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 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
FRANK B. MCMILLIN .- There is ever patent verification of the aphorism of Epicharmus, "Earn thy reward; the gods give naught to sloth." and the world instinctively pays deference to those who win success through individual effort and worthy means.
Judge Frank B. McMillin is one of the native sons of Morrow county who has thus been the artificer of his own fortunes and whose success has been of a very appreciable order, the while his course has ever been such as to retain him the unqualified confi- dence and regard of his fellow men. In his early youth he felt the spur of necessity, and it may well be said that the development of character in strength and resourcefulness is fostered by such conflict with adverse forces. Mr. McMillin is now numbered among the veritable captains of industry in his native county, where his excellent initiative and administrative powers have been brought to bear in a most effective way in the promotion of enterprises that have important bearing upon the industrial and social prosperity of the community. He is one of the most loyal and progressive citizens of Mount Gilead and he has been an aggressive force in supporting all the measures that have tended to advance its best interests. IIere he is now secretary and general manager of The Hydraulic Press Manufacturing Company, and he has been spec- ially influential in placing this important industrial concern upon a substantial footing. He has served as probate judge of Morrow county and has been given most unequivocal assurance of popular esteem in the community that has ever represented his home.
Frank B. MeMillin was born in Mount Gilead, the metropolis and judicial center of Morrow county, and the date of his nativity
858
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
was November 3, 1868. He is a son of Reverend Milton and Mrs. Nancy McMillin, the former of whom was born in Beaver county. Pennsylvania, and the latter in Knox county, Ohio .. Reverend Milton McMillin was graduated in Washington and Jefferson College and the Western Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania, and later was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which he continned until death, which occurred at Lexington, Ohio, where he had temporarily located, in 1876. He has held various pastoral incumbencies in Pennsylvania and Ohio and was pastor of the Presbyterian church in Mount Gilead, which he resigned on account of ill health shortly before the time of his death. Hle was a man of fine intellectuality and his life was one of consecrated devotion to the work of his chosen voeation. His
wife, a woman of noble character, had been a teacher in seminaries near Pittsburg and Allegheny, Pennsylvania, prior to their mar- riage, and she survived him by many years the while she reared her children to lives of usefulness and honor, having assumed in this connection a heavy burden of responsibility when the husband and father was summoned from the scene of life's mortal endeavors. Her financial resources were of the most limited and uncertain order and she was left to care for five little sons, the eldest of whom was but thirteen years of age at the time of the father's death. She continued to maintain her home in Mount Gilead until her death, which occurred in December, 1908, and she is held in loving memory by all who eame within the sphere of her gentle and gracious influence.
Concerning the five children the following brief data is given : Walter L. is general manager of the Yeomans and Shedd Hardware Company, a representative wholesale concern at Danville, Illinois ; Reverend Edward M., is pastor of the Presbyterian church at East Liverpool, Ohio; Frank B. is the immediate subject of this review ; Harry B., of Mount Gilead, is individually mentioned on other pages of this work; and Reverend Frederiek N. is pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Walnut Hills, a residential section of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mr. Frank B. MeMillin was in his eighth year at the time of his father's death, and the straitened condition of the family rendered it necessary for him and his elder brother to assist in providing for the general support of the family, the loving and devoted mother having been determined to keep her children with her and to rear them accordinging to the principles of uprightness, self-reliance and abiding Christian faith. She was resourceful, self-abnegating, and was sustained by that faith that ever makes faithful in all the relations of life. Mr. MeMillin was afforded the advantages of the public schools, which he attended in a somne- what irregular way, and soon after the death of his father he began to earn his own living and also to assist his mother. When but eight years of age he secured employment in a brick yard, and from
859
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
the princely stipend of ten eents a day he was gradually advanced until he received a dollar a day for his services. He continued to be thus engaged for a period of four summers and during the latter part of this time he held the position of Kiln-setter. In the meanwhile he also added to his earnings by cutting wood, mowing lawns, making and selling lamp lighters and straw hats and doing sueh other kinds of work as he could secure. While attending school he thus employed himself nights and mornings, and during the vacation seasons, assiduous application to work marked his course rather than the play engaged in by the average boy. Thus he was able not only to provide his own clothing but also to contrib- ute to the support of the family while he was yet a mere boy. In the perspective of years he has found nothing to regret in the discip- line thus secured, for the same gave to him appreciation of the value and dignity of honest toil and endeavor, and also begot a spirit of self-reliance and a determined purpose to make the most of such opportunities as presented themselves.
After leaving the brick yard Mr. McMillin found employment on a farm, and he was thus engaged for a year, at a compensation of ten dollars a month. Later he clerked in a dry-goods and groeery stores in his native town, and when sixteen years of age he secured a clerical position in the Mount Gilead post office, in which he was eventually promoted to the position of assistant post master, an incumbeney which he retained for four years, the largest salary he received being thirty-seven and one-half dollars a month. In 1899 he retired from the post office to initiate an independent business eareer. Though his capitalistic resources available for investment were summed up in the amount of ninety dollars, he had established a sure reputation for industry, honesty and re- liability, and this constituted a most valuable asset. He purchased a shoe store and, as a matter of course, assumed a very appreciable indebtedness, but his reputation gained to him eredit, which he was always most careful to protect, and during the thirteen years of his identification with the shoe business his success was cumulative, implying the building up of a large and substantial trade and the securing of a strong hold upon popular confidence and esteem. When he sold his business in 1902, he not only owned the building occupied, but also a large stock of goods and was entirely free from debt, with a number of investments outside of the line of enterprise to which he had thus given his attention. During the greater part of the time he himself did the greater part of the work of the store, besides which he also had charge of bookkeeping for others.
The genius of success is work, and it will be seen that in this attribute Mr. MeMillin had been in no wise laeking. While serv- ing as assistant post master he became secretary of the Buekeye Building and Loan Association, of which he was one of the organ- izers and of which he became a director at the time of its incorpor- ation. When the business was reorganized under its present title,
860
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
The Mount Gilead Savings and Loan Company, he continued his identification therewith and has retained the office of director.
In 1900 he became a member of the directorate of The Hy- draulic Press Manufacturing Company, and since 1902 he has been an active executive of the corporation. In the year last mentioned he was appointed by the directors of the company to the office of special auditor. in which capacity devolved upon him the re- sponsibility of instilling new life and methods into the business, as well as to systematize the affairs of the factory, home office and branch sales offices. He quickly took up and mastered the mechan- ical details of the business and it has been in a large degree due to his skill as an organizer and to his careful and judicious adminis- tration of executive functions that the business has been placed upon a plane of successful operation and constantly expanding ramifications. From the office of special auditor he was appointed to that of assistant general manager, to the duties of which he later added those of assistant secretary, and since 1907 he has held the dual office of general manager and secretary. He is one of the leading stockholders in this corporation and has labored with much of ability and with unflagging zeal for the upbuilding of an indus- try that has contributed materially to the commercial prestige of Mount Gilead and Morrow county.
Mr. MeMillin has ever shown most insistent loyalty to his home city and his progressive ideas have been shown in the ardent co- operation which he has given to the initiating and fostering of enterprises and measures tending to conserve the general welfare and prosperity. The cause of religion has enlisted his earnest support and, broad and tolerant in his views, he has done all in his power to aid and uplift his fellow men and to bring about the highest standards of morality and clean social life. He believes in publicity and the judicious exploiting of the advantages and attractions of his city, and he has been active in advertising Mount Gilead as a desirable place for manufacturing and commercial enterprises and as an attractive place of residence. Ile is the author of a unique and most interesting brochure entitled "Facts About Mount Gilead," and the same has been widely distributed with most excellent results.
In politics Mr. MeMillin accords an unfaltering allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and he has given efficient service in its local ranks. Though he has had no special predilection for public office, he was appointed in 1900 to fill an unexpired term in the office of the probate judge of Morrow county, the vacancy having been cansed by the death of Judge Arthur L. Banker. He retained the office for one year and gave a most careful and ac- reptable administration.
A son of a clergyman of the Presbyterian church, Mr. McMil- lin was early grounded securely in the faith represented by this denomination, and he has been a zealous and valued factor in
861
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
connection with the various departments of the work of the Pres- byterian church in Mount Gilead, in which he is an elder at the present time, as well as superintendent of the Sunday school. Mrs. MeMillin also is a devoted church worker and is a popular figure in connection with the leading social activities of the community. Mr. McMillin is affiliated with Mount Gilead Lodge, No. 206, Free and Accepted Masons, and is an appreciative member of the time honored fraternity.
On the 25th of March, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. MeMillin to Miss Alice K. Struble, of Forest, Hardin county, Ohio. She was born in Fredericktown, Knox county, this state, and is a daughter of Lafayette and Ella A. Struble, members of old and honored families of this section of the Buckeye commonwealth. Mr. and Mrs. MeMillin have one son, Howard, who is now in his fourteenth year and is in the eighth grade at school.
THE BENNETT-ROBESON FAMILY .- As the successful growth of vegetation depends upon certain favorable conditions of sunshine and rain, so the growth of a great country's industries depend upon those inherent principles of sturdy manhood and womanhood that the passing years have bestowed with a lavish hand, and which to the one possessing them are a priceless legacy, stamping his life with a pleasing success. Such principles have been largely shown in the honored families of Bennett and Robeson, which enjoy uni- versal esteem in the district in which their interests are centered. A. D. Bennett, deceased, was born in Morrow county January 16, 1834. his parents being Seeley and Lydia (Cook) Bennett, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Jersey. The family consisted of ten children, whose names were : Daniel, Josiah, Townsend, Jonathan, Andrew, Phoebe, Caroline, Sener, Charlotte and A. D. The latter lived at home, assisting his father in farming and stock-raising until the time of his marriage, which happy event occurred May 1, 1878. The lady of his choice was Miss Sarah E. Robeson, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Roof ) Robeson, who were descended from good old Virginia ancestry. Joseph Robeson and his wife emigrated from Virginia to Ohio ai an early day and located in Knox county, where they reared and educated a fine family of eleven children.
Joseph Robeson was born in Frostberg, Virginia, February 3, 1801. He was possessed of those sterling qualities which won for him the highest esteem of the community wherein he spent the greater part of his useful and active life. A man of the highest sense of honor, he was universally respected and he and his good wife exercised a careful judgment in rearing their children-one of the most important duties of good citizenship. He loved the free, wholesome life of the open and greatly enjoyed the sport of hunting in which he was remarkably skilled and successful. Ilis musket brought down the last bear that was ever killed in Knox county.
862
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
He lived ten years longer than the psalmist's alottment of years, his demise occurring August 2, 1881. Ilis wife, who preceded him by some years to the Great Beyond, died in March, 1863. She was born April 6, 1805, at Winchester, Virginia. Their family grow- ing up to be honored men and women of sterling worth, filled numerous positions of trust, and always commanded the respect of the communities in which they moved. Their names were Cal- vin, Solomon, Thomas and Lyman, the latter dying in 1910, a re- tired farmer at Seattle, Washington.
The next son of the Robeson family was Sherman, who grad- uated in the study of medicine and became a successful practicing physician of Canton, Ohio. The others were Fletcher, Elizabeth, Matilda and Alonzo, who was a successful horseman of Loudonville, Ohio; and Angeline, who married Jonathan Bennett, a brother of A. D. Bennett, who was considered one of the most estimable women of Morrow county.
The remaining one was Sarah, the youngest of the Robeson family. After her marriage to A. D. Bennett they settled on the old Bennett homestead at Vail's Corners, where they spent their entire wedded life. The husband's occupation was farming and stock-raising. Being a successful business man of fine integrity of character. his judgment was often sought in matters of public and private interest, and his high sense of honor made him a friend to be relied upon. There was born to this worthy couple a son, whom they named Arthur, his natal day being November 26, 1881, and whose presence added greatly to the sunshine and joy of their home. In 1897 Mr. Bennett's health failed and on July 31, of that year his death occurred. His funeral cortege was one of the largest ever witnessed in this section, those who assembled to do honor to his memory attesting to his large circle of friends. Among them were the Knights of Pythias, of Marengo, Ohio, of which he was a charter member. Representatives of the same lodge were also present from numerous other towns.
Thus bereft, the widow removed from the home for a time with her son Arthur, but when sixteen years of age he longed for the old home, to which they returned. He assumed the manage- ment of the homestead, depending upon his mother for counsel. Their friends feared that he was too young for such a trust, but with youthful zeal and determination from year to year he grew more successful and surer of himself. He engaged principally in the handling of sheep and horses, taking especial pride in the lat- ter and making a specialty of the buying and matching of teams. In fact, he has sold some of the finest matched teams which ever went out of this section.
Mrs. Bennett and her son are honored members of the Vail's Corners Advent Christian church, and to their liberality the church is indebted for the fine location of ground donated by them. Mrs. Bennett is a most estimable and honored woman, public-spirited
863
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
and a royal hostess, always taking an active interest in every social and religious movement that means an uplift to the community. Her rare good judgment, genial manners and pleasant smile make her one whose companionship is ever sought by those who prize association with this world's truest and best.
THEODORE BROWN .- For nearly thirty-six years has Theodore Brown been numbered among the representative and highly es- teemed citizens of Mount Gilead where he is engaged in the popular work of photography. Mr. Brown is a native son of the fine old Buckeye state, his birth having occurred in Cumberland, Guernsey county, Ohio, on the 23rd of February, 1846. He is a son of Moses M. and Eliza (Ebersole) Brown, the former of whom was born in 1815, in the state of Ohio, and the latter in 1817, also in Ohio. The father was a minister of the Presbyterian church, and he was summoned to the life eternal in 1853, at the age of thirty-six years, the mother surviving until 1903, when her death occurred at the venerable age of eighty-six years. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Theodore is the immediate subject of this re- view; Chalmers is in Indianapolis, president of the railroad brotherhood association ; and Mary is deceased. Theodore Brown grew up on the home farm and was afforded the advantages of the graded schools at Frederick, Ohio, which he continued to attend until he attained to his legal majority. He was a child of but seven years of age at the time of his father's death.
After leaving sehool Mr. Brown went west with a civil engi- neering corps and he was identified with that line of enterprise in Dakota for the ensuing three years, at the expiration of which he returned to Ohio, locating in Crawford county, where he pursued the profession of photography. He resided at Crestline, Crawford county, Ohio, for two years and thereafter was engaged as a journeyman photographer at different points in Ohio for several years. He came to Mount Gilead, Morrow county, in 1875, and here established himself in the photograph business, in which he has been engaged during the long intervening years to the present time. His finely equipped studio is one of the most attractive in the county and as such caters to and commands a very select trade. He owns considerable real estate in Mount Gilead and is one of the directors in the People's Savings Bank in this city.
At Mount Gilead, in the year 1880, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brown to Miss Anna Dumble, who was born and reared at Marengo county, Ohio, a daughter of John Dumble. Mr. and Mrs. Brown became the parents of four children, two of whom are deceased. Of the two living, Simms is a mechanical engineer and is in the employ of the Bnekeye Traction Ditcher Company, at Findlay, Ohio. He was graduated in Buchtel College, at Akron Ohio, as a member of the class of 1903. He wedded Miss Louise Horix, and they made a trip to Germany in 1910, visiting Switzer-
864
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
land and other parts of Europe. He has traveled twenty thousand miles in 1910. Mrs. Brown was a graduate of Buchtel College in the class of 1903. Albert Brown was likewise graduated in Buch- tel College, class of 1906, and he is now a civil engineer at Medford, Oregon. Mrs. Brown was summoned to the life eternal in 1907, deeply mourned by a circle of loving and devoted friends.
Although never an active participant in politieal affairs Mr. Brown is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Demo- cratic party and he has done much to further progress and develop- ment in this section of the state. He is connected with the Masonic Order at Mount Gilead. His wife attended and gave her support to the Universalist church. As a citizen Mr. Brown is public- spirited and sincere and he is locally known as a business man of unquestioned honesty and fair and honorable methods.
ELWOOD BUNKER .- A representative agriculturist of Morrow county, Elwood Bunker is a well known resident of Peru township and the worthy descendant of one of its early pioneer families. A native of this section of the state, he was born June 15, 1846, in Cardington township, a son of Reuben Bunker.
Peleg Bunker, his paternal grandfather, migrated from New York state to Ohio in 1803, locating in what is now Peru township, Morrow county. He was a poor man, with no capital save willing hands and a courageous heart. He was a millwright, and followed that trade in conjunction with farming for many years. He mar- ried Hannah Benedict, and they reared a family consisting of six sons and three daughters, as follows: Elihu, born March 29, 1807; Lucy, born August 22, 1808; Reuben, born May 1, 1810; Isaac, born August 1, 1813; Lydia, born March 6, 1815: Mary, born January 16, 1817; Silas, born January 31, 1819; Jethro, born August 21, 1821 ; and David, born March 15. 1824.
Reuben Bunker was educated in the typical pioneer schools of Morrow county, and spent his life in Cardington and Peru town- ships. He took much interest in local matters, and had the dis- tinction of serving as the first postmaster at Cardington. He mar- ried Lucretia White, one of his early playmates, and of the children born of their union six grew to years of maturity, namely : Byron, born July 4, 1840; Elmora, born July 12, 1844; Elwood, the sub- ject of this sketch; Frances, born March 11, 1849; Emma, born August 17, 1853; and Eva, born August 29, 1855.
After leaving the district schools Elwood E. Bunker continued his studies at Lebanon, Ohio, and at Oberlin, Ohio, acquiring an excellent education. During the progress of the Civil war, his patriotic spirit was aroused, and in June, 1864, he enlisted in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, and with his regiment participated in several engagements of note. On December 4, 1864, he was wounded at the battle of Overhall Creek, and was taken to the hospital. He subsequently rejoined his regiment, and served until the close of the war, when
865
HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY
he was honorably discharged. Ile now receives a pension of twenty-four dollars a month for his brave services during the con- flirt. Sinee his return to civil life, Mr. Bunker has been engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has met with eneourag- ing success, his labors being amply rewarded by his abundant annual crops of cereals.
On June 13, 1872, Mr. Bunker married Alice Sage, who was born near Mt. Liberty, Knox county, Ohio, April 11, 1850, a daugh- ter of Alvin and Mary (Bishop) Sage. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bunker, namely : Clyde A., born July 10, 1873; Mary L., born August 1, 1875, is the wife of Fred B. Reed; and Edna M., born October 12, 1879, married Webb H. Hubble. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker have also six grandehildren, in which they take great pleasure. They are most estimable people, highly respected for their many noble traits of character, and are sincere members of the Quaker church. Politieally Mr. Bunker is a stanch Repub- lican, and for many terms has rendered efficient service as a member of the local school board. He belongs to Hurd Post, No. 114, G. A. R., and to Marengo Lodge, No. 216, K. of P. For two years he was president of the Morrow County Agricultural Society, and for several years was one of its directors.
ADAM CLOUSE .- Numbered among the skilful and prosperous agriculturists of Morrow county is Adam Clouse, who owns and occupies a valuable farm in Canaan township, which is near the place of his birth, the date thereof being March 22, 1855. During his half century and more of life, which has been passed in this vicinity, he has won for himself an enviable reputation as an honest man and a good citizen, and as one who has contributed his full quota towards the advancement of one of the best counties in Ohio. His father, Peter Clouse, was born in Switzerland in 1814, and when eleven years of age came to the United States with his parents locating in what is now Canaan township, Morrow county, Ohio, where his father took up a traet of government land. Here he grew to manhood and subsequently engaged in farming on his own account. He married Mrs. Nancy (Apt) Garster, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and of the eight children born of their union Adam, the subject of this brief sketch, is the sole survivor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.