USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 109
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139
John W. Rector was united in marriage on August 9, 1889, with Amy V. Lane, daughter of Mitchell Lane. She was born on August 1, 1875 in Oakland township, and died in 1892. To this union were born two daughters: Ida M., the wife of John Borland, of West Jefferson. Ohio; and Anna, a graduate of the West Jefferson high school. now the wife of Harvey Heath, also of West Jefferson. Mr. Rector was mar- ried, secondly, to Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Walker, August 16, 1909. She is a daughter of Henry and Nancy H. (Harris) Wright, and was born on May 15, 1858, in Canaan township, Madison county.
Henry Wright, father of Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Rector, was a son of Dr. Henry and Margaret (Bogan) Wright, and was born on February 17, 1822, in Frederick county, Maryland, and died on May 10, 1914. He came to Ohio in 1836, and began to
739
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
care for himself at the age of eleven years, working at first for his board and clothes, and at the age of twenty-three years, he began to learn the wagon-maker's trade at Amity, Ohio, Mr. Wright went to the Civil War in the One Hundred and Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, in 1864, serving until the close of the war. He was married in 1852 to Elizabeth Mahaffey, who died in 1853, leaving one son, Albert. Mr. Wright was mar- ried, secondly, to Nancy Harris, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Harris, by whom he had two daughters, Elizabeth A, and Iva. His second wife died, and he was married to Polly Dominy, by whom he had nine children, Mr. Wright began life as a poor boy, and succeeded so well that he at one time owned eight hundred acres of land, which he acquired unaided, and which he divided among his children.
Mrs. Iva M. (Wright) Rector was married, first, to Cassius B. Walker on July 2, 1874, by whom she has three daugliters: Lenora, the wife of Roy Spring, of Dela- ware, Ohio; Eva: who became the wife of Taylor Simkins, and resides at West Jeffer- son ; and Catherine, who married Hugh Cox, at Rome, Franklin county, Ohio. Cassius B. Walker died on December 18, 1906.
Mr. and Mrs. Rector are pleasant, affable people, and are prominent citizens in the township. Mrs. Rector possesses, in her own right, something over sixty-six acres of land. The beautiful home where they reside is known as "Hilltop Farm," and is located on the Blair road, one mile north of West Jefferson, Ohio.
WILLIAM HOLLAND.
William Holland, successful farmer and owner of three hundred and five acres of land located in Monroe township, Madison county, Ohio, about two miles northeast of Plumwood, was born in Champaign county, this state, on June 12, 1858.
William Holland is a son of John and Mary (Foley) Holland, both natives of County Waterford, Ireland. John Holland, who was a son of Lawrence, was the first of his family to emigrate to this county. He was a young man at that time and came over in order to judge of conditions and opportunities in this land before sending for the rest of the family. He was seized with cholera while en route to the West and was glad to leave the train at Springfield for medical attention. He remained at that place, working for a time on a section gang and later went to a farm owned by a Mr. McDonald and located near Urbana. This farm he arranged to manage on shares and having secured that position, he sent for his parents and the rest of the family. A short time after their arrival, his sweetheart, Mary Foley, also came and they were married in Springfield. They came into Madison county and bought two hundred acres of land from a Mr. Pratt, the same now constituting part of the farm of William Holland. There the old folks remained for the balance of their lives. There were seven children in their family, five of whom are living at the present time: William is the third child in order of birth; Bridget and Lawrence, the two elder, both being unmarried and remaining at home; Margaret is dead; Katherine is the wife of John Butler, and resides at Plain City; Ed and John both died when small, but the rest grew to maturity.
Mr. Holland received a good common-school education in the district schools near his home and was early instructed in the work of the farm home. It is, therefore, but natural that he should have turned the efforts of his mature years to agriculture. He has been highly successful in his line and is one of the up-to-date farmers of his com- munity. He employs twentieth-century methods in the management of his business and is uniformly successful in whatever he undertakes, for he applies the best of brain and brawn to any duty he sees before him.
On February 27, 1900, William Holland was united in marriage with Delia Don-
740
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
nelly, a daughter of Thomas and Bridget Donnelly, both natives of the Emerald Isle, coming from County Galway. To Mr. and Mrs. Holland have been born five children. namely : John. Elmer, Mary, William and Catherine. John is in the eighth grade of common school. Elmer in the fifth, little Mary is just ready to enter school and the two youngest children are below school age. This is a most interesting and promising family, and they are being so trained as to fit them for useful places in the world when they shall have attained manhood and womanhood.
Mr. Holland and his family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and he gives his support to the Democratic party, although being at no time a seeker after office. Mr. Holland is a sturdy, self-reliant citizen. He is honorable and upright in his dealings and therefore worthy of the high degree of esteem iu which he is held.
BENJAMIN F. ROBERTS.
One of the solid, substantial citizens of the West Jefferson neighborhood of this county, Benjamin F. Roberts is known far and wide in that vicinity as one of the best farmers thereabout. Prominent in the local Grange, he having served as master of the same for some time, he has been equally prominent in farmers-institute work, often serving as secretary for the institutes held in his part of the county, and is known as a man who keeps fully informed on all matters pertaining to the advancement of the science of agriculture.
Benjamin F. Roberts was born in Union towuship, Madison county, Ohio, on April 7, 1839, sou of Charles and Harriet (McCann) Roberts, the former of whom also was born in this county aud the latter was a native of Ross county, this state. In his early life Charles Roberts was a school teacher, but after his marriage bought a farm uear the fish hatcheries, in Union township, where he erected a grist-mill, which long was known throughout that part of the county as the old Roberts mill. the road leading thereto still being known as the Roberts road. Later, Charles Roberts moved to Jefferson township, where he built a saw-mill on Little Darby creek, which he operated until his retirement from active business, at which time he returned to his former home place, where he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were earnest members of the Christian church and were recognized as among the leaders in all good works thereabout. They were the parents of eight children, John Henry, Cath- erine, Benjamin F., Charles C., Harriet M., Mary E. and Melvina E., the latter of whom, the wife of Michael B. Wilson, of Clark county, this state, is the only one now surviving besides the subject of this sketch.
His father having been a school teacher, Benjamin F. Roberts received an excellent education, his course in the neighborhood schools of his youth having been supplemented by a thorough home training, and he is a man of wide information, keeping abreast of the times on all matters of general importance. Mr. Roberts never married, but he reared Homer T. Roberts, a well-known resident of this county, with all the tender solicitude he could have exercised in behalf of a son, and regards the children of the latter with as much affection as though they were indeed his own grandchildren. Homer T. Roberts married Lona Bricker, daughter of Al Bricker, and has four sons.
At the breaking out of the Civil War, Benjamin F. Roberts enlisted in the Union army, in Company E, One Hundred and Eighty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, and served as a private throughout the war. He was in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and served as adjutant and commander of the post for several years. He was commissioned major of the Madison county battalion on September 1, 1888.
Benjamiu F. Roberts for years has been active in the work of the Grange and is a past master of the grange to which he so long has been attached. He also has been
741
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
prominent in county-institute work throughout the county and is one of the best-known farmers hereabout, his excellent judgment on agricultural matters having much weight with his neighbors. He has a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, two and one- half miles southwest of West Jefferson, which is looked upon as a model of well-tilled land. Now nearing the four-score mark in the journey of life, Mr. Roberts is quietly spending his "sunset time" at his pleasant home, enjoying the rewards of a life of industry well spent, and enjoying, as well. many evidences of the very sincere regard and esteem of his neighbors, all of whom hold him in the highest respect.
THE BALES FAMILY.
The Bales family, in Madison county, dates from the coming of Moses Bales, who was a resident of Virginia. With his wife, Mary. he settled in Somerford township, two miles north of the village of Somerford, near where Val Wilson now lives, and where he was a neighbor to the original Valentine Wilson, the grandfather of Val. The farm consisted of about three hundred acres of land and is still owned by mem- bers of the family. Moses Bales lived and died upon his farm, passing away in 1855, at a very advanced age. He built the present house on that farm. His third wife survived him several years. By his first marriage there were two sons, Calvin and Thomas, both of whom were farmers and stockmen, and two daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth. David Bales, a son of the third wife, lived in Madison county for a time, but finally emigrated to Texas, where he is still living. Late in life, Catherine married a Mr. Lansdale, of Champaign county. Another daughter was Mrs. Susan Markley. Another daughter, Betsy, died unmarried. Another daughter, Mrs. Sarah Locke; removed to Iowa. The daughters of Thomas Bales own the old home place near Tradersville. They are Mrs. Carrie Fitzgibbons, of 'Mechanicsburg; Talitha, the wife of Dr. Timothy Beach. of near London; and Alta, who married Charles Gray, of Jeffersonville, Ohio. In 1914, Mrs. Gray was killed at a railroad crosing near Spring- field, Ohio, when here automobile was struck by a car.
Calvin Fenton Bales was born on January 30, 1821. On October 19, 1843. he married Julia Ann Rigdon, the daughter of Charles and Lydia ( Mitchell) Rigdon, of Somerford township. The former came to this county from Kentucky, the latter from Pennsylvania. Julia Ann (Ridgon) Bales was born in Champaign county, September 26. 1825. Her parents died in London after having sold the old home farm.
A short time after his marriage, Calvin Bales removed to the present homestead near Tradersville. At the time it consisted mostly of wild land. He set about to clear and drain the land and put about seventy-five acres in cultivation. Having started with four hundred acres he sold land until he had only two hundred and fifteen remaining. The main part of the present homestead building was probably here when he came but his widow remodeled and enlarged the house. Calvin Bales was very much interested in stock raising, and handled many cattle and sheep. He rented a great deal of land for grazing purposes. A short time before his death he purchased four hundred and thirty acres of land located near London. His death occurred in 1863, and he left a widow withi .five children. Mrs. Calvin Bales sold the London farm and returned to the old home farm near Tradersville. After a life of devotion to the Methodist Episco- pal church and her family, she died in the old home, July 25, 1911. Mrs. Bales was a member of the Methodist church all her life, and was one of the liberal supporters of the Tradersville church. Calvin Bales was also interested in church work, and strictly observed all the requirements of the church. In fact, Calvin Bales' home was well known as the home of the Methodist preachers.
Calvin Fenton and Julia Ann (Rigdon) Bales were the parents of five children : Emeline married Daniel Hendrix and died on October 3, 1887. Mary Jane married William Houston, the father of L. C. Houston, and now lives in London. Charles E.
742
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
is a stock raiser of Madison county and Kansas. Milton MeKendree Bales, who was born on October 14, 1855 is now a Doctor of Divinity in the Baptist church. He was a Methodist minister for thirty years, but became a Baptist. He is now located at Homestead, Florida. He is a graduate of the Garrett Biblical Institute, Lydia Minerva is the wife of Dr. E. U. Wood, of Columbus, Indiana, a practicing physician and surgeon of note.
Charles E. Bales was born in the house where he now lives on November 17, 1848, and has spent most of his life on this farm. Having been associated with his father in farming since he was ten years old, Charles Bales was able to take charge of the home farm upon his father's death. The first year after his father's death he carried three hnudred sheep during the winter. When he took charge of the farm it consisted of two Inndred and fifteen acres, but it now comprises three hundred and seventy-six acres. In the meantime, Charles bought the interests of his brothers and sisters in the home farm. He is a well-known stockman, who is much devoted to his business of crop raising and sheep feeding. Mr. Bales owns abont five thousand acres of wheat and grass land in Kansas, which is well stocked with Hereford cattle. He has never had any desire to hold public office.
PROF. J. C. HAMBLETON.
Prof. J. C. Hambleton has devoted the best years of his life to fitting others with a foundation for any vocation that most appeals to them, or the one selected through force of circumstances. With our present method of vocational training a student acquires a better insight into the realities and technicalities of varions branches, work- ing nuder skilled instructors, and is better qualified, when he finishes school, to judge for himself as to what trade he might like to follow.
Prof. J. C. Hambleton, teacher in the East high school, Columbus, Ohio, was born on November 12, 1863, in Jefferson township, Madison county, Ohio, and is a son of Isaac and Jane (Reynolds) Hambleton. He was reared on the home farm, and obtained his early education in the public schools of the county, and is a graduate of the West Jefferson high school. After leaving high school he entered the MacAlester College, from which he was graduated with the degree of B. A., and has devoted his entire life to teaching. . His first employment as a teacher was in the mission schools of Chile, where he met and married his wife, and where they resided for nine years. He returned to Ohio in 1900, and brought his family to Columbus. In 1912 they moved to their farm in Jefferson township. Professor Hambleton is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of lodge No. 221, Free and Accepted Masons.
Isaac Hambleton, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on Angust 6 1825, in Colombiana connty, Ohio, and died on February 15, 1915. His wife, Jane (Reynolds) Hambleton, was born on October 31, 1825, in Georgesville, Ohio, and died on April 29, 1912. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living in 1915: Ida, who is the widow of George Smeltzer, and resides in Arkansas; Wallace, who taught school for a number of years and is now a farmer in Champaign connty.
J. C. Hambleton was nnited in marriage, December 25, 1891, with Sara Paulsen, danghter of George Panlsen. She was born on December 17, 1870, in Chile. Professor and Mrs. Hambleton are the parents of the following children: Olivia, James, Carmen, Blanca, Edson, David and Carlos (twins), Wallace and Mary. Olivia was born in Chile, October 7, 1892, and is a graduate of the East high school of Columbus, Ohio, and a student at the Ohio State University; James is a graduate of the same high school, and is a student in the State University; Carmen was born on May 1, 1897, and is a student in the West Jefferson high school; Blanca was born on June 25, 1899, and
743
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
is also a student of the West Jefferson high school; Edson was born on February 13, 1902; David and Carlos (Twins) were born on February 28, 1903; Wallace was born 011 November 30, 1908, and Mary was born on December 26, 1910.
George Paulsen, father of Mrs. Hambleton, was born in Denmark, and his wife, Carmen ( Villagran) Paulsen, was born in Chile, and is now dead. Mr. Paulsen is still a resident of Chile.
Professor Hambleton stands very high in his work, in which he has met with great success, and in which he is considered an authority.
JAMES H. CLINGAN.
James H. Clingan, who is a well-known retired farmer living at Summerford, was born in that village on February 14 1855, and is the son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth A. (Clark) Clingan. Mr. Clingan's father was a native of Maryland and his mother was a native of London, Madison county, and the daughter of Henry Clark. Andrew Clingan and wife came to Madison county about 1840. He was a tailor by trade and followed his trade at Summerford. He served three years in the Civil War and was a member of Company K, Twenty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His eldest son, Alonzo P., was also a soldier in the Civil War and died in the Andersonville prison at the age of eighteen. Andrew Clingan died in Madison county at the age of seventy- seven, soon after his wife's death, who passed away at the age of sixty-six. For forty years Andrew Clingan was a justice of the peace, and was succeeded by his son, James H., the subject of this sketch, who served one term.
The seven children born to Andrew and Elizabeth A. (Clark) Clingan, were as follow : Alonzo P., who died in the Civil War; Laura V. who is now Mrs. Arnold, of Bradford Junction, Ohio; Mary G., who married Frank P. Weller and who died at Urbana ; William L., who was a merchant at Summerford for thirty-five or forty years, until his death in March, 1909; Ida F., who married Thomas C. Foster, and who died in Madison county ; James H. is the subject of this sketch; Fannie H., who married Thomas West, and who died in Springfield, Clark county, Ohio. Thomas West was an uncle of Welcome A. West of Summerford.
Practically all of Mr. Clingan's life has been spent in Madison county and in Sum- merford. For twenty-five years he was engaged in painting and paper hanging, and for seven years he was engaged in a general store at Summerford. He owns a farm of fifty-one acres adjoining the village and has a pleasant home. He is surrounded with all the conveniences of life.
James H. Clingan was married at the age of twenty-six to Addie L. Cartzdafner, who died twelve years after their marriage, leaving one child, Stella Myrl, a brilliant teacher of Madison county who graduated from the London high school with the class of 1910, at the age of seventeen years. Having begun teaching immediately after her graduation from high school, she has made a brilliant record in this county. Miss Clingan was well prepared for teaching, having taken several teacher's courses at Witten- berg College.
Addie L. Cartzdafner was the daughter of J. W. and Julia Ann Cartzdafner, natives of Maryland and Ohio, respectively. The former was a millwright by trade and a mill operator and was well-known in this community. Further facts in the Cartzdafner his- tory is to be found in the sketch of G. W. Cartzdafner, presented elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Clingan was married, secondly. March 14, 1901, to Malinda Sweet, the daughter of Stephen D. and Catherine (Tingley) Sweet, the former of whom was born in Cham- paign county, Ohio, the son of Joshua and Mary Sweet. Stephen D. Sweet was reared
744
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO,
in Clark county and was married in September, 1853. He and his wife lived in Clark and Madison counties. In later years they lived near Wilson chapel, in Clark county. He died at the age of sixty-one and she at the age of fifty-nine. Their remains are buried in the cemetery at Summerford. Mrs. Clingan is the only member of her family living in Madison county. She was reared in Clark county and educated in the country schools. By this second marriage there have been no children.
Mrs. Clingan is prominent in the Ladies Aid Society and in the Sunday school. Stella Myrl Clingan is also active in church work. James H. Clingan is about the oldest Odd Fellow of the Summerford lodge. Ile has been a member for thirty-three years, has passed all the chairs and is at present secretary of the lodge. Mrs. Clingan is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, at London. Mr. Clingan is a Republican in poli- tics. He spends his vacations in fishing and hunting and is always taking an active part in improving the village and community where he lives.
HIRAM RUSSELL WILSON.
No citizen of Somerford township is more highly respected than Hiram Russell Wilson, a farmer at Tradersville in Madison county, Ohio. Ever since beginning life ou his own responsibility, Mr. Wilson has been compelled to shift for himself, aud the competeuce which he has accumulated in the passing years is the fruit of his owu personal efforts.
Hiram Russell Wilson was born on September 24, 1832, in Mineral county, West Virginia, aud at the age of nine years accompanied his parents, Peter aud Louisa (Hull) Wilson, to Clark county, Ohio. Both of his parents were natives of West Virginia. Peter Wilson's pareuts died in early life, aud he was bound out to Alexander Riley. He grew to manhood as an apprentice. Hiram Russell Wilson grew to man- hood in Clark county. Ohio, on a farm, and lived there until eighteen years old, when his parents removed to Fayette county. He accompanied them and lived at home until twenty-three years old. Still later his parents removed to Lilly Chapel, Madison county, and engaged in faruling. After living in Madison county some eight or ten years, they returned to Clark county, a few miles from their son's present residence, and there died. the father in September, 1886, at the age of sixty-five, and the mother about twenty years later in West Virginia. Peter Wilson was a poor man when he came to Ohio, and, after coming here, rented land from different persons. His son, Hiram, is the only member of the family now living in Madison county. William and George both returned to West Virginia, where George still lives. Another brother, John, was a practicing physician in Miami county, Iudiana.
After leaving home at the age of twenty-three, Hiram R. Wilson learned the blacksmith's trade at Lilly Chapel with George Wright. He followed the trade for twenty-two years in succession, working at Lilly Chapel, at Somerford and still later at Lafayette, operating shops of his owu. In 1901 he removed to his present farm, known as the old Isaac Fox farm, at Tradersville. He now owns one hundred and nine acres of land. In the meantime he has remodeled the house aud made out of it an attractive country home. Mr. Wilson keeps purebred Jersey cattle, which are all eligible to register. By separating the cream and selling it, he makes a very satis- factory profit from the farm. Mr. Wilsou especially enjoys stock raising.
On November 6, 1882, Hiram Russell Wilson was married to Margaret A. Sidner, daughter of Philip and Minerva (Southern) Sidner. Mrs. Wilson's father is a half- brother of Clark Sidner, whose sketch is presented elsewhere in this volume. Philip and Clark are sons of Jacob Sidner. Mrs. Wilson was born at Lilly Chapel. She and her husband were young people together. They have three children, Blanche, Ercel and Guy. Blanche is a graduate nurse and lives at home. Ercel is a student at
HIRAM R. WILSON.
745
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
the Evangelical Institute at Chicago, Illinois. Guy is operating the home farm. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, for some time, and expected to take an electrical engineering course, but has abandoned that for agriculture and will take an agricultural course.
Hiram Russell Wilson is a thorough-going temperance man, and at the age of sixty- three years can truthfully say that he has never taken a drink of whisky, a chew of tobacco or a smoke in his life. His son is also a total abstainer. Neither does he know one card from another. In the community where he lives his influence among the young and rising generation is regarded as of a most wholesome character. He is not a politician, and, while nominally identified with the Republican party, votes for the man rather than the party. Although he has served on the school board, generally speaking he has kept out of office and has never aspired to public place. Mr. Wilson is a most deserving and honorable citizen, and respected in the community where he lives.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.