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 116
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Thomas Gain and Mary Stroup were married on October 16. 1856. in Madison county. She was the daughter of David and Mary ( Ray) Stroup, and was born in Paint township. having been one of nine children. The last survivor of this family died on March 7. 1915. She was Rebecca Stroup, who had married Seth McColluum and who was next to the youngest in the family. Several of . Mary Stronp's brothers remained in Madison county. Jacob has two children, John L., near Xenia, Ohio, and Fannie Woosley, of Cherryvale. Kansas. Jesse, who died in January. 1909, was a wealthy man at the time of his death. The other brothers were David, Alfred and William, the last of whom was the youngest in the family. He died in Kansas in 1886. Practically ali the members of the family were reared in Madison county. Of Mary Stroup's sisters, Naney married John Linson, but they are now both deceased ; Martha died in childhood.
Mary (Stroup) Gain died on December 16. 1860, at the age of thirty-one, leaving but one living child. Jesse S., the subject of this sketch, who was then nineteen months old. After his wife's death. Thomas Gain remained in Paint township. Ile spent his
MR. AND MRS. JESSE S. GAIN
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later years with his son, Jesse S., and died in his son's home, November 22, 1907, in his eighty-seventh year. He was a Democrat in politics, and never held public office. However, he was always ready to discuss politics, and was a man possessed with a very retentive memory.
Jesse S. Gain, who was reared by his grandparents, David and Mary Stroup, attended school in Madison county. His grandfather, David Stroup, died when he was fifteen years old. Jesse S. attended school for a short time, and at the age of seven- teen, at South Charleston, while living on the old farm, he began to work by the month. In company with his cousin, Victor Stroup, he rented a farm near Summerford in 1885. In 1887 he worked for Cyrus Ball, and in 1SSS had charge of a small farm in Paint township owned by Aaron Gaines. At this time he began to interest himself in standard- bred horses, and has continued the business until the present time. In 1909, Mr. Gain removed to his present farm near the city of London. Here he owns twenty acres of land, and has made most of the improvements upon this farm. He has continued to breed horses, and has become the largest breeder of standard-bred horses in Madison county.
One of his horses, "J. S. G .. " obtained a mark of 2:1314, and was one of the finest track horses Mr. Gain has ever raised. He won many races and became a well-known horse in the state of Ohio. In fact, he was the finest horse ever owned in Madison county. "Sir Lane," bred by Mr. Gain, was sold in the West, where he made a mark of 2:0814. "Brownie Her" made a mark of 2:1214, and was sold as a colt. Some of these horses were trained on the Madison county fair grounds track. Mr. Gain now has several splendid horses, all of which he drives himself. Most of the races which be has won, he himself has driven.
At the age of thirty-two, Jesse S. Gain was married to Mary Humphrey, who died within a year, leaving no children. After five years, Mr. Gain was married, on October 27, 1897. to Janet A. Brown, of Richmond, Indiana, who was born in Canada. Mr. Gain gives his wife credit for much of his success as a horse breeder. She is a lover of horses herself, and has extended encouragement at critical times. By her warm sympathy and help, such as a wife can give. Mr. Gain has today become one of the best-known and most successful horsemen in the Buckeye state. Mrs. Gain's father was of Scotch birth. Her stepmother. Mary Gilbert, died in London in March, 1915. Mr. Gain has reared several boys, one of whom, Jerome Burchnell, lived with him from the time he was thirteen until he was eighteen years old. Ernest Beard has also been with him since he was thirteen years old.
'Mrs. Gain's father, Hugh Brown, was born on February 13, 1832, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and emigrated as a young man to Canada. He was a cooper by trade. On March 18, 1855, he was married to Alameda Sanders, a native of Canada, who was born on July 4, 1833. and to this union two children were born, James M., of Oswego, New York and Janet A., wife of Jesse S. Gain. In 1858 Mr. Brown moved to Oswego, New York, where his wife died the next year. About 1863 Mr. Brown moved to Rich- mond, Indiana, and was there married to Mary E. Voss. To this union were born two sons, Oliver M., of London, Ohio, and John W., of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Brown died in Richmond, Indiana, on March 14, 1879.
Jesse S. Gain is often called upon to assist in the management of fairs, particularly in the management of speed programs. As a breeder. his influence in this county has been far reaching. Not only has he greatly increased the interest of the people of Madison county in good horses, but he has made it possible for them to secure the higher grade of horses.
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JOHN A. SCHURR.
Among the successful farmers of Paint township, Madison county, Ohio, is John A. Schurr, who comes of German stock, dating back in this country to about 1847.
John A. Schurr was born in Madison county, north of Palestine, April 7, 1851. lie is the son of George and Elizabeth (Carter) Schurr, the former of whom was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 31, 1823, and who, in 1829, came to America with his parents in a sailing vessel. They were seventy-nine days in making the voyage on the good ship "Isabella." After landing in New York City, they traveled by team to Buffalo, where they took another sailing vessel and came by way of Lake Erie to Cleveland. From Cleveland the family took a canal boat to Columbus, and from Columbus came on to Madison county.
The next spring. George Schurr's father rented a farm and they farmed for four years. The father then moved to Columbus, where he obtained work at seventy-five cents a day. In the course of two years he bought a farm on Possum run, compris- ing one hundred acres. George Schurr assisted in the farm work during the summer and attended the district school in the winter. At the age of twenty-one, George Schurr started farming for himself. working at eight dollars a mouth until 1847. when he was employed to accompany a drove of cattle to Philadelphia across the Alleghany mountains. After delivering the cattle he was allowed sixteen days time to return and sixty-two cents a day for expense money. The distance was six hundred miles and he walked the entire distance in fifteen days.
On December 26. 1848. George Schurr was married to Elizabeth Carter. The mar- riage was performed by Squire Stephen Anderson. After farming for three years in Madison county. George Schurr moved to Coles connty. Illinois, remaining there for two years. His father having died. he returned to Madison county and purchased some land and cleared it of its heavy timber. In 1859 he and his wife joined the Christian church. In 1865 they sold the farm and purchased one hundred acres of land in Paint township, to which he added fifty acres. Subsequently, he purchased the Doctor Kinney property in London. Mrs. Schurr died on October 4. 1900, and her husband died seven years later, on June 2. 1907.
George and Elizabeth (Carter) Schurr were the parents of ten children, namely : Mary, born on December 7. 1849. died in Columbus about 1913: William. October 4, 1852, is deceased; John A. is the subject of this sketch; Charles. December 11, 1854. lives in Logan county: James, June 12. 1855, lives in Paint township; Esther. May 8, 1857. married John Southward and lives in Clark county, near Springfield, Ohio; Clay- ton. August 2. 1859. died on October 3. 1866; George, February 1. 1861. lives in the state of Washington: Alfred. January 4, 1865, died on March 11. 1886; and David. April ?, 1866.
David Schurr. the tenth child in this family, attended the district schools and was granted a certificate to teach at the age of sixteen. He began teaching in the district schools af eighteen and continned teaching. applying his leisure hours and vacations to the pursuit of advanced studies. He was graduated from Ohio Northern University with the degree of Bachelor of Science and from Wittenberg College with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He holds common and high school life certificates granted by the state board of examiners. Mr. Schurr was superintendent of the Midway schools for one year and superintendent of the South Solon schools for seven years. He was also superintendent of the Plain City schools for four years and declined a re-election at Plain City to become a candidate for representative. He was the choice of his party and has always been active in local politics. He has been a delegate to almost every county convention for fifteen years and is a member of the National Educational Associa-
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tion, the Central Ohio Teachers' Association and has been elected president three times of the Madison County Teachers' Association. He is at present a member of the execu- tive committee of the county teachers' institute and served nine years on the board of county school examiners. He was recently chosen cashier of the Farmers and Traders Bank of South Solon, of which bank he is one of the directors. Fraternally, David Schurr is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, also being a member of the uniform rank of the latter lodge. He is a member of the committee on enrollment, chairman of the boys' industrial school, chairman of the committee on ways and turnpikes and a member of the committee on schools. He owns the old homestead of one hundred and fifty- seven acres and also a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Logan county. David Schurr retains his residence in Paint township.
John A. Schurr received a good common-school education and farmed his father's farm on the shares for some time.
On September 15, 1875, John A. Schurr was married to Ida Stroup, a daughter of Alfred and Charity (Thompson) Stroup, and to them have been born three children, two of whom are living. Alma, born on March 20, 1878, married Hartford Welsh and has one daughter, Mary Louise. They live in London. Mr. Welsh is cashier of the Commercial and Savings Bank, at London. Emmet. the other living child, was born on May 3. 1880, and married Myrtle March. They live in London. Formerly, he was agent at the interurban station for eleven years, but is now bookkeeper in the London Exchange Bank. The mother of these children, who was born on November 5, 1854, died on October 7. 1884.
On February 11, 1886, John A. Schurr was married to Mary Hornbeck, a daughter of Cyrus and Elizabeth ( Meliner) Hornbeck. Mr. and Mrs. Hornbeck were the parents of seven children, two of whom are living, John Q. is deceased ; Martin is deceased ; Melissa, born on October 17, 1852, died at the age of seventeen; Mary E., January 7, 1855, is the wife of Mr. Schurr; C. R., August 28, 1858, is an attorney of London ; Sidney E., November 17, 1860, died on June 17, 1914: Isaac W .. July 23, 1863, died some years ago. The father of these children died on July 23, 1863, and the mother in May, 1900.
John A. Schurr is living on the old homestead and is a farmer and stock raiser. He owns one hundred and fifty-seven acres in Paint township. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, at Mt. Sterling. He is a Republican in politics and has served as township trustee and township treasurer. He is now a trustee of the Paint township cemetery,
THOMAS MALLON.
America owes much to the Emerald Isle, which has given to this country many of our best citizens. Among the successful farmers of Madison county, Ohio, is the vener- able Thomas Mallon, of Stokes township, who was born in Ireland in 1840, and who, after coming to America, worked at odd jobs for a time and then purchased a farm, now owning three hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land.
Thomas Mallon was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1840, and made the voyage to America with his sister, Mary. They were the children of Owen and Nancy (McCor- mick) Mallon, who lived and died in the Emerald Isle. They had one other child besides Thomas and Mary, Patrick, who came to America about two years before his brother and sister. He settled in Madison county but later moved to Missouri, and died there about 1895. Mary, after coming to America, married Michael Devereaux, of London. She died about 1910 but her husband still lives in London.
After working at odd jobs in this country for a number of years, Thomas Mallon
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was married to Margaret Silk, the daughter of Bernard and Mary ( Fleming) Silk, both of whom speut all of their lives in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Mallon have been the parents of eight children. seven of whom are living. namely: Hugh is at home; Owen married Catherine Charters and lives in Columbus, Ohio; Michael, the twin brother of Owen, died in 1906: Mary and Aima live at home; Thomas married Mary Devenport, they live in Washington, D. C., and have had five children, Margaret (deceased ), Thomas S., Marie, Hugh and Anna : Margaret is the wife of James Daugherty and has three children. Mary, Thomas and Joseph, and lives in Stokes township; and Patrick A. operates the home farm for his father.
The Mallon farm lies in Stokes township about four miles east and uorth of South Solou. It is equipped with substantial buildings, including a good house and baru. For several years Mr. Mallon has been living retired. He has made every dollar of his present wealth by his own efforts and has succeeded in a large measure unaided by friends or relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. Mallon are highly-respected citizens of Stokes towuship, Mr. Mallon votes the Democratic ticket. The Mallon family are members of the St. Charles Catholic church. at South Charleston.
JOHN W. KELLOUGH.
John W. Kellough, of Mt. Sterling, Madison county, Ohio, was born on July 5, 1839, at Veedersburg, Fountain county, Indiaua. He was reared on the farm but attended school in the old Salem Academy, located in Ross county, Ohio, and also attended one year at the Lebanou normal school. In 1856, when only seventeen years of age, he began teaching school in Ross and Pike couuties, Ohio, serving in that capacity for two years. Following the termination of his teaching in Pike county he taught for four terms in Ross county. This experience carried him into the period when the fighting was at its hottest, during the Civil War, and though his enthusiasm was that of an ardent soldier eager for the fray his health was such that he was per- mitted to engage in only one battle and a skirmish or two. He was a member of the Ohio National Guard.
At the close of the war Mr. Kellough returned to Ross county, Ohio, where he rented laud, which he tilled until 1873, removing at that time to Madison county, Ohio, where he purchased two hundred and ten acres in Range township. Improvements were begun at once, two large barns being erected for the housing of grain and stock. and a comfortable residence built. Three acres were set aside for fruit growing and the producing of stock became a specialty. In 1882 John Kellough began the manufacture, material used in the building of district schools in his locality. In 1910 he removed to Mt. Sterling. Ohio, and erected a thoroughly modern home in which he uow resides.
John W. Kellough is the son of Jolin and Rebecca (Pummill) Kellough, to whose union were born two children, Mrs. Mary Jane McClean, a widow, of Washington C. H., Ohio, and John W. The father, John Kellough, is the son of John and Betsey (McCon- nell) Kellough, and was born in 1814, in Highland couuty, Ohio. He was a farmer of Highland county, Ohio, and it was there that he wooed aud won the hand of Rebecca Pummill, whose marriage was solemnized in the year of 1836. For three short years they lived happily together and then the husband, at the age of twenty-five years, departed this life on May 17, 1839, leaving his widow to care for and rear the two small children who were born of this union. For more than seventy-five years his widow remained true to the memory of her beloved companion, incorporating the wealth of her nature into kindly deeds and words that will be remembered, and her memory will be revered as one whose life was a shining example of purity of purpose and love.
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JOHN W. KELLOUGH.
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Rebecca Pummill was born on April 10, 1816, near Woodstock, Shenandoah county, Virginia, and passed away on March 15, 1915, aged ninety-nine years, less twenty-five days. She was one of eleven children born to her parents, there being eight daughters and three sons. She was a devout Christian and a member of the Methodist church, joining the same when she was a girl of fourteen years. After her husband's demise she returned to the home of her parents, but some fifty years ago she came, with her daughter and family, to Range township, Madison county, Ohio, and settled in the Bethel neighborhood.
The mother of John Kellough. Sr., was Betsy (McConnell) Kellough, eldest daughter of Alexandria McConnell, the famous Indian fighter of Kentucky. John W. Kellough is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Mt. Sterling, also holding stock in the elevator and grain company of this town.
On June 5, 1862, John W. Kellough was married to Senath Pool, who was born on April 29, 1841, and for fifty-three years they were permitted to travel life's path- way together. Mrs. Kellough was the daughter of Henry and Mary (Vinson Hallar) Pool, natives of Germany. After rearing the ten children born of their union, Senath (Pool) Kellough passed to her eternal rest on August 29, 1913, leaving the companion of so many years to finish the journey alone. The names of their ten children follow : Mrs. Mana K. Ester, a nurse living at Columbus, Ohio; Charles, a farmer of Range town- ship, Madison county, Ohio; Mrs. Anna Wyss, a teacher in Oklahoma, who has taught for sixteen years ; Mrs. Nellie Dickson, of Harrodsburg, Indiana ; Mrs. Sallie Rader, deceased ; William, a former student in the medical college and a school teacher, died March 12, 1891, at Columbus, Ohio; Jesse P., a farmer of Fayette county, Ohio; Claud, deceased ; Mrs. Katherine Wissler, a widow, who now resides with her father; and Robert W., a lawyer of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
John W. Kellough is a life member of the Forestry Association of Ohio, of which, in 1911, he was elected vice-president. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in 1913, at the age of sixty-four years, he was a candidate for office as representative of his state, on the Democratic ticket. He was defeated, but like a true soldier, he is a good loser. He has been justice of the peace, township trustee and clerk, also land appraiser. No Presbyterian is more loyal to the church creed than is John Kellough. Mr. Kellough is a charter member of Lenore Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Sedalia, Ohio, having joined that lodge in 1875. He is also a member of the consistory, at Columbus, Ohio.
ASA E. FARRAR. -
Asa E. Farrar, a veteran of the Civil War and a retired farmer of Paint township. Madison county, Ohio, was born on July 15, 1838, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the son of Alexis and Sarah (Atwood) Farrar. the former of whom was born in the village of Rush, New York, and the latter was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Alexis Farrar was born March 16, 1808, and his wife was born on March 26, 1817. They were mar- ried June 17, 1834, in Cincinnati, and had nine children, six daughters and three sons: Hariett, who was born on January 20, 1836, died on June 14, 1836; Alice, May 18, 1837. died on July 3, 1857; Asa E. is the subject of this sketch; Laura V., February 22, 1840, is deceased; Charles E., October 13, 1841, lives in California; Maria. July 26, 1844, died on September S. 1844; Mary D., January 14, 1846, died on October 14, 1846; Sarah F., April 21. 1848, is the wife of S. S. Clayton of Dayton, Ohio; Alexis, September 20, 1849. now lives at the Soldiers' Home, at Sandusky, Ohio. Alexis enlisted in the First Ohio Light Artillery during the Civil War and served two years. He received his dis- charge at the close of the war. The father of these children was a carpenter and an architect. For many years he was in partnership with Charles Rousey, a practical
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contractor and builder. The father died at Cincinnati, January 8, 1852, and the mother died on July 25, 1873.
Asa E. Farrar received a good common-school education in the public schools of Cincinnati and Toledo. He helped his mother to take care of five children, but, when the Civil War broke out, he enlisted, August 5, 1861, in Company I, Forty-eight Regi- ment. New York Volunteer Infantry, serving two and one-half years. Afterward he enlisted in the same company and served till September 12, 1865. All together Mr. Farrar served four years and one month. He served under General Butler, and after returning from the war engaged in farming.
On June 16, 1873, Asa E. Farrar was married to Mary Eliza Williams, a daughter of Washington and Maria (Jones) Williams, the former of whom was born on Novem- ber 9, 1813, and the latter was born on August 15, 1819. Washington Williams and Maria Jones were married on October 21, 1838. Mr. Williams died on October 2, 1847, and his wife died on July 22, 1854. They were the parents of three children : John H .. born on August 9, 1840, died on December 15, 1895; Margaret R., March 18, 1843; Mary E., May 14, 1845.
Mr. and Mrs. Farrar have had one daughter, Margaret, who was born September 8, 1874. She married Frank W. Read, and they now live in Los Angeles, California. They have six children, Welden R., Max W., Alice Jean, Elizabeth Louise and two that died in infancy.
Shortly after his marriage, in 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Farrar settled in Madison county. For a short time after his marriage Mr. Farrar worked in Clark county. Since 1905 he has lived retired on his farm of sixty-seven acres at Florence, Madison county, Ohio. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, at South Charleston, and as a Republican has served as a director of the school for many years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Farrar are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and attend church at Williams Chapel.
STEPHEN CARTER.
Farmer and thresherman. Stephen Carter is a well-known citizen of Paint township, Madison county, Ohio. He lives on a farm a short distance south of Newport. Mr. Carter was born on May 24, 1863, in Clinton county, Ohio, the son of Jonathan and Sarah (Criswell) Carter, the former of whom was born in Hardin county, Ohio, and the latter in Clinton county. They were married in Clinton county and, as the fruit of their marriage, had one son, Stephen, the subject of this sketch.
Jonathan Carter was engaged in farming in Clinton county, but later moved to Indiana, where he remained for two years. Upou returning to Ohio, the family set- tled in Clinton county, where they remained until 1872, when they moved to Madison county and settled in Paint township. In March, 1872, Mrs. Sarah (Criswell) Carter died and two years later. her husband was married to Margaret Cleeland. After living in Madison county for many years, Jonathan Carter died on October 7. 1913. His second wife had died previously in 1903.
Stephen Carter received a common-school education in the public schools of Paint township, and after reaching maturity was engaged for a few years in farming with his father.
On September 18, 1884, Stephen Carter was married to Mary Stewart, a native of Butler county, Ohio, and the daughter of James and Anna (Cleeland) Stewart, the latter of whom was a native of Clark county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart spent most of their lives in Butler county, where they died some time prior to 1880, both passing away within a period of a few months.
By his first marriage Mr. Carter had four children, three of whom are living,
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Claude, the eldest, was accidentally killed in Newport in 1905; Maude, who is the wife of George Cochenour, of Springfield, Ohio; Isa, who is a resident of Columbus, Ohio, and is unmarried; Mary is the wife of Clarence Taylor, of Sedalia, Ohio. Mrs. Mary ( Stewart ) Carter died on August 3, 1892. Five years later, on September 9, 1897, Mr. Carter was married to Lydia Newman, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William New- man, of Madison county. To this second marriage there has been born two daughters, Ruth, who lives at home with her parents, and Agnes, who died in infancy.
For the past twenty-one years Mr. Carter has been engaged in threshing and farm- fng. He has charge of one hundred acres of land in Paint township and is known as a successful farmer.
Fraternally, Mr. Carter is a member of the Masonic lodge, No. 138, at London, and of Madison Lodge No. 70, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the encampment branch of the Odd Fellows and belongs to London Encampment No. 126. Politically, lie is a Democrat. Mr. Carter is now serving his first term as town- ship clerk. Formerly, he served as assessor for a period of five years. He also served as a member of the board of trustees of the township for three years and as township treasurer for one term.
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