they gladly returned to this state and for eleven years the subject's father worked on various farms, hiring out by the month. At the time of his marriage he settled down on a farm which he rented and in this way began business for himself. He was shrewd and energetic and was considered a successful man. At the time of his death he owned a farm and had reared his family of six children. Charles, the subject, was the old- est of the family ; William lives at Washington C. H .; Eleanore resides in Washington C. H .; Ella lives in Springfield, Ohio; Edward M., the youngest of the family, is deceased ; James C. is teaching school and lives at Blooming- burg.
When a boy Charles Lynch attended the schools of Perry township near his home, later taking the higher grades at Washington C. H. He early learned the meaning of "hard work" and passed a busy young manhood, re- maining with the father until attaining his majority. For four years he was engaged in teaching school in Perry township and moved to Bloomingburg in 1886, since which time he has been regarded as one of the more prominent citizens of this locality. He at first was connected with the drayage business and served the town as mayor. In 1894 he turned to the vocation of farm- ing, and now resides on his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres located on the Midway pike, about three miles north of Bloomingburg. Mr. Lynch occupies a prominent place in the esteem of the people of the community and is universally respected for his manly character. He lives to a good and useful purpose and the position he occupies in the community has been honestly and well merited. As a business man his methods have always been correct and fair dealing has characterized all of his transactions with his fellow men. Personally, he possesses those qualities calculated to inspire confidence in others and consequently is liked by all classes and conditions of people. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never had the time nor inelination to take a very active part in political work. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, serving both as trustee and steward of the local society, and being intensely interested in every department of church work. His fraternal affiliations are with the ancient body of Free and Accepted Masons and the Eastern Star. Mr.
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Lynch is also one of the most active Grangers of this locality, doing all within his power to further the good work of the local organization.
Mr. Lynch was, on February 7, 1894. united in marriage with Emma Hays, daughter of Charles and Catherine (Parker) Ilays, who bore him four children, and departed this life on April 16, 1908. Mrs. Lynch was an earnest and devoted woman, winning to herself many friends by her sterling qualities of heart and mind. She is buried at Bloomingburg cemetery. Charles E., the oldest child of the family, is engaged in farming and remains in the home, as do also Ray Parker, Candace and Walter M., all of whom are still in school. Mr. Lynch surrounds his family with many of the com- forts and conveniences of life, carefully directing his children in ways of use- fulness and happiness. He is regarded as one of the substantial men of the community and as such is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.
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