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 117
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STEPHEN C. SMITH.
The gentleman whose name the reader notes above, the proprietor of "Elmwood Stock Farm," is the owner of two hundred and fifty-seven acres of fine land in Jefferson and Canaan townships, and is regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of that part of the county. In addition to his farming interests, he has also been actively engaged in the timber business in Ohio, and for many years has bought and sold horses.
Born in the neighboring county of Franklin. Stephen C. Smith did not come to this county until he was sixteen years of age. He was born on a farm near the village of Groveport, Franklin county, Ohio, June 4, 1867, son of Stephen and Abigail (Ayers) Smith, both natives of England, the former of whom came to America before he was twenty-one years of age. When he landed here, Stephen Smith was in debt, but he possessed plenty of energy and pluck and was not daunted by the prospect of facing new conditions without a cent. He came to Ohio and located in Franklin county, in the Groveport neighborhood, where he prospered. In that neighborhood there was an English girl. Abigail Ayers, who had come to this county with her parents when twelve years of age, and had grown to womanhood in the vicinity of Mr. Smith's new home. The marriage of this couple took place in Franklin county, but they later moved to this county, locating in Jefferson township, and became well known throughout that entire section of the county. Stephen Smith was a good farmer and became the owner of several tracts of land. His wife was a leader in the Methodist church, and influential in all good works.
Stephen Smith and wife were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are still living, namely : Thomas A., a well-known and prominent farmer of Fairfield township. this county ; Richard B., a successful ranchman in Paradise Valley, Montana ; Dr. R. P .. a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, who is now president of the Kansas Wesleyan University at Salina, Kansas; Rev. Edward, a prominent minister in the Methodist church, now district superintendent of the Helena district, with headquarters at Butte. Montana ; Stephen C., the immediate subject of this sketch; Rev. Attree, a graduate of the Garrett Biblical Institute at Chicago, now pastor of the Methodist church at Beloit, Kansas; Anna, who married Frederick McClish, a substantial farmer of the Groveport neighborhood; Abigail, unmarried, who lives at Charlotte, North Carolina ; Amy M., a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and formerly a well-known teacher of German in the public schools of London, this county, who is national secretary of
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the Young Women's Christian Association, with headquarters at Charlotte, North Caro- lina, and Catherine, who became the wife of H. A. Newcomb, of Boston, Massachusetts. a practical mechanic, who is the overseer of several large office buildings in that city. Perey died at the age of seventeen, and Mary E. also died young.
Stephen C. Smith was reared on the home farm in Franklin county, receiving his elementary education in the district schools of his home neighborhood, which he sup- plemented by a comprehensive course in the normal school at Ada, Ohio, following which he entered seriously upon the life of a farmer, a vocation to which for years he gave his most diligent and intelligent attention, with the result that he is now the possessor of two hundred and fifty-seven acres of fine land in Jefferson township, this county, and is looked upon as one of the most substantial citizens of his community. In 1904, Mr. Smith, because of ill health, retired from active farm life and moved to West Jefferson. this county, where he built his present handsome, modern seven-room house, which is equipped with all the modern conveniences, being heated with hot water and lighted with gas.
On January 31, 1894, Stephen C. Smith was married to Carrie Price, who is a native of Franklin county, Ohio, and was formerly a well-known teacher in the public schools of Madison county. She took up teaching after finishing her education at the normal school at Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are devoted members of the Methodist church, Mr. Smith being one of the most prominent lay workers in that church in this part of the state. He is a member of the official board of his home church, and for several years was superintendent of the Sunday school of the same. He represented his church as a delegate to the great Methodist men's convention at Indianapolis in 1913, and several times has been selected as the lay delegate to the annual conferences of the church. He and his wife are actively interested in all good works in their neighborhood, and very properly are held in the highest esteem throughout the com- munity.
Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics, and has always been interested in local affairs, and has taken a very active part in temperance work. Fraternally, he is a Mason, and is the present master of Madison Lodge No. 221, Free and Accepted Masons. For several years Mr. Smith served as president and general manager of the Farmers Telephone Company, and in all movements that make for the betterment and progress of his home community he takes an active interest.
GEORGE HORNBECK.
In a state like Ohio, where a greater portion of the state is given over to agriculture, a man who can successfully meet the problems of the farmer and bring returns from the soil is of great value to the community in which he lives. Probably no other settler was more familiar with the early agricultural life of Ohio than Isaac Hornbeck, the father of George Hornbeck, who is the subject of this sketel.
George Hornbeck was born in Union township, Madison county, Ohio, on October 1. 1855. He was the youngest of seven children born to Isaac and Anna (Peck) Horn- beck, the former of whom was born in this county, and the latter was born in Pickaway county, Ohio. After his education was completed in the schools near his home he remained with his parents on the farm, where he learned the lessons of experience in farming which served him so admirably in latter years, when he was compelled to assume complete care of the estate.
Isaac Hornbeck was born in 1814, died in 1865, in Stock township, Madison county. In Mr. Hornbeck's boyhood the educational opportunities afforded a farmer boy were meager. but this very fact makes the school house of those days one of the most inter-
MR. AND MRS. ISAAC HORNBECK
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esting objects of study. With great pleasure Mr. Hornbeck would relate stories of the little log cabin school house with the slab seats and small windows. The remarkable fact, however, is that the products of these schools often became the most reliable, indus- trious and intelligent of citizens. Before his death, which occurred in 1865, Isaac Horn- beck had accumulated three hundred and seventy acres of land. His wife, who was born in Pickaway county, on May 15, 1818, remained on the farm until her death in 1893. She was the daughter of Henry and Hager (Carr) Peck, natives of Virginia. The father of Isaac Hornbeck, who was Samuel Hornbeck, married Mary Hudson, and came from Kentucky to Madison county, where he died near South Solon, Ohio.
To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hornbeck were born the following children : Miles D., who died in 1864; Samuel, a farmer in Paint township; Emily, who is at home; Henry who died in infancy ; Mary, who is at home; John W., a farmer in Fayette county, Ohio; George, the subject of this sketch.
The progressive quality in an agriculturist is one of the most valuable attributes. George Hornbeck, not content with managing the farm as his father left it, has made extensive improvements. Mr. Hornbeck, although giving some time to horticultural interests, devotes most of his attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle. He has never married, but for a number of years has made his home with his sisters, Emily and Mary. He is active in Democratic political affairs. Mr. Hornbeck is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Free and Accepted Masons at Mt. Sterling. The Hornbecks are all members of the Christian church, of Mt. Sterling.
THOMAS C. GAYNARD.
Farmer and school teacher, Thomas C. Gaynard, who lives at the corner of the Patee road and Columbus pike, in Somerford township, two miles northwest of the village of Summerford, was born in Somerford township, two miles west of the village on the National road, March 26, 1866.
Thomas C. Gaynard is the son of Peter and Margaret (Coleman) Gaynard, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former of County Mayo and the latter of County Galway. After their marriage, in Springfield, Ohio, they settled on a farm. Peter Gaynard had come to America in 1848, and for a time had worked for various rail- roads in Illinois, Louisiana and Indiana. After 1860, however, he lived in Madison county. His wife had worked in Springfield.
In partnership with his brother. Thomas, Peter Gaynard, Sr., purchased the old Gaynard homestead, containing six acres. After being there several years, Thomas Gaynard, in 1880, removed to Logan county. He died at West Liberty, in that county. Peter Gaynard bought his brother's interest in the Somerford township farm. It was formerly a station on the old National rond in stagecoach days, and consisted of a tavern and the necessary barns and sheds used in pioneer times in connection with a tavern. After passing a most useful life in this community, Peter Gaynard died on the old farm in October, 1901, at the age of seventy years. His wife had died about twenty years previously. July. 1880. They were quiet and unassuming people, and devout members of St. Patrick's Catholic church. They were the parents of six children, of whom Thomas C., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest. Delia, who is unmarried and who lives at Springfield, Ohio, owns the old home. She remained with the father until his death. John died in childhood. Peter was a teacher for twenty years, mostly in the schools of Madison county, and also served as superintendent of the Deer Creek township schools.
Thomas C. Gaynard began to teach school at the age of nineteen. He attended the district schools and was later graduated from the normal school at Lebanon under
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the skillful direction of Professor Holbrook, one of the most competent teachers in the history of education in the state of Ohio. Of the nineteen years that Mr. Gaynard taught subsequent to his graduation, all but one year were spent in Madison county. He taught one year in Clark county. Thonias C. Gaynard has been especially well known for his ability in handling schools where other teachers failed, and at times has had as high as fifty-five pupils of all ages and of all grades. Mr. Gaynard's own education has been carried far beyond what is required for teaching in the rural schools. Ile has served officially in institutes. and in the teacher's reading circle, also nine years on the school board.
Formerly. Mr. Gaymard owned a small farm near the fish hatchery, but thirteen years ago purchased his present farm, the John Cleary farm of one hundred acres. The farm was very much run down when he obtained possession of it, but he has not only put it into a high state of cultivation but has improved it in other respects. Besides fencing. he has installed several hundred rods of tile, and has enlarged the barns. All of the crops raised on the Gaynard farm are fed to the stock. Mr. Gay- nard has three fields of twenty-seven acres each.
On November 28, 1896. Thomas C. Gaynard was married to Sarah Francis Golden. of Clark county, the daughter of Hugh and Mary ( Ward) Golden. Mrs. Gaynard was born in Madison county and has borne one child, John A., who is ten years old. Hle was born on July 30, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Gaymard have also reared two orphan children of Mrs. Gaynard's sister, Edward and Agnes Mooney. The former is now the bookkeeper in the Dwyer Brothers' hardware store. of London. Agnes is still a mem- ber of the Gaynard family, and has taught school for three years. After attending the summer school at Wittenberg, she became a teacher in Madison county.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Gaynard are members of St. Patrick's Catholic church. of which church he has served as warden the past nine years. Mr. Gaynard is an ardent Democrat. and is at present serving as secretary of the Democratic central com- mittee. He has never sought office. however, with the exception of minor educational offices in his own township.
LEWIS J. HUNTER.
To make a success of agriculture, it is necessary to be something more than a hard worker. A farmer might labor from dawn to twilight every day in the year and yet fail to accomplish much. There must be sound judgment and discretion exercised at the same time as well as a knowledge of soils, grains, live stock and, in fact, general business. The man who accomplishes much as a farmer in these days should be accorded a place with men who succeed in other walks of life, for often it requires more ingenuity and courage to manage a farm successfully than anything else that claims the attention of men. Lewis J. Hunter, a most successful farmer of Paint township, Madison county. Ohio, has achieved success in life, partly because he has worked for it and partly because he has been a good manager and a shrewd business man. Mr. Hunter owns a tract of six hundred and fifty-six acres, all of which is in Paint township except nine acres which is located in Clark county.
Lewis J. Hunter was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, February 7, 1862. the son of Joseph and Dorcas (Deems) Hunter, the former of whom was born at Gettysburg. Pennsylvania, August 4, 1824. and the latter at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1825. They were married on January 28. 1847. and were prosperous farmers in Pennsyl- vania, in Pickaway county, Ohio, and in Madison county. Ohio. To them were born eight children, two of whom, Eliza, the firstborn, and Samuel A .. the twin brother of Anna, are deceased. Eliza was born on December 8, 1847, and died on May 30, 1901. Samuel
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A. died on July 1, 1905. The six living children are as follow : James W., born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 5, 1850, who is a resident of Plain City and a farmer by occupation ; Mary L., born in Tuscarawas county, May 29, 1852, is the wife of John Penn and lives in Pickaway county ; Rebecca J., born in Hocking county, Ohio, July 2, 1855, is the wife of Allen Kibler, of Waynesville, Warren county, Ohio; Anna M., born in Hocking county, November 9, 1857, is the wife of Baxter E. Tumblison, of South Charleston, Ohio; Lewis J. is the subject of this sketch; George D., born in Pickaway county, January 6, 1866, is a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Joseph and Dorcas (Deem) Hunter, the parents of these children, were farmers. After their marriage they immigrated from Guernsey county, Pennsylvania, after three or four years, to Pickaway county, Ohio. After farming in Pickaway county until 1877 they moved to Madison county and settled in Paint township. Later Joseph Hunter bought a small farm in Union township. He died here on August 10, 1887. His beloved wife died on November 2, 1892. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Lewis J. Hunter received his education in the country schools of Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio. He was reared on the farm.
On December 23, 1886, at the age of twenty-four, Lewis J. Hunter was married to Keturah Stroup, the daughter of Jesse and Lavina ( Woosley) Stroup, the former of whom was born on March 1. 1828, in Madison county, Ohio, and the latter was born on July 5, 1842, in Clark county. Mr. and Mrs. Stroup were married in Clark county on April 17, 1866, and have had six children, all of whom are living. Their children are as follow : Keturah, who was born on May 4, 1867, in Clark county, Ohio, is the wife of a Mr. Hunter; Mary, born in Clark county, August 4, 1868, married George Clemans, of that county; Rebecca, also born in Clark county, August 4, 1870, married Reeder Bennett, of Clark county ; Emma, born in Clark county, February 8, 1874, is the wife of James Lewis, of that county; Jesse B., born in Madison county, March 20. 1879; and Lula B., born in Madison county, January 4, 1884. Jesse Stroup was a farmer and stockman. After having farmed for many years in Clark county, he and his wife moved to Madison county in the spring of 1875 and settled in Paint town- ship. where he farmed in 1887, when he retired and moved back to Clark county, settling near Charleston. There he died on January 21, 1909. His wife died on April 8, 1915. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis J. Hunter have been born six children; only one of whom, Leroy S., the eldest, is deceased. He was born on December 11. 1887, and died on August 5, 1889. The five living children are Carl Edgar, a resident of Paint township, born on August 20, 1889, married Pearl Silver on August 27, 1910, and she died on February 20, 1914: Jessie Leota, born on March 28, 1895; Clarence, January 29, 1899; Hazel Louise, February 15, 1905; and Harold Lewis, October 16, 1907, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Hunter owns six hundred and fifty-six acres of land, practically all of which is located in Madison county. The land is all well improved and Mr. Hunter himself has made most of the improvements on the farm. On "Pleasant View Farm," which is located about four miles east of South Charleston, Mr. Hunter raises a very high grade of sheep, horses, cattle and hogs. He is essentially a stock farmer. Politically, Mr. Hunter votes the Republican ticket. In a public way, he has served as president of the township board for the past two years. Formerly, he was a member of the school board for eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter are members of the Grange, at South Charleston, and all of the members of the Hunter family are connected with the Meth- odist church. There is no family living in Madison county that more thoroughly deserves the respect and confidence of their neighbors than that of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis J. Hunter, of Paint township.
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DR. JOSEPH SPENCER MARTIN.
The Civil War period, in the history of this country, called to the front men and boys who sacrificed everything for the land of freedom. After that great war the survivors from the field of battle returned to peaceful scenes and became prominent factors in the upbuilding of this land, which had been devastated by the horrors of war. The children of these veteran soldiers have inherited the real mettle of their fathers and have become a credit to their country and immediate communities.
Joseph Spencer Martin was born on February 7, 1878, in Range township, Madison county, Ohio, and is the son of Joseph Spencer Martin, Sr., a soldier of the Civil War, who surrendered his college career to fight for his country. To Joseph Spencer Martin, Sr., and his wife, Isabelle ( Harrison) Martin, four children were born, namely. James F., Benjamin H., Joseph Spencer, Jr., and Mary I.
Joseph Spencer Martin, Sr., was born on November 22, 1839, in Range township, Madison county, Ohio, where, on obtaining mature years, he engaged in farming. In September, 1860, he entered Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, where he remained until June, 1862. He then enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at London, Ohio, in which service he continued until his discharge at the close of the war. After his return from the war he settled in Madison county, Ohio, and resumed farming. at one time being a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Delaine sheep. Prominent in politics. Mr. Martin was elected and served as county representative from 1889 to 1893, in which capacity he served the best interests of his constituents. His active life, spent on the field of battle and in the peaceful pursuits at home, was brought to a close in 1901, with his labors well done. Isabelle ( Harrison) Martin was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1847, and died at Mt. Sterling in 1911, at the age of sixty- four years. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Martha ( Reeves) Harrison. of Madison county.
The parents of Joseph Spencer Martin. Sr., were Jacob and Johanna ( Leonard) Martin, both natives of Virginia. Jacob Martin devoted his life to religious work, and as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the pioneer days, rode horseback for over seventy-five thousand miles, through Virginia. Ohio and Indiana. After long and faithful service he retired and lived at London, Ohio, until his death.
The paternal old farmstead was the boyhood home of Joseph Spencer Martiu. Jr., and he obtained his first schooling from the district schools, afterward receiving a liberal education at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, being a. student in that institution from September, 1897, until June, 1901. Before completing his course at that college. he was called away because of the death of his father. After assisting his mother at home he went to Kirksville, Missouri, and took up the study of osteopathy in the American School of Osteopathy, from which school he was graduated in June. 1904, at the age of twenty-six years. In his professional career, Doctor Martin was very proficient as well as successful. During the first year in his profession he prac- ticed at Mt. Sterling. Ohio, then removing to Xenia. Ohio, where he built up a large practice, remaining there for a period of ten years, nntil 1915. and has now returned to Mt. Sterling, Ohio, where he intends to remain but a short time, later locating on his farm. the home of his parents and grandparents, where he will superintend his agricultural interests.
On December 24. 1902. Dr. Joseph Spencer Martin was married to Jessie Maxey, who was born in 1881. in Stokes township. Madison county. Ohio, the daughter of Stephen and Anna (Gaskill) Maxey, both natives of Ohio. Her grandfather, John Maxey, was commissioner of Madison county when the first court house was con- structed, as was also Doctor Martin's grandfather, Benjamin Harrison. A somewhat
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remarkable coincidence occurred in the earlier history of the Martin and Maxey famil- ies, when, it is related, the grandfather of Jessie Maxey was converted at one of the meetings conducted by Rev. Jacob Martin.
Jessie Maxey attended the district and high schools at South Solon, Ohio, and later became a student at Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio. After receiving a thorough education, shie taught school in Range township, Madison county, and in Fayette county for a period of four years, until her marriage. To the union of Dr. Joseph Spencer Martin and Jessie (Maxey) Martin two children have been born, Joseph Spencer, born on March 21, 1906, and Marjorie Maxey, born on October 7, 1907.
True to his early training, Doctor Martin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party. Whatever the future may have in store, the present, at least, is secure for him and his happy family. He has been a faithful son; a kind and considerate husband and father; a comprehensive man in his professional and business occupations.
PEARL J. STODDARD.
Pearl J. Stoddard, farmer, Rosedale, Madison county, was born on January 16, 1870, in Pike township, Madison county, and is a son of Orlo and Eliza (Curl) Stod- dard. He was reared on a farm in Madison county, where he attended the public schools of Rosedale, Ohio. Mr. Stoddard has always given his best efforts to his agricultural interests, leaving nothing uncared for that materially concerned the general outcome of his business. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never sought political office. In religion, he is a member of the Union church at Rosedale, of which he is one of the trustees.
Orlo Stoddard, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1823, in Ver- mont, coming with his parents to Ohio in 1829, and settling in Champaign county. His wife, Eliza (Carl) Stoddard, was born in Champaign county. They were married in Ohio, and bought a farm, where they lived until 1869, when they sold the old place and came to Madison county, where they bought a farm north of Rosedale, where they lived until the death of Mr. Stoddard. They were the parents of twelve children- seven of whom are living, namely : Rose, Josephine, C. L., Edward M., Pearl J., Nell and Alta. Mrs. Stoddard, the mother of our subject, is living in 1915.
Pearl J. Stoddard was united in marriage, January 2, 1895, with Margaret Rose- berry, daughter of E. T. and Mary E. (Carter) Roseberry. She was born on Septen- ber 20, 1871, in Rosedale, Ohio.
E. T. Roseberry, the father of Mrs. Pearl J. Stoddard, was married to Mary E. Carter, daughter of Doctor Carter. His parents, Michael and Elizabeth Rosberry, came from Pennsylvania. E. T. and Mary E. (Carter) Roseberry were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living in 1915: Mrs. Effie Morgride, of Darby township; F. M., of Pike township; Mrs. May R. Stoddard, of Irwin, Ohio; Margaret; C. A .; Mrs. Neltie King, of Pike township; Joseph C .; John R., of Rosedale; and Bess R., wife of N. W. Harter, professor of mathematics at Thiel College, Pennsylvania. Mar- garet was educated in the public schools of Rosedale, Ohio. E. T. Roseberry was second lieutenant in Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
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