USA > Ohio > Morrow County > History of Morrow County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vol. II > Part 10
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Directness and earnestness and sincerity are intrinsic attrib- utes of Mr. Barry's character, and these qualities show forth in his professional work. He is not given to recondite or florescent verbal displays in presenting his causes before court or jury, but his arguments are concise, cogent and clothed in forceful verbiage, the while he marshals his facts and evidence with unfailing skill. In cross-examination of witnesses he has gained a specially high reputation, and has few if any peers along this line in this section of Ohio. He is, however, considerate of the feelings of witnesses, and never indulges in rough or unkind methods. His practiee now extends throughout central Ohio and he has appeared in connection with important litigations in the courts of the cities of Cleveland and Columbus, both state and federal. He has presented numerous
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briefs before the supreme court of the state, and the same have been models of clarity and incisive evidence. He is widely known as a specially strong trial lawyer, and his experience in the office of prosecuting attorney was of great value to him in developing his powers in this respect.
None has a more thorough appreciation of the dignity and honor of honest toil and endeavor than has Mr. Berry, for he has himself risen from the ranks and thus he places true valuations upon men and affairs. Democratie in his attitude, genial and cordial, he accords respect and good will to every deserving man, no matter what his station in life. He is generous to a fault and finds pleasure in his association with "all sorts and conditions of men," in which connection it has been well said that he is "known by every man, woman and child in Morrow eounty." He is big of heart, big of mind, and tolerant of the frailties of others. He is incapable of harsh judgments and his sympathies are an insepar- able part of his being, though he can not be made to compromise with expediency or to surrender his honest convictions. His fair spirit of concession, however, is in reality an element contributing to his strength and to his hold upon popular confidence and esteem. Mr. Barry is always ready to help those in affliction and distress, and is one of those who "do good by stealth and blush to find it fame." He values worldly success for what it brings to him and to those whom he can aid, and those who know him best have re- lated instances in which he has given financial assistance and kindly advice to men who were convicted by his efforts and who came to him for succor after their release from prison. His hand and his purse are open, and he would rather aid one undeserving than to feel that he may have missed such service of benevolence or kindness when merited. Such men are steadfast friends, as all who know John W. Barry will testify.
In politics Mr. Barry is an effective exponent and supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and he has given to the same yeoman service in various campaigns. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church in their home city and are popular factors in the best social activities of the community. He is affiliated with Mount Gilead Lodge, No. 266, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Charles H. Hull Lodge, No. 169, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor; and at Cardington, his former home, he holds membership in Cardington Lodge, No. 194, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed the various official chairs.
Mr. Barry cast his first presidential vote in support of HIon. Rutherford B. Hayes, and every Republican candidate for the presidency since that time has received his zealous support. He has been a prominent figure in the local councils of his party and was a delegate to its national convention, in the city of Phila- delphia, when the lamented President MeKinley was nominated for a second term.
Vol. II-6
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On the 2d of October, 1873, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Barry to Miss Minnie Oeker, who was born in Cardington township, Morrow county, on the 15th of November, 1855, and who was the second in order of birth of the three sons and seven daugh- ters of Thomas and Ann (Silvers) Ocker, both of whom are now deeeased, the father having been one of the honored eitizens and prosperous agriculturists of Morrow county. Of the children two sons and six daughters are living, and all still reside in Morrow eounty with the exception of Clayton, who is engaged in farming in the state of Kansas, and Margaret, who is the wife of George W. Blayney, of Hereford, Texas.
Mr. Barry has no peer in Morrow county in the handling of a jury on an obstinate case. He has one of the finest and most com- plete law libraries in this part of the state, comprising about eight hundred volumes of standard law and also of choice literature. He made a trip to England, Ireland and Scotland, on business in 1909, and has crossed the American continent twice, visiting' California, Washington and Oregon on special cases under his jurisdietion.
CHARLES RUTHARDT .- Many of Ohio's most thriving agricul- turists came from lands far across the sea, poor in purse but possessing an unlimited stock of energy and perseverance, note- worthy among the number being Charles Ruthardt, a well-known farmer of North Bloomfield township, who by industry and good management has met with excellent success in his labors, winning a fair share of this world's goods. He was born January 22, 1849, in Baden, Germany, where his parents, Charles and Phoebe (Camoror) Ruthardt, were born, lived and died.
Educated in the public schools of the Fatherland, Charles Ruthardt was confirmed in the Reformed Lutheran church at the age of fourteen years, and afterwards served an apprenticeship at the barber's trade. Leaving home in 1869, he came to the United States, hoping in this newer land to better his finaneial condition. Coming directly to Ohio, he located in Morrow county with a very limited amount of money in his pocket, and first found employment on a farm, working for monthly wages. Subsequently securing a position in the railroad shops, he remained in Galion for nearly a quarter of a century, in the meantime saving up money. In 1889 Mr. Ruthardt invested his surplus earnings in land, buying seventy- six aeres in North Bloomfield township where he has sinee been profitably employed in general farming and stock raising, his farm being under a good state of culture and well improved and wisely managed. During his long residence in this loeality he has ac- quired an enviable reputation as an honest, straightforward busi- ness man, and has won the respect of the community. He is a Democrat in politics, but not an office seeker.
Mr. Ruthardt married, January 20, 1876, Elizabeth Sargel,
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who died August 13, 1905, leaving two children, namely : Laura, wife of Calvin Trach, and Emma, wife of Rolland Hershner.
JAMES B. LEWIS, D. D. S .- For thirty-six years Dr. James B. Lewis was engaged in the practice of dental surgery at Mount Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, and during that time he gained and retained the friendship and esteem of the best citizens of the place. He was born in Ohio, on the 22nd of May, 1853, a son of John and Melinda (Boner) Lewis, the former of whom was a Baptist minister and a farmer during the major portion of his active business career. Reverend John Lewis was born and reared at Ohio and his wife was also reared in this state. Both are now deceased. Reverend and Mrs. Lewis became the parents of seven children, and of the number four are now living.
Dr. James B. Lewis was reared to adult age on the home farm and as a youth he attended the district schools and the high school at Fredericktown, Ohio. In 1872 he turned his attention to the study of dentistry, and was graduated from his college as a member of the class of 1874, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. In the fall of 1874 he located at Mount Gilead. where he was en- gaged in the active practice of his profession during the long inter- vening years. He controlled a large patronage among the most influential people of Mount Gilead and the territory normally tributary thereto. In politics Dr. Lewis accorded an unswerving support to the cause of the Republican party and for years gave the most efficient service as city councilman. In a fraternal way he affiliated with the Independent Order or Odd Fellows, in which he was a past grand master and in the encampment of which he was at one time patriarch. He represented the above order in the Grand Lodge of the state as a member from the Thirty-second dis- trict for a period of seven years and was honored with that distinc- tion at the time of his death. His religious faith was in harmony with the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his family are devout members and in which they are active workers.
Dr. Lewis married Miss Anna Barton, of Mount Gilead. To this union have been born two children: Mabel and Charles B. Mabel Lewis was graduated in the local high school and she is now librarian of the free library at Mount . Gilead. Charles B. Lewis is a turner by trade and resides at Mt. Gilead, Ohio. Ile wedded Miss Edna Shaffer. Dr. Lewis was a man of broad learing and sterling integrity. Ile stood as one of the strong men of Morrow county, strong in his honor and his good name, in the extent of his influence and in the result of his accomplishments. He passed to the higher life in November, 1910.
WILLIAM L. SWETLAND .- The world though sometimes slow in acknowledgement of merit, is usually keenly appreciative of those whose recognition of its possibilities in unerring and who possess
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the power to grasp the golden opportunities and mould them for their good and the good of their fellow men. Success when it re- dounds to the general prosperity is of the highest order and such has distinguished the career of William L. and Cornelia Swetland, of Sparta, Ohio. William L. Swetland, farmer and stockman, was born in South Bloomfield township August 31, 1838, the son of Giles and Sarah (Lewis) Swetland. His grandparents, Artemas and Lydia (Abbott) Swetland, emigrated with their elders from Pennsylvania in pioneer days and located in Ohio, where they es- tablished their home and did their share toward paving the way for latter day prosperity. In those days the Indian had not yet abdicated his lordship of hill and dale, and he looked with hostile eyes upon the invasion of what he considered his domain. Artemas, who was a boy at the time of the Wyoming massacre, was in the fort at the time of the frightful affair and escaped death by re- maining with his father, Luke, who was on picket duty. In later years he served in the war of 1812. He landed in Delaware county, June 18, 1810, and began work in South Bloomfield town- ship in 1815. He came in February, 1817, to Morrow county. Mr. Swetland's maternal grandfather was shot and tomahawked by the savages.
Giles Swetland, father of him whose name inaugurates this review, was a farmer by occupation and he is still well remembered in the community which was the scene of his usefulness. He and his wife reared a family of six children, five of whom were sons and one, a daughter. Byram L., the eldest, is a retired merchant of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Joseph Carper is a retired farmer and banker and makes his home in Chesterville, Ohio; Emily, wife of Carper Helt, is deceased, and she wedded Mr. Abner Bartlett, who is also deceased; Warren is a prosperous farmer of Sparta, Ohio; Dannie Lambert is deceased; and Mr. William Swetland, the subject of this review.
William L. Swetland received his education in the district school, and remained until manhood beneath the paternal roof-tree, under his father's excellent tutelage learning many of the secrets of successful agriculture. On December 25, 1861, he laid the foun- dation of a happy married life by his union to Miss Cornelia E. Hulse, daughter of Jabez and Mariah (Slack) Ilulse, and with his bride he settled upon the old homestead and assumed its manage- ment and the care of his parents, whose failing health was cared for and declining years made easy by their kind and solicitous ministrations. They lived with the elder people until their demise, and they have continued upon the fine old place until the evening of their own life. In other days they worked with youthful energy to improve and beautify the place, building fine barns and a large commodious house, and to-day they have one of the finest country homes in this part of Ohio. They have prospered exceedingly and are well-to-do and highly regarded. Their union has been blessed
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by the birth of five children. Duane, the eldest son, married Clara Roods and is a successful and progressive farmer and stoekman, living in the vieinity of Fredericktown. Their three children are Edith, Roseoe A. and Florence. Minnie R. and Silenda, the two bright and winsome daughters of the household, attended the high school at Sparta and also engaged in the study of music, Minnie attending the Conservatory of Music of Waynesburg, Pennsyl- vania. The latter married Frank Wolf, of Centerburg, Ohio, and their present residence is in Seattle, Washington. Selinda mar- ried Dr. C. A. Levering, of Mohicanville, and died June 1, 1900, the mother of one son and one daughter, Burton and Laurel. Manning L. Swetland took as his wife Miss Bessie Rinehart, of Centerburg, Ohio, and they reside upon the old home place not many rods from the home of the subjet and his wife. Their children are Tennie and Ralph. Manning L. has for a number of years superintended the work of the farm, which consists of four hundred and fifty acres. Burton V., the youngest member of the family married Miss Winnie Hewitt, of South Bloomfield township, and they reside at Centerburg, where Mr. Swetland owns and operates a prosperous tinning and roofing business. All of his children the subject endeavored and that successfully to provide with the truest principles of manhood and womanhood.
Mr. Swetland, who possesses a memory of unusual vividness, is able to recall events which happened many years ago, and can give days and dates with remarkable accuracy, this gift having proved useful on numerous occasions not only to himself but to his neighbors. He stands for the highest type of good citizenship and with his estimable wife enjoys the esteem of the community where they have spent their lives, to whose members they are endeared by their never-failing sympathy and kindness. They may thus look baek over life's journey with a pardonable degree of pride.
Mr. and Mrs. Swetland keep open house the year around for the benefit of their many friends and acquaintances. The Swet- land and Lewis reunions are frequently held upon their spacious grounds, and have ever proved occasions long to be remembered. The family has always taken pride in preserving their genealogical history, which they can trace back through many fruitful years. In many generations those who have borne the name have taken an active part in the building of the great commonwealth. Their immigrant ancestor was a sea captain-William Swetland, who with his good wife, Agnes, became residents of Salem, Massachus- etts as early as 1676.
DR. SAMUEL VIRTUE, veterinary surgeon, Mt. Gilead, Ohio, owns and occupies a beautiful home on South Main street and ranks as one of the representative citizens of this place, where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession for over twenty years.
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Dr. Virtue is a native of Ohio. He was born in Guernsey county October 3, 1841, a son of Robert and Cynthia (Fuller) Virtue, and in 1846, when a lad of five years, was brought by his parents to Morrow county, where his boyhood was passed on a farm and where he attended the district schools. When the Civil war was inaugurated in 1861 his youthful spirit was fired with patriotism, and in the fall of that year he left the farm to enter the army. He enlisted in Company G, Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the Southwest, and where he served under General Halleck and General Grant, his first important battle being that of Shiloh. Near Corinth he was ยท taken ill, and soon afterward was in hospital. His illness inea- pacitated him for service, and in the fall of 1862 he was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Morrow county. While his army life lasted only a year, it was long enough, with its exposures and hardships, to unfit him for farm work, and on his return home he turned his attention to the study and practice of veterinary surgery.
Soon after his return from the army, in the fall of 1862, Dr. Virtue married Miss Samantha Jane MeVay, and they are the parents of the following children : Dr. F. M. Virtue, of Sulphur Springs, Crawford county, Ohio; Dr. C. E. Virtue, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio; Dr. C. E. Virtue, of Caledonia, Ohio; Dr. D. B. Virtue, of Iberia, Morrow connty, Ohio; and Maggie, wife of David Douglas, of Iberia.
A veteran of the Civil war and a pensioner (being the recipient of a pension of seventeen dollars per month), Dr. Virtue is, of course, identified with the G. A. R., having membership in Hurd Post, No. 114, of which he is a Past Commander. Politically he is a Republican, and he cast his first presidential vote for the martyred Lincoln. While he has always been conscientious and prompt as a voter and well posted on political affairs, he has never been an office holder, nor has he ever sought official preferment. Religiously he is a Presbyterian.
FRED HARRIS has been a resident of Morrow county, Ohio during most of his life thus far. He owns and occupies a farm of one hundred and fifty-three and one-half acres in South Bloomfield township and is classed among the self-made men of the community. An analysis of his life work shows that he has been dependent upon no inheritance or influential friends for what he has acquired, but has through his continued effort and capable management gained a desirable property, whereby he is classed among the sub- stantial citizens of this section of the county.
Mr. Harris is a native son of this county, his birth having oc- curred in South Bloomfield township on the 19th of April, 1872. He is a son of Francis M. Harris, who was born and reared in Ohio and who was summoned to the life eternal on the 25th of
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December, 1909, at the venerable age of seventy-one years. He was a son of Burr and Catherine (Shaffer) Harris and he con- tinued to reside in the parental home until he had attained to the age of thirty-four years when, in 1862, he enlisted as a sol- dier in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company C, Ninety- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Brown and Colonel Vance. He served in all three years and four months; was present at the seige of Vicksburg and participated in many other impor- tant conflicts marking the progress of the war. He received a slight wound in the left leg at Grand Coteau, Louisiana, but never left his regiment. Besides Mr. Harris' father, three of his uncles were soldiers in the Civil war: Michael, Phillip and Daniel. Phil- lip was killed on the battle field and Daniel was shot through the thigh, and gangrene setting in, this resulted in his death. After the close of the war Francis M. Harris returned to Ohio and on October 26, 1869, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Emiline Osborn, who was summoned to eternal rest December 25, 1909. Subsequently Mr. Harris wedded Miss Eliza E. Osborn, a sister of his first wife, and to the latter union were born two children-Bert, whose birth occurred in May, 1870, and Fred, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch. Bert is also identified with agricultural pur- suits in South Bloomfield township. Burr Harris was a Republi- can in his politieal convictions, was interested in the public-school system and was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was a fine Bible student and a most active worker. Francis M. Harris ever retained a deep interest in his old comrades in arms and signified the same by membership in Creighton Orr Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Sparta. The mother survives her honored husband and is now living at Center- burg, Knox county, Ohio, whither removal was made when Mr. Harris retired from aetive farm life.
To the publie schools of his native place Fred Harris is indebted for his early educational training and he continued to reside under the parental roof until his marriage, in 1894. After the latter important event Mr. and Mrs. Fred Harris resided for one year on the estate on which they now live. In 1895 they removed to Delaware county, where they remained for one year and whence they went to Knox county, residing in the latter section for seven years and eventually returning to South Bloomfield town- ship, Morrow county, where they have since resided. The present farm of eighty acres is a portion of the government land entered by Grandfather Osborn. In addition to diversified agriculture Mr. Harris is interested in the breeding of high-grade horses, having commanded as much as four hundred dollars for a pair of yearlings. In politics he endorses the cause of the Republican party, and his wife is a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Sparta, Ohio, in which she is also an active worker in the Sunday school. In matters pertaining to the general welfare
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Mr. Harris is found reliable and helpful. In business affairs he is energetie, prompt and trustworthy .. He has a good fund of that quality which is too often lacking in the business world-common sense. Since starting out in life for himself he has been self- reliant and energetic and is to-day the possessor of a good capital gained through this means.
On the 18th of November, 1894, Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss Verna Thompson, who was born on the 21st of July, 1876, and who is a daughter of William Americus and Ange- line (Robertson) Thompson, both of whom were natives of Knox county where her father was long a prominent and influential farmer. Angeline Robertson had four brothers in the Civil war- Dr. Amza P., Henry Tyler and Jesse Robertson. Mr. W. A. Thomp- son was ever aligned as a stalwart Democrat in his political adherency and in religious matters he was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. He was a strong temperance man and toward the latter part of his life became somewhat interested in the Prohibition party. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have three boys, whose names and respective dates of birth are here incorporated : Law- rence, born September 16, 1899; and Homer M. and William H., twins, born November 23, 1903. The children are all in school. At the present time Mr. and Mrs. Harris have a beautiful estate of one hundred and fifty-three and one-half acres lying within one mile of Sparta.
WILLIAM G. TABER is successfully engaged in the great basio industry of agriculture on his fine farm of two hundred acres in Gilead township, Morrow county, Ohio. On this splendid estate occurred his birth, the date of the same being May 24, 1874. He is a son of Garrison and Olive (Silverthorn) Taber, the former of whom was likewise born and reared on the above farm and the latter of whom claims Delaware county, Ohio, as the place of her nativity. The father was born on the 16th day of July, 1849, and the mother on the 9th of March, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Taber became the parents of three children, concerning whom the follow- ing brief data are here incorporated: Lillie is the wife of M. S. Adams, of Marion county, this state ; Fordice was summoned to the life eternal at the age of three years; and William G. is the imme- diate subject of this review. The parents now maintain their home at Edison, where the father is living virtually retired, in the enjoy- ment of former years of earnest toil and endeavor.
Mr. Taber was reared to adult age on the home farm and he duly availed himself of the advantages afforded in the district schools supplanting this training by a course in the high school at Edison, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1895. For two years he was employed as a teacher in the district schools in Morrow county and in 1898 he engaged in the hardware business at Edison, in which line he built up a large
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and representative patronage and with which he continued to be identified for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, locating on the old home farmstead on which he was born. This fine estate consists of two hundred acres of arable land, eligibly located two miles northwest of Edison, Ohio. The farm is splendidly improved and all the buildings thereon are of the most modern type. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the man best suited for the office of trust, in question.
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