History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 117

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 117

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George W. Gossard. farmer and stockman of Stokes township, was born in the township where he now lives, October 28, 1865. He is the son of Joseph and Jennie ( Eckles) Gossard.

Mr. Gossard's father was born in Madison county. and his mother also. They were married in this county, and had seven children. of whom six are living. Silva, the youngest, died at the age of seventeen. The six living children are: George W., the subject of this sketch; Fred, who lives in Midway, and who is a carpenter by occupa- tion : Willis, who lives on the old homestead; Oscar, who lives at home and manages the home farm; Charles married Nora Rogers, who died about 1910, and he also lives on the old homestead ; Dell is the wife of William Roth, and they live at Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Joseph Gossard followed farming and spent all his life in Madison county, Ohio. where he owned forty acres of well-improved land. He died on May 22, 1905. His widow is still living on the old homestead. The grandfather of George W. Gossard died . in 1880. The late Joseph Gossard was a member of the Grassy Point Christian church and a Republican in politics. He held numerous township offices.

George W. Gossard. who received a good common-school education in the public schools of Madison county, was reared on the farm and lived at home with his parents until his marriage at the age of twenty-six years, November 10, 1891. At that time he was married to Mary Vaughn. a daughter of William and Martha (Richardson) Vaughn. Mrs. Gossard's father was born in Madison county, and served in the Civil War for three years and four months. He died shortly after his return from the war, as the consequence of exposure he suffered during service. Mrs. Gossard's mother lived the remainder of her life in Stokes township, Madison county. She died many years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. George W. Gossard have had five children, all of whom are living. Hazel is the wife of Lester Campbell, they have one son, Max, and live near Yellow Springs; Guy and Marie. twins: William and Marjorie all live at home with their parents.

Mr. Gossard operates a farm of forty-seven acres, and raises a high grade of live stock. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is identified with Midway Lodge No. 806. As a Republican, he has served as road supervisor and school director for a number of years. The Gossard family are members of the Christian church at Grassy Point.

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JOSEPH C. CLAWSON.

It is a maxim demonstrated by all human experience that industry is the key to prosperity. Success comes not to him who idly waits, but to the faithful toiler who with cheerful optimism and sleepless vigilance takes advantage of every circumstance calculated to promote his interests. Such a man is Joseph C. Clawson, an enterprising farmer of Stokes township, Madison county, Ohio, who has, within a comparatively brief period of time, advanced from an humble station to a proud position among the lead- ing farmers of this great county. Faithfulness to duty and strict adherence to fixed purpose, which always do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or advantageous position, have been the dominating factors in his most successful career. He is known as a man of strictly honest business principles, industrious, pleasant and agreeable.

Joseph C. Clawson was born in Vinton county, Ohio, November 3, 1857. He is the son of John W. Clawson, a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, whose wife was also born in that county. The parents were married in Jackson township, Vinton county, Ohio, and after their marriage took up farming. John W. Clawson had eight .children, only one of whom, Joseph C., the subject of this sketch, is living. Samuel served in the Civil War, enlisting when seventeen years old and serving altogether three years and six months. He died near Sedalia, Missouri, in 1913. Jacob served in the Civil War, enlisting at the age of eighteen and serving three years and six months. After the war he settled in Pickaway county and later moved to Missouri, near Sedalia, where he died in 1912. Elizabeth Jane married Edward Schafer of Pick- away county. They moved to Madison county in 1907, and settled in Stokes township. They reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are now living, Charles, Clarence, Edward, Harry, Allie, Elizabeth, Mattie and Blanche. Charles lives in Los Angeles, California ; Clarence in Madison county ; Edward in Madison county; Harry in Madison county ; Allie in Pickaway county ; Elizabeth is the wife of Earl Huffman, of Pickaway county ; Mattie is the wife of Clinton Stout, of Pickaway county, and Blanche, who is unmarried, resides in Madison county. One child died in infancy, and the mother of these children, Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Schafer, died in 1912. The father died in 1907 in Madison county. The fifth child was Rosella, who died about 1879 in Madison county. Three children died during the Civil War.

John W. Clawson was also a soldier in the Civil War and enlisted in Company I, Eighteenth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served about three years. He was wounded two times during the war, and after receiving an honorable discharge returne.l to Vinton county and engaged in farming until his death, November 28, 1878. His wife died in February, 1911.

Joseph C. Clawson received but little education during his early years. He was compelled to work hard and had little opportunity to attend school. Until 1879 he worked for other people. In that year he began life for himself by renting from G. W. Linson, in Madison county. He rented land altogether for twenty-three years and then purchased one hundred and twenty-five acres in Stokes township, and has added to this original tract until he now owns five hundred and eight acres of magnificent land, well improved and very fertile. Practically all the improvements on this land have been made by Mr. Clawson himself.

On July 7, 1886, Joseph C. Clawson was married to Jennie Bozarth, a daughter of Lewis and Rosanna ( Moon) Bozarth, the former of whom was born in Greene county, Ohio, and the latter was born in Madison county. They were married in Madison county, and had six children, four of whom are living, as follow : John is a resident of Berry county, Missouri ; Jennie is the wife of Mr. Clawson; and was born in McClain county, Illinois, on September 15, 1855; Mary is the wife of Huston Thomas, deceased ; Laura is the wife of L. W. Badger. of Berry county, Missouri.

After their marriage the parents of Mrs. Joseph C. Clawson lived in Madison county

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for a year, and then removed to McClain county, Illinois. The father was a farmer and stock dealer in Illinois for seventeen years. Eventually, he returned to Madison county and purchased the old Aaron Moon homestead farm and followed farming the remainder of his life. He died March 7, 1909, and his wife died in 1911. Lewis Bozarth was also a soldier in the Civil War, having enlisted from Illinois

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Clawson have had three children: Laura, who died at the age of nineteen; Anna, who died at the age of seventeen; and John, who died on September 1, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Clawson adopted a little girl at the age of nine months. She is Eatha Clawson, born on September 15, 1895.

Mrs. Clawson is a member of the Christian church at South Solon. Mr. Clawson is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to office. He makes a specialty of raising Shire draft horses and Shorthorn cattle.

JOHN MORRISON.

John Morrison is a successful farmer of Paint township, Madison county, Ohio, who was born on the ocean on the voyage from Scotland to America on June 2, 1858. He is the son of Andrew and Agnes (McIndo) Morrison, both of whom were natives of Scot- land. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living, namely: Alex- ander, who was born in Scotland, lives in Ross county; John is the subject of this sketch; Margaret is the widow of Wesley Davis, of Highland county; Mary is the wife of David Fairley, of Highland county; Robert lives in Paint township; Archie is a resident of Highland county; Andrew also lives in Highland county; William died at the age of thirty in Highland county; David and Walter, both of whom live in High- land county.

Upon arriving in America, Andrew Morrison settled in Highland county in 1858. and for a few years was employed as a laborer. Later, however, he purchased a farm in Paint township, Highland county, and followed farming. He died about 1906. His wife died on May 22, 1915.

John Morrison received a common-school education in the district schools of High- land county and lived at home until his marriage. Mr. Morrison was married on December 25, 1883, to Hannah Belle Taylor, a daughter of James and Mary Ann (Siffens) Taylor. Mrs. Morrison's father was born in Lancaster, England, and her mother in Rochdale, England. Her father came alone to America on a sailing vessel in the spring of 1840, and her mother came in August, 1840. Both settled in Phila- delphia. After their marriage they settled at West Chester, a suburb of Philadelphia. About 1865 Mrs. Morrison's father moved to Washington county, Ohio, and settled near Marietta. He was a spinner by trade and his wife was a weaver. About fifty-six years ago he moved to Highland county from Marietta, and after living about thirty years in Highland county, moved to Findlay, Ohio, where he died in 1892. Still. later the family moved to Dayton, where the mother died on September 21, 1909, at the age of eighty-four years and twenty days. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their nine children were as follow: Sarah Ann, who is the widow of Frank Dooley, of Leesburg. Highland county; William, who died at the age of fifty-six; Thomas, who lives in Florida; Mary, who is the wife of Albert Weber, of Dayton, Ohio; Joseph, who lives in Colorado; Hannah Belle, who is the wife of a Mr. Morrison; Hattie, who died unmarried at the age of forty-nine; Clara, who is the wife of Samuel Teter, of California ; and James A., who lives in Loveland, near Cincinnati.

Mr. and Mrs. John Morrison are the parents of seven children, four of whom are living, namely : Nina, born on July 3, 1884; Florence, February 11, 1886, married Pearl Hunter and lives in London ; Clara. April 11, 1888. married Howard Harrison and lives in Paint township; Clarence, June 5. 1890, died on March 15, 1892; John Taylor, March

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7, 1898, is at home; Mary Agnes, November 30. 1899. died on August 15, 1900; and Francis Albert, September 22, 1902, died on October 29, 1902.

Mr. and Mrs. Morrison were married in Highland county, and after their mar- ringe moved to Madison county in 1892 and rented land. Mr. Morrison owns a farm of sixty acres but manages, altogether, a farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres. He engages in general farming and stock raising and keeps a high grade of stock on his farm in Paint township.

John Morrison is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at South .Charleston, and the encampment. at London. He is a Republican in politics and a mem- ber of the school board. He has served as supervisor for a number of years. Mrs. Morrison belongs to the Methodist church. Mr. Morrison was baptized as a Presby- terian.

JESSE S. GAIN.

Jesse S. Gain, stockman and breeder, who is proprietor of "Fairview Farm" near the Madison county fair grounds on the Marysville pike, is today one of the best-known horsemen in the state of Ohio. For many years he has been engaged in breeding registered Percheron and harness horses.

Born on May 14, 1859, in Paint township, Jesse S. Gain is the son of Thomas and Mary (Stroup) Gain, the former of whom came with his brother, Jesse, to Ohio. Their fathen Joshua Gain, was born in Jefferson county, Virginia (now West Virginia), in 1760, and died in Harrison county, Virginia, in 1854, at the age of ninety-four years. His wife before her marriage was Mary Crouse, who was born in 1771, and who died in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1846. The name Mary is to be met with frequently in the Gain family.

Joshua and Mary (Crouse) Gain had eleven children; some of the sons removed to Illinois. Her old home in Frederick county, West Virginia, is still held by members of the family. Thomas Gain, father of Jesse S., was born in Morgan county, Virginia, April 16, 1821. as was also his brother, Jesse. the father of Dr. Charles Emory Gain, the postmaster of London. Jesse Gain was born on September 23. 1823, and died on August 27, 1892, at London. Thomas and Jesse Gain removed first to Berkeley county. Virginia, and on August 3. 1845. removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, where they lived for two years. Afterwards, they lived in Greene county, Ohio, until 1851. and then both came to Madison county, settling near each other in Paint township. Jesse, how- ever, soon removed to London.

Thomas Gain and Mary Stroup were married on October 16, 1856, in Madison county. She was the daughter of David and Mary (Ray) Stroup, and was born in Paint township. having been one of nine children. The last survivor of this family died on March 7. 1915. She was Rebecca Stroup, who had married Seth McCollum and who was next to the youngest in the family. Several of Mary Stroup's brothers remained in Madison county. Jacob has two children, Jobn L., near Xenia. Ohio, and Fannie Woosley. of Cherryvale. Kansas. Jesse, who died in January, 1909, was a wealthy man at the time of his death. The other brothers were David, Alfred and William, the last of whom was the youngest in the family. He died in Kansas in 1886. Practically all the members of the family were reared in Madison county. Of Mary Stroup's sisters, Nancy married John Linson, but they are now both deceased : Martha died in childhood.

. Mary (Stroup) Gain died on December 16. 1860, at the age of thirty-one, leaving but one living child. Jesse S .. the subject of this sketch, who was then nineteen months old. After his wife's death. Thomas Gain remained in Paint township. He spent his

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MR. AND MRS. JESSE S. GAIN

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later years with his son, Jesse S., and died in his son's home, November 22, 1907, in his eighty-seventh year. He was a Democrat in politics, and never held public office. However, he was always ready to discuss politics, and was a man possessed with a very retentive memory.

Jesse S. Gain, who was reared by his grandparents, David and Mary Stroup, attended school in Madison county. His grandfather, David Stroup, died when he was fifteen years old. Jesse S. attended school for a short time, and at the age of seven- teen, at South Charleston, while living on the old farm, he began to work by the month. In company with his cousin, Victor Stroup, he rented a farm near Summerford in 1885. In 1887 he worked for Cyrus Ball, and in 1888 had charge of a small farm in Paint township owned by Aaron Gaines. At this time he began to interest himself in standard- bred horses, and has continued the business until the present time. In 1909, Mr. Gain removed to his present farm near the city of London. Here he owns twenty acres of land, and has made most of the improvements upon this farm. He has continued to breed horses, and has become the largest breeder of standard-bred horses in Madison county.

One of his horses, "J. S. G.," obtained a mark of 2:1314, and was one of the finest track horses Mr. Gain has ever raised. He won many races and became a well-known horse in the state of Ohio. In fact, he was the finest horse ever owned in Madison county. "Sir Lane," bred by Mr. Gain, was sold in the West, where he made a mark of 2:0814. "Brownie Her" made a mark of 2:1214, and was sold as a colt. Some of these horses were trained on the Madison county fair grounds track. Mr. Gain now has several splendid horses, all of which he drives himself. Most of the races which he has won, he himself has driven.

At the age of thirty-two, Jesse S. Gain was married to Mary Humphrey, who died within a year, leaving no children. After five years, Mr. Gain was married, on October 27, 1897, to Janet A. Brown, of Richmond, Indiana, who was born in Canada. Mr. Gain gives his wife credit for much of his success as a horse breeder. She is a lover of horses herself, and has extended encouragement at critical times. By her warm sympathy and help, such as a wife can give, Mr. Gain has today become one of the best-known and most successful horsemen in the Buckeye state. Mrs. Gain's father was of Scotch birth. Her stepmother, Mary Gilbert, died in London in March, 1915. Mr. Gain has reared several boys, one of whom, Jerome Burchnell, lived with him from the time he was thirteen until he was eighteen years old. Ernest Beard has also been with him since he was thirteen years old.

Mrs. Gain's father, Hugh Brown, was born on February 13, 1832, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and emigrated as a young man to Canada. He was a cooper by trade. On March 18, 1855, he was married to Alameda Sanders, a native of Canada, who was born on July 4, 1833, and to this union two children were born, James M., of Oswego, New York and Janet A., wife of Jesse S. Gain. In 1858 Mr. Brown moved to Oswego, New York, where his wife died the next year. About 1863 Mr. Brown moved to Rich- mond, Indiana, and was there married to Mary E. Voss. To this union were born two sons, Oliver M., of London, Ohio, and John W., of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Brown died in Richmond, Indiana, on March 14, 1879.

Jesse S. Gain is often called upon to assist in the management of fairs, particularly in the management of speed programs. As a breeder, his influence in this county has been far reaching. Not only has he greatly increased the interest of the people of Madison county in good horses, but he has made it possible for them to secure the higher grade of horses.

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JOHN A. SOHURR

Among the successful farmers of Paint township, Madison county, Ohio, is John A. Schurr, who comes of German stock, dating back in this country to about 1847.

John A. Schurr was born in Madison county, north of Palestine, April 7, 1851. He is the son of George and Elizabeth (Carter) Schurr, the former of whom was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 31, 1823, and who, in 1829, came to America with his parents in a sailing vessel. They were seventy-nine days in making the voyage on the good ship "Isabella." After landing in New York City, they traveled by team to Buffalo, where they took another sailing vessel and came by way of Lake Erie to Cleveland. From Cleveland the family took a canal boat to Columbus, and from Columbus came on to Madison county.

The next spring, George Schurr's father rented a farm and they farmed for four years. The father then moved to Columbus, where he obtained work at seventy-five cents a day. In the course of two years he bought a farm on Possum run, compris- ing one hundred acres. George Schurr assisted in the farm work during the summer and attended the district school in the winter. At the age of twenty-one, George Schurr .started farming for himself, working at eight dollars a month until 1847, when he was employed to accompany a drove of cattle to Philadelphia across the Alleghany mountains. After delivering the cattle he was allowed 'sixteen days time to return and sixty-two cents a day for expense money. The distance was six hundred miles and he walked the entire distance in fifteen days.

On December 26, 1848, George Schurr was married to Elizabeth Carter. The mar- riage was performed by Squire Stephen Anderson. After farming for three years in Madison county, George Schurr moved to Coles county, Illinois, remaining there for two years. His father having died, he returned to Madison county and purchased some land and cleared it of its heavy timber. In 1859 he and his wife joined the Christian church. In 1865 they sold the farm and purchased one hundred acres of land in Paint township, to which he added fifty acres. Subsequently, he purchased the Doctor Kinney property in London. Mrs. Schurr died on October 4, 1900, and her husband died seven years later, on June 2, 1907.

George and Elizabeth (Carter) Schurr were the parents of ten children, namely : Mary, born on December 7, 1849, died in Columbus about 1913; William, October 4, 1852, is deceased; John A. is the subject of this sketch; Charles, December 11, 1854. lives in Logan county ; James, June 12, 1855, lives in Paint township; Esther, May 8, 1857, married John Southward and lives in Clark county, near Springfield, Ohio; Clay- ton, August 2, 1859, died on October 3, 1866; George. February 1, 1861. lives in the state of Washington ; Alfred, January 4, 1865, died on March 11. 1886; and David, April 9. 1866.

David Schurr, the tenth child in this family, attended the district schools and was granted a certificate to teach at the age of sixteen. He began teaching in the district schools at eighteen and continued teaching, applying his leisure hours and vacations to the pursuit of advanced studies. He was graduated from Ohio Northern University with the degree of Bachelor of Science and from Wittenberg College with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He holds common and high school life certificates granted by the state board of examiners. Mr. Schurr was superintendent of the Midway schools for one year and superintendent of the South Solon schools for seven years. He was also superintendent of the Plain City schools for four years and declined a re-election at Plain City to become a candidate for representative. He was the choice of his party and has always been active in local politics. He has been a delegate to almost every county convention for fifteen years and is a member of the National Educational Associa-

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tion, the Central Ohio Teachers' Association and has been elected president three times of the Madison County Teachers' Association. He is at present a member of the execu- tive committee of the county teachers' institute and served nine years on the board of county school examiners. He was recently chosen cashier of the Farmers and Traders Bank of South Solon, of which bank he is one of the directors Fraternally, David Schurr is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, also being a member of the uniform rank of the latter lodge. He is a member of the committee on enrollment, chairman of the boys' industrial school, chairman of the committee on ways and turnpikes and a member of the committee on schools. He owns the old homestead of one hundred and fifty- seven acres and also a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Logan county. David Schurr retains his residence in Paint township.

John A. Schurr received a good common-school education and farmed his father's farm on the shares for some time.

On September 15. 1875, John A. Schurr was married to Ida Stroup, a daughter of Alfred and Charity (Thompson) Stroup, and to them have been born three children, two of whom are living. Alma, born on March 20, 1878, married Hartford Welsh and has one daughter, Mary Louise. They live in London. Mr. Welsh is cashier of the Commercial and Savings Bank, at London. Emmet, the other living child, was born on May 3. 1880, and married Myrtle March. They live in London. Formerly, he was agent at the interurban station for eleven years, but is now bookkeeper in the London Exchange Bank. The mother of these children, who was born on November 5, 1854, died on October 7, 1884.

On February 11, 1886. John A. Schurr was married to Mary Hornbeck, a daughter of Cyrus and Elizabeth ( Meliner) Hornbeck. Mr. and Mrs. Hornbeck were the parents of seven children, two of whom are living, John Q. is deceased; Martin is deceased; Melissa. horn on October 17, 1852, died at the age of seventeen; Mary E., January 7, 1855, is the wife of Mr. Schurr; C. R .. August 28, 1858, is an attorney of London; Sidney F .. November 17, 1860, died on June 17. 1914; Isaac W., July 23, 1863, died some years ago. The father of these children died on July 23, 1863, and the mother in May, 1900.

John A. Schurr is living on the old homestead and is a farmer and stock raiser. He owns one hundred and fifty-seven acres in Paint township. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, at Mt. Sterling. He is a Republican in politics and has served as township trustee and township treasurer. He is now a trustee of the Paint township cemetery.

THOMAS MALLON.

America owes much to the Emerald Isle. which has given to this country many of our best citizens Among the successful farmers of Madison county, Ohio, is the vener- able Thomas Mallon, of Stokes township, who was born in Ireland in 1840, and who, after coming to America, worked at odd jobs for a time and then purchased a farm, now owning three hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 117

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

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