History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 49

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923

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John H. Peters was reared in Walnut township and obtained his education in the country schools and at East Ringgold. When he reached maturity he married Mabel Maud Boysel. a daughter of Jacob and Cynthia ( Mayes) Boysel. Mr. and Mrs. Peters have six children, namely : Stanley Brightman ; George Albert: Harry Maeteer: Hester Genevieve : John Stevenson and Edwin Wilson.

Mr. Peters has been a life-long Democrat. In 1903 he was appointed township trustee to fill the unexpired term of C. E. Groce, when the latter removed from the township. His management of the affairs of the office proved eminently satisfactory and in the following year Mr. Peters was elected for a term of three years and still continues a useful member of the board. Outside of official duties, he devotes his attention to agricultural pursuits.

E VAN PHILLIPS, a well-known citi- zen and representative farmer of Pickaway township. who resides on his valuable farm in section 6, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio. June 3. 1836, and is a son of William and Priscilla (White ) Phillips.

Both parents of Mr. Phillips were born in Ohio, and both families settled in Guernsey

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HON. THADDEUS E. CROMLEY

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RESIDENCE OF CHARLES E. CROMLEY (On the T. E. Cromley Farm)

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County among the pioneers of that section. The maternal grandfather, Walter W. White, lived in Guernsey County to the advanced age of 96 years.

Evan Phillips was reared to the age of 16 years in his native county, where his education was obtained in the district schools, and then he accompanied his brother, John W. Phillips, to Pickaway County and has been a continuous resident here ever since. His brother removed at a later date to Tazewell County, Illinois. From choice Mr. Phillips has always given his attention to agricultural pursuits.

In April, 1862, Mr. Phillips was married to Ellen Hitler, a daughter of the late Jacob Hit- ler. who was one of the prominent men of Pickaway County. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have had 10 children, as follows: Charles, of Pick- away township; Nelson H., of Washington township; Florence, widow of Jacob Ludwig, of Pickaway township; Emma J., wife of Adolphus Roth, of Fayette County, Ohio; Dell, at home; Maud E., wife of George H. Root, of Pickaway township; Dennis E .. of Pick- away township; Rose E., at home; Lillie, wife of Gardner Duffy, of Circleville; and Arthur W .. at home.

Mr. Phillips is a Democrat and served at one time as a township trustee. He has always taken a deep interest in the advancement of education and testified to it by serving for 18 years as a school director of District No. 4.

ON. THADDEUS E. CROMLEY, one of the distinguished sons of Pick- away County, whose whole mature life has been one of change. progress and achievement. is now a resident of Walnut township, where he was born June 21, 1843. His parents were William and Sarah E. (Staige) Cromley, and his paternal grand- father, Paul Cromley.

The Cromley family originated in Ger- many and the old German orthography of the name, which was rendered Grammlich, and later softened to Gramlich, and still later to

Kramlich and eventually to Cromley, pre- vailed through at least two generations after the founder of the family in America, Valentine Grammlich, settled in Pennsylvania, in 1749. He established a home near Seiberlingsville, in Lehigh County. He was the great-great-grand- father of Hon. Thaddeus E. Cromley, of Pick- away County.

Paul Grammlich, or Cromley, to use the Anglicized spelling, one of the sons of Valen- tine, had six sons, viz. : Christian, Henry, Paul, George, Jacob and Jonathan, and of these, Jon- athan, Jacob and Paul moved to Ohio.

Paul Cromley, son of Paul (1), had four sons and three daughters, viz .: Jonas, Stephen, Catherine, Elizabeth, William, Mary and Thomas. The grandparents of Hon. Thad- deus E. Cromley both died of typhoid fever, the father on March 8, 1826, aged 47 years, and the mother, on April 16, 1826, aged 41 years. They had come from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1815, and settled in Walnut township, Pickaway County, on the farm now owned by Mahlon Cromley. Their ashes rested on the farm now owned by John G. Haas until Jan- uary, 1906, when they were reinterred in Reber Hill cemetery, in Walnut township.

William Cromley, son of Paul (2) and father of Hon. Thaddeus E., was born in Le- high County, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1813, and was two years old when his parents moved to Ohio. He was reared in Walnut township and his boyhood was passed with but tew edu- cational opportunities, the time and place not yet encouraging the general establishment of schools, but he reached manhood a well-quali- fied farmer and as time went on he acquired a large amount of property, which his judgment and excellent management produced for him what was then considered a large fortune. After his marriage he purchased of his father- in-law a portion of the farm on which he died. He acquired a part of the land on which Ash- ville now stands and subsequently laid it off in town lots. His life was one of quiet duty well performed and he is remembered by his cotem- poraries and recalled by the present generation as one whose integrity was beyond question and whose life was exemplary in every particu-

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lar. His standing was such that he was fre- quently called upon by his fellow-citizens to fill local offices, but these positions were merely incidental, for he was never an office seeker. Hle always stanchly supported the tenets of the Democratic party. Ilis death took place on April 25. 1888, at the age of 75 years. 1 month and 6 days.

William Cromley married Sarah E. Staigc. who was the second daughter of Richard Staige, who entered the land from the govern- ment which now constitutes a part of the farm of the subject of this sketch. Two children were born to this marriage, viz. : Thaddeus E. : and Mary Jane, who married William II. Morris-both now deceased. Mrs. Cromle; died January 1. 1878. aged 62 years, 7 months and y days. Mr. Cromley and wife were sup- porters of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. They were laid to rest in Forest Cem- etery, near Circleville.

Thaddeus E. Cromley spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm in Walnut township and his primary education was ob- tained in a little log schoolhouse in the near vicinity. When 16 years of age he entered the Circleville Union School, where he continued until 1861, when he entered Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio. He was graduate:l at this noted educational center. in 1865, receiving his degree of A. B., and three years later, that of A. M., from the same college. When the time arrived for him to choose a career, he gave way to his natural inclinations and chose the life of an agriculturist. . He has never lost his interest in agricultural pursuits and has always given close attention to his farm. He is one of the most practical, progressive and successful farmers in the county, never allow- ing the cares of public offices or other positions of trust to abate his interest in farming and stock-raising.

Very early in his mature life, Mr. Cromley was identified with the Democratic party and he was scarcely through college before official position was proffered him. For some years he held the larger number of the local offices at Ashville and in Harrison and Walnut town- ships. In 1887 he was the Democratic candi-

date for Representative in the General Assen- bly, carryisg the county by a plurality of 1.116. and in 1889 was re-elected by a plurality of 1.090. He was an active, influential member during the four sessions and had the entire con- fidence of all the members. In 1892 he was appointed by Governor Mckinley as a trustee of the Boys' Industrial School in Fairfieldi. County, serving with the utmost efficiency until January. 180)6, when he resigned, having ?een elected to the State Senate from the Tenth District-Franklin and Pickaway counties -- at the preceding election, in November. 1895. He was re-elected in 1897. He was one of the leading members of the Senate, doing much in the shaping of legislation; was president pro tom of the Senate in 1898-99 and chairman of the finance committee: and was the recog- nized leader of the Democratic side.

In 1900 Mr. Cromley was elected a mem- ber of the State Board of Agriculture, and his re-election followed in January. 1905. having served in 1903 as its president. In 1900 he was the nominee of the Democratic party for the office of Secretary of State. He is now serving as a member of the Board of Education of Walnut township and of the committee of nine. chosen from the boards of education of Harrison and Walnut townships and the Ash- ville Special School District. which has charge of the High School at Ashville.

Thus briefly sketched. many years of Mr. Cromley's life have been devoted to serving the public in high and honorable positions. . It the near close of such service, he stands before his fellow-citizens as one deserving of their respect and admiration. He has always cham- pioned the measures looking to agricultural development and educational advancement and has brought about many improvements through persistent personal effort.

Mr. Cromley is one of the county's capital- ists. He owns 1.045 acres of valuable land. in Walnut township: is a leading stockholder in the Scioto Canning Company, whose plant is located at Ashville ; a large stockholder and one of the directors of the Citizens' Bank. at Ashville: and a stockholder and one of the directors of the Capital Savings & Trust Com-

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pany, of Columbus, which occupies a 16-story building in that city and is one of the leading financial institutions of the State. Numerous other less prominent business enterprises have his financial support. His large body of land in Walnut township is devoted to general farm- ing and the raising of very fine stock.

On October 6, 1870. Mr. Cromley was united in marriage with Mary Rebecca Millar. who is a daughter of Isaac D. an.1 Sarah Ann ( Millar) Millar. The parents of Mrs. Crom- ley were natives of Virginia and were early settlers in Harrison township, Pickaway Coun- ty, where they became people of prominence and substance. Mr. and Mrs. Cromley have had eight children, namely: - Charles Edward. Alva Millar, Metta May, Annie Gertrude. Amy Lee, William M., Anna Marie, and Thad- deus LeRoy. Charles Edward was married to Blanche Petty, February 5. 1895, and they have four children : Pride Grace, born March 2. 1896; Paul, born November 1. 1898: Thaddeus Edward. born February 25. 1904: and Mary Rebecca, born December 1. 1905. Alva Millar was married July 22. 1903, to Helen Butterfield, of Columbus. Metta May was married on Thanksgiving Day, 1900, to Chauncey McCord; they have one son, Harold Cromley, born April 12, 1903. Annie Gert- rude died in infancy.

Mr. Cromley is a member of Palmetto Lodge, No. 513. Knights of Pythias, at Ash- ville, and he also retains his membership with his old college fraternities, especially the Chi Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. He has always been interested in the great Grange movement and has been a prominent factor in the local organ- ization. He is a man of fixed principles of right and his attitude on public questions was very well known during the many years when he was particularly in the public eye in this State. He has also always shown his interest in the welfare of his immediate community and probably would be pointed out by his fellow- citizens of Walnut township as their most able, popular and representative man. A portrait of Mr. Cromley accompanies this sketch, also a view of the residence of his son.

7 J. WEAVER, senior member of the wholesale grocery firm of W. J. Weaver & Son, at Circleville. has been very prominently identi- fied with the city's business inter- ests for many years. He was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County. Ohio, in 1840. and is a son of Isaac and Sarah ( Felters) Weaver.

The parents of Mr. Weaver were born in Virginia and were pioneers in Pickaway Coun- ty. They were married at Lancaster. Ohio, and started for their new home in the wilds of Pickaway County, riding on horseback as far as Belleville. Richland County, where they took a covered wagon and after reaching their destination, in 1823. lived in the conveyance until a cabin could be built. Isaac Weaver con- tinued to farm in Walnut township. until 18;1. when he retired and in the following year re- moved to Circleville: where he lived until his death. at the age of 84 years. His wife sur- vived into her 92nd year.

WV. J. Weaver attended the public schools and spent two years at the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity at Delaware, and then went to teaching. He was not much more than 20 years old when he went into a general mercantile business at Nebraska. Pickaway County, where he remain- ed some five years. He then removed to ('ir- cleville, where he became a clerk in an ex- press and retail grocery business. In 1870 he embarked in the queensware business but later sold out this line and continued a retail grocery business until 1884. when he went into the wholesale trade. He formed a partnership and the business was conducted under the firm name of Weaver & Shulze, until 1899, at which time Mr. Weaver bought his partner's interest and admitted his son Charles F. to membership. The firm became then Weaver & Son. During 1885-86, covering a period in which his father owned the Pickaway Drug Store, he was its manager, but otherwise the greater part of his business life has been associated with the wholesale grocery trade. He began as one of the drivers and is now a partner.

In 1861. W. J. Weaver was married to Ella M. Cole, who is a daughter of Richard

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Cole, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, but who was engaged in farming and milling for many years in Pickaway County. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have but one son, Charles F., who has been almost continuously connected with the grocery trade since 1882. In 1887, Charles F. Weaver was married to Hattie R. Morrow, who is a daughter of Stephen Mor- row, of Portsmouth, Ohio. They have one daughter, Helen. Like his father, Charles F. Weaver is a 32nd degree Mason. He is also an Elk.

W. J. Weaver has been very closely con- nected with a number of Circleville's most prosperous enterprises. In 1882, with other capitalists, he organized - the Third National Bank of Circleville, of which he was vice- president and president for 22 years. He was one of the incorporators of the Scioto Valley Traction Company, and was a member of the board of directors for three years during its construction. He was also one of the main organizers and incorporators of the Circle- ville Water Supply Company, of which he has been vice-president ever since its organization. He was one of the founders of the Board of Trade of Circleville and served as its first president. It was during his incumbency that the American Strawboard works were estab- lished in Circleville, in large degree through Mr. Weaver's efforts, he being one of the three delegates sent to Akron, Ohio, to secure the same. He has been president of the Forest Cemetery Association for many years. Mr. Weaver is a man of great business sagacity. He is also one of the city's most cultured citi- zens. having broadened his mind through ex- tensive traveling, including many visits to dif- ferent portions of the United States and all over Europe.

m ILTON DRESBACH. whose val- uable, well-improved farm of 167 acres is situated in Salt Creek township, is one of the reliable citizens and substantial men of this section. He was born in Salt Creek town- ship. Pickaway County, Ohio, September 26,

1857, and is a son of William and Margaret (Earnhart) Dresbach.

The Dresbach family is an old and honor- able one in this part of Pickaway County, hav- ing been established here by George Dres- bach, the grandfather. The Dresbach family history is more fully outlined in the sketch of James A. Dresbach, our subject's oldest brother, which appears elsewhere in this work. Both parents of Mr. Dresbach were born in this county.

When he was but 10 years old, Milton Dresbach suffered the loss of his kind, good mother. He remained on the home farm until maturity, in the meantime obtaining his educa- tion in the district schools of Salt Creek town- thip. His whole life has been devoted to the pursuit of agriculture and he is a very com- petent authority on anything concerning the tilling of the soil or the raising of stock. His farm of 167 acres is in good condition and proves the above statement.

In 1881 Mr. Dresbach was married (first) to Lillie Myers, of Circlevile, Ohio, who at death left three children, viz. : Nellie F., wife of Orestes Mowery, who is a successful teacher in the public schools of Salt Creek township; Clark, a resident of Indiana; and Lillie, who lives at home. Mr. Dresbach was married (second), on December 24, 1896, to Kate B. Holderman, who is a daughter of the late Lewis Holderman, of Pickaway township.

Mr. Dresbach has served for three years as a trustee of Salt Creek township. Politically he is identified with the Republican party. While he has no church affiliation, he attends religious services and is ever ready to con- tribute to the spread of Christianity and also to advance the work of the public schools.

HOMAS C. GOOLEY, general mer- chant at New Holland, has been in business at his present site for the past 23 years and his growth has been commensurate with the growth of the town. Mr. Gooley was born at New Holland, Ohio, October 25, 1864, and is a son of G. W. and Elizabeth (Gray) Gooley.

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CHARLES C. CHAPPELEAR.

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The grandfather, Jacob Gooley. brought his family to Ohio from Virginia, and his whole subsequent life was spent as a farmer in Perry township, Pickaway County. G. W. Gooley was a small boy at the time of the family's exodus from Virginia. from which time he always resided in Pickaway County. For 45 years he was a justice of the peace, and during this time he married more than 473 couples. In his later years he removed to New Holland, where he died in 1904. aged 87 years. He married Elizabeth Gray, who was born in Perry township and was a daugh- ter of Jesse Gray, a pioneer of this township. She survived until March 27, 1906. dying at the age of 84 years, having been the mother of 14. children. Of these the following grew to maturity : Henry, Joseph and Wesley, of New Holland: Millard, of Columbus: Lydia (Dickason). of Chillicothe : Laura ( Haney). of Dayton: Melissa (Barnes). deceased; Frank, a commercial traveler with home at Dayton : Stanley, deceased; Nation, who died from injuries received at the second battle of Bull Run: Nancy (Hallman), who died at Galesburg. Ill .; Thomas C., subject of this sketch ; and Jacob and Lemuel. who died young.

Thomas C. Gooley is one of New Hol- land's most enterprising and progressive mer- chants and that he has continued to prosper from the time he entered commercial life, as proprietor of a peanut stand, is owing entirely to his own persevering efforts and business ability. The business soon expanded into a small restaurant which was gradually enlarged during the succeeding seven or eight years and grew into a general store. In 1898 Mr. Gooley suffered the loss of his effects by a fire which interrupted business at the old site for four months,. However, the very next day after the catastrophe, he opened up in the Ferguson Building, and began the erection of the two- story brick building in which he has been located ever since. He has a fine location and carries a large and well-assorted stock. He controls custom from far and near and on Saturdays and in holiday seasons, his store much resembles a city emporium. Close at-

tention to business, honest methods and court- eous treatment to all partly explain the situa- tion, and present prosperity.

Mr. Cooley was married (first) in 1885. to Dora Kimmey, who died 14 months later. On December 26, 1896, he was married (second ) to Dora Oder, who died 30 days later. In 1899 Mr. Gooley was united with the estimable lady now his wife, Ida Morgan, who was born in Salem, Ohio, and is a daughter of John Morgan, a farmer. They have two children- Fern and Garnet. Mrs. Gooley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In political sentiment Mr. Gooley is a Re- publican. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons. Order of the Eastern Star and Knights of Pythias.

e HAARLES C. CHAPPELEAR, post- master at Circleville, and editor and publisher of the Circleville daily and weekly Union-Herald, the oldest paper in Pickaway County. was born March 18, 1861, at Thornville, Perry County, Ohio, and is a son of Charles C. andl Elizabeth E. Chappelear. The father died in 1861. The mother now lives in Newark. Ohio.

Mr. Chappelear was reared and educated in his native State, and after completing his schooling engaged in teaching and from 1881 until 1888 was a well-known educator in Pick- away County. In the meantime he had been reading law and in June, 1889, was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, was admitted to the bar of the Su- preme Court of Ohio, in October following, and in 1890 began the practice of the law at Frankfort, Ross County, Ohio.

In October, 1891, Mr. Chappelear removed to Circleville, and continued in practice until February 1, 1903, when he was appointed post- master of the city and became proprietor of the Union-Herald. This journal is issued both weekly and daily. The former has the distinc- tion of being the oldest paper in the county and under its present owner is one of the leading ones. The daily, which was established in

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1804, has the largest daily circulation of any newspaper in Pickaway County. In politics it zealously supports the principles and candi- dates of the Republican party, Mr. Chappelear being very prominent in this party in this sec- tion of Ohio. He has served as chairman of the Republican County Central and Executive committees, and for the years 1898 and 1899, was a member of the Republican State Central Committee.

On November 24, 1884, Mr. Chappelear was married to Nellie White, who is a daugh- ter of the late Dr. T. F. White, of Williams- port, Pickaway County. They have one son, Thornton White, who was born at Circleville, October 4, 1896. A portrait of Mr. Chappe- Jear accompanies this sketch.

E ZRA FLORENCE HILL, who since 1902 has been a resident of Darby- ville, has long been one of the promi- nent agriculturists and leading citi- zens of Pickaway County. He was born in the Hill homestead in Muhlenberg township, Pickaway County, Ohio, Novem- ber 15. 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Julia A. (Sharp) Hill.

The Hill family is of Scotch extraction and was founded in America by our subject's great- grandfather, who subsequently served in the War of the Revolution. His son. Capt. Wil- iam Hill, was born in Virginia and settled in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1815, locating in Muhlenberg township. During the war of 1812 he served as captain of a Virginia com- pany of volunteers. He became a very promi- nent man in Pickaway County and served as a justice of the peace from 1828 to 1840, having charge of the whole half of the county west of the river, prior to its division into townships. At his death. at the age of 83 years, he owned 700 acres of land. a large portion of which was under cultivation.

Thomas Hill. father of our subject, was born February 21. 1807, in Hampshire County. Virginia, now West Virginia. and accompanied his parents to Muhlenberg township, where he later cultivated a farm given him by his father.

He died September 10, 1885, leaving an estate of 215 acres of land. For about a quarter of a century he was a trustee of Muhlenberg township. In early days he was a Whig in his political affiliation, but became a Repub- lican upon the organization of the party.

Thomas Hill married Julia A. Sharp, who was born in New York, July 1, 1813. and died May 14. 1895. She came to Pickaway County with her parents, who were of German de- scent. Thomas Hill and wife had 10 children and all of these are living with the exception of Marcus, who died at the age of three years. The nine who survive are as follows: Mrs. Margaret Darst, of Muhlenberg township; Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteside, of Darby township; Mrs. Mary Bolin, of Darbyville; Mrs. Ellen Mckinley. of Franklin County; William C., of whom a sketch will be found in this volume; Mrs. Matilda Wilson, of White County, In- diana : Robert C., residing on the old home- stead, a sketch of whom will be found in this work: Ezra Florence, the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. Sarah Stiverson. of Co- lumbus.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 49

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 923

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923