History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 138

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Ohio > Licking County > History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present > Part 138

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

to this volume, in whole or in part. In the Natur- alist's directory of 1879 he is represented as spe- cially interested in archaeology, geology and pale- ontology. The politics of Mr. Smucker have led him to advocate human freedom, equal rights, and the perpetuity of the Union of the States ; his patriotism led him to oppose rebellion, secession, and the disruption of our Government; his ethics or code of morals led him to oppose human s'av- ery, wrong, and injustice, and to favor temper- ance, virtue and universal education ; his system of christian philosophy (based upon the "golden rule," and the "Sermon on the Mount,") naturally led him into individual and associated efforts that tended to ameliorate the condition of mankind ; his religion, non-sectarian and mildly dogmatic, has led him to favor all organizations, societies, asso- ciations and institutions that promised the elevation and improvement of humanity, and the promotion and advancement of the interests and welfare of mankind; and it has also led him to be the zealous friend and constant advocate of a pure, elevating christian literature, and a christian pulpit and chris- tian institutions that not only preceptively, but practically maintained the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.

The ancestor of Mr. Smucker of the second generation before him crossed the Atlantic in 1785, was at that time the ,father of five sons, all born in Hesse Darmstadt, and soon after he reached Ameri- ca, settled in the Shenandoah valley. Three of those sons entered the Lutheran ministery, and one (George, the eldest) removed to Pennsylvania, be- came distinguished in the pulpit during his minis- try of more than half a century, and also as an author. His eldest son gave more than fifty years of faithful service to the same church, in the pul- pit, and as a professor of theology and Biblical liter- ature in the Theological seminary of the Lutheran church at Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania. In this capa- city he held a high position, and acquired no small distinction as a scholar and Christian minis- ter. He was also a voluminous author, giving to theology and philosophy the benefit of his labor as an author. A number of his sisters married Lutheran ministers, who also became college pro- fessors or presidents of colleges, one of whom be- ing Rev. Dr. Sprecher, president of the Witten- berg college at Springfield, Ohio. Five of his sons and sons-in-law also entered the Lutheran ministry, one of the sons, however, afterwards devoted him- self to literary pursuits and authorship, having writ- ten probably about thirty volumes, chiefly of a his- torical character.

Some of the descendants of one of the three preacher brothers (Nicholas), also entered the Lutheran ministry, and still remain in it Man others of the numerous descendants of the patriarch

Digitized by Google

771

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

who sought and found protection on the banks of the classic Shenandoah, "in the old dominion, " in 1785, against the tyranny of the Old World, though not in the ministry of the Lutheran church, are still in its communion, ardent adherents to the faith of their revered ancestor. They are widely scat- tered over the United States; especially are the descendants of the youngest (Peter), one of the three preacher brothers, one of whose sons lived in Pennsylvania, another in California, one in Kansas, one in Michigan, two in Ohio, and a daughter in Kentucky. The lineal and collateral or more re- mote descendants-those of the fourth and fifth generations from their progenitor of 1785-are still more widely spread, being inhabitants, in greater or less numbers, not only of the aforementioned States, but, in addition, of almost every other State in the American Union.

The writer (A. B. C.) begs leave to close the foregoing sketch of his long-time friend, by the fol- lowing poetical tribute to one upon whom the "pass- ing years seem only to bring more vigorous thought and that calm serenity which is the result of hon- orable endeavor and acknowledged usefulness. It contains a few impromtu thoughts that were sug- gested to him on the occasion of the celebration of the seventy-second anniversary of his birth (De- cemb: 1 14, 1879), and were certainly in the memory of some of his friends to-day (December 14, 1880), on the anniversary of his seventy-third birthday:

""Tis little that the snows that melt, Are on his brow; "Tis much the Psalmist's limit is not felt A burden now.

"Tis little that he may not set at naught Great Nature's laws; `Tis much that he has lived, and toiled and wrought In Freedom's cause.

"Tis little that the flashing fire of youth Burns dim to-day; "Tis much that age brings wisdom; that in truth We live alway.

Then let the years roll on; they cannot stay The heart's bright flame, Nor mar one leaf the wreath that truth shall lay On his good name."

SMUCKER, C. CARROLL, is a son of Hon. Isaac Smucker, of Newark, and was born there November, 1844. He was a member of company D, Ohio volunteer infantry, the company being commanded by Captain Charles H. Kibler, from November 11, 1862, to May 30, 1863, when he was discharged because of ill health. In Decem- ber, 1863, having in a measure regained his health, he re-entered the service as a member of the Union Light guards, and continued a member until the close of the war, doing duty chiefly in Washington city and Eastern Virginia, receiving an honorable discharge in September, 1865. He

is now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. His brother, William H., was a member of an Illinois regiment, attached to the army of General Buell, and he died in the service; and his only other brother, Peter, belonged to a cavalry regiment at- tached to the Mountain department, commanded by General Fremont. He is a citizen of Indiana.

SNETZER, MARTIN, conductor on Baltimore & Ohio railroad. He was born in Newark, July 10, 1843, and was married to Helen Blaney July 9, 1868. She is the daughter of Andrew Blaney, now living in Newark, at the age of eighty years. She was born December 1, 1844. They had three children: William, who died July 27, 1870, at the age of six months; Charles Andrew was born August 12, 1871, and Edgar Allen died August 19, 1878. Mr. Snetzer worked on a farm until the war began. He then enlisted in com- pany E, Twelfth Ohio volunteer infantry, July 22, 1861, and was discharged July 9, 1864. He re- enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Sev- enty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, September 3, 1864, and was discharged July 3, 1865. He was in the hard-fought battles of Bull Run, South Mountain, Nashville, and many others; also was on the Hunter raid from Lynchburgh, and has seen many hardships in army service. For the past twelve years he has been in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad as conductor. He is the son of Phillip Snetzer, of Newark, Ohio.

SPEER, A. T., M. D., of Newark, was born in this county April 4, 1842. He was educated in the high schools of Newark and the .Ann Arbor university, Michigan. He engaged in the study of medicine in 1861, with Dr. John N. Wilson, of Newark, and graduated in the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati in 1866. In the spring of the same year he commenced the practice of his profession in Newark, where he has since been en- gaged. He was one of the original members of the Licking County Medical society. He served as the first secretary of the society, and at present holds the office of first vice-president of this or- ganization.

SPRAGUE, HENRY D., lawyer .- Office on the north side of public square, Newark. Mr. Sprague was born near Cooperstown, Otsego county, New York, February 11, 1817. His parents, Joseph and Mary A. Sprague, were of New England stock, having emigrated from Rhode Island and settled in New York near the close of the last century. He was the youngest of a family of six children. He enjoyed the ad- vantages of a common school until he arrived at the age of thirteen years. He then came west, and arrived at Newark in October, 1830, where

Digitized by Google

772

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

he found employment with his older brother, Hezekiah S. Sprague, the jeweler, who had settled in Newark a year or two before that time. He continued with his brother in that business until in 1840, when he commenced the study of law with George B. Smythe, attorney, and was ad- mitted to the bar in September, 1842. He at once began the practice of his profession as one of the now well known firm of Smythe & Sprague, and soon became one of the prominent and suc- cessful lawyers of Newark. Not having attended school after coming to Ohio, he is strictly a self: educated man. He has been an earnest Whig or Republican from the time he first had a vote, but has never sought political or official preferment, and still remains in the practice of his profession. In 1845 he married Miss Elizabeth Taylor, of Newark. She is a daughter of James M. Taylor, one of Licking county's pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague settled in Newark. where they have since resided. They have a family of five children, three sons and two daughters.

SPRAGUE, H. S., jeweler, and dealer in gold and silver watches, clocks, jewelry, silverware, plated ware, Rockford watches a specialty; also all kinds of repairing neatly and promptly done, Palisade Row, west side of public square, Newark. Mr. Sprague was born in Otsego county, New York, December 8, 1800. In 1817 he commenced, as an apprentice, at the jewelry trade, in Providence, Rhode Island, and served three years as such. In July, 1820, he migrated to Ohio and located in Columbus, where he worked at his trade a few months with his brother, Lindol Sprague, a jeweler by trade. In November of the same year, he in company with his brother, Lindol, left Columbus on foot for Cleveland, expecting to engage in business at that place. They traveled by the way of Lancaster, Zanesville, Coshocton, Millersburgh, Wooster, Medina, and from thence to Cleveland; but not finding things looking favorable for them and their business, they returned to Wooster, where they engaged in their business as partners, and carried on a jewelry and silversmith shop nine years, when the partnership ceased. In 1829 Mr. Sprague, came to Newark, where he es- tablished a jeweler shop, and a few years later he established a jewelry store, which he has since been conducting with success. In 1832 he leased the ground and built a small frame building on his present location, which served him as a business room about four years. In 1836 he purchased the ground and erected his present three story brick structure, eighteen by one hundred feet. The room on the first floor is occupied by him, as his main business room, which is well filled with everything elegant and attractive to the eye, in his

line of business, and all goods warranted first-class, and of the best material. December 5, 1837, he married Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of Dr. Robert Moore, of Zanesville Ohio. Miss Moore was born in Zanesville, July 12, 1812. By this union they reared four children: Elizabeth A., William A. Belinda M., and Annie C. His companion de- ceased August 20, 1871. He purchased the lot in 1832 on which his present fine brick residence now stands, which was completed in 1853, and has since served him as an abode. He brought the first vehicle with springs into this county; he also owned the first top buggy in the county.

SPRAGUE, GEORGE B. & Co., dealers in general hardware, No. 107 Third street, Newark, Ohio. This firm was established in 1874, by Messrs. Sprague and McCune, who purchased the entire stock of hardware, formerly owned by D. C. Winegarner, and have since been conducting the business of dealing in general hardware. They occupy the three-story building, twenty-four text front and eighty feet back, with a basement of the same size. 'The basement is used as storage for paints, oils, glass, and putty. 'The main business room is well filled with a general assortment of hardware; in fact, everything in their line of busi- ness. The second story is occupied by sash, doors, blinds, etc., and on the third floor is a large stock of carriage and wagon findings, all of the highest grades.

. STANBERY, HON. JAMES R .- Mr. Stanbery is at present the senior resident member of the Licking county bar, having been a practicing lawyer here nearly fifty years. He is the oldest son of the late Hon. William Stanbery, and was born in New York city, March 24, 1810, and brought to New- ark the same year, seventy years ago. Mr. Stan- bery enjoyed the opportunities of instruction afforded by the early time schools of Newark. He was also a pupil in the grammar and Latin school taught by Rev. Thomas D. Baird, about the year 1818, and earlier. Subsequently he attended for a time, the classical school of Professor McMullen, in Granville, and of a similar school in Zanesville, taught by Professor Chase, son of the bishop. Afterwards he attended the school at Worthington, taught by the late Bishop Chase, where. among others, he had for his fellow student Salmon P. Chase, late Chief Justice of the United States. For the completion of his education his father placed him in the Ohio university, at Athens, of which in- stitution he is a graduate, having attained to a good rank in scholarship. After obtaining his diploma he entered the law office of Ewing & Hunter, of Lancaster, as a law student, and afterwards the office of Irwin & Stanbery, of the same place, where he remained until he had completed his

Digitized by Google

773

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

studies. He was admitted to the bar in 1831. It has always been conceded that James R. Stanbery possessed intellectual. endowments of the first order, and, as he had ample educational opportuni- ties, and also enjoyed the benefit of the legal in- struction of some of the ablest lawyers of Ohio, to say nothing of the legal knowledge obtained inci- dentally from his father, who held rank with the best old-time lawyers of the State, it is not at all surprising that he should have become a good law- yer, and have early taken a good position as a member of the legal fraternity of the county, and, indeed, of the State. For nearly fifty years Mr. Stanbery has been a practicing lawyer, and he has been little else than that, although engaged, more or less, in politics, and sometimes a candidate for office. In 1863 he was elected a member of the senate of Ohio, by the district, composed of the counties of Licking and Delaware, and served two years as such. He was also elected a Presidential elector in 1864, and cast the vote of this district for Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States. Alter this statement it is scarcely neces- sary to say that the subject of this sketch was patriotic, loyal to the government during all the dreary years of the "great Rebellion," and no less the friend of freedom. Mr. Stanbery has much vigor and originality as a public speaker, and as a writer, is distinguished for elegance and point. He was postmaster of Newark from 1867 to 1869.

STATER, B. F., railroad engineer, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1842. About the age of five years he moved to Berkeley county, Virginia, with his father. He was raised on a farm. He enlisted, in November, 1862, in company C, Third West Virginia cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was in thirty-six of the prominent battles. among which were the three fought at Win- chester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Port Royal, Manassas Gap, Mt. Jackson, Cross Keys, Wyth- ville, and in the Lynchburgh raid, and at Staunton, Virginia, Waynesborough, Virginia, and at Cham- bersburgh, Pennsylvania, Morefield, Virginia, Bun- ker Hill, Virgina, Petersburgh, Dinwiddie Court House, Harper's Farms, Appomattox Court House, and many others. He was promoted from the ranks through all the non-commissioned offices to second lieutenant. July 26, 1866, he was married to Miss Manerva Tabler, of Martinsburgh, West Virginia. She was born in Westerville, Ohio, November 23, 1845. Her mother is yet living in Springfield, aged about fifty-five years. Peter Tabler, her father, died in California in 1865. Formerly he was one of the enterprising men of Westerville, Ohio. Mr. Stater is the father of three children, living-Laura Bell, Ada Mabel, Bertha Fern. Four died about the

ages of three years-Clara J., Daisy, Thomas Irvin and Mary Mervin. Mr. Stater is one of nine chil- dren of the family of Henry Stater, near Martins- burgh, West Virginia, who died at that place at the age of seventy-two years. His wife died when the subject of this sketch was quite small, at the age of forty years. His brother, Henry Stater, of the same company and regiment, was killed on the Lynchburgh raid. In this company, fifty-three able- bodied men were in service, and only three re- turned. After leaving the army he followed farm- ing until 1870. He went in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, in the Pittsburgh and Connelsville shops as night foreman. He remained at this only about six months. He then went to firing on a locomotive. This he continued some two years, then was promoted to engineer. In this capacity he has served six years. He now lives in East Newark.

STIEF, PETER, boiler-maker, was born in Baden, Germany, May 6, 1840; emigrated to Upper San- dusky, Ohio, when ten years of age, remained there four years, then came to Newark, where he now re- sides. December 25, 1866, he was married to Miss Hannah Miller. She was born November 28, 1845. By this marriage they have four children-Herma, born January 17, 1868; Anna V., born August 25, 1870; Edward V., born January 27, 1872; Mirtle S., born August 3, 1876. George W., infant, died February 22, 1879. Mr. Stief learned boiler mak- ing, and this is his occupation at present. He has been employed for the past eleven years in the firm of Shideler & McNamar. Mrs. Stief is the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Miller, of Newark.

STONE T. W., dealer in groceries and provisions. He was born January 12, 1848, in Bowling Green township. When about twelve years of age he with his parents removed to Putnam county, Iowa, and remained there about three years, when they returned to Bowling Green township. They re- mained there about four years, when they removed to Clay Lick. Mr. Stone lived in Clay Lick until October 1, 1868, when he married Elizabeth Wil- son. She was born in Marion county, Ohio, August 12, 1848. They have two children-Charley E., born July 24, 1870; Mamie, born June 21, 1875. After their marriage they moved from Clay Lick to Hanover, where he engaged in the mercantile business two years, when they removed to Fra- zeysburgh, Muskingum county, from there to Den- ison, remaining until July, 1874, when he went to Cincinnati and engaged in the theatrical business a short time, then removed to Newark, remain- ing about six months, then he removed to San- dusky, remaining about two years, when he returned to Newark, where he has since lived. From the fall of 1875 to 1879 he was in the employ of the

Digitized by Google

774

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Baltimore & Ohio railroad, Lake Erie division, as conductor. Since that time he has been engaged in the grocery commission business, and is located on corner of Church and Fourth streets, No. 23 commission house.

SUMMER, SAMUEL, employe Baltimore & Ohio railroad. He has been engaged in this business fifteen years,and given entire satisfaction to the com- pany. He was born January 16, 1844, in Hagers- town, Washington county, Maryland; came to this county in July, 1875, and settled in Newark, where he has lived since. He was married December, 1872, to Jennie Webb, of Leitersburgh, Maryland. They have three children-William E., born June 12, 1875; L. C., born July 12, 1878; J. S., born December 15, 1879. Mr. Summer served in the late war three years, in company E, First Wiscon- sin cavalry, receiving his discharge April, 1865.

SUTTON, MRS. BARBARA, resides on the corner of Third and Baker streets. She was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1816, and was married to Job Sutton, February 14, 1836, Came to this county soon after her marriage, and then removed to Knox county, Ohio. From there they went to Warren county, Iowa, remaining there two years, when they removed to St. Joe, Missouri, and, after three years, came to Licking county. Her husband died February 27, 1875. They had but one child, John B., born November 4, 1838, and died July 30, 1860.

SWARTZ, JOHN M., attorney, of the firm of Law- head & Swartz, born December 11, 1844, in Wayne county; son of Samuel Swartz, of German ancestry. Young Swartz was raised on the farm. In the year 1865 he entered the Den- ison university at Granville, and was graduated in June, 1869, and the same year was elected principal of the Newark High school. In 1871 he entered as a student the law office of J. B. Jones, and was admitted to practice in 1873. On his ad- mission to the bar he was, successively, partner in the law firms of Swartz & Swartz, Swartz & Allen, Swartz & Harris, and the present firm, which was formed in October, 1879. Attorney Swartz was married August 5, 1869, to Miss Anne Carnahan, a native of England, but at the time of her mar- riage a resident of Wayne county. Four children: Mabel C., Lillie I. (decased), Samuel R., and Annie M. Mrs. Swartz died December 5, 1879, and is buried at Amwell, Wayne county, Ohio. In 1879 Attorney Swartz was a candidate lor nomina- tion for representative to the legislature, but was defeated by only one hundred and twenty votes.

SWARTZ, JOSEPH, farmer .- He was born in Al- sace, France, December 29, 1824, and came to Perry county, Ohio, with his parents when six years

old, and lived with them until twenty-one, but from the age of fourteen he worked around for others. When of age he married Lydia Forenger, February 9, 1845 She was born September 9, 1824. They moved to Licking township, this county, on a farm of forty-three acres belonging to his wife. His father died in 1853, aged sixty-five. His mother is still living, and resides in Somerset, Perry county, and is seventy-six years of age. Her father and mother are dead; he died in 1852, aged sixty-five, and she died in 1853, aged sixty-one. Mr. Swartz afterwards purchased seventy-three acres of land of his brother-in-law, adjoining the forty-three acres. He then purchased eighty acres which joins another tract on the west of one hun- dred and sixty acres, which he purchased of the Smith heirs, and is known as the "Smith Island" Of this tract there is but eighty-five acres dry land. Mr. Swartz pays taxes on two hundred and forty acres, but has but one hundred and fifty that is tillable. The land that is under water is assessed at one dollar per acre. His farm is known as the Reservoir farm. He also bought of Calvin Grove sixty-six acres, which was part of the Bussey farm. He afterwards bought thirty-three acres on the east line of the Mesmore tract of another Smith heir; on this tract of land he has a gravel bank of two acres-it is the only gravel bank on the Reservoir. There was found in this bank a human skeleton- its history is unknown. The gravel from this bank is used to gravel the roads throughout the town- ship. He afterward bought twenty-two acres from John R. Tanner, adjoining the home farm. Mr. Swartz then purchased ten acres in the suburbs of West Newark, where he now resides. They have had nine children, two died in infancy, and two died at the ages of six and eight, respectively, with scarlet fever, and were buried in the same grave. His oldest boy died November 5, 1847, aged eighteen. Francis Marion was born August 17, 1849, and was married to Mary E. Tanner, October 31, 1872, and is living on the Reservoir farm; George L. was born December 25, 1856, and was married to Rebecca V. Coffman, Decem- ber 27, 1877, and is living on the home farm; Mary Alice was born July 7, 1859; Laura J. April 10, 1863. Mary attended school at Columbus, Som- erset, and Newark. Laura is attending school at St. Mary's of the Springs, at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Swartz has an elegant home in Newark.

SWEET, JAMES A., carpenter, joiner, and mill- wright, He is the son of A. and L. A. Sweet, and was born October 22, 1850, in South Carolina, Chesterfield district. He came to Ohio with his parents in 1865, and settled in Zanesville, making that his home until he married, June ro, 187z Mrs. Sweet's maiden name was Matzenbar. S.

Digitized by Google

775

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

was born in Rhine Province, Germany, February 28, 1852, and came to this country in 1855, first settling in Birmingham, Pennsylvania. Two years after their settlement in Pennsylvania she with her parents removed to Zanesville, where she remained until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Sweet removed to Columbus, remaining until May, 1875, when they removed to Sunbury, Ohio, for a short time. They removed to Newark in July, 1875, where they have lived since. They have two children- Sarah E., born September 3, 1873, in Columbus; Flora C., born June 4, 1875, in Zanesville. Mr. Sweet resides at present on Granville street. He is in the employ of Garber & Vance, planing mills, as foreman.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 138

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826