USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 62
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brothers who came here to locate. He was the father of a family of ten children, namely : William, Mary ( Mrs. Hage), Susan, Samuel and Philip who live in Sabina ; Martin, the immediate subject of this sketch; Joshua, liv- ing at Goldsmith, Indiana; John W., David, and Ormind, deceased, who was the wife of John Marsh living near Sabina. She was the mother of three children, the eldest of whom was her son Ora, who married.
When a boy, Martin Plymire attended the school of the neighborhood, commonly known as the Locust Grove school. Here he received his ele- mentary education, later attending Sabina high school. He fitted himself for a teacher and for four years was engaged as an instructor of youth. How- ever. this profession was not entirely to his liking and inasmuch as his earliest training had been in the work that relates to a farm he soon turned his attention to agriculture and in that line has been eminently successful.
On July 13. 1876, Mr. Plymire was united in marriage with Sarah Coil, daughter of Elias and Mahala ( Rankin) Coil, both of whom were early settlers of the county, having come from their native state of Virginia. The mother was one of the early and faithful members of the Sugar Creek church. To Mr. and Mrs. Plymire have been born four children, Mary E .. Elmer and Cora, remaining at home. while Orvil, the youngest, married Osie Ford and lives on the farm. All of Mr. Plymire's children went when small to the Buck school, later attending at Camp View. The family is regarded as one of the leading ones of the community and its members are highly respected by a large circle of friends. Mr. Plymire carries on general farming and also devotes considerable attention to the raising of live stock, in which branch of agricultural work he is highly successful. The family are members of the Methodist Protestant church and are active in circles of the local organization. Politically, Mr. Plymire has always given his support to the Republican party and while never having been an aspirant to office, has always taken a quiet interest in the affairs of his chosen party. While giving himself primarily to forwarding the interests of himself and those nearest to him, he has ever borne in mind his duty to his fellow men and has always been counted upon in the front ranks of those desiring the best good for the community. Strong and quiet in his relations with his fellow men, he has made his presence felt in the community and has gained the good will of all those with whom he came in contact. His reputation among men for integrity and high character is something for which any man might worthily aspire. Consequently, his influence for good in the gen- eral life of the community is most potent and he is well deserving of the high esteem in which he is generally held.
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HUGH SNIDER.
It is with pleasure that the biographer now calls attention to a brief sketch of the career of Hugh Snider, one of the oldest citizens of the county, who has lived in this locality for so many years that the history of his life is interwoven with a history of the county, with its progress from early pioneer days to the advanced improvements of the present age. Throughout his life, Mr. Snider has devoted his energies along agricultural lines. that honored vocation of man from the earliest ages and the one in which he is the most independent. As a usual thing, men of energy and thrift, of honor- able and humane impulses, have been patrons of husbandry and the unhan- pered life of the farmer has a tendency to foster and develop that inde- pendence of mind and self-reliance which characterize true manhood.
Hugh Snider, who for a number of years has been living in retirement after a strenuous life passed in farming circles, was born on April 16, 1832. and on November 28, 1852. was united in marriage with Rebecca Marchant, who was born August 27, 1833. in Fayette county. Mr. Snider's place of birth was also Fayette county. To their union was born one child, their daughter Clara, who makes her home with her parents and is most capably managing the farm and its affairs. This place contains one hundred and three acres and is located on the Greenfield pike, just a short distance from the city of Washington C. H. The farm, which is known far and wide as The Maples, has a number of these beautiful trees scattered over its broad acres and the commodious eight-room brick house of an early day is almost hidden under these same lovely trees. Mr. and Mrs. Snider enjoy the dis- tinction of being one of the oldest married couples within the bounds of the county, having celebrated their golden wedding in 1902.
Miss Clara, who so ably manages the home place and with such unsel- fish devotion watches over the declining years of her parents. received her education in the schools of the county and early took an intelligent interest in the work of the home place, which well fitted her for the duties and re- sponsibilities which later years have brought her. The excellent condition of the farm today. all its buildings, etc., bear witness to her thoroughness and more than ordinary business ability. While not a member of any church. she takes a commendable interest in the progress of the affairs of all and is ever ready to lend assistance to any worthy cause. Miss Snider is a lady of many charming qualities and in the circles in which she moves she is held in high regard because of her high personal character and kindly dis-
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position. She has proven herself a devoted daughter to the parents whose only child she is. Both Mr. and Mrs. Snider have spent so many years of their useful lives here they long since won the honor and esteem of all and now that they are quietly spending the eventide of life in the same locality. they have come into perhaps a finer degree of esteem than could be accorded those of lesser years of usefulness.
CLARENCE N. BAER.
One of the younger business men of Washington C. H. is Clarence N. Baer, the manager of the ice company in that city. His father before hin was a business man and his son has inherited those qualities which go to make the successful man of affairs. Equipped with a college education and trained in business by his father, he has demonstrated his ability to handle business affairs in an able manner. He is an excellent manager and a man of sound judgment, foresight and progressive methods. He has that indomit- able energy and unfailing optimism which are capable of winning the trust and confidence of his fellow citizens and has ever enjoyed the respect and esteem of those who have been associated with him.
Clarence N. Baer, the son of Louis and Charlotte R. ( Naret ) Baer, was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, January 22, 1881. Louis Baer was the son of Abram and Emily ( Henking ) Baer, natives of Aaran, Switzerland, and Heidelberg, Germany, respectively, and was one of four children, the other three being Julius, Emma and Pauline.
Louis Baer was born in Verona, Italy, of German-Swiss parentage and grew up in canton Aarau, Switzerland, where he received a good education. He came to America before the Civil War, being twenty years of age at the time, and located at Gallipolis, Ohio. Shortly after coming to this country the Civil War opened and he enlisted in the Second Regiment of Ohio Heavy AArtillery and served for nearly four years with distinction. After the close of the war he returned to Gallipolis, Ohio, where he became interested in the wholesale grocery business and operated a wholesale grocery in that city until 1885. In that year Louis Baer moved with his family to Washington C. H .. where he was engaged in the same line of business for several years. He then moved to Cincinnati for the purpose of educating his children. at the same time disposing of his Washington C. H. wholesale interests and re- entering at Gallipolis the wholesale business as a silent partner. Afterward
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he moved to Arkansas, where his death occurred in Little Rock in 1913, at the age of seventy-five. His widow, Charlotte R. Naret, of Buffalo, West Virginia, whom he had married while living at Gallipolis, Ohio, is still living and is now a resident of Hope, Arkansas. Louis and Charlotte ( Naret ) Baer married at the ages of thirty and twenty and reared a family of five chil- dren : Naret, who died at the age of ten : Carl J., of Little Rock, Arkansas ; Marie Louise, of Hope, Arkansas: Clarence N., of Washington C. H., and one who died in infancy. The parents of Mrs. Louis Baer were Edward E. and Henrette B. ( Pitrat) Naret, natives of France. The Pitrat family lived in Lyons, and the Narets were from Paris. Edward E. Naret met Miss Pitrat, after which they were married in Virginia, living together in Gallipo- lis and Buffalo, West Virginia, where he followed his profession of physi- cian for over forty years. Doctor Naret and wife were the parents of four children, Charles C., Mrs. Julia N. Beard. Edward, and Charlotte R .. the wife of Louis Baer.
Clarence N. Baer was four years of age when his parents left Gallipolis and located in Washington C. H. He spent his summers in Washington C. H., while he lived in Cincinnati with his parents during the winter, and in the schools of Cincinnati received his education. He graduated from a high school of Cincinnati, and later from Cincinnati University. after which he took a course in a business college in that city. After completing his studies in 1901 he became right of way agent for the American Telephone and Tele- graph Companies, and worked with them until his marriage in 1906. After spending a year in the South, he returned to Washington C. H. with his young bride and became the manager of the Washington C. H. Ice Company, which had been organized in 1890 with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. The present officers of the company are as follows: President, Louis Baer ; vice-president. Carl J. Baer : secretary and treasurer, Clarence N. Baer, who is also acting as manager of the company. The capacity of the plant is thirty-five tons of ice per day, which is sufficient to supply the city in addition to various towns in the surrounding community.
Mr. Baer was married September 11, 1906, to Virginia Townsend, the daughter of Frank M. and Ann U. (Turner) Townsend, and to this union three children have been born, Townsend, Louis Naret and one who died in infancy, the first-born. Mrs. Baer was born in Cleveland, Ohio, her father being a native of the same city, while her mother was born in Wheeling. West Virginia. Her father died in 1911, at the age of fifty-three years, and her mother is still living. Frank M. Townsend had two children, Virginia
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and Oscar E. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Baer were Oscar and Elizabeth ( Martin ) Townsend, while her maternal grandparents were Ewing Turner and Margaret Bartlet Turner .:
Politically, Mr. Baer is identified with the Republican party, but has never been active in political matters. He and his wife and family are con- sistent members of the Presbyterian church.
ABNER R. SWOPE.
It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of pur- pose and determined action. Such a life must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still a matter for the future to determine. The subject of this sketch is dis- tinctively one of the representative agriculturists of Fayette county, Ohio. For a number of years he directed his efforts toward the goal of success and by patient continuance in well doing succeeded in overcoming the obstacles with which his pathway was beset and is now living in comfortable retire- ment at Bloomingburg, enjoying the fruits of the labor of his earlier years.
A. R. Swope, whose farm is located about two and one-half miles north -: east of Bloomingburg, on the Jones road, is a native of Fairfield county, this state, born near Amanda on December 21, 1840. He is a son of Thomas and Rebecca (Lefever) Swope, whose marriage occurred in 1827. Thomas was born in Huntington, Pennsylvania, on the 19th day of February, 1800, being the son of David and Mary (Cole) Swope. They were both natives of Huntington county, Pennsylvania, where their marriage took place, and then in the year 1802 they, with their respective families, all emigrated to Ohio, locating in Fairfield county. This was in the days of the early history of the state and was before it was admitted as a state to the Union.
The immediate subject was one of a family of twelve children, several of whom have passed into the great beyond. David and Jacob, the oldest two, are deceased, then follows Thomas; the subject is the fourth child in order of birth : Samuel, Felix, Margaret ( deceased), Mary ( Mrs. Sturgeon ), Rebecca (Mrs. Wood), deceased, as are also Jane ( Mrs. Ingman). Louisa (Mrs. Ashbrook) and Emma ( Mrs. Peters).
Mr. Swope received his early education in the schools of Amanda town- ship. Fairfield county, later attending the schools of Pleasantville ( Ohio)
MR. AND MRS. ABNER R. SWOPE
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for his more advanced studies. He assisted his father with the work about the home place, and in this manner early acquired careful training in those things which make farming a success. He remained under the paternal roof tintil twenty-four years of age, when he rented a tract of land containing one hundred and twenty acres and started out in life on his own responsibilities. He farmed that land for three years, living thereon in the meantime, and succeeded so well in his business venture that he then felt justified in mak- ing a purchase, and bought his first forty acres on which he took up his resi- dence. There he remained until 1881, when he purchased the Alexander farm near Bloomingburg. This consisted of two hundred and fifty acres and at the time he acquired it he became a resident of this county, where he has since resided. He retained the Alexander farm but a short time, when he disposed of it and purchased the Jones farm, where he lived for the next twelve years, when he came within the radins of Bloomingburg and has lived here ever since. One hundred and fifty-three acres of his farm are located in Paint township and one hundred in Madison. It would be impossible in a sketch of this length to tell of the hardships and struggles of Mr. Swope's earlier career, but suffice it to say that each obstacle encountered only urged him on to a more determined effort and in the end he triumphed and is now regarded as one of the most successful farmers of this locality.
On November 1, 1866, Mr. Swope was united in marriage with Mary C. Murray, daughter of Evan and Margaret (Kiger) Murray, who were early pioneers of Fairfield county, this state, coming here from Virginia. Mrs. Swope's death occurred on February 28, 1913. She was a woman of many excellent traits of heart and mind who had endeared herself to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. not only by the kindly interest she mani- fested in those about her, but also through her children by the impress her personality and careful training left upon their lives and characters. She was an earnest and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and she was laid to rest in Bloomingburg cemetery. She was the mother of six children. Frank, the eldest, was educated in the schools of Bloomingburg, early evinced a talent for business and for some time has been connected with the Adams Express Company, with headquarters at Columbus, Ohio. He is an earnest and consistent member of the Presbyterian church and his fraternal affiliation is with the ancient order of Freemasonry, the Eastern Star, and the Modern Woodmen of America. William, who resides at Columbus, married Ada Squire and they have one child, Madison. Charles is practicing dentistry at Columbus. His earlier education was received at Bloomingburg and his special training in his chosen profession in a college
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at Columbus. He married Dora Briggs, who has borne him two children, Bernice and Charles, Jr. Olive, the youngest of the family, remains in the home, while the parents had the misfortune to lose two of the children, Clay and Ellen.
Special honor is due Mr. Swope in that he was one of the faithful boys in blue who marched to the front in the early sixties, sworn to preserve the integrity of the union. He enlisted on May 2, 1864, as a private in the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Regiment and served under Colonel Jackson in the division known as the Army of the Potomac. After the expiration of his service, he returned to his home and again took up the interests of life where he had laid them down at the nation's cry for help. Mr. Swope is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Bloomingburg and does all within his power to further its interests. Politically, he is a mem- ber of the Republican party and, while interested in its affairs, has never found opportunity to devote much time to active work in same.
Mr. Swope possesses one of those sturdy characters which measure well up to the full standard of manhood, having proven throughout his life his faithfulness to any and all trusts imposed in him. He has ever been inter- ested in advancing in every manner possible the social, moral and educational life of the community, bearing always in mind his responsibilities as a father and desiring for his children the best possible environment. Mr. Swope holds an enviable position in the hearts of his many friends and neighbors, surely a fitting tribute to one who has endeavored to live a correct and useful life.
RALPH ALLEN.
One of the younger farmers of Fayette county who is making a name for himself as a successful tiller of the soil is Ralph Allen, of Concord town- ship. Starting out as a renter eleven years ago, he now rents his father's farm of two hundred and fourteen acres. He has already gained a com- fortable position in life, which is proof that it is possible for the average man to do likewise. The chief difficulty with most men is the lack of definite plans or the lack of energy to carry out their plans after they are once made.
Ralph Allen, the son of James H1. and Ellen ( Rankin) Allen. was born May 7, 1881, in Milledgeville. Ohio. His father was born in West Lancaster. Ohio, the son of Ethan, a native of Vermont, and a soldier of the War of 1812. J. H. Allen and wife were the parents of four children : .1
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Glenn, who married Emma Wilson: Ralph, with whom this narrative deals ; Flora, single ; Mabel, who married Arthur McCoy.
Ralph Allen attended the schools at Octa, Wabash and Buckeye in Fay- ette county and received a good common school education. This has been supplemented with wide reading since he left the school room, so that he is now well informed on all the main questions before the American people today. He began farming for himself immediately after his marriage and takes a commendable pride in keeping everything about the farm in good repair and has thus gained the reputation of being a careful and conscientious fariner. He raises all of the crops usually grown in this section of the state and gives a due share of his attention to the breeding of live stock.
Mr. Allen was married on New Year's day, 1903. to Mary Myrtle Staf- ford, the daughter of Charles and Mary ( Johnson) Stafford. To this union has been born one son, Charles H., November 13, 1904. Fraternally, Mr. Allen is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the en- campment as well. He is a genial, affable and pleasant man to meet and is well deserving of the high esteem in which he is universally held by his friends and acquaintances.
WILLIAM E. STURGEON.
One of the prosperous farmers of Perry township, Fayette county, Ohio, who has never been seized with the desire to wander from his native county is William E. Sturgeon, who has spent his life of more than half a century on the farm where he was born. His whole career has been spent in agricultural pursuits with the exception of a short time when he was en- gaged in business in the county seat and his efforts have been rewarded with a success commensurate with his ability. His well directed energies in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests, and his sound judgment have brought him a success which speaks well for his efforts. At the same time he has borne his share of the burdens of his com- munity and has always so conducted himself as to win the approbation of his fellow citizens.
William E. Sturgeon, the son of William and Mary Ann ( Lease ) Stur- geon, was born on the farm where he is now living in Perry township in February, 1858. His father was a native of Ross county, and is a son of Robert and Plube (Briggs) Sturgeon, natives of Virginia.
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William E. Sturgeon attended the district schools of his home town- ship and completed his education at the National Normal University at Leb- anon, Ohio. He then began to work for himself by renting land from his father, and with the exception of a short time when he was in the imple- ment business in Washington C. H., he has remained on the farm where he was born. He now has a well improved farm of one hundred and fifty-six and one-half acres on the Sturgeon Mill road, about seven miles from Wash- ington C. H. Here he raises excellent crops and gives a considerable amount of his attention to the breeding and raising of a high class of live stock.
Mr. Sturgeon was married in 1885 to Minnie J. Grove, the daughter of Christian and Nancy A. ( Orr) Grove, and to this union have been born three children, Homer F .. Maizie B. and George W. Homer F. married Essie Elliott and has two daughters, Mary and Catherine; George W. attended school at Delaware, Ohio, and Lebanon University, after completing the course in the common schools of his home township. He is living at home with his parents and assists his father on the home farm.
Mr. Sturgeon is a Republican in politics and takes an intelligent interest in all the current issues of the day. but he is not a partisan in any sense of the word. He reserves the right to cast his vote for the best men in local elec- tions, for those whom he feels will best administer affairs in a satisfactory manner. The only official position which Mr. Sturgeon has ever held is that of school board director. He has lived a quiet and unostentatious life. de- voting himself primarily to his home duties, and yet taking an interest in everything which affects the general welfare of his community.
HUGH W. BINEGAR.
One of the best remembered men of a past generation in Fayette county, Ohio, is H. W. Binegar, who spent his whole career of fifty-five years within this county and in the township where he was born. He possessed great simplicity. purity and humility of character. He had convictions, yet was careful and patient in coming to conclusions, but when he finally made up his mind as to the course he wanted to pursue nothing could swerve him from what he considered his duty. A busy man. interested in his daily tasks. yet he was never too busy or too absorbed in his temporal affairs to give time and thought to the service of his church, which, with his home, lay close upon his heart. He had the faculty of becoming interested in the daily affairs of
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the people about him and when one met him he felt at once that Mr. Binegar was genuinely sympathetic. As a citizen he was easily among the foremost. Any movement which had for its object the betterment of his home city met with his hearty support. He was always courteous and those who differed with him admired his fairness and his open-hearted honesty.
The late H. W. Binegar was born in Perry township October 27, 1858. and died on his home farm in the same township April 23, 1913. He was the son of John and Frances (Fishback) Binegar, natives of Virginia and early settlers in this county. John Binegar and wife were the parents of seven children, only three of whom are now living, Margaret, Matilda and Nettie. H. W. and three who died in infancy have passed to that better world.
H. W. Binegar received his education in the schools of New Martins- burg, Perry township, and commenced farming at the age of eighteen. That he was remarkably successful is shown by the fact that at the time of his death he was the owner of a finely improved farm of three hundred acres in Perry township.
Mr. Binegar was married January 15, 1885, to Sarah E. Black, the daughter of Jacob and Christine ( Sprinkle) Black. Jacob Black came from Kentucky with his parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Snyder ) Black, when a youth and settled in Brown county, this state. Samuel Black was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving in a Kentucky regiment. Jacob Black and wife were the parents of a family of eleven children, Mrs. Sarah E. Binegar. William. Mrs. Hannah Bond, Samuel, Mrs. Mary Van Eman, Walter, Jesse, Mrs. Elizabeth Starr, Mrs. Frances Godfredson, Rose and Mrs. Sina Erfurth. All of these children are still living except Samuel and Rose. Mr. and Mrs. Binegar are the parents of five children, three of whom are living : Waldo; Wallace, who married Nina Haines, and has two children, Harlan and Wanda, and Velma, who is still attending school. Two children are deceased. Omer and one who died in infancy. Waldo married Lois Tod- hunter, and had one son, Herman, the mother and child being dead; Velma lives with her mother.
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