USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 57
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JACOB H. COIL.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life the attention of the reader is directed is among the well known and representative citizens of Union township. Fayette county, Ohio. He has, by his enterprise and progressive methods, contributed in a material way to the advancement of his locality. and during the course of an honorable career has been fairly successful in his business enterprises, having been a man of energy, sound judgment and honesty of purpose and is thus well deserving of mention in this volume.
Jacob H. Coil was born on November 11, 1853. in this county on what was known as the old Coil farm, being the son of Samuel and Sarah ( Fults ) Coil, the former of whom was born also on the old Coil farm and was in his day one of the most prominent farmers of the county. When the subject was six weeks old, his parents moved to Union township to the farm, part of which the subject now owns and where he has ever since made his home. Mr. Coil owns about three hundred acres located on the Sabina pike and also owns one hundred acres of the old home place. Living with him is his brother, Jasper L. Coil, and together the two operate the business of the farm, in which enterprise they are quite successful. Samuel Coil, father of the immediate subject, was a son of John and Mary Coil. the former of whom was born in Virginia and came to Union township about the year 1812. Ile was a man of great energy and enterprise and took out government land to the extent of twelve hundred acres, at the time James Madison was Presi-
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dent of the United States. The land he thus obtained was in a primitive state and through his efforts almost all of it was placed in a state of cultiva- tion. He was the father of the following children: Isaac, Elias, Amos, John, William, Abraham, Simon, Jane ( who is still living at St. Mary, Ohio) and Samuel, father of the immediate subject. To each one of his children he gave one hundred acres of land in this county, thus starting them out in life, and it is an interesting fact that not one of the twelve failed, all having made good.
Samuel Coil started on his hundred-acre tract and later moved to the homestead in Union township, where he reared his family. He chose as his life companion Sarah Fults, the daughter of Peter and Frances ( Rankin ) Fults. The former was a native of Pendleton county, Virginia, and came to this state when a young man. He first located in Ross county, near Chilli- cothe, later coming to Fayette county, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was the father of eight children, namely: Jacob, Simon, John, Jerry and Thomas, all deceased, Phoebe. Sarah (subject's mother ) and Jane. The subject was the eldest of a family of six children, the others being Jesse, Mary, Ida and Alice, all deceased. Jasper L., hereinbefore men- tioned, and Jacob H. are the only surviving members of the family. Those deceased are all buried in the Coil cemetery on the old Coil farm.
When a boy, Jacob H. Coil attended school in district No. 4, known familiarly at that time as "Pop Gun College," later attending Midland school, where he received the balance of his education. From his early youth he had assisted the father in the work about the homestead and when, in his twenty-first year, his father died he had received such careful training in agricultural work that he was able to take up the work where his father left off and assisted the mother in raising the balance of the family. The mother survived the father a number of years, having passed away only a few years ago. Mr. Coil has lived an active and well-rounded life. Politically, he gives his support to the Republican party and has always taken an active interest in politics. For six years he was a member of the school board and has always been ready and willing to do anything in his power to advance the welfare of the community along educational, social or moral lines. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Protestant church, in the work of which organization he takes a commendable interest. While living a quiet and retired life. devoting himself primarily to his own interests, Mr. Coil has a keen appreciation of what constitutes good citizenship, being always ready to back up his theories with actual service if necessary. He is one of
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the highly respected citizens of his community, having established a firm rep- utation for honesty of purpose in his dealings with his fellow men and by being the advocate of clean and wholesome principles in the home, society and politics.
FELIX WELTON GREEN.
A farmer and stock raiser of Fayette county, Ohio, who has made a pronounced success of his chosen life work is F. Welton Green, one of the substantial farmers of Jasper township. He came to this county about thirty- three years ago and started in with practically nothing, but by good manage- ment and close economy he has accumulated a fine farm of two hundred acres. The success which has attended his efforts has not caused him to forget his obligations as a public-spirited citizen and his support on all ineas- ures of general welfare has given him the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
F. Welton Green, the son of Charles and Angeline ( Cunningham ) Green, was born in Warren county, Virginia, December 3, 1847. His father was born in Prince William county, Virginia, and lived his whole life in the state of his nativity. Charles Green and wife reared a family of six children, Laura, William V., F. Welton. Mrs. Kate Seymour, Mrs. Jennie Scott and Seymour. The family were Presbyterians in faith and were prominent in the life of their community in Virginia.
The education of F. Welton Green was received in the district schools and Front Royal Academy, Virginia. He worked on the farm until the Civil War opened and then, although but fifteen years of age, enlisted in Company E, Seventh Regiment, Third Squadron, Virginia Cavalry. He served under Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee in northern Virginia until the close of the war. He then took up farming and has made it his life work. He married in 1871 and started farming in Warren county, coming to Fayette county in about 1881. He bought part of his present farm in Jasper township upon coming to this county and has since added to his original holdings until he now has a well improved farm of two hundred acres. He has been a careful farmer and has always ranked with the best in his township, always adding the latest machinery to his equipment, thereby being able to get the maximum results from his efforts.
Mr. Green was married February 2, 1871, to Elizabeth L. Castleman, the daughter of Charles D. Castleman. Mr. Castleman was a lieutenant in
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the Confederate army, being a lieutenant of Company F, Second Regiment, Virginia Infantry. He was killed at the second battle of Bull Run. To Mr. and Mrs. Green have been born four daughters, Besse, Anna, Mae and Jennie. Besse is the wife of Edwin Dice and has two sons, Maxwell and James. Anna was the wife of Jesse Coil, but is now deceased. Mae became the wife of Roy Rankin and has two children, Arley R. and Marion E. Jennie is the wife of Albert Leach and has one daughter, Margaret. The mother of these children died in 1907. She was a member of Grace church at Alexandria, Virginia, the same to which George Washington belonged. Mr. Green is a Democrat in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his attention to his agricultural affairs.
SALATHIEL H. CARR.
The reader's attention is now called to a short sketch of the career of Salathiel H. Carr, now living in comfortable retirement after a strenuous life spent in agricultural circles. By his enterprise and progressive methods he has contributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial ad- vancement of the community, and because of his high character and un- questioned integrity, he enjoys to a marked degree the sincere respect of the community.
Salathiel H. Carr was born on March 15, 1845, in Union township. Fayette county, Ohio, on the same farm where he is at present residing, being the son of Jacob and Polly ( Herrod) Carr. Jacob Carr was born in 1817 in Madison county, this state, but was brought to Fayette county by his parents when but a baby. His parents were Joab and Malinda Carr, coming to this state from Virginia and being among the first settlers in this section of the country. Jacob, father of the immediate subject, was a small boy about seven years of age when both his parents died and he was taken into the home of a first cousin, by whom he was reared to manhood. For a number of years he assisted this cousin about his farm, later buying one hundred and thirty-two acres, where he lived for many years and where the subject now resides. The subject was one of a family of nine children, the others being Matilda (Mrs. Thornton), Ella (Mrs. Thornton), Eliza, David, May ( Mrs. Baughan ), Susan, Jesse and Amanda.
Mr. Carr received his education in the schools of the neighborhood where his boyhood days were passed, attending first district No. 6, which was
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a little primitive log structure, later finishing in the more modern school near the cemetery and about a quarter of a mile from his home. When quite young he began to assist his cousin about the farm and throughout his school days his spare time was passed in this manner. When twenty years of age he began renting land and farming on his own account, and in this one community has passed his entire life of sixty-nine years. He was quite suc- cessful in his chosen vocation of farming and had also quite an enviable reputation as a successful stock raiser.
Mr. Carr chose as his life companion Isabella Thompson, born in Ross county, near Austin, daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Lucas) Thomp- son, with whom he was united in marriage in 1871. Mrs. Carr's parents come from old families of Virginia and were early settlers in Ross county. They were the parents of twelve children, Carrie, Henry, Elijah, Thomas. Austin, Dennis, Isabella, Sarah, Mattie, Lucy and two children who died in early infancy. Mrs. Carr passed from this life on June 22, 1908, and lies buried in the cemetery at Washington C. H. She was a very devout Christ- ian woman, her sympathies large enough to embrace all creeds, and was never happier than when in the discharge of some helpful duty. Mr. and Mrs. Carr became the parents of six children, the eldest of whom, Delbert, died when young. Noah married Ella Craig and is the father of two children. Herrod and Richard. Frank chose as his wife Nettie Elliott and has one son, Delbert. Maud became the wife of Jesse Craig and is the mother of a little daughter, Margaret. The remaining ones of the family are Blanchard and Leroy.
Mr. Carr gives his earnest support to the old-line Republican party. having more than a nominal interest in the affairs of same. For six years he served as trustee of Union township and has been otherwise active in party affairs. He gives his moral and material support to church societies of different denominations and does all within his power to advance the moral, educational and material welfare of the community. While Mr. Carr's life has been a quiet one, not possessing any spectacular scenes, yet it has been filled with quiet, steady purpose and an honest ambition to fill well his place as a man and citizen. It is just such quiet, substantial lives which are the backbone and sinew of the life of the nation, for, after all, the life of the town or community, the state or nation, is really only what the individual life makes them and the nation has need of men of high ideals and quiet, steadfast purpose. Throughout his life, Mr. Carr has so lived as to endear himself to a great number of friends and is well known all over the county.
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HORACE W. WILSON.
There are one thousand eight hundred and forty-six farms in Fayette county, Ohio, and of this number there are only forty-three with an acreage of more than five hundred acres. Some of these large farms have come about as a result of inheritance and others have been the result of the individual labors of the owners. One of the most successful farmers of Marion town- ship is Horace W. Wilson, who, by his own initiative, has accumulated a farm of six hundred acres, having started in with nothing at the beginning of his career. He started out to work by the month and later bought a small farm and to this has added from time to time until he has become the owner of his present fine farm. It has taken good management, close economy and progressive farming, and these qualities are strikingly exemplified in the career of Mr. Wilson. While he has been accumulating a confortable for- tune of his own, he has not neglected to bear his full share of the burdens of community life and has always been known as a public-spirited citizen, inter- ested in everything which pertains to the welfare of his township and county.
Horace W. Wilson, the proprietor of Maple Lawn Stock Farm, on the Bloomingburg and New Holland pike, was born January 28. 1857, in Green township, Fayette county, Ohio. He is the son of John and Martha J. ( Cockerell) Wilson, and one of eight children born to his parents. the others being MIrs. Clara Neil, William G., Mrs. Sylvitha Hidy, J. M .. Charles, John and Chilton P. John Wilson was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and came to this county with his parents, William and Peachy ( Fishback) Wil- son, about 1810 or 1812. John Wilson was a farmer and merchant and a man of prominence in his community. He was a man of excellent intellectual attainments and gave his children the best advantages which the schools of that early day afforded.
Horace W. Wilson attended the schools of Perry township and re- mained at home with his father on the farm until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he began to work out by the month, saving his wages with the intention of purchasing a farm of his own. He first bought one hundred and fourteen acres in Perry township, this county, and two years later sold it and purchased a farm in Ross county, Ohio, where he lived for a while, and then sold his farm at a good profit and invested the proceeds in land in Marion township, this county. After locating in Marion township, he added to his land holdings until he now has six hundred acres of as good land as can be found within the county. He has a beautiful country home, com-
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modious and convenient barns and everything which the up-to-date farmer needs for the successful tilling of the soil. He is one of the largest stock raisers of the county and sells stock by the car load every year.
Mr. Wilson was married in 1882 to Emma J. Cline, the daughter of William and Naomi ( Glascow ) Cline, and to this union have been born five children, Ethel, Glenn, Ray, Verne and Dale. Glenn married Ada King, and has two children, Horace and an infant unnamed.
The Republican party has received the support of Mr. Wilson since reaching his majority and, despite his heavy agricultural interests, he has always been deeply interested in local political matters. At the present time he is serving on the school board of his township and doing everything within his power for the advancement of the educational interests of his township. He and his family are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, to whose support they are generous contributors. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Wilson has a wide circle of friends throughout the town- ship and county and, owing to his honesty in business and his upright social and private life, he well merits the high esteem in which he is held by every one with whom he is associated. Thus far his life has been one of strenuous activity and, by reason of the success with which it has been attended, his friends are justified in predicting for him a future of still greater usefulness and distinction.
JAMES COLE.
It is the custom with many farmers even in this day of known advantage in putting all corn and hay raised on a farm into stock, to sell the grain which they raise and only deal to a limited extent in live stock. Time has shown that this course is unwise and those farmers who stick to that obsolete custom are the losers. It is found that the best results are obtained from making the sale of live stock the first consideration, and it is not necessary to point out that most of the successful farmers have long ago adopted this practice. Aside from the improvement of the farm and the dealings in farms perhaps, it is probably the fact that the great majority of the wealthiest farmers have obtained all or nearly all of their wealth from their dealings in live stock. Such at least has been very largely the case of the subject of this sketch, who is now considered one of the most successful farmers of the
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vicinity of Union township. Fayette county, and who has come to his present gratifying state of prosperity solely through his own efforts.
James Cole, farmer and stock raiser, living on his fine farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres one and a half miles from Bloomingburg, is a native of the state of Tennessee, born in Carter county on July 4. 1854. He is a son of Joseph and Mahala (Garling) Cole, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, the former being born in Johnson county and one of the most skilled blacksmiths of his day in that locality. Joseph was a son of Samson, who was also a blacksmith in addition to conducting the business of a farm. Samson was the father of seven children, James. David, Jesse, Joseph ( father of our immediate subject), Jonathan and Winnie. Joseph, the sub- ject's father, was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. He was the father of three children, the subject being the eldest. After the death of the father and the close of the war. this little family was sadly separated, the subject going into the country, where he worked on farms and became famil- iar with the ways of the agriculturist. In 1882 he came to this county, set- tling on the Squires farm and for ten years hired out his services to the farmers of the neighborhood. He then began farming on the share and suc- ceeded so well that in due time he was able to purchase a tract of one hun- dred and seventy-five acres, which he retained and tilled for some time and upon the sale of it he purchased his present excellent farm. In his business methods. Mr. Cole is one of the most progressive farmers of this section, giving careful study and thought to every branch of his business. He is de- serving of a great amount of credit for the way in which he has forged to the front and while his unremitting effort has been directed toward the goal of material success, he has never forgotten his duty as a citizen and father of a growing family. To this end whatever he could do to forward the social, moral, material or educational life of the community has been most gladly done and his manner of life and intercourse with his neighbors has won for him the kindest regard of all.
Mr. Cole was married when he came to this county, having been joined in holy wedlock with Amanda Taylor, daughter of David and Jane ( Blevens ) Taylor, on September 29, 1880. Mrs. Cole is a native of Tennessee, where for many years her father was employed in the ore mines. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Cole has been blessed with four children, the eldest of whom. Harget, they were so unfortunate to lose. The rest of the family, Earl F .. Jessie M. and James P., are with the parents.
Mr. Cole's fraternal affiliation is with the Free and Accepted Masons
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through the local lodge at Bloomingburg, and he is highly interested in the workings of that order. Politically, he supports the Republican party, but. while much interested in the party's affairs, has never found much time to devote to politics generally. He is at present serving Union township as a school director, making a most efficient member of that body. In all the affairs of life Mr. Cole is regarded as a man among men. His honor and integrity, as well as his energy and ability, are above question, while his sincere friendliness has won and retains for him an ever-increasing circle of friends.
RAY WILSON.
One of the most enterprising farmers of Fayette county, Ohio, is he whose name forms the caption of this review. While still a young man, he has succeeded in a manner which might well be gratifying to a man twice his age. He is thoroughly up to date in all phases of agriculture, employing in his business only the most modern methods as approved by science and good usage. His farm, containing two hundred and five acres of as fine land as the county boasts, is located on the Columbus pike, about two and one-half miles from Washington C. H. Mr. Wilson has recently constructed a com- fortable and attractive residence on this farm and all farm buildings are both neat and well adapted to their various purposes.
Ray Wilson was born on April 10, 1887, on a farmi located about six miles south of Washington C. H., being a son of H. W. and Emma J. ( Cline ) Wilson, the former being a native of this county also, and almost his entire life has been passed within its borders. He has long been one of the most prominent farmers of this section. Several years ago he decided to seek the favor of Dame Fortune in the western part of the country, but after a short sojourn there, he returned to his native state and has since here re- mained. He is the father of five children, those other than the subject being Ethel, Verne and Dale, remaining at home with the parents, and Glenn.
The subject received his elementary education at the Greenville Pike school and also on the Circleville pike, east of Washington C. H., finishing later in Marion township. He also took a commercial course at the Bliss Business College. This liberal education well fitted him for his chosen voca- tion of farming, in which he engaged on his own account at the age of nine- teen. He first rented various tracts of land, which he tilled, being signally successful in his venture. In addition to his home farm, he is now also man-
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aging a portion of his father's estate. He makes a specialty of breeding and selling Shire horses, in which venture he has met with gratifying success.
On January 2, 1913, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Marie Pavey, daughter of Austin and Ellen ( Burris) Pavey, residents of Sabina, this state, being prominent farmers in that locality. One child, Robert Pavey, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson October 15, 1914.
Ever since attaining his majority, Mr. Wilson has given his earnest support to the Republican party, although he has never been a seeker after office. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church, while that of Mrs. Wilson is with the Methodist Episcopal church, both giving their most earnest support to these two church organizations. In the public life of the community where he lives. Mr. Wilson takes an intelligent interest, setting for himself a high standard of citizenship. He is a man of strong character and acknowledged ability and because of these elements and his genuine personal worth he enjoys a marked popularity in the locality honored with his residence.
ELBA WILSON.
Born during the last year of the Civil War, Elba Wilson has been a resident of Fayette county since the day of his birth. He has never been seized with the desire to wander, but has been satisfied to spend his career in the county which gave him birth. There is no better farming county in the state than Fayette, a county which, according to the census of 1910, pro- duced $3.129.313 worth of farm products. Consequently, there is no good reason why a farmer should want to leave this county to seek his fortune elsewhere. The success which has attended Mr. Wilson's efforts is suffi- cient evidence that he has made no mistake in choosing to remain in the county where he was born.
Elba Wilson, the present road superintendent of Union township, was born December 14, 1865, in Perry township, near New Martinsburg. He is the son of James M. and Martha (Simmons ) Wilson, natives of this county, and the parents of six children: Libby ( deceased). Wesley, Mrs. Armilda Cox, Elba, Mrs. Emma Chaffin and Trustin (deceased). James M. Wilson was the son of Wesley Wilson, who was born in Virginia and located in Greene county, Ohio, early in its history.
Mr. Wilson received a good common school education in the district schools of his home township and remained under the parental roof until he
FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO.
was twenty-two years of age. He then secured two old horses and started to farm on some land belonging to Samuel Hidy. He continued to rent until his marriage, when he bought liis present farm in Union township and has lived on this farm ever since. He is recognized as one of the best farmers of his township because of his progressive methods. He has paid special at- tention to stock raising and has been very successful along this particular line of endeavor. His farm is well improved and he takes pride in keeping everything about him in a neat and attractive manner.
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