USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 52
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REV. GEORGE CARPENTER.
Rev. George Carpenter, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Washington, was born May 9, 1826, near "Carpenter's Mills" on the Olentangy River, Delaware County. His father, Nathan Car- penter, was born in New York, but in 1801, when eleven years of age, the family immigrated to this state, and settled in Delaware County.
In 1811, he was married to Miss Electa Case, whose father's fam- ily came originally from New Haven, Connecticut, with the " Worth- ington colony," in 1803. They had eleven children, three sons and eight daughters.
When the subject of this sketch was eleven years old, his father removed to a farm near Worthington, Franklin County, and his youth was spent in alternately working the farm and attending school. He graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University, in 1851, and in his theological course at Cincinnati, in 1853. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Columbus at Kingstown, Ross County, in the same church where he afterwards ministered as pastor. He served for several months the churches of Tarlton and Amanda; but being laid aside by sickness for a year, afterwards accepted a
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call to Kingston, where he was ordained and installed pastor October, 1855 ; he remained there twelve years, when he received and accepted an invitation to Washington where he is still pas- tor.
Mr. Carpenter was married August 10, 1852, to Matilda, daughter of Rev. James Gilruth of Davenport, Iowa ; but formerly a pio- neer in this state of the Methodist Church. They have seven children, of whom two daughters-the oldest and the youngest-have been called to their rest : Hattie Gilruth, aged twenty-one, and baby Maud, only five months. The eldest son, Willard Bryant, is mar- ried and is a practicing physician in Columbus, Ohio. Two sons, George Haywood and Charles Kynett, and two daughters, Mary, Lisle and Alice Boone are still at home.
Mr. Carpenter has always been prominent in Christian and tem- perance work. His wife was one of the leaders in the memorable " crusade " against the rumseller.
ALBERT W. CLOUSER.
Albert W. Clouser, clerk in grocery, was born September 14, 1852, in Ross County, and is a son of David and Eliza Clouser, both natives of this state. They had a family of four children, two sons and two daughters.
Albert, the subject of our sketch, was married the 26th day of November, 1879, to Miss Ida May Stingle, daughter of Robert Stingle, of Washington. He received his education at country schools. His youth was spent in this county, and has lived on a farm all his life until two years ago, since which he has followed civil engineering until about four months ago, when he went into Mr. Millikan's grocery as clerk. In politics is a Republican.
L. C. COFFMAN.
L. C. Coffman, lumber dealer, son of Nathan and Sarah Coffman. Born in this county, January 25, 1840. His parents were natives of this state. They had a family of eight children.
Our subject was married April 4, 1861, to Miss Alsina, daughter of Jackson and Nancy Rodgen, who lived near Good Hope, this county. 'Mr. Coffman has a family of six children: Elmira B., Nathen J., Grant, Elwert, Alberta and Lewis C. He be-
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longs to lodge No. 107, F. A. M. He received his education in Delaware, Ohio, and Washington. He was reared in this county, and when nineteen years of age taught school. At the end of two years he went on his farm and remained there some ten or twelve years, then came to Washington to engage in the pork business. After being in that business for three years he went into the lumber business, in which he still continues successfully. Polit- ically he is a Republican.
DR. HENRY C. COFFMAN.
Dr. Henry C. Coffman, druggist and physician, was born in Rip- ley, Brown County, Ohio, on the 4th day of August, 1823, and is a son of Henry and Margaret Coffman. His father is a native Ken- tucky, and his mother of Pennsylvania. They came to this state about the year 1800, with a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters. Henry, the subject of our remarks, was married in 1846, to Miss Mary J. Harlow, daughter of Jonas and Nancy Harlow, of Dublin, Franklin County, Ohio, and have been blessed with a family of eight children, six of whom are living: Jeanette, Marilla, Virogua, Tasso, Harry and Charles, and the two deceased are Angeline and Margaret.
He is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 107, F. A. M., and also of Fayette Lodge, No 227, Odd-fellows, and has been a practicing physician some thirty-five years, twenty-five of which has been at Washington, and is extensively engaged in the drug business, and one of the finest in the country.
He graduated at Columbus, in the year 1850, at the Starling Medical College. He first commenced the practice of medicine at Good Hope, Ohio, without horse, saddle or bridle, with but twenty- five cents in his pocket ; and through his indomitable perseverance and hard work he made some thirty-five thousand dollars, and in one swoop had it all taken from him; but being a man of perse- verance and an iron will, has again gained enough of this world's goods to be easy in life, and to-day does not owe a dollar of per- sonal debts, and is now doing a business both in his store and prac- tice second to none in the county.
JAMES F. COOK.
James F. Cook, sheriff of Fayette County, was born in this
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county, October 19, 1854. He is a son of Isaac and Betsey Cook, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. They had a family of nine children-six sons and three daughters.
James, the subject of our remarks, was married in 1864 to Miss Mary A. Myers, daughter of John L. and Catherine Myers, of this county. They have a family of five children : Katie M., Lizzie L., Isaac T., James F., and John W.
Mr. Cook enlisted, July, 1861, in the three months service, and went to Camp Chase, where the command was disbanded. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, 90th O. V. I., and was commissioned first lieutenant. In 1864 he was promoted to captain, and in 1865 was commissioned as major. Was mustered out of the service, June 13, 1865, at Camp Harker, Tennessee. He was at the bat- tles of Stone Biver, Chickamauga, and all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign. He then came back with General Thomas, and was engaged in the battles of Franklin and Nashville.
He returned home and engaged in farming, until 1880, when he was elected sheriff of the county, which office he still holds. He is a member of Mount Sterling Lodge No. 269, I. O. O. F. He re- ceived his education in Madison Township, where he was born and raised. His father came to Fayette County in 1814, where he re- mained until his death, in 1876.
ELI CRAIG.
Eli Craig, county treasurer, Washington, was born in Wayne Township, Ohio, January 10, 1833. He is a son of David and Sarah Craig, the former a native of New Jersey, and coming to Ohio about the year 1815, and the latter a native of this state. They were blessed with ten children, six of whom are living.
Eli, our subject, was married June 17, 1858, to Miss May Ann Burnett, daughter of Thomas Burnett, of this county. They have two children, Thomas H. and David S., both grown to manhood.
Mr. Craig is a member of Temple Lodge No. 227, I. O. O. F., . and also of the Methodist Church. He received a common school education, and may be classed among the self-made men of our county. He commenced in the mercantile business when but a boy, remaining with his father (who was a cripple) until 1869, since which time, in connection with his brother, he has carried on business very extensively in the I. O. O. F. building, on Court
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Street. He was appointed treasurer in 1872, to fill the unexpired term of John Sayers, and in 1877 was elected to the same office, and re-elected in 1879. His youth, with the exception of some five years, was spent in this county.
ANDREW DEWITT.
Andrew De Witt, raiser of fine stock, Washington, was born in Fayette County, August 23, 1813. He is a son of John and Polly De Witt, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Penn- sylvania. The father came to Ohio about the year 1808, and the mother about the same time. They had a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living.
Andrew, our subject, was married April 19, 1842, to Miss Eliza- beth Hire, daughter of George and Catharine Hire, of Ross County, this state. Twelve children, all living, is the result of this union : Mary C., Samantha, Thomas H., Harvey, Elizabeth E., Joan, John, Hannah B., Martin L., Jennie, Almeda, and George C.
Mr. De Witt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He received his education in Washington and in Ross County, and has spent his whole life in this county. For thirty-five years he has been engaged in raising the Rose of Sharon, Young Mary's, Filicies, Jantha's, and Flora stock of cattle. He is the owner of the horse that produced Ben Hamilton. He is from Alexander Norman and a Denmark mare.
Mr. De Witt's farm consists of eight hundred and fifty-six acres,. and he is one of the most extensive stock raisers in Ohio. In the pioneer days many wild animals, especially the black bear, inhab- ited the forests, and on one occasion when on his way home from the Rock Mills, in August, 1822, Mr. De Witt treed two bears in one tree.
C. L. CURTIS.
C. L. Curtis, painter and paper-hanger, Washington, was born July 15, 1846, and is a son of Charles and Rachel Curtis, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio about the year 1800. They had a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. Our sub- ject was married, in 1874, to Miss S. J. Kern, daughter of Jeremiah Kern, of Franklin County. They have one child, John Clyde.
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Our subject enlisted in Company A, 3d O. V. I., in 1861, when only fifteen years of age, and remained with it a few weeks, when he was wounded in the hand, on the 6th of April, 1862, at Pitts- burgh Landing, and went home on a furlough. When his hand got well he returned to his regiment, and remained until the close of the war. He then went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and worked at his trade for about six years, when he came to Washington, where he is now permanently located with a partner, doing busi- ness under the firm name of Curtis & Barrett. They are both first- class workmen, and command a large share of the work in the county. He received his education in Pittsburgh, graduated at Duff's Commercial College, and his life was principally spent in the coal city.
SOLOMON WALKER ELY.
Solomon Walker Ely, gardener, Washington, was born in Ross County, October 1, 1825; was married August 23, 1849, to Miss Mary Cory, daughter of Israel Cory, near Frankfort, Ross County .; lived in Ross County nineteen years; moved to Washington in 1857, and has remained here until the present time. They were the parents of six children, two of whom died in infancy, and two sons and two daughters living-Joseph N. married, and lives in Missouri; Anson I., whereabouts not known, most probably in Alaska Territory ; Sarah E., single; Nora, married. His wife died 'in 1863, and he married for his second wife Mrs. H. A. Atkinson, of Madison County. They have by this marriage one son, twelve years of age, a sprightly lad.
Mr. Ely is a man of intelligence, and possesses a well-stored mind. He has read and thought much. In politics, he is a Repub- lican ; in religion, a Baptist. He owns and lives on a lovely little farm, containing four acres, on the Palmer pike, but a short dis- tance from Washington.
FRED C. FOSTER.
Fred C. Foster, books and stationery, Washington, was born in Butler County, December 29, 1845, and is a son of Adam and Han- nah Foster. His father is a native of Germany, and his mother of Ohio. They had a family of nine children, four sons and five
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daughters. Fred C. was married July 15, 1875, to Miss Francis A. Greene, daughter of Patrick Greene, of Hocking County. They have two children : Mabel C. and Dane D. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He received a com- mon school education in Butler County, where his life was spent until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to Washing- ton, where he embarked in several different kinds of business, un- til he finally settled down to the book and stationery business, in which,. with all his opposition, he is doing a flourishing and profit- able trade. His place of business is just below the post office, on Court Street.
JOHN S. FOSTER.
John S. Foster, liveryman, born in Clermont County, Ohio, on the 16th day of June, 1822, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah Foster. His father is a native of Virginia, and his mother of Pennsylvania. They immigrated to this state, in the year 1800, with a family of eight children, two sons and six daughters.
John S., our subject, was married in 1848, to Miss Margaret C. Thompson, daughter of Edward and Susan Thompson, of Thomp- son's Mills, Brown County, Ohio. They have a family of six chil- dren, five of whom are living : Susan T., Sarah B., Kate J., Mollie V., and John K., and one dead, Edward T.
Our subject enlisted as a captain of Fourth Ohio Independent Cavalry, and stood highest of any volunteer cavalry captain in the United States service. He has thirty-two regular battles inscribed on his banner; and his company was body guard of General Mc- Pherson for nearly two years, until his death, and in all his battles never witnessed a single defeat. He was mustered out and received an honorable discharge on the 22d of July, 1864. He is a member of Georgetown Lodge, No. 172, F. A. M., also a member of the Methodist Church, and was elected sheriff of Brown County, Ohio, in 1854, and served two years; received his education in Clermont County and at Granville, Ohio. He is now engaged in the livery and sale business at Washington, and has followed auctioneering some twenty years of his life, making a wide-spread reputation and a host of friends, as may be seen from the very extensive busi- ness he is engaged in.
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J. S. GOLDTRAP.
J. S. Goldtrap, supervising agent Singer Manufacturing Company, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, July 13, 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Mary M. Goldtrap, both natives of this state, and who had a family of twelve children, all of whom are living but two.
John S., our subject, was educated in Clermont County, where his youth was spent. He was married, February 22, 1873, to Miss Emma B. White, daughter of Dr. R. P. White, of Cincinnati; she was born May 22, 1854. They have had one child, Bessie May, born April 29, 1878. Mr. Goldtrap is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 227, I. O. O. F. At present, he is engaged as supervising agent for the Singer Manufacturing Company, with his office on Court Street, opposite the Arlington House, where he is doing an exten- sive business ; his sales amounting to fifteen hundred dollars per month. He handles only the genuine Singer Machine, whose merits are well known all over the world. The sales of the com- pany which he represents, during the year 1880, amounted to 538,609, being two thirds of all the machines sold in the United States, and an increase over their sales of the previous year of 107,442. Mr. Goldtrap keeps a full line of machine attachments, needles, ete., at his office.
REDICK THOMAS GOODSON.
Redick Thomas Goodson, farmer and stoek-raiser, Washington, is a son of James Goodson, who was a native of North Carolina, but came to Clinton County, Ohio, and settled on a farm a short distance north of Sabina, where he lived and died. He was the father of five children, four sons and one daughter: Ozias, married and moved to Missouri; Elizabeth, twice married, and lives in Greene County ; Belshazzar, married, and lives in Highland Coun- ty; Everett, died at the age of twelve.
The subject of this sketch was born October 3, 1818, and mar- ried Sela Sharp, daughter of John Sharp, who resides near Sabina, Clinton County. Eleven children have been born to them, three sons and eight daughters: Martha Jane, married, and lives in In- diana; John, married, and lives on the home farm; Dicy A., un- married, and died at the age of twenty-five; Mary, married, and
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deceased; Keziah, married, and lives in the neighborhood; Belle, married, and lives near her father's residence; Lydia, Rebecca, Moab, and Rosetta, single, and remain at home with their parents.
Mr. Goodson owned and lived on a farm in Clinton County for some twenty-five years, situated two miles south from Sabina, on the Greenfield pike. Nine years ago he disposed of that farm, and purchased the one where he now resides, known as the Fultz farm, being three miles west from Washington, on the south side of the Plymouth pike. This farm contains one hundred and nineteen acres, in a good state of cultivation, and is one of the many excel- lent farms of this township. He paid eighty dollars per acre for this farm, and considers it a bargain at that price. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Methodist. A well-to-do and much-respected family. He is without an early education, but a man of sense and excellent judgment.
THOMAS F. GARDNER.
Thomas F. Gardner, editor, Washington, was born in Newmar- ket, Ohio, February 18, 1832, and is a son of Seth and Elma S. Gardner, natives of Ohio, who had a family of three sons: George B., Mills, and Thomas F., our subject, who was married Angust 4, 1852, to Miss Susan Evans, daughter of Richard and Isabella Evans, of Washington. They have three children : Nannie B. and Charles F., living, and one who died in infancy.
Our subject enlisted in the 1st Ohio Cavalry, and after getting his hand broken was discharged, and afterward re-enlisted in a company of sharpshooters in the 60th Regiment, in front of Peters- burg, where he remained until the close of the war, then he re- ceived an honorable discharge at Cleveland, in 1865, when the general discharge was made.
In 1849, he and his brother published a paper, the present Regis- . ter, and when he was away he left his brother in charge of it. He afterward sold out to Pierce, who died, when the paper went into the hands of Samuel Pike, and he sold to W. G. Gould, and he to Beesley & Simmons, when Beesley died, and the administrator sold it to H. V. Kerr, who has since departed this life, and the paper is still continued by his son.
Our subject commenced his present paper September 17, 1879. He has filled the office of mayor and justice of the peace, which he
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resigned on going into the army. After returning home he en- gaged in different kinds of mercantile business, until he started the paper of which he is now the editor. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Received his education while work- ing at his trade, not having the advantages of the schools, and stands to-day among our self-made men, an honor to any one. His youth was spent at Newmarket. In politics he is a staunch Re- publican.
ACE GREGG.
Ace Gregg, judge common pleas court, Washington, was born October 4, 1845, in Jefferson Township, and is a son of John F. and Mary J. Gregg, both natives of Ohio, who have a family of six children, three sons and three daughters.
Ace, the subject of our sketch, was married, in the year 1871, to Miss Amelia J. Jones, daughter of Reuben and Matilda Jones, of Bloomingburg. He is a member of Temple Lodge No. 227, I. O. O. F., Washington, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum. He received his education in the Normal School at Lebanon, and his law lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan University. Read law at Washington, with Hon. M. J. Williams, and commenced prac- tice in the year 1870, under the firm name of Gregg & Corcoran, until 1880. During his practice he was prosecuting attorney for six years. He was elected judge of the common pleas court in the fall of 1880, and went on the bench on the first Monday in No- vember, 1880, where he now presides.
0. M. GRUBBS.
O. M. Grubbs, blacksmith, Washington, was born August 30, 1823, in this county. He is a sou of Stephen and Diana Grubbs, -both natives of Ohio,-who were the parents of eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living: Sarah, Oliver, Lorena, Har- riet, Eliza, Manford, Louis, and Thomas, deceased.
Oliver, our subject, was married May 14, 1856, to Mary Jane, daughter of Arthur and Elizabeth Patton, of this county, who has borne him three children : Henry, Percival, and Jessie R.
Mr. Grubbs received his education in this county, lived on the old home farm until seven years of age, and at eighteen commenc-
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ed blacksmithing, which he has successfully followed to the present. Politically he is a Republican.
M. B. GRUBBS.
M. B. Grubbs, contractor and builder, Washington, son of Stephen and Diana Grubbs, was born in Washington C. II., Feb- ruary 21, 1838. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Ohio. They had a family of eight children.
Manford, our subject, was married, July 31, 1860, to Miss Ella D., daughter of Moses and Rebecca Adams of New Holland, Pick- away County. Five children are the fruits of this union : Werter, Charles, Stephen, Bessie, and Mamie. Mr. Grubbs was reared in this county, and taught school for ten or twelve years. In politics he is a Republican.
HORACE L. HADLEY.
Horace L. Hadley, attorney at law, Washington, was born in Sandwich, N. HI. His father and mother, Withrop and Sybil Had- ley, were natives of New Hampshire, where they still reside. They had a family of ten children, eight of whom are living.
Horace L., the subject of our remarks, was married September 1, 1868, to Miss S. Lizzie Emmerson, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Emmerson, of Massachusetts. They have one child, Olivia B. H. L.
On the 26th of August, 1862, Mr. Hadley enlisted in Company C, 5th Massachusetts, Col. Pearson commanding, and was muster- ed into the service on the 16th of October, following. This was a nine months regiment, but they were in the service nearly a year before they were mustered out, which was in the middle of July, 1863.
He read law with the Hon. Sidney C. Baneroft, until he went into the army, and after his discharge he went to Salem, Massa- chusetts, and finished his studies with Perry and Endicut. Mr. Endicut is now Supreme Judge of Massachusetts, and Mr. Perry, author of the celebrated law book, " Perry on Trust," is now dead. Mr. Hadley was admitted to the bar on the 16th of September, 1863, the year following his enlistment, at Newburyport, Massachu- setts. He first located and commenced practice, November, 1863,
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at Danfers, Massachusetts, where he continued until April 1, 1870. He then came to Ohio, and since October 1, 1874, he has been practicing in Washington, under the firm name of Maynard & Hadley, a firm well known in Fayette and surrounding counties as one which stands at the head of the profession. In 1881, was elect- ed representative from Fayette County.
E. C. HAMILTON.
E. C. Hamilton, dentist, was born in Springfield, Ohio, December 23, 1836, and is a son of Henry A., and Sarah A. Hamilton, of Greene County, Ohio, who had a family of six children, and were natives of Maryland.
E. C. Hamilton, the subject of these remarks, was married in 1862, to Miss Amanda Wright, daughter of G. W. Wright, of Xenia, Ohio. She died in December, 1864, leaving one child, George E. He was again married, in 1869, to Miss Lucy E. Stoddard, of Wooster University, by whom he had four children : Mary L., Grace M., Stodard C., and Karl M.
Our subject enlisted in the 154th O. V. I., Company B. He serv- ed some five months and was honorably discharged, September, 1863. He then went to Cincinnati where he remained practicing dentistry until 1865, when he came to Washington where he has remained. He has been a practicing dentist for twenty-three years, enough to speak for his proficiency in the business. He is a mem- ber of Temple Lodge No. 227, I. O. O. F., also of the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM H. HAMMER.
William H. Hammer, carpenter, a son of George and Mary Ham- mer, natives of Virginia, was born October 12, 1840, and is one of a family of twelve.
He was married January 19, 1871, to Miss Mellie, daughter of James G., and Telithe Jolly, of Lomberton, Clinton County, Ohio. Mr. Hammer is the father of five children : Howard R., Pearl B., Leota, Georgianna, and Claud H.
He enlisted in the 25th Northern Virginia Regiment, C. S. A., under Generals Lee and Jackson, and was engaged in thirty-two battles; some of the most important, of which, were Ridge Moun-
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tain, Alleghany Mountain, Winchester, etc. At Spottsylvania C. H., Virginia, after having been three years in the confederate army, he was taken prisoner, and was confined at Point Lookout three months, and Elmyra, New York, twelve months. He was never. wounded or sick while in the army.
He is a member of the Masonic Order, and of the Presbyterian Church. He was reared and educated in Virginia, where he lived until his removal to Ohio, March 20, 1867.
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