History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 111

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

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Charles E. Bales was born in the house where he now lives on November 17, 1848, and has spent most of his life on this farm. Having been associated with his father in farming since he was ten years old, Charles Bales was able to take charge of the home farm upon his father's death. The first year after his father's death he carried three hundred sheep during the winter. When he took charge of the farm it consisted of two hundred and fifteen acres, but it now comprises three hundred and seventy-six acres. In the meantime, Charles bought the interests of his brothers and sisters in the home farm. He is a well-known stockman, who is much devoted to his business of crop raising and sheep feeding. Mr. Bales owns about five thousand acres of wheat and grass land in Kansas, which is well stocked with Hereford cattle. He has never had any desire to hold public office.

PROF. J. C. HAMBLETON.

Prof. J. C. Hambleton has devoted the best years of his life to fitting others with a · foundation for any vocation that most appeals to them, or the one selected through force of circumstances. With our present method of vocational training a student acquires a better insight into the realities and technicalities of various branches, work- ing under skilled instructors, and is better qualified, when he finishes school, to judge for himself as to what trade he might like to follow.

. Prof. J. C. Hambleton, teacher in the East high school, Columbus, Ohio, was born on November 12, 1863, in Jefferson township, Madison county, Ohio, and is a son of Isaac and Jane (Reynolds) Hambleton. He was reared on the home farm, and obtained his early education in the public schools of the county, and is a graduate of the West Jefferson high school. After leaving high school he . entered the MacAlester College, from which he was graduated with the degree of B. A.,. and has devoted his entire life to teaching. His first employment as a teacher was in the mission schools of Chile, where he met and married his wife, and where they resided for nine years He returned to Ohio in 1900, and brought his family to Columbus. In 1912 they moved to their farm in Jefferson township. Professor Hambleton is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of lodge No. 221, Free and Accepted Masons.

Isaac Hambleton, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on August 6 1825, in Columbiana county, Ohio, and died on February 15, 1915. His wife, Jane (Reynolds) Hambleton, was born on October 31, 1825, in Georgesville, Ohio, and died on April 29, 1912. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living in 1915: Ida, who is the widow of George Smeltzer, and resides in Arkansas; Wallace, who taught school for a number of years and is now a farmer in Champaign county.

J. C. Hambleton was united in marriage, December 25, 1891, with Sara Paulsen, daughter of George Paulsen. She was born on December 17, 1870, in Chile. Professor and Mrs. Hambleton are the parents of the following children : Olivia, James, Carmen, Blanca, Edson, David and Carlos (twins), Wallace and Mary. Olivia was born in Chile, October 7, 1892, and is a graduate of the East high school of Columbus, Ohio, and a student at the Ohio State University; James is a graduate of the same high school, and is a student in the State University; Carmen was born on May 1, 1897, and is a student in the West Jefferson high school; Blanca was born on June 25, 1899, and

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is also a student of the West Jefferson high school; Edson was born on February 13, 1902; David and Carlos (Twins) were born on February 28, 1903; Wallace was born on November 30, 1908, and Mary was born on December 26, 1910.

George Paulsen, father of Mrs. Hambleton, was born in Denmark, and his wife, Carmen (Villagran) Paulsen, was born in Chile, and is now dead. Mr. Paulsen is still a resident of Chile.

Professor Hambleton stands very high in his work, in which he has met with great success, and in which he is considered an authority.

`JAMES H. CLINGAN.

James H. Clingan, who is a well-known retired farmer living at Summerford, was born in that village on February 14 1855, and is the son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth A. (Clark) Clingan. Mr. Clingan's father was a native of Maryland and his mother was a native of London, Madison county, and the daughter of Henry Clark. Andrew Clingan and wife came to Madison county about 1840. He was a tailor by trade and followed his trade at Summerford. He served three years in the Civil War and was a member of Company K, Twenty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His eldest son, Alonzo P., was also a soldier in the Civil War and died in the Andersonville prison at the age of eighteen. Andrew Clingan died in Madison county at the age of seventy- seven, soon after his wife's death, who passed away at the age of sixty-six. For forty years Andrew Clingan was a justice of the peace, and was succeeded by his son, James H., the subject of this sketch, who served one term.

The seven children born to Andrew and Elizabeth A. (Clark) Clingan, were as follow : Alonzo P., who died in the Civil War; Laura V. who is now Mrs. Arnold, of Bradford Junction, Ohio; Mary G., who married Frank P. Weller and who died at Urbana ; William L., who was a merchant at Summerford for thirty-five or forty years, until his death in March, 1909; Ida F., who married Thomas C. Foster, and who died in Madison county; James H. is the subject of this sketch; Fannie H., who married Thomas West, and who died in Springfield, Clark county, Ohio. Thomas West was an uncle of Welcome A. West of Summerford.

Practically all of Mr. Clingan's life has been spent in Madison county and in Sum- merford. For twenty-five years he was engaged in painting and paper hanging, and for seven years he was engaged in a general store at Summerford. He owns a farm of fifty-one acres adjoining the village and has a pleasant home. He is surrounded with all the conveniences of life.

James H. Clingan was married at the age of twenty-six to Addie L. Cartzdafner, who died twelve years after their marriage, leaving one child, Stella Myrl, a brilliant teacher of Madison county who graduated from the London high school with the class of 1910, at the age of seventeen years. Having begun teaching immediately after her graduation from high school, she has made a brilliant record in this county. Miss Clingan was well prepared for teaching, having taken several teacher's courses at Witten- berg College.

Addie L. Cartzdafner was the daughter of J. W. and Julia Ann Cartzdafner, natives of Maryland and Ohio, respectively. The former was a millwright by trade and a min operator and was well-known in this community. Further facts in the Cartzdafner his- tory is to be found in the sketch of G. W. Cartzdafner, presented elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Clingan was married, secondly. March 14, 1901, to Malinda Sweet, the daughter of Stephen D. and Catherine (Tingley) Sweet, the former of whom was born in Cham- paign county, Ohio, the son of Joshua and Mary Sweet. Stephen D. Sweet was reared

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in Clark county and was married in September, 1853. He and his wife lived in Clark and Madison counties. In later years they lived near Wilson chapel, in Clark county. He died at the age of sixty-one and she at the age of fifty-nine. Their remains are buried in the cemetery at Summerford. Mrs. Clingan is the only member of her family living in Madison county. She was reared in Clark county and educated in the country schools. By this second marriage there have been no children.

Mrs. Clingan is prominent in the Ladies Aid Society and in the Sunday school. Stella Myrl Clingan is also active in church work. James H. Clingan is about the oldest Odd Fellow of the Summerford lodge. He has been a member for thirty-three years, has passed all the chairs and is at present secretary of the lodge. Mrs. Clingan is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, at London. Mr. Clingan is a Republican in poli- tics. He spends his vacations in fishing and hunting and is always taking an active part in improving the village and community where he lives.

HIRAM RUSSELL WILSON.

No citizen of Somerford township is more highly respected than Hiram Russell Wilson, a farmer at Tradersville in Madison county, Ohio. Ever since beginning life on his own responsibility, Mr. Wilson has been compelled to shift for himself, and the competence which he has accumulated in the passing years is the fruit of his own personal efforts.

Hiram Russell Wilson was born on September 24, 1852, in Mineral county, West Virginia, and at the age of nine years accompanied his parents, Peter and Louisa (Hull) Wilson, to Clark county, Ohio. Both of his parents were natives of West Virginia. Peter Wilson's parents died in early life, and he was bound out to Alexander Riley. He grew to manhood as an apprentice. Hiram Russell Wilson grew to man- hood in Clark county, Ohio, on a farm, and lived there until eighteen years old, when his parents removed to Fayette county. He accompanied them and lived at home until twenty-three years old. Still later his parents removed to Lilly Chapel, Madison county, and engaged in farming. After living in Madison county some eight or ten years, they returned to Clark county, a few miles from their son's present residence, and there died, the father in September, 1886, at the age of sixty-five, and the mother about twenty years later in West Virginia. Peter Wilson was a poor man when he came to Ohio, and, after coming here, rented land from different persons. His son, Hiram, is the only member of the family now living in Madison county. William and George both returned to West Virginia, where George still lives. Another brother, John, was a practicing physician in Miami county, Indiana.

After leaving home at the age of twenty-three, Hiram R. Wulson learned the blacksmith's trade at Lilly Chapel with George Wright. He followed the trade for twenty-two years in succession, working at Lilly Chapel, at Somerford and still later at Lafayette, operating shops of his own. In 1901 he removed to his present farm, known as the old Isaac Fox farm, at Tradersville. He now owns one hundred and nine acres of land. In the meantime he has remodeled the house and made out of it an attractive country home. Mr. Wilson keeps purebred Jersey cattle, which are all eligible to register. By separating the cream and selling it, he makes a very satis- factory profit from the farm. Mr. Wilson especially enjoys stock raising.

On November 6, 1882, Hiram Russell Wilson. was married to Margaret A. Sidner, daughter of Philip and Minerva (Southern) Sidner. Mrs. Wilson's father is a half- brother of Clark Sidner, whose sketch is presented elsewhere in this volume. Philip and Clark are sons of Jacob Sidner. Mrs. Wilson was born at Lilly Chapel. She and her husband were young people together. They have three children, Blanche, Ercel and Guy. Blanche is a graduate nurse and lives at home. Ercel is a student at

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HIRAM R. WILSON.

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the Evangelical Institute at Chicago, Illinois. Guy is operating the home farm. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, for some time, and expected to take an electrical engineering course, but has abandoned that for agriculture and will take an agricultural course.

Hiram Russell Wilson is a thorough-going temperance man, and at the age of sixty- three years can truthfully say that he has never taken a drink of whisky, a chew of tobacco or a smoke in his life. His son is also a total abstainer. Neither does he know one card from another. In the community where he lives his influence among the young and rising generation is regarded as of a most wholesome character. He is not a politician, and, while nominally identified with the Republican party, votes for the man rather than the party. Although he has served on the school board, generally speaking he has kept out of office and has never aspired to public place. Mr. Wilson is a mest deserving and honorable citizen, and respected in the community where he

SIMEON G. KILGORE.

In the veins of the Kilgore family flows the blood of militant pioneer stock, who know what it was not only to battle with the savages who first peopled the Middle West, but who knew what it was to battle with the hardships of pioneer life in the American wilderness.

Simeon G. Kilgore, a prosperous young farmer of Union township, was born on July 20, 1872, on the farm where he now lives He is the son of Henry and Orpha (Ellsworth) Kilgore, the former of whom was born in Madison county, Ohio, Septem- ber 14, 1828. He was the son of James and Sarah (Hutson) Kilgore, natives of Ken- tucky and of Scotch and English descent, respectively. James Kilgore was a captain during the War of 1812. He was reared on a farm and received a limited education. In 1864 Henry Kilgore enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was engaged in farming during his entire life and owned, at one time, one hundred and sixteen acres of good land. In 1872 he was married to Orpha Ellsworth and to them were born two children, Simeon G. the subject of this sketch, and Charles H.

Henry Kilgore's mother, Sarah (Hutson) Kilgore, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1789, and was married to Jonathan Denton in 1806. The few years during which they were permitted to live together, their lives were full of suffering and danger. Finally, they were driven away by the Indians to the neighboring fort. At the risk of her life, Mrs. Denton rode home each day to attend to the stock. Only a short time elapsed until her husband was killed in a skirmish with the Indians. With her three small children, she was forced to flee to her parental roof. In 1814 she was married to James Kilgore. She died on November 2, 1872, at the age of eighty-four years, leaving a family of eight children. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having joined the church at the age of sixteen years. She was a leader in the class meetings for many years.

Henry Kilgore and wife were members of the Christian church and he voted the Republican ticket. Of their two children, Charles H., who was born in 1876, married Clara Heaton and has one son, Charles. They live in Columbus, Ohio.

During his life Henry Kilgore made many improvements to his Madison county farm. He erected a fine house and barn. He was a member of the county infirmary board for six years and served as school director for a number of years. He died on February 27, 1915. Mrs. Kilgore lives with her son on the old homestead.

Simeon G. Kilgore is a Republican in politics and has also served on the county

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infirmary board for a term of two years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, at London, Ohio, and a member of Oak Run Grange, at London. The Kilgore farm is known as "Maple Grove Farm" and is conveniently situated on the Kilgore pike. Having been represented in Madison county, Ohio, for nearly a century, the vari- ous members of the Kilgore family are naturally well known in this section of the state. They have always been known as earnest, sincere, God-fearing people, loyal to their friends and devoted to home and family.

REV. WILLIAM M. OVERTURE.

Among the early ministers of the gospel of Madison county, Ohio, was the late Rev. William M. Overturf, a man of tremendous personal power and a man who performed noble service in the Master's vineyard. He lived to rear a family of several children who lived to honor the name which their father bore and the work he did on behalf of the Christian religion.

William M. Overturf was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 21 1832, and died in 1885. He was the son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Griffin) Overturf, natives of Pennsylvania and of Virginia, respectively. The former died in 1847 while yet a young man. His wife survived him more than thirty years, passing away in 1881 at a very old age. They had a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters The only children who are living at the present time are Norman, Catherine and Hulda. Norman was a teacher in Madison county, Ohio, as well as a farmer. He taught at Summerford for five or six years and then took up the study of law and became a very capable attorney. Several of his old pupils still live in Madison county. He practised law in Delaware county, served a term in the state Senate and was elected circuit judge in Delaware county. Subsequently, he removed to Texas and now lives in California .. Catherine is unmarried. Hulda is the widow of Charles Carroll, of Columbus. Tru- man, who lives near Columbus was also a teacher in Madison county. He taught for several years near Mt. Sterling. Ira was a minister in the Christian church and lived principally in Indiana. John never lived in Madison county. The father of these chil- dren was a pioneer minister, or, as they were known in those days in the pioneer com- munities, "exhorter," of the old Free Will Baptist church.

The late William M. Overturf was married, August 18, 1854, to Hannah J. Long, the daughter of Gideon and Mary (Kerr) Long, who were residents of Appleton, in Lick- ing county. In 1860 the Rev. William M. Overturf began to preach in the Christian church. He came to Summerford to assist in a protracted meeting and was employed at the end of the meeting to take charge of this church. The Wilson family were among the leading members of the church. After .serving the church for six or eight years he removed to Mt. Sterling where he remained for two years. Then his old parish- ioners of Summerford installed him again in his old place in the Summerford church and he filled this place until the time of his death. In the meantime, however, he preached occasionally at Mt. Sterling and at Clark's Run chapel. In fact, he preached his last sermon at Clark's Run chapel, his death having occurred but a few hours afterwards In this community he was a favorite among the ministers in preaching funeral sermons and in performing weddings. He was popular with all classes and enjoyed the universal respect of the community.

By his marriage to Hannah J. Long five children were born, Frank, Clark, Flora M., Elmer C. and Hattie. Clark is living in the West. Flora married Val Wilson and died in middle life. Elmer is a' farmer in Monroe township. Hattie married William Prugh and died at the age of twenty-five. Mrs. William M. Overturf is still living in Summerford. She has retained her interest in the church and in religious work. In

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every sense she is an old-fashioned woman with the very best old-fashioned ideas and ideals. She has been a great temperance worker and is known as a woman who, when she has something to say, does not hesitate to speak. Her husband was a Republican in politics and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was one of the original prohibitionists in this section of the state. He was always outspoken in his views. Although not a highly-educated man, he was nevertheless well read and well informed. He performed a noble work in this county.

Of the children born to the Rev. William M. and Hannah J. (Long) Overturf, Frank M. was born in September, 1854, in Licking county, but has spent most of his life since 1866 in Madison county. After teaching in Madison county for a period of about eighteen years, he engaged in farming on the Prugh farm west of Summerford on the National read .. He began farming with one hundred and sixty-five acres, but has added to the tract until he now owns two hundred and sixty acres.

In 1880 . Frank M. Overturf was married to Malinda Prugh, a daughter of Gabriel and Matilda ( Wilson) Prugh. Mrs. Frank M. Overturf was born in Summerford. She died on May 15, 1896, leaving five children, namely : Alice Cordelia lives with her father; Gabriel Prugh was the second born; Jane was the wife of Ira Robbins and died in 1914; Mary was the fourth child; Lewis, the youngest, who is a graduate of the London high school and of the state University, was an instructor in mechanical engineering in the University of Pennsylvania for two years before he was twenty-one years of age, and is now the chief draftsman for a manufacturing concern at Franklin, Pennsyl- vania.

.Gabriel Prugh Overturf was born on April 17, 1884, at West Jefferson, in Madison county. He has lived on the farm he now occupies since he was one year old. At the age of twenty-four, Mr. Overturf took charge of the farm he now owns and which consists of one hundred and seventy-five acres. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of hogs and draft horses. In 1907 Gabriel Prugh Overturf was married to Hattie Yeazel, the daughter of William and Emma (Paul) Yeazel, of Clark county. Mrs. Gabriel P. Overturf's father is deceased and her mother resides in South Vienna, Clark county, Ohio. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel P. Overturf consists of three children, Vivian, Everett and Lewis. Mr. Overturf is a mem- ber of the school board. He and his wife and family are members of the Christian church.

RALPH W. THOMAS.

Ralph W. Thomas, the superintendent of the Madison county infirmary since 1908, and one of the best-known citizens of the county, was born in Stokes township, Madison county, September 4, 1878.

Mr. Thomas is the son of Moses and Catherine (Blessing) Thomas, the former of whom was born in Madison county and who was the son of William and Lavina (Beacham) Thomas. William Thomas was born in Virginia, December 18 1813, the son of Moses and Catherine (Williams) Thomas. Lavina Beacham was born in Clark county, Ohio, in 1815. Mr. Thomas' grandparents came to Madison county in an early day. Catherine Blessing was a native of Madison county and was married to Moses Thomas, the father of Ralph W., in this county.

To Moses and Catherine (Blessing) Thomas were born nine children as follow: Dera, who is the wife of George C. Adams, of Lafayette, Ohio; Amanda, who Is the wife of Robert Chapman, of St. Joseph; Missouri; Lavina, who married David M. Henry,. of Jeffersonville, Ohio; Austin, who is a resident of Portland, Oregon; Gwinn, who lives in Plain City, Ohio; Carrie, who married John Horney, of Plain City; Ried, who lives

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in Fremont, Nevada; Ralph, who is the subject of this sketch; and Amy, who is the wife of Bemis Mendenhall, of Springfield, Ohio.

The late Moses Thomas was a farmer by occupation and owned ninety acres of land in this county. He died on July 3, 1905, and his wife died two years previously, on August 5, 1903.

Ralph W. Thomas received a good common-school education at South Solon and was graduated from the high school at that place.

On December 23 1908, Ralph W. Thomas was married to Anna Ada Burnham, the daughter of L. A. and Anna (Longbrake) Burnham, who live in Plain City. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have two children, Lucille, born on June 23, 1909, and Ralph H., April 30, 1911.

Mr. Thomas followed farming until 1908, when he was appointed superintendent of the Madison county infirmary, a position which he has now held for seven years. The infirmary includes a farm of one hundred and six acres, of which Mr. Thomas is ex-officio manager.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Presbyterian church at London. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Masonic lodge at London and the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 539. He is also a member of the Oak Run Grange. Mr. Thomas is a Republican.

JAMES Q. GEER.

There is no calling or vocation in which enterprise and industry will not produce a rather large measure of success. In the pursuit of agriculture, enterprise and industry are quite essential. Among the well-known and highly-respected farmers of Somerford township, Madison county, Ohio, who have attained a large measure of success in agri- culture, and who, at the same time, have greatly benefited the community in which they live, is James Q. Geer a retired farmer of Summerford. Although he was deprived of all educational advantages in his youth and was not able to learn to read or write, he was endowed with sound common sense and has made a successful business man. During all of these years he has had many difficulties with which to contend, including especially considerable sickness in the family. Nevertheless, he has remained an optimist and is so today.

James Q. Geer was born on September 17, 1836, near the present county infirmary in Union township, Madison county, Ohio. He is the son of James and Rachel (Minchel) Geer, natives of Vermont and Virginia, respectively. James Geer, Sr., was a renter and occupied a part of the Florence land. He died near Tradersville, when his son was only seven years old, leaving a widow and eight children. The mother kept the family together and lived until they were all grown, passing away at the age of fifty-two.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 111

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

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