History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 110

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

USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions > Part 110

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).

Herbert E. Reese, who was reared in Gallia county and educated in the public schools of that county. began life for himself at the age of eighteen years, at which time he began working by the month. He came to Madison county at that age and has lived here practically all of the time since.

Herbert E. Reese was married on December 22, 1909, to Blanche H. Cline, who was born in Gallia county. Ohio, July 16, 1898. She is the daughter of Perry and Elizabeth (Davidson) Cline, both residents of Gallia county. Mrs. Reese is one of three children born to her parents and the eldest in the family. The other two children are Roy, who married Clara White, of Gallia county; and Edna, who lives at home with her parents.

After Mr. and Mrs. Reese were married they lived in Pike township for some time, where they rented a farm. They moved to Darby township in December, 1911. Mr. . Reese is an extensive breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs and registered Shorthorn cattle. He and his wife are pleasant people and popular in the neighborhood where they live. They have one son, Robert Max, born on February 8, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Reese are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Chuchery, Ohio. Mr. Reese votes the Democratic ticket.

Digitized by

Google

736

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

MONROE BIDWELL.

Monroe Bidwell, farmer, residing on rural route No. 2, West Jefferson, Ohio, and the proprietor of the old Ephraim Bidwell farm, was born on July 14, 1850, on the home farm in an old log house, and is a son of Ephraim and Laura (Lombard) Bid- well. He was the eldest son of the family, and was reared on the farm where he now lives. His early education was greatly neglected, on account of being required to assist with the farm work until he reached maturity. Mr. Bidwell has only himself and wife to thank for his financial success, having accumulated all he and his wife now own unaided, and his splendid farm, consisting of one thousand and sixty-nine acres, situated in Jefferson township, Madison county, is one of the most prosperous of the larger estates of this section. Mr. Bidwell has always been a loyal voter of the Repub- lican ticket, but has never taken an active part in politics.

Ephraim Bidwell, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Madison county, Ohio, and was a son of Elisha Bidwell. He grew up and lived in Madison county his entire life. About three years prior to his death he moved to Plain City, spending his last days there. He was the father of six children, only two of whom are living in 1915, Monroe and Ellen, who became the wife of Joseph McKimmon and now lives near Lincoln, Nebraska. Ephraim Bidwell was a farmer and a member of the Legislature.

Elisha Bidwell, the paternal grandfather, was born in Vermont, and came with his wife and family overland by wagon to Ohio. He entered land from the government at Jefferson, one and one-half miles northwest of the present home of Monroe Bidwell. where he settled and reared his family. When he came here the land was wet and swampy and his was no easy task in clearing, ditching and putting the land in tillable condition. Mr. Bidwell was the father of fifteen sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Three of his sons, Benjamin, Elijah and Washington, were killed during the Civil War.

Monroe Bidwell was united in marriage on September 2, 1874, with Martha C. Kreainer, daughter of John Kreamer, a wealthy farmer. She was born in October, 1852, in Madison county. To this union were born three children, Eber W., Cloa and Irma, all living in 1915. Eber W. Bidwell was educated in the district school, finishing bis training at Ada, Ohio. He was married to Maggie Burrell, who died, leaving him one son, Asil H., born on April 1, 1897, who was reared by his grandfather and edu- cated in the public schools. Eber W. Bidwell was married, secondly, to Alta Ford, by whom he had two children. His second wife died and he was married, thirdly, on May 19, 1915, to Mrs. Magdalena (Hansel) Hanson, who was born in this county, a daughter of Chris and Amanda Hansel, the former of whom is a farmer of this county. Cloa Bidwell became the wife of Elmer Starkey, and has three children, Everett, Will- iam and Marie. Irma Bidwell is the wife of Raynard Harbage, a farmer of Canaan township.

John Kreamer, father of Martha C. (Kreamer) Bidwell, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, a son of Joseph and Mary (Badley) Kreamer. Joseph Kreamer was of German descent and came to Madison county where he died at West Jefferson. Mary (Badley) Kreamer died in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom are now deceased. John Kreamer came to Madison county with his father. He married Mary Snodgrass, who was born near Milford Center, Ohio, and they settled on a farm in Monroe township. About 1860 they went to live on the Morris farm. Mr. Kreamer died in Monroe township in January, 1870. His wife is still living at the age of eighty-seven. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. John Kreamer was a Republican and was township trustee for several years. John and Mary (Snod- grass) Kreamer were the parents of the following children: Ann died at the age of two years; Haddin died in infancy; Eugene married Laura Wright, and is a farmer resid-

Digitized by Google

MONROE BIDWELL

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

-- - - - - - -

737

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

ing in Jefferson township; John married Rose Burrows, and is a retired farmer of Milford Center; Rose married John Byerly, who is a farmer in Monroe township; Martha C., who married Monroe Bidwell, is the eldest of the children living.

Monroe Bidwell is a descendant of one of the old and highly-respected pioneer families of Madison county, where he is a well-known and honored citizen. He is a Republican. Mr. Bidwell is a member of the Universalist church, and Mrs. Bidwell is a member of the Methodist church.

WELCOME A. WEST.

In Somerford township, Madison county, Ohio, may be found the ancestral home of the West family, a tract of seventy acres of land purchased by and owned during his life time by the late Alexander West, the paternal grandfather of Welcome A. West, the subject of this sketch. Its present owner came into possession of the farm about a quarter of a century ago, and here he has lived ever since. The old home of Alexander and "Betsy" West is still standing on the West farm and remains today practically as Mrs. West left it at the time of her death, in 1892. It is a fine specimen of the old Ohio homes.

Welcome A. West, the grandson of Alexander and Elizabeth (Curl) West, and the son of Samuel and Margaret Ann (Neer) West, was born in Pleasant township, Clark county, June 16, 1866. Mr. West's father was born in Logan county, Ohio, September 6, 1845, and was married to Margaret Ann Neer in Clark county, Ohio, September 18, 1864. They had four children, of whom two, Kelly and Sheldon, died early in life. The latter was born on June 16, 1873. The living children are: Welcome A., the subject of this sketch; and Harlan, born on April 14, 1878. The latter resides in Springdeld, Ohio, and is assistant cashier of the First National Bank. He never lived in Madison county. Samuel West is now living in Pleasant township, Clark county, Ohio, two miles distant from his son, Welcome A. He came to Madison county as a child, the son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Curl) West, and settled on the farm where Welcome A. now lives. Alexander West, by his own efforts, developed this farm. He was born on June 21, 1809; married to Elizabeth Curl, March 31, 1831; and died on December 20, 1861, at the age of fifty-two years. His wife, Elizabeth or "Betsy" Curi, was born on March 29 1812, and died on March 25, 1892, at the age of eighty years. Alexander West was the justice of the peace for many years, and held court in his house. He and his wife had a family of fourteen children, most of whom reached maturity. Four are now living, Samuel, Thomas, Edwin and Mary Ann. Samuel and Thomas live in Clark county, the latter a resident of Springfield. Samuel lives on the farm, where most of his married life has been passed. He is now retired, but is well remembered as a stock buyer who covered a wire range of territory, including Madison, Champaign and Clark counties. Edwin is living retired at Mechanicsburg, in Champaign county. Mary Ann is the widow of James Turpin, and lives at North Lewisburg, Ohio. Among the other children who are deceased, Henry lived and died in Clark county; John died at the age of twenty-six while a recruiting officer of the United States army; Linnie was the wife of Thomas Buzzard and spent practically all her life in Madison county, dying in 1889, at the age of fifty-six years; Susannah, the twin sister of Mary Ann, died in November, 1880, and was the wife of John Furrow; Dorothy died at the age of twenty-eight, unmarried.

At the age of twenty-four, Welcome A. West came to Madison county, Ohio. He had received a good common-school education, and when his father, Samuel West, who was the administrator of the estate of Alexander West, closed up the business, Welcome A. West bought in the old farm of his grandfather. He has made many improvements (47)

Digitized by Google

738

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

upon the farm but the old house has been permitted to remain largely as it was when "Aunt Betsy" left it.

On February 27. 1890, Welcome A. West was married to Gertrude M. Evans, of Clark county, Ohio. Mrs. West was born in Champaign county. Mr. and Mrs. West are the parents of three children : Ellis M., Orris C. and Hazel J., all of whom are living at home with their parents.

For thirty years Mr. West has kept a diary, including all of the weather reports and all neighborhood happenings. This diary has been accepted as evidence in court, and Mr. West is very proud of it. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Summerford. Mr. West is a member of the Sons of Veterans, and votes the Republican ticket, as does his father and as did his grandfather before him.

JOHN W. RECTOR.

Biographies of good men form splendid examples and incentives to those drifting along life's pathway, and are often the first aid to the discouraged and faint-hearted, inspiring them with hope for another "chance." The gentleman whose life history is here briefly reviewed is one who has followed a course of straightforward principles, and made his way to a respected and honored position in the agricultural world win- ning the admiration and praise of his neighbors and friends.

John W. Rector, farmer, West Jefferson, Ohio, was born on February 19, 1864, in Wayne township, Pickaway county, Ohio, and is a son of Marcus and Mary F. (Van Kuren) Rector. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, and then rented his father's farm, starting in for himself as a farmer. Through his industry and good management Mr. Rector has so skillfully conducted his business matters, until he now owns one hundred and twenty-two acres of farm land. Mr. Rector has always been a stanch Republican, and greatly interested in the welfare of his township, but has never taken an active part in local politics.

Marcus Rector, father of the subject of this sketch, was. born in Pickaway county, Ohio, and his wife, Mary F. (Van Kuren) Rector, was born at Albany, New York, coming with his parents to Pickaway county, when a young girl. Mr. and Mrs. Rector both grew up in that county, and were married there. Mr. Rector was a generous- hearted and prosperous man, but his generosity was taken advantage of and he lost all he had. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred about 1893. Mrs. Rector still resides at Big Plain Madison county, Ohio. They were the parents of eight children, as follow: Alva C. was born in Jefferson township; Marcus is a blacksmith in Madison county; Robert S. is teaching school at Big Plain; Roy is a musician, and resides at Columbus, Ohio; Clara became the wife of George Alkire; Maud is the wife of Frank Edwards, of Big Plain, Ohio; Myrtle is the wife of Daniel Brobert, and lives near Circleville, Ohio; John W., of Jefferson town- ship.

John W. Rector was united in marriage on August 9, 1889, with Amy V. Lane, daughter of Mitchell Lane. She was born on August 1, 1875 in Oakland township, and died in 1892. To this union were born two daughters: Ida M., the wife of John Borland, of West Jefferson, Ohio; and Anna, a graduate of the West Jefferson high school. now the wife of Harvey Heath, also of West Jefferson. Mr. Rector was mar- ried, secondly, to Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Walker, August 16, 1909. She is a daughter of Henry and Nancy H. (Harris) Wright, and was born on May 15, 1858 in Canaan township, Madison county.

Henry Wright, father of Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Rector, was a son of Dr. Henry and Margaret (Bogan) Wright, and was born on February 17, 1822, in Frederick county, Maryland, and died on May 10, 1914. He came to Ohio in 1836, and began to

Digitized by Google

739

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

care for himself at the age of eleven years, working at first for his board and clothes, and at the age of twenty-three years, he began to learn the wagon-maker's trade at Amity, Ohio. Mr. Wright went to the Civil War in the One Hundred and Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, in 1864, serving until the close of the war. He was married in 1852 to Elizabeth Mahaffey, who died in 1853, leaving one son, Albert. Mr. Wright was mar- ried, secondly, to Nancy Harris, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Harris, by whom he had two daughters, Elizabeth A. and Iva. His second wife died, and he was married to Polly Dominy, by whom he had nine children. Mr. Wright began life as a poor boy, and succeeded so well that he at one time owned eight hundred acres of land, which he acquired unaided, and which he divided among his children.

Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Rector was married, first, to Cassius B. Walker on July 2, 1874, by whom she has three daughters: Lenora, the wife of Roy Spring, of Dela- ware, Ohio; Eva who became the wife of Taylor Simkins, and resides at West Jetter- son; and Catherine, who married Hugh Cox, at Rome, Franklin county, Ohio. Cassius B. Walker died on December 18, 1906.

Mr. and Mrs. Rector are pleasant, affable people, and are prominent citizens in the township. Mrs. Rector possesses, in her own right, something over sixty-six acres of land. The beautiful home where they reside is known as "Hilltop Farm," and is located on the Blair road, one mile north of West Jefferson, Ohio.

WILLIAM HOLLAND.

William Holland, successful farmer and owner of three hundred and five acres of land located in Monroe township, Madison county, Ohio, about two miles northeast of Plumwood, was born in Champaign county, this state, on June 12, 1858.

William Holland is a son of John and Mary (Foley) Holland, both natives of County Waterford, Ireland. John Holland, who was a son of Lawrence, was the first of his family to emigrate to this county. He was a young man at that time and came over in order to judge of conditions and opportunities in this land before sending for the rest of the family. He was seized with cholera while en route to the West and was glad to leave the train at Springfield for medical attention. He remained at that place, working for a time on a section gang and later went to a farm owned by a Mr. McDonald and located near Urbana. This farm he arranged to manage on shares and having secured that position, he sent for his parents and the rest of the family. A short time after their arrival, his sweetheart, Mary Foley, also came and they were married in Springfield. They came into Madison county and bought two hundred acres of land from a Mr. Pratt, the same now constituting part of the farm of William Holland. There the old folks remained for the balance of their lives. There were seven children in their family, five of whom are living at the present time: William is the third child in order of birth; Bridget and Lawrence, the two elder, both being unmarried and remaining at home; Margaret is dead; Katherine is the wife of John Butler, and resides at Plain City; Ed and John both died when small, but the rest grew to maturity.

Mr. Holland received a good common-school education in the district schools near his home and was early instructed in the work of the farm home. It is, therefore, but natural that he should have turned the efforts of his mature years to agriculture. He has been highly successful in his line and is one of the up-to-date farmers of his com- munity. He employs twentieth-century methods in the management of his business and is uniformly successful in whatever he undertakes, for he applies the best of brain and brawn to any duty he sees before him.

On February 27, 1900, William Holland was united in marriage with Delia Don-

Digitized by Google

740

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

nelly, a daughter of Thomas and Bridget Donnelly, both natives of the Emerald Isle, coming from County Galway. To Mr. and Mrs. Holland have been born five children, namely : John, Elmer, Mary, William and Catherine. John is in the eighth grade of common school, Elmer in the fifth, little Mary is just ready to enter school and the two youngest. children are below school age. This is a most interesting and promising family, and they are being so trained as to fit them for useful places in the world when they shall have attained manhood and womanhood.

Mr. Holland and his family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and he gives his support to the Democratic party, although being at no time a seeker after office. Mr. Holland is a sturdy, self-reliant citizen. He is honorable and upright in his dealings and therefore worthy of the high degree of esteem in which he is held.

BENJAMIN F. ROBERTS.

One of the solid, substantial citizens of the West Jefferson neighborhood of this county, Benjamin F. Roberts is known far and wide in that vicinity as one of the best farmers thereabout. Prominent in the local Grange, he having served as master of the same for some time, he has been equally prominent in farmers-institute work, often serving as secretary for the institutes held in his part of the county, and is known as a man who keeps fully informed on all matters pertaining to the advancement of the science of agriculture.

Benjamin F. Roberts was born in Union township, Madison county, Ohio, on April 7, 1839, son of Charles and Harriet (McCann) Roberts, the former of whom also was born in this county and the latter was a native of Ross county, this state. In his early life Charles Roberts was a school teacher, but after his marriage bought a farm near the fish hatcheries, in Union township, where he erected a grist-mill, which long was known throughout that part of the county as the old Roberts mill, the road leading thereto still being known as the Roberts road. Later, Charles Roberts moved to Jefferson township, where he built a saw-mill on Little Darby creek, which he operated until his retirement from active business, at which time he returned to his former home place, where he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were earnest members of the Christian church and were recognized as among the leaders in all good works thereabout. They were the parents of eight children, John Henry, Cath- erine, Benjamin F., Charles C., Harriet M., Mary E. and Melvina E., the latter of whom, the wife of Michael B. Wilson, of Clark county, this state, is the only one now surviving besides the subject of this sketch.

His father having been a school teacher, Benjamin F. Roberts received an excellent education, his course in the neighborhood schools of his youth having been supplemented by a thorough home training, and he is a man of wide information, keeping abreast of the times on all matters of general importance. Mr. Roberts never married, but he reared Homer T. Roberts, a well-known resident of this county, with all the tender solicitude he could have exercised in behalf of a son, and regards the children of the latter with as much affection as though they were indeed his own grandchildren. Homer T. Roberts married Lona Bricker, daughter of Al Bricker, and has four sons.

At the breaking out of the Civil War, Benjamin F. Roberts enlisted in the Union army, in Company E, One Hundred and Eighty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, and served as a private throughout the war. He was in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and served as adjutant and commander of the post for several years. He was commissioned major of the Madison county battalion on September 1, 1888.

Benjamin F. Roberts for years has been active in the work of the Grange and is a past master of the grange to which he so long has been attached. He also has been

Digitized by Google

741

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

prominent in county-institute work throughout the county and is one of the best-known farmers hereabout, his excellent judgment on agricultural matters having much weight with his neighbors. He has a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, two and one- half miles southwest of West Jefferson, which is looked upon as a model of well-tilled land. Now nearing the four-score mark in the journey of life, Mr. Roberts is quietly spending his "sunset time" at his pleasant home, enjoying the rewards of a life of industry well spent, and enjoying, as well. many evidences of the very sincere regard and esteem of his neighbors, all of whom hold him in the highest respect.

THE BALES FAMILY.

The Bales family. in Madison county, dates from the coming of Moses Bales, who was a resident of Virginia. With his wife, Mary, he settled in Somerford township, two miles north of the village of Somerford, near where Val Wilson now lives, and where he was a neighbor to the original Valentine Wilson, the grandfather of Val. The farm consisted of about three hundred acres of land and is still owned by mem- bers of the family. Moses Bales lived and died upon his farm, passing away in 1855, at a very advanced age. He built the present house on that farm. His third wife survived him several years. By his first marriage there were two sons, Calvin and Thomas, both of whom were farmers and stockmen, and two daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth. David Bales, a son of the third wife, lived in Madison county for a time, but finally emigrated to Texas, where he is still living. Late in life, Catherine married a Mr. Lansdale, of Champaign county. Another daughter was Mra Susan Markley. Another daughter, Betsy, died unmarried. Another daughter, Mrs. Sarah Locke, removed to lowa. The daughters of Thomas Bales own the old home place near Tradersville. They are Mrs. Carrie Fitzgibbons, of Mechanicsburg; Talitha, the wife of Dr. Timothy Beach, of near London; and Alta, who married Charles Gray, of Jeffersonville, Ohio. In 1914, Mrs. Gray was killed at a railroad crosing near Spring- field, Ohio, when here automobile was struck by a car.

Calvin Fenton Bales was born on January 30, 1821. On October 19, 1843, he married Julia Ann Rigdon, the daughter of Charles and Lydia (Mitchell) Rigdon, of Somerford township. The former came to this county from Kentucky, the latter from Pennsylvania. Julia Ann (Ridgon) Bales was born in Champaign county, September 26, 1825. Her parents died in London after having sold the old home farm.

A short time after his marriage, Calvin Bales removed to the present homestead near Tradersville. At the time it consisted mostly of wild land. He set about to clear and drain the land and put about seventy-five acres in cultivation. Having started with four hundred acres he sold land until he had only two hundred and fifteen remaining. The main part of the present homestead building was probably here when he came but his widow remodeled and enlarged the house. Calvin Bales was very much interested in stock raising, and handled many cattle and sheep. He rented a great deal of land for grazing purposes. A short time before his death he purchased four hundred and thirty acres of land located near London. His death occurred in 1863, and he left a widow with five children. Mrs. Calvin Bales sold the London farm and returned to the old home farm near Tradersville. After a life of devotion to the Methodist Episco- pal church and her family, she died in the old home, July 25, 1911. Mrs. Bales was a member of the Methodist church all her life, and was one of the liberal supporters of the Tradersville church. Calvin Bales was also interested in church work, and strictly observed all the requirements of the church. In fact, Calvin Bales' home was well known as the home of the Methodist preachers.

Calvin Fenton and Julia Ann (Rigdon) Bales were the parents of five children : Emeline married Daniel Hendrix and died on October 3, 1887. Mary Jane married William Houston, the father of L. C. Houston, and now lives in London. Charles E.

Digitized by Google

742

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

is a stock raiser of Madison county and Kansas. Milton Mckendree Bales, who was born on October 14, 1855 is now a Doctor of Divinity in the Baptist church. He was a Methodist minister for thirty years, but' became a Baptist. He is now located at Homestead, Florida. He is a graduate of the Garrett Biblical Institute. Lydia Minerva is the wife of Dr. E. U. Wood, of Columbus, Indiana, a practicing physician and surgeon of note.

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 Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 110

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

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