History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 53

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

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ON. AARON R. VAN CLEAF was born at Arneytown, Burlington Coun- ty, New Jersey, March 20, 1838, the son of Lewis and Ann ( Reeves ) Van Cleaf, who, when he was four years old, removed to near Freehold. Monmouth County, New Jersey, where they afterwards lived. His ancestors were of the early settlers of New Jersey; on the paternal side. of the Holland emigration to New Amsterdam in 1623. settling in Monmouth County, and on the maternal side one of the oldest families of Burlington and other southern counties of the State. The Van Cleafs were in a number of companies of the New Jersey troops in the Revolutionary War ..

The subject of this sketch attended the com- mon schools until 14 years of age, when he en- .tered the Monmouth Democrat office, at Free- hold, and learned the printer's trade, remaining there, with the exception of a few months, until April, 1859, when he removed to Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio, where he was connected with the publication of the Democratic Stand- 22

ard for a short time. until the paper was merged into what is now the Brown County Veas-Democrat. In October. 1859. he became the editor and publisher of the Democratic Ci !- izen, at Lebanon, Ohio, the office of which was raided by a mob of political opponents and de- stroyed, the night of August 12. 1802. 116 refitted the office and continued the publica . tion of the paper until May, 1803. In Novem. ber, 1863. he purchased the Circleville Dem. crat, now the Circleville Democrat and Watch- man, and has since conducted the paper and i- the senior Democratic editor in service in Ohio. In 1871 Mr. Van Cleaf was elected Representative in the General Assembly by 477 plurality over James Laughry. Republi- can. At the conclusion of his term. he de- clined a re-election. In 1877 he was again nominated for Representative by acclamation. and was elected by 946 plurality over Freder- ick Thorn, Republican. He was appointed a member of the House committees on finance. reform schools and public printing and was chairman of the O'Connor investigating com- mittee. In 1879 Mr. Van Cleaf was elected Senator from the toth District-Franklin and Pickaway counties-having 1.632 plurality over Henry C. Taylor. of Franklin: in 1883 Mr. Van Cleaf was again elected Senator. by 2,708 plurality over William .A. Welch. of Pickaway and in 1885 was re-elected. receiving 14,907 votes to 678 votes for the Prohibition candidate, the Republicans not having a candi - date; in 1889 he was elected Senator for the fourth time, having . 2,269 plurality over Thomas M. Bigger, of Franklin, and in 1801 was re-elected by 1.381 plurality over L. W. Buckmaster, Republican, of Franklin, making five terms, 10 years. in the State Senate, and is the only Senator serving 10 years in the last 60 years.

In the Senate, each session. Mr. Van Cleat was appointed on important committees; in 1886, was chairman of the bi-partisan special committee, appointed to investigate the election in Cincinnati in 1885: at the sessions of 1890- 1891 was chairman of the committees on finance and public printing. and also a member of the committees on municipal corporations. privileges and elections, county affairs, reform

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schools and rules; and was chairman of the bi-partisan joint committee appointed to in- vestigate the municipal affairs of Cincinnati, November and December, 1890; in 1892-93 was a member of the committees on finance, municipal corporations, privileges and elec- tions, benevolent institutions, labor, public printing, Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home and School for Imbecile Youth and rules.

Mr. Van Cleaf, during his 14 years in the General Assembly, voted in eight elections for United States Senator, in a regular election each session, and in the election in January, 1881. to fill the place of James A. Garfield, chosen United States Senator, in January, 1880, and elected President of the United States, at the November election of the same year.

In 1896 Mr. Van Cleaf was elected probate judge of Pickaway County and re-elected in 1899, closing six years in the office February 9. 1903. He is now one of the trustees of the Girls' Industrial Home, in Delaware County, appointed by Governor Herrick, for the term vi five years, from the first Monday of April, 1005.

Mr. Van Cleaf has been a member of the Democratic County Executive Committee from 1864 to the present time, excepting 1901, and chairman of the committee since 1866, except- ing three years-1890, 1896 and 1901; was chairman of the County Central Committee from 1867 until 1885; and also was chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee in 1890.

On the 15th of May, 1860, Mr. Van Cleaf was united in marriage with Emma L. Swift, ·laughter of Daniel and Lavinia (Clark ) Swift, of Fulton House, Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania. The Swift family were early settlers in that part of the country.

ENRY ALLEN HEDGES, a prosper- ous farmer and prominent citizen of Scioto township, was born May 21. 1856. in Madison township, Fairfield County. Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah ( Hunt) Hedges.

The Hedges family came from Virginia and was founded in Fairfield County, Ohio, by the paternal grandfather, Elijah Hedges, at a very early period, his son, the father of our subject, being then a mere lad. Samuel Hedges returned to his old home in Virginia but prob- ably found changes in the few years he had been absent and it is a matter of family his- tory that he was only nine years old when he walked all the way from Virginia back to the new home in Fairfield County, Ohio. The exact date has not been preserved but it was prior to 1814. He died in Fairfield County in 1875. The mother of our subject was twice married, her first union being with Harmon Waits. Mr. Waits left two children, Eli and Annie. The former resides on the old home- stead in Madison township, Fairfield County. The latter is the wife of Philip Wilcox, of Amanda township, Fairfield County. Our subject has one brother, William Nelson, who is employed in the Industrial School at Lan- caster, Ohio.

Henry A. Hedges was reared on the home farm and. received his education in the public schools of Fairfield County. He has devoted his entire attention to farming. Prior to his marriage he was engaged in farming for some time in Walnut township, where he was mar- ried. He then lived one year in Scioto town- ship, after which he moved back to Walnut township, taking up his residence on the pres- ent farm where he now lives in 1896. "It is a valuable property of 160 acres, belonging to the Seeds estate, located half a mile west and north of Commercial Point. Mr. Hedges car- ries on mixed farming, running two teams, and is considered one of the township's most suc- cessful agriculturists.

On January 10, 1884, Mr. Hedges was married to Mary Noggle, who is a daughter of Jonas and Angeline (DeLong) Noggle, of Scioto township. Mr. and Mrs. Hedges have one son, Otto P., who was born October 15, 1884. He resides at home and assists his father.

Mr. Hedges was reared in the Republican party and has always been identified with it. | He is one of the township's enterprising, pro-

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gressive men and on all suitable occasions shows his interest in local public improvements and citizens' movements.

C STANTON RIDGWAY, township trustee and owner of the old Ridg- way family homestead of 128 acres in Darby township, is a son of Thomas D. and Rebecca A. (Smith) Ridgway. Thomas D. Ridgway was brought to Ohio from Virginia by his father, Joshua Ridgway, who settled near Chillicothe. After his marriage, Thomas D. Ridgway bought the farm in Darby township now owned by our subject. His wife was a daughter of Sampson B. and Margaret (Hill) Smith, who came to Ohio from the State of Maryland. Conse- quently Mr. Ridgway comes of good old Southern stock.

To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Ridgway were born the following seven children : Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of J. T. Smith, also deceased; Smith, who died in February, 1906 ;. George W., who married Mrs. Amanda Shriner and is in business at Columbus ; Alice, formerly postmistress at Derby, who was married in the spring. of 1906 to A. E. Brown and died soon after, on June 9, 1906; Newton, deceased at the age of 20 years; T. Stanton, our subject; and Samuel Harvey, who married Clara K. Caldwell and is engaged in farming in Darby township. Mr. Ridgway has a half-sister liv- ing-Lucinda (Whittaker) and one dead- Margaret (Adair).

T. Stanton Ridgway was born August 28, 1849, near his present residence in Darby town- ship. He was reared and educated in this lo- cality, and on July 16, 1881, was married to Margaret Bauhan, a daughter of Josephus Bauhan, the ceremony taking place at his pres- ent home, in which he then had an interest. In the Bauhan family were three sons and six daughters, namely : William, who married Jane Thomas; Holton, deceased, who married Ella Anderson ; Levi, who married Louise Chamber- lain; Rachel, who became the wife of John Kinney and is deceased; Lydia, also deceased,

who was the wife of Cornelius Kinney ; Mollie, who married D. Walker; Sally, single ; Phoebe, wife of Alfred Brooks; and Margaret, our sub- ject's wife. Mrs. Ridgway's mother died in 1885; her father is still living. The eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. T. Stanton Ridgway are as follows: Edward M., Nellie A., Stella, Charles, Hazel, Sally, Smith N. and Eldon T.

Since his marriage, Mr. Ridgway has lived on several farms which he subsequently dis- posed of, but has always retained his interest in the old family homestead, and finally pur- chased the claims of all the heirs and occupied it as his own home. The property was orig- inally the Jacob Merrill estate, its owner sell- ing it to the father of our subject, who at his death left it to his children.

Mr. Ridgway is domestic and has few inter- ests outside the family circle. Like other faith- ful citizens, however, he has devoted a portion of his time to the public welfare, having served for seven years as township trustee. He is identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows, be- ing a member of the Mount Sterling encamp- ment and the subordinate lodge at Derby. As a farmer he conducts general operations and raises live stock.

D ANIEL LUDWIG, a highly esteemed retired resident of Circleville, for a number of years prominent in public life in Pickaway County, was for an extended period an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. He was born in Circleville township, Pickaway County, Ohio, November 23, 1831, and is a son of Jacob and Evaline ( Morris) Ludwig.

The great-grandfather of our subject, Daniel Ludwig, who was a native of Germany. emigrated to America with his wife Mary and located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Here his son Daniel, the grandfather of our subject. was born, on June 4, 1748. The latter was as- sociated for a number of years with Governor Joseph Heister, of Pennsylvania, in the opera -. tion of a store at Reading, Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1806 he came to Ohio and settled in

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Circleville township. He built the first large brick house ever erected in Pickaway County. He was the owner of about 3,000 acres of land and was not only a man of substance but also of political prominence. He was a Democrat and was so thoroughly respected and relied on that he was frequently elected to public office and served for six years as county commis- sioner.

Jacob Ludwig was but six months old when his parents came to Ohio, and he was reared and was educated in a log structure in Circle- ville township. His whole life was devoted to farming and stock-raising. He was a Demo- crat and became a man of prominence like his father. He married Evaline Morris, a daugh- ter of Henry Morris, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. To this union were born six children, the four survivors being : Daniel, of this sketch; Isaac, a prominent farmer of Pick- away township; David S., living on the old Ludwig homestead in Circleville township; and Mary Elizabeth, wife of John P. Steely, of Rushville, Fairfield County, Ohio.

Daniel Ludwig was reared and educated in Circleville township, having many more ad- vantages than his father. He also became a large landowner, investing in some 600 acres of land, and engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising until 1890, making a feature of feeding fat cattle. Since then Mr. Ludwig has lived retired in his handsome home in Circleville.

Politically Mr. Ludwig affiliates with the Democratic party. He served three years as county commissioner and then refused to al- low his name to be brought forward again. For a number of years he was also treasurer of Pickaway township, his long years in the pub- lic service but adding to the esteem and con- fidence of his fellow-citizens.

In 1863 Mr. Ludwig was married to Julia A. Steely, a daughter of Lemuel Steely, who was a prominent old settler of Pickaway town- ship. The surviving children of this marriage are: Willis, president of the Pickaway town- ship School Board, and formerly clerk of Pick- away township, who is a graduate of East- man's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New

York; Mary, wife of Charles E. Tuller, living near Elmwood, in Franklin County, Ohio; Evelyn, wife of Warren K. Moorehead, of An- dover, Massachusetts; and Elizabeth, who spent one year at Wells College, Aurora, New York, and now lives at home with her father. Mrs. Ludwig died April 13, 1887. Mr. Lud- wig and family belong to the Presbyterian Church.

OLOMON S. VALENTINE, a repre- sentative agriculturist of Pickaway S township, where he has long been a leading citizen, is a member of the well-known stock firm of Schleyer & Valentine, which operates a stock farm of 280 acres in the eastern portion of this township. Mr. Valentine was born July 12, 1843, in Fair- field County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Stepelton) Valentine.

The father of Mr. Valentine was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Fairfield Coun- ty, Ohio. The latter died when her son, Solo- mon S. Valentine, was but three years old and he was reared in the home of a relative, in Fair- field County, until the age of 17years. He then went to Henry County, where shortly afterward, in the spring of 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company F, 14th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. During his first enlistment. which covered four months, the young soldier saw much hard service as he participated in the battles of Philippi, Carrick's Ford, Bull Run and Cedar Creek. Honorably discharged, he re-enlisted in 1862, entering Company C, 88th Reg., Ohio Vet. Vol. Inf., and remained at the post of duty until the close of the war. His whole term of service covered three years, a part of it being passed on guard duty at Columbus. He received a second honorable discharge and is now an honored veteran of that never-to-be forgotten period.

Mr. Valentine returned to Fairfield County after his army service was over, and several years later came to Pickaway County, where he has been a resident ever since. For some 18 years Mr. Valentine farmed a part of the Ruggles farm, in Pickaway township, but since

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REUBEN H. DREISBACH.

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1901 he has been in partnership with Gustavus H. Schleyer, who owns the stock farm men- tioned and is the well-known cashier of the Second National Bank of Circleville. The busi- ness is mainly the raising of colts, Shorthorn cattle and hogs, the last named being a feature, but large agricultural operations are also en- gaged in.

In 1869 Mr. Valentine was married to Mary Moyer, who was born in Fairfield Coun- ty. Ohio, and they have these children : Pearl M .. wife of Reuben Hall: Harley G .: Arthur, of Pickaway township; Mrs. Mary Fleming, of Salt Creek township; and Ollie and Roy, of Pickaway township.

Mr. Valentine belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic post at Kingston and also to the Odd Fellows lodge at Tarlton. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. He may be justly named a self-made man. From infancy motherless, when but a lad exposed to the dan- gers and temptations of army life, with only limited educational opportunities. all he has he earned for himself. To-day he stands as an honorable business man in his community and enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow- citizens in general.

R EUBEN H. DREISBACH. The death of Reuben H. Dreisbach, which oc- curred May 29. 1893. removed from Pickaway township one of its repre- sentative and highly respected citi-

.zens. He was born in the northern part of Pickaway township, on the farm still occu- pied by his widow, August 21, 1858. and was a son of Isaac E. and Lydia (Hittle) Dreis- bach.

The parents of Mr. Dreisbach were early settlers in Pickaway township, where the names of Dreisbach and Hittle have been prominent since pioneer times. He was a grandson of Rev. John Dreisbach, who for years in the early history of this section, trav- eled through the wilderness of this part of the State, administering to the spiritual and often to the physical needs of the scattered pioneers. Isaac E. Dreisbach is deceased, but the vener-

able mother of the late Reuben H. Dreisbach still survives.

Reuben H. Dreisbach grew from a promis- ing childhood into an intelligent youth and the advantages afforded him both in the public schools and at college were not wasted, for he developed into a man of learning and sound judgment. He was qualified to follow a pro- fessional life, but, from choice, was a farmer. His estate of 331 acres was carefully and eco- nomically conducted and is still owned by his widow who resides upon it.

Mr. Dreisbach was married February 10, 1887, to Amelia C. Rickert, who was born in Ogle County, Illinois, November 18, 1862, and is a daughter of Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Hummel) Rickert, who are now residents of Naperville, Illinois. Mrs. Dreisbach's father and mother were born in Pennsylvania; the latter was a daughter of Rev. Christian Hum- mel, who was one of the pioneer preachers of the Evangelical Association.

Mr. and Mrs. Dreisbach had five children born to them, namely : Robert R., J. Frederick, Charles H., Ruby and one deceased.

Mr. Dreisbach was a man of high princi- ples. He was an active member of the Prohi- bition party, served as clerk of Pickaway town- ship and on one occasion was selected by his party as its candidate for State Senator. He was always prominent in agricultural move- ments in township and county and was an ac- tive worker in farmers' institutes and was president of the county organization. For many years he was a worthy member and lib- eral supporter of the Evangelical Association. His many estimable traits of character gave him the respect, confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. His portrait accompanies this sketch.

N ELSON. F. REICHELDERFER, a substantial citizen and prominent farmer of Salt Creek township, whose fine farm is situated in section 5. be- longs to one of the old pioneer fam- ilies of this locality. He was born November 5, 1849, in Salt Creek township, and is a son

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of Jacob 'S. and Lydia (Dresbach) Reichel- derfer.

John Reichelderfer, the grandfather, came to Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1806, and was one of the early settlers of Salt Creek town- ship, where his son, Jacob S. Reichelderfer, was born and spent the most of his life. In 1851 the latter removed to Monroe township and died there March 13, 1862. He was a leading member of the German Lutheran Church. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. He married Lydia Dresbach, a member of one of the old pioneer families of this county, and the surviving members of their family are: Isaac, a farmer, of Monroe township; Daniel, of Weldon, Illinois; Allen, of Madison Coun- ty, Ohio; Nelson F., of this sketch; Simon, of Monroe township; and Mary, wife of Seth Hoskins, of Pickaway County.

Nelson F. Reichelderfer was two years old when his parents moved to Monroe township, where he attended the district schools and as- sisted on the home farm until 18 years of age. His business training was that of a farmer and his subsequent success has proved that he was an apt scholar. He grew into manhood with the robust appearance which is a family trait, his father having weighed at one time as much as 385 pounds. This was during a period when he was conducting a meat market at Stringtown, prior to moving to Monroe town- ship.

On March 5, 1874, our subject was mar- ried to Catherine Dresbach, who is a daughter of William and Margaret (Earnhart) Dres- bach, both of whom were born in Pickaway County and further mention of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Reichelderfer have one son, Wayne, who is a prominent citizen of Tarlton, Ohio, where he is a member of the Village Council. Wayne Reichelderfer is also treasurer of Salt Creek township. He married Myrtle Mowery, a daughter of Henry Mowery, of Tarlton, Ohio, and they have one son-Arnold.

Nelson F. Reichelderfer, in the year fol- lowing his marriage, removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he lived until 1889, dur- ing which time he served for a number of years

as a member of the School Board of Clear Creek township. Politically he is a Republican. Both he and his wife are prominent and active members of the old Dresbach United Brethren Church, founded by those worthy old pioneers, George and Jonathan Dresbach. The church edifice was built in 1829. Mr. Reichelderfer is one of the trustees. He is a prominent man in all local movements, his opinion having weight when public improvements are pro- posed or enterprises for the general good are entered upon.

A LLISON L. TIMMONS, who has en- joyed the distinction of being mayor of Williamsport for the past 17 years, is one of the town's public-spirited and progressive business men. Mr. Timmons was born in Ross County, Ohio, December 12, 1855, and was orphaned at the age of two years by the death of his mother. He was educated in the Williamsport schools and before he had attained his majority had become prominent and popular enough to be elected to the position of town marshal. in which he served several years. The duties of the position included also those of constable. At the close of this service, he was elected a justice of the peace and then was made mayor of the town. His wise management of the af- fairs of Williamsport has made no change dle- sirable.

Mr. Timmons, however, has not devoted all his time to the public. In partnership with W. I. Wood, and the latter's sister, Miss Mary Wood, he operated a meat business here for 15 years. This business was disposed of in 1905, the purchasers being Bishop & Com- pany. In the spring of 1906, Mr. Timmons established a grocery and restaurant and those who know his enterprising spirit predict a very successful enterprise.

Mr. Timmons was united in marriage with Julia Tool, who was born in Franklin Coun- ty, Ohio, and is a daughter of James Tool, who died in Pickaway County some years since. The children born to this marriage were : Mary Alice. deceased; Pearl, wife of Joseph Win-

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fough, of Williamsport; Thomas, a farmer, lo- cated two miles from Williamsport; Darlean H., deceased; Loaton, at home; Eunice Esther, deceased, one of three sisters who died within three weeks of each other, of diphtheria; and Vera and Thurlow. also at home. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Timmons is prominent in fraternal life. He is a member of Heber Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M .; Royal Arch Chapter. No. 62; Order of the Eastern Star; Williamsport Lodge, No. 478, K. of P .; Tribe No. 52, I. O. R. M .. at Circleville; and Camp No. 4475, M. WV. of A.

Mr. Timmons has owned considerable prop- erty at various times both in the town and country which he has handled advantageously. His long incumbency in official position shows how thoroughly he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

J ONATHAN M. GRABILL, a well- known resident of Darbyville, who operates a farm of 531/2 acres within the corporation limits on Darby Creek bottom, was born December 31, 1856, in Monroe township, Pickaway County, Ohio. He is a son of Jonathan and Mary (Mckinney) Grabill, and a grandson of Jonathan Grabill, a native of Virginia, who removed to Ross Coun- ty, Ohio, with his family and from there en- listed in the War of 1812. He died in Pick- away County at an early age and at that time was possessed of about 1,200 acres of land, which he had acquired through good business management.

Jonathan Grabill, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1811, and came to Pickaway County when nine years old with his parents, who settled in Jackson township. There he spent the remainder of his life, with the exception of four years spent in Madison County, operating a small farm that he owned. In politics he was first a Whig and then a Republican. His death occurred on February 5, 1875. Mrs. Mary (Mckinney) Grabill, the mother of our subject, was born

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 53

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