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 72
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XERXES FARRAR.
Each generation necessarily builds upon the foundation laid by preceding genera- tions. According to the firmness of the foundation, the superstructure will be substantial or not. The future, of course, must be the judge of what character of foundation has been laid for the social, moral, civic, commercial and financial edifice being erected by the citizens of Madison county. However, from what the present historian notes of the high character, the determination of purpose and the exalted standards of conduct main- tained by the leaders of thought and action in this part of the state, in their work of carrying on the labors of those who wrought so wisely and securely in the past, it hardly may be doubted that the superstructure of the coming civilization of this region will be all that the preseut generation may hope for those who shall come after. It is partly the purpose of this volume to preserve for the future some account of the lives and the labors of those who now are doing so well their part in bearing aloft the torch of civilization in this region, and it therefore is fitting and proper that brief biographies be here presented of those who are leaders in this noble work. As such a purpose would be but incompletely carried out without the introduction of the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this modest sketch, it is a pleasure for the biographer here to present for the consideration of the future historian a brief resume of the life history of Xerxes Farrar, cashier and practical head of the Central National Bank, of London, this county.
Xerxes Farrar, son of John and Sarah ( Holway) Farrar, is a native of Madison county. as was his father before him, the Farrars for several generations having been prominently identified with the best interests of this county, in the affairs of which they have ever taken a conspicuous and prominent part: the infinence of this family having been exerted for good almost since the days of the beginning of the social order hereabout.
John Farrar was born on the old Farrar homestead on the Mt. Sterling pike, seven miles south of London, in Madison county. Ohio, and in his day was one of Madison county's most useful citizens. He was the leading figure in the organization of the Central National Bank, and was connected with it as president until his death in 1878. Ile was a stockman and farmer of prominence in his day and lived in London and in this county all his life.
John Farrar was united in marriage to Sarah Holway, a native of England, who came to this country with her parents when she was about eighteen years of age, and to this union eight children were born, six of whom are living, as follow: Josephine Hortense, wife of Fred Webster. now deceased, who was a well-known attorney of Oberlin, this state: Kate. wife of II. C. Wilson, of this county; Dr. William Farrar, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Dr. Kilby Farrar, veterinary surgeon, of London, this county : Dr. H. D. Farrar, of Columbus, Ohio, and Xerxes, the immediate subject of this biographical review.
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Xerxes Farrar has been identified with the Central National Bank of London for more than a quarter of a century. His father and his uncle, William Farrar, having been leaders among the organizers of this sound old financial institution, Xerxes, when a young man, became associated with the interests of the bank and has continued in active connection with the same ever since that time, for years having occupied the important position of cashier, a position which, in this case, carries with it practically the duties of general manager, giving Mr. Farrar a very high station in financial circles in this section of the state. Mr. Farrar is a man of much strength of character, of great mental and physical vigor, and is generally recognized as one of the dominant forces in the community in which for so long he has worked unceasingly for the common good. Loyal and devoted to his friends, he has an extraordinary personal following and is held in the very highest regard by all who know him. In financial questions his voice carries great weight throughout this part of the state, bankers and merchants generally recognizing and admitting the soundness of his judgment and the accuracy of his analysis in matters affecting the financial situation hereabout.
On February 14, 1888, Xerxes Farrar was united in marriage to Jennie Hubbard, who was born in the city of Loudon, in this county, daughter of the late S. J. Hubbard, a prominent banker and influential citizen of London, and to this union two children have been born John Farrar, of Columbus, this state, and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Farrar take part in all good works in their community, their strong personal influence ever being cast in favor of all movements designed to elevate standards of living here- about. Mr. Farrar is a thirty-second degree Mason and is a member of Aladdin Temple, Ancient Arabic Order. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Columbus. No man in the county possesses in a higher degree the confidence and esteem of his business associates than does he and he is regarded as one of the dominant forces in the community.
LEE H. WILLIAMS.
On another page of this volume there is presented a very proper tribute to the memory of the late Dr. William D. Williams, who for years was one of the best-known men in Madison county and who, at the time of his death, was the oldest resident physician of London, the county seat. Though the good Doctor Williams long since has gone from the scenes which once knew him so well, his name, as well as the good memory he left in this county, survives, and in the third generation offers a very fit representative of this sturdy stock. Lee H. Williams, one of London's best-known and most influential citizens, the only son of the late Doctor Williams, has a son, William D .. who bears his worthy grandfather's name most worthily, cherishing it as a priceless legacy.
Lee II. Williams, only son of the late Dr. William D. and Delilah (Chrisman) Williams, the former of whom died on March 22, 1906. and the latter of whom died in September, 1902, was born in the city of London, Madison county, Ohio, on November 23, 1870, and has lived all his life in the city of his birth. L. H. Williams received his early education in the excellent public schools of London, and upon completing the course there prescribed was given a supplementary and finishing course in a private school in New York City, following which he returned home and shortly thereafter entered the service of the Central National Bank, of London, with which sound old financial institution he has been connected most of the time since he was twenty years of age, and of which he now is one ef the directors. In addition to his banking interests. Mr. Williams has extensive farming and other interests in London and Madi- son . county and gives his personal attention to the operation of his. fine farm south of London.
On. June 24, 1895, Lee II. Williams was united in marriage to Mary Watson,
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daughter of David Watson, of Paint township, this county, and to this union three children have been born, Constance, William D. and Robert C. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are persons of broad culture and fine taste, and their home is one of the pleasantest and most hospitable in London. They take a deep interest in all measures looking to the advancement of the community's best interests and enjoy the sincerest esteem of their very wide circle of friends. Mr. Williams is deeply concerned in the development of this section of the state along all proper lines, and very properly is regarded as one of the most substantial and inthential men in Madison county, being looked upon as one of the strongest personal factors in the community life hereabout.
JOHN R. TANNER.
John R. Tanner, one of the leading members of the London bar, has spent many years in the service of Madison county, during eight of which he was probate judge. Fortunate in having had the educational opportunities to prepare him for a life of more than usual service, as well as prominence, he early learned that "knowledge is power," and, therefore, allowed nothing to interfere with its acquisition. ITis later years, which have been conspicuous for achievement. both in legal practice and public life, have proved his early wisdom, and have rewarded him for the labor then expended in faith. The subject of this biography was born on a farm near Mt. Sterling, this county, the date of his birth being October 2, 1874.
The parents of Mr. Tanner were Courtney and Esther ( McDowell) Tanner, the former, a native of this county and the latter, of Pickaway county, Ohio. Courtney Tamer, who was a farmer, was born in 1835, and moved to Pickaway county about 1875. He served with distinction as county commissioner and later returned to his farm after having lived in Circleville during the time he was in official life. To these worthy people. were born three children, the subject of this sketch and two daughters who died in infancy. Their mother lived until the year 1879. Their father married again, having by his second wife, three children, Clarence B. Tanner, of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. Ella Loofburrow, of Columbus, and Mrs. Alwilda Strader, of Los Angeles, California. Courtney Tanner died on his farm on June 11, 1907.
John R. Tanner was reared on his father's farm: attending the district schools and prepared himself by ardnous study for his later collegiate training. which he acquired at the Ohio State University, from which institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1900. Admitted to the bar in December of the same year, he began the practice which later became one of the most extensive in the state. Previous to this, however, he had had four years' experiene in the banking business at the Citizens Bank, of which he was assistant cashier. and also at the Second National Bank of Circleville, in which he served in a clerical capacity. Beginning the practice of law at Mt. Sterling, he lived there until 1906. in which year he moved to London. the county seat, as he had been elected probate judge the previous year on the Repub- lican ticket. Ile was re-elected in 190S and his service as judge did not expire until February, 1913. Upon the expiration of his official tenure, he opened a law office in London and has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession ever since. Judge Tanner has never quite lost his love for the country and he still owns a large farm in Madison and Pickaway counties, the same being on the county line near Mt. Sterling.
On February 21, 1895. John R. Tanner was married to Alice Ingrim. of Mt. Sterling, daughter of John W. Ingrim, to which nion three children have been born, Esther Margaret, who is attending the Western College for Women at Oxford, Ohio, and two sons, John Robert and Charles C., both of whom are in the London public schools.
Judge Tanner is noted for his, patriotism. Ile served in the Ohio National Guard as first lieutenant of Company L, Fourteenth Regiment, from 1895 to 1898, inclusive.
حريره مميزة
Frem R. Janner
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
It is evident that Judge Tanner believes in the effectiveness of organization, for besides being a member of the Presbyterian church and a member of the Republican party, he is a member of the Masonic. the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows lodges, having attained to the shrine in the Masonic order, by way of the commandery.
To the student of human life, membership in the above organizations alone would attest the mental caliber and sterling character of such a man as the biographer here has attempted to portray. Although successful in material affairs, this distinguished gentleman has not limited his time nor his intention to the acquisition of wealth. He saw life whole and he saw life well, and with the vision of the mountain top, descended into the plain to carry out in daily life the revelation. It is a significant fact that at the time of his election to the bench Judge Tanner was the youngest man ever elected to the position of probate judge in the state of Ohio.
MAJOR JAMES M. DUNGAN.
Among his friends who have investigated the matter it is maintained that Major Dungan, of London, county seat of Madison county, is the oldest native-born son of that city now living there; at least this claim on the part of the major's old friends has not been conclusively disputed in any quarter. Not only does Major Dungan modestly bear this local distinction, but he bears the far. more prideful distinction of having been the first young man in London to enroll his name in the service of the Union upon President Lincoln's first call for troops on that amazing day in April, 1861, when the people of this country awoke to the stern fact that the nation actually was facing a state of war. It is not too much to say that no man in Madison county has a wider acquaintance than Major James M. Dungan or is held in higher esteem by the com- munity at large. With the exception of ten years, when he was engaged in business at Lima, this state, Major Dungan has spent his entire life in this county and in all that time has been so scrupulously observant of the finer amenities of social and com- mercial intercourse, that he has endeared himself to the community as few men here have ever done; enjoying in the genial sunset time of his life the highest confidence and the utmost respect of his very wide circle of friends, who delight in applying to him that choicest of human titles. "a perfect gentleman." Now living in his seventy- fifth year, the son of a native son of Madison county, Major Dungan has witnessed the development of his home county from pioneer conditions to its present high state of social, moral and material progress. and possesses a fund of reminiscences of the earlier days hereabout that makes him a most entertaining and engaging companion in an hour of ease and leisure.
James M. Dungan was born in London. this county, on June 13. 1841. son of John and Susan (Blue) Dungan, the former of whom was born in this county ou August 6, 1814, and the latter, near Chillicothe, Ohio, on February 8. 1818. John Dungan. son of one of the earliest settlers of Madison county, for many years was one of the leading merchants of London being engaged in the hardware business. He and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faitl. There were ten of these children, four of whom are still living, namely : James M .. the immediate subject of this sketch; Martin W .. of London. this county; Mrs. Bettie D. Davis, who also lives in London, and Mrs. Elizabeth Bebee, of Detroit, Michigan.
As a boy. James M. Dungan depended upon his own resources for a living from the fime he was twelve years of age, working at the printing and tinner trades, but at the age of seventeen, recognizing the need of further education, entered the old academy and was a close student up to the time of the breaking out of the Civil War. On that memorable morning, April 15, 1861, when the news was flashed over the country
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that President Lincoln had issued a call for seventy-five thousand volunteer soldiers to aid in overthrowing the confederacy of seceding Southern states, James M. Dungan and a schoolmate, William F'ickey, unfurled the flag on the old academy building and then young Dungan straightway enrolled himself as a volunteer in defense of the cause of the Union, being thus the first young man in London so to declare himself. It was nine o'clock in the morning when James M. Dungan signed the roll of recruits and at noon of that day, while the family were sitting at dinner, his father objected strenuously to his going to war, basing this objection upon the lad's age, he then lacking three months of being twenty years of age; this, at that stage of the war, being regarded as entirely too young for such service. The youthful recruit thought differently, however, and strongly expressed his determination to go, "skipping out" that afternoon for Springfield, this state. On his arrival there he found that the two companies being recruited in that city had been filled. Undaunted, however, by this failure to find a place under arms in his nation's service, he boarded the first train leaving for Columbus and succeeded in that city in getting a place in the rauks of an old military organization, known as the "Columbus Videttes," under Capt. Henry B. Thrall. This company was fully organized and was ordered East at once, leaving Columbus on the afternoon of April 18, reporting to Suffolk Park, Philadelphia, where for several weeks it was drilled with the Second Reginfent. Ohio Volunteer Infantry. From Suffolk Park this regiment was ordered to Washington City, theuce to eastern Virginia, where. at Camp Upton, it was placed in the brigade of Gen. Robert Schenck, of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Dungan served in this regiment until after the first battle of Bull Run, when he was mustered out, his teri of service having expired. He at once returned to London and, in connection with Capt. James Watson, recruited Company D, Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, going out as a lieutenant in this company. After eighteen months of service in this command, Lieutenant Dungan resigned, on account of a falling out with the colonel commanding, but straightway returned to the service, for the third time, as a sergeant in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty- fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which regiment he saw much active service until it was mustered out in 1864.
Upon returning from the service, Mr. Dungan was given a partnership in the hardware business of his father, John Dungan, and continued in this business in London until January, 1880, at which time he moved to Lima, this state, where for ten years he was engaged in the same form of mercantile business. His health failing, on account of overwork and rheumatic affliction, he sold his store in 1890 and for several years sought relief from his affliction by spending the winters in the South. South- west and in California. Returning to London about ten years ago, Mr. Dungan entered the insurance business. locally representing several high-class companies, and has since then been thus engaged, also doing a considerable business as fiduciary in the matter of rentals and other property matters of a local character.
On January 8, 1863, James M. Dungan was united in marriage at Catlettsburg, Kentucky, to Sarah C. Peteet, of that city, and to this union five children were born, Flora K., J. Frazier, LePaul. Jesse U. and James W. All these children save J. Frazier, who died at the age of three and one-half years, have been living at Oakland, California, for the past twelve or fifteen years. Mrs. Dungan passed away at Lima, Ohio, on March 9, 1886.
Though now in his seventy-fifth year. Major Dungan continues to take an active interest in local affairs and no man in London is more deeply concerned in the progress of the county seat than he. As a veteran of the Civil War he has taken a warm interest in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic in this state and for eight years has been quartermaster of Lyon Post No. 121, of London. For several years
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he has been secretary of the Kirkwood Cemetery Association. Major Dungan is held in the highest respect throughout this whole section of the state and commands the full confidence of all who know him.
CHARLES B. ANDERSON.
How dependent a community is upon its internal commerce! How helpless we should be without the wonderful medium of exchange which has been evolved by man out of the wonderful experiences of the ages for the convenient merging of the interdependent relations of supply and demand ! A local community is well judged by the condition of its commercial establishments and it may properly be taken for granted that all is well with that town whose business houses are well ordered, well equipped and well managed, conducted with a view to the best and most helpful accom- modation of the patrons of the same. The merchants of a city well may be con- sidered its ablest conservators; for upon them so much depends in the way of keeping the "tone" of the city up to its highest pitch. The city of London, county seat of Madison county, is fortunate, indeed. in the possession of an unusually high grade of local merchants, all of whom ever have the best interests of the city at heart. Among these typically representative citizens few are better known or more deservedly popular than the amiable gentleman with whom this biographical sketch is to treat more directly in the succeeding paragraphs, a sketch so well meriting a place in this his- torical work that the biographer takes pleasure in here presenting it for the considera- tion of the readers of this volume.
Charles B. Anderson, senior member of the well-known firm of Anderson & Hume, hardware merchants, of London, this county, was born at Irontown, Ohio, on October 9, 1865, son of Thomas Stewart and Candice ( Hysell) Anderson, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter a native of this state. Thomas Stewart Anderson was a tinner and lived at Pomeroy, this state. for more than thirty years, but in 1881 moved to this county, locating at London, where his death occurred in 1893, he then being fifty-one years of age. His widow is still living in London. T. S. Anderson and his wife were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters ,Mrs. Walter J. Dwyer and Mrs. Boyd Byers. both living at Columbus. Ohio.
When his parents moved to London, Charles B. Anderson was twelve years of age, consequently his education was completed in the schools of London. For seventeen years he was employed in the store of Jones & Thomas, which firm later was changed to Thomas & Cryder. In the year 1900 Mr. Anderson engaged in business for himself, succeeding C. W. Farrar, in the hardware business, under the firm name of Anderson & Speasmaker, the firm later changing its name to Anderson & Ganschow and still later to Anderson & Hume, its present style, a mutually agreeable and very successful partnership. Anderson & Hume being one of the best-known firms engaged in the hard- ware business in this section of the state, the store being one of the largest of its kind in central Ohio.
In May, 1899, Charles B. Anderson was united in marriage to Anna Biedenbach. of London, to which union one child has been born, a son. Stewart.
Mr. Anderson is a member of the London lodge of the Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen. For years he has been one of the most energetic leaders in the commercial life of the county seat and few names in this county are better known than his. With a reputation for fair dealing, enterprise and activity in the business life of his home city, Mr. Anderson has the confidence and respect of his business associates and is held in the highest esteem by all hereabont.
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JOHN GRAHAM DUN.
Eight miles north of London, in this county, lies the Dun home, known as "Dun Glen" and one of the fine country estates of Ohio. It is situated in a fertile valley and the old house, which is rather an imposing mansion, stands in a handsome grove, a delightful place, reminding one of the old homes which might have been seen a generation ago in Kentucky, The present proprietor of "Dun Glen" is Miss Gertrude Dun, who while seemingly living somewhat secluded is generally found where the people of Madison county are accustomed socially to foregather. She is fond of travel and thoroughly enjoys the bounties which nature affords, being devoted to the charms of rural life. It was Miss Dun's father, the late John Graham Dun, who established "Dun Glen" in Deer Creek township.
John Graham Dun was born on September 21, 1814, at Chillicothe, Ohio, and died at his home in Madison county on November 29, 1895. He was the son of Walter and Ann Mary (Angus) Dun, the former of whom, born in Scotland, came to America at the age of nineteen, settling at Petersburg, Virginia, where his uncle was employed by the government as a surveyor. This uncle set his nephew to work surveying land and he presently came to Ohio in the pursuit of his profession. After locating lands iu Madison county. Walter Dun married An Mary Angus, of Petersburg, Virginia, and returned to Chillicothe. Later he settled on his uncle's estate in Virginia. He also owned a large farm in Kentucky, situated near the beautiful city of Lexington, and died in Kentucky, at the age of fifty-three. Besides his son. John Graham, there were three other sons, James, Walter Angus and Robert George, and a daughter, Mrs. Thurman. all of whom settled in Ohio. Walter Dun had obtained a large tract of land. comprising nine thousand acres, and gave each of his sons a part of this land, with additional lands he later sold them. Each of the sons reared families in Madison county, except Walter A. and all remained here except Robert, who lived for several years in the Sonth. Most of this land has since passed into other hands. All of the Dun brothers were large farmers in this county, Robert and John being pioneer breeders of Shorthorn cattle, while Walter was a well-known horseman in his day. After assisting his father on the farm until he was twenty-three years old. John Graham Dun, at his father's death, was associated with his brother, James, in settling np the estate. The Kentucky property was sold and the mother spent the later years of her life in Chillicothe. John Graham Dun drove his first cattle over the mountains from the Old Dominion state when he was but nineteen years old. In his farming opera- tions, Mr. Dun employed a large number of men and. from year to year, gradually improved his vast estate, making out of it one of the most desirable tracts in this section of Ohio. Hle lived on the farm until his death at the age of eighty-one years, on November 29, 1895.
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