History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 129

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

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Reared at Sedalia, Ohio, Palmer G. Hewitt, after he had completed his studies in the public schools of that town, entered the university located at Westerville, Ohio, and at the conclusion of that course, continued his education at Oberlin University, of this state, returning in 1902 to Sedalia, Ohio, fully equipped with knowledge gained, and served his brother. Carl Hewitt, in his general store. Rapidly applying his practical experience, he decided, in 1909. to begin operations for himself and removed to Mt. Sterling, and there began his career as groceryman in the old Snyder building. In 1913 he moved to his present location, where he owns one of the finest and most complete grocery lines to be found in this section.

On March 14, 1907, Palmer G. Hewitt was married to Edna Marie O'Day, who was born on November 14, 1887, and who has become famous as a cultured singer. She is a graduate of the Mt. Sterling schools and has spent one year at the Cincinnati Con- servatory of Music and two years in New York City, where she continued her favorite study of voice culture with the great artists. The results of this training has, with her marvelous powers. rendered as much happiness to others as to herself. Her farm of two hundred and sixteen acres. located in Pleasant township, Madison county, Ohio, is under the direct management of Palmer G. Hewitt, her husband.

The parents of Edna Marie (O'Day) Hewitt, J. William and Harriet (Busic) O'Day. were both born and lived in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. J. William O'Day was born on May 18. 1860. and was an extensive farmer and a noted stockman of Madison county, Ohio. His death occurred on August 20, 1908. Harriet (Busic) O'Day was the daughter of Elijah Winfield and Rachel (Rees) Busic and was born on July 12. 1865, and is still living in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. To the union of Palmer G. Hewitt and Edna Marie

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O'Day one child came to bless their home, Truth, born on May 30, 1908, in Sedalia, Ohio.

Palmer G. Hewitt affiliates with the Republican party, and in church affairs he is a member of the Presbyterian church, while in his lodge life he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Knights Templar, Mystic Shrine, Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

CHARLES ALLEN WILSON.

Charles Allen Wilson is a scion of one of the famous old families of this section of Ohio. He was born at Summerford, Madison county, Ohio, July 2, 1864. He is a son of Alexander Hamilton and Isabella (Koogler) Wilson, the former of whom was a son of Valentine and Nancy (Roberts) Wilson, and the latter a daughter of Simon Koogler, of Greene county, Ohio.

Alexander Hamilton Wilson was a farmer and influential citizen of Lafayette, Ohio. He served for over twenty years as justice of the peace in Madison county, dying at Summerford in 1895, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife died five years later. They were the parents of five children, Charles A., Laura B., Walter A., Lamar P. and Alice C. Of these children, Walter A. died in Washington, D. C., where he was engaged in the department of civil service. Lamar P. is a farmer residing in Somerford town- ship. Laura B. is the wife of John Johnston, of Osborn, Greene county, Ohio. Alice C. is the wife of Clarence Hering, also of Osborn.

Charles A. Wilson spent his boyhood days on the farm. He received his education in the public schools of Lafayette and graduated from the London high school with the class of 1884. The next four years were spent in teaching in the public schools of Deer Creek township, after which he engaged in his present occupation of farming. He resides at "Oak Grove Farm," in Pleasant township, Clark county, Ohio, and is a mem- ber of the Somerford Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Chandler Lodge. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at London, Ohio. He is also a member of the Farmers Club and was one of the organizers of this society. One of the pictures of the club, published in this volume, was taken at his home, eight miles northwest of London. He served fourteen years as a member of the county fair board and was president of the board four years, and secretary two years.

On October 1, 1914, Charles Allen Wilson was married to Nellie Evelyn Sweet, daughter of Albert and Clara Sweet, of near London. They have one son, Allen Sweet. born on July 11, 1915.

CLEMENT D. FINLEY.

It was in the year 1863. while the struggle of the Civil War was being woven into a greater victory. that the birth of Clement D. Finley took place. That event occurred on March 9, in Morgan county, Ohio. His parents, George W. and Nancy J. (Donahue) Finley, have two children, Clement D .. the eldest, and Harry M., who has been cashier of the Malta, Ohio, Bank, and was a representative of Morgan county, being the first Democrat elected from that county in forty years, and who is now living at McConnels- ville, Ohio.

George W. Finley was born on July 31. 1838, in Morgan county, Ohio, and followed farming for years but finally retired and is now living at McConnelsville. Ohio. He was the son of David and Elizabeth (Guy) Finley, who came to Ohio from Pennsyl- vania : David Finley having been born in Washington county. of that state. They were of Scotch-Irish descent and were all members of the Presbyterian church.

Clement. D. Finley was reared on the farm and attended the public and district schools of Morgan county, until 1883. after which he removed to Pickaway county,

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where he worked as a farm hand for one year. Mr. Finley came to Mt. Sterling, Madi- son county, Ohio, in 1884, where he followed the carpenter's trade. He spent one year working at Columbus, Ohio, but in 1888 Mr. Finley began work in a planing-mill at Mt. Sterling, where his initial efforts at that business were as laborer and foreman. As soon as he mastered one phase of his work, he was transferred to other depart- ments until, in 1902, he became thoroughly conversant with the work in all its branches. In 1903 Mr. Finley became a stockholder, director and manager of the present company which was organized at that time.

John and Elizabeth (Baughman) Crabbe, were natives of Ohio, and it was their daughter, Julia E. Crabbe, born at Mt. Sterling, Madison county, Ohio, in 1868, who became the wife of Clement D. Finley, in 1886, and to them were born four children. In 1888, their first-born, Verner L., blessed their union. He is a graduate of the Ohio State University, and is now a student of philosophy. Harvey E., the second child, was born in 1890, and is a graduate of Wooster University, and is now coach at the Dickin- son Seminary, of Williams, Pennsylvania. Leah Maud, who was born in 1892, lives with her parents in Mt. Sterling. George N. was born in 1904, at McConnellsville, Ohio.

Clement D. Finley is a Democrat, stanch and true, a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder, and a member of the Mt. Sterling school board. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has taken the work in its various branches. Mr. Finley has accomplished much that is worth while and his efforts to succeed have been fittingly rewarded.

WILLIS JONES.

It is said that "a nation's civilization is the outgrowth of the literature produced by its writers," but greater power than even a nation's literature is that gained through the integrity of the individual and the proper individual adjustment to the needs of the community. The record of each attainment, when the result of earnest endeavor, should he given the public, for the men and women of today find much that is helpful to them- selves in the perusal of the battles fought and won by others. The name of Willis Jones, of Mt. Sterling, Madison county, Ohio, may well be listed among those men of Integrity who have realized their responsibility toward the community. He was born on February 14, 1865, in Monroe township, Pickaway county. At the early age of seventeen he rented land and began farming for himself. He followed this occupation for five years and, at the age of twenty-two, removed to Derby, Pickaway county, Ohio. where he engaged in the grain business. He continued in the grain business until 1902, when he returned to Mt. Sterling, succeeding his father, who owned a grain elevator there, and now deals in the selling of grain, coal and seed. In addition to this business he owns an elevator in Derby. Pickaway county, and one in Orient, in the same county. He is also the owner of eight hundred and ninety acres of land in the three counties of Madison, Pickaway and Fayette. the greater part of which is in Fayette and Pickaway counties, only twenty-five acres being located in Madison county.

James Jones, the father of Willis, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1836. At an early age he began investing in land and at the time of his death, in 1901, was the owner of eight hundred acres. James Jones was married to Annette Bostwick, who was born in Fayette county, August 26, 1840, and to this union six children were born, five of whom are living, namely : Mrs. E. C. Breyfogle, Willis, Mrs. S. W. Beal, Mrs. Charles H. Clark and Mrs. John O'Day. Mrs. Jones' death occurred on December 18, 1908. After farming for several years. Mr. Jones removed to Mt. Sterling at the time the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was being built, and entered the grain business, which he conducted for many years, He became president of the old Farmers Bank of Mt. Ster-

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ling, gaining a reputation for justice and honesty. His parents, Isaac and Unity (Gra- ham) Jones, were also natives of Fayette county.

This short review of the principal events in the lives of the parents and grand- parents of Willis Jones is necessary that the reader may better judge of the sterling worth of this energetic citizen. Mr. Jones is a stockholder of the Citizens Bank of Mt. Sterling, in which he is also a director. Mr. Jones has always been a stanch Republican, devoting his enthusiasm and time to the interests of that party and to the election of its nominees.

In 1895 Willis Jones was married to Lora E. Mckinley, who was born on February 14, 1877, in Pickaway county, Ohio. She is the daughter of William F. and Elizabeth (Sherman) McKinley, both natives of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born two children, Harold C., a graduate of Mt. Sterling high school, and now attending the Ohio State University, and Elizabeth Annette, who is still living at home with her par- ents. Mr. Jones is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Free and Accepted Masons. and the order of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Christian gentleman, finding his religious inspiration in the creed of the Methodist church, of which he is a member of the board of trustees.

MILTON L. SHEPHERD.

Born from hardy pioneer parentage, on December 1, 1872, in Range township, Madi- son county, Ohio, Milton L. Shepherd, the son of Isaiah and Susan (Newman) Shep- herd, with scant opportunities for an education, has worked up from a fifty-cents-a-day cattle feeder to be an independent, prosperous farmer.

To Isaiah and Susan Shepherd were born seven children, the eldest being Milton L. Shepherd, and the others were: Addie J., deceased; Francis M., who lives in Range township, Madison county; Edward T., is a professor of the high school, at Range. Ohio; Mrs. Myrtle Call, who lives in Madison county; Russell. deceased ; and Horace. who lives in Range township, Madison county.

Isaiah Shepherd was born in 1848. in Range township, Madison county, Ohio. and was reared on the farm. He is the son of Andrew and Nancy (Price) Shepherd, natives of Ross county, Ohio, and among the early settlers of Madison county. Susan Newman was born in 1853, in Morgan county, Ohio, on the farm of her parents, William and Adaline (Bell) Newman, both native born Ohioans. Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Shepherd are living and are active members of the Methodist church.

Unselfishly devoting his early manhood, until he reached the age of twenty-two, to the needs of his parents, Milton L. Shepherd, with the education he was fortunate enough to obtain from the district schools, launched out for himself, working the fol- lowing two years for fifty cents a day feeding cattle. Returning home he married and proceeded to farm in connection with his father-in-law. Shortly afterward he was in full charge of this farm. Flora M. Lockwood, to whom Milton L. Shepherd was mar- ried on July 20, 1897, was born in 1876. in Ross county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Grubb) Lockwood, both natives of Ross county, Ohio.

Mrs. Flora M. Shepherd is the owner. through inheritance. of two hundred and fifty acres of land which her husband superintends, devoting his attention to farming and the raising of a fine grade of cattle. To these thrifty farmers were born four children. Elizabeth F., Edna L., Edgar I. and Ernest A. In a modern house, which Mr. Shepherd erected at Mt. Sterling. the family are all at home. happy and with abundance for all needs.

Politically. Milton L. Shepherd affiliates with the Republican party. In church mat- ters he is a Methodist and superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

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MRS. LOVINA WHITE.

Possessing high ideals of true womanhood, Mrs. Lovina White is numbered among the most highly respected citizens of Columbus, Ohio, where she is also one of the wealthiest residents. Taking personal charge of her splendid property, consisting of eight hundred acres of fine farm land, Mrs. White handles her business affairs with an executive ability equaling that of any man, and takes a special delight in her agri- cultural interests.

Mrs. Lovina White, now a resident of Columbus, Ohio, was born on July 30, 1857, near Plain City, Madison county, and was educated first at the public schools, and then attended the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, Ohio. She is highly cultured, public spirited, and takes a sincere interest in all questions of moral good to humanity, her special interest being in connection with the work of the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union, at Columbus, Ohio, where she takes an active part in the work. Mrs. White is a member of the First Congregational church at Columbus, of which her daughters are also members. She is a daughter of Alexander and Martha J. (Milliken) Wilson. Her fine tract of land, consisting of eight hundred acres, is located in Madi- son county, adjacent to the town of West Jefferson, where she was reared and spent her girlhood days.

Alexander Wilson, father of the subject of this sketch, acquired a liberal educa- tion, and later became a teacher in the public schools, from which work he saved sufi- cient funds with which to purchase a farm in Madison county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Wilson was a generous man, and a liberal supporter of the church. His wife was Martha J. (Milliken) Wilson, by whom he had four children, three of whom are living in 1915: H. C., Lovina, Albert W., and Grant died in infancy. H. C. Wilson was born on April 23, 1856, and was educated in the public schools and the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, Ohio, and now follows farming near West Jefferson, Ohio; Albert W. Wilson was married to Winnie Huddle, of Jefferson town- ship, and resides at Columbus, Ohio, and owns a four hundred acre tract of land in Madison county. They have three children, Boyd, Eulah and Leona. Eulah was mar- ried to Charles Cupp, in July, 1915.

William D. Wilson, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. White, was born near Sum- merford, Madison county, Ohio, and was a son of Valentine Wilson, who came to Madi- son county with his parents, who emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, settling later in Madison county. Mr. Wilson spent his early youth on his father's farm, and received his education at the public schools, and was united in marriage with Nancy Moore, of Union county, Ohio, by whom he had the following children : Alexander, Monroe, Lafay- ette, Eleanor, Sarah, William, Washington and Taylor. Eleanor Wilson became the wife of Benjamin Morris, and Sarah Wilson was married to John Price. Mr. Wilson ultimately became the largest landowner in Madison county, and was known as the "land baron" of the county, much of his land being purchased for one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, all of which he ditched, cleared and improved, and is at present the most valuable land in the county. At the time of his death, Mr. Wilson owned nine thousand acres, of which one pasture alone contained twelve hundred acres. He was generous in his giving to the poor, but was too modest to wish men- tion made of it, and gave liberal support to all things for the betterment of the com- munity in which he resided. He was a large dealer in stock of all kinds, and during the war bought horses and mules for the government. He was successful in every- thing he undertook and at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest men in. Madison county.

Daniel Milliken, the maternal grandfather. was a pioneer settler of Madison county, Ohio, but afterwards moved to Iowa, where he died early in life.

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Lovina Wilson was married on September 12, 1877, to W. E. White, son of Samuel White. He was born on November 11, 1856, in Illinois, and was educated in the public schools at St. Louis, Missouri. This union has been blest with three children, namely: Minnie Pearl, born on October 11, 1878, is now the wife of Frank C. Tarr, and they reside at Pasadena, California; Laura M., born on December 10. 1879, and is married to Frank A. Bush, of Oakland, California; Edith L., born on August 28, 1895, a graduate of Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio, was married in October, 1915, to James Roy Bridenstine of Canton, Ohio, and they reside in the farm house on "The Little Darby Farm," near West Jefferson.

Mrs. White is a quiet, refined lady, who is loved by all who know her, and one who would dignify any station in which she might be placed. Her life has been devoted to doing good wherever possible.

LEWIS R. KIOUS.

Particular interest it attached to a study of the life of Lewis R. Kious, because of the fact that he has attained his present enviable position and prosperity by reason of innate efficiency and estimable personal characteristics. When others slept he worked; when others played, he planned, and it was through practical industry, wisely and persistently applied, that he has wrested success from possible failure and prominence from possible mediocrity. By indomitable energy and faith in the future, he has forged ahead and has done much for the business interests of the county. Lewis R. Kious, a farmer and state representative of the county, was born on the farm which is his present home, on May 9, 1861, and is the son of George and Malinda (Hedrick) Kious. To George and Malinda (Hedrick) Kious were born seven chil- dren, namely : Adam, Lewis, Mary, Linda, George H., Pearl and Frederick, who died in infancy.

George Kious was a native of Ross county, Ohio, having been born there in Feb- ruary, 1814. His father was Adam Klous, a native of Germany. Although George Kious attended the local district schools of his native county, his education was such as to prepare him for his future activities. Coming to Madison county in about 1840, he became the owner of fifteen hundred acres of land, for which he paid one dollar an acre. In 1865 he built the splendid home in which the subject of this sketch still lives. It is a brick structure, fifty feet square, spacious and yet comfortable, and is the largest in the country. Much of the attractiveness of this beautiful estate is due to the many evergreen trees set out by the builder of the family home. Mr. Kious, Sr .. was an extensive shipper and stock raiser. An example of his energy and persistence is the fact that even nature could place no obstacles in his way which he could not overcome. In driving his cattle from Omaha, Nebraska, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he swam on horseback all the streams between these cities. Many times he was washed down the stream, but his physical strength and absolute fearlessness enabled him to survive many serious accidents. He was the leading man of his community in his day, and did much to further the business interests of his home town. In 1866 he was suddenly attacked in 'his home by robbers, who threatened to kill him. supposedly in order to extort money. They cruelly cut his arm until it was nearly severed, their weapon being a corn knife. Although severely wounded, this man gave chase, thus saving both his life and his property. His wife, who was born in 1828, in South Charlestown, Clarke county, Ohio, was the daughter of Lewis and Ruth (Dickison) Hedrick, natives of England. Her early life was spent on the farm on which she was born. She passed away in 1900.

Lewis R. Kious was fortunate in having more than the usual education of his day, for he was a student in the high school at Mount Sterling, Ohio, and in 1884 he

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took a philosophical course in the University of Wooster, at Wooster, Ohio. Three years later he returned home to take entire charge of the farm. He now owns four hundred and seventy acres of land in Madison and Vinton counties, this state. Mr. Kious is interested in a number of business concerns, of which he is a stockholder.

Mr. Kious's public career began in 1914, when, on the Republican ticket, he was elected a member of the Ohio house of representatives, and is now serving his first term. His interests are broad, and it might be said that they center about the meas- ures which have to do with the financial welfare of his constituents.

Mr. Kious was married, in 1888, to Lorena Shafer, who was born on July 31, 1865, at Findlay, Hancock county, Ohio. She was educated at Mount Blanchard and in the University of Wooster, where she met her husband, who was then taking the same courses in studies in which she was interested. Her term in college was two years. Mrs. Kious's parents weer Solomon and Elizabeth (Hoge) Shafer, who were, respectively, of German and English descent. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kious: Clifford, who has attended several schools, including the Staunton Military Academy, at Saunton, Virginia, is now assisting his father on the farm; Louise married a Mr. Gill, who is a prominent farmer of Range township; Lewis is attending Mount Sterling high school; Lorena is a sophomore in the local high school, and Elizabeth also attends school.

Mr. and Mrs. Kious and their family are members of the Presbyterian church, in which Mrs. Kious is one of the most active members. Mr. Kious is a member of the Farmers' Grange.

We are told that "There is no excellence without labor." This seems to be true, especially of intellectual attainment. In the present instance it is gratifying to find that compensation for early effort came in full measure to the subject of this review, in the distinguished public honor bestowed upon him by the people. As a member of the general assembly, in whose deliberations he takes no insignificant part, Mr. Kious becomes a figure in the history of the state. In his activities in the legislature he advocated and championed many of the popular measures, and one of his achieve- ments was the introduction of a resolution which culminated in the appointment of a building commission for the erection of an office building in Columbus for the use of various state departments, thereby concentrating these departments under one roof instead of scattered, as heretofore.

ALVIN J. BLUE.

Practical industry, wisely and vigorously followed, never fails to bring success. It carries a man onward and upward; brings out his individual character, and acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The greatest results in life are often attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense and perseverance. The every-day life with its cares, necessities and duties affords ample opportunity for acquiring experience of the most helpful kind. Its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundance of material for effort and self-improvement. Alvin J. Blue, a miller. and for many years a successful farmer of Union township, Madison county, Ohio, lives upon his present farm of one hundred acres located on the Midway pike, about one mile from the Madison county court house.

Alvin J. Blue was born on October 31, 1849, in Fairfield county, Ohio. He is the son of Harvey A. and Emily (Bowman) Blue, the former of whom was born in Fair- field county, near Pleasantville, July 18, 1816, and the latter in Pickaway county, Ohio, February 26, 1826. They were married on October 21, 1845, and spent the remainder of their lives in Walnut township, Pickaway county, which was then a

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 129

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

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