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 93
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Nearly all of the Wheeler children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. All are prominent citizens of the respective communities where they live.
FRANK NELSON.
The lives of successful men are instructive as guides and incentives to those whose careers are yet to be achieved. The examples they furnish of faith and purpose and of persistent endeavor only go to prove what is within the power of everyone to accomplish in the world. Frank Nelson, whose life story is herein briefly set forth, is a conspicuous example of one who has lived to good purpose in several different vocations, and who has achieved a definite measure of success in the latest sphere to which his talents and energies have been directed. A machinist by trade, but subsequently employed in railroad work, he turned his attention to the ministry, and, having been compelled to abandon it just before his confirmation has made commendable success of agriculture.
Frank Nelson, who is the proprietor of "The Glen," a fine farm situated seven miles north of London and seven miles west of West Jefferson, at the intersection of the Wilson. Wingage and Urbana pikes, in Monroe township, Madison county, owns more than five hundred acres in one tract. Mr. Nelson was born on September 3, 1861, in historic old Vincennes, the seat of one of the very earliest settlements in the North- west Territory. His maternal grandmother was Adeline Allen, the daughter of Gen. Peter B. Allen, one of the pioneer settlers of Terre Haute, Indiana, whose large pioneer farm covered most of what is now the city of Terre Haute. Gen. Peter B. Allen was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and one of the heroes of that memorable struggle. Adeline Allen married Bert M. Harrison, the first mayor of Terre Haute and a prominent man in the early life of that well-known Indiana city.
Mr. Nelson grew to manhood in Indiana and Texas, having been taken to the latter state as a boy of seventeen. Charles R. Peddle, of Terre Haute, a builder of the Vandalia railroad, was an old friend of Mr. Nelson's father and was very anxious to have the son complete the course given at Rose Polytechnic Institute, which was then about to open. In the meantime, however, Mr. Nelson entered the railroad shops at Terre Haute, and began his apprenticeship as a machinist. Later, Frank finished his trade as a machinist at Denison, Texas, where his father was located as superintendent of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad. Previously, his father, who was an old rail- road man and a passenger conductor for many years. was secretary of the first Railroad Men's Insurance Association of the United States, an organization which later became the Order of Railroad Conductors.
Having been deprived of the opportunity to enter Rose Polytechnic, Mr. Nelson became a fireman and engineer and freight and ticket agent of the International rail- road. at Swan. Texas. While connected with the Denver & Rio Grande railroad as a machinist, he began the study with the Rev. C. H. B. Turner for holy orders, and was admitted as a candidate for holy orders in the Episcopal church. Later he attended the Episcopal Seminary at Sewanee, Tennessee, to prepare for the ministry, and while a resident of Tennessee met his future wife, Anne Louise Smith, a graduate of the institute at Columbia, Tennessee, and the granddaughter of the late John G. Dun.
Frank Nelson and Anne Louise Smith, daughter of Mrs. HI. Bacon Smith, were mar- ried on January 20, 1892, at the old Dun home in Deer Creek township, Madison county,
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Ohio. The failure of Mr. Nelson's eye-sight compelled him to leave the seminary when about ready for ordination. His bishop insisted upon ordination, but the oculist decided that he must take a different course. This changed the whole plan of Mr. Nelson's career. Soon after his marriage he engaged in fruit and truck gardening in Swan, Texas, and while living there became director of the State Fruit and Truck Growers' Association.
When Mrs. Nelson's grandmother's health failed, she desired her granddaughter and husband to return to Ohio. In 1899 they sold out in order to return to Ohio to assume charge of Mrs. Nelson's inheritance. She received the Dun estate, more than five hun- dred acres of land. Mr. Nelson is extensively engaged in raising live stock, including hogs and cattle, and breeds Red Polled cattle. He started in this business twelve years ago and now keeps a herd of from fifty to sixty head of registered cattle. The greater number of them are raised for breeding purposes, and are marketed in the state of Ohio. Yearling bulls average one hundred dollars each. Mr. Nelson produces on the farm great quantities of milk, selling the butter-fat and feeding the milk to the pigs. In 1914 an average of fourteen and one-half cows netted him ninety dollars per cow, not including profit from the sale of calves. A balance for the year showed an expense of twelve hundred forty-four dollars and twenty-five cents and an income of twenty-five hundred seventy-five dollars and eighty-one cents. He has a fourteen by fifty-foot silo with a capacity of more than two hundred tons. In fact, Mr. Nelson is a pioneer in the use of silos in Madison county. He is also a pioneer in the growing of alfalfa, having at the present time sixty acres.
The Nelson family consists of four sons and six daughters. Henry Turner is a student at the United States Naval Training School at Newport. Graham Smith, George Starr and Dun Harrison are all at home. The daughters include Elizabeth James, Cora Louise. Gertrude Dun, Anne, Mary and Frances.
During the past five years, Mr. Nelson has read the services in the Trinity church at London, having been licensed by Bishop Vincent. He is president of the school board and has served in this capacity for a number of years, very much to the satisfaction of the people of this township. Mrs. Nelson and all the children are confirmed as mem- bers of the Episcopal church. One might go far and look long before finding a better farmer and a better citizen of Deer Creek township than Frank Nelson.
JOHN WILLIAM DURFLINGER.
The biographies of enterprising men. especially of good men, are instructive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is within the power of each to accomplish. That man who puts the best of himself into whatever duties and opportunities life holds ont for him is bound to win success. This success may not lay along material lines of be of such character as will win the plaudits of a multitude, but may lay in other realms which are still more enduring than any material thing may be. A great philo- sopher has said. "An honest man is the noblest work of God." and that man who can truly deserve the title of "good and honest man" is one well worthy of the very high- est esteem of his fellow men. One citizen of Jefferson township, this county. who is thus held in high esteem is John W. Durflinger, the immediate subject of this sketch.
Mr. Durflinger's farm of one hundred acres is located about two and one-half miles southwest of West Jefferson, on Rural Route No. 1, out of Lilly Chapel. and is known as "Shady-side Farm." John Durflinger is a native of Madison county, having been born on October 4, 1853. in Fairfield township, son of Daniel and Margaret (Anderson) Durflinger. Daniel Durflinger was born in Ross county, this state, son of Thomas Dur- flinger, who came to this state early in the settlement of this section, from his home
JOHN W. DURFLINGER AND FAMILY
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in Virginia, and settled for a time in Ross county. When his son Daniel was twelve years old, the family removed to Madison county and has been closely associated with the history of this section ever since. Daniel received his education in the early schools of this county and when a young man married Margaret Anderson, who, while still young, was brought to Franklin county by her parents. Daniel Durflinger passed the balance of his life within this county and was known as one of its leading citizens and most successful farmers. He was about ninety years of age at the time of his death. At that time he having been possessed of six hundred acres of land, all of which he had accumulated through his own efforts. There were eight children in his family, seven of whom are living at the present time. The eldest of these is Delilah, widow of Joshua Truitt, who resides in Jefferson township; Elizabeth resides in Kansas, the widow of G. E. Burnham; Anderson is a successful farmer and stockraiser in Texas and the next child in order of birth is John W., the immediate subject of this sketch. Matilda is the wife of Henry Wolfersberger and lives in Florida; Ella is Mrs. H. W. Goodson of Jefferson township, this county, and Mary is the widow of Charles Paxon of Ross county, this state. Susanna died in infancy.
John W. Durflinger was reared on the paternal farm in Jefferson township, attend- ing the district school near his home in winter, and from an early age assisting the father in the work of the farm during all his vacation periods. He remained on the homestead and, with his brother Anderson, farmed there and continued to live there for four years after his marriage.
On August 10, 1892, John W. Durflinger was united in marriage to Olive E. Smith, who was born in Columbus, this state, on January 13, 1864, daughter of Nathaniel and Amanda (Kiner) Smith. Nathaniel Smith first saw the light of day in Athens, Ohio, and when a young man went to Columbus, where he met and married Amanda Kiner, whose parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Smith is still hale and hearty, at the age of eighty-eight. He makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Durflinger and enjoys the esteem of all who know him. Mrs. John W. Durflinger is one of a family of six children, four of whom are still living, and passed the years of her young girlhood at Galloway, Franklin county, this state. She received her elementary education in the common schools near her home and also attended the normal course at the London (Ohio) school. For ten years she taught in the schools of Franklin and Madison counties and is held in the highest regard by many of the citizens of those counties who were once children under her charge. Four years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Durflinger moved to Columbus, the state capital. where they remained for seventeen years, during which time Mr. Durflinger was engaged in the mercantile business. They then returned to the farm in this county, which had been bequeathed to Mr. Durflinger by his father and there they have prospered. having been able to make many sub- stantial improvements on the place, the chief of which was the erection of their splen- did, modern brick dwelling house, which is regarded as one of the best in the com- munity.
To Mr. and Mrs. Durflinger one son has been born, Glenn W., born on August 25, . 1893. on his father's farm, who, at the age of three, went with his parents to Columbus, receiving his earlier education in the schools of that city. He passed through the grades, was graduated from the West high school and received advanced education in the Ohio State University, where he took a course in the liberal arts, being gradu- ated therefrom. He is at the present contemplating continuing in that institution as a student in the law course, it being his ambition to become a useful member of the bar. Young Durflinger is active in college affairs, being a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity and well liked by his fellows. He is now principal of the high school in
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Guernsey county, Ohio. After completing his course he will have the degrees of Bach- elor of Arts and Doctor of Laws.
Mr. and Mrs. Durflinger are numbered among the leading people of their com- munity, both being more than usually interested in all that makes for the upbuilding of their community life. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, through the West Park Avenue church in Columbus, and Mr. Durflinger endorses the platform of the Republican party, although evincing no particular interest in political matters. Mrs. Durflinger is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and of the Foreign Missionary Society, in the works of both of which organizations she takes an active interest, she being regarded as among the leaders in that form of social endeavor in the community in which she lives.
ANDREW ELTON SHERWOOD.
In Canaan township, Madison county, Ohio, situated five miles south of Plain City. Ohio, on the East pike, lies "Spring Hill Farm," a beautiful tract of land comprising one hundred and eighty acres of which Andrew Elton Sherwood, a well-known citizen of Madison county. is the proprietor. About one-half mile away and south of "Spring Hill Farm," lies a tract of one hundred and fifty acres, also situated in Canaan town- ship, and of which Mr. Sherwood is likewise the owner. The Sherwood home, however, is situated on "Spring Hill Farm." and here they have lived for about twelve years.
Andrew Elton Sherwood, who is one of the best-known, most enterprising and prosperous farmers of Madison county, Ohio, was born in the township where he resides on May 23. 1866. He is the son of Andrew and Emily ( Kilbury) Sherwood, the former of whom was born near Plain City and who died when his son, Andrew Elton, was a babe, and the latter was also born in Canaan township and who also is deceased. They had two children. both of whom were sons. Webster E. married Viola Beyer but is now deceased. His widow lives in Canaan township.
Andrew Elton Sherwood was reared on his father's farm in Canaan township and received a liberal education in the district schools and in select schools. His education was finished in Ohio State University, where for some time he was a student.
On May 25, 1892. Andrew Elton Sherwood was married to Della Millikin, the daugh- ter of Robert Millikin. deceased, of Madison county. After their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood lived in Columbus, Ohio. for five years and there Mr. Sherwood was engaged in the bicycle business. Subsequently, however, he sold out and removed to a farm in Brown township, Franklin county, Ohio, where he lived for two years, or until 1899, when he came to Canaan township. After renting land for two or three years, Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood moved to the farm they now occupy and where they now live, located on rural route No. 2. out of Plain City. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood have had three children. Edith. the eldest. is a graduate of the Plain City high school and now a student in the Ohio State University at Columbus, Harold M. is a student in the Plain City high school at the present time. Robert is only four years old.
Mr. Sherwood is an extensive stock breeder and makes a specialty of Shropshire sheep. which he raises in great numbers. He is a member of the National Shropshire Sheep Association. He also raises a high grade of horses and pure bred Chester White hogs, which are registered. During late years he has been interested in the cattle busi- ness. and raises Polled Durham cattle. Andrew Elton Sherwood is one of the foremost citizens of Madison county, and one of its foremost farmers.
The Sherwood family are all members of the Big Darby Baptist church, and Mr. Sherwood is one of the trustees of the church and has been for some years. He is a member of Plain City Lodge No. 159. Knights of Pythias, and is a past chancellor and member of the grand lodge. He votes the Republican ticket. He has served as trustee
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in Canaan township and as a member of the school board, and has filled other minor offices within the gift of the people. He lias discharged faithfully and well the duties of an enterprising, alert and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Sherwood's family are popular in Canaan township, where they have lived for many years.
Robert Millikin, grandfather of Mrs. Della ( Millikin) Sherwood, was born in Wasli- ington county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1832. a son of John Millikin, also a native of that county, born on the banks of Ten Mile creek. August 15, 1807. He was a driver and stock dealer. He married Rachael Bane, of Pennsylvania, who was born on Decem- ber 21, 1811. Her father, James Bane, was also of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent. Robert Millikin married in 1828 and located on a farm in Pennsylvania,- where his wife died in July, 1854. He married, secondly, Cornelia Dodd, a widow of Lemuel Dodd. In 1856 he came to Ohio and settled in Canaan township, Madison county, where he farmed to within five years of his death. He retired and removed to Plain City. He died on February 23, 1881. He was a prominent Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church. Robert Millikin and his first wife were the parents of the following children : James B., Robert, Annie E., and John L. Robert Millikin was educated in the common schools and lived in Canaan township. He had one hundred and fifty acres of land. He was married on December 10, 1867, to Rosa M. Vanschoyck, of Franklin county, Ohio, who was born on April 30, 1836, a daughter of David and Esther ( Bailey) Van- schoyck. Her father was a native of Franklin county, Ohio. Mrs. Millikin died on January 28, 1884. They had two daughters : Cora, who died at the age of thirty years, and Della J., wife of A. E. Sherwood. Robert Millikin was a Democrat and hield town- ship office and was a man well known in this county. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN T. BALLINGER.
The gentleman whose life is here briefly outlined is not an old man but he has made his imprint upon the community which has been his place of abode all his life, and to the community in and surrounding Plain City he owes all he possesses. In return it may well be proud to claim him as one of its public-spirited and honored citizens.
John T. Ballinger, of Plain City, Ohio, was born on July 20, 1859, in the city which is still his home. He is a son of Dr. W. I. Ballinger. His father was reared and edu- cated at Plain City, and about 1876 was graduated from the Delaware College, and later studied medicine at Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Ballinger was associated with his father in the milling business for a number of years, and was later engaged in the cement business at St. Louis, Missouri, with his brother, who was a contractor. remaining with him until his death, when he retired from the business and went into the general merchandise business at Morral, Marion county, Ohio, but at the end of the first year. he discontinued the business and moved to Plain City, where he has since been engaged in the real-estate business, in which he has been very successful. He has been justice of the peace for the past few years. 'Mr. Ballinger is a Republican. He is a member of Urania Lodge No. 311, Free and Accepted Masons; Pleasant Valley Lodge No. 193. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand; member of Johan Encampment and past chief patriarch and member of the Patriarchs Militant, of Colum- bus, Ohio.
The sketch of Dr. W. I. Ballinger is presented elsewhere in this volume. He was the father of five children, two of whom died in infancy. One son, J. L., was born on January 30, 1866, and died on May 21. 1908. Eva became the wife of Rev. A. L. Rogers, of Plain City, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal churchi, at Milford, Cin- cinnati, Ohio. John T., of Plain City.
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John T. Ballinger was united in marriage, July 28, 1881, with Almada Linn, a native of Hocking county, Ohio. She was a daughter of Fernando and Hannah Liun. No children have been born to this union, but Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger had an adopted daughter. Jen-Eva, who is the wife of P. J. Ingle.
Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger enjoy a wide acquaintance at Plain City, where they repre- sent the worthy and substantial citizenship. Mr. Ballinger is quiet and unassuming in disposition, and is well liked by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
JAMES MILLIKIN.
Few sections of Ohio are as favored with prosperous, industrious and successful farmers as Madison county. Much credit is due to those men who, by persistent endeavor, endless toil, judicious management and remarkable foresight, have so developed the natural resources of their several communities as to make Madison county the veritable garden spot of the Buckeye state. In Canaan township. James Millikiu, who owns a splendid farm on the East pike, six miles south of Plain City and six miles north of West Jefferson, on rural route No. 2, out of Plain City, unquestionably falls within the number of those men who have contributed so materially to the prosperity of Mad- ison county.
James Millikin, who represents the fifth generation of a pre-Revolutionary family, each of whom has possessed a member by the name of James, was born on the farm where he now lives. August 25. 1860, the son of James and Rachel (Cary) Millikin, the former of whom was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1816, and who was the son of James and Elizabeth (Cook) Millikin.
James Millikin, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was the son of Jaures and Dolly ( McFarland) Millikin, the original ancestors of the Millikin family in Madison county. James, the original ancestor, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, January 5, 1752, and Dolly McFarland, his wife, was born in 1762. They emigrated to the United States iu 1771 and located in Washington county, Pennsylvania.
James Millikin, the second ancestor and paternal grandfather, spent his early life in Washington county, Pennsylvania. but in 1830 removed with his family to Madison county, settling on the Darby Plains on the farm now owned by Roy Wilson. He mar- ried Elizabeth Cook, who was born on March 4, 1777, in Washington county. After his wife's death on February 26, 1853, James Millikin removed from his farm and lived with his son-in-law until his death in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Millikin had nine children, six sons and three daughters, as follow : Samuel, Daniel, John, Jacob, James, Andrew, Mary, Anna and Elizabeth. All the children were born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania.
James Millikin, the father of the subject of this sketch, emigrated to Madison county with his parents early in the history of the county, in 1830. The family located on the Darby Plains, and here James Millikin grew to manhood, and in the meantime received his elementary education in the old log school house of Canaan township. On August 20, 1840, he was married to Rachel Cary. To this happy union eight chil- dren were born, three of whom are living. John, who married Martha E. Flenniken, lived in Peabody, Marion county, Kansas, died on October 1. 1915; Jane is the widow of Marshall C. Guy, and lives in Plain City ; Mary D. is the wife of George Clevenger of Vaughnsville, Ohio; James is the subject of this sketch. The father of these children died on September 21. 1896, and his wife died four years later, in 1900.
Reared to manhood on the farm in Canaan township, educated in the district schools of that township and having attended high school one year at West Jefferson, James Millikin, the subject of this sketch. took up farming on his father's farm.
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Subsequently, from 1882 to 1887, he and his father conducted a hardware business in West Jefferson. They sold out the business, however, and returned to the farm.
On December 31, 1890, James Millikin was married to Kittie Huddle, who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, August 29, 1867. Mrs. Millikin was reared on a farm, received her elementary education in the common schools and attended high school. She taught school for a period of five years in Madison county. Her success as a teacher was marked, and her influence of a helpful and beneficial character, and her personality of such a nature as won for her the respect of her scholars. To Mr. and Mrs. Millikin there have been born four children. Helen, born on March 4, 1893, was graduated from the North high school at Columbus, became a teacher and taught for twenty-three months, and is now a student in the Lamar, Ohio, Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. James, born on November 15, 1895, was graduated from the Plain City high school in 1913. Lucile, born on October 14, 1897, was graduated from Plain City high school in 1914, and is now a student at the State Normal at Plain City. Frances Elizabeth was born on May 29, 1910.
Mr. and Mrs. Millikin and family are devoted members of the Big Darby Baptist church, and are actively engaged in the various activities of the church, Mr. Millikin is a member of lodge No. 221, Free and Accepted Masons at West Jefferson. He is an ardent Democrat, and, although never aspiring to office, is interested, as every loyal American citizen should be, in the political development of his community. On their farm, situated midway between Plain City and West Jefferson, Mr. and Mrs. Millikin enjoy the pleasures and comforts of life, and are representative of the prosperity and happiness that pervades Madison county.
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