USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 32
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HON. ARCHELAUS D. MARSH 7 In the sudden death of the late Hon. Archelaus D. Marsh, which occurred at Celina, Ohio, on May 26, 1904, Mercer County lost one of her distinguished men. He was the recognized leader of the Democrat party, a prominent mem- ber of the bar, and one of the most valued, useful and public-spirited citizens of Celina. The birth of Mr. Marsh took place in Clay township, Highland County, Ohio, on April 19, 1843, and he was the only son of James P. and Ellen J. Marsh.
Mr. Marsh was reared and educated in Highland County. In 1868 he moved to Sardinia, Brown County, Ohio, where he read law under W. W. McKnight and Clinton & White. Late in 1872 he was admitted to the bar at Georgetown, the county seat of Brown County. Prior to this however, in 1869, he was elected by the Democratic party to the office of township clerk, and later he became a justice of the peace, continuing in office for some years. In 1874 he settled permanently at Celina, entering into partnership with John W. Loree, the firm of Marsh & Loree existed continuously for the succeeding 22 years. Business interests and mutual esteem combined to make this one of the strongest law combina- tions in this city. Mr. Marsh was recognized as an able advocate and made a specialty of the criminal practice, in which he was a very successful lawyer,
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but not in any degree did he overlook the large and paying civil and com- mercial practice that came to his office.
From his year of maturity, Mr. Marsh was devoted, heart and mind, to the Democratic party, thoroughly believing in its principles and willing to struggle to uphold them. From the first he was recognized as a possible future leader, and the predictions of the old war horses of the party, that the time would come when the able young attorney would become an important factor in public affairs came true. He had lived but three years in Mercer County; when he was elected to the Ohio Legislature, was returned for a second term in 1879 and returned again in 1883, when he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. In this position he presided with efficiency and dignity.
The political history of Ohio and the public agitation of the succeeding years may yet be carefully written. A faithful record would tell of the fidelity with which Mr. Marsh served his party and consistently followed in the path of duty. Three times chosen as his party's candidate for Congress, only un- usual conditions prevented his election to a position which he would have adorned. Scarcely any man, who for 20 years was prominent in public life, passed off the stage of human affairs with so unsullied a record. Throughout his long and successful career as a lawyer, he never lost the esteem and re- spect of his fellow members of the bar; they loved and admired the manly traits which he possessed, and the courage he displayed in the prosecution or defense of the cases undertaken by him.
In 1865 Mr. Marsh was united in marriage with Mary J. Thompson, who was born at Sardinia, Brown County, Ohio, and who died in April, 1904. The children of this union were: Clayton L., Clara D., Verna A., Arvesta Lee, Nora B., Clarence E. and Loree L. Clarence E. Marsh, with whom our sub- ject was associated in the practice of law at the time of his death, is one of Celina's leading professional men. He is now serving as prosecuting attorney of Mercer County. Loree L. Marsh, the youngest son, who was elected coro- ner of Mercer County in November, 1906, is also a young man of great promise.
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BENJAMIN PRESTON
BENJAMIN PRESTON, whose fine farm of 121 acres is situated in section 22, Franklin township, is one of the representative agriculturists of this part of the county. Mr. Preston was born on the old Preston farm in Franklin township, Mercer County, Ohio, June 9, 1848, and is a son of Isaac and Susan (Hoel) Preston.
Isaac Preston was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and was a son of William Preston, who was of Scotch-Irish parentage. William Preston was
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a blacksmith by trade, but subsequently turned his attention to farming on account of failing eyesight, and became the owner of 700 acres of land in Mercer County. He reared nine children, namely: Isaac, Demaris, Sarah Jane, Margaret, Cynthia, James, Benjamin, William and Ferman, all of whom are deceased with the exception of Sarah Jane, who is the wife of Thomas Green and resides in Shelby County.
Isaac Preston was reared in Hamilton County and there married Susan Hoel. They moved to Mercer County and bought a farm in Franklin town- ship on which they lived for many years before removing to Missouri, where Mr. Preston died at the age of 71 years. His widow still resides in Missouri. They had the following children : Sarah Frances, who married George Circle and lives in Bates County, Missouri; Benjamin; Samuel, who married Sarah Long and lives in Bates County, Missouri; Caroline, who died aged 14 years; George, who married Jane Swartz and lives at Montezuma; and William, who married Ella Brown and lives at Dayton, Ohio.
Benjamin Preston was reared in Franklin township and was educated in the country schools. His whole life has been devoted to farming and natur- ally he thoroughly understands all the various subjects which it is necessary for a successful agriculturist to comprehend. A part of his land was left to his wife by her father and the rest of it was purchased by Mr. Preston. He raises wheat, corn, oats and hay and some stock. At one time oil was found on his farm and a well was drilled, but it is not now in operation.
On October 30, 1871, Mr. Preston was married to Cassandra Ann Brown, a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Meeks) Brown, of Clermont County, Ohio. Mrs. Preston died December 8, 1901. She was a devoted wife and loving mother and was a consistent member of the United Brethren! Church. Mr. Preston and wife had seven children, the first three dying in infancy. The others are: William Wayne, born April 21, 1873, who was married October II, 1896, to Leota Watson, daughter of John and Roxanna (Aldridge) Watson, has two children, Bernice and Charles Victor, and re- sides in Franklin township; Harry F., who was married May 27, 1899, to Caddie Carter, daughter of Jacob and Diana (Gray) Carter, has had three children-Frances Willard (deceased) ; Leonard Dale and Alta-and lives in Franklin township; Justice Park, an oil driller in Indiana, who married (first) Emma Ellis, and (second) Nella O'Brien, daughter of Henry O'Brien; and Lyman Ward, a worker in the oil fields and a resident of Franklin township, who married Plezzie Colston, daughter of Joseph Colston, and has one child, Elma.
In his younger years Mr. Preston took considerable interest in township affairs and served several years on the School Board and two terms as as- sessor. He is a leading member of the United Brethren Church.
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PERRY C. MILLER
PERRY C. MILLER, a member of the firm of Palmer & Miller, grain dealers of Celina, who own a line of elevators and carry on an extensive com- mission business in buying and selling grain, was born in Hopewell township, Mercer County, Ohio, in 1869. He is a son of Joseph Miller, who was born in Hopewell township, Mercer County, and is one of the leading citizens of his locality, where he has always lived and been engaged in farming. He was for many years justice of the peace.
Perry C. Miller was reared and educated in his native township, receiving his early education in the public schools, later attending the Ohio Normal School at Ada. Upon completing his school education, Mr. Miller taught school for six years, after which he was engaged in general merchandise busi- ness at Tamah, Ohio, for three years. In 1898 Mr. Miller engaged in the grain business, forming a partnership with W. T. Palmer, in which business he has since continued.
In 1904 Mr. Miller was married to Mary V. Sherrick, of Allen County, Ohio. They have two children: Marjery and Emily May. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
JOHN TILTON
JOHN TILTON, a representative citizen of Hopewell township, where he owns a well-improved farm of 120 acres, situated in section 28, is also a sur- vivor of the great Civil War in which he spent three years of young manhood. Mr. Tilton was born January 10, 1841, in Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Sylvester and Catherine (Stephenson) Tilton.
Mr. Tilton's parents were natives of Ohio, and early settlers in Hopewell township. Both died when our subject was but two years of age. Until he was 15 years old his home was with an aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Hershell, and upon the death of this kind relative, he went to the home of his uncle, Hiram Stephenson, of Hopewell township, with whom he lived until he enlisted, in October, 1861, in Company A, 7Ist Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. This regiment be- came a part of the Army of Tennessee, later of the Army of the Cumberland and still later of the Army of Ohio. It would require a large amount of space to faithfully trace the career of this young soldier, but a fair idea can be ob- tained of the hardships and dangers through which he passed, when mention is made of Shiloh, the siege and taking of Atlanta, and the battles of Franklin and Nashville. For fully one year he was engaged in the dangerous business of fighting guerrillas and barely escaped with his life on innumerable occasions.
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Mr. Tilton was honorably discharged from the service, in November, 1864, at Nashville, Tennessee.
From his return to Hopewell township until the present, Mr. Tilton has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, following farming, threshing and stock- raising. He owns a complete threshing outfit. He is counted as one of the township's best farmers and is one of its substantial citizens.
Mr. Tilton was united in marriage to Sidney Crane, born in Hocking County, Ohio, who accompanied her parents to Mercer County in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Tilton have had eight children, namely: Edward S., of Jef- ferson township; Lydia E., wife of William Downey, of Jefferson township; Minnie, wife of Leroy De Hays, of Ashland County, Ohio; Catherine S., widow of Edward Good, of Liberty township; Ruth A., wife of Ellsworth Borell, of Washington township; Charlotte, wife of Earl Schleucher, of Hope- well township; William H. and Martha Syvilla, deceased.
Politically, Mr. Tilton is a Republican and for three successive years he was elected assessor of Hopewell township. He is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at St. Marys. For many years he has been a consistent member of the Church of God, in which he has been an elder, trustee and deacon, and of which he is at present treasurer. He is a man whose estimable character is recognized by his fellow-citizens, by whom he is respected and esteemed.
ANDY BAUER
ANDY BAUER, township clerk, and the owner of a well-improved farm of 40 acres, situated in Liberty township, was born in Liberty township, Mercer County, Ohio, August 4, 1868, and is a son of John and Susan (Koch) Bauer.
John Bauer was born in Prussia, Germany, February 8, 1834. His parents were Michael and Mary (Distler) Bauer, both of Prussian birth. Prior to coming to America, John Bauer attended school in his native land, where he had better advantages than he could have obtained at that time in Liberty township. He reached Ohio in 1852, a well educated young German, and located first in Van Wert County. In 1854 he came to Liberty township, Mercer County, where he was one of the earliest teachers. The pioneers here were mostly Germans and, had he so desired, he could have continued to teach their children for years. His aim, however, was to become a farmer and to own a goodly number of the fertile acres which he saw being developed all around him, and to agricultural pursuits he has devoted a large portion of his life. He has lived on his valuable farm of 160 acres, in section 15, Liberty township, for almost half a century.
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DAVID H. RICHARDSON, M. D.
MRS. MARY L. RICHARDSON
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On January 25, 1858, John Bauer was married to Susanna Koch, a daughter of John and Mary Koch, natives of Germany and old Liberty town- ship settlers. Mrs. Bauer's brother, Anton Koch, is a prominent resident of Chattanooga, Mercer County. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer had eight children, and of this number the following six survive: John, residing in the State of Washington; Mary E., wife of Louis Bollenbacher, residing in Liberty town- ship; Catherine, wife of Charles W. Baker, residing in Black Creek township; and Andy, Frederick, and William, all of Liberty township. John Bauer and wife belong to the Evangelical Association and were among the early active members of the church in Liberty township. In politics he is a Democrat.
Andy Bauer was reared by his estimable parents in a home where thrift was taught and precepts of morality were instilled. He assisted on the home farm all through his youth and obtained his education in the schools of his native township. His business has always been along agricultural lines. He has been active in politics and has consistently supported the Democratic party. Mr. Bauer is a well-informed man and a pleasant, genial official.
On November 28, 1868, Mr. Bauer was married to Mary Brehm, who was born at Dayton, Ohio, and is a daughter of John Brehm, of Liberty town- shrip. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer have had II children, as follows: John J., Eliza- beth A., Bertha L., Carl, Lawrence P., Valentine, Lovina, Rudolph, Eda H. and two deceased. The family belong to the Evangelical Association.
DAVID H. RICHARDSON, M. D.
DAVID H. RICHARDSON, M. D., physician and surgeon, at Celina, an eminent member of his profession, was born in Mercer County, Ohio, in 1848. His parents were Dr. John C. and Mary (Gray) Richardson.
For many years the father of Dr. Richardson was a prominent citizen and valued physician in Mercer County. His last years were spent at Fort Recovery, where he died in 1891. His wife, Mary Gray, died in 1881. They had two children.
David H. Richardson was reared in Mercer County and after completing the common-school course he entered upon the study of medicine, subsequently entering Starling Medical College, at Columbus, where he was graduated in 1869. Later he took a course at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and was graduated from that institution in 1879.
Dr. Richardson first located at Celina but removed to Fort Recovery in 1870, where he remained until 1882, when he came back to Celina, where he has been settled ever since. He has long enjoyed a large and satisfactory practice and stands very high among the medical men of Northwestern Ohio.
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He is a member of the Mercer County Medical Society, of which he has served as president; is a member of the district medical society; and belongs also to the Ohio State Medical Society and the Northwestern Ohio Medical Asso- ciation.
Dr. Richardson was united in marriage with Mary L. Lehmkuhl, who is a daughter of Henry Lehmkuhl, of Mercer County, and they have one daughter, Minnie A. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson accompany this sketch.
Dr. Richardson is a Democrat in his political views. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a Knight of Pythias. With his family he be- longs to St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, of Celina. He has long been one of the solid, reliable citizens of Celina, is a member of the Board of Health and stands deservedly high in public esteem.
HON. CHARLES S. YOUNGER
HON. CHARLES S. YOUNGER was born and reared on a farm one mile northeast of Celina, in Jefferson township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is the eldest son of B. L. and Victoria Younger. He worked on the farm until the age of 19, when he began public life as a country school-teacher, in which avocation he continued for six years in the public schools of Mercer County. During his vacation he attended the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, four terms, paying his way therein from the money earned while teaching.
After reading law for some time he entered the law department of the Ohio Normal University. Later he entered the senior class of the Cincinnati Law School, from which institution he was graduated with credit in May, 1895, with the degree of LL. B.
He was immediately admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, and in October, 1895, he entered upon the practice of his chosen profession at Celina, and pursued the practice of the law with success, enjoying the merited reputation of a conscientious, paintaking and successful lawyer.
At the spring election of 1897 he was elected a justice of the peace of Jefferson township, and in 1899 was appointed referee in bankruptcy by the judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, which office he resigned at the time of entering upon the duties of probate judge. At the fall election of 1905, he was elected to the office of probate' judge of Mercer County, and is serving with dignity, justice and integrity.
Judge Younger was united in marriage on July 29, 1896, with Emma A. Andrews, youngest daughter of Charles W. Andrews, a pioneer farmer of Butler township, Mercer County. They have three sons : Raymond An- 1
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drews, Charles Russell and Clyde Norval. The family home is situated on East Market street, Celina. Judge Younger's fraternal connections are with the Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and Masons. He enjoys the honor of representing the 29th District in the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Ohio. With his family he belongs to St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, of Celina.
JAMES MALICK
JAMES MALICK, one of the substantial and representative farmers of . Center township, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, September 1, 1834, and is a son of Uriah and Chloe (Powell) Malick. He is a grandson of John and Mary (Todd) Malick, who were residents of Hampshire County, Virginia, and a great-grandson of Philip Malick, who was born October 9, 1736, and died May 5, 1797. .
Uriah Malick came to Clinton County, Ohio, from Hampshire County, Virginia, and in the spring of 1846 moved to Hardin County, Ohio, where he remained for one year. In September, 1847, he moved to Union township, Mercer County, and located in section 26, removing in 1853 to Van Wiert County, where he resided until 1866, when he settled in Nebraska. Subse- quently he traded his Western land for a farm in Arkansas, on which he passed the rest of his life. Uriah Malick married Chloe Powell, a native of Hampshire County, Virginia, who was a daughter of Henry Powell, who died at Norfolk, Virginia, in the War of 1812. Seven children were born to Uriah Malick and his wife, namely: James; Mrs. Cynthia Upton, who died in Illinois ; Mrs. Lucinda Thomas, who died at Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio; John, who lives in Wisconsin; Isma, who resides in Van Wert; Uriah, who lives in Bloomington, Nabraska; and Mrs. Almira Bowker, who lived in Nebraska until her death.
James Malick spent his early boyhood days in Clinton County, Ohio, and when 13 years old accompanied his parents to Union township, Mercer Coun- ty, and later to Tully township, Van Wert County. In 1855 he returned to Union township, where he lived until April, 1857, when he located in section IO, Center township, where he now has 84 acres, and has lived here con- tinuously since, with the exception of two years when he was in the army. In June, 1863, he enlisted in Company K, 88th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was discharged July 4, 1865, during the greater part of the time having been on guard duty. When Mr. Malick left his farm and gave his service to his country, he had but 12 acres of his land cleared and lived in a log cabin. The latter has given way to a comfortable new house, and other improvements have been made in the way of barns and other necessary out-buildings.
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Mr. Malick was married in March, 1857, to Matilda Patterson, who died in February, 1892, aged 55 years. Four children were born to this union, namely: Mary Alice, widow of Frank Spicer; Isma, residing on the Men- don pike in Center township, who married Nettie Copeland, and has six chil- dren; Annie, who married Rev. W. H. Poole, who is now located at Alma, Illinois; Maggie C., who married Charles Halfhill, and lives near Mercer; and Addie L., who is a graduate of the University of Michigan and also took a course in hospital work in Chicago, is a practicing physician at Piqua.
Mr. Malick is a Republican politically, and has served in various town- ship offices. In 1856 he joined an Odd Fellow lodge which permitted its charter to lapse during the war, and he never became affiliated with any other body of the order. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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FREDERICK MILLER
FREDERICK MILLER, veterinary surgeon at Fort Recovery, was born Feb- ruary 19, 1869, in Jay County, Indiana, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Stoltz) Miller.
Henry Miller was born, reared and educated in Alsace, Germany, and was there engaged in farming until 26 years of age, when he came to this country, landing at New Orleans, Louisiana, where he remained for a num- ber of years, subsequently moving to Jay County, Indiana. Mr. Miller was married to Margaret Stoltz, a native of Germany, who came to America with her father, Nicholas Stoltz, a well-known farmer of Jay County, Indiana. Mr. Miller and his wife became the parents of five children, as follows: Fred- erick, George, Adam, Charles and William, all of whom are married and live in Jay County, with the exception of Frederick, the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are also residents of Jay County, Indiana, residing on a farm.
Frederick Miller was reared and educated in Jay County, attending the district schools during the winter months and assisting on the farm during the summer. When 18 years of age, in 1888, he spent one year at the experi- mental station at Purdue University, Indiana. He returned home for a time and in the fall of 1890 entered the Chicago Veterinary College, from which he was graduated March 24, 1891, when he was just 21 years old. He opened an office in Fort Recovery in May, 1891, and has since been successfully en- gaged in the practice of his profession. In 1903 he erected the Miller veterin- ary hospital in Fort Recovery. Mr. Miller also owns a fine stock farm of 30 acres in Recovery township, where he raises blooded horses; he takes great pride in his stallions.
Mr. Miller was married May 3, 1891, to Mary Loretta Huey, a daughter
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of Isaac Huey. They live in a fine, large residence which Mr. Miller pur- chased some years ago and on which he has made many improvements. He is a member of the Ohio State Veterinary Association. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and to the Knights of the Golden Eagle.
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W. T. PALMER
W. T. PALMER, one of the well-known business men of Celina, who has been in the grain business in Mercer County for the past II years, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1869, and is a son of B. H. Palmer, who is en- gaged in the grain business at Ashland, Ashland County.
W. T. Palmer was reared in Wayne County and was educated in the schools there. He has been literally brought up in the grain business, as his father has been identified with it for some 40 years and his business experience lies largely in this direction. In 1894 he opened up a grain business at Rock- ford, Mercer County, where he remained for six years, since when he has been operating at Celina. As a business man he stands very high and is con- nected with many of the important and successful business enterprises of this section. He is a stockholder and a director in the Citizens' Banking Com- pany, of Celina ; a stockholder and director in the Berne Grain & Hay Com- pany, of Berne, Indiana; a stockholder and director in the Exline Lithographic Company, of Cleveland, Ohio; and a stockholder in the Rockford telephone and Electric light companies.
In 1896 Mr. Palmer was married to Mary Exline, of Van Wert, Ohio, and they have two children-Vellone Exline Palmer and Eugene H. Palmer. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are members of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church of Celina, and he is superintendent of the Sunday-school. Fraternally he be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
WILSON SELBY
WILSON SELBY, a representative farmer and highly respected citizen of Franklin township, resides on his very valuable farm in section 27, consisting of 160 acres of well-cultivated land. Mr. Selby was born in Franklin town- ship, Mercer County, Ohio, May 29, 1855, and is a son of Jacob and Mary A. (Winters) Selby.
Jacob Selby was born near Germantown, Ohio, and was a son of Charles and Brittannia (Buxton) Selby, the former of whom was born and reared in the vicinity of Cincinnati. When his eldest son was 16 years old, Charles Selby moved to Mercer County, where he entered 320 acres of land, paying
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