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 90
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Being bereft of his mother when he was thirteen years of age. J. R. Atchison was deprived of that parental care so dear to the hearts of children. His elementary edu- cation, however, was not neglected and he received excellent schooling in the public schools of London and in the old Collegiate Institute, at Battleground, Indiana. In 1868 he was employed as a clerk in the drug store of his cousin. Auburn Smith, at London, and in 1872 he and his cousin started another drug store in the same town, under the firm name of J. R. Atchison & Company. a partnership which continued for about two years, at the expiration of which time Mr. Atchison sold his interest and, on account of failing health, retired from the store and for five years was successfully employed as a traveling salesman. He then returned to the drug business in London and in 1883 bought his present store, which at that time was located next door to its present advantageous location.
On April 2. 1873, J. R. Atchison was nnited in marriage to Myra B. Wilson, who was born in Pennsylvania. and to this union three children have been born. Cora, Eloise and Eva (Mrs. D. F. Cofrode), of London, this county.
Mr. Atchison is a Republican and takes a prominent part in the political affairs of the city and county. He is a member of the state board of election supervisors and a member of the board of park commissioners of his home town. For many years he
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was a member of the London city school board and has served several terms as men- ber of the city council, having been a member of that body at the time the sanitary sewer system was constructed. He also was trustee of Union township for several years and now is a member of the board of county visitors, the body that inspects the county penal and charitable institutions. He is a Knight Templar of the Masonic fraternity, and is also a member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Atchison's career of intelligent application to business has brought its proper reward and he is regarded as one of the most substantial business men in his home city. In social affairs, Mr. Atchison for years has taken a close personal interest, always having been concerned in the general betterment of the community, and is one of the founders of the influential Loudon Club, a social club that is a credit to the town.
Energetic and enterprising, Mr. Atchison has done well his part in the life of the community in which he has lived all his life and has the confidence and esteem of everyone hereabout, he and his family being held in the very highest regard by all.
JONAS A. BAER.
Among the business men of West Jefferson, this county, few are better known than the gentleman whose name the reader notes above, Jonas A. Baer, who for the . past ten years has conducted a furniture store there, at the same time performing the ulti- mate service to mankind as funeral director. For years Mr. Baer was a successful farmer and upon retiring from the farm and locating in West Jefferson, entered upon the business life of the village with a degree of energy and enterprise which has made him one of the recognized factors in the community. A graduate and licensed embalm- er, he has brought to his important and vital duties as undertaker the loftiest regard for the functions of this last necessary office to man and his sympathetic attention during the dreary hours of grief in which his ministrations are required in the homes . of the community in which his labors are performed has given him a high place in the cordial esteem of the people of that section.
Jonas A. Baer was born on a farm in Marion county, Ohio, on August 13, 1857, son of Herman and Rebecca (Bretz) Baer, both of whom now are deceased. Reared on the farm, he attended the local schools of his neighborhood, completing his educa- tion in the college at Ada, Ohio. He then entered seriously upon the life of a farmer, to which he had been reared, and for fifteen years was thus engaged, at first as a tenant farmer. later as a proprietor, he having purchased sixty acres of fine land in his home county. Selling this farm three years prior to the time of his locating at West Jefferson, Mr. Baer was for two years engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Morral, in Marion county, this state, doing business under the firm name of Baer & Bretz. at the end of which time the firm was dissolved and a year later, on February 28. 1906, Mr. Baer came to this county, locating at West Jefferson, where he bought the furniture and undertaking establishment. which he since has conducted with marked success. Up-to-date in his mercantile methods. Mr. Baer has done well in the furniture line, his store being one of the best-appointed establishments in the town, while the equipment for his undertaking business is modern and complete. He is a graduate and licensed embalmer and everything in connection with that depart- ment of his business is conducted in accordance with the latest hygienic requirements, his establishment in the Commercial Bank building being recognized as one of the best in a town of the class of West Jefferson in this part of the state.
In 1882, Jonas A. Baer was united in marriage to Bertha A. Grove, who was born in Perry county, but was reared in Wyandot county. to which section of the state her parents had moved when she was about five years of age. To this union one child has been born, a son, Ira C., who died at the age of nineteen years. shortly after having
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been graduated from the Marion Business College. Ira C. Baer was a youth of fine promise, a popular favorite in his circle, and his early demise was mourned by a wide circle of admiring friends. Mr. and Mrs. Baer later adopted Maple May Grove as their daughter and this young lady has but recently been graduated from the West Jeffer- son high school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baer were reared in the Baptist faith and they are deeply interested in the various good works of their community, being accounted among the leaders in such movements as are designed to improve conditions there- about.
J. A. Baer is a Democrat and ever since coming to Madison county has given close attention to the county's political affairs. He takes a lively interest in educational affairs and is now serving his second term as a member of the West Jefferson board of education. He is a member of the West Jefferson lodge of the Odd Fellows, of which he is the past noble grand and is a member of the Ohio grand lodge of that order. Both he and Mrs. Baer are members of the Daughters of Rebekah, the latter being past noble grand of the local lodge of that order. Mrs. Baer is an excellent business woman and for years has proved an invaluable assistant to her husband in his office. Mr. Baer is interested in the general welfare of the community and is active in business affairs. He is a stockholder in the Steel Vault Company, of Lon- don, this county, and enjoys the full confidence and regard of his business associates generally.
WILLIAM E. CHANDLER.
All honor is due to the man who achieves a reputation that will withstand the searchlight of criticism. The business methods of William E. Chandler, the gentleman whose biography is here presented, have always borne the earmarks of honest dealing, and his word is as good as his bond. His business experience. first in the firm of J. M. Beach & Company and later with F. Preston Jones, gave him a good general knowledge of business, which has earned for him a splendid business standing.
William E. Chandler, lumber dealer, Plain City. Ohio, was born on October 3, 1879. in Franklin county, Ohio, and is a son of William J. and Nancy J. ( Fogle) Chandler. He was educated at the public schools and on arriving at young manhood engaged in farming until twenty-four years of age. In 1906 he became connected with the firm of J. M. Beach & Company, the name of which was changed, in 1908. to that of F. Preston Jones Company, dealers in all kinds of building material. Mr. Chandler has always been a stanch Democrat.
William J. Chandler. father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the South. and served in the Confederate army as a private. After the end of the Civil War. he came to Ohio and settled in Franklin county, where he was married to Nancy J. Fogle, a native of that county. Mr. Chandler had learned the miller's trade in the South. but engaged in farming after coming north. and is the owner of over one hundred acres of valuable land in Madison county, all in a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Chandler still resides in Canaan township, where he first located. His religions membership is with the Baptist church. To William J. and Nancy ( Fogle) Chandler have been born three children: S. W. Chandler, who married Dora Reece, lives on a farm in Canaan township; F. J. Chandler married Jessie M. Irwin, and is following farming in the same township where his brother resides; and William E.
William E. Chandler was united in marriage on May 3, 1903. with Jennie Beach, daughter of J. M. and Amanda (Walker) Beach. She was born in January, 1880. in Brown township. Franklin county, Ohio. Her education was obtained in the public schools of the district, and she later attended the Plain City high school. Mr. and Mrs.
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Chandler are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Plain City, of which official board Mr. Chandler is a member.
Mr. Chandler has assisted in building up a remunerative lumber trade, and his reputation in the business world, as well as in private life, is of the highest character. He is quiet and massuming in manner and occupies the position of one of the hon- orable citizens of Plain City, Ohio.
W. D. CHENOWETH.
The history of Madison county cannot well be written without referring to the lite and service of W. D. Chenoweth and his distinguished family, who have made signal contributions to both the material and the social welfare of this county. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, as a member of the state Legislature, helped to make the laws for the state. The father of W. D. Chenoweth followed in the foot- steps of his worthy ancestor by also filling a place in the community life. The Cheno- weth family history dates back to about the year 1408, the name "Chenoweth" mean- ing "a new house." W. D. Chenoweth was a native of Oak Run township, Madison county, he being born there on November 5, 1859. His parents were Elijah and Susanna A. (Pringle) Chenoweth.
The family comes of Welsh stock, two brothers. Arthur and Richard, coming to America from Wales. W. D. Chenoweth is a descendant of the former. The grand- father. John F. Chenoweth. was born on September 15. 1793. in Mason county. Kentucky. and was a son of Elijah and Rachel (Foster) Chenoweth. the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Virginia. Elijah and Rachel ( Foster) Chenoweth were married in Virginia about the year 1790. They emigrated to Kentucky and settled in Mason county. About nine years later they came to Ross county, Ohio, and the follow- ing year made their home in Franklin county. on the Big Darby, where the wife died about the year 1820. Elijah Chenoweth died ten years later. Jomm F. Chenoweth was a child of six years when brought to Ohio, where he grew to manhood accustomed to the hardships of rongh pioneer life. He was married on March 21, 1811. to Margaret Ferguson, by Rev. Simon Cochran. They settled on his father's place where they lived until about 1820 when they moved to Madison county and purchased forty acres and later purchased one hundred and thirty-three acres of land.
John F. Chenoweth became one of the largest landowners of Madison connty, his landed interests amounting to four thousand acres. Not only becoming a wealthy man. he was placed by the people in many public offices of trust; he served in the Legis- lature from 1829 to 1830, inclusive, also as county commissioner for twelve years and as justice of the peace for the same length of time. In his boyhood days his school privileges were of the most meager kind. When he settled in Franklin county there were no schools there and he finished his education in a log school house out on Oppossum run. Jolm F. and Margaret ( Ferguson) Chenoweth were the parents of fourteen children. This worthy couple were not only pioneers in the seenlar affairs of the county but most truly pioneers of the church, both joining the Methodist Episcopal church when young. he in the year 1809. and she in 1812.
In 1811 John F. Chenoweth moved to Madison county and settled in Oak Run town- ship. on Deer creek. Here he bought forty acres of land, and this land and the addi- tions thereto have never gone out of the family. By the application of good business ability and industrions habits these pioneers added to their wordly store until they were the owners of four thousand acres: all practically in one locality.
Elijah Chenoweth was born on March 15, 1831, in Oak Run township. on the place now owned by the subject of this sketch. He lived in Madison county all, of his life. owning at the time of his death thirteen hundred acres of land. On December 16.
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1858, he was married to Susan A. Pringle, and to this union were born three children : William D., the subject of this sketch: Elmer J .. born on October 3, 1861; and Mary C., May 6, 1876, who is the wife of J. B. Stewart, of Dayton, Ohio. Elijah Chenoweth devoted his life to farming and stock raising and in buying and selling stock. The latter occupation received the most of his attention. From 1864 to 1869 he resided near West Jefferson and engaged in a general trading business and in the buying and shipping of stock. He later returned to his farm in Oak Run township and in 1882 purchased the old home place where he was born and reared. He ranked among the leading men of the county and passed away. in the year 1900. His wife was a native of South Charleston. Clark county, Ohio. She was a faithful helpmate 'and a devoted mother.
W. D. Chenoweth was born on a farm. was educated in the common schools and in college at Oberlin, Ohio. Until 1909 he was an active farmer, but at this time he moved to London, and on April 1, 1914, engaged in the insurance business with C. W. Pringle, the firm name being Chenoweth & Pringle. However. he retained large farm- ing interests and today owns five hundred and ten acres in Madison county, in Oak Run, Fairfield and Deer Creek townships. Mr. Chenoweth has other business interests, being a director in the Thomas Armstrong Manufacturing Company. but his principal occupation has been the feeding of live stock. Mr. Chenoweth hauled his first load of corn to market in 1915, heretofore having always fed his corn. He now devotes con- siderable attention to breeding draft horses. The Chenoweth farm is noted for miles around for its modern equipment in which respect it is complete. This includes fine large barns and other buildings together with its own water plant.
W. D. Chenoweth was married to Ida L. Snyder on March 22, 1883. his bride being the daughter of John Snyder, who lives near Lafayette. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Chenoweth is a daughter, Ruth, who is a student at Mount Ida College, Boston, Massachusetts. She was born in 1894. Another child died in. 1888.
Like his grandfather and father. Mr. Chenoweth has held public offices. He was treasurer of Oak Run township for a number of years. He is a member of the Meth- odist church at Big Plain. Ohio, and was trustee and treasurer of the church for a number of years. Mr. Chenoweth is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and is a Knight Templar of Palestine Commandery, at Springfield, Ohio. He has always been a Republican.
SIMON SHEEHAN.
Simon Sheehan, grain and coal merchant, Plain City. Ohio, was born on April 19, 1860, in Clark county. Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Alice (Conway) Sheehan. He was reared to the life of a farmer and was educated in the public schools, attending until about eighteen years old. At the age of twenty-one years he rented a farm and followed agriculture for twenty-five years. when he decided to change his vocation. He then engaged in the elevator business at Plain City, nider the firm name of Noon & Sheehan, buying and shipping all kinds of grain. in addition to which they handled coal. He also owns two valuable pieces of property in Plain' City, and is one of the stockholders in the First State Bank in that city. The firm of Noon & Sheehan owns its own buildings and the land on which they are located. Mr. Sheehan is a Democrat but has never taken an active interest in politics. He and his family are members of the Catholic church.
Daniel Sheehan and his wife. Alice (Conway) Sheehan. were natives of Ireland. where they grew up and were married. They came to the United States and located in Clark county. Ohio. moving later to Madison county. where they remained until their death. Mr. Sheehan divided his time and attention between general farming and. stock
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raising. To this union were born ten children. only five of whom are living in 1915, Sarah. Thomas, Simeon, John and Alice. Sarah became the wife of John Flanagan; Thomas resides at Plain City; John makes his home at Cincinnati, Ohio; Alice mar- ried Philip Miller and lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Simeon Sheehan was united in marriage, February 28, 1898, with Mary Noon, who was born, reared and educated in Darby township, Madison county. She is a daughter of Michael and Anna ( Murray) Noon. To this union have been born three children : E. N. Sheehan, a graduate of Plain City high school, is single, and resides at Freeport. Ohio, where he is in the employ of the United States government, serving as trustee in bankruptcy ; Anna Sheehan is also a graduate of the high school of Plain City, and is single ; Raymond is a graduate of the same school, and is employed in a clothing house at Plain City.
Mr. Sheehan has lived in Madison county a great many years and has made all he possesses through his own efforts. His reputation as a straightforward. reputable man of business has reached out far beyond the limits of his home city.
MRS. LOUISE M. BOOTH.
Comfortably situated in her delightful home on South Center street, in the pleasant village of West Jefferson, this county, Mrs. Louise M. Booth, widow of the late J. W. Booth, one of the most substantial farmers in Madison county, is living in quiet retire- ment, enjoying countless evidences of the esteem and respect of her neighbors and the loving devotion of her children. Though not a native of this county, Mrs. Booth is as much interested in the general welfare of the same as though she had been born here and is widely known for her warm interest in the various good works to which her name has been attached in the past, being held in the highest regard by all who know her.
Louise Martin was born in the city of Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Fred- erick and Louise (Schmellzer) Martin, both natives of Germany, who came to this country with their parents in the days of their youth, locating in Buffalo, where they were married. moving to this county when their daughter, Louise. was a babe; conse- quently Mrs. Booth has spent practically her whole life in Madison county. Her mother died when she was two years of age and her father married again, her maternal care thus having been entrusted to a stepmother. In 1882 her father moved to Lin- coln, Nebraska, where his death occurred a few years later.
In February. 1891, Louise Martin was united in marriage to J. W. Booth, a prom- inent and successful farmer of Jefferson township, this county, who previously had married Mary J. Johnson, who died, leaving three grown children. Clara. Ella and Walter. To the union of J. W. and Louise ( Martin) Booth one child was born, a daughter, Bertha L. The father of these children died on November 11. 1913, and was widely mourned, for he was a good man; an earnest, public-spirited citizen, a loving and indulgent husband and father and a fine neighbor, whom all respected and admired.
J. W. Booth was one of the most substantial farmers in the eastern part of Madi- son county and was held in the very highest regard throughout that whole section. He was the owner of six hundred and forty-six acres of excellent land, four hundred acres of which was in the home farm, the remainder being in another tract. Being a progressive and energetic agriculturist, he prospered in his operations and left a large estate at the time of his death. Previous to his death he had made provisions for the division of his land among his children and in consequence all these are now well cir- cumstanced. Clara, the eldest child, married Lewis M, Bradley, of Kenton, Ohio, and has two daughters. Ella married M. F. Dunn, of London. this county, and has one daughter. Walter, who married Imo Vent, lives in London, the county seat of Madi-
J. W. BOOTH.
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son county, and has one daughter and one son. Bertha, the youngest, married John F. Goldenbogen, of Cleveland, Ohio, and lives in West Jefferson.
Mrs. Booth is a Methodist, as also was her husband, and the children were reared in that faith, the family being regarded as among the leading families in that part of the county in fostering such movements as are designed to promote the general welfare. Mrs. Booth has hosts of friends throughout that section of the county. all of whom esteein her very highly.
MRS. ELIZABETH MILLIKIN.
A member of one of the oldest and best-known families in Madison county. a family prominent in the affairs of this section of the state for four or five generations, Mrs. Elizabeth Millikin, widow of the late A. C. Millikin, of West Jefferson, this county. takes a warm interest in the affairs of this favored region and is widely known as a . promoter of all measures designed to advance the common weal. Mrs. Millikin is a Converse. daughter of James Converse, a native of this county, who, in his day, was accounted one of the most substantial men in the county, and inherited a goodly mea- sure of the keen common sense which ever characterized the extensive operations of her father. Living comfortably in her delightful home in West Jefferson, Mrs. Millikin is known far and wide for her public spirit and energy of manner and is generally regarded as one of the most influential women in that part of the county, her many friends paying her the high compliment of their utmost confidence and warmest respect.
Elizabeth (Converse) Millikin was born on the old Converse farm in Canaan town- ship, Madison county, Ohio. September 14, 1848, danghter of James and Julia A. (Cal- houn) Converse. the former of whom was born on the same farm on October 29, 1823, and the latter also was born in this county. October 30, 1826. James Converse was the son of Charles Converse, a native of Vermont. born on January 21, 1794, who left the Green Mountain state in early manhood and came to Ohio, settling in Darby township, this county, on land entered from the government, and became one of the most infinen- tial pioneers of that section. On January 27. 1822, he married Phoebe Norton, who was born on December 10, 1803, and their son, James, father of Mrs. Millikin, possess- ing much the same energetic spirit as his father, hushanded his inheritance with such industry that at the time of his death he was the owner of nine hundred acres of choice land in this county. Charles Converse died on October 3. 1849. and his son, James, died on May 24, 1887. the latter's widow surviving until May 11. 1893. James and Julia A. (Calhoon) Converse were the parents of but two children, Mrs. Millikin having a brother. H. B. Converse, who was a well-known resident of Canaan town- ship, this county. He was born on January S. 1850, and died on April 23. 1915.
In 1866 Elizabeth Converse was united in marriage to Butler Smith, of this county, who died in 1877 withont issue, and in 1882 she married, secondly. A. C. Millikin. who died on January 21, 1908. To this latter union three children were born, Grace and Curdie (twins), born on September 21. 1884. the latter of whom died when one month old, and Robert C., born on November 27. 1886. Grace Millikin. who is a graduate of the West Jefferson high school, married J. B. F. McDowell and lives at Columbus. Ohio. Robert C. Millikin was graduated from the West Jefferson high school, after which he entered Bliss Business College, following a comprehensive course, after which his services were engaged by the Farmers Bank, of West Jefferson, this county, of which sound old institution he now is cashier.
On November 17. 1910, Robert C. Millikin was united in marriage to Lillie Snider. of West Jefferson. and the two make their home in the delightful Millikin home in that pleasant village, with Mr. Millikin's mother. This house was built in 1906. at the time Mr. and Mrs. Millikin retired from the farm to make their home in West Jeffer-
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