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 70
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On September 21, 1852, Hiram White Richmond was married to Emeline Wilson, the only survivor of the nineteen children born to Valentine and Nancy ( Roberts) Wilson. Mrs. Richmond was born in the old brick house on the bank of Deer creek, Somerford township, September 12, 1831, and received, as her share of the estate of her father, some three hundred acres in Somerford township, about three miles below the old home. Soon after her father's death, she began to add to this tract of land as a nucleus until it has become a tract of six hundred acres, the present Rich- mond farm in Somerford township. She inherited from her mother a tract of land o which she has added from time to time until this farm now includes one hundred and sixty acres, located on the national pike, west of Lafayette. Mrs. Richmond has managed her own farm, not only the farm in Somerford township, but the London home place, as well as the place on the national pike, west of Lafayette. She keeps a great deal of stock, and employs tenants to do the work on the farm. Mrs. Richmond has many thoroughbred horses on the farm, and had, at the end of the current season, (1915), about one hundred head of cattle of her own raising, also a large number of horses.
To Hiram W. and Emeline ( Wilson) Richmond, were born four children, namely : Alice, who married Edward Armstrong, of London, this county, and who died on August 17, 1913, at the age of fifty-eight; Charles S., of Columbus, who owns the Union township farm and is an extensive horse dealer, and R. E. and Emma, who live at home with their mother. Miss Emma Richmond has bought her Uncle William's farm, making in all about six hundred and fifty acres, and rents for cash,
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but keeps up the improvements on the farm. She also owns the Paint township farm of three hundred acres, which her sister formerly owned.
Mrs. Richmond was president of the ladies' aid society of the Methodist Episcopal church for twenty-five years, and was one of the leading members of the missionary society. She has also been prominent in the Woman's Literary Club and in the Franchise Club of London. Miss Emma Richmond has been an active worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and is ex-president of the county organization. She is also active in literary clubs. Mrs. Alice Armstrong was the president of the London Library Association at the time of her death, and had held that position for several years. She was also active in all the woman's clubs of London, especially so in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Franchise Club. Mrs. Alice Armstrong's home was built for her by her father near his own home. The present Richmond home has been remodeled by Mrs. Richmond. Many entertainments have been held in this old house, which for years has been the social center among the gentler folk of the city. Mr. Richmond was a life-long Democrat, but never aspired for town or county office. Ile was a great "home man" and possessed of a very sociable disposition ; a man well known and well liked throughout this section of the state and a great entertainer, his home being noted far and wide for the charm- ing character of its hospitality.
PROF. JAMES A. RUNYAN.
The people of Madison county have good reason for indulging a proper degree of pride in connection with the excellent school system which obtains in this county. In few, if any, counties in the state are the schools conducted on a higher plane, or is the standard of education maintained at a higher point than in Madison county. With an earnest and public-spirited board of education, a loyal and devoted corps of teachers and a singularly painstaking and capable county superintendent of schools, there is little reason why the schools should not be conducted on a high plane; and with these several potent forces all operating in harmony, each with an eye single to the common good, there is little reason why the present high standard of the schools should not be advanced to an even higher degree of efficiency. To the accomplishment of this very desirable end. Prof. James A. Runyan. the present efficient superintendent of schools in Madison county, is definitely pledged, and it is gratifying to note that all the virile forces of his high office are being exerted in that direction, constantly and consistently advancing in every way the cause of education in this county. Professor Runyan is an educator of many years practical experience, with a wide and comprehensive knowledge of the needs of the public schools, and since he has been occupying his present position as superintendent of schools has revealed administrative abilities of a very high order. He is a firm believer in the modern centralization system of the rural schools and has committed himself to a general campaign of improvement that is certain to be productive of the most gratifying and far-reaching results.
James A. Runyan was born in the pleasant town of. Catawba. Clark county, Ohio. on December 19, 1866. son of J. M. and Mary (McClenen) Runyan, the former a native of the same county and the latter of Harper's Ferry. Virginia: both of whom are still living at Catawba, where. in March, 1916, they will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. J. M. Runyan is a large landholder in Clark county, being the owner of several fine farms there, and is living in comfortable retirement in his pleasant home in Catawba, he and his good wife enjoying in the evening of their lives the ample rewards of their earnest endeavors during the more active period of their lives. They are the parents of six children, all of whom live in Clark county save the subject of this sketch.
Eng by E.G. Withans & Bra. N.Y.
alice R. armstrong.
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named, in the order of their birth, as follow: James A., Clarence, Edward, Percy, Charles and Maude.
James A. Runyan received his elementary education in the public schools of Catawba, Ohio, and after finishing the high school course there began teaching school and later entered the Ohio Northern College at Ada, from which excellent institution he was graduated in 1891, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Not content with these scholastic honors, Professor Runyan later entered Antioch College, from which he was graduated in 1906, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and later received from the Ohio State University his Master degree. Professor Runyan's teaching career began in 1885, and for five years he taught in the district schools of Clark county at points not too remote from his home in Catawba. He early developed abilities of a high order in the teaching profession and presently was called on to accept larger responsibilities, and for twenty years his services were in demand as superintendent of city schools in Ohio, these several superintendencies comprising the following periods of service: At Milford Center, five years; Fairfield, six years; Lawrenceville, three years, and Plain City, six years. In 1914 the Madison county board of education called Professor Runyan to the office of superintendent of the schools of this county, and since that time he has been devoting his best abilities to the faithful performance of the duties thus involved. Professor Runyan has held a state high-school certificate for many years, and for two terms served as a member of the county board of examiners and is at present ex-officio clerk of the Madison county board of education.
On May 30, 1892, Prof. James A. Runyan was united in marriage to Ola Sholty, of Putnam county, Ohio, and to this union two children have been born, daughters, Helen, a student at Ohio Wesleyan College, and Hazel, a student in the high school at London, this county. Professor and Mrs. Runyan are earnest members of the Presbyterian church at London, the professor being a member of the session of that congregation, and both are warmly devoted to all good works in London and throughout the county, being held in the very highest esteem by all. Professor Runyan is a Republican, and is a member of the popular order of the Knights of Pythias. He has a wide acquaintance among educators throughout the state and is very properly regarded as one of the leaders in his honored and useful profession, possessing the utmost confidence of all who know him.
HERSCHEL L. MCCAFFERTY.
A record of sixteen years of faithful service in one public office in a great com- monwealth such as that embraced in Madison county certainly may be accepted as a proper warrant of fitness for the performance of the duties devolving upon the incum- bent of such office. It is such a period of service as this that has given Herschel L. McCafferty, county surveyor of Madison county, not only the gratifying record above mentioned, and to which his friends refer with so much pride, but a prestige in county affairs second to none. Mr. Herschel McCafferty was literally "born to the business," his father having been a civil engineer of wide attainments. and his service in behalf of Madison county has been such that his friends may be very readily pardoned for expressing pride in his record. It is but proper, therefore, that there should be pre- sented in this volume of history relating to the county in whose behalf he has performed such faithful service, a brief and modest resume of the life record of County Surveyor McCafferty.
Herschel L. McCafferty was born at Mt. Sterling, Madison county, Ohio, on January 15, 1871, son of Jason L. and Mary A. (Proctor) McCafferty, the former a native of Pickaway county, this state, and the latter, of Grant county, Kentucky. Jason L. McCafferty, a civil engineer and educator of parts, came to this county in 1869 and
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located at Mt. Sterling, where he afterward became superintendent of schools of that pleasant village. Both he and his wife are still living, enjoying in the "sunset tinie" of their lives the fullest confidence and respect of their hosts of friends, having done very well their parts in the community life of that fine neighborhood. To Jason 1. and Mary A. McCafferty three children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the only survivor, his sister, Lida, who was the wife of Enoch Morris, and his brother, John H., both being deceased.
Reared in an atmosphere of culture and refinement, amid ideal home conditions for the cultivation of his natural talents, Herschel L. McCafferty evinced unusual apti- tude for his studies and upon completing the course in the excellent public schools of Mt. Sterling, supplemented by his careful home training, he began teaching school and was thus engaged for three years, this form of useful publice service being performed in the schools of Pickaway connty and of Madison county, one year in the former and two years in the latter. In the year 1892 Mr. McCafferty was elected county surveyor of Madison county, he having been well grounded in the technical details of civil engi- neering, as applicable to the public service, by his capable and painstaking father, and was re-elected, serving continuously in this important public capacity from January 2, 1893, until September, 1899, a period of nearly seven years. In 1904 he again was elected 10 take charge of this important branch of the public service, and entered into his old office in September. 1905. his four terms of office concluding in September, 1915. Faithful to the exacting duties of his office, Mr. McCafferty proved a most valuable public servant, his services ever having been rendered with an eye single to the good of the common- wealth, with the result that he has gained over and over the approbation of the people of this county, who have every confidence in his ability and the exactness of his surveys.
On May 16, 1899, Herschel L. McCafferty was united in marriage to Maud Malin, of Marysville, Ohio, daughter of W. C. Malin, a prominent resident of that . place. Mr. and Mrs. McCafferty occupy a prominent position in the social life of London, the county seat. and are extremely popular among their friends. They are devoted to the general interests of the community, doing much, in their way, to advance the same in all proper directions, and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them.
Mr. McCafferty is a Republican and for years has held a high place in the councils of that party in this county, his political associates having much confidence in his judg- ment and sagacity. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at London, of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and of the Loyal Order of Moose, in all of which organiza- tions he takes a warm interest. Public spirited and energetic, he is much interested in the general affairs of the county and is held in high regard in business circles hereabout, being regarded as one of the mainstays of the local commonwealth.
CHARLES CHESELDINE.
In his day and generation there were few men who exerted a wider or more wholesome influence in the commercial. financial and moral life of Madison county and of London, the county seat, than did the late Charles Cheseldine, for years one of London's leading merchants, and at the time of his death the president of the Madison National Bank, of London. Mr. Cheseldine was a good, clean man; an enterprising and progressive merchant and a public-spirited citizen, who ever was found favoring such movements and measures as would tend to benefit mankind and his home com- munity; helpful in all good works. His position in London as a merchant and as a banker gave him large prestige in commercial and financial circles in this part of the state, and he was very properly regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of the county, his business associates and the entire community reposing in him the utmost confidence. his long-tried integrity of character having commended him to
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Eng by E. G. Williams & Bro NY.
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all. It is but fitting, therefore, that a brief resume of the life of this good man be presented here, in this collection of the biographies of the prominent citizens of Madison county, a task which the biographer essays with pleasure.
Charles Cheseldine was a native of Clermont county, this state, born on April 10, 1863, who came to this county when a child with his father, Posey Cheseldine, who in 1873 established the well-known dry-goods establishment of that name in the city of London. Charles Cheseldine therefore was reared in London, receiving his education in the excellent public schools of that city. Upon completing his schooling in 1880, he immediately entered into the business with his father, later being made a partner in the firm, and after his father's death became sole proprietor, continuing the business with much success until the fall of 1907, when failing health compelled him to retire. His death occurred on Sunday, February 23, 1908, and was much mourned, for he was a good man, faithful and true in all the relations of life. Mr. Cheseldine was a farsighted and sagacious business man and was interested in several other enterprises besides his extensive dry-goods store, having been, at the time of his death, the president of the Madison National Bank, his influence in the affairs of that sound old financial institution undoubtedly having lent much to the solidity which has made it such a power in financial circles hereabout. In the social, civic and religious life of the community, Charles Cheseldine was equally active and earnest and in his position on the London city school board was able to render a service to his home city which shall not soon be forgotten, for he was untiring in his efforts to advance the educational interests of the community, his influence ever being exerted in behalf of the right.
On September 11. 1890, Charles Cheseldine was united in marriage to Minnie Min- shall. daughter of the late Wyatt Minshall, one of London's most prominent citizens, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children were born, both sons, Raymond and Kenneth. Mr. Cheseldine was a member of the Methodist church, as is his widow, and was ever active in the various beneficences of that church, for years occupying the useful position of superin- tendent of the Sunday school. a labor of love to which he devoted himself unselfishly and ungrudgingly. Charles Cheseldine left many pleasant memories in and about London and his name will long be cherished in the county in which for years he was so active and so prominent a citizen.
W. H. CHRISTOPHER, M. D.
In the golden sayings of Epictetus there is no nobler utterance than this: "What wouldst thou be found doing when overtaken by Death? If I might chose, I would be found doing some deed of true humanity, of wide import. beneficent and noble. But if I may not be found engaged in anght so lofty, let me hope at least for this-what none may hinder, what is surely in my power-that I may be found raising up in myself, that which had fallen; learning to deal more wisely with the things of sense; working out my own tranquility, and thus rendering that which is due in every relation of life. * $ If death surprise me thus employed, it is enough if I can stretch forth my hands to God and say, 'The faculties which I received at Thy hands for apprehending. this Thine administration, I have not neglected. As far as in me lay, I have done Thee no dishonor. Behold how I have used the senses, the primary conceptions which Thou gavest me. Have I ever laid anything to Thy charge? Have I ever murmured at aught that came to pass, or wished it otherwise? Have I in anything transgressed the rela- tions of life? For that Thou didst beget me, I thank Thee for that Thou hast given : for the time during which I have used the things that were Thine, it suffices me. Take
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them back and place them wherever Thou wilt ! They were all Thine, and Thou gavest them me.'-If a man depart thus minded, is it not enough? What life is fairer or more noble, what end happier than his?"
The above thoughts are recalled by a review of the life of the late Dr. William Howard Christopher, whose passing on April 2, 1915, at his home in London, this county, proved a shock to the entire community, which had been confidently and expectantly awaiting his return to the activities which had made him a beloved figure in London for twenty years. In the language of Epictetus, above quoted. Doctor Christopher, indeed, ever was found "doing some deed of true humanity, of wide import, beneficent and noble." IIe, truly, had rendered that which is due in every relation of life and had dealt wisely with the things of sense, never neglectful of his God-given faculties; and thus had worked out his own tranquility, as far as in him lay, doing his Maker no dishonor.
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Since coming to Madison county, in 1895. Doctor Christopher had been identified with every measure calculated to uplift the moral status of the community or to further its betterment along all lines of public improvement. The splendid new public school buildings at London are monuments to his particular care, as on them he had expended the thoughtful energies of the best years of his life. In all his comings in and goings ont Doctor Christopher ever had been mindful of the best interests of the people. Wise in the administration of his public duties, skillful in the practice of his noble profession. devoted to his church and social obligations. this kindly physician and earnest public servant had done his part well and had ever commanded the respect and admiration of the entire community. The various activities of his busy and useful career had brought him into close touch with life on its many sides. His greatest passion was his profession and his untiring zeal for better things is now all the better appreciated because it is missed. Ilis cheery smile, his hearty handshake and his willingness to do for others at a cost of much to himself endeared him to all who came in contact with him, and though his death left in the life of the community a place that cannot easily be filled. his life had made the world the better for having been touched by it.
William Howard Christopher was born on a farm in Allen county on November 9. 1854, and his early life was spent on the farm, his elementary education being received in the township schools in the neighborhood of his home. He was an ambitious student and improved his opportunities so well that he presently secured a license to teach school, and for several years was thus engaged in Allen county. He early conceived the desire to become a physician, and to this end entered Michigan University at Ann Arbor and in 1875 was graduated from that university. He then resumed teaching for a time and later entered Starling Medical College. at Columbus, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated with high honors; finishing his studies in medical science with a post-graduate course at New York Polyclinic, in 1884. Upon completing his collegiate work. Doctor Christopher began the practice of medicine at Waynesville, Ohio, later moving to Van Wert, where he remained for a number of years, during which time he became associated with many public enterprises and proved his worth as a public-spirited citizen. During his residence in Van Wert an epidemic of smallpox devastated the city. Hundreds died and many fled from the city. Through it all, how- ever, Doctor Christopher remained the calm, masterful man and physician that Madison county people later came to know and to love.
In 1895 Doctor Christopher came to this county, locating in the county seat, where in a very short time his high worth as a man and as a physician was recognized. Ilis interest in municipal matters led to many honors being conferred upon him by the people of London. He was elected to the school board in 1899. and for fifteen years served faithfully and unselfishly on that important board. He was an active member
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of the Madison County Medical Association, a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the official board of the Methodist church, an enthusiastic member of the Twentieth Century Bible Class, a former president of the London Club, a member of the Ohio State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association and a delegate to the auxiliary committee of the State Medical Society on public policy and legislation.
In 1879, on the day of his graduation from Starling Medical College, Dr. W. H. Christopher was united in marriage to Nancy Evelyn Patrick, of Bellefontaine, this state, who, with the only child of this union, Dr. H. V. Christopher, survives. Mrs. Asa Shadley. of Ada, Ohio, and Miss Jennie Christopher, of London. are sisters of the deceased.
ELISHA S. GORDIN.
Elisha S. Gordin's business activities have been marked by steady progress, due to his splendid executive ability. which, in building up his own fortune, has also increased the commercial prestige of the town in which he has lived and has been favorably known for many years. Mr. Gordin is an alert and capable business man, a conscientious public official, and a public-spirited citizen. As former sheriff, county treasurer, and member of the school board, as well as president of the People's Commercial and Savings Bank, of London, this county, Mr. Gordin has had a share in the making of local history for a number of years.
Born in Bethel township. Clark county, Ohio, on November 30. 1853. Elisha S. Gordin is a native of the state in which his father, Frederick Gordin, also was born. His mother, who, before her marriage, was Hulda Barrett, was born in New Jersey and lived there until her sixth year. Frederick Gordin was a farmer, and in 1859 removed from his early home to Stokes township, this county, where he spent the remainder of his life, becoming eminently successful from the financial viewpoint. He was a Republi- can in politics, and a devout member of the Baptist church. He died on November 6, 1897. His wife had passed away on December 31, of the preceding year. Of the eight children born to Frederick and Hulda (Barrett) Gordin, only four are now living, namely : R. B. Gordin, of Springfield, Ohio; Mrs. Malissa Olin, of Muncie, Indiana ; Mrs. Amanda Brock, of Stokes township, and Elisha S. Gordin, the subject of the present biography.
E. S. Gordin was born on a farm and was educated in the local common schools. having had the privilege also of one year of schooling in Clark county before his parents moved to Madison county. At first, following the line of least resistance, he joined his father in the farming and live stock business, and then engaged in business for himself until 189S. The preceding year, having interested himself in local politics, he was elected sheriff of Madison county and entered upon that office in 1898, serving for two terms, or four years. At the expiration of his official term, he went to England, in quest of a prisoner, and while abroad spent five days in Paris. On his return he formed a business partnership with M. L. Bunham, in the livery and horse business. which partnership continued six years. But Mr. Gordin could not be content with merely a commercial life, and again he was elected to public office, becoming county treasurer of Madison county in 1906. He held that office for five years-two elective terms and one year appointive, on account of a change of the law. His next undertak- ing was in the mercantile and grain business at London, in which business he engaged in 1910 as a partner of V. E. Jordan, which partnership still continues. That same year witnessed the completion of the organization of the People's Commercial and Savings Bank, of London, and Mr. Gordin was made the first president of the bank. a position he has retained up to the present time.
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