History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 57

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

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the oldest, married Benjamin Floyd Yates, for six years auditor of Pickaway County, and died in 1888, leaving one child, Grover Allen. who resides with his grandparents. John Titus, the second child, died at the age of two years and three months. Jemima is a school teacher at New Holland, this county. George Francis died at about three years of age. Wil- liam Allen, the youngest child, was born Sep- tember 28, 1874, and is a school teacher, but spends most of his time in Texas.

George Dungan has always been a Demo- crat, and has been prominent in the public affairs of the township. He has been elected to every office in the township and has served in each, except that of constable, which he de- clined in favor of his opponent who wanted it and who made an excellent officer. He was elected by his party to the office of infirmary director and served in that capacity for six years. At the present time he is justice of the peace and township treasurer. Notwithstand- ing that he was reared and educated a Protest- ant, he is decidedly Catholic in his religious views, though liberal to all Christian denomi- nations. A portrait of Mr. Dungan accom- panies this sketch.

R ICHARD AMBROSE BROWN, M. D., a physician of modern and pro- gressive character and of increasing practice, a resident of Commercial Point in Scioto township, and largely interested in agricultural property, both as owner and manager, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, on the 3rd of December, 1873. He is a son of Ambrose White and Flora (Cunning- ham) Brown, and is of Scotch ancestry on the paternal side and of Scotch-Irish, on the ma- ternal. The family history of the Cunning- hams has been traced to the ancient annals of Scotland, the Doctor having in his posses- sion their distinctive coat-of-arms. They were identified with colonial times in America, and one of the immediate ancestors of Dr. Brown is known to have fought in the Revolutionary War.

Thomas White Brown, the paternal grand- father. was a native of Maryland, but came to Ohio in his early married life, where Am- brose White Brown, his son and the father of our subject, was born. Both parents of Dr. Brown were natives of Ross County. this State, and were of the unpretentious, respected, farming class. His father, the owner of con- siderable land, has been dead for 27 years, while his mother resides in Circleville. Dr. Brown is not only building up a fine practice in and around Commercial Point, but owns a valuable farm of 320 acres and manages his mother's estate in Scioto township.

The other members of the family born to Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose White Brown were: Thomas White Brown, who resides west of Circleville and is a dealer in grain; Ethel, wife of J. G. Hollenbeck, who is district passen- ger agent of the Louisville & Nashville Rail- road at Atlanta, Georgia : and Ada, who mar- ried Stuart R. Bolin, a lawyer of Circleville. The family are traditionally Presbyterians and Democrats, and several members of it have been active and somewhat prominent in politics.

Richard A. Brown, the subject of these lines. received his early education in the graded schools at Chillicothe, entered Wooster Col- lege in the fall of 1888. and after spending four years there was a student at Princeton for an- other . two years. In the fall of 1893 lie matriculated at Starling Medical College. Co- lumbus, Ohio, and graduated therefrom with his degree, in March, 1896. He spent the fall and spring of 1897 and 1898 in pursuing a post-graduate course at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and in the summer of the latter year located at Parkersburg. West Vir- ginia. While a resident of that place he was associated with Dr. C. G. Blubaugh, and did considerable surgical work for the railroads. He was assistant surgeon of the Ohio River Railroad and attended to the local work of the Southwestern Division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Since February, 1905. Dr. Brown has been a resident of Commercial Point, and both as physician, surgeon and citi- zen has an assured standing. He is a Royal

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Arch Mason, a Knight Templar and a Shriner, and is also connected with the Modern Wood- men of America.

Dr. Brown's wife was formerly Minnie Abernethy, daughter of Judge I. N. Aber- nethy, of Circleville, of which place she is a native.

EORGE W. MORRIS, treasurer of Pickaway County, belongs to one of the old established families of Wal- nut township, this county, where he was born on January 15, 1856. He is a son of James and Mary (Davis) Morris and grandson of John Morris.

The Morris family is of English extraction. The great-grandfather was born there, emi- grated to America and settled first in Pennsyl- vania, where the grandfather was born. John Morris moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia and then to Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1802, where he secured a section of land in Walnut township, becoming possessed of 1,000 acres of land in the course of time. He was one of the earliest and best known pioneers in this section and reared a large family, whose de- scendants are now among the county's best citizens.

James Morris, our subject's father, was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and here grew to manhood. He bought and cleared a tract of 160 acres and later at different times added several hundred more acres to his first purchase. He died April 22, 1896, on the homestead in Walnut township, now occupied by his son, Thomas J. Morris. For many years he was a justice of the peace and also served as township trustee, being a Democrat in politics. He married Mary Davis, who was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and was a daughter of the early pioneer. William Davis. Mrs. Morris died January 7, 1904. Of the nine children born to James Morris and wife, seven are now liv- ing, Thomas J., a resident of Circleville; George W., the subject of this sketch; James M., a hardware merchant of Circleville; Mrs. Lydia Stein, of Circleville township; Mrs. Ella Stein, of Jackson township; Mrs. Alice

Blacker, of Chillicothe; and Mrs. Clara Camp- bell, of Circleville. Those deceased are John and Jane.

George W. Morris was reared and educated in Pickaway County and became a practical farmer, following agricultural pursuits here for many years. He then spent some three years in the milling business. He became well known as one of the substantial, reliable citi- zens of the county and in November, 1905. he was elected to the office of county treasurer. The duties of this responsible office he has filled until the present, with an efficiency which has met with the approval of the public. irre- spective of party.

Mr. Morris was married to Stella Ritt, who is a daughter of the late Benjamin Ritt, of Pickaway County. They have one son, James B., who fills the position of assistant county treasurer.

Politically Mr. Morris is a Democrat. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Morris and family reside in a very pleasant home at No. 509 North Court street, Circle- ville.

Mr. Morris belongs to a family which has in it some notable examples of longevity. His father was one of a family of 15 children. of whom one still survives in venerable age- Mrs. Melinda Lincoln, a resident of Illinois. Another aunt of our subject, Mrs. Charlotte Caldwell, died June 2, 1906, in Circleville, having almost reached her 92nd birthday.

RED C. BETTS, one of the most pro- gressive, energetic and popular young farmers of Deer Creek town- ship, was born April 19, 1877, on the farm upon which he now resides, and is a son of George and Mary ( Phillips ) Betts and grandson of John \V. and Harriet (Gordy) Betts. The early history of the Betts family may be found in the sketch of George Betts, appearing elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Betts was reared on his father's farm

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and attended the district schools of his locality and also the Williamsport High School for three years. He afterward took a six-months' course in the McCafferty Business College at Columbus. After completing the business course, he returned home and engaged in farmn- ing. He has since devoted his time to this occupation and is recognized as one of the lead- ing young farmers of his locality. He is lo- cated on a part of the old home place where he has erected a fine residence as well as a good barn and other necessary buildings.

Mr. Betts was married August 31, 1898, to Gertrude Adkins, a daughter of David and Christena (Runkle) Adkins, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. Betts has two children-Helen Genevieve and David.

Politically, Mr. Betts is a Democrat, and for the past eight years has been a member of the township Board of Education, having been elected a few days after his 21st birthday, and is the youngest member ever elected to serve in that capacity. At the expiration of his present term he will have served ten years as a member of the board. Mr. Betts is fraternally connected with Heber Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M., and Camp No. 4478, M. W. of A., of Williamsport, and of Circleville Lodge, B. P. O. E. He is a member as well as liberal sup- porter of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Williamsport, while Mrs. Betts is a member of the Lutheran Church.

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EORGE W. LUTZ, who is one of the representative agriculturists of Pick- away township, owns a fine farm of 160 acres which he has placed under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Lutz was born in this township, February 25, 1850, and is a son of Ovid and Catherine (Lutz) Lutz.

Ovid Lutz, the father of George W., was a son of Peter Lutz, who came early to this part of Ohio and was engineer in the construc- tion of the Newark and Dresden Canal. He died near Dresden. The family originated in Germany, but Peter Lutz was born in Penn- i

sylvania. For many years Ovid Lutz was a res- ident of Pickaway township, Pickaway County, where he died in September, 1904, in his 84th year. He married Catherine Lutz, who still survives and lives with her son, George W. She is a daughter of Samuel Lutz, a pioneer of Salt Creek township, who was in his 102nd year when his life came to a close. Of the children born to Ovid and Catherine Lutz, three survive, namely : Martha E., wife of S. P. Bayard, who resides in Greene County, Pennsylvania; Samuel L., of Whisler, Ohio; and George W ..

George W. Lutz was reared on the home farm in Pickaway township and was educated in the local schools, the schools at Kingston, and spent two terms at Waynesburg College, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. Although well equipped for almost any career, Mr. Lutz has always taken more interest in agriculture than in any other business and is looked upon .as a prosperous farmed and successful stock- raiser of the township. His farm is well lo- cated and under Mr. Lutz's management pro- dluces abundantly. He has a comfortable farm home and his surroundings are all that could be desired.

On March 14, 1872, Mr. Lutz was married to Matilda Hoffman, who was born at Circle- ville, Ohio, where her parents resided. Her father died during the Civil War and her motlier at a later date. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz have three children, viz. : Nellie B., Cora and Josephine.

In political sentiment, Mr. Lutz is a Re- publican. He is not a member of any religious body, but he is a man of moral life and char- acter and is always liberal in his support of religious agencies and educational enterprises. He is one of the township's good citizens.

A LLAN CAMPBELL McARTHUR. For many years the late Allan C. Mc- Arthur held a very prominent position among the agriculturists of Pickaway County, and was one of the capitalists and leading citizens of Circleville. Mr. Mc- Arthur was born March 4, 1854, at Chillicothe,

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Ohio, and was a son of Allan Campbell and Olive (Whitney) McArthur, and a grandson of Ex-Governor Duncan McArthur, of Ohio.

The McArthur family was founded in America by emigrants from Scotland who set- tled here at an early day, bringing with them those habits of thrift and those sterling virtues which characterize, in large degree, the Scotch people wherever found. In Governor McArthur, Ohio had a distinguished and notable states- man. By degrees he arose from an humble station in life to be the chief executive of this great State, after having become prominent in military, business and social life. In 1793 he penetrated into the Scioto Valley, as chain- bearer in the surveying expedition under Gen. Nathaniel Massie, and still later acted as a scout prior to the treaty made with the In- dians. Later he studied surveying with Gen- eral Massie, became his assistant and helped in the laying out of the city of Chillicothe, at the same time investing in land in different por- tions of the State. In 1805 he was sent to the State Legislature from Ross County and in 1812 was elected to Congress. In the follow- ing year, having already been a leader in mili- tary operations, he was commissioned a brigadier general and served through the War of 1812, although it necessitated his resign- ing his seat in Congress. He was in command of the New York troops at Detroit when peace was declared and then returned home in the hope of giving attention to his private business affairs. However, in 1815 he was again sent to the Legislature and was re-elected in 1817, in the interim having been very conspicuous in the various treaties with the Indians, which were such important public events of those years. In 1832 he was again elected to Con- gress and served two terms and upon declin- ing re-election was elected Governor of Ohio. His administration is still remembered with approval. When, at its close, he retired to private life it was with unsullied name and with the continued esteem of his fellow citi-

zens. His beautiful home, near Chillicothe, was long known as "Fruit Hill Farm."

Allan Campbell McArthur, father of our subject, was reared at Chillicothe, where he

was a prominent practitioner of law for the greater part of his life and where he died in 1858. In many respects he resembled his dis- tinguished father and these same noble virtues and amiable characteristics were inherited by the late Allan C. McArthur of Circleville. The mother of our subject was born in Cayuga County, New York, September 16, 1817. She survived her husband for many years, dying in 1884, in Pickaway County, where she owned a farm of 365 acres.

Allan C. McArthur, whose lamented death took place July 6, 1897, was six years old when his parents moved to Covington, Ken- tucky, where he attended school until the age of 15, when he went to De Witt County, Illi- nois, to visit a married sister and there re- mained until 1877. At this time he was called to Pickaway County in order to take upon himself the management of his mother's large property interests and here he remained until her death. In 1888 he purchased a large tract of land in Knox County, Tennessee, with the idea of making there a winter home, but the climate did not agree with the family and two years later he returned to Circleville.

Probably no estate in the vicinity of Circle- ville is better improved than that left by the late Mr. McArthur, who had devoted years to the careful tilling of the soil, to raising the very best cattle and stock and to beautifying and adorning his home here in every possible way. Stately buildings with appropriate settings and surroundings mark this as an ideal rural home. In addition to this valuable property, Mr. Mc- Arthur had large land interests in Ross, Scioto, Cook and other counties. He was always one of the enterprising, helpful men of this sec- tion, thoroughly in touch with its business and agricultural interests and representative of its very best citizenship.

In November, 1886, Mr. McArthur was united in marriage with Teresa Whitney, a daughter of William G. and Eley (Van Voor- hees) Whitney, natives of New York and Ken- tucky, respectively. Mr. Whitney at the age of six years accompanied his parents in their re- moval to Portsmouth, Ohio, of which city he became one of the prominent business men,

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being a large shipper of grain and owning his own boats for its transportation. To Allan C. McArthur and wife was born one child, Dorothy Whitney, who is a student of Mount Ida School, Newton, Massachusetts, class of 1906.

E LISHA WARNER, a prominent citizen of Pickaway County, who has been identified with the educational and agricultural interests of several town- ships and has served for many years as a justice of the peace, has been a resident of St. Paul, Madison township, since 1892. Mr. Warner was born in Walnut township, Pick- away County, Ohio, November 21, 1848, and is a son of Aaron and Hannah ( Kerschner) Warner.

Aaron Warner was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was 15 years of age when he accompanied his parents to Fairfield Coun- ty. Ohio. They settled near Amanda and spent the rest of their lives there. Aaron Warner learned the carpenter's trade, and was also a cabinetmaker and undertaker during his earlier years. He married in Pickaway County and in 1848 came with his wife to this county, where he followed farming, in Walnut township, and also did carpentering, until 1871, when he re- moved to Shelby County, Illinois, where his death took place on March 20, 1906, he being in his 86th year. Wherever he lived, he was a man held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens on account of his sterling traits of character.

Elisha Warner attended the public schools in Walnut township and then took a course of instruction at Fairfield Union Academy, at Pleasantville, Ohio, after which he took up teaching as a profession. From 1868 until 1888 he taught school in Pickaway County and during this time was principal of the Ashville School. His literary attainments were those of an educated man and led to his appointment as a member of the Pickaway County Board of School Examiners, on which he served for 13 years-from April, 1876, until July 31, 1888-during a portion of this time being pres- ident of the board. Mr. Warner was not sat-

isfied with his attainments, however, but de- voted his spare time to the study of the law and in 1877 was admitted to the Ohio bar. He practiced locally for a time, while also engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1872 he accepted a position as teacher at Darbyville, to which town he removed from Walnut township. About three years later, he returned to Walnut township and later moved to Washington township, where he engaged in farming until 1882, when he settled in Madison township, where he has lived ever since. For nine con- secutive years he has served as a justice of the peace in Madison township and still holds official position since becoming a resident of St. Paul. For nine years also he was a mem- ber of the Madison township School Board and was its president a portion of the time. From 1890 until 1904, Mr. Warner was in the employ of Aultman, Miller & Company, of Akron, Ohio, as traveling collector.

Mr. Warner married Saralr F. Peters, who was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, and is a daughter of the late Absalom Peters, of this township. They have seven children, namely : H. Famah, a teacher in the public schools; John P., a practicing dentist. at Canal Winchester, Ohio; Mary L., wife of C. B. Teegardin, of Madison township; Cecil E., a student of law; Bertha L .; Martha T .; a teacher; and Frederick L. Mr. Warner has given .his children many advantages and sev- eral of them are well known educators of the township.

For many years Mr. Warner has been very prominently identified with Democratic politics in Pickaway County and on two occasions has been sent as a delegate from the county Democracy to State conventions. In 1878 he was his party's choice for county auditor. He is one of the county's representative men and has hosts of friends. His many years in of- ficial life have demonstrated his judicial quali- ties and there remains no doubt in the minds of his fellow-citizens that, if he had devoted himself exclusively to the law, he would have attained high place in that profession. Fra- ternally he is a Mason and belongs to Pickaway Lodge, No. 23. F. & A. M.

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ILLIAM S. REBER, a prominent citizen and representative farmer of Pickaway County, who resides on his fine estate which comprises 583 acres of valuable land in Wal- nut township, belongs to an old Ohio family of prominence. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, on the old homestead farm, on July 7, 1745, and is a son of Hon. James and Catherine (Stage) Reber.

The Reber family became known in Ohio when Valentine and Magdalena (Van Reid) Reber, the grandparents of William S. Reber, left their old Pennsylvania home and moved as early settlers to Fairfield County, Ohio. It was in 1805 that Valentine Reber purchased section 10, in Amanda township, in that coun- ty, settled on his property there and soon be- came one of the leading men of his neighbor- hood. In 1820 he was elected a member of the Ohio State Legislature, where he assisted in framing laws which are still in effect. His death took place in 1828. So well had he pro- vided for his family that each one of his 13 children received a farm of 160 acres.

James Reber, father of William S. Reber, was born July 8, 1813, in Fairfield County .. He was afforded excellent educational ad- vantages, these including almost two years at the Ohio State University and a period at the Miami University. Poor health prevented his completing his course at the latter institution and induced him to visit the South in search of a more genial climate. His older brother, Dr. William Reber, was already established as principal of the Pearl River (Mississippi) Academy, and James accepted a position as instructor in this school, which he filled for 18 months. He returned to Pickaway County, much improved in health, and on October 20, 1835. married Catherine Stage. Mrs. Reber was a daughter of William Stage, who was born in Virginia, of Scotch descent.

After marriage, James Reber moved to Illinois, settling first in Piatt County but later removing to Macon County. There he entered upon the study of the law with Judge Treat and in 1840 was admitted to practice in all the Illinois courts. He acquired property and

followed farming to some extent. For eight years he served as jucige of the Probate Court and as clerk of the Circuit Court for a consid- erable time. Mr. Reber then returned to Ohio and located in Walnut township, Pickaway County, evidently with the idea of devoting himself to agricultural pursuits. From this partial retirement he was called in 1863 to be- come a member of the Ohio Legislature and was returned for a second term. Mr. Reber's life was one possessing many interesting features and was so lived as to be an inspira- tion to those who came after him.

William S. Reber was an infant when he accompanied his parents to Illinois. Since his return to Ohio he has been a continuous resi- cent of Pickaway County. His large estate is devoted to general agricultural and stock- raising operations. Mr. Reber is a director of the Second National Bank of Circleville.

In May, 1864, Mr. Reber enlisted in Com- pany C, 155th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., when 18 years old and served under the command of Capt. Henry Peters and Colonel Sage.

On October 11, 1883, Mr. Reber was mar- ried to Elizabeth A. Oman, who was a daugh- ter of Samuel H. Oman, and they have four children, viz. : May C., and Clara S., both at- tending school at Delaware, Ohio, being grad- uates of the Ashville High School; and Emma A. and Homer S., attending school at Ash- ville.

Mr. Reber and family belong to the Metho- clist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee. The family home is a handsome brick residence which was erected by Mr. Reber's uncle in 1833.

OLOMON ORLANDO SMITH. a popular citizen of Madison township, a member of the School Board and a substantial agriculturist. resides on his well-improved farm of 631/2 acres, located in a desirable part of the town- ship. He was born in this township. April 20. 1856, and is a son of Reuben and Eliza A. (Glick) Smith, grandson of Jacob Smith and great-grandson of John Smith, who estab-

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lished the family in Pickaway County, coming here from Northumberland County, Pennsyl- vania.

Jacob Smith was born in Pennsylvania and as a boy of 12 years accompanied his par- ents in 1808 to Madison township, Pickaway County. He helped clear the family homestead, engaged in farming and weaving and died in 1870. His wife was Mary Hall.

Reuben Smith was born in Pickaway Coun- ty, Ohio, and was here reared and educated. He married Eliza A. Glick, a member of a prominent township family, who died in Jan- uary, 1897, aged 69 years. Of their children, all survive save one, the record being as fol- lows: Mary C., deceased, who was the wife of William Plum; Mima I., wife of E. M. Teegardin, of Coffey County, Kansas; Jacob S., of Ashville; Sarah D., wife of W. H. Rohr, of Columbus; Minerva L., wife of J. J. Rohr, of Springfield, Ohio; Martin Luther, of Lan- caster, Ohio; Solomon Orlando; Emma K., wife of WV. D. Nothstine, of Madison town- ship; Seymour M., of Duvall, this county ; Addie F., widow of S. S. Smith, of Canal Winchester, Ohio; Elmer Elsworth, of Ash- ville; and Birdie V .. , wife of Lester E. Hickle, of Pittsburg.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 57

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