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 99
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Mr. Hafey is of a quiet, retiring disposition, and is happy in the respect of his neighbors, because of the scrupulous exactness in his business dealings.
HENRY FREY.
Henry Frey. farmer. West Jefferson, Madison county, was born on April 29, 1859. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. and is a son of Gottlieb and Mary A. ( Holliver) Frey. At the age of one and one-half years, he came with his parents to Madison county, where he attended the district schools until seventeen years of age. after which he followed farming under the instruction of his father, until he was twenty-three years old, and then did farm work by the month. When he was twenty-nine years old he was married and began farming for himself, and now owns a good farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres. Mr. Frey is a Democrat, but never takes an active interest in politics. His wife belongs to the Catholic church at West Jefferson, Ohio. Mr. Frey is a member of West Jefferson Lodge No. 412. Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Gottlieb Frey, father of the subject of this sketch, and his wife, Mary A. ( Holliver) Frey, were natives of Germany, and on their arrival in America settled at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. in 1856. where he followed the trade of a mechanic. Remaining there a few years, he decided to try the western country. He settled in Madison county. Ohio. where he rented land for a number of years. and later bought the farm now owned by Henry Frey. Here Mr. and Mrs. Gottleib Frey both lived until they died. He died on May 21. 1896. They were both members of the German Intheran church, and were the parents of six sons, four of whom are living in 1915: Henry: Frederick, a farmer in Van Wert county, Ohio: William. who lives in Clark county; and Charles, who resides in Madison county.
Henry Frey was united in marriage in January. 1889. with Susan C. McNeil, daughter of John and Anna (Corrigan) McNeil. She was born on October 1. 1866. in Jefferson township, and is a member of the Catholic church at West Jefferson, Ohio.
John McNeil, father of Mrs. Henry Frey, was a native of Ireland, and his wife. Anna (Corrigan) McNeil, was born at Dublin. They were united in marriage at Springfield, Clark county. Ohio. after which they came to Jefferson township, where
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they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. McNeil died on October 3, 1900, and his wife died on November 29, 1913. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living in 1915.
Mr. Frey has led a life of quiet simplicity, and his name stands for honest business methods and patient industry.
JOHN PATTERSON.
John Patterson, farmer, Plain City, Madison county, was born on January 8, 1867, in Clark county, Ohio, and is a son of Abraham and Eileen (Peene) Patterson. His mother died when he was about three years old, and he was reared by an uncle living in Madison county, and was educated in the district schools. Mr. Patterson is a general farmer and stock raiser, and disposes of several carloads of hogs and cattle. He gives his support to the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at West Jefferson, Ohio, and the West Jefferson lodge No. 412. Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Abraham Patterson. father of John Patterson, was born, reared and educated in Ireland, and came to the United States when a young man, settling at Cincinnati, where he became a general merchant, and later moved to Springfield, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Patterson was married while in Cincinnati to Eileen Peene, by whom he had three children, George, Samuel and John. George Patterson is a manufacturer of pottery, and lives near Springfield, Ohio. Samuel Patterson is a citizen of West Jefferson.
John Patterson was united in marriage. February 20, 1901. with Mary Flugge, daughter of Fred and Anna (Kallies) Flugge. She was born on May 15, 1878, in Franklin county, Ohio. No children have come to bless this union. Mrs. Patterson is a regular attendant of the Methodist church.
Mr. Patterson is a descendant of Irish ancestry on his father's side, and of English lineage on his mother's side. He and his wife are pleasant, agreeable people, and occupy a high position in the estimation of the citizens of their community.
JOHN L. BUSWELL.
John L. Buswell. farmer. West Jefferson. Ohio, was born on February 28. 1870, in Jefferson township, and is a son of George and Nancy (Toop) Buswell. He grew up on a farm in Jefferson township, where he attended the district schools, remaining at home until twenty-one years of age. when he began to rent land and farm for himself. eventually becoming very successful and now owns one hundred and eighty-five acres of land. all in good agricultural condition. located five miles northwest of West Jeffer- son. Mr. Buswell is a Republican. but has never taken an active part in local politics.
George Buswell, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of England, coming to the United States when a young man, and locating in Jefferson township. His wife, Nancy (Toop) Buswell, was a native of Ohio. They were the parents of six children, as follow : Sarah became the wife of John Penney, who is now deceased ; Maggie is the widow of Uriah Blair; Susan was married to William Lombard, who is deceased : Mary is the wife of John Bailey, and lives in Nebraska; George is an agriculturist in Jefferson township, and John L., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Bus- . well died on March 29, 1899. He was a son of Thomas and Catherine Buswell, natives of England, where they lived and died. He came to the United States on April 18. 1855, settling in Madison county, Ohio, on June 19. of that same year. He at once entered the employ of Edward Roberts, and remained with him four years. He worked by the day when he first came to this country, and when he died he was
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wealthy. owning three hundred and thirty-six acres of land. He was married on August 25. 1861, to Nancy Toop.
John J. Buswell was united in marriage on June 30, 1889, with Mary Hennis, daughter of George and Wilberta ( White) Hennis. She was born on November 22. 1870, in Pickaway county, Ohio. She was reared on a farm and her education was obtained in the public schools. To Mr. and Mrs. Buswell have been born two children, Leslie, who became the wife of Smith Olney, and Mamie, who is the wife of Leroy Bradley.
George Hennis, father of Mrs. John L. Buswell, was born on June 4, 1847. in Licking county, Ohio, and died on February 9. 1915. His wife, Wilberta ( White) Hennis, was born on August 21, 1849, in West Virginia, and lives in Union county, Ohio. She is the mother of nine children, eight of whom are living in 1915: Mary, Ida, Laura, Sammel. Emma, Anna, Minnie and John. Willie died in infancy. Ida became the wife of Grant Paugh; Laura was married to Perry Murry; Emma is now Mrs. Harley MeFadden : Anna married Samuel Geho; Minnie was united in marriage with Jabez Thompson.
Mr. Buswell has earned and retains the sincere regard of the entire community in which he resides.
BERTHIER LOHR.
The Lohr family has been prominent in the agricultural, financial and political history of Madison county for nearly a century. Later generations of the family have been especially prominent in the religious history of the county, Berthier Lohr, who is now serving his first term as a commissioner of Madison county, having been a commissioner to several general assemblies of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Lohr is a retired farmer, who is now living in London.
Berthier Lohr was born in London, this county, November 13, 1847, in an old house on Union street, which is still in use. He is the son of John and' Ann (Noteman) Lohr, the former of whom was born in Virginia, the son of Michael Lohr, also a native of that state. Michael Lohr's father, Michael Lohr, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and Michael himself served in the War of 1812. Michael Lohr's widow, who before her marriage was a Miss Miller, became the wife of a Mr. Mess- more and, as his wife, immigrated from Virginia to Ohio in 1820, driving through directly to Madison county, Ohio, and settling on the Crider farm, three miles west of London. In 1825 she returned to Virginia in company with two other women on horseback and returned to Madison county by the same way, after she had settled an estate.
On Mrs. Messmore's first overland journey to Madison county, she had brought with her two sons and two daughters by her first marriage, George W., John, Margaret and Mary. Of the daughters, Margaret married William Chappel of Madison county. She died later in Toledo, leaving one daughter. Mary married Michael Carr and lived in Fayette county. One of her daughters, Mrs. Clara Irwin, lives in Madison county. Mr. Messmore was a shoemaker by trade at Sedalia, later called Midway, where he died of old age. His wife died in 1862 at the home of her son, George W. Lohr, in London. By her marriage to Mr. Messmore, she had several children. Cath- erine, who married James Gossard, lived in Range township, later moving to Illinois, where she died. Her children, George and Jephtha Gossard, now live in Fayette county. Isabel married a Mr. Wielmuth and later moved to Kentucky. She had no children. The other children were Samuel, Jane. Marion and Isabelle.
George W. and John Lohr spent their lives in London. They operated a saddlery and harness business in partnership until about 1840, after which George engaged in
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the livery business and was thus engaged for many years. George W. Lohr died in London, after having passed the age of eighty years. His wife was Sarah Reeder and they had a family of three daughters, who are still living in London, Josephine N., who is unmarried; Mrs. Mary Dungan and Mrs. Arnold Gardner.
Ann Noteman, who married John Lohr, was born in Madison county and was the daughter of William Noteman, who, with his wife, who was a Smith, lived one mile northeast of London, in Union township. William Noteman was born on the ocean while his parents, of Scotch-Irish descent, were coming to America. They came to Ohio while he was still a boy. His farm was located northeast of London and there he died while still a young man about 1830. Ann Noteman was reared on a farm northeast of London and spent her whole life in Madison county. She was married to John Lohr about 1844, and when her parents' estate was settled she inherited through her mother two hundred and fifty acres of land. After dissolving his partnership with his brother in 1848, John Lohr and wife moved to a farm two miles east of London, on the West Jefferson pike. The acreage was increased until John Lohr owned three hundred and ten acres. He erected the present house and cleared a great deal of the land now under cultivation, having at the time of his death, on December 31, 1898, a very fine farm. He was eighty-two years old when he died. His widow died in London. John. Lohr was township trustee for a number of years and also served as school director. Until the very last days of his life, he loked perosonally after his property interests. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church of London and he was an elder in the church for many years and a strict observer of his faith. He was popular in the ranks of the Republican party and an important worker therein.
In '1840 John Lohr was a member of the brass band in London. being a bass drummer. He made a canoe of a large log and the band was taken to Chillicothe for the Harrison campaign of that year, where they played at a big rally. Later he took an active part in the famous Brough campaign in this state. John Lohr was a celebrated exhibitor of Merino sheep at the county fairs held in this section of Ohio. His wife was a great Bible student and was prominent in church work. She was a sub- scriber to the Herald and Presbyter for many years. John Lohr was sent as a delegate to the presbytery and the synod on several occasions.
The family of John and Ann ( Noteman) Lohr consisted of eight children, namely : Theresa, who married Robert Moore, a veteran of the Civil War, lives in London ; Berthier, the subject of this sketch; Clara, the widow of John Pierce, of London, who was a veteran of the Civil War; Angenette, the wife of James B. Crider, lives on the old Crider farm, three miles from London on the Charleston pike; Smith, a resi- dent of Georgia ; Ella, the wife of Arthur McDonald, of Ames, Iowa; Flora, who married Frank White and lives in London, and Charles, an assistant engineer in London.
Of these children, Berthier Lohr has spent all of his life, except one year, in Madison county. One year he lived in Kansas. During his active career, Mr. Lohr was a general farmer and stockman. He took a great interest in hogs and fed a large number. At the age of twenty-eight, Berthier Lohr was married to Mary J. Creath, the daughter of Owen M. Creath, who was born and reared in Madison county and who spent practically all of her life here, with the exception of a few years in which she lived in Iowa. Her father was a member of an Iowa regiment during the Civil War and was killed at the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing. To Mr. and Mrs. Berthier Lohr five children have been born, as follow: John C., a graduate of the London high school, is a rural mail carrier in Madison county; Owen .F., a graduate of the London high school, lives at home; Bessie, who was also educated in
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the high school, lives at home; Ira, a resident of Dayton, and Albert Floyd, a civil engineer at Columbus, Ohio, who is graduate of the Ohio State University.
A good many years ago, Mr. Lobr was ordained an elder in the Presbyterian church and he has been an industrious worker in the church. He has been a delegate to various meetings of the church in this state and was a commissioner to the general assembly of the church held at St. Louis in 1900. He also attended the assembly in the years that body was convened at Columbus, at Atlanta and at Des Moines, Iowa.
As a Republican, Mr. Lohr was elected to the position of infirmary director and served in that position for a number of years. He has served as township trustee, as school director and. in 1914, was elected commissioner of Madison county, his term of office beginning in September, 1915. Mr. Lohr succeeded E. E. Willard. Since 1873 Berthier Lohr has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Follows. He has passed all of the chairs in the subordinate lodge and in the encampment. IIe is also a member of the Grange and was one of the promoters of the Farmers' Club. Beginning back as far as 1874, Mr. Lohr has been one of the active workers in the Grange organization. He has also been active in the work of farmers' institutes throughout this section. He is widely known throughout the county and is held in the very highest regard by his hosts of friends.
WYATT C. PRATT.
Wyatt C. Pratt, farmer, London, Monroe township. Madison county, was born on July 14. 1SSS. in Clark county, Ohio, and is a son of J. C. and Anna ( Hall) Pratt. He was reared amid farm scenes and received his education in the public schools of the district and the high school at Plainwood. After leaving school he followed farming for about six years and then went west, returning after a stay of one year, to Madison county, Ohio, where he is successfully following agriculture, having the sole ownership of two hundred and twenty acres, and an interest in another tract of five hundred and fifty acres. Mr. Pratt is a supporter of the Republican policies.
J. C. Pratt, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on November 28, 1861. in Clark county. Ohio, and was a son of A. G. and Mary (Clark) Pratt. Ilis wife was Anna (Hall ) Pratt. by whom he had four children, three of whom are living in 1915; Wyatt C., Robert E., and John E. Their fourth child, Murray A., is deceased. Mrs. Anna ( Ilall ) Pratt was born in Greene county, Indiana. in 1868.
A. G. Pratt, the paternal grandfather, came from Union county to Madison county, Ohio, where he became the owner of a vast estate, consisting of five hundred and fifty acres in Monroe, and three hundred and fifty acres in Clark county, Ohio. He was a man of good business judgment and was considered one of the leading and progressive citizens of Madison county. Mr. Pratt, during his earlier years, was a great stock- raiser. but in his. latter years, he withdrew from active farm interests and moved to London. Ohio, where both he and his wife spent their last days. Mr. Pratt was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which lodge he took an active part. His wife was Mary (Clark) Pratt. by whom he had the following children : Charles, Irene. Ida, J. C., Josie. Norma, Blanche and Mable, only four of whom. Blanche. Ida. Josie and Norma, are living in 1915.
Wyatt C. Pratt was united in marriage in November. 1912, with Maud E. Weaver, daughter of Erastus and Anna ( Stickley) Weaver. She was born in Monroe township and was educated in the public schools. after which she taught school in Monroe town- ship for several years. This union has been blest with one daughter, Mary Louise. born on March 8, 1914.
The Pratt family has always been interested in fine stock, and J. C. Pratt, uncle
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of the subject of this sketch, was a breeder of standard-bred trotting horses, and at one time owned "Baron Del Ray," with a record of 2:0814.
Mr. Pratt is a hustling young agriculturist, whose outlook is extremely bright for one of his years, and whose aim is "high efficiency," which is the spirit of this age in every direction.
AUBURN L. GRAHAM.
One of the highly-respected citizens of Madison county, is Auburn L. Graham, whose energy and ambition are an inspiration to those who know him. He is dis- tinctively an up-to-date agriculturist, believing that nothing is too good or too expensive that will in any way facilitate farm industry. Mr. Graham has contributed in a material way to the advancement of agriculture in his township.
Auburn L. Graham, farmer, Plain City, Ohio, was born on January 8, 1863, in Pleasant township, Madison county, and is a son of John M. and Gertrude (Smith) Graham. He was reared to the life of a farmer and received his education at the district schools. going later to the London high school. Mr. Graham is unmarried. He has always been especially interested in machinery, and has equipped his farm with all the up-to-date implements that are helpful in high-efficiency farming, among which is a six-bottom gang plow. He does plowing for other farmers, and is such an expert as a machinist that he isenabled to do his own repairing when his machinery is out of order. Mr. Graham never learned a trade, but through his natural interest in machinery and his personal experience has become an expert farm-machine repairer. Ile votes the Republican ticket. but has never taken an active interest in local politics.
John M. and Gertrude (Smith) Graham, the parents of Auburn L., were both born in Madison county. Ohio, and were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living in 1915: Anna, who has never married, and makes her home with our subject : Jennie, who became the wife of R. J. Woodhouse. of Logan county, Ohio; Gertrude, the wite of Sherman Rea, of London, Ohio; M. N., of Columbus; Auburn L. ; and J. S., a single man, who makes his home with the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Graham is known throughout the entire county as one of the eminently suc- cessful modern farmers, who also enjoys the distinction of being an authority in his line, being frequently called upon for advice. His valuable tract of two hundred and fifty-one acres is located seven miles south of Plain City, Ohio.
JAMES W. PRATT.
James W. Pratt, farmer, Mechanicsburg, Madison county, was born on May 8. 1865, in Fayette county, Ohio, and is a son of James and Louisa (Edins) Pratt. He grew upon his father's farm in Fayette county, attending school until fourteen years of age, when he began his business career on his own responsibility. He came to Madison county and engaged his services on a farm, working by the month. At the time of his marriage he settled in Monroe township, where he has since resided, and where, through industry, thrift and good management, he was enabled in 1911 to purchase a good farmi, consisting of one hundred and forty-four acres. Mr. Pratt is an earnest and loyal member of the Democratic party.
James Pratt, Sr., father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia, and is now a resident of Monroe township, Madison county, Ohio. He was married to Louisa Edins, who died in Fayette county, Ohio, and who was the mother of a number of children, five of whom are living in 1915: Nancy, Mary, John, James W. and Susie. Nancy became the wite of James Reed, now deceased, and lives at Plainwood. Ohio; Mary was married to John Wybright. and lives at Plumwood, Ohio: James W. lives in Monroe township; Susie makes her home in Fayette county, Ohio.
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James W. Pratt was united in marriage on December 1. 1885, with Mattie Bethards, daughter of James and Isabella ( Wybright) Bethards. She was born in November, 1866, in Madison county, Ohio. There have been born to this union six children, Dilbert, Mollie, Roy, Owen, Pearl and Grace Elizabeth, Dilbert is unmarried ; Pearl married a Miss Cunningham, and lives near Nation chapel; Mollie is the wife of Snowden Hatfield, and resides in Madison county; Roy married Ella Baker and lives on the home farm; Owen is at home; Grace Elizabeth goes to Plumwood high school.
James Bethards, father of Mrs. Pratt, was a Union soldier during the Civil War, serving three years and nine months. He was wounded and served in thirty-six battles. He still lives in Rosedale, Pike township, Madison county, at seventy-nine years of age.
Mrs. Pratt is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Plumwood, and also belongs to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of which she is treas- urer. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have gained the loyalty and respect of their entire township. where their children have also won a high name for good citizenship.
W. S. FINLEY.
The man equipped with sufficient ambition is bound to win out, no matter how much he is opposed. To the individual who makes up his or her mind to achieve success, nothing will keep them from it. It may not always come in just the way they had planned, in fact it seldom does, but it comes sometimes in the most unexpected way, and is none the less welcome, because there is always a satisfaction in making a success of anything worth while. The subject of this sketch has not only made a success of his business affairs, but also made his opportunity, for which he deserves the admiration and credit of his fellow citizens.
W. S. Finley, farmer of Monroe township, Madison county, Ohio, was born on October 5, 1858, in a log cabin which stood where H. T. Finley now lives, in Monroe township. He is a son of Col. J. H. and Martha ( Ruff) Finley. His early education was obtained at the public schools, and after leaving school he went on a visit to Virginia at the age of sixteen years, wher he finished his education. When quite young, Mr. Finley commenced to farm for himself. He has always been a strong believer in the principles of the Democratic party, and has given his support in local politics by serving as township clerk for one year, and for twelve years as township treasurer. Mr. Finley is a member of the Christian church at Pickaway, Ohio.
J. H. Finley, father of W. S. Finley, was a native of Rockbridge county. Virginia, where his wife also was born. He and his wife, Martha ( Ruff) Finley, came to Madison county and settled where the Finley farm is located. Mr. and Mrs. Finley were the parents of eight children: John, William, David W., Amanda, Horace, Mar- garet, Benjamin aud W. S. John Finley joined the army, and died during the Civil War; William moved to Plain City; David W. lives in the northwestern part of Nebraska ; Amanda is deceased: Horace lives on the home place; Margaret is the wife of E. W. Fisher.
W. S. Finley was united in marriage on August 11, 1878, with Jennie Heath, daughter of James and Malinda ( Barnett) Heath. She was born in Deer Creek town- ship, Madison county. This union has been blest with four children: Emery, who resides at Bozeman, Montana, and is married to Lillian Weaver; Bessie, who became the wife of Thomas W. Stalbird, and lives in Monroe township; Guy, who was married to Alice Lloyd, and resides in Darby, township, and Perr, who conducts a store at Resaca, and is single.
Mr. Finley, through his straightforward dealings and honest attitude toward all with whom he comes in contact, is justifiably entitled to the high esteem in which he
MR. AND MRS. W. S. FINLEY.
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is held in the community where he resides. Aided by his wife, he has achieved a considerable success. Mr. and Mrs. Finley have a fine farm 'of one hundred and four acres, seventy acres of which are in cultivation. They have a splendid country home, a ten-room, modern house, built in 1910-11.
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