History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 102

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207

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of his marriage Mr. Hooper rented a farm for six years, during which time he saved enough to buy his present farm of one hundred and ten acres in Canaan township, where he now lives, all of which he has earned by his own efforts.

Philip C. Hooper, father of William T., was born in Franklin county, Ohio, and his wife, Mary (Palmer) Hooper, is a native of Union county, Ohio. They are now living as retired farmers at Columbus Grove, Putnam county, Ohio. This union has been blest with five children, all living in 1915: John, who owns and operates a saw-mill at West Cairo, Ohio; Samuel, a merchant of Lima, Ohio; James, a farmer in Union county, Ohio; William T .; and Margaret, who married a Mr. Fisher.

William T. Hooper was united in marriage, December 25, 1892, with Cora Harris, daughter of Isaac and Rebecca (Lisk) Harris. She was born on August 8, 1870, in Canaan township,, Madison county, where she was reared and received her education, attending the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hooper are the parents of five children, as follow : Jay is in the automobile business at West Jefferson; Ethel; Leona is single, as is Vivian, and Nellie who are at home.

Isaac and Rebecca (Lisk) Harris, parents of Cora (Harris) Hooper, were natives of Franklin county, Ohio. They lived in Canaan township, Madison county, the greater part of their married life. Mr. Harris was a farmer, but is now living retired. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were the parents of the following children: Elsie, Amanda, Flora (deceased), Ada, Cora and Thomas (deceased). Mrs. Harris died in September, 1915.

Mr. Hooper enjoys the confidence and respect of the community in which he resides, where he and his wife are interested in every measure to promote the general welfare.

RAYMOND HARBAGE.

The achieved success of Raymond R. Harbage, whose history is briefly outlined in the following sketch, is an illustration of the fact that the man with the college edu- cation is not necessarily a failure when it comes to agricultural pursuits. Mr. Harbage can point with pride to his accomplishments.

Raymond R. Harbage, farmer, West Jefferson, Ohio, was born on November 24. 1889, in Jefferson township, Madison county, and is a son of Charles and Jennie B. (Roberts) Harbage. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and attended the public schools and later went to the West Jefferson high school, after which he became a student at the Ohio State University. Mr. Harbage devotes his time to general farm- ing and stock-raising, principally cattle and hogs, which he sends away each year . by the carload. He is a stanch Republican, and believes in furthering the interests of his township in every possible way. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of West Jefferson, Ohio. His fraternal alliance is with Madison Lodge No. 222, Free and Accepted Masons.

Charles Harbage, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on the East pike in Jefferson township, and died in December, 1911. His wife, Jennie B. (Roberts) Harbage, is still living in Jefferson township. Charles Harbage was a son of Owen Harbage. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Harbage were born five children : Robert S., a graduate of the West Jefferson high school, is now a farmer in Deer Creek township; Raymond R., a twin of Robert S .; Iva M., who is a high school graduate, is married to Carl Marsh, of Marysville, Ohio; Homer V., a high school graduate, is single and lives at home; and Percival, who also graduated from high school and is at home unmarried.

Owen Harbage, the paternal grandfather, was a native of England, and came to the United States at the age of thirteen years, settling at West Jefferson, Ohio, where he was employed as a farm hand at fifty cents a day, but, through his thrifty and indus- trious habits, soon became prosperous, and is still living at West Jefferson, where he

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owns a large tract of valuable land. He was united in marriage with Minerva Arnett, by whom he had seven children, Addie, Clara, Anna, Charles, Vynul, Arnett and Ben- jamin. Mr. Harbage is president of the Farmers' Bank at West Jefferson, Ohio, where be made the most of his money at farming and cattle-raising. His wife is deceased.

Raymond R. Harbage was united in marriage, November 1, 1911, with Irma O. Bidwell, daughter of Monroe Bidwell. She was born in Madison county, and was edu- cated in the public schools, graduating from the London high school. Mr. and Mrs Harbage began their married life on a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres in Canaan township.

A biographical sketch of Monroe Bidwell, father of Mrs. Raymond R. Harbage, is presented elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Harbage is a broad-minded man, and has many friends in Madison county.

LAWRENCE C. ENGELSPERGER.

When the great national road was being constructed through this part of the state nearly one hundred years ago not a few of the men engaged in the work of pushing that monumental task to completion were so well pleased with the prospect then pre- sented in Madison county that they remained here, becoming permanent residents, founding families whose members in the third and fourth generation now are included among the most prominent and influential citizens of the county. Among these work- men who stopped off here was a steady, sober, earnest-minded and industrious German immigrant, Lawrence Engelsperger. who decided to put in his lot with that of the. energetic pioneers who at that time were so vigorously engaged in establishing a sound social order in Madison county. Locating at the village of West Jefferson, in the eastern section of the county, Lawrence Engelsperger became one of the strong factors in the development of that town and there he reared his family; his children and his children's children having since then done well their respective parts in this com- munity.

The elder Lawrence Engelsperger was a native of Germany, who came to America in the days of his young manhood and located at Columbus, Ohio. He was a baker by trade and in Ohio's capital city readily found employment. There he met Magdaline Hosess. a German girl, who also had come to America seeking to better her station, and the two were married. When the construction gang reached Columbus, Lawrence Engelsperger joined the workers on the national road, working on the road during the days and baking for the construction crew during the nights. When the force reached West Jefferson he gave up this employment and settled in the village, spending the rest of his life there. That was in the year 1832, and ever since the Engelsperger family has been worthily represented in this county. Lawrence Engelsperger and his wife, Magdaline Hosess, were the parents of nine children. three of whom are still living, those besides the immediate subject of this sketch, being Mary, widow of Charles G. Hood, of Columbus. this state, and Mintie, the wife of Magee Gains. of Council Bluffs. Iowa.

Lawrence C. Engelsperger, son of Lawrence and Magdaline (Hosess) Engelsper- ger, was born in the village of West Jefferson. Madison county, Ohio. on June 16. 1839, and has lived there all his life. during this long period having been a witness of the wonderful material development which has marked the progress of the com- munity since that far-away date. He received such educational advantages as . were offered in the village school during the period of his boyhood and was trained in the trade of shoemaker, in which he became very proficient, Upon the breaking out of the Civil War, Lawrence C. Engelsperger enlisted, on September 5, 1861. in Company A. Fortieth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served valiantly as a soldier of the

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Union for three years and one month, the larger part of this service having been performed in the Army of the Cumberland, under General Sherman. At the close of the war, Mr. Engelsperger returned to West Jefferson and resumed his work at the shoemaker's bench, faithfully and successfully following this trade until the time of his retirement from the active pursuits of industry, in 1906, during all this time being faithful in all his relations in life, a good citizen and a fine neighbor, earning and preserving the respect, confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen.

On October 26, 1871. Lawrence C. Engelsperger was united in marriage to Nora L. Boyle, a native of Ireland, and to this union six children were born, five of whom are still living, namely : Mary, now living in her father's home; Bernard, unmarried, also living under the parental roof; Katie, wife of John Timmons, of Springfield, Ohio; Jacob, a mail carrier, living in West Jefferson, this county, and William, secretary of the local telephone company at West Jefferson.

Lawrence C. Engelsperger is a Democrat and for years took an active part in local politics. For two terms he served his home village as corporation clerk and also had served the township as constable. For years he was active in the work of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, but since his retirement has given less attention to the larger affairs of life, being content to take things easy, enjoying the rewards of his long and busy career. He has hosts of friends in the West Jefferson neighborhood, all of whom hold him in the highest regard.

THOMAS W. STALBIRD.

The subject of this sketch has made good use of his advantages thus far in his agricultural career. Mr. Stalbird is still a young man, and with the knowledge already gained, he bids fair to become a notable factor in the community in which he resides. His progressive work in stock breeding is bringing him to the front ranks, and his splendid line of horses and cattle is attracting the attention of many of the older dealers.

Thomas W. Stalbird, farmer and stock breeder, London, Monroe township, Madison county, Ohio, was born on May 30, 1882, and is a son of John and Irene (Carpenter) Stalbird. He was reared in Monroe township and there attended the district schools, in the village of Resaca, giving his attention to his studies during the winter months and assisting with the farm work during the summer, until he was twenty-one years of age, when his father presented him with a team of horses. He then rented a farm and began the vocation of a farmer on his own responsibility. Mr. Stalbird has become the owner of the farm of forty-three acres, which is located in Darby township, about three miles southwest of Plain City. Mr. Stalbird rents his forty-three acres out and farms three hundred and thirty acres which he rents and lives on part of this, dividing his attention between general farming and stock raising. He owns a fine standard-bred trotting mare and colt, as well as a purebred Percheron mare and colt, and a herd of registered Jersey cattle. His place is one of the noted farms in the county, and shows the care of a master hand. Mr. Stalbird is a stanch Republican, and has not allowed his home interests to lessen his interest in the welfare of his township. He has shown his public spirit by serving as township assessor, and officiating as a member of the board of education.

John Stalbird, father of Thomas W., was a native of Pennsylvania, and his wife, Irene (Carpenter) Stalbird, was born in Canaan township, Madison county, and has always lived in that neighborhood.

The paternal grandfather is M. D. Stalbird, who follows farming in Monroe town- ship, and also officiates as trustee of that territory.

Thomas W. Stalbird was united in marriage, March 9, 1904, with Bessie M. Finley,

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daughter of Scott and Jennie (Heath) Finley. She was born in Monroe township, and was educated in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Stalbird played together as children and attended the same school. They have one adopted daughter, Lula M., who was born on June 8, 1910.

Mr. Stalbird is a thoroughly up-to-date business farmer, and is building a reputation worthy of serving as an example for all ambitious young agriculturists.

WILLIAM H. KELLER.

"Hickory Grove Farm," situated two and one-half miles south of the village of West Jefferson, ou the Jefferson and Lilly Chapel pike, in Jefferson township, this county, is one of the best-appointed places in that vicinity and its proprietor is regarded as one of the most substantial men in that neighborhood, a man who enjoys the respect and confidence of the entire community.

William H. Keller, proprietor of "Hickory Grove Farm," was born on a farm in Union township, Madison county, Ohio, on September 29, 1860, son of George and Eliza (Fitzgerald) Keller, the former of whom was the son of Peter Keller, who came to this county from Maryland with his family when George Keller was a boy, and located on a farm on the national road, near Glade run, where he spent the rest of his life. George Keller grew to manhood on this Glade run farm and after his marriage rented farms in Madison and Franklin counties, in his later years buying a farm of ninety-nine and thirty-five hundredths acres in Jefferson township, where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring on April 8, 1908, she surviving until January 2, 1913. Upon the death of his father, William H. Keller bought the various interests of the other heirs in the home farm and has lived there ever since. He is unmarried and makes his home with his farm assistant and the latter's wife, who occupy the old Keller home.

To George and Eliza (Fitzgerald) Keller were born five children, four of whom are still living, namely : Ida C., who married Cornelius Recob, of Springfield, Ohio; William H., the subject of this sketch; E. E. J., a farmer of Logan county, this state, and Mary, who married John Grasley, a farmer living near West Jefferson, this county.

William H. Keller is a Democrat and takes a good citizen's interest in the political affairs of the county, though not an especially vigorous party worker. He is a pro- gressive farmer and is rated as a substantial citizen, one who ever has the best inter- ests of the community at heart, giving his earnest support to all local movements look- ing to the general betterment of conditions hereabout, and is held in high esteem by his neighbors.

MERITTE D. STALBIRD.

Having nothing of the speculator in his make up, Mr. Stalbird has achieved his business success through a methodical routine of business effort. He made up his mind at an early day to make sure of a comfortable living, and has the satisfaction of knowing he has been successful.

Meritte D. Stalbird, farmer and trustee of Monroe township, Madison county, was born on June 25, 1877, in Canaan township, and is a son of John and Trene (Carpenter) Stalbird. He was reared on the home farm, and attended the public schools of Canaan and Monroe townships, remaining under the parental roof until he was past twenty- one years of age, when he began farming for himself, renting at first, after which he bought thirty-three and one-third acres at Resaca, Ohio. Mr. Stalbird gives his sup- port to the Republican party, taking an active part in local politics, and serving as one of the trustees of Monroe township. He has made all he owns entirely through his own efforts.

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John Stalbird, father of Meritte D., was born in the state of New York, and moved with his parents to Pennsylvania, and thence to Madison county, Ohio, where he was united in marriage with Irene Carpenter, a sister of Burr E. Carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. Stalbird are residents of Canaan township, and are the parents of two children, Meritte D., and Thomas W., a prosperous farmer of Monroe township.

Meritte D. Stalbird was united in marriage, September 25, 1899, with Estelle Reed, who was born on March 10, 1888, near Gillivan, Canaan township, in Madison county. Ohio, and was educated in the public schools of Monroe township. To this union have been born two children, Marion Everette, born on August 26, 1900, a graduate of the public school at the age of fourteen years, and Florence I, born on January 7, 1903.

Mrs. Estelle (Reed) Stalbird is a daughter of Perry and Missouri (Miller) Reed. both of whom have lived for many years in Monroe township, where Mr. Reed is a farmer. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are the parents of six children, as follow : May married Samuel Skeels; Lennie married Major Gammel; Estella was the third in order of birth; Clara married Kirk Phillip; Edith married Fay Fenner; Harrison married Inez Anderson.

Mr. Stalbird has made all he possesses without any outside assistance, and being a gentleman of marked domestic tastes, thoroughly enjoys his home and family.

HORACE T. FINLEY.

While endeavoring to advance his own interests, Horace T. Finley, whose name introduces this sketch, has never neglected any favor that would tend to the promotion of the welfare of a friend or neighboring citizen. He is the owner of fine farming lands in Monroe township, and springs from aristocratic Virginia ancestry. His financial suc- cess has been the outcome of strict attention to business, and the high principles upon which he has always conducted his work.

Horace T. Finley, farmer, residing in Monroe township, Madison county, was born on October 25, 1848, in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and is a son of Col. J. H., and Martha (Ruff) Finley. He was educated in the public schools, after which he taught school for some years, and then took up the vocation of a farmer, which he has suc- cessfully conducted, and is now well fixed with the material goods of this world. Mr. Finley is a Democrat, in behalf of which party he has shown his public spirit by serving as trustee and township clerk at various times. His farm, consisting of one hundred and twenty-five acres, is located in Pike, Monroe and Darby townships. He is a member of Urania Lodge No. 311, of the Masonic Order, at Plain City.

Col. J. H. Finley, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Virginia, and a son of Michael Finley. His wife, Martha (Ruff) Finley, was a daughter of John R. Ruff. Colonel Finley was at one time a slaveowner, and conducted a flour-mill. When Colonel and Mrs. Finley came to Ohio, they located where Horace T. Finley now lives, and built a log cabin for their home, spending the remainder of their lives on this farm. Colonel Finley was a Democrat. He was well educated and well informed on the important topics of the day, and took an active interest in local politics. In his younger days Colonel Finley taught school for a number of years. To this union were born nine children, as follow : John R. enlisted in Company K, Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel McMillan, participating in the siege of Vicks- burg; W. A. was killed at Plain City by a railroad train; Samuel died when two years of age; D. Wallace is following agriculture in Nebraska ; Amanda is deceased : Horace T., of Monroe township; Matilda died in infancy: Margaret became the wife of E, W. Fisher; W. S. lives in Monroe township. A biographical sketch of the latter is pre- sented elsewhere in this volume.

Horace T. Finley was united in marriage, October 1, 1874, with Ada A. Dillow,

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daughter of Hugh and Susan (Heath) Dillow. She was born in Madison county. This union has been blest with five children, only three of whom are living in 1915: J. T., Oscar W., Ethel (deceased), Bertha (deceased), and Fay. J. T. is manager of the home farm; Oscar W. lives near Plain City; Bertha became the wife of John Barley. of Gillivan road; Fay is also at home. Mrs. Horace T. Finley died on March 7, 1915, aged fifty-seven years.

Mr. Finley has established himself in the high regard of all who have had the pleasure of knowing him.

OWEN HARBAGE.

. The gentleman whose name is noted above is a member of one of the old and honored families of this county, who, though not native-born, have made a name and a place for themselves, and have become in every sense of the word American, except in the matter of birth. Coming to this country when a mere lad, Owen Harbage has worked out his destiny by reason of ability and perseverance, until he has come to occupy an important place in the vicinity of his home, and has won many friends. whose entire confidence he has. He is the son of parents who braved the dangers of the ocean to establish their home in the New World. It is "a far cry" from the little town in England in which he was born on May 2, 1838, to the presidency of a bank in Ohio, but such is the cycle of his life.

Joseph and Sarah (Kutley) Harbage, parents of Owen Harbage, were English-born, and after their marriage came to the United States. about the year 1853. Arriving in New York City, they bought tickets for Madison county, and located immediately on a farm near West Jefferson, where they sont the remainder of their days, acquiring two hundred and twenty-five acres of land in that part of the county. Joseph Harbage was a quiet, forceful man, a Republican in political belief and a good, conscientious farmer. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, those besides the subject of this sketch being John, Elizabeth (widow of Patrick Caragan), Sarah (deceased), Joseph, William (living in Indiana), and Edwin.

It is not difficult to imagine the struggles of an English lad of fifteen coming to a strange country where so many customs and institutions differ from those of the Old World, but, with determination, Owen Harbage set to work, and here in the Madison county schools finished the education begun in England. Until the year of his majority, he lived under the paternal roof, and then started to carve his own destiny. It would seem that Fate was rather kind to him, for she not only brought him a wife, but in so doing determined the direction along which he should carry out his economic activities. In other words. after his marriage to Minerva Arnett in the fall of 1859, he became manager of his mother-in-law's Madison county farm, afterwards purchasing it. and he still owns nine hundred acres in Jefferson township. Continuing his rest- dence on the farm until 1905, he then moved to West Jefferson, where he now resides. one of his business interests centering in the Farmers Bank, which he organized, and of which he is the president.

To Owen and Minerva (Arnett) Harbage seven children were born. four of whom are living, namely : Vynul, who has become a wealthy farmer. of Jefferson township: Arnett. who possesses six hundred acres in Monroe township; Clara, who married J. Wilson Goodson. a prosperous resident of Jefferson township. and Addie, who married David Lloyd. a successful farmer of Franklin county. The mother of these children died in 1901 and three years later. August 26, 1904. Mr. Harbage married. secondly. Mrs. Elizabeth Riddle, who was born in Madison county on August 4. 1849. The daughter of a farmer. she was educated in the local schools. and reaching womanhood.

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OWEN HARBAGE

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chose for her husband Abner Riddle, to which union two children were born, Ellen, who married David Sidner, a farmer of West Jefferson, and Gertrude, deceased.

The church to which Mr. and Mrs. Harbage have been most strongly attracted is the Methodist Episcopal, and to this they have contributed both of their time and means, Mrs. Harbage being quite active in the church work, especially that of the Ladies' Aid Society.

Although an active Republican, Owen Harbage has never held any office of a public nature. He is of a kindly, cheerful disposition, attracting friends and retaining them, and is one of the honored and respected citizens of the county in which he has spent nearly all of his life.

LAWRENCE CASSETT HOUSTON.

The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by its representative citizens and yields tribute of admiration and respect to those whose words and actions constitute the record of the state's prosperity and pride. Among the prominent citizens of Madison county who are well known because of the part they have taken in public life, as well as the fact that they come from an old and honored family, is . Lawrence Cassett Hous- ton, a farmer by occupation, who lives two miles north of Summerford, in Somerford township, on a part of a military tract granted by the state of Virginia to members of the Marsh family for services performed in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Houston bas a modern farm, known as "Liberty Hall."

Lawrence C. Houston was born on October 13, 1872, in Clark county, two miles west of his present home. the son of William Laus and Mary J. (Bales) Houston. They also were born in Clark county. William L. Houston was the son of Thomas F. Hous- ton, who was the son of Robert, the son of Joseph. It was Joseph Houston who brought the family to Ohio from Maryland in .pioneer times. The founder of the family in America, who came from Scotland, was Robert Houston. The family seat is situated at Houston, Scotland, and a coat of arms granted by the king, bears the motto "In Time." It was granted on account of his having appeared on the field of battle with his serfs and having saved the day. The Houston castle is still standing and is a fine specimen of Scotch architecture, with its turrets, etc. Joseph Houston, who established the family in Ohio, was a brother of Gen. Sam Houston's father. Joseph Houston's son, Robert, the father of Thomas F., settled about 1862 in Pleasant township on the farm where he lived until late in life, when he moved to Springfield and died at the age of sixty-five years. He was saddle and harness maker in South Charleston in early life. and an old ledger shows that he made a saddle for George Murray some sixty years ago. It was a fine piece of handiwork and was handed down in the Murray family, reaching Mrs. Lawrence C. Houston, and she still has it.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 102

Author: Chester E. Bryan Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1207

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207