History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 116

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

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his second wife. He remained in his old house until he built the present frame house in 1842. Three years later, in 1845, he died, at the age of seventy-five. He not only served a term or two in the state Legislature but was one of the first judges in the county and bore the title of Judge Arbuckle until his death.

The second wife of Col. John R. Arbuckle, Elizabeth Bishop, survived him for twenty years, passing away in 1865, at the age of seventy-six. He disposed, by will, of his estate to his children by the second marriage, who were as follow: William spent his life on the old home place and died at the age of seventy-five. leaving one child, Francis Taylor, of Richmond, Virginia; Matthew moved to Missouri and finally to Texas; Susan died while still a young woman; Charles is hereafter referred to; Rebecca died unmarried, at the age of sixty-eight, after having been in charge of her brothers' families, being the housekeeper for her brother, Charles, after the death of his wife in 1955, and reared his family of children; James was the next born; Josiah died in childhood; and Jacob inherited the old homestead and died at the age of seventy- five, leaving a family of four children.

Charles Arbuckle, who was born on February 1, 1821, died on July 12, 1896. He was a farmer by occupation and lived on the old home farm until his father's death in 1845, when he inherited one hundred and seventy acres, where his family now lives. All but sixteen acres of the farm was in woods. His life work was devoted to this farm, and at his death he had one hundred and twenty acres in cultivation. He built the present house in 1847, and afterward settled on the farm with his wife, to whom he was married in 1846. Before her marriage she was Eliza Richmond, the sister of Hiram and William Richmond, and the daughter of David and Ruth (Johnson) Richmond, natives of New Jersey. They located near Dayton, where she was born, and later, when she was still a child, brought her to Summerford, where she grew up and was educated. Her father had died near Dayton and her mother came to Summerford as a widow. Eliza Richmond was seventeen years old at the time of her marriage. She died on June 20 1855, at the age of twenty-six, leaving a family of four children, of whom Ann mar- ried Christian Bryan, of Madison county. Ann died, leaving two sons, Herbert and Charles, both of whom were reared by their grandfather, Charles Arbuckle. They are engaged in operating the home farm, Herbert being a farmer in Madison county. Eliza Jane, the second child born to Charles and Eliza Arbuckle, and Laura Frances, the third child, both passed their lives in the house where they were born. George Edwin died in infancy. Rebecca Arbuckle, the daughter of Col. John R. Arbuckle and the aunt of these children, at the death of Charles Arbuckle's wife, took care of his children and reared the three to maturity, devoting her whole life to their interests. Not only that but she cared for Jacob Arbuckle's four children, giving them the same consideration as if they had been her own children. Rebecca Arbuckle died on October 10, 1900, at the old home farm of her brother, Charles. Charles Arbuckle was one of those men who are naturally leaders in public affairs and was always to be found in the front ranks of men who were working in the interest of the public welfare.

Jacob Arbuckle had four children, namely: Viola, who married Thomas Cloud, of London; Walter, who died at the age of about thirty; Lizzie Maria, who died unmar- ried, at the age of fifty; and Flora, the wife of John T. Lindsey, the subject of this sketch.

John Lindsey is a man whose material interests are devoted to his farm. He is interested in good driving horses and always keeps several horses on the farm. He has Inherited from his parents a liking for animals, and finds the farm a most congenial place to live. Mr. Lindsey is a highly-respected citizen and one who is well known throughout Somerford township. He usually votes the Republican ticket and is a member of Lodge No. 481, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Summerford, Ohio.

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Mrs. Lindsey was a member of the Universalist church, of London, Ohio, and took a good deal of interest in church work. She was a member of the Evergreen Club and was secretary of the Winchester Association for several years. She was a woman who was well known in the county.

WALTER A. DUN.

Some time before 1850 four brothers and a sister, whose father had died, came to Madison county, Ohio, and occupied a large tract of land, which their father, before his death, had purchased at one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. The three younger brothers and the sister were brought to Madison county by the eldest brother. These children comprised the Dun family, all of whom have occupied a conspicuous place in the history of this county. The sister, Mary, became the wife of the late Allen G. Thurman, who served as United States senator from Ohio. Walter A., the subject of this sketch, spent most of his life in Madison county, passing away on December 2, 1906, at the age of eighty-one years.

Walter A. Dun, who was the sole proprietor of "Oak Forest," was born at Chilli- cothe, Ohio, in 1825, and was one of a family of five children born to Walter Dun, Sr., and wife. The others were John T., James, Robert and Mary. Some time after his father's death, Walter A. Dun obtained about seven thousand acres of land in three or four tracts, situated in several counties. There were over twenty-one hundred acres in the home farm. where he lived and died.

The late Walter A. Dun was married in Kentucky, while still a young man. to Mary Catherine Thompson. of the Blue Grass state. She died on December 2, 1896, just ten years to the day before the death of her husband. It is a coincidence of no small moment that their deaths occurred ten years apart, lacking perhaps less than two hours The Dun home was a fine old mansion built in 1851. It had a big fireplace and was a quaint structure. On November 2. 1902, it burned to the ground and afterward Walter A. Dun set to work to build the present house, which, however, is not so pretentious as was the old mansion.

For ten years the Dun farm was operated by Robert Hanson, who was born six miles south of London and whose wife before her marriage, was Lucy Rumer, a native of Fayette county. Mrs. Hanson is a most estimable woman, who gives her home an atmosphere of hospitality, and she has been a large factor in the success of her hus- band. With their two children, Mabel and Ray, when the latter was two years and six months old, Mr. and Mrs. Hanson came to the Dun homestead. Mr. Hanson had been recommended to Mr. Dun by George Van Wagoner, of London. At the time of their coming. Mr. Dun became very closely attached to the children and especially to Ray. It was only a short time before he said he would leave his property to the lad and he did. At the time he was in need of some one upon whom to bestow his affections and finally left the lad all of his real estate, which consisted of the home farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, worth approximately twenty thousand dollars. It is sit- uated ten miles north of London.

The remains of Walter A. Dun are buried in the Greenlawn cemetery, at Columbus, as are also his brothers and his wife. He and his wife had no children. He was a Democrat in politics and a stanch one. He was a student of political questions and well informed, particularly in foreign politics. He had a large library and spent a great deal of time with his books. He was also very fond of race horses, and for twenty years harness horses were his chief concern. He owned the best horses to be found in Ohio. and long after he had quit the racing game kept on breeding fast horses. Many of his horses were sold at Latonia and other places. He was also Interested in breeding Shorthorn cattle.

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WALTER A . DUN

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ROBERT HANSON.

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OLD HOMESTEAD OF WALTER A. DUN.

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Walter A. Dun had a very kind heart and a neighborly disposition but lived some- what secluded during his entire life. He was kind to the poor and always ready to assist the needy. His old employees had the highest words of praise for him. Mr. Dun counted the Hanson family as among his own people and treated them accordingly.

Robert Hanson is the nephew of Robert Hanson, Sr., ambassador to Italy under President Hayes. The senior Robert Hanson was a captain in the United States army and an attorney-at-law at London. His health failing in Italy, he started home and died on the ocean two days before landing. His remains were buried in the Paint township cemetery. Mrs. Hanson's parents were natives of the Old Dominion state, who located in Fayette county, Ohio, where both died. Mrs. Hanson is a sister of Mrs. Richard Kilgore, of Paint township. The Hanson family includes only Mabel and Ray. The former is the wife of John Roseberry, of Rosedale, Madison county, and has two children, Robert, seven years of age, and Marion, three years of age. Ray, who was born on July 16, 1893, lives on his farm. He is a graduate of the London high school and spent one year at Ohio State University and is now a' student at Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware, Ohio, in the class of 1917. He is an active member of the Sigma Alpha fraternity, and is very much interested in athletics, particularly foot- ball and baseball.

GEORGE W. CARTZDAFNER.

George W. Cartzdafner, a general merchant at Summerford, where he is engaged extensively in the mercantile business, dealing in dry goods boots, shoes, groceries and queensware, began business in Summerford twenty-four years ago. Mr. Cartzdafner was born on August 15, 1856. in Union county, Ohio, and came to Madison county, Ohio, at the age of ten years with his parents, J. W. and Julia Ann Cartzdafner, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and the latter of Franklin county, Ohio. They were married in Columbus. He was a millwright by trade and a mill operator. He operated the old Roberts mill for three years and the old Linck mill, one mile north of Summer- ford. He also had a saw-mill and a flour-mill, which he purchased and afterward converted into a modern process mill operating it for twenty years, then selling out. The site of this old mill is now covered by the Summerford cemetery, the buildings all being gone.

J. W. Cartzdafner moved to Summerford late in life, and died there in his eighty- first year. He was a well-known member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed all of the chairs and was reliably informed as to all phases of lodge work. "Uncle Johnny," as he was familiarly known, served several terms as trustee and nine years as assessor. He was a Democrat in politics, but he never sought office and served only when he was solicited to do so. Although he was not a member of any church he was a prominent Sunday-school worker until very late in life. He was well informed upon all current subjects and a fluent conversationalist. A natural mechanic, he was an expert in all phases of engineering. He served nine years on the school board. His widow. who survived him two years, was an active worker in the Christian church. They had a family of thirteen children, among whom are the fol- lowing : Frank is a resident of Pasadena, California : Irvin lives at Columbus; Byard resides in Columbus; Raleigh lives in Springfield : Albert lives in London; George W. lives in Summerford; Mrs. Hettie Woosley lives in Springfield; Sophia is the wife of William Dixon; Fidelia, who was the wife of Charles Heffley died in Columbus; and Ada. who married James H. Clingan, died at Summerford.

Of these children, George W. Cartzdafner has lived in Madison county since he was ten years old, except eight years spent in the Pan Handle car shops as a car builder.

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George W. Cartzdafner was married in 1880 to Mary E. Comfort, whose parental history is given elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Cartzdafner was born in Clark county. 'lo this union has been born one child, Belva E., who is the wife of Henry McSavaney, of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McSaveney have one daughter.

Mr. Cartzdafner is prominent in the work of the Masonic lodge and in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man who has always paid strict attention to his personal business, and this perhaps as much as anything else accounts for his very satisfactory success.

HARLAN HUFFMAN.

Harlan Huffman is a prosperous farmer and a well-known citizen of Stokes town- ship, living on rural route No. 1, out of South Solon, Madison county, Ohio.

Mr. Huffman is a native of the township where he lives, his birth occurring there on March 8, 1860. He is a son of George and Louisa (Ervin) Huffman, the former of whom was born in Greene county, Ohio, and the latter was born in Fayette county. They were married in Madison county, and were the parents of five children, two of whom, Amanda J. and Harlan, are living. Amanda J. is the wife of John M. Gossard. The deceased children are Mary Belle, Frederick H. and Annie. Mary Belle was the wife of J. H. McGinnis, and lived in Fayette county, Ohio, until her death in 1910. Frederick H. died at the age of nineteen, and Annie died at the age of twenty-one.

The late George Huffman, the father of Harlan, was a farmer by occupation who moved to Madison county about 1840, when a young man. He settled in Stokes town- ship, and eventually became the owner of one hundred and two acres of fine farming land in this township. His death occurred in April, 1890, and his widow is still living and makes her home with her son, Harlan.

Harlan Huffman owns a magnificent farm about four miles west of Sedalia. His place is well improved and well stocked, Mr. Huffman having devoted his entire career to the business of farming, and his well-kept and attractive country place gives evidence to the fact that he has met with a very commendable degree of success in his efforts.

Politically. Mr. Huffman is an adherent of the Republican party, but has never taken a very active part in public affairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Midway Lodge No. 806. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, in the Union Star Lodge at Midway, and takes an active interest in the affairs of these fraternal organizations.

JOHN MILTON STROUP.

John Milton Stroup is a hard-working and industrious farmer of Stokes township, Madison county, Ohio, born on a farm in that township, March 27, 1877. He is a son of John and Sarah E. (Thomas) Stroup. His father is also a native of Stokes town- ship, born on the same farm, and he was a son of Joseph Stroup, a native of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Stroup's mother was a daughter of James Thomas and wife.

Jolin Milton Stroup is one of four children born to his parents, all of whom are living : Bertha, living at home; Walter married Bertha Gordon, and they live in Green county ; John Milton, the immediate subject of this brief review; and Charles married Mary Stroble and they live in the Hoosier state.

Jobn Stroup. the father of John Milton Stroup, was educated for the ministry, and has been engaged in that profession for the past thirty years. He is an evangelist in the Methodist Episcopal church, but makes his home in Stokes township. Mrs. John Stroup is the owner of a well-improved farm of nineteen acres in Stokes township.

Educated in the common schools of Madison county, Ohio, John Milton Stroup

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remained at home until he had reached his majority. On February 16, 1898, he was married to Della Winfield, a daughter of Hampton and Lettie (Cast) Winfield, both of whom are living at Clarksville, Ohio. To this union three children have been born, all of whom are living: Gerald D., born on January 26, 1899, is now a student in the high school ; Ella Marie, January 9, 1901, is a student in the public schools; Leah Louise, January 27, 1906.

Mr. Stroup owns fifty acres of well-improved land north of South Solon, about three- quarters of a mile. He is a general farmer and stockman, and is prominent in the community where he lives.

Fraternally, Mr. Stroup is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, at Springfield, Ohio. As a Republican he has served his township as road supervisor for the past six years, and has given pre eminent satisfaction in this community.

JOHN M. GOSSARD.

John M. Gossard, a successful farmer of Stokes township, living on rural route No. 1, out of South Solon, Madison county, Ohio, was born on October 13, 1849, in Fayette county, Ohio, the son of John V. and Phoebe ( Cox) Gossard.

John V. Gossard was born in Ross county, Ohio, September 15, 1811, the son of John, Sr., and Elizabeth (Vatentine) Gossard, natives of Pennsylvania. They immi- grated to Ohio and were married in this state. He died in 1840 and his wife died in 1872. John V. Gossard was married to Phoebe Cox on June 9, 1841. She was born in Ross county, Ohio, November 27, 1814. When Mr. Gossard was twenty-one years old he engaged in farming on his father's farm. In 1852 he bought two hundred and sixty acres of land in Madison county, Ohio. He was educated in the common schools and served as trustee of Stokes township. John V. Gossard was married three times, first to Hannah Brown, by whom he had one son, Robert. After her death he married Nancy Ritenour, who lived only eleven months. He then married Phoebe Cox, and to them were born five children, Joseph, Arthur, Marcellus, John M. and David, of whom three are living. At the time of his death on June 4, 1880, John V. Gossard had been a member of the Methodist church for more than thirty years. He was a good citizen and highly respected in the township. Mrs. Phoebe Gossard died about 1888.

Of the children born to John V. and Phoebe (Cox) Gossard, Joseph died in 1903; David in April, 1912; Artie is the widow of Frank Thomas, of Stokes township; Mar- cellus lives in London ; and John M. is the subject of this sketch.

Born and reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, John M. Gossard remained at home until he was twenty-seven years old. He was married in August, 1876, to Amanda J. Huffman, a daughter of George and Louise Huffman. To this mar- riage there were born ten children, four of whom died in infancy. Six are living, as follow : Arden, who is at home; Loring, who lives on the old homestead, married Margaret Tupps and has one son, Kenneth; Harry, who is at home; Howard, who is attending high school at Midway; Ethel, who is the wife of Edward Steward, of Stokes township; Lula, who is the wife of Rufus Schotts, of Chillicothe.

Mr. Gossard owns one hundred and ten acres of land, which is all well improved. He moved to the farm which he now occupies in 1908, and aside from building a barn has made many other substantial improvements.

Mr. Gossard is a stanch Republican but has never cared to hold office. He served, however, as road supervisor for some time and also as a school director. Mr. Gossard is living within two hundred yards of the school which he first attended when a lad. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Midway, and both he and his wife are members of the Grassy Point Christian church.

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JAMES RANKIN STROUP.

Range township, Madison county, Ohio, enjoys the distinction of having furnished to the various municipalities of the United States five different mayors. Judge D. C. Badger was mayor of Columbus, Ohio; John B. Koontz served as mayor of Washington C. H., Ohio; M. C. Allen, as mayor of Nevada, Iowa; W. S. Stroup, as mayor of Dun- kirk, Ohio; and James Rankin Stroup, the subject of this sketch, is now serving his fifth term as mayor of South Solon. Mr. Stroup is a familiar personage to every man. woman and child of South Solon. He is widely known for miles around as the mayor of South Solon. as the founder of the South Solon Advance, and as an all-round business man and farmer. He bas been a familiar figure in both the political and social arena of this section, and has made himself popular among the inhabitants by kind deeds, will- ing hands and active support to all worthy projects for the benefit of the community and those around him. He is the one man needed in every community to fall back upon when energy and willingness are needed to promote the general welfare.

James Rankin Stroup was born in Range township, Madison county, Ohio, March 9, 1844, and is the son of William and Caroline M. (Rankin) Stroup, the former of whom was born in Madison county, Ohio, and was the son of John and Rebecca (Grimes) Stroup. John and Rebecca (Grimes) Stroup were natives of Pennsylvania and Ken- tucky, respectively, and among the first settlers in Madison county, Ohio. They estab- lished a pioneer home in Paint township, and spent the remainder of their lives there.

William and Caroline M. (Rankin) Stroup had eight children, five of whom are living. The deceased children are Rebecca F., who married William McCune, of Colum- bus; John M., who died in Midway, Madison county; and Joshua, who died in California. Both William McCune and his wife are deceased. The living children are: James Rankin, the subject of this sketch; William Edwin of Dunkirk, Ohio, who has been in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad for the last thirty-five years; Sarah E., who lives in Chicago; Margaret C., who lives in California; and Harry L., who is train dispatcher in New York city. William Stroup was engaged in the mercantile business at Midway for many years. During the latter part of his life he was engaged in the grain business at Lima, where he died in 1885. His wife died ten years previously.

Born in Range township and educated in the common schools at Sedalia, James Rankin Stroup clerked in his father's store until 1861. When he was seventeen years old he enlisted in Company D, Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was one of the first of the young men to respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers. He participated in James A. Garfield's first battle at Middle Creek, Kentucky. Colonel Garfield was commanding a brigade at the time, January 10, 1862.

After the war Mr. Stroup came back to his native county, and for several years was engaged in farming and selling farm products. During that period he raised pure- bred Jersey cattle and hogs. In 1889 he removed to South Solon, and in 1902 founded the South Solon Advance, an enterprising newspaper of that section. In 1902 he was elected mayor of South Solon and served eight years, until . 1910. In 1914 he was re-elected mayor and is now serving his fifth term. Mr. Stroup is also justice of the peace and a notary public. He is likewise engaged in the real-estate and loan business. As mayor of South Solon his efforts have ever been for the benefit of the town, and as the result of his election the town has many needed improvements. His projects for benefiting the community have been entirely impartial. He is a newspaper man of con- siderable note. and has built up the South Solon Advance until it is a thriving and newsy sheet, well patronized and widely read. Among his other interests, Mr. Stroup owns a farm of fifty-eight acres in Range township. He also owns a splendid modern home in South Solon.

On October 20. 1863, James Rankin Stroup was married to Martha Haskell. a

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daughter of David and Ann (Kenton) Haskell. Mrs. Stroup's mother was a daughter of Simon Kenton, a nephew of the famous Kenton of pioneer times. Mr. Haskell was born in Utica, New York, and his wife at Xenia, Ohio. They were married at Xenia. The Haskells were farmers and stockmen throughout life and lived in Range township after their marriage. Mr. Haskell died in 1803, and his wife died in 1911.

Mr. and Mrs. Stroup have had three children, as follow: Haskell, born on Septem- ber 3, 1864, lives in Range township. near Danville; Grace, born in.1879, died in 1901; Anna C. died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Stroup celebrated their golden wedding anniversary ou October 20, 1913, at their home in South Solon. There were about eighty guests and they received many presents. The Springfield News mentioned. the event as one of the most interesting in the history of Stokes township.

Mr. Stroup resides with his wife and granddaughter in a fine residence in South Solon. He is as active, as quick in wit and conception, and as deft in his literary work as a young man. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of South Solon, and is quartermaster of the post. He is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, at Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. Stroup is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at South Solon. James Rankin Stroup is identified with the Democratic party.

GEORGE W. GOSSARD.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 116

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

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