History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 127

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 127

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On January 29, 1887, Edward Everett Cole was married to Mary Beach, the only daughter and child of Doctor Morrow and Lucy Beach. There were no children born to this marriage. Their married life was very congenial, as they enjoyed the same things and from the same point of view.

A member of the Presbyterian church, Edward E. Cole was not tied to any creed. He was a man of tolerant religious belief, and broad-minded to a marked degree. He died on February 7, 1909, and his remains were buried in the Deer Creek cemetery, on the Beach family lot.

SCOTT O'DAY.

In those things which make for self-reliance, business integrity and honesty of pur- pose, Scott O'Day has been generously endowed. A man of broad human sympathy and marked ability he has brought himself to a place of the highest esteem in the county in which he lives. Not waiting for circumstances to mold or change his fate he has seized upon every available opportunity to better his life conditions, until now he is able to enjoy the fruits of well-directed endeavor. His career has been interesting both from the standpoint of the agriculturist and the business man.

Scott O'Day was born on the 19th of June, 1872, in Pleasant township. Madison county, and is the son of James and Sophia (Bennett) O'Day.

The schools of Pleasant township furnished the rudimentary education for Scott O'Day, later he attended the Caton Business College, of Cleveland, Ohio. from which he was graduated in 1892. After graduation he returned home and worked on the farm. for awhile, with his father. He then rented a tract of land from his father and farmed independently until he was able to buy a farm of his own. He now owns two hundred acres of valuable farm land in Pleasant township. On this farm he has made all mod- ern improvements, including the building of two large stock barns, one of which is one hundred and twelve by forty feet and the other one hundred and twenty-four by twenty-six feet. In 1892 he began to breed Shorthorn cattle and met with such suc- cess in this field of endeavor that he has bred them ever since. He finds a market for these cattle in the West, and also ships a large part of his stock to the South. He always has in the neighborhood of seventy to ninety cattle. On his smaller farm in Mt. Sterling, which consists of just fifteen acres, Mr. O'Day has built another barn of large size, and from this place he ships stock which he buys and sells to the market.

At Sedalia, Ohio, on the 12th of January. 1892, the marriage of Scott O'Day and Nettie Core was solemnized. She is the daughter of Andrew B. and Clarinda (Clarridge)

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Core, and was born on the 17th of December, 1869, in Range township, Madison county. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of Fayette county, Ohio. The father, now deceased, was a farmer, and the mother is now living in Sedalia, Ohio. Mr. Core was a breeder and grower of sheep and also cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. O'Day have one child, Freda, born on October 2, 1898, who is a graduate of the Mt. Sterling high school, and is now at Western College, at Oxford, Ohio. In politics Mr. O'Day is an independent voter. In keeping with the tradition of the family to which he belongs Mr. O'Day continues to take part in the affairs of the Methodist church of which his wife and daughter are members. Mr. O'Day is one of the largest stock buyers and shippers in Madison county, Ohio.

FRANK H. HOTT.

Frank H. Hott, who was born on May 20, 1873, in Pickaway county, Ohio, sprung from parentage, on his paternal side, that had seen and taken part in the great conflict of the Civil War. He is the eldest child of William H. and Mary E. (Smith) Hott, to whom were born five children, namely: Frank H .; the second child died in infancy ; also the child following; the fourth child, Milton M., is manager of a bakery at Ashe- ville, Ohio; and Earl S., also engaged in the bakery business at Ashville.

William H. Hott, was born on September 16, 1847, in Pickaway county, Ohio, and was a farmer boy until, in 1864, he enlisted at Circleville, Ohio, in Company A, One Hundred and Ninety-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served his country in the hazardous capacity of scout until the close of the conflict. After peace had been declared, he returned to Pickaway county, Ohio, and engaged in farming for several years and took up the carpenter's trade. Broken in health, he gave up that work in 1896 and opened a small bakery shop, which business he built up to a large and lucrative trade. He was a progressive leader, charitable in his dealings and an hon- ored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being one of the oldest members of the post to which he paid loving devotion until his death, on March 8, 1914. at Ash- ville. Ohio. He was the son of William H. and Sarah ( Whitsell) Hott, formerly of Virginia, who, in 1808, removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, where they farmed until their death.

Mary E. (Smith) Hott. the mother of Frank H. Hott, was born on March 27, 1854. Hear Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Metzger) Smith, both natives of Ohio. She is now living at Ashville, Ohio, where she is engaged in the bakery business, of which she is part owner.

Living at Ashville. Ohio, and receiving his education from the public schools of that town, Frank H. Hott at fourteen years of age, learned the carpenter's trade and advanced rapidly until at the age of twenty years he began contracting on a medium scale, constructing several business blocks and residences. In 1899 he learned the baker's trade from his father, in whose place of business he remained until May 16. 1910, when he came to Mt. Sterling. Ohio, and purchased a bakery very poorly equipped and with practically no trade. Today, as the result of his genius and progressive nature, he owns a thoroughly modern. sanitary baking shop and a comfortable. modern home.

In connection with his bakery Mr. Hott has purchased an automobile, for quick delivery to his many customers and his rapidly increasing trade. His genial nature and business acumen have won for him a large patronage and the respect of his associates and the public as well.

Lola E. Tanquary, who was born on June 2. 1875, at New Holland, Pickaway county, Ohio, became the wife of Frank H. Hott in 1899. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Carrie (Lee) Tanquary, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. ·

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Her father enlisted in the Civil War during the year 1862, at Washington C. H., Ohio, in Company A, of the Sixtieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he was a corporal and saw most of his service under Captain Black. He was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry and received his honorable discharge in 1864; after which he returned to New Holland and engaged as a traveling salesman until 1899. About that time it became necessary for him to make a trip to Colorado for the benefit of his health which had been undermined during the war and it was there, in 1905, that he passed away at the age of sixty-two. His wife remained in Colorado and now resides in Denver, of that state.

To Frank H. and Lola E. (Tanquary) Hott have been born five children: Alice, Benjamin E. and Louis V., who are at home; William, deceased; and a fifth child who died in infancy.

The Democratic party has the support of Frank H. Hott" and his enthusiasm is of great assistance to them in their campaigns. He is an earnest and sincere member of the Methodist church. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Frank H. Hott has always been a great worker and an honest man and the respect in which he is held by the townspeople is justly deserved and appreciated.

FRANCIS M. CHENOWETH.

Francis M. Chenoweth, who died in 1904, was a man well known and his memory still remains in the hearts of many of his fellow citiezns. As a business man, he con- tributed to London's economic prosperity; as a loyal citizen, he contributed to its general welfare; as a man, he contributed to the happiness of his family, friends and acquaintances. Mr. Chenoweth was a native of this county, having been born on Deer creek, in Fairfield township, in 1833. His parents were the Hon. John F. and Margaret (Ferguson) Chenoweth, who were Kentuckians by birth.

Elijah Chenoweth, the paternal grandfather of the subject, and his wife, who was a Foster, were born in Kentucky and came to this state in 1796, making their home in Franklin county, near Harrisburg, when this place consisted of only a dozen houses. Here this patriarch lived and died at a ripe old age.

Hon. John F. Chenoweth was one of the foremost men of this county in his day, having a wide acquaintance as a result of his extensive business and public life. He was a large landholder, owning over three thousand acres of real estate, besides being a prominent stock dealer. He often told stories of experiences of his youth, when it was his task to drive cattle over the mountains to the markets in Pennsylvania. For over thirty years he was a justice of the peace, and later was representative of his district in the state legislature. London was honored by his spending the latter part of his life within its borders. He and his wife were the parents of fifteen children.

Francis Marion Chenoweth was educated in the local public schools, but remained with his parents until his marriage. After this event he settled in Oak Run town- ship, on a farm of three hundred acres, to which he afterwards added seventeen hun- dred acres, a part of which was in Fairfield township. In the latter township he lived fourteen years, during which time he was engaged in farming and cattle breeding and selling, the previous fifteen years having been spent in Oak Run township. In 1885 he left the farm and, like so many professional farmers of his time, came to London and built a modern home. This home was on Elm street. From that time until his death the subject was identified with many of the important business enter- prises of the city, notably as one of the organizers of the Central Bank of London.

In 1856 Mr. Chenoweth took as his life partner Margaret Rea, daughter of Mathew and Ann (Amos) Rea, who were born in Virginia and Maryland respectively. They

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came to this county with their parents, who were brave enough to endure the hard- ships of pioneer life. Mr. Rea was one of the wealthy farmers and stockmen of the county, and was widely known. He was prominent in local Democratic circles, in the activities of which he took keen interest. He and his wife were the parents of seven children.

Francis M. Chenoweth was twice married, his first wife dying in April, 1893. By her he was the father of eight children, of whom only Rea, the seventh born, is living. The others were Robert F., Emma A., Ada, Annie E., Myrtle, Ella and an infant. The second Mrs. Chenoweth was Mrs. Leslie, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Chenoweth moved to a farm in Wyandot county, Ohio. Mr. Chenoweth died on October 24, 1904, at Upper Sandusky.

During his lifetime Mr. Chenoweth was public-spirited and capable of valuable service. He was a member of the board of education and held various other public offices. Politically, he was a Democrat and, in religious life, a Presbyterian. He was loyal to the obligations of family and civic life, and did all in his power to further the best interests of the community.

ABRAHAM J. DENNISON.

Abraham J. Dennison was born on October 1, 1862, in Pickaway county, Ohio, and is the son of James and Sevena (Warren) Dennison, who were the parents of six boys and six girls.

James Dennison was born in January, 1827, in Madison county, where he was reared on a farm. When still a young man he removed to Pickaway county, where he

. first rented and then bought land. His present home is still on the property then acquired. His wife was born on October 25, 1890, near Chillicothe, Ohio, and was the daughter of William and Margaret (Blane) Warren. She died on January 10, 1911. .

Abraham Dennison was brought up on his father's farm, attending the local schools, and did not leave home until his twenty-fifth year. One year previous to his marriage, he rented land from his father and continued its cultivation for the next fifteen years. In 1901 he bought one hundred and fifteen acres of good farm land in this county, which he made his home. He has always kept a good grade of stock for the market.

In 1887 Abraham Dennison was married to Sarah Murphy, daughter of William F. and Roxanna (Crabe) Murphy. Sarah Murphy was born on February 8, 1865. Her father, who is still living with his children, was born on August 10, 1835, in Pickaway county. Her mother was born in the same county on November 13, 1836, and died on December 29, 1913. The children born of this union were three in number, namely : Frederick, born on November 26, 1887, is a student in the Ohio State University; Mabel is the wife of a Mr. Thornton, and was born on July 23, 1889, in Pleasant township; and Ray, born on December 28, 1890, resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Dennison have erected a beautiful modern dwelling, which is lighted by gas.

Abraham Dennison is a church attendant, a Republican in politics and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Mt. Sterling. He was township trustee for two terms.

Mr. Dennison is one of the foremost agriculturists of this district. He has iden- tified himself always with the best life of the community in which effort he has been joined by his wife, who is much admired for her genialty and her womanly character- istics. Worldly greatness does not consist in heroic achievement. It may be just as truly found in the careful carrying out of human obligations, though this may be apart from the eyes of the world. In this respect the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Dennison have truly been an inspiration.

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JOHN O'DAY.

John O'Day has been one of the prominent figures in the field of agriculture in Madison county, Ohio, and his loyalty to the place of his nativity has won for him a place of high esteem in the county in which he lives, and a wide acquaintance among the farmers of that section. Our forefathers left behind them the idea that simplicity should be the keynote of useful lives, and it is a relief, in this age of unrest, to find a man who has lived for over thirty years on a place established years before, by his parents.

John O'Day was born in Pleasant township, Madison county, Ohio, on the 4th of January, 1877. He is the son of James and Sophia (Bennett) O'Day, and assisted his parents on the old home place until his father retired from the active duties of the farm, in 1898, and left the full care of the estate to his sou. The common schools of Pleasant township afforded Mr. O'Day his early educational advantages. As a youth he had fellowship with hard work and responsibility, but his self-reliance was quickened by these very conditions, and made possible the realization of his ambition to be a successful farmer. Mr. O'Day now owns three hundred and fifty-two acres of land. On the old home place where he lives he has made many improvements, includ- ing the installation of gas and electric light, not only for light but for heat. The farm represents everything that is new in modern farming. Mr. O'Day is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, purebred horses, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Shropshire sheep.

On the 30th of September, 1896, the marriage of John O'Day and Unity Jones was solemnized. U'nity Jones, the daughter of James and Annette (Bostwick) Jones, was born in Fayette, Ohio, July 18, 1876. The six children born to Mr. and Mrs. O'Day are: Mary, who is a graduate of the Mt. Sterling high school; Bennett, Annette, James, Grace and John. All of the children are living at home.

Aside from his duties on the farm Mr. O'Day has found some time for school affairs and serves as a member of the school board in district No. 8. His political interests and enthusiasın are with the Republican party of which he is an active mem- ber. In religious belief he is affiliated with the Methodist church.

FREDERICK HOLTON THORNTON.

Since the subject of this brief biographical record has become a representative among the men of his chosen calling in this community, it may be assumed that he early made a plan for his life, and that with undeviating determination he carried out this plan from day to day, until the present time. Frederick Holton Thornton is a native of this township, although his ancestory came from Virginia. He was born on August 27. 1863, his parents being Allen and Rebecca (Dountz) Thornton. Allen Thorn- ton was also born in this county, the date of his birth being September 19. 1833. He was reared on the farm. and when grown to manhood pursued that vocation in Pleasant township. He rented a farm, and in that way saved enough money to buy land near Mt. Sterling, where he farmed for fifty years. He passed away in 1906. His wife. who was born in. 1833. died in 1865. Her parents were Frederick and Isabelle Dountz.

Frederick Thornton's early life was not different from that of the average farmer boy, but his subsequent success has shown what such a boy can do when he is deter- mined to better his material condition. Working under the guidance of his father until 1906, he then began his independent career by purchasing one hundred and twenty- seven acres of improved land. He now owns one hundred and forty acres of good real estate which he is still improving. He has a splendid modern home. Mr. Thornton gives much of his time to stock raising, and is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and pure- bred Shropshire sheep. Mr. Thornton owns shares in the First National bank and the

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Mt. Sterling Grain Company. His industry and thrift have resulted in the accumula- tion of a quantity of this world's goods, but he has never been too busy to take an active interest in the affairs of the county.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick H. Thornton took place in 1885, his bride being Ella Hunter, who was born on August 6, 1862, in Franklin county, Ohio. She is the daughter of Charles and Martha (Fitzgerald) Hunter. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thornton. Lloyd, born in 1888, now engaged in farming on his father's land, and the husband of Mabel Dennison. The other two children died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are active church members, attending the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Thornton is a trustee of the Mt. Sterling Pleasant cemetery. He is a Republican and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge.

Though not animated with ambition for public honors Mr. Thornton has fulfilled his place with industry and fidelity to high principles. He and his wife have a large circle of acquaintances who esteem them for their genuine worth.

HOMER C. WILSON.

Among the representative citizens of Madison county, Ohio, is Homer C. Wilson, respected for his stability of character and honored because of his practical Christianity and progressive ideas. That he is worthy of the respect shown him by his towns- people is demonstrated by the fact that he served one firm for twenty-two years to a day. leaving at that time to become the traveling representative of the Green-Joice Company, of Columbus, Ohio. He remained with that firm until 1894, at which time he came to Mt. Sterling. Madison county, Ohio, and accepted the position of clerk in the Clock & Boyd department store.

Homer C. Wilson was born on March 28, 1855, in Fairfield county, Ohio, being reared in the town of Rushville, of said county. He began his practical education dur- ing his school days, clerking in a general merchandise store while attending high school. For thirty-five years he lived. studied and worked at Rushville, taking up other branches of his education in new fields.

Among the emigrants to Ohio. in 1830, were James and Lydia (McBride) Wilson, of Pennsylvania, who upon their arrival located on a farm in Fairfield county, Ohio. James Wilson was born in 1800 and his wife. Lydia. in 1805. It was on their farm near Bremen that John Wilson, their son, first saw the light of day, having been born on December 2, 1832. In 1841 James. Wilson passed to his reward, leaving his widow with the responsibility of rearing John, their nine-year-old son, to useful manhood. She performed that duty in an able manner, as all who knew her could testify, and passed to her eternal rest in 1872.

John Wilson grew to maturity and became a farmer, following that occupation until 1860. He selected Mary Ann Patch as his life companion and three children blessed their union : James M. (deceased). Homer C., and Mrs. Lydia Jane Reid, deceased.

Homer C., the only surviving child. is now a stockholder and director of the Security Building and Loan Association, of Mt. Sterling, Madison county, Ohio. The citizens of Mt. Sterling have rewarded his efforts in their behalf by electing him to membership in their council. serving in that capacity for nine years. He also reports the news of Mt. Sterling, through the columns of The Enterprise, of London, Ohio.

In 1878 Homer C. Wilson was married to Louise Dekalb, the daughter of Elijah and Rebecca (Tennant) Dekalb. who were natives of Maryland and Virginia, respec- tively. Louise Dekalb was born and reared at Rushville, Ohio, where she attended the public schools, later becoming a school teacher, in which occupation she was engaged at the time of her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born two children :

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Mrs. Zoa Atkins, who now lives in. Mt. Sterling, Madison county. Ohio; and Edison C .. who married Alberta Call, of Mt. Sterling, and is now living in Columbus, Ohio.

Mr. Wilson is an active worker and sincere member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is also a trustee. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

W. H. CARL

Because of the necessity for temperamental fitness for a few professions, including the ministry and medical science, it cannot appropriately be said that the theme of the present sketch is a representative business man. The latter could not be successful In the profession which the subject of this sketch has followed for some years. Mr. Carl, like other members of his calling, has qualities of heart and soul that enable him to enter the house of mourning as a friend and to perform his services in such a way as to enlist the appreciation of his patrons. He is one of the best-known undertakers in the county. Born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, the son of Jacob and Anna (Thuma) Carl, he is a descendant of natives of that county.

Jacob Carl came to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he lived until his death, which took place on January 6, 1870; the wife also passed away there, about two years later. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carl, six of whom are living. These are, Gabriel, residing near Dayton, Ohio; Isaac, a Minnesota farmer; Sarah Loughman, of Miami county, Ohio; Mary Ellen Van Cleave, of Dayton, Ohio; Rebecca Hibbert, living south of Dayton, at Centerville, Ohio.

In point of geographical location, the subject has had a varied experience. Edu- cated in the common schools of Pennsylvania, he was early required to leave his books for the plow, for there were many mouths to be fed under the parental roof and the children early learned to carry their share of the burden. For some time after his school days came to an end the subject worked on the farm. His first business experi- ence was in connection with a house-furnishing store. Later he came to Salem, Ohio, and purchased a cabinet shop and undertaking business, and here he lived for five years. He then removed to West Milton, Miami county, which was his home for the following four years, during which time he was engaged in the undertaking business. Establishing the firm of Carl & Herr, he next took up business activities in Dayton, remaining there for five years, and at the end of that time came to London and established the business in which he is at present engaged. He has been a resident of London for twenty-one years.

Mrs. Carl was, before her marriage, Fannie Daniels, of Dayton, Ohio, the daughter · of Elisha and Olive (Chase) Daniels, the former a native of Blackstone, Massachusetts, and the latter of Boston, Massachusetts. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels lived in Miami county, Ohio, locating on a farm which is now known as Overlook Park. He died in Miami county and at the time of his death was a heavy landholder. His widow moved to California and died there at Angel's Camp. Their children were, Emma Gene, Lucy, Alice and Fannie, the subject's wife. On the Chase side, Mrs. Carl is descended from distinguished ancestry, the paterral grandfather having been a first cousin of the noted statesman, Salmon P. Chase. The Chase family in Massachusetts were distin- guished in colonial times and gave valuable service to the cause of the Revolutionists The Chase family were descended from the three Chase brothers who came to the United States on the "Mayflower," one of these brothers, Isaac Chase, being the pro- genitor of the subject's wife. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Carl are, Grace and Geraldine, both of whom are at the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, Ohio.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 127

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

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