History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 135

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

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Mr. Warner came of a long-lived family, his grandfather having attained the age of one hundred and four years, his father, eighty-eight, and his brother, the late William Warner of London, ninety-four. Coming to this state with his parents and grandparents in 1805, he settled in Belmont county, removing to London in 1812, and lived here until his death, a period of sixty-four years. During this time, unlike the average American, he never lived in any other place. At the time Mr. Warner came here, London was only a collection of less than a dozen huts, and with faith in the future, he and Judge Patrick McLane laid out the town.

During his day Henry Warner was a prominent merchant, surveyor and dealer in real estate and besides these personal interests he held several county offices. He was for four years sheriff of Madison county, for fourteen years county treasurer, being elected in 1834, and for a number of years was county surveyor. He retired from business more than twenty years prior to his death. By industry, frugality, sound sense and force of character, he became possessed of a considerable fortune. Many anecdotes are related by old citizens of his rigid honesty and eccentricity-for honest he was, and eccentric to a marked degree. Kind of heart when convinced of duty, or when charity deserved, he was, nevertheless, one of the most sarcastic of men. Mr. Warner exhibited remarkable will power and fortitude during the latter part of his life, for he was an invalid for thirty years before his death. during which time he was patient and gentle.

On February 27, 1823, Henry Warner was married to Keturah H. Gosslee, a daugh- ter of Richard Goslee, who was born in Sussex county, Maryland, in 1781, and who died in London on November 26, 1872, at the age of ninety-one. Mr. Goslee emigrated to Ross county, Ohio, in 1804, and to Madison county in 1816. Before his death he represented the oldest of five generations living in London. He was married three times and left fourteen children, thirty grandchildren, more than thirty great-grand- children, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Warner became the parents of eleven children, six of whom are now living, as follow : Mrs. R. A. Harrison, of Columbus, Ohio, who is now in her eighty- seventh year: Capt. James R. Warner; Genl. D. B. Warner. United States consul at St. John, New Brunswick ; Mrs. Eliza Baker, of Chicago; Mrs. Ara Myers, of New York City, and Miss Mary Warner. The late Mrs. William Riddle. of London, was another daughter. Mrs. Riddle died at the age of eighty-five. Mrs. Warner. the mother of these distinguished children died at the age of ninety-four in London.

Mr. Warner found expression for his religious faith in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he and his family were devout and helpful members. In politics he was a Whig until the Republican party came into existence, and with the latter party

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he was afterward affiliated. This worthy gentleman of the old school, a man who, without seeking, would have found prominence in any community, passed away on Friday, January 31, 1879.

It is impossible to estimate the good achieved and the wide influence of such a man as we have here briefly portrayed. His brilliant mind made association with him a rare pleasure. In both his pubilc and private life Mr. Warner was a benefactor to his kind. As public official he was conscientious, fearless, and faithful to every trust. As a private citizen, he was loyal and sought ever to realize the highest ideals. As a husband and father, he was kind and devoted. To such men, the following gener- ations owe a debt of profound gratitude.

HARLAND E. PARRETT.

The pioneer farmers of Ohio command a secure place in popular confidence and esteem, not only on account of the courage and fortitude which prompted them to brave the dangers of primeval forests, but because of their ability to convert such tracts of wilderness into lasting places of social activity. Among the farmers of the present day who have merited distinction in Madison county, is Harland E. Parrett, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Ohio.

Harland E. Parrett was born on the 9th of January, 1866, in Fayette county, Ohio. After attending the public schools of Madison Mills, Ohio, he remained on the farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he rented a tract of land from bis father and began farming for himself. The farm proved to be a success under his manage- ment and after seven years Mr. Parrett was able to buy one hundred acres of land near Florence, Alabama. On. that farm he raised a crop of corn and cotton, then availed himself of an opportunity to sell the land and went back to Ohio, where he located for a time at Mt. Sterling. One of the interesting facts regarding the return trip from Alabama is that Mr. Parrett drove his own team all the way. On his arrival in Mt. Sterling, he worked as a laborer, putting in the waterworks. Three months later he rented a farm in Fayette county, Ohio. At the end of a year's work on the farm, he became interested in a tract of land in Pleasant township, Madison county ; this result- ed in his renting the land for eight years. His satisfaction regarding the richness of the soil and the desirable lay of the land in Madison county, led to the establishment of a permanent residence in this locality. Before buying the Joe Robison farm, where he lives now, Mr. Parrett sold six acres of land in McClimansville, Ohio. On the former place he has made some very extensive improvements, including the laying of four hundred rods of tiling. He has confined his land purchases exclusively, of recent years, to Pleasant township, where he owns three hundred and fifty-four acres of land. Aside from raising an especially fine quality of corn, which he has exhibited at Mt. Sterling, Mr. Parrett is a breeder of Jersey cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs.

Harland E. Parrett is the son of George and Amelia (Bush) Parrett. His father was born on the 19th of January, 1835, in Fayette county, Ohio, and enjoyed many years of agricultural life. He was a stockman and farmer until his death, which occurred on July 4, 1913. His wife is the daughter of Jacob Bush, a native of Indiana, who had the experience, not uncommon to many of the earliest settlers, of being pur- sued by Indians. The Bush family finally settled in Ohio. Amelia (Bush) Parrett, who was the mother of twelve children, is living at Madison Mills, Ohio. She was born in 1839. The father of George Parrett was a native of Tennessee.

In Fayette county, Ohio. in 1887, Harland E. Parrett was united in marriage to Minnie Puckett, who was born in Fayette county on the 17th of April, 1871. She is the daughter of William and Maria J. (Riggen) Puckett, both identified with the early history of Madison county. Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Parrett nine children were

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born, two of whom died in infancy. The survivors are: Marvin, who married Edna Graham, and lives in Pleasant township; Mrs. Marie Dick, who resides in Mt. Sterling; Mrs. Pearl Downs, who lives in Xenia, Ohio; William, who married Mary Morian and is farming in Madison county, and Glenn, Willard and Robert, who are living at home.

Mr. Parrett is keenly alert and public spirited in his civic attitude and accords a strong allegiance to the Progressive party. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a firm believer in the Methodist doctrines and is interested in the advancement of education in Pleasant township, where he serves as school director. In reviewing the life of Mr. Parrett the qualities of persistence and Integrity are notably prominent. Back of the impor- tant moves which have led to his success in life has been a driving ambition to make his efforts count for something worth while.

JOHN M. OGLESBEE.

If one were to look through Pleasant township, this county, for a citizen who, all of his life, has been conscientious in his work, and loyal in his family obligations, that person need not look further than the home of John M. Oglesbee. Unlike most young men, he remained under the paternal roof after his school days and early manhood were passed and dutifully assumed the cares incident in farm life as his father grew older and less able to be active. By hard work and application to business it has been possible for him to increase the real estate holdings of the family from eighty-seven to one hundred and forty-nine acres and to become a stockholder in the First National Bank of Mt. Sterling, Ohio.

John M. Oglesbee was born on August 5, 1858, in Pleasant township, Madison county, on the farm which he has made his home ever since. He was the son of John and Mary (Long) Oglesbee, who were the parents of four children. John Ogles- bee, Sr., was a native of Greene county, Ohio, being born there on March 17, 1810. on the ground which is now occupied by Spring Valley. His early days were spent on a farm, but he came to Madison county with his parents about the year 1894. He worked for his father for two years, receiving in payment for his labor fifty acres of land. Besides this he drove a freight wagon and delivered products from Spring- field, Ohio, to the inland towns of Circleville and Dayton. At that time London, Ohio, the county seat, consisted of only a few log cabins. At the time of his death in 1907, this pioneer agriculturist had managed to acquire eighty-seven acres of land. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, who did her share toward increasing the family income in those many ways known only to the farmer's wife, was born In 1819, in Pickaway county, and passed away four years after the death of her hus- band. The following children formed the family circle of this worthy couple: Edithia, who died in infancy ; Mrs. Phoebe E. Duncan. of Sedalia, Ohio; Mathilda, deceased. and John M.

John M. Oglesbee was able by thrift and perseverance not only to keep the property which he had acquired from his father, but to increase this considerably. His boy- hood was like that of other farmer's boys, both in his education, which was obtained at the district schools, and in his work and play. He was content to remain at home and to assume each duty manfully as it appeared, taking charge of the farm from the year 1880. After the death of his parents he became sole owner of the land. To this inheritance he added enough acres of well-improved land to give him in all one hundred and forty-nine acres, twenty-five of which are in natural timber. He takes much pleasure in the possession of his modern house and barn which he built in 1913, and one of his chief sources of pride is his high-grade stock, of which he has a large quantity. He is also a shareholder in the First National Bank of Mt. Sterling.

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In 1884 John M. Oglesbee was married to Mary Graham, who was born in this township in 1860. She is the daughter of James A. and Elizabeth ( Anderson) Graham. An only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oglesbee is Mrs. Milda Bower, of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesbee are earnest members of the Christian church.

Mr. and Mrs. Oglesbee have lived so long in this community that theirs is a wide acquaintance. By frugality in the early days, and ceaseless work, Mr. Oglesbee has acquired not only property, but an honorable name, which he may be proud to hand down to the next generation. He is known for his honest dealings and his principles of integrity.

WILLIAM H. RIDDLE.

So often is it found that those who are conspicuous in the business, professional and social life of their home town are the children of parents similarly conspicuous in their generation, that "like father like son" expresses only a truism. William H. Riddle was born in London on November 6, 1860, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Warner) Riddle, the former a native of Mt. Sterling, Madison county, the latter a native of London. The paternal grandfather, Henry Warner, was a man of unusual gifts. He was a scion of one of the old pioneer families of this county.

William H. Riddle received an education rather above the average, for after graduating from the London high school in 1879 he attended Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware for two years. However, attracted to business enterprises, in 1882 he became associated with E. J. Robison, a London druggist. The firm name was Robison & Riddle and this business alliance continued for seven years Between the years 1884 and 1894 Mr. Riddle served as deputy county treasurer under A. Tanner, W. M. Jones and John T. Vent. He will be remembered in local history as timekeeper and paymaster for the contractors who built the Madison county court house. At the expiration of Mr. Vent's term of office as county treasurer, he and Mr. Riddle became engaged in the grain business, at Sedalia, Madison county, a business in which both are still actively interested. These men are owners of a large elevator and do an extensive business under the firm name of Vent & Riddle. Besides handling grain, they sell coal, cement products, lumber, feeds, etc. They also feed some stock

Mr. Riddle has never relinquished his connection with farm life, and with his sister, Mrs. Sarah K. Robison, owns and manages a farm of six hundred and sixty acres in Range township.

Mrs. Mary Snyder, a charming young woman of London, became the wife of William H. Riddle on August 28, 1911. To them twin boys were born on July 6, 1913, these being William Henry and James McClain. Mrs. Riddle is the daughter of James A. McClain, of Fayette county, Ohio. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Riddle is one of the picturesque and beautiful places which makes London an attractive city.

William H. Riddle is sought after by various organizations in whose work and purposes he is interested. He is a Mason, of which organization he is a past master; a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge; a Shriner and a Knight Templar. He belongs to Mt. Vernon Commandery No. 1. of Columbus, and the Aladdin Temple of the same city. Among local Republican politicians Mr. Riddle is well known and has served two terms as a member of the city council. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The life of Mr. Riddle has been one of great activity. but in spite of this fact he has not been unmindful of the obligations of society. Mr. Riddle has those graces of character which endear any man to those among whom his life has been spent, and his place in this published work is merited by fact that in his community he has risen to an enviable place in the business and social and religious life.

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MRS. LACY ANDERSON.

There are few to whom the day does not bring a return of the tasks that grow irksome and of duties that one would fain neglect. But the stout heart does not ask how nor why. It shoulders the burden and bears it uncomplainingly, deeming as inci- dents the events and circumstances which to others would be insurmountable obstacles. Below are given a few of the facts concerning a life remarkable for its tenacity of purpose, its . clearness of vision and its executive ability. Mrs. Anderson's life has been one full of interest as well as unusual activity. Left a widow by the death of her husband, Mrs. Anderson has bravely borne the burdens which usually fall to the lot of man. She is a native of Mt. Sterling, having been born near there on January 25, 1857, the place of her birth being where a part of the Mt. Sterling cemetery now is located. She is the daughter of Robert H. and Harriet (Fitzgerald) Alkire, prominent citizens of this region.

Robert FI. Alkire was born on October 14, 1830, on the same farm which afterward became the birthplace of his daughter and his own permanent residence. He died near Big Plains on January 8, 1912. His parents were William and Katherine (Neff) Alkire, natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of William were Robert and Elizabeth (Douglas) Alkire, who originally came from the state of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Alkire were the parents of the following children. Lacy, the subject of this sketch; Lydia M., deceased; Catherine, of Fairfield township; Edward W., a lumber merchant at Columbus, Ohio; Ella M., who died on February 2, 1915; George F., who married J. T. Graham and is living at Columbus; Florence M., who became Mrs. J. T. Wilson, and is now deceased, and Belle W., who is now Mrs. Bell, of Columbus

In 1815, Robert H. Alkire and James B. Anderson became parties to what after- ward transpired to be a romance, for they drove a herd of cattle from Mt. Sterling, to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Lacy Alkire later became Mr. Anderson's wife, but neither of the two men had the slightest idea at that time that the daughter of one of them would be the wife of the other.

Lacy Alkire had only such training for her future career as would come naturally to the daughter of a farmer. She had no other schooling besides that acquired in the "little red school house" of Fairfield township, to which township her father had moved in 1862, and the high school of London, in which she studied for one term and qualified as a teacher but never taught.

Lacy Alkire was married to James B. Anderson in 1884. The history of James B. Anderson will be found in the sketch of James R. Anderson, presented elsewhere in this work. Undaunted by the death of her husband, Mrs. Anderson operated the farın in the same capable manner that had characterized her husband's work. Besides possessing a lifetime lease on one hundred and four acres, Mrs. Anderson owns Fairland township property amounting to fifty acres, and is also a stockholder of the First National Bank of Mt. Sterling.

Mrs. Anderson has had no children of her own but she has adopted Thomas B. Wilson, whose parents were John T. and Florence (Alkire) Wilson, and who is a graudson of Senator Thomas B. Wilson. The lad was born on the old "Uncle Billy" Wilson farm in Canaan township.

In spite of her very busy life Mrs. Anderson has found time to be a helpful mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church of Mt. Sterling, to which she has been a generous contributor. There are few professions requiring more arduous labor and careful plan- ning than are necessary in the administration of a farm. One must not only be indus- trious but one must have executive ability in order to make the enterprise yield the largest returns. In order to achieve this result, the subject of this sketch has had

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to possess the same business qualities which characterize her competitors. That she has succeeded speaks volumes for her ability in this direction. She has not only been hard working and energetic but has been honorable in all of her dealings and most considerate of the feelings and rights of others.

In this volume which is concerned principally with the histories of men, it is of especial interest to include the life history of a woman who has been successful in her line of endeavor.

NELSON H. STONE.

A representative farmer and stock raiser is Nelson H. Stone. Because of his life- long application to his calling he has become one of the leading farmers of this section of the state. As evidence of his ambition and foresight might be given the fact that where others were content to be partial owners of an estate, this man at one time bought out the other heirs, and thus possessed the family property in his own name. Nelson H. Stone was born on the farm which is his present home, on May 9, 1853, a son of William and Elizabeth (Jones) Stone, who were the parents of eleven other children.

William Stone was born in Maryland in 1802, and was a lad when his parents set out from that state to find their new home in the West. They did not unpack their wagons until they reached Madison county, Ohio, where they rented enough land on which to start farming. It was 1830 when William Stone came to the present farm in this township, and although there were no improvements on the land, it ajenled to him as being a good investment and he purchased it, paying two dollars and a half an acre. There were sixty-eight acres of timber land and the first task of this pioneer was to clear enough space for his log cabin and log stable. He never lost interest in this farm on which he lived and labored until the day of his death, which occurred in 1879. Elizabeth Jones was born In 1807, in Maryland, and after living a useful and helpful life, passed away on December 9, 1890. Both Mr. and Mrs. William Stone were Methodists.

Nelson H. Stone toiled on the farm of his nativity up to the present time. At the death of his father, in 1879, he became the possessor of the property by purchasing the estate of the heirs, so that he has the original sixty-eight acres, which he has cultivated. Although he was educated only in the local schools he has been a student of the subject of education, and has been honored by being a director on the board for several terms.

The wife of Nelson H. Stone was formerly Harriet Bower, born on July 11, 1852, in Lawrence county, Ohio, the daughter of George and Sophia (Machling) Bower, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The marriage took place in 1872. When Mrs. Stone's parents came to this county her father was a circuit rider in the United Brethren church. in which capacity he served until his death. He and his wife were the parents of two children.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stone are Elza, who became Mrs. Spangler, now deceased ; Mrs. Leah Lindig, of Madison county; Mrs. Mary Lightfoot, of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. Mattie Mouser, of Madison county, and Mrs. Murl Taylor, of Oak Run town- ship. Besides these, one child died in infancy, Stephen H.

To the church which his father served so long and so well Mr. Stone has made liberal contribution. The father of the subject of this sketch came to this section of the country at such an early date that he had to haul products to and from Spring- field and Circleville, Ohio. Nelson H. . Stone inherited many of the worthy qualities of his noble father and mother. These have made him a man of progressive tenden- cies and enterprising spirit as well as of generous impulses which result in an unusual

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degree of consideration for others. Mr. Stone is one of the most highly respected men residing in this township. He has been a staunch Republican all his life. On his well-improved farm he carries on general farming and now has the place in a high state of cultivation.

CYRUS R. HORNBECK.

Cyrus R. Hornbeck, son of Cyrus and Elizabeth (Milliner) Hornbeck, was born on Angust 28, 1858, at the Hornbeck homestead, two and a half miles from London on the Springfield road, near what is now the state fish hatchery, in Union township.

Two Hornbeck brothers, from one of which the subject of this sketch traces con- nection, immigrated to this country from Holland prior to the American Revolution. One of these brothers settled in Dutchess county, New York, and many of his descendants live there and in the city of New York. One of the best known of this family is the sheriff of Dutchess county, who recently came into prominence in connection with his pursuit of Harry Thaw into Canada at the time of his escape from Matteawan asylum. The other of these brothers came to Virginia, where he reared a large family. Four of the older members of this family, Simon, Isaac, Michael and Samuel, the father of Cyrus and grandfather of the subject, moved to Ohio, through Kentucky, and were among the earliest settlers in the vicinity of South Solon, this county.

For five generations the name of Hornbeck has been linked with the history of Madison county, viz : Samuel, father of Cyrus; Cyrus, father of Cyrus R .; Cyrus R., father of Roscoe G., and Roscoe G., father of Donald W. Hornbeck.

Cyrus Hornbeck, the father of the subject, was born west of Midway, January 27, 1823. His father was Samuel Hornbeck, above referred to, and his mother, Mary (Hutson) Hornbeck. He married Elizabeth Milliner, daughter of John and Mary ( Slaughter) Milliner and a sister of Peter Slaughter. Elizabeth Milliner was born near Leesburg, Highland county, to which place her parents had come from Halifax county, Virginia, in 1807.

Cyrus Hornbeck was a successful farmer and breeder of Shorthorn cattle, being among the first in this state to specialize in this stock of cattle. At his death, which occurred soon after his enlistment in the Union army. he owned a part of what is now the state prison farm and the state fish hatchery, on the Springfield road, west of London. He died at the age of forty, July 23, 1863, a good citizen, whose early death was widely mourned. He was the father of seven children, Martin, John Q., Melissa, Sidney E. and Isaac W., all now deceased, and Mary E. Schurr, wife of John Schurr, of Paint township, and Cyrus R., the subject. John Q. Hornbeck was married; the father of two children; enlisted in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry and served in the Union army in the Civil War; died at Nash- ville, Tenn .; was returned to his home and laid away in Paint township cemetery, not having reached his majority, at the age of twenty years. He sacrificed his life and all for the flag.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 135

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

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