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 7
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six children were born, one of whom died in infancy or early ehild- hood. Mr. Sellars was fifty-eight years, four months and five days old when he died. He leaves his aged parents, wife, two brothers, two sisters, three sons, two daughters, two grandchildren and a large company of other relatives and friends to mourn their loss. He was a home lover and here his absence will be most keenly felt. Mr. and Mrs. Sellars united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Bethel in 1894. He found real joy in the service of his Master. He was a loyal layman and gave himself with unreserved devotion to the varied duties of Christian manhood. For many years he was a elass leader and at the time of his departure was a trustee of church property and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. As his church was next to his own home in his love and care, so there he will be greatly missed. None manifested a keener interest in the welfare of the Kingdom than he."
TRIBUTE OF BETHEL SUNDAY SCHOOL.
WHEREAS-It has pleased Almighty God to remove from us by death our beloved brother, Selby Sellars, Re- solved, that while we deeply mourn the loss of our beloved brother, we bow in humble submission to Him who doeth all things well.
Resolved, that in the death of Brother Sellars, our school has lost an efficient officer and a true Christian brother, our loss being his eternal gain. Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family and one to the Independent for publication, and that they be placed on the record of our sehool.
IVAH FARLEE C. A. KENNER
Committee of Bethel Sunday School
Wiley, the second of the living children of Mr. and Mrs. John Sellars, is another of the representative farmers of Cardington township. He married Miss Wealthy Schofield and they have two sons, Bernice, who is a farmer in Morrow county and who married Miss Gladys Clabaugh, and they have one little daughter ; and Foid, who wedded Miss Vada Irwin and who likewise is a successful farmer of this county.
Amanda, who is the wife of Thomas Underhill, a farmer and carpenter of Union county, Ohio, has one daughter, Ida, a grad- uate. Thomas Underhill's first wife was Lneinda Sellars, a sister of his present wife, and the two surviving children of this union are Charles and John, both of whom are married. Charles is married to a lady of Union county, and has had a family of eight children, of whom one is dead. John, who graduated in the pub- lic schools of Newton, Union county, Ohio, is also married, and has one little daughter.
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Isadora, the next of the children of Mr. Sellars, is the wife of George Van Shiver, a resident of Union county, Ohio.
Leamon, who remains with his parents on the old homestead and who has the general supervision of the same, is numbered among the able and popular exponents of the agricultural industry in his native county and is influential in local affairs of a public order.
Lovina, the deceased daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sellars, was the wife of Samnel II. Paste. They had one son, M. Gny, who was educated in the common schools and is a farmer. His mother died about 1894. She was a Christian lady, being a member of the church. He married Miss Anna Key, and they have three ehil- dren ; Wesley, Inez and Alta, all of whom are students in the publie schools. Mr. and Mrs. Sellars have reared their children to lives of usefulness and honor and all of them accord to the parents the most filial solicitude and affection.
Mrs. Sellars was born in Clark county, Ohio, on the 9th of Jan- nary, 1828, and is a daughter of William and Margaret ( Arbogast) Cnrl. of whose five children all are living exeept one. The Curl family has been one of prominenee in Ohio, to which state the origi- nal representatives eame from Virginia in the early pioneer days. The educational training of Mrs. Sellars was secured under the same conditions that eompassed her husband, and their pioneer experi- ences have been similar in nearly all respeets. It has already been noted that she proved herself eligible for the pedagogie pro- fession when a young woman, but that her terms of one dollar a week in salary were so "excessive" as to give the distinction of one whose demands were less exorbitant. When Mr. and Mrs. Sellars began honsekeeping their domestic appartenances were meager in the extreme, the while their home was a log house of the time eom- mon to the locality and period. Side by side they have passed down the pathway of life, enduring their share of vicissitudes and hard- ships, joys and sorrows, and sustained and comforted by mntnal love and sympathy. For more than sixty years has their companion- ship thus continued, and as the graeions shadows begin to lengthen from the golden west they ean but feel that to them has been vouchsafed much of the good and many of the temporal blessings of life. Revered by their children and their children's children and residing in a community endeared to them by the memories and associations of the past, this venerable couple find that their lines are cast in pleasant places and that the gentle aftermath of the goodly harvest bears its own compensation and consolation. A true and devoted housemother has been Mrs. Sellars, and at the wheel and loom she labored, as well as in connection with other household duties, but she found time to inculcate, by preeept and example, those high ideals that have found .fruitage in the worthy lives of her children, who may, indeed, "rise up and call her blessed."
From the estate of his father Mr. Sellars received only thirty-
4
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two aeres of land, but he had previously purchased a tract of forty acres, partially improved, and thus he had ample opportunity to exercise both brain and brawn in the earlier stages of his indepen- dent career. Indefatigable industry and good management on the part of Mr. Sellars and his wife enabled them to advance slowly but surely along the course to the goal of definite success, and even- tually they became the owners of a fine landed estate of three hun- dred and forty aeres, all in Cardington township. In 1883 they erected their present beautiful residence, which is one of the best in the township, and the other buildings on the place are of exeellent type, giving evidence of thrift and prosperity. In addition to diversified agriculture Mr. Sellars has given attention to the raising of high grade live stock and has made a specialty of the- breeding of fine horses. He attained high reputation in this line of enter- prise and as a dealer and breeder of horses he was long one of the leaders in this section of the state. Many of his horses have gained wide reputation on the turf, and among the number may be mentioned "Mohawk Jackson," "Pemberton," Coxey Boy," "Hesperus, Jr.," Ravenna Bay" and "Roebuek," all blooded ani- mals and well known. His fine mare, "Leopard Rose," created a distinctive sensation with her record of 2:151/4, and in her day she was pronounced one of the finest standard bred horses in the world. Mr. Sellars also had a pacer, "Charley R.," which made a record of 2:09, and at the present time he has a fine mare, "Della Rocket," that is bound to become a celebrity on the turf. Mr. Sellars has been a lover of horses from his boyhood days and it has been one of his great pleasures to breed fine types of this noble animal.
In politics Mr. Sellars gave his support to the Democratic party until the beginning of the Civil war, when he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, which represented the principles that most appealed to him at that elimacterie period. When, however, he found that this party would not definitely espouse the cause of suppressing the liquor traffic he showed the earnestness of his convictions by allying himself with the Prohibition party, of whose cause he has since continued a zealous advocate. He takes high ground on the subject of temperance, and believes that the curse of aleohol is a graver menanee to the nation than was that of human slavery, taken all in all.
He and his wife have been zealous members of the United Brethren church for fifty-seven years, and they have exemplified their abiding Christian faith in
their daily lives. They have given their fullest power in the work of the divine Master and have done all they could to aid and uplift their fellow men. He has always made it his duty to attend the quarterly meetings of his church and has been earnest in winning souls to salvation, but the infirmities of advanced age now confine him to his home, where he and his devoted wife find ample oppor- tunity for daily worship and to give thanks for the many benefi- cenees conferred upon them. Tolerant in judgment and imbued
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with deep human sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. Sellars have been appre- ciative of their stewardships and have been kindly and gracious almoners. They have obeyed the divine behest, "To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to do good to all men," and they have shown compassion upon all those "in any way afflicted in mind, body or estate." The poor and needy have never been turned empty away, and this venerable couple have made their home not only their castle but also a place of generous hospitality. Each has attained to the age of eighty-three years (1911) and each is well preserved in mental and physical faculties, considering the weight of years. Gently and tenderly the days fall into the abyss of time and they find in the passing hours solace and hope and faith, secure in the love of all who know them and revered for their worthy lives and worthy deeds.
JOHN R. CARPENTER, B. D .- It is most pleasing at this juncture in the history of the lives and careers of prominent men in Morrow county, Ohio, to accord recognition to Rev. John Randolph Carpen- ter, a native son of the fine old Buckeye state and a citizen whose interest in the material and spiritual welfare of his fellow men has long been prolific of good. Rev. Carpenter was born on a farm in the vicinity of the city of Cleveland, this state, the date of his nativity being December 29, 1859. He is a son of Charles and Harriet (Bennett) Carpenter, the former of whom was born near Dover, Vermont, and the latter of whom hailed from the province of Quebec, Canada, whence she came to Ohio as a young girl. The Carpenter family is one of long standing in America, the original progenitor in this country having come hither from England in the year 1605, he being one William Carpenter, who settled at Mendon, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in the great basic industry of agriculture until his death. He was born in England in the year 1605. Rev. Carpenter, of this review, is a direct descendant from William Carpenter and is a member of the ninth generation of the family in America. He traces his ancestry from William through Abiah, Oliver, Oliver, Oliver, Barow G., Captain John and Charles, the latter of whom was his father. Captain John Carpenter was a gallant and dashing soldier in the Revolu- tionary war and the three Olivers were sea captains. The other members of the family have been identified largely with agricultural pursuits. The founder of the family in Ohio was Captain John Carpenter, who came to the Western Reserve, in Ohio, about the year 1830. He was a farmer by occupation and he passed the
residue of his life in this state. He married Mis Lucina Thomp- son and they became the parents of nine children. The captain was summoned to the life eternal on the 29th of January, 1861, and his wife passed away on the 1st of July, 1867. The Carpen- ters were very religions people and for many generations were stanch adherents of the Baptist church. Charles Carpenter, how-
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ever, transferred his allegiance to the faith of the Universalist church in his boyhood and to the teachings of that order reared his children. Of the nine children of Charles and Harriet Carpenter four grew to maturity, namely: Rev. B. G. Carpenter, who is a Universalist minister at Peoria, Illinois; Jennie M., who is the wife of Richard Hewitt and who resides near Jamestown, Virginia ; John R., the immediate subject of this review; and Lydia, wife of J. L. Stetson, died July 25, 1900. The father passed away in 1883 and the mother died in 1906.
John Randolph Carpenter was reared on the home farm near Cleveland, Ohio, and he received his preliminary educational train- ing in the public schools of the district. At the age of twenty- one years he was graduated from the high school at LaGrange, Indiana, and thereafter he became a popular and successful teacher in the North Olmsted schools, continuing to be so engaged until he had reached the age of twenty-three years. He then felt a call to the Universalist ministry and entered the theological department of Lombard College, at Galesburg, Illinois, in which he was grad- uated as a member of the class of 1887, duly receiving the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. He was ordained to the ministry of the Universalist church on the 27th of October, 1887, and thereafter accepted a call to a church of that denomination at Delphos, Kansas, where he was pastor for the ensuing eighteen months, at the expira- tion of which he assumed charge of a church at Oshkosh, Wiscon- sin, where he remained for one and one half years. He then re- turned to Ohio, where he was engaged in the work of his calling at Newtown, Belpre, McConnelsville and Peru, coming to Mt. Gilead in June, 1904. IIc has charge of the Universalist churches at this place and at Attica, Ohio.
On the 23rd of February, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Rev. Carpenter and Miss Mary Morecraft, of Woodstock, Ohio. To this union have been born two sons, Loring C., whose birth oc- curred on the 16th of September, 1890, and who is a student at LeHigh University; and Marvine G., born October 10, 1894, wlio is a student in the local high school.
Politically Rev. Carpenter endorses the cause of the Demo- cratie party and he served as mayor of Mt. Gilead from January 1, 1908, until June 1, 1910, giving a miost able and satisfactory admin- istration of the municipal affairs of the city during his incum- bency of the mayoralty. In the grand old Masonic order he is a member of Gilead Lodge, No. 206, Free and Accepted Masons ; and Gilead Chapter, No. 59, Royal Arch Masons, in which he is past master and past high priest, respectively. He is also affiliated with the Charles II. Hull Lodge, No. 195, Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor commander. Hle is also a member of the Lemuel II. Breese Camp, No. 65, Sons of Veterans, of which he is past commander. In his lifework Rev. Carpenter has ever been prompted with a desire to benefit mankind and to devote
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progress wherever possible. He is a distinctly moral man, of tried integrity and uprightness, and is regarded with marked esteem by all who know him.
PROFESSOR BYRAN T. JINKINS .- We look with keenest delight on the work of the sculptor, who with skilled hands moulds from the unsightly piece of clay a work of art. Should we not give far greater honor to him who can take the youthful, untrained mind and character, disciplining them to his will and giving them strength, until their youthful possessor, going out into the busy avenues of life, commands the confidence and admiration of his fellows? Such an artist is the subject of the sketch. Professor Byran T. Jinkins, born February 24, 1855, a son of David and Tryphena Young (Beers) Jinkins, of Morrow county. David was the son of Thomas and Ann (Davis) Jinkins, natives of Wales, who emigrated to the Welsh Hills of Licking county at a very early date. David in his day was a very successful minister of the gospel, his kindness and popularity causing him frequently to be called upon to officiate at funerals and weddings in addition to his regular appointments. He officiated at over two hundred funerals and he never refused a request of this nature, showing equal will- ingness in all his ministrations at times of sorrow, no matter what the denomination or the circumstances. He also solemnized over eighty marriages. He and his brother made the first wagon used on their father's farm, the wheels being made of logs, and this rude conveyance was driven to the mill by ox team. Byran was named after his grandfather, Byran Beers, who was so pleased that he gave his namesake fifty dollars in gold. Byran was the fourth in a family of six children, equally divided as to sons and daughters and whose names were Laura, Zilpha, Bronson, Byran, William and Elma.
Professor Jinkins was reared and educated at his birthplace and upon coming to man's estate married Maria J. Evans, their union being solemnized June 16, 1886. Mrs. Jinkins was the daughter of Benjaimn and Hannah P. (Howard) Evans, natives of Chester township. These worthy people were members of the Baptist church, in which the father held the office of deacon for a number of years. He was a man of remarkable industry, and in addition to doing the work on his large farm he was identified with many important interests. He built one of the finest residences in the county, modern in appointment and artistically frescoed interiorly. This stately abode, erected upon the highest point on the farm and surrounded by great shade trees, makes a charming and picturesque place of residence. Mr. Evans was one of the
martyrs of the Civil war. When President Lincoln called for volunteers, he was advised by friends not to go, as he was needed at home, having in addition to his family the care of his mother. Some one suggested his hiring a substitute, but he replied : "I am
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no better than any other man." Bidding his family farewell he went to the front, enlisting in the One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. While stationed at Fort Alexandria, near Washington D. C., Mr. Evans contracted typhoid fever and died in 1865, at the age of thirty-nine years, thus ending a brave and unselfish life, offered upon the altar of his country that the Union might be preserved. His widow married William Howard, of Chester township, and two children were born : Alpa and Minnie, the former marrying Martha Carpenter, of Shelbyville, Kentucky; and the latter, Leslie Sears, of Bloomfield, Ohio.
The children of Benjamin and Hannah Evans were as follows: Moses P., who became cashier of the bank at Valley Falls, Kansas, and died in 1879; Ella E., who married Bronson Jinkins, a brother of Professor B. T. Jinkins, and died in 1889; and E. Kate, who married A. L. Ferris, of Paxton, Illinois. The latter was a mem- ber of the Baptist church and for years was Sunday School superin- tendent. She was a talented woman and wrote considerable poetry. Some years after her marriage she lost her eye sight, but continued interested in the study of music, in which she was quite skillful. Maria, wife of the professor, received her elemen- tary education .in the district school, then attended the high school at Chesterville, then at Mt. Gilead and was graduated from Shep- ardson's College at Granville, Ohio, in 1879. She taught the Washington school for a term, but impaired health necessitated the discontinuance of this and she assisted her mother in the home duties. At the time of her wedding to Professor Jinkins the old home witnessed a merry gathering, and of the happy occasion the well preserved wedding gown of blue satin and brocaded roses is a rare souvenir.
To revert to the history of Professor Jinkins' family, it is noted that his father, Elder David Jinkins, was born in the Welsh Hills settlement near Granville, Ohio, March 7, 1824, and died in Sparta, Wednesday morning, December 3, 1890. He was blind for several years at the close of his life. His last words were, after calling in the undertaker and making all arrangements for his funeral :
"Bright angels guard me in this gloom, They're 'round my bed, they're in my room."
He married Tryphena Young Beers, daughter of Byram and Elizabeth Beers, and to this union were born six children, namely : Laura, who died in infancy ; Zilpha (Ball) Bronson, Byram, Wil- liam and Elma (Salisbury). But two of the family are now liv- ing-Byram and Williamn.
David Jinkins was converted at the age of sixteen years and joined the Chester Baptist church, beginning to preach in 1860.
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He united with the Mt. Pisgah Primitive Baptist church May 18, 1867, and was ordained as a minister of the same July 26, 1867, and he continued in the ministry for twenty years, eventually losing his sight from overwork on the farm. After the death of his first wife he married Lovina Shaw and purchased property in Sparta, where he lived until his death. The Jinkins country home was noted for its hospitality and none in need of food or lodging was ever turned away.
The parents of David Jinkins came from North Wales and landed in New York with only a half dollar. Their names were Thomas and Ann Jinkins, and they at first settled near Granville, Ohio, and united with the Welsh Hills Baptist church. After- ward they removved to Harmony township, Morrow county. There were seven children born to their union: David and Thomas, both Baptist ministers, now buried in the Chester cemetery; William, buried in Osceola, Iowa; John, buried at Lacona, Iowa; Margaret (Peterson) buried in the Chester cemetery; Mary Ann (Ulery) living in Cardington; and Sylvester, living in Chesterville.
Thomas Jinkins was born November 26, 1792, in Radnorshire, South Wales. He entered the English army in 1810 and served until 1817, and was at the battle of Waterloo. One of his sons once asked him why he was not sent to America in 1812 to fight the American army, and his answer was that they would have deserted to the American army.
Ann Jinkins was born June 19, 1802, in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, was converted when seventeen years of age and was baptized on her ninteenth birthday, in the Severn river, near Lanidee. Upon coming to America she united with the Welsh Hills church in Licking county and she was afterwards a member of the Chester, Harmony and Chesterville churches. She died in Chesterville at the home of her son Sylvester. She was married to Thomas Jinkins in the Parish church, Llanidlos, December 1, 1820. They came to America in 1821 and settled near Newark, They afterwards entered land in Delaware, now Morrow Ohio.
county in 1830. To this union was born seven children, Thomas, John, William, William, Sylvester, Mary Ann and Margaret. Thomas Jinkins died February 14, 1871, at his home in Harmony township. Ann Davis Jinkins died April 15, 1891, at her home in Chesterville. Thomas Jinkins was promoted to ensign for bravery at Waterloo.
Like all youths the Jinkins boys of former generations en- joyed an occasional prank. Near their home in Harmony town- ship lived a country veterinary surgeon, one Hiram Hilliard, who had a strain of Indian blood in his veins. At one time Hiram had set the following day to mow a certain meadow adjoining the Jinkins farm and had engaged hands for the work. But it oc- curred to David, John, William and Thomas to cut the hay the evening before, knowing full well that it would enrange the "cow
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doctor." Accordingly they got their scythes in readiness and spent most of the night cutting hay. The next morning Hilliard started to arrange for the hay cutting, when to his surprise he found . the hay all down. Suspicious of the right quarter, he sought the Jinkins home and engaged in conversation with the old gentleman. Hilliard-"Where are your boys, Jinkins?"
Jinkins-"They are not up yet."
Hilliard, (with fire in his eyes)-"Where were they last night ?"
Jinkins-"How do I know! You tell me where they are every 'night ?"
Getting no satisfaction, the doctor went home to finish his haying.
At another time the Jinkins boys with other Harmony youths went out on Hallowe'en, and inasmuch as it would be a new exper- ience to John Lewis and his wife, who from their native Wales could have little idea how the night was celebrated 'in America, they did not neglect to visit them in their rounds. The Lewises lived in a small house on lands now owned by William Baker and also near the home of B. T. Jinkins, the former now using the old house for a barn or shed. It happened that the Lewises had that day sold a horse and had money in the house. The boys had gone five miles from home for this attention, but that was nothing, as most of the travel was on foot in those days and long distances were traversed without much thought. It was late at night when the Lewises heard an awful racket and cabbages, turnips and the like were hurled against the doors and sides of the house, which was on the middle of a large field. The husband did not get out of bed, but Mrs. Lewis asked their business and the reply came in Welsh; then one of the crowd said something to her in German.
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