History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 123

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

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Politically, Mr. Sanford has always been an active supporter of the policies of the Republican party, and has officiated as justice of the peace and as a member of the school board for many years, positions which he still fills. Mr. and Mrs. Sanford are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Plumwood, where the former is a mem- ber of the official board, and is active in the work, going as a delegate to the confer- ences. Mr. and Mrs. Sanford are active supporters of the temperance cause, Mrs. San- ford being president of the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union, while Mr. San- ford is a member of the county committee of the Young Men's Christian Association. He has been a member of the Farmers National Congress for a number of years, serving as vice-president for two years and as president for the same length of time. He is a stockholder in the Exchange Bank at London, Ohio, and vice-president of the Farmers National Life Insurance Company, located at Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Sanford also served for six years as county school examiner of Madison county, Ohio. At the present time his real estate holdings amount to about one thousand acres of land, all located in Madison county, excepting a small part, which is located in Franklin county.

William F. Sanford, father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Hoboken. New Jersey, in 1819, and his wife, Caroline (Brown) Sanford, was born on August 18. 1826, in Somerford township, Madison county. Mr. Sanford came with his parents to Ohio, locating in Somerford township, where he grew up and married. He started farm-

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MRS. NIN SANFORD.

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CHARLES F. SANFORD.

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ing for himself on one hundred acres of unimproved land in Monroe township, which he cleared, improved and ditched, and lived there until he died. He was a wonderfully resourceful man, and his wife, a good Christian woman, was a splendid and helpful companion in his life in the wilderness. William F. Sanford was a Republican, taking an active part in local politics and serving in all the township offices, and was highly esteemed as an honorable citizen of Madison county. He and his wife were the parents of ten children : One died when small; David B. Sanford, a farmer of Monroe town- ship; Mary, the widow of John Williams, of Fayette county, Ohio; Charles F .; Marshall J., a prosperous attorney at Lima, Ohio; Louisa, who is the wife of John Sceva, presi- dent of the Farmers Bank at Mechanicsburg, Ohio; Marion, a farmer in Monroe town- ship; Carrie, the wife of Percy Moore, a dry-goods merchant of Mechanicsburg; Fletcher, deceased, was a school teacher; and Arthur, deceased, followed the same profession. Eight of the family taught school in Madison county.

Charles F. Sanford was united in marriage, December 28, 1892, with Nin Hankin- son, daughter of W. C. Hankinson. She was born on October 23, 1860, in Warren county, Ohio, and obtained her education in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Sanford began housekeeping in a log cabin, but Mr. Sanford being a man who accomplishes things, started in with the determination of winning out, and he has done so. In 1897 he built a beautiful country residence, substantial in character and conveniently arranged. He has always acted on the principle of "honesty being the best policy," which course accounts for his large number of sincere friends.

JOHN W. TOOPS.

In recording the lives of those men who have contributed so largely to the success of Range township, Madison county, Ohio, through their own advancement, the name of John W. Toops should be added to the list, as he has made steady progress in agricultural lines and is worthy the respect and esteem in which he is held. Born on October 16, 1869, in Pleasant township, Madison county, Ohio, John W. Toops rapidly developed the sterling qualities that have piloted him through forty-six years of life.

John W. Toops is the son of Frederick and Eliza (Stone) Toops and was reared in Pleasant township, where he received his preliminary education in the district schools, completing his schooling in the state normal, at Ada, Ohio, where he was a student for two terms. He held the position of teacher from 1890 until 1905, in the district schools of Pleasant township, Madison county, Ohio, but the promotion of his own business appealed more to his nature, and shortly after the closing of the last school term he purchased eighty-four acres of land, making many improvements and cultivating the same until 1909, when he bought one hundred and fifteen and one-half acres in Range township.

Improvements were made on this last farm to the extent of remodeling the house and the painting of both house and barn. The house was painted white with trimmings of Tuscan red, while the barn was painted buff and trimmed in white. This well-kept farm is located three and one-half miles from Sedalia, Ohio, and to the passer-by it is a beautiful sight, as it indicates the good taste and management of the owner. By this one act alone, John W. Toops has revealed his true nature to the close observer. for here the soul of an artist is blended with that of a man who is not afraid to soil his hands with honest toil. Mr. Toops is a breeder of full-blood Hampshire hogs, and this year has fifty-eight acres planted to corn. At various times the products of this farm have been exhibited at the farmers' institutes, and have received unusual praise.

Leona Anderson, born on September 24, 1871, in Pleasant township, Madison county, Ohio, daughter of John and Emma (Wickell) Anderson, was united in marriage to John W. Toops on June 14, 1894, and six children were born to them: Herbert A., a

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student at Ohio State University ; Marcia E .; Everett A., a student in the high school at Sedalia, Ohio; Doris, Alice L. and Lois L., who are at home. Mrs. Leona (Ander- son) Toops died on September 10, 1911, and Marcia is now keeping house for her father and family.

Politically, John W. Toops is a Republican and enthusiastic for the advancement of his party. In his religious faith he is an independent believer with a natural optimism that is quick to discover the good in all things, leaving the dross unnoticed and untouched.

THOMAS L. CREATH.

Should you inquire of an expert on the subject of farming what are the essential personal characteristics of the successful farmer, he would reply that they are "a par- ticular temperament, a strong physical constitution, a knowledge of crops and soils, and business tact." When, as in the case of the life history here briefly recorded, an ambitious youth starts out with no capital except his health and his determination to succeed, and middle age finds him a representative of his chosen line of work in his community, no better evidence is required to show that in the beginning he possessed the necessary qualifications. Thomas L. Creath was born on April 26, 1859, in Washing- ton county, Iowa, and is the son of Owen and Harriet (Loofbourrow) Creath, men- tioned elsewhere in this work in relation to the history of John Chenoweth. To them were born six children.

Thomas L. Creath attended the East London schools and grew up in that vicinity, living with his mother, his father having been killed in the battle of Shiloh. He learned the blacksmith's trade after his marriage, when he located in South Solon, Ohio, and later in Chenoweth Corners, where he followed his trade for a period of six years. At the end of that time he again took up the vocation of his ancestors, renting the farm on which he lives at present, which he later bought. He is now the owner of one hundred and twenty-six acres of land which is equipped with modern improvements and has splendid new buildings, including a modern house. The barn is built of cement blocks, and there is a natural flowing well which is the only one of its kind in the com- munity. Mr. Creath takes much interest in his stock. of which he raises a high grade. He has a Percheron and a Shire stallion, and raises Poland China and Duroc-Jersey hogs for market. At the London fair, where he has exhibited his horses, Mr. Creath has won many prizes. He is very proud of the first prize taken by one of his stallions. Mr. Creath was one of the first to raise alfalfa in Range township, having begun this branch of agricultural activity in 1911. He had thirty-three acres of alfalfa in 1915. Mr. Creath is of an inventive turn of mind, for he has invented a corn shucker, which was patented the first time on November 10, 1903, and the second time on January 5, 1904. While the machine is a practical success it has never been placed on the market.

Thomas L. Creath has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1883, was Nellie Campbell, born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 8, 1861, she being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Campbell. Her death occurred on March 1. 1886. Of this union one child was born, this being Robert, born on January 25, 1885, and who died on February 17, 1902. Mr. Creath was married, secondly. to Myrtle E. Counts, their wedding having taken place on November 14, 1900. Mrs. Creath is a native of Range township, having been born there near Sedalia on January 15, 1873. She is the daughter of John and Belle (Jeffries) Counts, natives of Madison and Fayette counties, respectively. They are now living near Sedalia, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Creath are the parents of two children, namely : Nelabel, born on February 17, 1902, and at present attending school; and Owen. February 25, 1905, who passed away on September 2. 1905.

Mr. Creath"s political interests have been with the Republican party. He served on

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the school board for one term. Mr. Creath belongs to the Methodist Bethel church of which he is now district steward and trustee. He is not a member of any lodge.

Mr. Creath takes a deep interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity and in the duties which have been entrusted to him he has been faithful and conscientious. A man of inflexible integrity, he justly deserves a place among those whose careers go to make up the annals of this county.

SAMUEL I. GILLILAND.

There is a common saying that every man may be a' hero if he but chooses to do his duty, and does it well. And there are heroes in every walk of life, men who fight uot for the sake of fighting, but for the right against the wrong, whether it be in com- mercial life, in politics or in the heart of obscure districts. Samuel I. Gilliland has fought to place the farmer on the plane of social prominence, where he rightfully belongs, and to show that his' influence has a direct bearing upon the vitality and life of a community. He has also proved that a life of work on the farm can lead to the heights of success, as well as work done in the turmoil of thriving cities.

Samuel I. Gilliland was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on January 2, 1853, and is the son of Samuel and Malinda (Alkire) Gilliland. His father was born in Pickaway county. Ohio, on December 16, 1810. He was a farmer and the son of Andrew and Mary Gilliland, natives of Virginia. To the union of Samuel and Malinda Gilliland the following children were born: Mrs. Elizabeth Deyo, deceased; Andrew and William, also deceased; Mrs. Emma Hill, who is living in Kansas; Mrs. Lennie Morgan, who is deceased; Marion, who is also deceased; Mrs. Mary Cobble, a widow, who lives in Derby, Ohio; Robert, John and Mrs. Hanna Graham, all deceased; and Samuel, the subject of this sketch.

The district school of log-cabin days, of which so little trace remains save in the most remote districts, was the center of educational activities, when Samuel Gilliland went forth, as a boy, to learn the three branches. Most of the pupils, if not all, were farmer boys, who faced the long walks and rough country roads with happy counte- nances, and who gradually became accustomed to the life of toil which made the trials of their later years easier to bear. Samuel Gilliland remained on the farm, working with his father, until his marriage to Marietta Skinner, in 1874. For a time he rented a tract of land near Mt. Sterling and later, in 1898, he was able to buy a farm of his own, and now owns forty acres. He keeps a very good grade of stock and deals a great deal in sheep. Mr. Gilliland believes firmly in the improvement of the modern farm and has given every effort to make his home a model in this respect. His residence. which was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. is an example of what the country house of today can represent.

Marietta Skinner was born on August 13, 1856, in Era, Pickaway county, Ohio, where she received her early. education. She is the daughter of John H. and Elizabeth ( Hetherington ) Skinner. Her father was born in England, and came to this country when he was only twelve years old. For a time he lived in the state of New York and later came to Newark, Ohio. His death occurred in 1895. He was a tailor by trade, but worked at it only a short while. as his interests were with farming and horse training. His wife, Elizabeth. was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, and makes her home with her daughter. Mrs. Gilliland. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilli- land. Mrs. Anna Letitia Campbell is living in Pleasant township; and John H. is a bookkeeper in Columbus, Ohio. The latter was educated in the public schools and later took a business course at Bliss Business College in . Columbus, Ohio. . Before starting upon a business career he taught school for three years in Pickaway county.

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Mr. Gilliland is a member of the Knights of Pythias. In politics, he gives his sup- port to the Republican party and he and his wife are regular attendants at the Christian church.

CHARLES C. HANKINSON.

In agricultural circles throughout this favored section of Ohio there are few names better known than that of Charles C. Hankinson, president of the Madison County Farmers' Club, who, for many years, has been particularly active in the work of pro- moting in every way the interests of the farmer and in seeking to elevate the standards of agriculture hereabout. Mr. Hankinson is not the first of his name to be thus prom- inently connected with the general promotion of agricultural interests, for his father, the lamented William C. Hankinson, of good memory throughout this part of Ohio, was, in his day, recognized as one of the best farmers and stock men in the whole Miami valley and will long be remembered as the man who first developed the Poland China hog, making that breed of swine one of the most popular in the world.

Charles C. Hankinson was born in the Blue Ball neighborhood of Warren county, this state, on April 15, 1867, son of William C. and Hannah Jane (Craig) Hankinson, both natives of that same county. William C. Hankinson was a son of James Hankin- son, one of the pioneers of this section of Ohio, who, as a young man, made his way from his home in, New Jersey to Pittsburgh and thence by river to Cincinnati, arriving at the latter place with but fifty-four cents in his pocket. He made his way up country and entered a tract of "Congress land" near Franklin, in Warren county, where he set- tled down to the strenuous task of carving a home out of the forest wilderness, 'and there he spent the remainder of his life, living to the great age of ninety-three years.

James Hankinson was a man of singularly robust and vigorous physique, of strong and upright character, a natural leader of men, a man of the true pioneer breed, who quickly assumed a prominent and influential position in the early life of the section in which he settled, and it is undoubted that his vigorous personality aided very largely in the creation of an established order in that then practically virgin country. His wife, who was a Cheesman, was a woman of fine character, she also having been of the pioneer type so essential in the formative days of this country, and she was ever a strong and competent helpmate of her sturdy husband. They were the parents of the following children, Deborah, Lydia. Rachel, Eleanor, Margaret, James, William Cheesman and one who died in infancy or early youth.

William C. Hankinson, youngest son of the pioneer couple above referred to, received such education as was afforded in the primitive schools of his time and place, and grew . up amid the natural stress incident to the development of a farm in the woodlands. He remained on the homestead place until his marriage, after which he bought a hun- dred-acre tract in the Blue Ball neighborhood, a part of his father's extensive land holdings, for which he paid one hundred and thirty-seven dollars an acre, and there he proceeded to make a home, the most of this land being wholly unimproved and much of it uncleared of the forest which encumbered it. From the very beginning of his farming operations, William C. Hankinson gave particular attention to the raising of hogs and also became an expert general stockman, long being recognized as one of the best judges of stock and poultry in this section. It was he who first developed the par- ticular breed of swine now so widely known as the Poland China, and it was in his house that he and Carl Freigau. of Dayton, made out the first pedigree sheet of the Poland Chinas, on which all registrations of this famous breed are now based. William C. Hankinson took a prominent part in civic affairs and was especially interested in the development of the local school system, for many years having served as school director

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CHARLES C. HANKINSON.

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in his neighborhood, his efforts in behalf of the schools having done much toward ele- vating the standards of education thereabout.

On March 9, 1853, William C. Hankinson was united in marriage to Hannah Jane Craig, who also was born in Warren county, daughter of Obadiah Craig, a native of that county, son of one of the very earliest settlers thereabout. Obadiah Craig was a well-known farmer, industrious and of untiring energy. He was thrice married and to his first union the following children were born: Ann, David, Margaret, Ely and Mary. To the second union the following children were born: John D., William B., Hannah Jane, Lydia, Archibald, Obadiah and Susan B. To William C. and Hannah Jane (Craig) Hankinson six children were born, namely : Clara, who died on April 3, 1891. unmarried; Sarah, who continues to live on the old home in the Blue Ball neighbor- hood, married Thomas Irwin and has one child, a son, John W .; Craig, a farmer and tile manufacturer, of Blue Ball, married Jennie White and has one daughter, Ruth; Nin, married Charles F. Sanford. of London, this county; William, of Blue Ball, a farmer, who married Harriet B. Byers and has three children, Mary, Paul and James; and Charles C., the immediate subject of this sketch. Willlam C. Hankinson died on March 9, 1909, and his widow is still living on the home farm, enjoying many evidences of the general esteem in which she is held by all thereabout.

Charles C. Hankinson was reared on the home place,, receiving his early education in the local schools, which he supplemented by a course in the National Normal Uni- versity, at Lebanon, this state, after which he began teaching school and for sixteen years was thus engaged. for twelve years having been the teacher in his home school, performing there a service which was regarded so highly throughout the neighborhood as effectually to disprove the general application of the commonly accepted statement that a prophet is accorded little honor in his own country. In 1908 he abandoned teach- ing as a profession and came to Madison county and entered upon his successful career as a farmer. He bought eighty-six and one-half acres of the old Dunn farm in Deer- creek township, for which he paid fifty-nine dollars an acre, and there he remained until 1913, at which time he sold the place for one hundred and forty-five dollars an acre. having, in the meantime, improved the place by clearing twenty-five acres of the uncleared portion, draining and fencing the farm and erecting two dwelling houses, a commodious barn and well-equipped outbuildings, making of the place one of the best farms in that part of the county. After selling the farm, Mr. Hankinson and his family moved to London, the county seat, where they have since resided and where they are very comfortably and very pleasantly situated.

During the time of his residence on the farm Mr. Hankinson took great pleasure in his agricultural pursuits and gave to the same a degree of intelligent attention which soon caused him to become widely known throughout the county. It was at his active instigation that the celebrated Farmer's Club of Madison County was organized in 1911 and he was elected first president of the same, a position which he has held ever since. In Grange work Mr. Hankinson has been active and influential. For two years he was master of Oak Run Grange and is now master of Pomona Grange, a service in which he takes much delight. To church and educational affairs he likewise for years has given the same degree of thoughtful and intelligent interest and is an elder in the Presby- terian church, while for two years he performed excellent service as president of the Madison County Sunday School Association, a labor of love to which he brought the best powers of his mind. In educational matters there are few men in the county who have been more diligent and for years Mr. Hankinson performed a very signal service to the county as a member of the school board, of which for some time he was presi- dent. To the cause of temperance Mr. Hankinson also has lent his energetic and enthusiastic support and in the spring of 1915 was elected chairman of the Madison

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County Dry Federation,' a position in which he was enabled to perform prodigies in behalf of the anti-saloon movement in this county.

On December 31, 1895, Charles C. Hankinson was united in marriage to Hattie B. Russell, who was born neur Crawfordsville, Indiana, daughter of John M. and Harriett (Cafferty) Russell, both natives of Warren county, this state. John M. Russell was a farmer and was born on January 1, 1828, on a farm near Franklin, Ohio. He being the second son of Joseph and Sarah McCord Russell, whose early home was in Pennsyl- vania. His wife, Harriett B., was the daughter of James and Kaziah Cafferty. Several years after their marriage they moved to Whitesville, Indiana, where he was engaged in the grocery business for about nine years, moving back in Ohio in 1866, where they spent the remainder of their lives. His chief characteristics were honesty and upright- ness. John M. Russell and his wife, both of whom are now deceased, were the parents of six children, James, Joseph, Findley, Hattie, Eli and Elbert.

To Charles C. and Hattie B. (Russell) Hankinson two children have been born. Irene, born on January 9, 1898, who for four years attended school under her father's tutelage, then attended the schools at Lafayette, graduating from the grade schools under the Boxwell law in 1911, after which she entered the high school at London, from which she was graduated with the class of 1915, at the age of seventeen and is now a student in Ohio State University; and Russell, born on November 28, 1903, who is now in the London school. Mr. and Mrs. Hankinson are members of the Presby- terian church and are interested in all good works hereabout. They also take a proper interest in the social activities of the community and are held in the very highest esteem by their many friends in London and throughout the county.

CARL C. HEWITT.

It has been truly said that "it is not by sleeping, but by working, waking and laboring continually that proficiency is attained and reputation acquired." Were this test to be applied to him whose life record is briefly sketched here, he might be con- sidered an exemplification of the statement, for, from his early manhood, ambition. Industry and honesty have been marked characteristics. With faith in himself and in the universal good, he has made his life one of influence and usefulness, and has had the reward of knowing that he enjoyed popular favor. Carl C. Hewitt, a well-known merchant and farmer of this township was born on April 11, 1877, in Sedalia, being the son of Washington T. and Mandane (Groves) Hewitt, whose family is mentioned in the present work in the sketch of P. G. Hewitt. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Hewitt was toll-gate keeper of the Midway and London pike.

After finishing his course in the local public schools, C. C. Hewitt attended the business college of Delaware for one term. In 1899 he went into business in Sedalia, establishing a general merchandise store. He started with only a small stock of goods but in 1901 increase of business compelled him to take possession of his new quarters which is thoroughly stocked with a first-class line of merchandise. Besides his mercan- tile pursuits Mr. Hewitt owns one hundred and two acres of land one and one-half miles south of Sedalia, which he is managing. To do this and at the same time to manage a business which attracts trade from an extensive territory requires extreme industry as well as careful planning.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 123

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

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