USA > Ohio > Henry County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 68
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 68
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David Ayers was born near Shreve, in Wayne county, this State, on the 2d day of April, 1828, and, at the time of his father's settlement in this locality, was but ten years of age. There was no school in Dover at that time, so Da- vid, when old enough, was put at work in the tannery, but the damp and un- pleasant atmosphere told severely against him, in fact, it was then thought that he had not long to live. At the age of twenty years he went to Adrian, Mich., and attended school for about six months, after which he entered the Bethany
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
College, in West Virginia. Here he remained two and one- half years, when his health failed and compelled him to return home. It should be mentioned that the father of this young man was very generous toward his children, and encouraged them in every industrious effort ; he gave them land to cultivate, 'and a share in the profits of the tannery, and it was from the sale of his share that David acquired means with which to pay for his education.
In 1853 he went to California, induced to make the journey in the hope of restoring health and strength, and, in part, to acquire a fortune. The first, and perhaps the most important, of these desires was realized, for his physical strength was recovered, but in the acquisition of a fortune his efforts were not so fully rewarded. He worked a claim on the Yuba River for one fall season, and at its close was just $500 out of pocket. He then engaged in shingle mak- ing at $9 per thousand, but this price soon declined. Still later he worked on a farm until the year 1856, when he returned to Fulton county to reside. Two years later, on the 18th of March, 1858, our subject was married to Elizabeth Anna Bayes, daughter of William W. Bayes, of Clinton township. Of this marriage three children have been born, all of whom are still living.
From the time of his return home from the far west to the present day, Da- vid Ayers has been a respected resident of Dover township; but from this time must be excepted the four years of his incumbency of the office of county treasurer, during which he lived at Wauseon. His farm is one of the best in Dover, and it was here that his parents settled fifty years ago.
Mr. Ayers is a man of modest, quiet disposition and temperament, yet pos- sessed of firm convictions in political and civil affairs. He has been, in no sense, a seeker after office, still there are but few, if any, of the offices of the township that he has not filled at the request of his fellow-townsmen; and, in each and every capacity in which he has been elected to serve, the people have had the assurance of the selection of a faithful official, one in whom they had confidence, and one by whom no trust was ever violated. Such a reputation does David Ayers bear among his townspeople, and throughout the county. In the year 1871 he was the nominee of the Republican party for the office of county treasurer, and at the polls was elected by a good majority. His administration of the affairs of this office showed that the honor was worthily bestowed, and upon its incumbent there was no breath of suspicion. He proved a faithful public servant, and discharged his duty to the entire satisfaction, not only of his party, but of the people of the whole county. Upon the expiration of his second term, for he was re-elected in 1873, Mr. Ayers returned to his comfort- able farm home where he now resides.
In matters pertaining to religion Mr. Ayers is connected with the Christian Church, of which he and his family are members. He has been frequently chosen for various church offices, and of his means has contributed liberally toward defraying the expenses of building the church edifice, and maintaining the good work of the society.
WILLIAM D. HAGAR.
PROBASCO_PHIL.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
H AGAR, WILLIAM D., was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., on November 22, 1847, and in that quiet and peaceful village he received his early education, under the careful guidance of a mother who possessed unusual intelligence and moral firmness of character. His opportunities for a literary education were limited, but at an early age he displayed an aptness for acquir- ing and retaining knowledge, which, in the eventful years of his life, has en- abled him to secure a fund of information upon literary, scientific and useful subjects, and especially in the intricacies of his profession, which is possessed by but few men.
Possessed of a fixed determination to occupy a prominent position in life's busy arena, he early commenced the fight and at the age of fourteen launched his hopeful craft on the adverse sea of life, which, guided by his own hand and kept afloat by his own energy and perseverance, was to eventually land him in the ranks of the progressive men of the times. Experience teaches its own les- sons and the succeeding years were devoted to that very exacting preceptor. Several occupations were tried and dropped, and several schemes succeeded each other, but all failing to meet his youthful expectations. The great armies of the Union were fighting the desperate battles of the rebellion, and young Hagar responded with youthful patriotism to the call for reinforcements and enlisted in Company I, Tenth New York Cavalry and went to the front. Bra- very on the battlefield, a patriotic devotion to his country's cause, and prompt performance of every duty won for the boy soldier the love of comrades and high regards of all who knew of his valor and deeds of heroism. He was: taken prisoner at the battle of Manassas Gap and confined in the rebel prison: at Richmond six months, after which he was paroled and subsequently honor- ably discharged from the army, having served two years. Young Hagar re- turned home, laid aside the blue and donned the citizen's dress, but not satis- fied with opportunities offered, started for Michigan and engaged in various pursuits at Morenci, but afterwards went to the "pineries" and engaged in the manufacture of shingles, but soon drifted to Chicago. The heavy firm of C. W. & E. Partridge of that flourishing city was the first to offer flattering in - ducements, and he passed the ensuing three years in their employ, making a specialty of the dry goods trade, during which time he gained the esteem and respect of his employers as well as of the mercantile firms of note in the west.
Miss Jennie Neff, professionally known as "Miss Jennie Morgan," was at that time at the height of her fame as a public singer, and while filling an en- gagement at Chicago made the acquaintance of Mr. Hagar, which resulted in the solemnization of the marriage rites between the busy man of commerce and the charming songstress. Mrs. Hagar was an accomplished vocalist of pure merit, who was celebrated for her high talents throughout the Union, which no doubt was the cause of the turning point toward a fortune for the
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
subject of our sketch, as it attracted his attention to the public demand for amusement, for the supplying of which he was particularly qualified. It is not inappropriate to add that the fame of Mrs. Hagar never abated during her pro- fessional career, but she voluntarily retired from the stage, and in her private life is equally fascinating to her friends, and a loving and devoted wife to her husband. Mr. Hagar decided to embark in the amusement profession and se- cured what are known in circus parlance as the "privileges " with the late John Murray's circus and menagerie. These Mr. Hagar operated with rare ability for four years. Mr. Coup, then owning one of the most noted circuses of the day, rented Mr. Hagar the "privileges " of his enterprise, which were controlled with success for a similar period of four years ; but adversity overcame Mr. Coup in 1882, and his immense concern was sold by the sheriff at Detroit to satisfy the demands of his creditors. Coup was then owing Mr. Hagar about $14,000 borrowed money. He was on the alert and took timely steps to save his money, but every dollar was lost through technical errors, for which his at- torneys were purely responsible.
In 1883 the museum fever demanding the attention of some of the ablest showmen of the day, caused Mr. Hagar to become the senior partner of Hagar, Campbell & Co., in the proprietorship of the Dime Museum of Philadelphia, which was undoubtedly the largest, most prosperous and best managed insti- tution of its kind on the American continent.
In 1883 Mr. Hagar, still holding his interest in the Dime Museum, secured the management of the concert, side show, annex, and other " privileges " of the world-renowned "Barnum and London Combined Shows." Mr. W. T. Campbell was also a partner in the Barnum enterprise. They having an offer of what was supposed to be a fabulous price for the museum, it was sold in 1885, and Messrs. Hagar & Campbell turned their entire attention to the man- agement of the "privileges " of Barnum's " Greatest Show on Earth." In the spring of 1887 Mr. Campbell retired from the show business and settled upon his large fancy stock farm at Rushville, Ind., Mr. Hagar taking his entire in- terest.
Mr. Hagar has long been identified with the agricultural interest of Fulton ·county, having frequently invested a portion of his surplus earnings in real es- tate here and now owning one of the largest and best farms in York township, which is heavily stocked with blooded horses. He has an elegantly furnished home in Wauseon, where he takes a winter's rest after the arduous labors of the show season, enjoying the rich reward of a life well improved.
He is the soul of honor, a genial companion, a fast and never failing friend, a lavish giver to deserving charity, and a liberal supporter of every public en- terprise.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
R ORICK, HON. JOHN C. There is not, perhaps, a single resident of Ful- ton county that has had an experience in life so varied as that of the sub- ject of this sketch ; still, from a business point of view, notwithstanding his years of travel and the many enterprises in which he has been engaged, the life of our subject may be said to have been entirely successful and satisfactory, and he now stands among the leading business men of the county. Mr. Rorick has profited by his experiences, and the many places that he has visited, the pur- suits in which he has engaged, and the people he has met, have educated and given him an understanding of men and affairs that has proved of great value. This much of comment will be pardonable when we narrate the partial events of a lifetime.
John Conklin Rorick was born near Elmira, in New York State, on the 13th day of February, 1834, and of the five children born to William and Phœbe Ann Rorick, he was the second. When John was but two years old the family moved to Lenawee county, Mich. Here our subject was reared, and, when old enough, was put at work on his father's farm. He attended school about two months each winter, acquiring, at the age of sixteen, a very limited education, confined to reading, writing and simple rules of arithmetic. By the encourage- ment of a teacher, named Ed. Hopper, he, at that time, made a radical change, and by incessant application to his studies during the hours when other boys slept, and every moment that could be spared from his daily labors, aided by eighteen weeks' attendance at the Medina Seminary, he passed a successful examination in the common and some of the higher branches, and commenced teaching at the age of eighteen. Graduating in book-keeping and commercial law at Gregory's College, in Detroit, at the age of twenty, he went to the Lake Superior copper regions, to take charge of the books of the Ridge Mine, but his arrival having been delayed by lake storms several days, he found the place already filled, and accepted the position of " boss " of a gang of men connected with the mines. Disliking the position, in company with three companions, he made the trip from Ontonagon to Stephen's Point, a distance of two hundred and thirty miles, on foot through an unbroken wilderness, being guided by the use of chart and compass. From this place Mr. Rorick went to Madison, Wis., where he opened a school for writing and drawing. It may be stated here that in the art of penmanship and drawing Mr. Rorick became wholly proficient, and, in fact, in the latter of these attainments, he has but few equals.
But our subject did not remain long in Madison, for in the year 1855 we find him associated with a celebrated penman, Dan Howard, in establishing a commercial college at Milwaukee, Mr. Rorick having charge of the depart- ments devoted to book-keeping and commercial law. The institution was suc- cessful and profitable from the commencement, but Mr. Rorick's close applica- tion to teaching, both day and evening classes, was followed by failing health, and, upon the advice of Professor Douglass, he sold out his interest, and loaned
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his surplus earnings to a successor, taking therefor a note which was never paid. Mr. Rorick then resumed his former occupation of teaching night schools in Northern Illinois, and from that time to 1860, he engaged in teaching, working farms on shares, and small speculations ; but at that time he became the owner of a good farm near Aurora, with a large personal property, but was quite heavily in debt. The reverses of 1860 caused by the Illinois " stub-tail " cur- rency, followed by the depressions of war prospects and other misfortunes, wiped out his margins ; but instead of keeping his cash and forsaking his credi- tors, he sold all his property at great sacrifices, and paid every dollar of debt before it became due.
After closing his affairs in Illinois Mr. Rorick returned to Lenawee county, and in 1862 leased his father's farm in company with his brother, J. M. Rorick, giving his note for his share of the investment, which was very successfully run for two years in connection with speculations in stock and other property. His next venture was the purchase of the Sherman House, in Wauseon, the con- duct of which he assumed in January, 1864, but in August following he sold out at a large profit, and bought a farm in Chesterfield township to which he then moved. This farm was sold, also at a large profit, and, in 1866, with J. M. Rorick, he purchased the Exchange Hotel at Morenci, Mich., which they managed for a short time and, being offered a large advance, sold out.
John C. Rorick then moved to Canandaigua, and purchased a spoke factory and a large amount of town property, which was greatly enhanced in value by his energy and other causes. Having sold out his entire interest he moved again to Wauseon in 1872, at which place he has since resided, taking an active interest in its industries and prosperity. He has owned several farms in Ful- ton county, which have been greatly improved under his management ; he has been prominently connected with the National Butter, Cheese and Egg Asso- ciation, which has a reputation as wide as civilization; he was many times elected one of its vice-presidents, and once its first vice- president, and his speeches at Chicago, Indianapolis and other cities are prominent features of its reports during his membership. He was the inventor and patentee of the " Rorick system of reworking butter," which went into general use, and no doubt added millions of dollars to the value of the "store butter" of the United States. He invented and patented the Ohio Rug Machine, which has found sale all over the United States ; he was one of the founders of the Safety Loan and Abstract Company, and is, at the present time, its president.
To enumerate each of the interests with which Mr. Rorick has been identi- fied since his residence in Wauseon would be a long and useless task ; but it will be seen from the foregoing sketch that the life of our subject has been, from early manhood, an exceedingly busy one, and one that would ordinarily require the whole attention of the person interested ; but, notwithstanding this, Mr. Rorick has found time to give much attention to public affairs, and has
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taken a prominent interest in politics from the time of Stephen A. Douglas to the present. He was a Democrat up to the repeal of the Missouri compromise, casting his first vote for Fremont, and has been a Republican ever since. He commenced his career as a newspaper writer by reporting Douglas's Illinois speeches for the Chicago Democrat. He was justice of the peace in Michigan several terms, and held other offices there. Since residing in Wauseon he has been township trustee once, and a member of the city council four years. He was a member of the State Board of Equalization in 1881, representing the Thirty-third Senatorial district comprising the counties of Lucas, Fulton, Henry, Hancock, Putnam, and Wood. His duties on that board were neces- sarily very laborious, but were performed to the utmost satisfaction of his dis- trict. He at the commencement secured the confidence of his associates, and by rare good judgment, never taking a position which he did not have the figures and arguments to maintain, kept it to the last, and the records show that he never made a motion which was not carried. It is conceded that no part of the State secured so favorable a consideration as did the " northwest,'' through the management of Mr. Rorick. The temperance legislation of the Republicans turned the Thirty-third District over to the Democrats, and the Senatorial Convention at Toledo, in 1883, believing that he was the most avail- able candidate, gave him the nomination, which he reluctantly accepted several days after, and made a creditable campaign against Hon. O. B. Ramey, of Ottawa, running nearly one thousand ahead of the ticket, but, nevertheless, was defeated. In justice it must be said that Mr. Rorick never solicited an office or accepted a nomination except with reluctance. He is an independent thinker, a close student, and has acquired a local reputation as a newspaper writer on political, theological, and scientific subjects, and has always taken a deep interest in popular education, now holding the position of president of the Wauseon board of education.
The life of John C. Rorick needs no comment beyond a narration of its events; it needs no eulogy, no praise. The facts stand out clear, and the people know the record. His sterling worth and integrity, his progressiveness, his generosity, and public-spiritedness are well known throughout the county, and even beyond its borders. If his business life has been successful that suc- cess has been earned and deserved ; and if he has accumulated a comfortable fortune that condition is the result of his own personal effort, industry, and per- severance. Not wholly alone does our subject enjoy the fruits of his labor. He was married on the 15th of December, 1862, to Emma J. Whiting, the daughter of Seth F. Whiting, of Elmira, N. Y.
Dr. F. H. Rorick, a young physician, who has acquired considerable prom- inence as a specialist, an inventor of surgical instruments, and medical writer, is the only son of the subject of our sketch.
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
S COTT, HON. ROBERT K. These pages do not contain the space requi- site for a detailed narrative of the events of the life of this man, nor is it in accord with his desire that such detail should be given, but rather, as a neces- sary part of the history of Henry county, for his life during the last thirty-five years has been almost inseparably connected with it, that there should be made some reference to a career of business activity, and one closely associated with the civil, social, political and military history of the county, more closely, per- haps, than that of any other person. Again, there lives not within the county's borders a single person that has risen by his own or another's effort to occupy the honorable and distinguished positions that have been assigned, by those in authority, to Robert K. Scott.
Governor Scott's residence in Henry county was the result of an incident rather than of intent, as, at that time, he was journeying westward over the Miami and Erie Canal toward the Mississippi River, and thence intending by water to reach California, where he had previously, though for a short time, resided ; but, on reaching the town of Florida, he met a party of former ac- quaintances, by whom his baggage was taken ashore and he, vi et armis, com- pelled to accompany them ; still, this whole proceeding was altogether friendly and with the desire that young Dr. Scott should remain with them. Robert Kingston Scott was a native of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, born in Armstrong county on the 8th day of July, in the year 1826. His parents were John and Jane (Hamilton) Scott. The father had been a civil engineer, but at the time of Robert's youth was a farmer, and on the farm our subject passed the early years of life, at work and in attending the district school. Early in life Robert determined to enter some profession and had a strong inclination for the law, but subsequent events changed his course and he became a mem- ber of the medical profession. At the age of fifteen he left home and came to Stark county, in this State, where he had a sister residing and with whom he lived and attended school, the facilities for an education being much better here than then could be found in Armstrong county. Later young Scott began teaching school and, at the same time, boarded with the family of Dr. Graves, of Navarre, in Stark county. Here he gradually drifted into the study of medicine and afterward supplemented his course by lectures and further study at the Starling Medical College at Columbus. He went to California just at the time when the " gold fever" was at its height. This was in 1850, one year too late to entitle our subject to the distinction of having been a "Forty-niner."
Dr. Scott spent one year in the Golden State; he first went to digging, or rather making preparations for digging; he succeeded in turning the Middle Fork of the American River, but just as this great task was completed and a very rich deposit of mineral discovered, the Doctor awoke one morning to find no less than forty feet of water over his claim ; but his work was not wholly lost as he had already secured some valuable dust, and he was the only person
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engaged in this work that gained anything except disappointment. After this, in company with eight men, our subject started on a prospecting trip to the locality known as the "Secret Diggings," where they worked successfully for a time, but Scott soon left the mines and commenced practice, which he con- tinued for some months with marked success; but, following his inclination, he started for a return journey to his home. On the way he visited several places of interest along the coast of Mexico and South America.
After what seemed to him a visit of sufficient length among friends and relatives, Dr. Scott again set his face westward, intending to return to Cali- fornia, and it was while carrying out this determination that he journeyed across Henry county, where "circumstances " changed his purpose, as has been heretofore narrated.
Having decided to remain in Florida, Dr. Scott resumed his professional work and soon acquired a remunerative practice. He had a thorough under- standing of medicine, and his reputation as a physician soon became estab- lished throughout the county, and even beyond its borders. For five years he was actively engaged here, but after that became interested in a successful mercantile business, which he continued for something like one and one-half years, when he disposed of it and came to reside at the county seat. This was in the year 1860. Here he formed a business partnership with Samuel M. Heller, but, at the breaking out of the war, sold his interest to that gentleman and devoted his own time, attention and means, unselfishly and without hope of reward, to recruiting and sending companies to the front. In the organiza- tion of the Fourteenth and Thirty-eighth Regiments he bore an active part, traveling throughout the county and vicinity, raising men and perfecting these military organizations; this being done he commenced recruiting the Sixty- eighth Infantry, which regiment has ever been known as the pride of Henry county, it being composed largely of young men from the several townships of that county. In this work Dr. Scott was acting under orders from Governor Dennison, and upon the full organization of the command, he was entitled to, and offered the commission of colonel, but declined and accepted that of lieu- tenant-colonel, while Harry Steedman was made regimental commander. Soon after, however, Scott succeeded to the command, and so continued until the fall of Vicksburg, where by every military consideration, coolness in action, bravery, and above all, meritorious services, he honestly earned, and received a commission as brigadier-general of United States Volunteer Infantry, the instrument conferring this rank bearing the date of December 12, 1863. Again, in March, 1865, General Scott was brevetted major-general, which rank he did not resign nor was he mustered out of service, but, on the 15th of Decem- ber following, he was ordered by the secretary of war to report to General O. O. Howard at Washington ; which order being complied with, he was sent to relieve General Saxton, at Charleston, S. C., as commissioner of freedmen, refugees and abandoned lands.
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