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 13
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George O. Coe was reared to the invigorating discipline of the home farm and his educational training consisted of such ad- vantages as were afforded in the district schools. When twenty- one years of age he went to Mt. Gilead, where he engaged in the drug business, in which line of enterprise he was eminently success- ful, continuing to be thus identified for fully three decades. In 1902, however, having attained a competency, he retired from active participation in business affairs and since that time he has resided on his splendid farm in Gilead township. In politics he is a stal- wart Republican and he has ever exerted his influence to further all projects advanced for the general welfare of the community. In 1903 he was elected to the office of precinct assessor, in which lie served for two years with the utmost proficiency. He is a man of fine, straightforward principles and sterling integrity of char- acter and as such is highly esteemed in the community which has represented his home from the time of his birth.
On the 14th of May, 1872, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Coe to Miss Hannah V. McCormick, who was born in Canaan town- ship, this county, on the 12th of January, 1855, a daughter of Seth and Rachel (Brown) McCormick, for many years prominent farmers in this section of the fine old Buckeye state. Mrs. Coe was reared in Edison, where she was also educated. To Mr. and Mrs. Coe have been born six children, namely : Elbert G., whose birth occurred on the 5th of July, 1874, was graduated in the Edison High School and in Scio College of Pharmacy and he is now a druggist at Hastings, Florida, and married to Emma G. Walker, of Franklin, Pennsylvania; Lulu M., born January 16, 1877, was graduated in the Edison High School, where she was a successful and popular teacher for a period of two years; she is now the wife of William G. Taber, of Mt. Gilead; Ray M., born March 9, 1879, was graduated in the Edison High School and is now a resident of Hastings, Florida; Anna M., and Amy M., twins, were born April 12, 1884; Amy M., died in April, 1897, and Anna M., after completing the prescribed course in the Edison High School, was postmistress in Edison for five years; she is now Mrs. Chas. I. Van Natta, of Gilead township; Fred O., born October 14, 1889, was graduated in the Edison High School and was engaged in teach- ing for two years in the public schools of Morrow county, and is now a student in Wesley College at Delaware, Ohio. The entire family are devout adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church at Edison, in which Mr. Coe is a member of the official board.
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EDWARD M. WILLITS .- In view of the nomadic spirit which dominates so many Americans of today, it is pleasing to find a locality whose residents spend their industrious and useful lives in the place of their nativity, give their energies and abilities to the advancement of their home communities, and spend their years in labor and ever increasing comfort, prosperity and mutual respect. A fine representative of this enviable class of American citizens is Edward M. Willits, who was born in Cardington township, Morrow county, Ohio on the 7th of November, 1867, a son of William and Lucinda (Grandy) Willits, the father being a native of the same township and the mother, of the state of New York. William Willits was born January 19, 1831, and Joel, his father, was a Virginian, the date of whose birth was 1804. Tracing the gena- logieal line still further into the past it is found that the great- grandfather of Edward M., Samuel Willits, emigrated to America at an early day from his native Wales.
When he was a mere boy Joel Willits, the grandfather, accom- panied his parents from the Old Dominion to Ohio, and he was reared on a Knox county farm. By his marriage to Cynthia Lewis, daughter of John Lewis and a native of Pennsylvania, he became the father of John, William, Samuel, Elvira, Deborah, Wendell P., Esther Ann, Clayton and Sarah Ellen Willits; of the sons, William, Clayton and Wendell were gallant Union oldiers, the first named (father of Edward M.) serving in the ranks of Company I, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
William Willits married Lucinda Grandy, who was born in New York July 12, 1834, a daughter of William and Celinda (Brockway) Grandy, early settlers of Cardington, Ohio. To this union were born Estella and William Arthur, both deceased; Edward Martin, the immediate subject of this review, and one who died in infancy. The faithful and good father of this family passed to his reward April 20, 1904, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.
Edward M. Willits was reared to maturity on the old home farm three miles west of Cardington and received his education in the district schools of his native township and in the high school at Cardington. After leaving school he entered the First National Bank of Cardington as teller and bookkeeper, continuing in that capacity for six years, or until the organization of the Citizens' Bank. Of this substantial institution he was one of the promoters and original incorporators, his associates being J. S. Peek, W. B. Denman, C. F. Hammond and H. W. Curl. The Citizens' Bank had a large and substantial list of stock holders and was incorpor- ated under state laws with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. It organized with the following officers: J. S. Peek, president; W. B. Denman, vice president; and E. M. Willits, cashier. While the grim reaper has removed many of the original stockholders of the bank, Mr. Willits continues to hold and to honor
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his position as cashier. He has also served for nine years as secretary of the Morrow County Building and Loan Association of Cardington, and for six years was locally prominent in Masonry as secretary of Cardington Lodge No. 384, Free and Accepted Masons. He has had unbounded faith in the reliability of his home town; is a practicing advocate for home investment and has become one of the largest real estate holders in the village.
The above outline record of Mr. Willits' life and characteristic activities points to the energies and abilities of an honorable and successful career, which have sprung from a strong and sterling character. A glance at the political and public phases of his life shows him to be a firm Republican, a public spirited citizen, and especially interested in the advancement of public education, his work and influence in the field last named being accomplished and wielded as a member and as president of the Union School Board. Both Mr. and Mrs. Willits are earnest and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is giving efficient ser- vice as treasurer and member of its official board.
On the 8th of October, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Willits to Miss Daisy M. Wolfe, a native of Cardington and a daughter of A. H. Wolfe. Mrs. Willits is a graduate of the Cardington High School, is deeply interested in musical and educa- tional matters, is president of the Public Library Association, and is an energetic, broadly cultured woman whom it is a pleasure and an inspiration to meet. Of the three sons of the family, William II. is a graduate of the Cardington High School, class of 1911; Rodney W. is still pursuing his course in that institution; and Howard D. is a pupil in the public school.
HUBERT C. LONG .- Among the representative citizens of Card- ington, Morrow county, Ohio, who have contributed in generous measure to the progress and development of this section of the fine old Buckeye state is Hubert C. Long, who is a native son of this city, where he was born on the 6th of November, 1868. He is a son of Thomas W. and Sarah ( Wolfe) Long, the former of whom was a native of the state of New York, and the latter of whom claimed Maryland as the place of her birth. Thomas W. Long
was reared in the Empire state of the Union, whence he immigrated to Cardington, Ohio, about the year 1865. He first engaged in the milling business and subsequently he and his grandfather purchased a harness store at Cardington, being succeeded in this line of enter- prise by Hubert C. Long, the immediate subject of this review, and which he still continues. The father was a Democrat in his poli- tical convictions and he was an active factor in the local councils of his party. He was elected probate judge of Morrow county and gave most efficient service in this connection for a number of years. He was postmaster at Cardington for a term of four years and as a citizen his loyalty and public spirit were of the most insistent
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order. In 1867 he married Miss Sarah Wolfe, who was a daughter of Henry Wolfe, of Cardington, Ohio, and they became the parents of two children, Hubert C., of this sketch; and Edith A., who be- came the wife of William Holden and who resides at Denver, Colorado. Mr. Long met death through injuries received from a bull at Mt. Gilead, in 1893, and his cherished and devoted wife was summoned to the life eternal in 1895.
Hubert C. Long was afforded the advantages of the publie schools of Cardington. After leaving sehool he became deputy in the post office under his father and in 1889 he became identified with his father in the harness business, which was thereafter con- ducted under the firm name of T. W Long & Son until the former's death. Prior to his demise Mr. Long had opened a branch store at Mt. Gilead but after his death Hubert C. moved the store to Cardington, combining the two. In politics Hubert C. Long is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party. He has served as treasurer of Cardington on four different occasions and at the present time, in 1911, is serving as treasurer. He also served two terms as cemetery trustee. He is a stock holder in the Citizens' Bank at Cardington, besides which he owns and operates a saw mill and handle factory, manufacturing hay, rake and hoe handles. He also has extensive real estate holdings in and adja-
cent to Cardington. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 194, and he is a charter mem- ber of Cardington Lodge, No. 427, Knights of Pythias. He also holds membership in Aerie 738, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He and his wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church and they are popular factors in connection with the best social activities in their community.
In the year 1892 Mr. Long was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Tennant, who was born and reared at Edison, Ohio, and who is a daughter of Samuel Tennant, a representative eitizen of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Long have one son, Samuel W., who was born on the 15th of May, 1902.
THOMAS F. GORDON, ex-sheriff of Morrow county, Ohio, and one of the progressive and up-to-date farmers and stoek men of the county, was born in Perry county, this state, June 8, 1852. a son of one of the pioneer settlers of the Western Reserve.
Israel Gordon, his father , was a native of Greene county, Penn- sylvania, who eame to Ohio in 1818. For a time he worked in the salt mills at MeCuneville, Ohio. He subsequently owned four hundred acres of rich coal land, at the place where Shawnee, Ohio, now stands. When he was fifty-three years of age he sold the tract at a good price and moved to Morrow county, where he purchased eight hundred acres of farming land. His wife, Susan, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, but was reared at Bristol in Perry county. They were the parents of eight children, six sons
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and two daughters, namely: Margaret, Turner, Harriet, Andrew Jackson, George Washington, Thomas F., Robert Samuel, and C. W. C. W. Gordon left home twelve years ago, and his wherea- bouts are unknown.
Thomas F. Gordon is the owner of four hundred and thirty- one acres of productive Inad, one hundred acres in Chester and two hundred and forty-six acres in Harmony township, well im- proved with good fences and buildings, and his home is a com- modious and attractive one. Mr. Gordon has for years taken a special interest in stock raising. He has the largest and best herd of Short Horn cattle in Morrow county, and it is a well known fact that wherever he has exhibited his stock at fairs he has never failed to capture premiums. Among his horses are two prize-winning stallions, and he is a large stockholder in the Chesterville Percheron Horse Company.
Politically Mr. Gordon has always been a prominent Repub- lican, active and influential in party affairs, and has twice been elected and served as county sheriff, his first election being in 1892, the second in 1896.
Mr. Gordon married, November 4, 1896, Miss Anna M. Winters, daughter of Major Gilbert E. Winters, both a Mexican and Civil war veteran and a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. During the Civil war Major Winters held important commands, at one time being in command of Camp Denison, Cincinnati. He was one of the first law practioners in Morrow county, and at Sycamore, Illinois, where he made his home for some years, he filled the office of prosecuting attorney. He was born in 1823 and died in 1867. Recently, in the summer of 1910, his son-in-law, Mr. Gordon, erected a monument to his memory. Mr. Gordon has no children, and his wife died Septemebr 1, 1907, and is buried in River Cliff cemetery, Mt. Gilead. She was a member of the Episcopal church and a most estimable woman, loved by all who knew her.
ADAM HILDEBRAND .- Engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising on his fine farm of ninety acres in Gilead township, Morrow county, Ohio, Adam Hildebrand is recognized as one of the most successful farmers and stock men in this section of the state. IIe was born in York county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of December, 1863, and is a son of Henry and Lydia (Tyson) Hildebrand, the former of whom was likewise born in the old Keystone state of the Union and the latter of whom claimed York county, Pennsylvania, as the place of her birth. The paternal grandfather of him whose name introduces this review was Adam Hildebrand, who was an extensive farmer in Pennsylvania during his life time, his death having there occurred. Henry Hildebrand came to Morrow county, Ohio, in 1866, locating in Canaan town- ship, where he continued to reside until 1876, when he was sum- moned to eternal rest. Mrs. Hildebrand is a resident of Morrow
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county at the present time. They were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are now living, namely: George, Adam, Levi, Grant, Helen, Isabelle, Samuel and Emma. Peter is de- ceased and of those living, seven are residents of Morrow county.
Adam Hildebrand was a child of but three years of age at the time of his parents' removal from Pennsylvania to Ohio. He was reared in North Woodberry, Morrow county, until he had attained to the age of eleven years, at which time his father died. Since that time he has lived in Gilead and Canaan townships, this county, to whose district schools he is indebted for his early education. He continued to attend school until eighteen years of age and he then turned his attention to farming, in which line of enterprise he has continued to be engaged during the long intervening years to the present time. He devotes his time to diversified agriculture and the growing of high grade stock. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles set forth by the Prohibition party and his religious faith is in harmony with the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he and his wife are devout members of the church at Boundary, in which he is a steward. Both are active factors in Sunday school work and for a number of years Mr. Hildebrand was superintendent of that department.
In Feruary, 1888, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Hilde- brand to Miss Flora V. Ewers, who was born in Gilead township on the 10th of October, 1863, a daughter of Samuel and Emily (Coe) Ewers, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrand have two children: S. Guy and IIelen E. S. Guy Hildebrand was born on the 27th of October, 1889, and was graduated in the Mount Gilead high school as a member of the class of 1909. He taught school for one year after completing the prescribed course in the local high school and he is now, in 1911, a student in Delaware College. Helen E. was born on the 4th of May, 1894, and is a student in the Mount Gilead high school.
BENJAMIN C. SMITH .- Among the highly respected and representative citizens whose depth of character and strict ad- herence to principles excite the admiration of their contemporaries, Benjamin C. Smith is preeminent. For nearly half a century he was actively identified with agricultural and general mereantile interests in Morrow county, Ohio, and he is now living virtually retired at Sparta, this county. His efforts have been of such a nature that while promoting his individual success they have also advanced the general prosperity by increasing industrial and com- mercial activity. Captain Smith was born in Milford township, Knox county, on the 13th of December, 1840, and he is the son of Preserve Smith, whose birth occurred in the state of Connectient about the year 1800. The father came to Ohio in 1828, locating in Knox county, where he reclaimed a fine farm of one hundred
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and seventy acres from the virgin forest and where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. In his native state was solemnized his marriage to Miss Amelia Knowles, and of their ten children three were born in Connecticut and seven in Knox county, Ohio. Half of the number survive at the present day and are as follows : George L., residing at Mt. Verron, Ohio; Sarah V., wife of Ira D. Hunt, of Columbus, Ohio; Emeline C., widow of J. R. Milligan, of Mt. Vernon ; Charles G., of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; and Benjamin C., the immediate subjeet of this review.
Captain Benjamin C. Smith was reared and educated in Knox county, Ohio, and his early schooling consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the schools of the locality and period. He continued to reside at the parental home, where he assisted in the work and management of the farm, until the inception of the Civil war. On the 14th of October, 1861, fired by boyish enthus- iasm, he enlisted as a member of Company A., Third West Virginia Cavalry, under Lieutenant S. B. Conger. At the time of his en- listment all the Ohio cavalries were filled, this fact accounting for his membership in a West Virginia regiment. IIe was mustered into service at Wheeling, West Virginia, and the first engagement in which he participated was at Cross Keys. He was assigned to General Freemont's body guard and the next important conflict in which he saw service of an active character was at the second battle of Bull Run. After the reorganization of the cavarly by Major General Hooker, Captain Smith was a member of that department of the United States army until the close of the war. His first military office was that of quartermaster sergeant, to which office he was appointed by the regimental commander, and in February, 1862, he was commissioned second lieutenant of his company and continued in that position for two years, at the ex- piration of which he was made first lieutenant. Late in 1864 he was promoted to the rank of captain of the company and as sneh figured prominently in many of the most important confliets marking the progress of the war. During the battle of Gettys- burg he was under the command of General Beauford and his regiment received the first fire, nine of his men being captured on the morning of the battle. The monument at Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, known as the West Virginia Cavalry, was placed and dedicated under the direction of Captain Smith, about the year 1887. He was one of the officers under General Custer, of whom he was a personal friend, at the Grand Review, at Washington D. C., at the close of the war. During his lieutenaney he was brigade quartermaster and at the close of the rebellion he was mustered out of service at Wheeling, West Virginia, on the 30th of June, 1865. After being assigned to the command of General Custer, he participated in all the leading battles of the Virginia campaign, never being wounded in battle and never being taken prisoner. .
When peace had again been established, Captain Smitlı re-
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turned to his old home in Knox county, where was solemnized his marriage on February 15, 1865. After that important event he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits in his native county and subsequently he purchased a stock of merchandise at Brandon and continued to be idenitfied with the mercantile business for a period of two years, at the expiration of which, in 1872, he removed to Millford township, Knox county, where he purchased a fine farm. He sold that eventually and returned to the old homestead, where he remained for three years and then at the end of that period took up his residence in Delaware City, where he was located for two years. He came to Sparta, Ohio, and retired from active business life.
Captain Smith's chosen lady was Miss Maria A. Mathias, of Delaware, Ohio. She was a daughter of John and Anne (Graham) Mathias, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they came to the fine old Buckeye state of the Union in the early pioneer days. Captain and Mrs. Smith became the parents of four child- ren, namely: Ida, born February 7. 1867, who is the wife of Sumner Pierce, a clerk in the post office at Mt. Vernon ; Harry A., born August 3, 1868, is a merchant at Canton, Illinois; Jessie C., born February 13, 1870, is the wife of Hays Wilson, of Knox county, this state; and Ethel B., born July 23, 1876, is now Mrs. Pitt Struble, of Chesterville, Ohio. Mrs. Smith was summoned to the life eternal on the 17th of November, 1909. She was a woman of most gracious refinement and was ever a potent influence for good in the home.
In politics Captain Smith is non-partisan, giving his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment, regardless of party issues. He has been incumbent of various important township offices, in all of which he has acquitted himself most creditably. Ile is a very prominent lodge man in Ohio, being connected with the time-honored Masonic Order, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias of Sparta, Ohio, and the Grand Army of the Republic. In the Knights of Pythias he has been a representative in the grand lodge of the state and on the 18th of December, 1910, he was commissioned aide-de-camp of the Union Veteran Legion of Columbus. Captain Smith is a loyal and public-spirited citizen and he stands to-day among the self-made men of Morrow county, whose life histories awaken for them the admiration and respect of all who know them.
WALTER C. BENNETT, M. D .- Of all the professions that of medicine gives the widest seope for keen, scientific analysis, practi- cal skill, sympathy and broad judgment of human nature. Physical and sont-ills are so mingled in the mortal temperament that it requires the deepest student, the keenest diplomat and the Christian, in the truest and broadest sense of the word, to determine a course of treatment, a method of conduet, which shall effect Vol. II-8
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an alleviation, to say nothing of a eure, of the sufferings which are brought to him by all sorts and conditions of men, women and children. The pioneer physician had his hardships of a rugged, wearing nature, which he met with the fortitude of the hero, but the more modern brother of the profession, in the more complex state of society, has as great difficulties with which to contend, far more varied and quite different in character. The human ills with which he has to deal are far more difficult of diagnosis than if living were more simple, and with the great strides made in medical and surgical methods, with the rapid progress which is of almost daily movement, the physician of to-day must also be a man of iron constitution to keep abreast of the complicated theory and practice of his profession. It is generally admitted by those who have given thought to the subject that the physician who has entered active professional work any time within the last quarter of the nineteenth century and earned and retained a high standing could have grandly succeeded in any other field calling for ability and true manhood.
Dr. Walter C. Bennett, of Mount Gilead, Morrow county, justly falls in this honored class of American citizens, and he has the additional distinction of having achieved prominence in judicial and civic life. Born in Cardington township, that county, Sep- tember 16, 1853, he is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Bovey) Bennett, his father being a sturdy Ohio farmer, than whom there are no better in the country. The son received his early education in the common schools near his home. Subsequently he pursued a course in the Cardington High School, and went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he completed his professional education in 1877, re- ceiving his degree of M. D. in the latter year and locating for practice at Iberia. He thus continned for nearly twenty years, and in 1896 the general confidence with which he had inspired the community at large found official expression in his election to the office of probate judge. His personal popularity is strikingly evident in the fact that he is the only Democrat who ever served a second term in that position. For a time he was also a member of the United States Pension Board, an appointive position which he filled until he resigned on account of taking the office of probate judge.
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