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 34
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On the 27th of December, 1894, Mr. Clevenger took unto him- self a wife, Miss Lola C. Apt, who has proved a devoted companion and helpmeet. She was born in Canaan township on the 2d of February, 1877, and is a daughter of Jacob Y. Apt, who was a prosperous farmer of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger have four children, as follows: Alta L., Gladys M., Harold J., and Charles E .. The eldest daughter, Miss Alta, is a member of the class of 1913 in the high school at Edison, and the two children next younger are attending the school of their home district.
PERRY M. PIERCE .- A venerable and highly respected citizen of Morrow count, Perry M. Pierce, of South Bloomfield township, has long been identified with the advancement of the agricultural growth and prosperity of this part of the state and holds a note- worthy position among its substantial farmers. He is of pure English descent, the founder of the branch of the Pierce family to which he belongs having come with a brother across the Atlantic in the Mayflower, landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. His posterity are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the land, the name "Pierce" being known in many a town, county and state. Perry M. Pierce was born December 5, 1827, in South Bloomfield township, in the rude log cabin here erected by his father, Barnabas C. Pierce. His grandfather, Reverend Daniel Wildman Pieree, a Baptist minister, devoted his life to the min- istry, holding pastorates in New York state. He married a Miss Wildman, who was of New England ancestry, her parents having been born and bred in Connecticut. .
P. M. Pierce,
Jois Amanda Merce
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Barnabas C. Pierce was born September 30, 1792, in Putnam county, New York, and was there reared. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and eight years later, in 1820, migrated with his family to Ohio, locating in South Blomfield township, in what was then Knox county, but is now included within the limits of Morrow county. He took up his residence on the farm of fifty acres which his wife inherited from her father, who had taken up five hundred acres of land from the government, and there carried on general farming until his death, at the age of eighty-six years. The maiden name of his wife was Nancy Wildman. She was born in Bristol, Connecticut, February 5, 1803, and died on the home farm in Morrow county, Ohio, at the age of eighty-two years. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Thomas J., born December 26, 1820, in South Bloomfield township; Mary, born May 12, 1823, died in childhood; Nathan W., born March 10, 1825: Perry M., the subject of this brief biographical sketch; Betsey J., born April 1, 1831; Daniel H., born August 1, 1837; and Colum- bus D., born November 1, 1839. During the Civil war Columbus D. Pierce, the youngest son, enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until receiv- ing his honorable discharge at the close of the war.
A man of scholarly attainments, fitted for a professional career, Perry M. Pierce located after his marriage in Hartford, Ohio, where he studied and practiced medicine for a few years, after which he traveled extensively throughout the state. Locating then on the homestead of his father-in-law in Morrow county, he was extremely successful in his occupation of a general farmer and has here continued his residence until the present time. He is a great reader, keeping himself well informed on the current topics of the day, and is not only an interesting conversationalist but is said by his neighbors and friends to be one of the best orators in the county.
Mr. Pierce married, JJune 12, 1864, Lois Amanda Gano, who was born in Morrow county, Ohio, April 10, 1845, a daughter of Elijah Gano, a life-long resident of this state. Elijah Gano mar- ried Chloe D. Stephens, who was born in Tompkins county, New York, and for four years thereafter lived on a farm in Perry town- ship. He then moved with his family in 1848 to South Bloomfield township, locating on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Pierce, and there both he and his wife spent their remaining years. Mr. and Mrs. Gano became the parents of five children, as follows: Lois Amanda, born April 10, 1845; David, born February 27, 1848; Lorenzo Bruce, born November 30, 1850, died JJune 25, 1851; An Eliza, born November 4, 1853, died at age of fourteen ; and Ora Z. T., born February 4, 1860.
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce four children were born, namely : Ida died in infancy ; Sumner, born May 18, 1867 ; Linneus, born August 17, 1869; and Clinton L., born December 23, 1871.
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Educated in the district schools and at the Sparta High School, Sumner Pierce taught school twelve years, and having passed the civil service examination with an unusually high record of scholar- ship, secured a position in the United States post office service, and is now considered one of the most expert clerks of that department. Linneus Pierce, educated in the district schools, is now located on the home farm, which he manages with much success. Clinton L. attended the Sparta High School, and subsequently taught school ten years, and is now identified with various industries. Mr. Pierce is a member of the Lutheran church while Mrs. Pierce and the oldest son, Linnens, are valued members of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Bloomfield.
WILLIAM H. COUNTERMAN .- An enterprising and practical agriculturist, Wiliam H. Counterman is prosperously engaged in his independent vocation in one of the pleasantest and most desir- able sections of Westfield township, Morrow county. His farm is finely located, and its fifty-two acres of rich and fertile land are in an excellent state of cultivation, bearing evidence of his thrift and good management. He is a systematic and thorough farmer, and from his father, who was a skilled mechanic, has in- herited decided mechanical talent. Skillful in the use of tools of all kinds, he can turn his hand to good advantage in many direc- tions, being a good blacksmith, and in addition to having a smithy has a well-furnished machine shop, in which he does a great deal of the necessary repairing of tools and machinery, saving not only much valuable time but large sums of money. A son of P. S. Counterman, he was born January 3, 1865, in Marion county, Ohio, but was brought up and educated in Morrow county.
P. S. Counterman came from Marion county, Ohio, to Morrow county with his family in 1873 and located very near Westfield, where he followed his trade of a mechanic. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Creglow, eight children were born, namely: One child, a daughter, died in infancy; Sarah J., wife of Levi Luke; Mary A., wife of Moses Slack; Mrs. Martha Lomos, of Toledo, Ohio; Ella, wife of Jerry Claypool; William H., the special subject of this personal notice; James, a resident of Westfield township, married Clara Foust ; and Ida, wife of Charles Foust, of this township.
Coming with his parents to Morrow county when a small lad, William H. Counterman attended school until twenty years of age, obtaining a good education. Under his father's instruction he be- came proficient in the use of tools and is a veritable genius, in his shop doing all kinds of iron work and wood work, as mentioned above. When ready to settle in life he bought land in Westfield township, and as a general farmer has found both pleasure and profit.
Mr. Counterman married, February 18, 1893, Orra Worline,
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who was born in Marion county, Ohio, September 5, 1844, a daugh- ter of Isaac and Catherine (Whisler) Worline. When she was a - girl her parents moved to Delaware county, Ohio, from there com- ing to Morrow county and locating in Westfield township, where she was brought up in the same neighborhood as Mr. Counterman, who wooed and won her for his bride. Mr. and Mrs. Counterman are genial, affable people, living honorable, upright lives, attending to their own affairs, and are highly respected throughout the com- munity. They are generous and hospitable, in love with life and its reasonable pleasures, and in order that they may see as much as possible of the country roundabout have purchased a fine Brush automobile, in which during the summer seasons they take many an enjoyable trip.
Politically Mr. Counterman votes the Democratic ticket, but he takes no active part in publie affairs. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Ashley Lodge, No. 421, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. and Mrs. Counterman have by their industry and frugality accumulated all this property. They began by the week and month wage, saved their wages and purchased their present farm, which is known as "Ingleside" and located on the old Delaware and Mans- field pike, four and one-half miles from Cardington and three and one-half miles from Ashley, Ohio.
JOSEPH MCFARLAND, M. D .- The state of Ohio, with its exten- sive industrial interests, has attracted within its confines men of marked ability and high character in the various professional lines, and in this way progress has been conserved and social stability fostered. He whose name initiates this review is a native son of the fine old Buckeye state and during fully half a century's connee- tion with the medical profession in Blooming Grove, Ohio, he has gained recognition as one of the able and successful physicians of the state. By his labors, his high professional attainments and his sterling qualities he has justified the respect and confidence in which he is held by the medical fraternity and the local public. It it interesting to note here that Dr. MeFarland has not confined his attention to the material welfare of humanity but has also given considerable thought to their spiritual well being. He was or- dained as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church in 1859 and has been a licensed elder in the church since 1870.
Dr. Joseph McFarland was born in Riehland county, Ohio on the 29th of August, 1827, and is the eldest child of John and Sarah (Schlosser) MeFarland. He traees his ancestry back to stanch English extraetion, his great-grandfather, William MeFarland, having come to America as a soldier in the English army to fight in the French and Indian war, prior to the war of the Revolution. The next in line of direct descent to the Doctor was Robert McFar- land who was the father of John MeFarland, whose son is the imme- diate subject of this review. John McFarland was born in the state
Vol. II-19
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of Virginia, whence he came to Ohio in the year 1825, first locat- ing in Mansfick!, Richland county, but later establishing his home in Washington township, that county. He was married in June, 1826, and he and his wife raised a family of nine children, of whom six are now living. He continued to maintain his home in Richland county until 1868, in which year he removed to Morrow county, where he was summoned to the life eternal in the year 1896. The mother passed away in 1856.
To the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the home farm Dr. MeFarland is indebted for his fine, robust constitution, which has weathered the storms of many years and which even to-day at the venerable age of eighty-three years, is alert and splendidly preserved. After completing the curriculum of the common schools of his native county he entered College Hill Academy, at Ellsworth, Ohio, in which he pursued his studies with unusual brilliancy for one year. Thereafter he was identified with the ped- agogie profession for a number of years and in the meantime he conscientiousły devoted all his leisure moments to the study of medicine. Eventually he was matriculated as a student in a medical school, and completed his professional education at the Homeopathical College at Cleveland, Ohio, in which he was grad- uated as a member of the class of 1852, duly receiving his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after his grad- uation Dr. McFarland located at Blooming Grove, Morrow county, where he has been engaged in the active practice of medicine and surgery during the long intervening years to the present time, in 1911. This is an age of progress and the Doctor has kept abreast with the advances made in his profession and his contribution to the alleviation of human pain and suffering has been of most promi- nent order. About 1859 Dr. McFarland became interested in the Methodist ministry and after devoting considerable time to theo- logical studies he was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episco- pal church in 1859. Since 1870 he has been a licensed elder in the church and it is interesting to note at this point that during his connection with the ministry he has performed as many as seventy- six marriages and has officiated at over three hundred funerals. The Doctor is also a fine musician possessing a wonderful voice of peculiar richness and purity of tone.
On the 26th of August, 1845, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. McFarland to Miss Samantha Norton, who was born February 7, 1821, in Trumbull county, Ohio. To this union were born five children, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated: Ermina Alcesta, became the wife of Thomas M. Cantwell, of Blooming Grove; Roderick N. resides in Los Angeles, California; Sarah S. wedded James Wilcox, of Lima, Ohio; Martha Eulalia is the wife of Zadok Beard, of Jackson county, Kansas, and Mary F. is the wife of F. E. Dille, of Olympia, Washington. Mrs. McFarland has ever been a good, true and
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sweet companion and mother. She is a woman of most gracious personality and is deeply beloved by all who have come within the sphere of her gentle influence.
In politics Mr. MeFarland has ever been aligned as a stanch supporter of the cause of the Prohibition party and though he has never manifested aught of desire for public office of any descrip- tion he has ever been alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all measures advanced for the good of the community. He was commissioned major of the Fifty-sixth Battallion of Infantry O. V. M., of Morrow county, by Governor Todd September 25, 1863. He is affiliated with various professional and fraternal organiza- tions of representative character and he and his family are devout members of the Methodist Episeopl church, as already intimated. He is a man of fine mentality, extensive information and broad human sympathy. The list of his personal friends is said to be coincident with that of his acquaintances and if his every kind act and charitable impulse were known and were entered in print they would cover many pages. Progressive and kindly in spirit the success which Dr. McFarland has attained is not of the ordinary kind. It is not to be reckoned in dollars and cents but in kind and generous deeds and thoughts.
JAMES H. KELLY .- Since 1903 has James H. Kelly been a resi- dent of Mount Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, and his influence and strength of character have always wielded toward progressive lines and for the upbuilding of the county and state. His success in life is not attributable to any element of chance but to persistency of purpose and a strong determination to forge ahead.
Mr. Kelly is a native of Zanesville, Ohio, where his birth occurred on the 12th of November, 1867 .. He is a son of Peter J. and Mary E. (O'Neal) Kelly, both of whom are now deceased. Peter J. Kelly was a merchant and he was a faithful and gallant soldier in the Civil war. Mr. Kelly was reared to adult age in Zanesville, in the public schools of which place he received his education, after which he entered upon a four years' apprentice- ship at the machinist's trade in the office of the Mansfield Machine Works, at Mansfield, Ohio. Thereafter he was engaged as a machinist in different cities in Ohio, among them being the Buey- rus Shorel Company, at Bucyrus, Ohio, and the Carroll Foundry & Machine Works, in the same place, of which latter concern he was for a time superintendent. In 1903, as already noted, he located in Mount Gilead, where he began to operate the old butter- tub factory, which he equipped with modern facilities of the best order and which he has continued to run with considerable success to the present time, in 1911. In 1908 he established a plant for plumbing and electric and gas fitting in connection with his fac- tory, the offices of the same being on North Main street. He owns a tract of valuable land on the site of the Short-Line railroad
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and has other interests of broad scope and importance in Mount Gilead.
In the year 1894 Mr. Kelly married Miss Anna Linlon, of Bueyrus, Ohio, and they have one son, James L. Kelly, who was born on the 26th of October, 1896, and who is now enrolled as a pupil in the public schools of Mount Gilead. In religions matters Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are devout communicants of the Holy Trinity Catholic church, at Bucyrus, Ohio, and in the same have been prominent factors in connection with charitable matters ..
By reason of his father's service in the Civil war Mr. Kelly holds membership in Lemuel H. Breese Camp. No. 64. Sons of Veterans, besides which he is also connected with other social and fraternal organizations of a local character. In his political con- victions he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and he takes a deep and sincere interest in all matters touching the civic life of the community. Among his friends he is highly esteemed for his sterling integrity of character and his genial disposition and he has ratified strong friendships by his deference for the opinions of others and his kindly consideration.
ELIJAH CONARD .- The memory of Elijah Conard. Chester- ville's well-known wagon maker, will long remain green in the hearts of the many who knew and loved him. Ilis quiet, indus- trious life was consecrated to the good, the true and the beautiful, and it is but natural that he should have won the abiding confidence and respect of the people in whose midst he lived and labored. His years were more than those allotted the majority of mankind, for he was born June 4, 1822, and died March 10. 1906, the mortal part of him being laid to rest in the Chesterville cemetery. Mr. Conard was the son of Edward and Mary (Bowman) Conard, both of whom were natives of Knox county. Ohio, their immediate for- bears having been pioneers in that locality. There were seven children in the family, an enumeration of whom is as follows: Mary, Bowman, Samuel. Rhoda, Elizabeth, Raymond and Elijah. Elijah Conard's first marriage was to Mahala Simmons. and one son was born, Lewis N., and he wedded Miss Mary A. Potter, daughter of Joseph Potter, of Delaware county. Two children were born to this union-Bessie Luella and Don Lamerton. The second marriage was with Miss Nancy Stark, November 11, 1852, and she was the daughter of John and Cornelia (Wilcox) Stark, natives of Pennsylvania.
Shortly after their marriage, the young couple commenced life together at Homer, Ohio, where Mr. Conard engaged in work at his trade. Later they removed to Chesterville, which was to prove their permanent residence, Mr. Conard here conducting a wagon shop for the rest of his life. He was a good workman, careful and conscientious and was a careful repairer. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Conard was blessed by the birth of four children, the youngest
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of whom-Martha Luella-died at the age of seven years. The others are Henry, Charleton, Cornelia and Rozilia. The only son married Mary E. Ralston, of Knox county, and their present resi- dence is at McBain, Michigan. Their seven children are as fol- lows: Nancy L., John R. (deceased), George (deceased), Cora, Henry, Helen G. and Virginia.
Mr. Conard was generally recognized as a useful citizen, a good man and a kind neighbor. His widow still remains in their pleasantly situated Chesterville home. She is tenderly cared for by her dutiful daughter, Cornelia, whose presenee and thoughful attention comfort her mother in the evening of life. Mother Con- ard is an interesting woman with a remarkable memory and al- though now in her ninetieth year she takes great pleasure in repeat- ing by the hour beautiful favorite poems pertaining to Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, the home of her childhood. One of the best loved of these is the following :
"How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood ; What fond recollections their memories recall. The days, happy days, I spent in thy wildwood, Watching in springtime the cataract's fall.
"Their memories I treasure, it still gives me pleasure To think of those moments of sweet long ago, When from the proud summits and loftiest limit I gazed on thy beauty and glory below.
"Enchanted I sat in the shade of thy bower, Inhaling the sweet-scented breeze from the hills, Made sweet with the breath of the wild, fragrant flowers, Swelled with the sound of the murmuring rills.
"Forget them I'll never; my heart's longing ever To visit once more the historical ground; And roam in the wildwood, as oft in my childhood, And view from thy hillside thy diamond dust mound Oh lovely Wyoming, oh fairest Wyoming, My joy and my home."
Like her beloved husband, Mrs. Conard is esteemed by neigh- bors and friends among whom she has passed a long and useful life. She can look back with particular satisfaction over the fact that she and her husband always endeavored to implant in the minds of their children a desire for true and honest citizenship. Mr. Conard was a faithful and consistent member of the Baptist church and his venerable widow and daughter Cornelia are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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CHARLES C. YOUNG .- The estimable citizen whose name forms the caption for this article is most successfully engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Perry township, Morrow county, Ohio. Mr. Young has been identified with various lines of enterprise during his eventful career and in all of them has proved his mettle as a man of worth and ability. From his thrifty German ancestors he inherits that stern sense of duty and conscientious industry which have ever characterized natives of the old Fatherland.
Charles C. Young was born in Johnsville, Morrow county, Ohio, the date of his nativity being the 30th of January, 1864, and he is a son of Caspar and Louisa (Lieb) Young, both of whom were born and reared in the great Empire of Germany, whence they immigrated to America about the year 1857. They made the uneventful but wearving trip across the Atlantic in the same sail- boat, and during the eighty-two days consumed by the journey their friendship waxed strong and gradually grew into love. After disembarking at New York city they proceeded to Findley, Han- cock county, Ohio, where was solemnized their marriage and where they maintained their home for a number of years. He served as deputy sheriff of Hancock county, but he was a harness maker by trade and was engaged in that line of work during practically his entire lifetime. Subsequently removal was made to Morrow county, where Casper Young became a man of influence in public affairs. In 1861 the family home was established in Johnsville, Ohio. where he passed the remainder of his life. At the time of the inception of the Civil war he gave evidence of his intrinsic loyalty and pa- triotism to the cause of his adopted country by tendering his services as a soldier in the Union army. He enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he won renown as a faithful and gallant soldier. After serving for some time with his company and regiment he joined Company F, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained one year. To Mr. and Mrs. Casper Young were born thirteen children, eight of whom are living in 1911, namely: August E. and George, both of Mount Gilead ; Sophia, who is the wife of James Pinvard, of Mount Gilead; Charles C., the immediate subject of this review; Anna, who is the wife of George Fullhart, of Geneva, Ohio; Frank, who resides at Montpelier, Indiana; Sarah, who married Fred Renshaw and who now maintains her home in California; and William, of Los Angeles, California. The children who are deceased are : Joseph, Eliza, Mary, Maggie and Ehnore. The father of the above children was summoned to the life eternal November 1, 1890, and the mother is a resident of Los Angeles, California, aged seventy- five years.
After completing the curriculum of the common schools of Johnsville Charles C .. Young entered upon an apprenticeship at the harness maker's trade under the able preceptorship of his
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father, and for nineteen years he devoted his entire time and atten- tion to the work of that line of enterprise. Subsequently he worked at his trade in Galion, Ohio, for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he directed his energies to the transfer business at Galion. In 1906 he returned to Johnsville, where he was employed on a farm for some three years. In 1909 he rented the Jesse Stilwell farm in Perry township, Morrow county, on which he has continued to reside to the present time. He has proved eminently successful as a farmer and his finely equipped estate, with its splendid buildings and well cultivated fields, show that he possesses considerable ability as an agriculturist and stock- raiser.
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