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 91
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son, about two years before Mr. Millikin's death, and is one of the best-appointed and most modern houses in that section of the county. Robert C. Millikin is recognized generally in business and financial circles throughout the county as one of the most energetic and enterprising young men in the eastern part of the county and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his business associates everywhere. He is a stockholder in the bank with which he is connected and takes a most active interest in the gen- eral affairs of the community in which he lives, as well as in the affairs of the county at large. He is a thirty-second degree Mason. being affiliated with the consistory of the Scottish rite of that ancient order at Columbus and is prominent in Masonic circles in Madison county, his father having been for years one of the most active members of Madison Lodge No. 221. Free and Accepted Masons.
The late A. C. Millikin was a man who commanded the universal respect of all with whom he was associated in whatever relation. He was a large landowner and was looked upon as one of the substantial men of the commity, at whose death there was wide mourning. He was a Democrat and for years had taken an active interest in the civic affairs of Madison county. his sound judgment giving much weight to his counsels in the deliberations of the party managers. He was a member of the board of county commissioners during the time the Madison county court house was being built and his name is imperishably inscribed upon the entablatures of that noble struc- ture. He was a member of the Universalist church at West Jefferson, to which church his widow is still devotedly attached, and during his residence there was active in all good works, he having been held in the highest regard by all. recognition of his good citizenship and kindly neighborliness being universal thereabout.
Mrs. Millikin and her children are extensive landholders in this county and repre- sent other substantial interests. Mrs. Millikin retains one Imindred and fifty-four acres of the old home farm: Robert C. Millikin owns two hundred and fifty acres in Jeffer- son township and one hundred acres in Canaan township, and his sister. Mrs. McDowell, owns two hundred and sixty acres lying in Canaan township. As noted in the intro- ductory paragraph of this brief biography, Mrs. Millikin is warmly interested in the affairs of her home community and of the county at large and is recognized as a woman of large influence in the part of the county with which her family has so long and so prominently been identified. Her gracious manner and genial hospitality have endeared her to her large circle of friends, all of whom cherish for her the highest possible esteem and respect.
CHARLES WILSON.
Charles Wilson, born on December 9. 1865. in Madison county, was reared on a farm and received his education in Canaan township. His parents were John S. and Sylvina J. (McDonald) Wilson. After leaving the district schools. Charles Wilson became a student at the Ohio Wesleyan University. of Delaware, Ohio, which he attended in 1886. 1887 and 1888. After that he was at home several years and came to Plain City in October. 1898. where he became engaged in the grain business, which he followed for a period of six years, and then became assistant manager of the Plain City Tele- phone Company. of which he is the present secretary. Mr. Wilson has always been greatly interested in the welfare of his home city. and in 1911 he was appointed post- master of Plain City. from which office he retired on February 3. 1915. He was elected a vice-president of the First State Bank, in January. 1915, and takes an active interest in the business. Henry Bowman is the first vice-president of this bank: Mr. Wilson is a strong Republican. He is a member of Urania Lodge No. 311. Free and Accepted Masons: also of Plain City Lodge No. 159. Knights of Pythias.
" " John .S. Wilson. father of Charles Wilson, was born in 1838, in Madison county,
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Ohio, and is a son of James and Eleanor ( Smith) Wilson. Sylvina J. (McDonald) Wilson, wife of John. S. . Wilson, was. a native of Madison county, Ohio. Mr. Wilson devoted his time to general farming and stock raising. He was a Republican, and was always interested in the welfare of his township. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the par- ents of six children, Harry, Ella, Lucy, Charles, and two who died early in life. Harry Wilson is following farming in Madison county. Ella became the wife of Robert Brad- ley, of London. Ohio.
James and Eleanor ( Smith) Wilson were the paternal grandparents, the former being a native of Madison county, a son of Valentine Wilson, of Irish stock; and the latter born in Licking county, Ohio.
Charles Wilson was united in marriage on November 31, 1892, with Mary A. Bid- well, who was born in Madison county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Nathan and Almira Bidwell.
Mr. Wilson is a gentleman who is well known in this part of Madison county, where he is an honored and respected citizen.
JAMES W. BOWERS.
Mention being made of the worthy citizens of Madison county, within the pages of this volume, it would not be complete without the name of the gentleman who is the sub- ject of this sketch, James W. Bowers, a successful and popular citizen of Darby town- ship.
James W. Bowers, of Plain City. Madison county. farmer and ex-county commis- sioner, was born in Darby township April 27. 1862, and is a son of Wheeler and Lavina (Smith) Bowers. He attended the district schools of the township until eighteen years of age, when he engaged in farm pursuits. He now owns a fine farm of one hundred acres in Darby township. three miles west of Plain City. Mr. Bowers has always been a public-spirited man and a good "mixer." He has always been a stanch Republican, and served as township trustee for several terms, and was later elected county commis- sioner, serving two terms-1905-1911. Mr. Bowers is a member of the Presbyterian church at Plain City. He belongs to Urania Lodge No. 311. Free and Accepted Masons, and Plain City Lodge No. 159, Knights of Pythias, in the latter of which he has held all the offices. He is a stockholder and president of the Home and Savings Company, of Plain City, and in addition to his farming interests, devotes a portion of his time to the fire and live stock insurance business.
Wheeler Bowers, father of the subject of this sketch. was born on June 10. 1826. in Darby township, Madison county, and his wife. Lavina (Smith) Bowers. was born on September 24. 1825, in the same township. They had known each other from child- hood. They were united in marriage in 1854. and were very popular in the community in which they lived. Mr. Bowers was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he was greatly interested. His death occurred on December 25. 1900. and his wife died on September 10. 1880. To this union were born three children : Samuel S. died in 1861; Mary L. died in 1878. aged twenty years ; and James W.
James W. Bowers was married three times, first, on October 10. 1883, to Elma E. Harper. to which union no children were born. Mrs. Bowers died on June 20. 1903. and Mr. Bowers was married, secondly. to Frances Campbell, which marriage took place on January 9. 1907. She died on April 16. 1910, and his third wife was Nan S. Sharp, to whom he was married on July 9, 1913. She was born on October 1, 1871, in Highland county. Ohio, and received her education at the schools of West Jefferson. Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Bowers reside in a fine modern home on East Main street, Plain City. 1Ohio, where they have the respect and high esteem of many friends.
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
WALTER D. BURNHAM.
Prominent in the affairs of his home community and actively identified for many years with matters of importance relating to the government of his home township, Walter D. Burnham, residing on his farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres located in Monroe township, Madison county, Ohio, is in every particular justly entitled to the enviable degree of respect in which he is held by his fellow citizens. Mr. Burnham comes of a family long prominent in the affairs of this locality, a family whose name has always stood as a synonym for all that is upright and honorable and that makes for true and virile manhood.
Walter D. Burnham was born in Pike township. this county, on December 1. 1859, a son of Henry and Eveline ( Williams) Burnham. Henry Burnham was born in Connectient and was brought to this section of Ohio by his father Darins. They located in Pike township, a little to the north of the town of Rosedale. This town was platted by the elder Burnham, who called it by the name of "Liverpool" and on his farm near that town he passed the remainder of his life. Darius Burnham reached Pike township at an early date in its history and because of his desire that his chosen location should advance as rapidly as possible in all things that make for the con- venience and best interests of any community. he hecame one of the best known men in that locality. Darius' son. Henry, built across the road from the home place, later selling out to his brother Dwight. after which. in the spring of 1860, he came into Monroe township and secured the tract of land on which Walter D. Burnham now resides. At the time the family moved to Monroe township, Walter was a babe of but three months, so that practically his entire life has been passed within the borders of this township.
Walter D. Burnham is one of a family of five children. being the fourth child in order of birth. L. W., the eldest of the family, resides in Pike township, where he is engaged in agricultural work ; Martha L. is the wife of D. J. Burnham of Mechanics- burg; Amy E. married Asa Burnham, and Cora, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Judge E. E. Chaney of Urbana, this state.
Walter D. Burnham received his elementary education in the district schools of Monroe township, taking the high school work at Monroe township high school, after which he had one year in the State University at Columbus, Ohio, in 1878-79, at a time when there were only two hundred and eighty students enrolled and there was only one other building on the campus besides the dormitory. Ohio Wesleyan, located at Delaware, Ohio, was the next seat of learning which Mr. Burnham attended. and in that institution he took up the study of mathematics and languages. He made an excellent record for himself as a student and was also popular in the social life of the school. being a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. one of the most popular of college fraternities in both that day and this. After his studies at Delaware were completed he returned to his paternal home in Monroe township. well equipped to enter upon the duties of mature manhood. After returning from college, subject taught for two terms in Rosedale, which at that time was considered a large school. numbering sixty-three pupils, which necessitated teaching algebra during recess.
On January 29. 1885. Walter D. Burnham was united in marriage to Josephine Robbins, daughter of S. S. and Mary ( Weaver) Robbins, and for one year they lived on the Burnham family homestead, after which they took up their residence in London, this county. They remained there hnt a short time and then located on a farm In Pike township, where they remained until the death of Henry Burnham, father of Walter D., which occurred in 1800. After the death of his father. Walter D. returned to the family homestead and assumed the managment of the place and on that farm he has continued to reside to the present time. There are four children in Mr. Burn-
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ham's family. Gertrude Eveline, the eldest, died when a child, at the age of two years .
and eight months. Florence is the wife of Jay Miller, a farmer in Union county, this state. Walter Austin attended school at Monroe township for three years and the senior year at London; is at present attending the State University. Mary Louise, the youngest of the family, is still attending the district schools of Monroe township. The Burnham children, like their father, are excellent students. Florence took a two- year course in Monroe township and was graduated in the third year from the Rose- dale schools and then entered the London schools, having won a Delaware scholarship from the latter place. Walter Austin was graduated from the London high school in the spring of 1914, with honors and in the fall of the same year he matriculated at the State University, where he is devoting his time to the study of architecture and kindred subjects.
In politics Mr. Burnham had always given his allegiance to the Republican party, until the formation of the Progressive party, and while a Republican filled nearly all of the various offices within the gift of Monroe township. He has also been on the township board of education for the past fifteen years, having served that body as treasurer and clerk at various times. Mr. Burnham has filled the various offices bestowed on him by his fellow citizens in a most efficient and satisfactory manner and as a further proof of his acknowledged ability, Governor Cox appointed hin a mem- ber of the board of tax adjusters for Madison county for the year 1914.
Those who know Mr. Burnham best are unqualified in their praise of him. for throughout his life he has proven himself an honorable gentleman in every relation of life. He is uniformly successful in his chosen vocation of farming and his home, located about six miles east of Mechanicsburg and two miles south of Rosedale, is one of the best-managed farms of the community. The. approach to his home, comprising a spacious lawn. interspersed with splendid shade trees of goodly variety. presents a very attractive appearance and makes this farm one of the most beautiful of the country estates of this county. Mr. Burnham gives his attention mostly to general farming and in addition to that, raises some live stock. Mr. Burnham is like both his father and grandfather in that he is keenly interested in any movement which is calculated to advance the welfare of his community, and is, perhaps, more strongly interested in the cause of education than any other phase of community life.
EUGENE C. CHAPMAN.
Eugene C. Chapman, postmaster of Plain City, Madison county. Ohio, was born on March 6, 1853, in the village in which he now resides, and which was then known as Pleasant Valley and Darby Creek postoffice, now Plain City. Ohio. He is a son of Silas G. and Mary A. (Thompson ) Chapman. His education was obtained in the public schools of the township, and for the past twenty-five years he has been engaged in the real-estate business. He worked at house painting and decorating for many years. Mr. Chapman is a stanch Democrat, and has always taken an active interest in local politics. He has been a delegate to state and county conventions for the past forty years and has always been very prominent in public affairs. He was appointed postmaster of Plain City, Ohio, January 12, 1915, which office he now holds.
Silas G. Chapman, father of Eugene C. Chapman, was born at Windham, Windsor county, Vermont, and was united in marriage, in 1832, at Plain City, to Mary A. Thomp- son, and lived here the remainder of his life. Mr. Chapman was a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder for many years. Politically. he was originally a Whig, but later became a Republican. He died June 27. 1879, and his wife, Mary A. (Thompson) Chapman, died October 14, 1910. Mr. Chapman, at the first call for soldiers, enlisted during the Civil War, in the three months service, and
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MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
re-eulisted for three years service. He served nearly two years and was taken sick and was discharged for disability, Silas G. and Mary A. (Thompson ) Chapman were the parents of four children. Silas W., who was also a soldier during the entire Civil War, and was orderly for quite a while. Areminta, who became the wife of U. W. Peck, who died, and she married, secondly. G. A. McDowell, who is also deceased. She resides in Plain City. Ohio. Both her husbands were soldiers in the Civil War. Adelaide married Charles . DeLeon, and is a widow. She resides at Plain City, Ohio. Eugene C. is the subject of this sketch.
Eugene C. Chapman was united in marriage on March 9, 1891, with Margaret B. Tauber, who was born in Germany and came to the United States with her parents when three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Tauber located at Cumberland, Maryland. Mrs. Chapman came to Plain City many years ago and was married in Plain City. They had one child. Frieda F., who was a graduate of Plain City high school, after which she attended school at Westville and Ada for one year, and later at Athens, Ohio, and is now a teacher in the Plain City schools, where she has taught for the past five years.
Mr. Chapman is one of the most genial and affable men in Madison county, Ohio, where he is held in high esteem as an honorable citizen.
MORGAN J. JENKINS, M. D. 1
Dr. Morgan J. Jenkins, physician, of Plain City, Ohio, was born on November 15, 1853, in the southern part of Wales, and is a son of Thomas and Anna (Jones) Jenkins. He was the second born of the family, and was ten years old when he came to the United States. His early education was obtained at the public schools of Johns- town, Pennsylvania, where he attended until seventeen years of age. He later became a student of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and later took up the study of medicine, under Dr. P. H. Bauer, of Richwood. and while under this eminent tutorship com- pleting his medical education at the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, gradu- ating from the institution in 1878, with the degree of M. D., and immediately located at Plain City, where he has since practiced medicine with marked success. Doctor Jenkins is a stanch Republican, to which party he has always given his loyal support, representing Madison county for two terms in the Legislature, with great credit to his constituents, and honor to himself. In local politics he has served as a member of the board of education. and as health officer of Plain City, a member of the village council and also of the board of trustees of public affairs. His counsel is sought by many, and his judgment is highly valued. Doctor Jenkins is a member of Urania Lodge No. 311, of which he is a past master; the Knights Templar, of Mount Vernon Commandery; Plain City Lodge No. 193. Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and a 'charter member of Plain City Lodge No. 159. Knights of Pythias, of which he is a helpful and well informed knight. He was elected grand outer guard in 1890. from which he has been promoted until he has passed all the chairs in the grand domain of Ohio. serving as Grand Chancellor in 1896 and 1897. He has also been elected colonel of the uniform rank, standing high in its councils. Doctor Jenkins is a member of the County and State Medical Society, and of Union County Medical Society.
Thomas Jenkins, father of Morgan J. Jenkins, was a Congregational minister of Wales, and was located at Merthyr Tydvil. He emigrated to America in 1864. locating at Johnstown. Pennsylvania, where he had charge of a congregation. His wife, Anna ( Jones) Jenkins, was also a native of Wales. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters.
Dr. Morgan . J. Jenkins was united in marriage. December 24, 1879, at Richwood;
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Ohio, with May Beem, daughter of Oren and Ellen Beem. She was born in Union county, Ohio. This union has been blest with two children, Thomas and Rose Jenkins.
Doctor Jenkins is one of the leading and influential citizens of Madison county, standing high, not only in his profession, but with the community as well, living not alone for self, but that he may do good and be useful to others.
PHILIP BECKER.
The subject of this sketch is a well-known and popular citizen of Monroe township, Madison county, Ohio, and is considered one of the most thorough and up-to-date farm- ers of his community. He has long since demonstrated that he possesses in a marked degree the excellent characteristics of honesty and industry, handed down to him by. sterling ancestors, and he can point with pardonable pride to his fine farm of two hundred acres situated on the Becker-Dunn pike, for it is owing to his own efforts that he stands possessed of this excellent tract of land.
Philip Becker is a native of the Buckeye state, born in the city of Columbus on May 12, 1864, a son of Peter and Margaret. (Karn) Becker, both of whom came from Germany, the former from Prussia and the latter from Bavaria. Peter was a son of Philip and Mary ( Webber) Becker who emigrated to this country with their young and growing family when Peter was eleven years of age. None of the children ever attended school in this country, their only education having been received in their native land, but Peter had received excellent training in his early years and on the, good educational foundation thus laid he was able to rear by his own efforts a goodly structure as the years passed by. Immediately upon coming to this country the family came to this state, locating in Columbus, and there the boy Peter secured employment, working by the day for various concerns in the then small town. He has been self- supporting since the early age of eleven years and so faithful was he in the perform- ance of every duty, and so carefully did he at that early age lay plans for the future, that he prospered and has accumulated a pleasing amount of this world's goods.
From March of 1864 until the close of hostilities in the following year. Peter Becker, wore the blue which designated him as one of the faithful sons of the Union and saw, active service in the closing months of the Civil War. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned to Columbus and engaged in farming south of that city, remain- ing there but a comparatively short time. however. His next move was to purchase a farm in Franklin county, west of Columbus, and there, in peace and plenty, he is passing, his declining years. . This farm consists of four hundred and thirty acres, all most excellently cared for, and to his own efforts alone is Peter Becker indebted for the excellent circumstances in which he finds himself in his old age.
Philip Becker is the eldest of a family of eight children. three of whom are deceased. William resides in Franklin county, where he is engaged in farming. Anna; is the wife of William Beltinger. John and Louis are farmers in Franklin county,; Ohio. . Philip was educated in the schools of Franklin county and the early years of his manhood he spent in farming both on the home place and on other farms in the community.
On March 4, 1890, Philip Becker was married to Mary Wahl, daughter of Jacob Wahl. and whose wife was a Miss Rieble. On March 17, they came into Madison county and located on the farm where they have continued to make their home until the present time. Upon first coming here, Mr. Becker rented the farm in question, not having sufficient means at that time to warrant its purchase, but so well did he prosper that the homestead soon became his own. Mr. Becker is systematic and thorough in his method of conducting the work of his farm, believing most fully in every phase of scientific agriculture.
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Mr. and Mrs. Becker are the parents of five children, Louis, Charles, Minnie. Margaret and John, all of whom are at home with the parents. Mr. Becker is a faith- ful member of the German Lutheran church, holding his membership in the church at Grove City, this state, and to the support of that society he contributes liberally of his means. In politics he is a Democrat, and takes more than a passive interest in the affairs of his party as relating to local matters. He has been connected with the school board for a number of years. serving most faithfully and efficiently on the same. During the years of his residence here Mr. Becker has proven himself a true man in every sense of the word-honest and industrions as relates to his own affairs, a good husband and father and a worthy citizen, anxious for the advancement of every phase of community life.
JOSEPH H. JOHNSON.
Among the self-made citizens of West Jefferson, this county, no one is deserving of higher praise than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. With very little as a working foundation, Joseph H. Johnson has abiy and scientifically managed his agricultural interests, until he now enjoys the distinction of being one of the wealthiest farmers and stock raisers of the West Jefferson neighborhood, and, besides enjoying the comforts resulting from his industry and efforts, has the satisfaction of knowing he has arrived at his present point of affinence entirely through his own tena- city of purpose.
Joseph H. Johnson was born on January 19. 1854, in Jefferson township, this coun- ty, a son of Lewis and Eliza ( Gardner) Johnson, the former of whom was the son of Jacob and Jane Johnson. Joseph H. Johnson was reared on the home farm, and attend- ed the public schools. After leaving school. he followed agriculture under the super- vision of his father, until the time of his marriage. When he started in for himself, all he had of this world's goods was five hundred dollars and a team of horses. He began in a small way, by buying calves and farming, and has continued to prosper, until he is now the owner of a fine farm consisting of three hundred and eighty acres of as valuable land as there is in the county. Politically. Mr. Johnson has always given the Republican party the benefit of his vote. His fraternal membership is with Madison Lodge No. 221, Free and Accepted Masons, and with Darby Grange No. 779. He for years has taken a warm interest in educational matters and is serving as a member of the board of education.
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