USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 25
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Company A .- Private, O. C. Lamond.
Company C .- Captain, William D. Stone (wounded at Resaca, May 14, 1864) ; 2nd lieutenant, John S. Rhodes (promoted to captain) ; sergeants- Jesse Clum (promoted to lieutenant), and James W. McDaniel; corporals- James H. Ellis (died at New Market, Tennessee, June 23, 1864), Enos Harrod (killed at Atlanta, Georgia, January 1, 1863), Henry Johnston (pro- moted to sergeant), and James H. Johnston; teamster, John A. Ellis (died at
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Falmouth, Kentucky) ; privates-Henry Bobenmeyer, Ezekiel Brown (died at Townsend's Bridge, April 11, 1863), Ira P. Burk, John Burkle, George O. Circle, John Clements (wounded by wagon running over him), William Clem- ents, John H. Collins (promoted), James P. Downs, John A. Doner, George Dunwoody, Marion Dunwoody, Mathias Fleighler, Samuel Garber, George Hedrick, Francis M. Hinton, Stephen Johnston ( wounded at Resaca, May 14, 1864), Dennis Kelley (wounded at Resaca, May 14, 1864), Charles Kline, George R. McDaniel, Michael McDaniel, John McGee, George Martin, James Meeks (died at Knoxville, Tennessee, February 12, 1864), John Myers, George Patton, William Preston (a veteran of the Mexican War, who with his three sons was in the Civil War-he was in his 72nd year while in Com- pany C), Milton W. Schroyer, Joseph Steen and J. Tebold.
Company D .- Privates .- Daniel Crabtree, Edson Stowell, Jacob Taw- ney, J. S. Clum and William Short.
Company E .- Privates .- James Frazier, C. A. Kelley, W. Sullivan, E. N. Rice, M. Simison, John H. Murlin and George Rockwell.
Company I .- Private, Gideon Bobenmeyer.
156TH. REGIMENT, OHIO NATIONAL GUARD.
This regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, on the 4th of May, 1864, by the consolidation of the 34th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., with the 80th and 8Ist regiments, Ohio National Guard. It was mustered into the United States service with an aggregate of 864 men.
On the 20th of May, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F and H, were placed on guard duty at Cincinnati, while G, I and K remained at Camp Dennison until the Morgan demonstrations, when these companies were sent to Fal- mouth, Kentucky. In July, the whole regiment was brought together at Cov- ington, and then moved to Paris, Kentucky. It was soon ordered to Cumber- land, Maryland, which place it reached on the 3Ist of July. The next day the regiment passed out on the Baltimore pike, about three miles, where it met the enemy under McCausland and Bradley Johnson, and, although ex- posed to a severe artillery fire, maintained itself in a very commendable man- ner. The engagement lasted from 4 in the afternoon to 9 o'clock in the evening. The regiment lay on its arms during the night, but daylight showed that the enemy had retreated. After this engagement, the regiment remained on duty about Cumberland until the 26th of August, when it was ordered to Ohio to be mustered out. On the Ist of September the regiment was dis- charged at Camp Dennison, Ohio.
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Company I .- Captain, C. B. Collins; Ist lieutenant, Daniel Brookhart; 2nd lieutenant, Thomas Spangler; sergeants-J. M. Hussey, Smith Town- send, J. W. Presho, W. H. Brookhart and G. W. Bogart; corporals-J. H. Murlin, Miles Rider, H. T. Younger, James Miller, S. Brookhart, J. Custer,
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W. L. Drury and E. C. Webb; privates-G. A. Albert, G. Bruggerman, J. Bowman, James Blosser, J. Brookhart, William Buck, L. T. Brookhart, Oliver Black (discharged September 12, 1864), James P. Bodkins (dis- charged at Cumberland, September 25, 1864), Greenbury S. Buxton (died at Camp Dennison, January 15, 1864), George Buxton (died at Camp Den- nison, September 5, 1864), Isaac N. Buxton (discharged at Cumberland, September 25, 1864), Francis M. Buxton (discharged at Cumberland, Sep- tember 25, 1864), J. Craft, W. Copeland, L. T. Clark, H. Clark, J. Clin- smith, J. C. Davis, J. B. Davis, J. Deidrich, C. Deidrich, W. H. Drury, Philander Davis, Peter Davis, William H. DeFord, J. P. Edwards, William Eichar, A. J. Fast, A. J. Foreman, E. D. Fowler, B. F. Felker, G. W. Fent, Charles Frank (discharged at Cumberland, September 25, 1864), Jacob Guy, William Gruby, A. Ginter, W. H. H. Grier, J. H. Gerard, T. Hankins, J. C. Hitchens, C. Hall, L. D. Hall, H. Hussey, W. G. Harner, R. Harner, J. Hesser, B. Harner, M. Harner, J. Hager, W. Harris, J. E. Keller, J. B. Leh- man, P. D. F. Layland, D. A. Murlin, J. T. McDermit, H. P. Miller, G. C. Moore, S. D. Murlin, A. Mussulman, J. McDonald, William Nottingham, J. B. Northrop, G. G. Parrott, B. H. Parrott, J. Palmer, H. L. Patterson, G. F. Hicketts, M. B. Rhodes, G. Roebuck, William A. Rider, John Sayers (discharged at Cumberland, September 25, 1864), J. Shanklin, B. F. Stevens, J. Siler, A. J. Springer, William H. Springer, A. G. Shellabarger, G. M. Sinift, A. J. Thompson, W. Van Gundy, E. Willets, C. Wilson, A. W. Way, J. Wicks, J. E. Williams, N. Werts, G. W. Wagner, Eli Yost, J. B. Younger and B. L .- Younger.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- J. W. Cavender, Co. K, Ist Reg .; John Blatten, Co. M, Ist Reg .; George Uhlman, Co. M, Ist Reg .; A. V. Bark, Co. E, 2nd Reg .; Joseph Kindle, Co. G, 2nd. Reg .; James M. Archer, Co. M, 2nd Reg .; Jacob Bowers, Co. F, 3rd Reg .; Robert Adams, Co. B, 4th Reg .; A. C. Andrews, Co. F, 4th Reg .; John Charter, Co. F, 4th Reg .; Israel Cook, Co. F, 4th Reg. ; Jordan Cummins, Quartermaster, 5th Reg. ; F. S. Banks, Co. M, 5th Reg .; Jay Hackenberry; Co. A, 6th Reg. ; S. Bowers, Co. E, 7th Reg .; F. Kuhn, Co. I, 8th Reg .; G. C. Roach, Co. C, 9th Reg .; W. Adelsperger, Co. G, 9th Reg .; James P. Barrington, Co. G, 9th Reg .; Jacob Hight, Co. G, 9th Reg .; D. J. Beardslee, Co. K, 10th Reg .; J. C. Dickson, Co. B, 12th Reg .: James Guy, Co. E, 12th Reg .; W. M. Graham, Co. A, 13th Reg .; G. W. Evans, Co. H, 15th Reg .; G. Barrington, Co. H, 16th Reg .; Peter Aller, Co. A, 18th Reg .; John H. Bush, Co. H, 23rd Reg .; Alois Bailey, Co. A, 25th Reg .; Robert Cannon, Co. B, 27th Reg .; A. B. Craig, Co. B, 27th Reg .; James Churchman, Co. B, 27th Reg .; Lewis Haywood, Co. B, 27th
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Reg .; Thomas Haywood, Co. B, 27th Reg .; E. A. Jackson, Co. B, 27th Reg .; Thomas Moland, Co. B, 27th Reg .; Thomas Delaney, Co. C, 27th Reg .; Ira North, Co. I, 27th Reg .; Christian North, Co. I, 27th Reg .; Jonas S. Stukey, Co. I, 27th Reg .; Michael Weyne, Co. I, 27th Reg .; Eberhard Zim- merman, Co. I, 27th Reg. ; Philip Augustin, Co. C, 32nd Reg .; C. F. Harzog, Co. A, 33rd Reg .; Solomon King, Co. A, 34th Reg .; Joseph Hughes, Co. E, 34th Reg .; John Sutton, Co. I, 34th Reg .; M. Kelley, Co. I, 34th Reg .; Joseph Goder, Co. I, 34th Reg .; Frederick Stedcke, Co. I, 34th Reg .; John H. Seibert, Co. I, 34th Reg .; Noble R. Borders, Co. I, 36th Reg .; G. W. Dysert, Co. I, 36th Reg .; W. Groves, Co. I, 36th Reg .; W. B. Ralston, Co. I, 36th Reg .; Charles Behm, Co. I, 37th Reg. (killed at Flat Top Mountain in 1863) ; James R. Hedges, Co. I, 38th Reg .; J. S. Hoyt, Co. K, 40th Reg .; Joseph Keller, Co. K, 40th Reg .; A. D. Sawyer, Co. K, 40th Reg .; William Sutherland, Co. K, 40th Reg .; J. C. Cannon, Co. K, 42nd Reg .; William Cannon, Co. K, 42nd Reg .; W. C. Davis, Co. A, 46th Reg .; Eli C. Heath, Co. A, 46th Reg .; A. Kuehl, Co. A, 46th Reg .; L. Raudabaugh, Co. A, 46th Reg .; John W. Ash, Co. B, 47th Reg .; Philip Gardner, Co. I, 47th Reg .; U. LaRue, Co. E, 48th Reg .; Joseph Carr, Co. C, 50th Reg .; Jesse Croghan, Co. C, 50th Reg .; Jacob Davis, Co. C, 50th Reg .; Walker Dean, Co. C, 50th Reg .; W. Dellinger, Co. C, 50th Reg .; Thomas Dull, Co. C, 50th Reg .; B. N. Piper, Co. C, 50th Reg .; Jacob Roberts, Co. C, 50th Reg .; J. S. Rue, Co. C, 50th Reg .; Joel Bevington, Co. F, 50th Reg. ; J. T. Koots, Co. I, 50th Reg .; William M. Harper, Co. D, 5Ist Reg .; W. Edmundson, Co. K, 5Ist Reg .; Cyrus Haas, Co. K, 5Ist Reg .; G. W. Akers, Co. B, 55th Reg .; Thomas Brown, Co. B, 55th Reg. ; Eli Hull, Co. B, 55th Reg .; J. H. Shipman, Co. H, 56th Reg .; Joseph F. A. Freiburger, Co. A, 57th Reg .; Gideon Crabtree, Co. D, 57th Reg .; George Flagler, Co. G, 57th Reg .; Peter Portz, Co. G, 57th Reg .; Theodore Scheid, 58th Reg .; Curtis Cummins, 58th Reg. ; F. Vagedes, 58th Reg .; David Ayers, Co. I, 60th Reg .; J. W. Barber, Co. D, 62nd Reg .; Fred Heis, Co. D, 62nd Reg .; George Carr, Co. K, 62nd Reg .; C. Black, 63rd Reg .; J. F. Covault, Co. G, 66th Reg .; Philip Bush, Co. D, 69th Reg. ; H. H. Rittenhouse, Co. H, 69th Reg .; Fred Clatery, 70th Reg .; James F. Timmonds, Co. D, 7Ist Reg. ; S. R. Beam, Co. A, 75th Reg .; Ephraim Miller, Co. B, 78th Reg .; James Cochran, 79th Reg. (shot by accident at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania) ; Girard Bailey, Co. B, 86th Reg .; Oswald Scranton, Co. K, 87th Reg. (captured at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1862; re-enlisted in Company D, 57th Ind. Vol. Inf .; died at Port Lavaca, Texas, November 12, 1865) ; Charles Landon, Co. C, 88th Reg .; C. W. McKee, Co. C, 88th Reg. ; John Loree, Co. D, 88th Reg. ; Warren Barber, Co. K, 88th Reg. ; James Fefe, Co. K, 88th Reg .; Reuben T. Griffin, Co. K, 88th Reg. ; James Hattery, Co. K, 88th Reg .; P. B. Hawkins, Co. K, 88th Reg .; Samuel Hawkins, Co.
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K, 88th Reg .; T. Hawkins, Co. K, 88th Reg .; H. Hamilton, Co. K, 88th Reg .; J. J. Parrott, Co. K, 88th Reg .; W. W. Parrott, Co. K, 88th Reg .; J. P. Pat- terson, Co. K, 88th Reg .; E. H. Patterson, Co. K, 88th Reg .; C. Snavely, Co. K, 88th Reg .; Job Snavely, Co. K, 88th Reg .; Josiah Waltz, Co. K, 88th Reg .; Jacob Wyandt, Co. K, 88th Reg .; Jacob Wertz, Co. K, 88th Reg .; Franklin Yant, Co. K, 88th Reg .; John Yoh, Co. K, 88th Reg. ; D. A. James, Co. C, 90th Reg .; James H. Day, major 99th Reg .; Adam Kuhn, Co. F, 99th Reg .; W. B. Rother, Co. F, 99th Reg. ; B. F. Roebuck, Co. F, 99th Reg .; Adam Shultz, Co. H, 100th Reg .; Julius Brown, Co. I, 100th Reg .; David Small, Co. D, 102nd Reg .; Wilson Ruff, Co. H, 110th Reg .; E. H. Kelley, Co. H, 120th Reg .; J. W. Grey, Co. G, 126th Reg .; Abraham Mott, Co. D, 134th Reg .; Michael Ayers, Co. G, 152nd Reg .; Eli T. Hastings, 156th Reg .; H. Dixon, Co. A, 18Ist Reg .; J. C. Edwards, Co. F, 183rd Reg .; H. Bartlett, Co. D, 193rd Reg .; A. D. Coats, Co. D, 193rd Reg .; Charles Collins, Co. D. 193rd Reg .; R. B. Miller, Co. D, 193rd Reg .; David Snyder, Co. D, 193rd Reg .; W. Frysinger, Co. E, 197th Reg.
Ohio National Guard .- Amos Tong, Co. A, 15Ist Reg .; Peter Mell, Co. C, 15Ist Reg. ; Samuel A. Shockey, Co. D, 15Ist Reg .; John M. McClure, Co. D, 15Ist Reg.
Ohio Volunteer Cavalry .- E. Kempler, Co. M, Ist Reg .; Robert J. Kittle, 5th Reg .; Samuel B. Shipley, 5th Reg.
Ohio Independent Battery .- William Adams, 2nd Reg .; John Coon, 5th Reg. ; Isaac W. Preston, 5th Reg .; George Colton, 5th Reg. ; J. Preston, 5th Reg. ; Abner Bone, 5th Reg .; John A. Stevens, 5th Reg .; B. Fisher, 5th Reg .; James Williams, 6th Reg.
Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery .- John Buehler, Battery M, Ist Reg .; Albert Birkmeyer, Battery M, Ist Reg .; John Slife, Ist Bat. Vet. ; Elias Bone, O. C. Leymond, John A. Hunter, Robert S. Dye, William Lundy, Edward Davison, Martin Bobenmeyer, John Bollenbacher.
Indiana Volunteer Infantry .- C. Byer, Co. H, 23rd Reg .; John King, 34th Regiment.
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry .- W. H. Moon, Co. B, 55th Reg.
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry .- G. M. Johnston, 44th Regiment.
United States Artillery .- G. B. Keith, Co. G, 3rd Regiment.
United States Colored Troops .- Thomas S. Evans, Co. D, 27th Reg .; Walter Lewis, Co. D, 27th Reg .; George H. Young, Co. D, 27th Reg .; John W. Johnston, Co. K, 5th Virginia Reg. (ran away and came North) ; John T. A. Bostwick, Co. K, Johnston Grays, Georgia.
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HON. THOMAS J. GODFREY
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Representative Citizens
HON. THOMAS J. GODFREY
Among the mass of good citizens, who have made Mercer County a leading county of the Buckeye State, there have arisen individuals, who, through their superior ability, their greater enterprise and their more pro- nounced public spirit, have added luster in their fields of work and have dis- tinguished themselves for posterity. Such a one was the late Hon. Thomas J. Godfrey, who for more than 30 years served faithfully in public life and for 50 years was prominently identified with the business, educational and social affairs of the village of Celina.
Thomas J. Godfrey, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born June 6, 1831, in Darke County, Ohio, and died at Celina, November 30, 1906. He was a son of Elias B. and Sarah (Elliott) Godfrey, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in North Carolina. Mr. Godfrey's parents reared a family of seven children, two of whom now survive. The father died in 1888, and the mother in 1891, at Dowagiac, Michigan, to which place they had removed in 1859.
Mr. Godfrey enjoyed more extended educational opportunities than were afforded many youths of his time and after he had completed his academic and university training, receiving the latter in Asbury University, at Green- castle, Indiana, he began to teach school and met with such success that the two succeeding years were passed as an educator, both in Ohio and Indiana. His ambition, however, was to attain eminence as a lawyer and he began reading law in the office of Allen & Meeker, at Greenville, Ohio. In 1857 he was graduated at the Cincinnati Law School. Shortly after being admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio at Columbus, he located at Celina, which village continued his home the remainder of his life.
Mr. Godfrey's active entrance into politics may be dated from 1863, when he was elected prosecuting attorney of Mercer County. By the close
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of his first term, his public efficiency had been so acknowledged that he was enthusiastically and unanimously renominated, but pending the election he was nominated to the State Senate by the convention representing the dis- trict then composed of the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Mercer, Van Wert, Paulding and Williams. From the first his election was an assured fact and his administration of the office was so satisfactory that in 1867 he was returned to the Senate.
Upon the organization of the General Assembly in January, 1868, Mr. Godfrey was honored by election as president pro tem., and this office, like every other, he administered with fidelity and efficiency. In 1869, when the Democratic party selected the late Hon. George H. Pendleton as its candidate for Governor of Ohio, Mr. Godfrey was equally honored by being selected for the office of Lieutenant-Governor. In that year the party met universal de- feat in the State. In 1873 Mr. Godfrey was chosen a member of the con- stitutional convention, that notable body of distinguished men, and he served with characteristic capacity on its judiciary committee during its sessions in 1873 and 1874. In spite of the legal learning and careful weighing of im- portant issues which characterized this eminent body, the constitution sub- mitted by it to the popular vote was rejected in the fall of 1874.
When the campaign of 1880 opened, Mr. Godfrey was advanced by his party as a presidential elector for the Fifth Congressional District, but was defeated with his party. In October, 1881, Mr. Godfrey was again returned to the State Senate, the senatorial district comprising the counties of Mercer, Van Wert, Auglaize, Allen, Paulding, Defiance and Williams. In 1883 he was re-elected.
With his retirement from the political field, Mr. Godfrey took, if possible, a still greater interest in matters more closely pertaining to his own com- munity as well as to the educational affairs of the county and State. He had more time to devote to them.
For seven years he served as president of the board of trustees of the Ohio State University, and was a member of this body from May, 1878, to May, 1903, a period of just 25 years. On June 2, 1903, the board of trustees of the Ohio State University adopted a set of resolutions, expressing the sentiment of the board relative to Mr. Godfrey's retirement, from which we quote, in substance, a part :- "On May 12, 1903, since our last meeting, the term of the Hon. Thomas J. Godfrey, as member of the board of trustees, expired. He did not seek reappointment, preferring to retire after having rounded out 25 years of continuous service. Mr. Godfrey was first appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio State University, under the 'act of May 1, 1878, for the term of four years, his appointment dating from May 13, 1878; he was reappointed for seven years in 1882, 1889 and 1896.
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On May 16, 1878, at the first meeting of the board under the act above men- tioned, he was elected its president, and was re-elected November 5, 1878. He was again elected president of the board November 14, 1883, and re-elected November 14, 1884. In November, 1889, he was again elected to this posi- tion and re-elected in 1890 and 1891. He served on several committees ; was chairman of finance at different periods; was chairman of the committee on faculty and courses of study for several years; and was chairman of the special committee that reported the plan of organization of the College of Law. He took an active part in the establishment of this college and was one of its most active supporters. He seldom missed a meeting of the board. His loyalty and devotion to the interest of the University during his long period of service never abated. His service began when the University was small in numbers, weak in influence, meager in income and a supplicant for needed support. He saw it grow in numbers, power and influence until it assumed its present proud position, and had the satisfaction of knowing that he had contributed to such growth. In his intercourse with his fellow members of the board, with members of the faculty and with the student body, he was always courteous and kindly, and took a friendly interest in all that was going on. The trust that was confided in him a quarter of a century ago has been faithfully discharged, and he retires with the good wishes of his associates, the faculty, students, alumni and all friends of the University." The members of the general faculty of the University expressed themselves as follows, relative to Mr. Godfrey's retirement: "The Hon. T. J. Godfrey having retired from the board of trustees of Ohio State University after a continuous membership of 25 years, we as members of the General Faculty hereby express our sincere appreciation of his long and eminently faithful service and our regret that the affairs of the University are no longer to re- ceive the benefit of his careful oversight and judicious counsel. We follow. him into his retirement with our kindly wishes and the hope that the future may bring him none but peaceful and happy years."
Coming closer home, Mr. Godfrey found time to serve as county school examiner at various times and was a regular and welcome visitor at all the Teachers' Institutes held in Mercer County, of which there have been 48 annual sessions since the movement was inaugurated in 1859.
In business life Mr. Godfrey was also a leading factor for years, both in city and village. With R. G. Blake, G. W. Raudabaugh, E. M. Piper, A. P. J. Snyder, T. G. TouVelle, William Dickman, Christopher Schunck and S. S. Snyder, he became one of the stockholders of the first building and loan association organized at Celina. This company was chartered as the Celina Building and Loan Association, on February 2, 1870, and when the stock- holders held their first meeting for the election of officers, Mr. Godfrey was 15
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chosen president. Two years later, Mr. Godfrey, with Dr. D. Milligan and his son, bought the entire stock of the association, surrendered its charter and proceeded to organize a banking house, which came into being in February, 1874, at Milligan, Godfrey & Company. The subsequent death of Dr. Milli- gan caused a reorganization and business was resumed under the firm style of Godfrey & Milligan, which continued without change until 1888. It was then succeeded by the Commercial Bank Company, the board of directors of this concern being: Thomas J. Godfrey, Calvin E. Riley, John Milligan, J. `B. Pulskamp, and Ashley M. Riley. On January 1, 1896, Mr. Godfrey re- tired from the Commercial Bank Company, after a long period of honorable «connection.
All public men require relaxation and Mr. Godfrey, like many others, gave a great deal of attention to agricultural interests. He owned a valuable farm and when the perplexities of business, professional and political life bore heavily upon him, he took refuge in his country home and found both pleasure and profit in the developing of what was one of the finest herds of Jersey cattle to be found in the country.
Thomas J. Godfrey was united in marriage on September 29, 1859, to Lorinda Milligan, daughter of the late Dr. D. Milligan, for years a leading capitalist and prominent citizen of Fort Recovery, Ohio. The one daughter 'born to this marriage, Luella, was carefully reared and liberally educated, be- ing a graduate of the class of 1881 at Glendale Female College, near Cin- cinnati. In 1883 she was married to Rev. J. M. Anderson, who was the valued pastor of Olivet Presbyterian Church, at Columbus, Ohio. Rev. and Mrs. Anderson have two sons; Carl Godfrey and Robert Bruce. Mrs. God- frey died September 8, 1898.
Fraternally, Mr. Godfrey was well known all over the State. He was prominent in Masonry; he was a member of Shawnee Commandery, K. T., at Lima, Ohio, and had received the 32d degree. He belonged also to the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias.
JAMES ROSS
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JAMES Ross, superintendent of the Fort Recovery schools, and an edu- cator who is known very favorably over the whole State of Ohio, was born at Moore's Hill, Dearborn County, Indiana, April 15, 1867, and is a son of David and Louisa (Jaques) Ross.
The father of Mr. Ross was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, and was there reared and educated. He learned the tailoring trade and in young manhood removed to West Chester, Ohio, where he subse-
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quently was married to Louisa Jaques. They became the parents of five sons and five daughters, whom they reared to maturity, all of whom, with one ex- ception, became teachers. It was a remarkably intelligent family. David Ross later removed to Moore's Hill, Indiana, where he spent the last 40 years of his life, his death occurring in 1901. His widow who still survives re- sides at that place.
James Ross was reared and primarily educated in the town where he was born. After completing the common school course, he entered Moore's Hill College where he completed first the classical course and later a post- graduate course in literature, receiving the degree of A. B., from this well- known institution, in 1894. In 1897 the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by the same college.
In 1894 Mr. Ross became principal of the schools of West Chester, Ohio, where he remained for three years, returning to his home at Moore's Hill to spend every vacation and utilizing these occasions for further collegiate study. In 1897 he was called to Adams township, Champaign County, Ohio, to be- come superintendent of the Township High School, where he remained until he accepted the superintendency of the Fort Recovery Schools in 1898. The changes made by Mr. Ross, in the management and conduct of the schools under his charge, are very evident and the improvement on old methods is marked. The High School has been raised, through his management, to first grade, with a four-years course. Attendance has more than doubled since the people have become convinced that a man of culture and education is devoting the best energies of his life to this work and the progress made must be very gratifying to both teacher and students. Mr. Ross is not only a superintend- ent of marked executive ability and good judgment, but a teacher of force and power. He makes no radical change but lays a firm foundation and then progresses. Unassuming in his ways he has the ability, by his devoted, un- selfish interest in his pupils, to inspire them with noble ideals and to keep them firmly as friends of the school, and through the pupils he seldom fails to reach the parent. He is an educator in the highest sense of the word. In 1897 Mr. Ross secured a State common school life certificate, and in 1898 the coveted State high school life certificate, a document representing a high grade of scholarship. He is a member of the Mercer County Board of School Ex- aminers and is president of the Western Ohio Superintendents' Round Table.
Mr. Ross was married at West Chester, Ohio, on August 19, 1897, to Winnie E. Sortor, who is a daughter of Jacob Sortor, of that village and they have had three children, namely: Hazel Eva, who died aged 14 months, James Glen and Harold Raymond.
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