USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 21
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His interests in the welfare and advancement of Greenwich are just as nu- merous and have borne just as profitable returns. The size of the village and busi- ness conducted there demanded a local bank and Mr. Frayer was foremost in the organization of the Greenwich Banking Company-the first bank established there. It was incorporated under the banking laws of the state of Ohio, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Frayer being vice-president at the time of its or- ganization, and at one time president. Later he severed his connection with that bank and assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Greenwich, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, becoming vice-president, which position he has held to the present time, in this way having a guiding hand upon its affairs. It has been a very successful institution and has always been conducted along conservative lines. His other important commercial interest is that of the Greenwich Creamery Company.
As both township trustee and treasurer he served the people for a number of years, and for a long period was a member of the village council. While filling the latter office he proposed and carried to completion many municipal improvements of which the residents are now very proud, though in the beginning they opposed such progress. It owes its splendid water system and electric lighting plant to his agita- tion and also the brick paved streets. In short he has always stood for advance- ment and better conditions.
Mr. Frayer has been married twice, his first wife being Miss Adeline Lee, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Smith) Lee, of Huron county. Of this union there were born five children : David O .; Luella, deceased, the wife of Samuel Kelso of Mussell Fork, Missouri; Eugene ; Mary, now Mrs. Arthur T. Burnell ; and Lina, who married Dr. Harry Fulstow, of Norwalk. Of these Eugene is a lawyer in New York city, and Mr. and Mrs. Burnell are prominent educators. Mrs. Frayer died September 19, 1874, and Mr. Frayer married Mrs. Lucy A. Mickey, the widow of Thomas Mickey. She passed away March 26, 1901. Appreciating from his own lack of it the value of a fine education Mr. Frayer has given his children the best that could be obtained, and they have all made excellent use of the advantages thus put within their reach. They are well established in life, and all are progressing in their various vocations.
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Mr. Frayer has always been a very active man and at the age of eighty- nine, he retains his interest in public affairs and looks after his business concerns as he has for many years past. He still owns a fine farm of four hundred acres, although Mr. Nelson Van Aken, who has been in his employ for twenty-six years, superintends it. In the fraternal organization to which he belongs he is also ac- tive. He was one of the charter members of the Greenwich Lodge, No. 543, F. & A. M., and has held all offices in the blue lodge. He is also a Royal Arch Mason and has been connected with the order for fifty-three years. In religious mat- ters he gives his support to the Congregational church and has always been inti- mately identified with the affairs of that body. In short, to sum up the results of his many years, no man has wielded a broader influence for good and progress than has Mr. Frayer. If the good health of the past is vouchsafed him in the future- an idea of which may be gained from the fact that he has never found the need of glasses for even the finest print-there is every reason to look for the extension of this influence.
WILLIAM E. JOINER.
William E. Joiner, who has the distinction of being the oldest assessor in Greenfield township and in fact in Huron county, was born in the house in which he now lives, September 8, 1839, and is the son of Azias and Philura (Newberry) Joiner. The father was born July 20, 1797, in Colerain township, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, where his father, William Joiner, was a school teacher. In the spring of 1818 he came to this county from Cayuga county, New York, having made the greater part of the journey on foot. He bought a tract of two hundred and fifty acres in Greenfield township and in 1825 returned to Connecticut to ob- tain the deed to his land. He came back immediately and made this farm his home until his death. In 1831 he married Miss Philura Newberry, who for almost half a century was his companion on the highroad of life, enduring the hardship of liv- ing in an uncleared forest, for Mr. Joiner had much work to do before he could cul- tivate his land. Unto them were born three children : William E., of this review ; Wallace O., born March 22, 1842, a resident of Hillsdale, Michigan ; and Mary, who was born January 5, 1844, and died October 10, 1871. She was the wife of Watson T. Smith, also deceased. Mrs. Joiner was called to her final rest December 29, 1887, and her husband followed in a little more than a year, his death occurring May 16, 1889. He was a man of fine education and a great reader, who had ever evinced a fondness for mathematics. He was a public-spirited man as well and had held the office of township trustee. In the affairs of life he had prospered, through hard work, careful attention to details, and good management.
William E. Joiner has lived on his present farm all his life. He was permitted a longer school period than many youths of the country can enjoy, for he was twen- ty-three before he discontinued his lessons. He took a course in double and single entry bookkeeping for he had looked forward to entering the commercial world and winning success and a reputation as an accountant. It was his father's wish, how- ever, that he return to the farm and conduct its affairs-a wish in which the son
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acquiesced. He has been fortunate in his agricultural experiments, his fields are models of careful cultivation and his crops reveal what hard work may do. He has also entered into the life of the township. He is known as the oldest assessor of Huron county having been first elected thirty years ago on the republican ticket. He has since served sixteen years, and on the occasion of one election received all but one of the votes cast in his township.
On the 14th of September, 1865, Elder Hahurst pronounced the words that made William E. Joiner and Miss Emma L. May man and wife. The ceremony was performed at North Fairfield, Ohio, and the union has been blessed with two children : Erminnie L., born March 17, 1867, became the wife of Charles H. Swi- gard, a civil engineer, who has charge of the irrigation improvements in the state of Washington, but she died June 26, 1891. They have one child, Minnie L., who lives with her grandfather, William E. Joiner. Hattie, the second daughter, married E. H. Bouten and lives at North Fairfield, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Joiner have also reared a niece, Dessie, the daughter of Watson F. Smith, who is now mar- ried to George Trimmer and lives at Peru, Ohio.
Mr. Joiner is a member of the Congregational church and takes a prominent part in its work. A man of ability and unquestioned integrity, he has won a place in the hearts of the residents of his township, as was attested by the fact that there was but one dissenting vote at his election to the position he has held so long, and in fulfilling the duties of which he takes such a pride.
WILLIAM HAMILTON McPHERSON, SR.
William Hamilton McPherson, Sr., a prosperous and progressive agriculturist of Bronson township, where he owns a farm comprising one hundred and sixty-one acres of land, was born in Greenfield township, Huron county, Ohio, on the 14th of June, 1842, his parents being James and Jane ( Arthur) McPherson. The father was born in Scotland in 1814 and in early life accompanied his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William McPherson, on their removal to Londonderry, Ireland, but a few years later the family came to this country, locating on the farm in Bronson town- ship, Huron county, Ohio, where our subject now makes his home and where his grandfather died. His father, James McPherson, became a resident of Greenfield township and lived there until his death. In his family were three sons : George, John and William H. Our subject's maternal grandparents were John and Mat- tie (Easterly) Arthur.
William H. McPherson, of this review, remained a resident of his native town- ship until he came into possession of his grandfather's old homestead in Bronson township in 1888, living here continuously since. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land, to the cultivation and im- provement of which he devotes his time and energies. In the operation of his farm he displays practical and effective methods which produce good results, as seen in the abundant harvests which he annually gathers.
Mr. McPherson has been married twice, his first union being with Miss Lucy Wheeler, a daughter of John Wheeler, by whom he had three children : Arthur,
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William H. and Scott. Following the death of his first wife he was again mar- ried, on the 29th of June, 1881, his second union being with Miss Margaret Mutch, whose birth occurred April 28, 1861. Her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (David- son) Mutch, were natives of Scotland and, emigrating to America about 1858, first located in Canada but subsequently crossed the border into the United States. By his second wife Mr. McPherson has two children, namely : Clyde, born in 1883 ; and Glenn, who was born in 1890.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. McPherson has given his support to the men and measures of the republican party and is at present serv- ing as a trustee of Bronson township. Fraternally he is identified with the Macca- bees, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church at Olena, Ohio. In the county where he spent his entire life, now cov- ering a period of more than two-thirds of a century, he has gained an extensive cir- cle of warm friends by reason of his upright and honorable manhood.
PHILIP HERNER.
Philip Herner, numbered among the successful and enterprising agriculturists of Peru township, owns a half interest in the farm of one hundred and eighty- seven acres on which he resides with his brother Fred. He was born in Sherman township, Huron county, Ohio, on the 12th of December, 1862, his parents being Phedius and Lena (Hilderbrand) Herner, both of whom were natives of Germany. In early manhood the father crossed the Atlantic to the United States and took up his abode in Sherman township, this county, where he made his home through- out practically the remainder of his life, devoting his attention to the cultivation of a farm of eighty acres which he had purchased. His demise occurred in Peru township in 1905, when he had attained the age of sixty-eight years, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1904 at the age of sixty-seven years.
Their union was blessed with thirteen children, the record of whom is as fol- lows: Mary, who is the wife of Christ Bauman and resides in Indiana ; Margaret, who gave her hand in marriage to Lawrence Linder, of Peru township ; Phedius, living in Peru township; Emma, who is deceased; Philip, of this review; Eliza- beth, who is the wife of George Schild and makes her home in Peru township; Kathryn, the wife of Charles Schild, who likewise resides in Peru township; William, of Monroeville, Ohio; Jacob, who has passed away ; Minnie, who is the wife of Albert Heyman, of Sherman township; Charles, living in Greenfield township; Fred, who wedded Miss Minnie Herbin, by whom he has two children, Gilbert R. and Arthur F .; and Lottie, who is also deceased.
Philip Herner spent the first ten years of his life in Sherman township and obtained his education in the district and German schools at Pontiac. Since the age of ten years he has made his home in Peru township and has always followed agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood. The farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres which he owns in partnership with his brother Fred was pur- chased by them from their father and they have brought the property under a high state of cultivation and improvement. Alert, enterprising and progressive,
MR. AND MRS. PHIDEUS HERNER
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they have met with a well merited measure of prosperity in their farming opera- tions and have gained favorable recognition as representative and substantial citi- zens of the community. The brothers belong to the Lutheran church at Pontiac and their honorable and upright lives have made them well worthy the regard which is uniformly accorded them.
M. C. PRICE.
M. C. Price needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he is at the head of the Norwalk Piano Company, one of the leading commercial insti- tutions of the city of Norwalk. Moreover he is a worthy and honored represen- tative of one of the oldest and best known families of this part of Ohio. He comes of a family of English-Welsh descent and the sterling qualities of the founder have been reproduced in the descendants. The Prices and Hatfields are supposed to have laid out the city of Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1664, Chris- topher Price leased Price's Commons, now an important part of the city, for ninety-nine years. He afterward exchanged his lease of land for a horse which he mounted and rode over the mountains to Lexington, Kentucky, where he reared his large family. His descendants have never sought to figure promi- nently in public life, but have been of the solid and substantial men and women of their various communities where they have acquired good homes and won honor- able names. Of this family, Governor Price, the founder of Leesville, Ohio, is a representative. When on a visit to Pennsylvania, he met Miss Sarah Rippeth, who afterward became his wife. They returned to Lexington, Kentucky, and to them were born the following named: Kit, William, James, John, Joseph, Basil, Joshua, Benjamin, Linda, the wife of John N. Adair, a merchant and hatter ; Anna, the wife of Dr. Lawthers; Mrs. Sarah Smith; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Dr. Watkins; and Mrs. Rebecca Brisbin. In about 1812, Governor Price rode on horseback from Lexington, Kentucky, and spent the night in a log cabin where the cemetery is now located. He bought a tract of land and returned to Lexington and when he again came to Ohio made his way up the river to Steuben- ville, a sparsely settled town. He was accustomed to hard work and immediately commenced the task of felling the trees and building a log cabin but the primitive home was soon afterward replaced by a brick dwelling. The family made their linen from the flax which they grew and their sugar from the maples in their camp. Governor Price was a farmer, but much of his time was spent in clearing land. He laid out the town of Leesville and at a public dinner the lots were sold at auction. In early manhood, he became a member of the Baptist church, but after- ward united with the Universalist church and always took an active part in its meet- ings. He lived a life of usefulness and died honored by all. His sons settled principally near Leesville, although a few of the family went west.
James Price of this family was born at Lexington, Kentucky, November 17, 1799. He came up the river with is father, Governor Price, in a rowboat when about two years old and when they stopped for dinner, he was left on the bank
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and was not missed until they were several miles up the stream when the family returned for him. As a boy, he assisted in clearing up the land and afterward, learned the cabinetmaker's trade, becoming an expert workman. On the 14th of June, 1821, he married Miss Mary Holmes, a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Holmes. She died October 2, 1865, and James Price afterward wedded Mrs. Gartrell. Mr. Price lived to see cities established where forests stood and the few friendly Indians disappear before the advancing modern civilization. He was born when Ohio was still a territory and lived to see many states added to the Union. His life was spent in honest industry and was fraught with many good deeds and characterized by kindly assistance to others. He embodied in his life the truth of Christianity without its forms and won the respect and good will of all who knew him. His children were : Clun, Sarah, Elizabeth, John, Susan, Samuel E., Bazaleel, Isaac T., Rezin, James C., and Meredith C.
Of this family, Clun Price was born April 2, 1822, acquired a common school education and took up the study of medicine with Dr. Smith, of Moorefield, Ohio. He was afterward graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College and success- fully practiced his profession. He married Linda Hines and located at Birming- ham, Ohio. Their children were: Meredith C., Galen, John, Will, Tude and Lin- nie. The sons all became connected with the drygoods trade. In politics, Mr. Price was a republican and he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Sarah Price, the eldest daughter of James Price, was born November 3, 1823, and was a lady of many excellent traits of character. On the 20th of April, 1843, she became the wife of Amos Carr, a teacher, surveyor and merchant, who was a natural leader among men and had influence, because of his personal worth and ability. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carr were born the following named : Lorin, Ermina, Annie, Ada V., Lish and Lou. Of this family, Lorin was born in 1851, and he displays many of the sterling traits exhibited by his worthy father. After ac- quiring his education, he turned his attention to merchandising and later com- pleted the study of law and was admitted to the bar, but abandoned his profes- sion to accept a clerkship in the Ohio house of representatives. Later he became connected with the railway mail service. In November, 1875, he married Lil- lian Hunt and they had a family of two sons and a daughter. Ermina Carr, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Carr, was born February 2, 1856, was ac- corded good educational advantages, and in 1871, became the wife of Alfred Canaga, of the United States navy, who was formerly professor of naval tactics at Cornell University, Utica, New York, but is now deceased. They have one son, Bruce. Annie Carr, born October 25, 1858, married C. M. Rippeth, a successful and popular merchant, and has one child, Mina. Ada V., born De- cember 24, 1859, was educated at the public schools of Baltimore, Maryland, at Scio College, and the Valparaiso (Indiana) Normal, from which institution, she ' was graduated. She was no less esteemed for her educational attainments than for her splendid womanly qualities, and has made an excellent record as a teacher. Lish Carr, born May 15, 1865, attended the Leesville schools and later was grad- uated from Campbell University at Holton, Kansas. She married W. F. Holmes, a farmer near Leesville. Lou Carr, born April 24, 1867, was graduated from the public schools of Clinton, Missouri, winning honors in scholarship, and on the 22d of October, 1888, she married A. D. Walker, an attorney of Holton, Kansas.
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Susan Price, a daughter of James Price, was born August 20, 1825, and died October 16, 1855. Her life was characterized by many noble qualities and kindly acts which endeared her to all who knew her.
Elizabeth Price, the next member of the family, was born January 17, 1827, and became the wife of Ecton Roby, but both are now deceased. Their children were Maud, the wife of Webster Heron, a prominent business man of Columbus ; Eva, the wife of Charles Wheaton, of South Bend, Indiana ; and Merritt.
John Price, another son of James Price, was born October 12, 1829, and be- came a millwright. When a young man, he went west, secured employment at Taylorville, Illinois, and soon formed a partnership in the milling business. He has developed an extensive enterprise, his trade extending over several states. His wife bore the maiden name of Hattie Cogle.
Samuel E. Price, the next member of the family, born October 31, 1831, was educated in Hopedale College and afterward engaged in teaching school for a time and then read law with Judge Hance, of New Philadelphia. He married Miss Carrie Smith, principal of the New Philadelphia schools, and removed to Clinton, Missouri, to practice law. In his profession, he has shown marked ability, attaining high rank among the lawyers of that locality, while he and his wife have been active in educational work. He has been chosen and served as president of the board of education of Clinton.
Bazalcel Price, born October 8, 1833, was educated in the common schools and began clerking for his brother-in-law, Amos Carr, at Leesville, while later, he became proprietor of the store, being regarded for many years as the leading mer- chant of Harrison and Carroll counties. In business matters, he was a man of strict integrity, never weighing any act in the scale of public opinion, and his career was at all times useful and honorable. He was a strong abolitionist, who did valuable service in the anti-slavery cause and became an enthusiastic republi- can, but supported Horace Greeley in 1872, and afterward voted the democratic ticket. On August 7, 1856, he married Jennie Burr, a daughter of the late Dr. Joseph S. Burr, and they had three children, Orrin, Wendell and William. Of these Orrin was born February 24, 1859, and was married October 30, 1879, to Clara Finney. For years, he was in charge of one of the departments of the Jos- eph Horner Dry Goods Store, of Pittsburg. His brother William, born April 3, 1866, occupied a similar position with Giddings Brothers & Bent, of Colorado Springs. Wendell, born April 15, 1860, was graduated from the Northern Ohio University, August 28, 1883, and in 1889, married Florence Head, an accomplished musician and graduate of the same school. Wendell Price became well known in educational circles as principal of the Leesville schools.
James C. Price, son of James Price, Sr., was born November 15, 1835, and when eighteen years of age learned the mason's trade and as a contractor, built various churches, schools and public buildings. In 1859, during the Pikes Peak gold excitement, he with three others from Leesville, started for the gold fields and at Kansas City, bought an outfit for the trip. There they connected themselves with a wagon train of fourteen teams and seventy men and after a journey of seven weeks reached Denver, which at that time contained little but a government postoffice. Proceeding on their way to Colorado Springs, they met thousands of prospectors, who were devising all kinds of means whereby they might return to
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the states. Of the party of seventy, only four remained. Mr. Price with a young man from Vermont, opened up a claim in what was then called Russell's Gulch, where they worked five men at two dollars and a half per day and board. Mr. Price spent his time prospecting between Mountain City and Pikes Peak and to the head of the Arkansas river. In the fall they returned to the states for winter quarters, again returning to the mines as before. In 1861, James C. Price re- turned to Ohio and in 1862, enlisted in the Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the close of the war, he did contract work in Cadiz, Uhrichsville and New Philadelphia. He married Miss Martha English, of Mastersville, and afterward became proprietor of the United States Hotel at Leesville, Ohio. His children are: Burdell, Neva, De Forest and Fay.
Judge Isaac T. Price, a brother of James C. Price just mentioned above, was born November 27, 1837, and after acquiring a good literary education took up the study of law, was admitted to the Ohio bar, and afterward removed to Holton, Kansas, where he soon found clients and friends. His ability being of a high order, he easily won election three times to the office of probate judge. He has a family of four daughters : Effie, Ella, Myrile and Floy.
Rezin Price, born February 26, 1840, learned the woodworkers trade and for a number of years engaged in the furniture business and undertaking, but later entered the employ of the Edna Piano & Organ Factory, at Monroeville. He enlisted in the Union army and met all the hardships and privations of military life. He married Miss Jennie Kail and they became parents of three daughters and two sons : Effie, Pearl, Merritt, Orlo and Marie.
Merideth C. Price, born May 25, 1846, another son of Clun Price and the im- mediate subject of this review, was two years old when adopted by his grand- father, James Price, Sr. Under his care, he was reared to manhood. He was still pursuing his education when, constrained by a spirit of patriotism, he put aside his text-books and offered his aid to the government in February, 1864, en- listing when a boy of seventeen years as a member of Company A, Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was made a drummer boy and what he lacked in years he made up in valor and loyalty, sharing with the other soldiers in the many hardships of war, particularly the famous march to the sea. At the close of the war, July 8, 1865, he received his discharge and when he returned home resumed his education as a student in Mount Union College, where he remained until 1867, when he assumed the management of the drygoods store, owned by his uncle, B. W. Price. He remained with his uncle until 1874, and then established busi- ness on his own account as proprietor of a jewelry and music store. A year later, he bought out a stock of general merchandise and carried on business in the old Millisack corner until the fall of 1878, when he purchased the Crawford corner and thereon erected a model business block at a cost of nearly ten thousand dol- lars. Seeing the advantage of a newspaper, he established the Times and later on also published the Plaindealer from the Times office. On the 5th of Decem- ber, 1890, he sold his stock to A. F. Kail and became the largest stockholder and also the manger of the Edna Piano & Organ Company, of Monroeville. He fig- ures as one of the best known men of Leesville and contributes in large measure to the enterprise and upbuilding of the town, as well as to his individual success. He became the most extensive real-estate owner of the town, making investments
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