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 2
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Roy L. Pierec passed his youth and early manhood at Chester- ville in his native county. After his graduation from the Chesterville High School he elerked and later taught sehool there Deciding to prepare himself for the medieal profession, he entered the Ohio Medieal University, of Columbus, Ohio, where he grad- uated in 1896. He began the practice of his profession as an extern of the institution, and took a post graduate course of one year In the spring of 1901 he took up his residenee in Mt. Gilead, where he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine. He is secretary of the Morrow County Medical Soeicty and has membership in the Ohio State and American Medical societies.
Doctor Pieree married Miss Laura J. Rhodebeek in October, 1898. She was born in Morrow county in 1873, and is a graduate
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of the Mt. Gilead High School. Previous to her marriage she was a music teacher. They have had two children, an infant deceased, and Harriet I, born December 1, 1904.
Fraternally the doctor is a Mason, having membership in Chester Lodge, F. and A. M. He is also a member of Mt. Gilead Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Encampment, and has passed all the chairs, and is past grand chief patriarch. Both he and his wife are members of the Order Eastern Star, in which she has passed the chairs, and she is also a member of the Rebekah Degree, auxiliary to the I. O. O. F., in which she has filled all the offices. Politically the doctor affiliates with the Republican party. He served two terms as coroner. He is a genial, cordial gentleman and affable and of a cheerful, sunny nature, which are prime exponents of success in the sick chamber. He is a lover of fine horses, a bird fancier, and humane by his dog; these are some of his social characteristics.
J. W. GRIFFITH .- It has often occurred to the writer that the metropolitan press does not fully or fairly appreciate the thorough- pervading influence of the country newspapers and the faithful, able and valuable services of country journalists. While none fail to give due credit to the agricultural classes and rural communi- ties as forming the stanchest element in economy of America's world-famed prosperity and general happiness, the fact is often ignored that no one individual has a larger voice in their affairs and is more honored as a wise adviser and strong advocate than the able and faithful editor who, although one of them in sympa- thies and intimate knowledge of their lives, is still a leader and an inspiration. When the country editor is thus adopted into the community as a strong elder brother, affectionate and yet just, and remains bound closely to all its interests from young manhood to old age, as with the Rev. J. W. Griffith, of the Morrow County Sentinel, Mount Gilead, it is an injustice indeed that the entire press of the country should not place a very large account to country jounalism in striking a balance sheet on national pros- perity, national patriotism and national stability and progress in general.
Mr. Griffith is a native of Pennsylvania, and since early boyhood has developed in an atmosphere of printer's cases, presses and editorial "copy." After attaining his majority he came to Ohio to take a position with his uncle at Shelby, but the call of the printer soon drew him away from the mercantile field and he applied for a "case" at the office of the Shield and Banner, Mansfield. As there was no vacancy on that paper, he sought work in the same line elsewhere, and fortunately learned from a fellow compositor that a case was idle in the office of the Sentinel of Mount Gilead. So the weary but persistent youth trudged to the
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county seat of the newly formed eounty, and was rewarded by securing the coveted work at his beloved trade. That was sixty- three years ago, and sinee that time the industrious, faithful and able compositor has surely risen to the position of editor and proprietor of one of the most influential and prosperous country papers in Ohio, with a substantial subseription list and a fine mechanical plant.
Quoting the words of one of Mr. Griffith's warm and appre- eiative fellow journalists: "Brother Griffith has never been sensational as a writer, but is always conservative and thoughtful. He never has to take baek today what he published yesterday. He is loyal and true to his friends, and in conversation is enter- taining, with a tinge of mirth and charming repartee."
Again, as suggesting eharacteristics both of editor and his paper, is the following taken from the first number of the thirty- third volume of the Sentinel: "This issue rounds to a elose the thirty-seeond volume of the Sentinel, and on the threshold of the new year it is befitting that we should look back with our readers over the cheekered path we have trod together. Thirty-two years ! Could the Sentinel speak and tell us of the changes it has witnessed, the trials passed, the triumphs achieved, the friends it has seen pass away or grown gray, as it has grown strong-how the tale would enthrall our breathless attention! But thirty-two years is not the age of gushing confession, and we cannot expect to hear of its early loves and disappointments, the frolics and vieissitudes of its vouth. A generation has passed since its birth, and while its servants and friends have grown older and fonder of the ease earned by a life of toil, it has just arrived at maturity, and rejoices like a strong man to run a raee.
"In publie life what revolutions the Sentinel has seen. Parties have fulfilled their mission and passed away like autumn leaves ; the eause of freedom rising in the cloud of 'free soil' not larger than a man's hand, has spanned the heavens, and equal rights, casting its shadow over a weary land, has delivered that which was holy and set the oppressed free. The public life of the last thirty-two years has been eventful, charged with potencies for weal or woe to the nation, and the Sentinel, in its place and wav, has borne its part without wavering and without regret; and standing now on the eve of another conflict between the old ele- ments of antagonism it draws fresh inspiration from this birthday retrospect, and renews its faith in the policy of honesty, liberty and equal rights before the law and at the ballot box."
JAMES L. MCCAMMAN, who resides at 732 West High street, Mt. Gilead, Ohio, is well known as one of the financially substantial men of Morrow county, where he has spent his life and where his enterprising efforts and strictly honorable dealings have brought him the success he now enjoys.
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Mr. MeCamman was born in Gilead township, Morrow county, Ohio, July 23, 1850, a son of John and Henrietta (Kelly) McCam- man, both now deceased. In their family were five children, of whom one daughter, Alice, is now the wife of Edmund Wooley and resides in New York state. When James L. was six years of age his parents moved to the farm in Gilead township on which he was reared and which he still owns, this farm comprising a tract of two hundred and ten acres and being situated a mile and a half east of Mt. Gilead. Here his boyhood days were passed, attending district school and working on the farm, and here he continued to make his home until 1901, when he came to Mt. Gilead, since which time he has resided on West ITigh street. For years Mr. MeCamman has dealt extensively in cattle, buying by the car load, grazing them on his broad pastures and then shipping to the markets. From time to time he has made investments, and is a stockholder and director in various enterprises.
Mr. MeCamman and his wife have an only danghter, Florence, wife of Robert Ginn, of Indianapolis, Indiana. Mrs. McCamman, formerly Miss Ora V. Powell, was born and reared in Morrow -
eounty.
Politically Mr. McCamman is a Republican, though he has never been active in politics, his own personal affairs claiming the whole of his attention. He has fraternal relations with Mt. Gilead Lodge, No. 169, I. O. O. F., and Morrow Encampment, No. 59; also he is a member of Charles H. Hull Lodge, No. 195, K. of P., in all of which he has been honored with official position. He and his wife are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Mt. Gilead and at this writing he is one of its stewards.
JOHN C. WILLIAMSON, prosecuting attorney of Morrow county, Ohio, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this country and was born on the old Williamson farm near Iberia April 7, 1883. John Williamson, his great-grandfather, came to Ohio as early as 1820 and established his home on a tract of land near Iberia, which has ever since remained in the Williamson family, now being owned by the heirs of James Williamson, the father of John C., and who died in 1892. James Williamson and his wife, Mary E. (Denman) Williamson, were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: H. Elizabeth, teacher in high school, Edison ; Rosa A., wife of G. W. Struthers, farmer, Iberia; Caroline J., librarian, St. Louis City Library ; James W., who wedded Miss Marion Hughes, and died at Iberia, January, 1905; John C., and Jonathan D., attorney. Columbus, Ohio.
John C. Williamson was reared near the vicinity of Iberia. He received his carly education in the schools of Iberia, and is a graduate of the Iberia High School with the class of 1899. In 1901 he was a student at Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio, and the
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following year he attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, Ohio, after which he spent some time in the school room as a teacher, and later took up the study of law. In the meantime he farmed and made a trip, spending five months in the far west. After his return to Ohio he entered the law department of the State University, where he graduated in June, 1906. That same year he was admitted to the bar and engaged in the practice of law at Mt. Gilead, and in November, 1908, he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of prosecuting attorney of Morrow county, in which he is now serving, and he was reelected in 1910, by a majority of eight hundred and twenty-six votes.
Mr. Williamson married Miss Anna K. Patton, of Crawford county, Ohio, and they are the parents of two little sons, James W. and John, the former born in 1906, the latter in 1909.
Both Mr. Williamson and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian church, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic Order, being a member of both the Lodge and Chapter at Mt. Gilead, and he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias No. 561, at Iberia.
WILLIAM W. GURLEY is now and has been for thirty-five years past a member of the Chicago Bar. He was born at Mt. Gilead, Ohio, January 27, 1851. His father, Judge John J. Gurley, was a native of St. Lawrence county, state of New York, and located at Mt. Gilead in the year 1850, and was an honored and prominent member of the bar of Morrow county until his death April 30, 1887.
When Judge Gurley came to Mt. Gilead he formed a partner- ship for two years with Thomas W. Bartley, who was afterwards one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Ohio, from February 9, 1852, until February 9, 1859, and with Samuel J. Kirkwood, both of Mansfield, Ohio, under the firm name of Gurley, Bartley and Kirkwood. Mr. Kirkwood later removed to Iowa and beeame governor, and in 1881-2 was secretary of the interior in President Garfield's Cabinet. The mother of William W. Gurley was Anse- ville Carr Armentrout Gurley. She was one of the most poetic, gentle and amiable wives and mothers that the writer of this sketch ever knew. She was a native of Richland county, Ohio. She died April 2, 1882, and she and husband lie side by side in River Cliff cemetery, Mt. Gilead, Ohio. Our subject has the best reasons to feel proud of his ancestry.
He attended the Union Sehool in Mt. Gilead, and at the age of sixteen years was admitted at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, and was graduated therefrom in 1870. shortly after he became nineteen years of age. The degree of Bachelor of Arts has been conferred ou him by his Alma Mater. He was ad- mitted to the bar by the district court within and for Morrow
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county, Ohio, on June 19, 1873, and in Illinois on the second day of April 11, 1875. On May 1, 1876, he became a member of the firm of Cooper, Paekard and Gurley, which firm continued for about two years, when the firm of Cooper and Gurley was organ- ized and which remained in existence for about six years. Since the dissolution of the last named firm he has practiced alone. Of later years he has been chiefly occupied with the affairs of corpor- ations. IIe has for many years been general counsel of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway Company and of the Chicago Railways Company and its predecessor companies.
On October 28; 1878, he was married to Miss Mary Eva Turney, daughter of the late Joseph Turney, of Cleveland, Ohio, late treasurer of the state of Ohio. Of this marriage there were born three children, the eldest, William Turney Gurley, dying in infancy. The second, a daughter, Helen Kathryn, was born September 15, 1890, and is still living. The third, a son, John Turney Gurley, was born December 15, 1893, and died October 26, 1903. The daughter is a graduate of the class of 1909 of the Misses Masters School at Dobbs Ferry, New York.
FINLEY H. FLICKINGER .- Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the individual or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial development, it is impos- sible clearly to determine. Yet the study of a successful life is none the less profitable by reason of the existence of this uncer- tainty, and in the majority of cases it is found that exceptional ability, amounting to genius, perhaps, was the real secret of the pre-eminence which many envied. So it appears to the student of human nature who seeks to trace the history of the rise of Finley II. Flickinger, a typical American of the best class. As superin- tendent of the Cardington schools Mr. Flickinger has been identi- fied with educational interests in this section of the state for twenty-five years and his labors have been effective in raising the standard of the schools until the educational system is one of which every citizen of the locality has reason to be proud.
Professor Finley H. Flickinger was born in Crawford county, Ohio, on the 13th of September, 1867, and is a son of John and Amanda (Fralick) Fliekinger, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was long engaged in farming in Crawford county, where he was respected and honored as one of the most influential citizens in the community. He was summoned to the life eternal in 1890 and his wife is living in Crawford county, Ohio. Finley H. was the first in order of birth in a family of eight ehildren and he was afforded the advantages of the public schools of his native county, being graduated in the New Washington high sehool in 1887. He was matriculated in the Ohio Northern Uni- versity, in 1884, in which excellent institution he was graduated
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as a member of the class of 1905, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He has a life certificate for teaching in the common schools and also in the high school, having received the former in 1900 and the latter in 1906. The high school certificate was received by examination. Profesor Flickinger has been identified with the pedagogic profession in the Buckeye state for the past twenty-five years; he served as principal at Iberia for six years and in 1903 came to Cardington, where he has since been incumbent of the office of superintendent of schools. For eleven years he was a member of the board of school examiners. He is a man of fine natural intelligence and broad humanitarian principles and he has ever contributed his quota to the progress and development of this section of the state.
In 1889 was celebrated the marriage of Professor Flickinger to Miss Ellen Wagner, of Crawford county, where she was born in 1868. She was educated in the common schools of the county and was graduated in the high school at New Washington, after which she became a popular and successful teacher in the schools of Crawford county, being thus engaged for three years prior to her marriage. To this union have been born three children, Karl, Eilene and Lucile. Karl was graduated in the Cardington high school and in Bliss College, at Columbus, Ohio. He is now bookkeeper for the Cleveland Wholesale Provision Company, with headquarters at Cleveland. Eilene was graduated in the local high school and remains at the parental home and Lueile is a student in the high school, being a member of the class of 1912.
Professor Flickinger is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his wife, and he is a teacher in the Sunday school, of which he is also assistant superintendent. His interest in political questions is deep and sincere and he gives an earnest support to Democratic principles, believing that the platform of the party contains the best elements of good government. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with Cardington Lodge, No. 427, Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor. IIe is also a valned and appreciative member of Cardington Lodge, No. 384, Free and Accepted Masons and of Cardington Chapter, No. 163, Royal Arch Masons. In connection with his chosen profession he is a member of the County Institute State Teachers' Association.
JAMES D. FATE .- A public-spirited and altruistic citizen, pro- gressive and prosperous and one of Morrow county's representative citizens, is James D. Fate. It will not be gainsaid that agriculture is the ruling vocation of the universe, the great basic industry, - yielding sustenance to the masses. In the "land of the free and the home of the brave" it seems almost the prime requisite to great- ness and renown that a man should pass a part of his life on the farm. The halls of Congress, the conting-houses, the professorial Vol. II-2
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chair, in short all of the professions present as their leading repre- sentatives men who have spent their early lives amid rural sur- roundings. Should our American citizen shun public life and prefer the respect only of those who know him as neighbor, his life is still the most independent and wholesome of any and it has been truly said "The farmer is king of the earth."
James D. Fate, who is custodian of Morrow county's funds, was a farmer's son .. His eyes first opened upon the romantic scenery of Washington county, Maryland, and the date of his arrival upon this mundane sphere was January 9, 1859. He comes of that sturdy German stock which is of the most valuable of the sources of our emigration and he partakes of the many fine traits which characterize the Teutonic character. In order of birth he is the third in a family of ten children born to John and Margaret (Amick) Fate, eight of the number surviving at the present time. Samuel and Himes reside in Canaan township; Wason is a citizen of Marion ; James D. is of Mt. Gilead; Mary became the wife of H. V. Price and makes her home in Galion; Elizabeth, widow of Bryant Mills, resides in Edison, as do Charles and John, the younger members of the family.
John Fate, father of him whose name initiates this review, was born in Bavaria, Germany, on January 30, 1833, and he died Feb- ruary 18, 1911, at the age of seventy-eight years and eighteen days. When he was a child of less than four years of age his parents, John and Barbara Fate, concluded to make a trial of new fortunes across the blue Atlantic, and so bade adieux to old associations in the Fatherland. Upon arriving here the family located in Wash- ington county, Maryland, where they lived for a great many years. John Fate was the eldest son of a family of seven children, of whom one brother and four sisters survive, namely; Joseph, of near Hancock, Maryland; Mrs. Littell, of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania; Mrs. Richard, of Hancock, Maryland; Mrs. Colbert, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Peter Koon, of Cardington. At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Fate was first united in mar- riage, the young woman to become his wife being Margaret Amick, of Washington county, Maryland, and ten children were born to their happy union, the names of these sons and daughters having been mentioned in a preceding paragraph. In 1861 the elder Mr. Fate settled in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and there he and his family resided for over a decade. In 1872 they came to Mor- row county, Ohio, and favorably impressed with its advantages, they here made permanent location. They secured land and were soon enrolled among the prosperous farmer folk of this part of the Buckeye state. On May 26, 1894, Mrs. Fate was summoned to the life eternal, and some five years later Catherine Heffelfinger, of West Point, was united with him in holy wedlock. Mr. Fate is thus survived by his wife, eight children, twenty grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Mr. Fate was a zealous member
J.D. Fate
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of the Methodist Episcopal church and enjoyed the respect of the community in which he had resided for nearly forty years. It has been said of him "He was a manly man ; he was a man of elear conviction and of deeided opinions; he was a faithful husband, father, friend, beloved and honored by all who knew him."
James D. Fate was a lad of about thirteen years of age at the time of the removal from Pennsylvania. He continued his studies in the district sehools, but the exigencies of farm life made it impossible for him to attend anything but the short winter term. Under the eareful supervision of his father he and his brothers became thoroughly familiar with practical agriculture, while through his own efforts he improved his education. It is quite true of him that he is a self-made and self-educated man, and he has always walked in the paths of reetitude and honesty. Being of a careful and thrifty turn of mind, while still young he sue- eeeded in accumulating a fine estate, consisting of one hundred and sixteen and one-half acres of fine land in Cardington township. In 1906 he abandoned the vocation of agriculture, to which he had previously devoted his energies, and became a member of the well-known firm of dealers in stock, "The Cardington Live Stock Company," comprising the following gentlemen: Messrs. H. L. Eckles, J. E. Coleman and J. D. Fate. The company bought and shipped live stock to the cities of Buffalo, Pittsburg and Cleve land, and the enterprise proved exceedingly successful. Mr. Fate continued a member of the firm until 1909. When he left his father's farm he had absolutely no capital and his present com- petence he has acquired through his own energy, executive ability and enlightened business methods, and with the cooperation of his estimable wife. There is, indeed, particular pleasure in presenting the record of a man's life when he has had to carve his own way through the rock of adversity and difficulty which lies in the path of the average man. Mr. Fate is an admirable example not only to his own children but also to the rising generation of what the best methods in business and citizenship will accomplish.
As his companion in life Mr. Fate chose Miss Elenora A. Koon, their marriage occurring March 7, 1880, in Canaan township. To this happy union have been born one son and four daughters, Estella M., who is the wife of Charles II. Bradford, a mechanic of Armada, Michigan. They have two children, Dehar and Vera. Hollie R. resides in Cardington township, where he is a prosperous young farmer. He married Miss Emma Lehner, and they have one son, Ronald O. Ethel D. is a graduate of the Cardington high school of the class of 1910, and resides with her parents. Two children died in infancy.
Mrs. Fate is a native of Morrow county, her birth having occurred here JJanuary 27, 1861, and she is the daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Warwick) Koon. She was educated in the common schools and was reared in her home county. She is of fine German
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lineage and is endowed with the tastes and accomplishments of good housewifery, and her career as a helpmcet to her husband and a good mother to her children has been signally successful. Her father, Jacob Koon, although a native of Pennsylvania, traced his descent to Germany. By occupation he was a farmer ; politically he was a Jackson Democrat; and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Koon are now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Fate are adherents of the faith of the Friends, or Quaker Society and they live their beautiful faith in their lives, being highly esteemed by all who know them. Politically the head of the house is a Republican and he has ever upheld the principles of the Grand Old Party both in local and national affairs. The first presidential vote cast by him was for Ohio's martyred son, Garfield, and he has supported every Republican candidate since that day. Many times he has been chosen by his people to represent their interests in county and district conven- tions, and this is as it should be, for his official record stands with- out a blemish. In 1899 he was appointed real estate appraiser of the lands of Cardington township. Subsequently he was appointed by the secretary of the state of Ohio as a member of the board of supervisors of elections of Morrow county, this being in the year 1904. His election as county treasurer came to pass in 1908 and he was later re-elected to this very important office, of which he is the present incumbent. His services have been valuable and of the most irreproachable character.
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