History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 67

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

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Mr. Delaplane was married to Mary Theime, who was born in Waverly, Ohio, and they have three daughters, viz. : Mary Louise. Ruth and Alice. Mr. Delaplane holds fraternal relations with the Odd Fellows, Knights of l'ythias, Foresters and Elks.

e HRIS. A. WELDON, one of the lead- ing members of the bar at Circle- ville, who is also identified with successful business enterprises and is a member of the large grain deal- ing firm of Boggs & Weldon, at Elmwood, was born in 1873 at Circleville. He is a son of Christopher Weldon.

The father of our subject was born in Mus- kingum County, Ohio, but was reared in Madison County and passed a large portion of his active business life in the grocery and grain trade at Circleville.

Chris. A. Weldon was reared in Circleville and graduated from the Circleville High School in 1802. He then took up the study of the law and in 1894 was graduated from the Cincin- nati Law School, in 1895 entering upon the practice of his profession at Circleville. In 1896 he was elected city solicitor and served one term. In 1903 he was nominated by the Republican party for probate judge, but was

defeated at the polls by a small majority. Mr. Weldon has served his party faithfully and is fully in its confidence. He has served some five years as a member of the Republican Coun- ty Committee, of which he is chairman. On November 12. 1894. he was admitted to prac- tice in the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio and in 1900 to practice in the United States Courts.

In April. 1902. Mr. Weldon was united in marriage with Margaret C. Boggs, a daughter of Lemuel Boggs. They have two children- Lemeul B. and Margaret C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weldon are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Fraternally Mr. Weldon is connected with the Elks. Woodmen of the World and National Union. For many years he has been one of Circleville's reliable. representative men. ready at all times to promote good feeling and assist in the upbuilding of the city and its laudable enterprises.

ULIUS J. WRIGHT, deceased, once a prominent resident of Pickaway Coun- ty, was born in Loudoun County. Vir- ginia. January 5, 1830, and died in his old home place in the county of his birth, on September 20. 1903. He was a son of Joseph and Mary ( Sullivan) Wright.

The father of Mr. Wright was born in Ire- land and died when his son Julius was 13 years of age. His mother was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, and her life closed when her son was a child of five years. The orphan boy was reared in the home of his grandfather, with whom he remained until he started out in life for himself.

Upon coming to Ohio. Julius J. Wright set- tled for a time in Ross County. From there he went to Osage County, Kansas, where he took up a government land claim on which he lived for some years. Upon his return to Ohio. he located in Pickaway County, where he lived for many years. On April 5, 1866, he was mar- ried to Mary A. Emerson, who was born in Pickaway township. Pickaway County, Ohio, April 5, 1838. She is a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Kennedy) Emerson, the former

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MR. AND MRS. JAMES WARD ..

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of whom was born in Virginia and the latter, in Kentucky.

Thomas Emerson was a son of Thomas and Mary ( Downey) Emerson, who came to Pickaway County and were very early settlers in Pickaway township. The father of Mrs. Wright became one of the very old residents here, his life extending to 91 years. Of his children, three survive, viz .: James, of Pick- away township; Mrs. Mary A. Wright; and George T., also of Pickaway township.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wright were eight in number, the survivors being: Sarah A .. Thomas E., Robert F., Adella M., Laura L. and Walter E. Mrs. Wright resides on a fine farm of 100 acres of well-cultivated land. She is a valued member of Ebenezer Church of the Evangelical Association. Her whole life has been passed in Pickaway County and she is a worthy representative of one of its oldlest and most honored families.

J AMES WARD has been a prominent resident of Pickaway County since 1857. For many years he was actively engaged in farming in Walnut town- ship, where he still owns a large estate ; for the past two years, however, he has been a resident and leading business man of Ashville, being president of the Citizens' Bank and ex- tensively interested in the grain business. He was born October 16, 1844, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of Peter and Mary Ann (Greek) Ward.

Peter Ward and his wife were both natives of Fairfield County. In the spring of 1849 he moved to Allen County, where he resided for four years, being killed in 1853 by a team. William Ward, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of England who came to this country and first settled in Virginia. In 1802 he moved to Pickaway County, which at that time was included in Ross County. William Ward, grandfather of James Ward, was born in Virginia and upon coming to Ohio settled in Pickaway County; later he married. and moved into Fairfield County.

James Ward, the subject of this sketch, was compelled to leave home at an early age because of the death of his father. He went to the home of his brother-in-law, Sidney J. Ward, at 12 years of age and bound himself to his brother-in-law until his 21st year, under the condition that he was to be given a horse, bridle, saddle and a suit of clothes, which he received in 1865. He received his early edu- cation in the common schools and afterward took a special course in the normal school at Lebanon. Ohio, preparing himself for teach- ing. After leaving school, he engaged in farming and also taught school for 16 winters. Since then he has devoted his time and en- ergies to agricultural pursuits. He finally. in 1878, bought the farm where he had lived as a boy and as a tenant, paying $114 per acre, and having 10 years to pay for the same. He continued to be a resident of the farm until 1904.

In August, 1863, Mr. Ward enlisted in the Ohio National Guard for five years and was made corporal in Company F. 92nd Regiment. On May 2, 1864, he was called into the United States service for 100 days, as a member of Company C. 155th Reg .. Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until August 27th, when he was dis- charged at Camp Dennison. He was discharged from the Ohio National Guard, May 1, 1866, by act of the State Legislature.

Mr. Ward was married in 1876 to Harriet Cromley, a daughter of Stephen Cromley. They had two children, both of whom died during infancy. Mrs. Ward died December 6, 1882. In 1893 he was married to Hannah L. McCan, a daughter of James McCan, who is a resident of Pickaway County. Mr. Ward is prominent in Masonry, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Com- mandery at Circleville. He is also a member of Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F., at Ashville; Nebraska Grange, No. 64, of Walnut town- ship; and W. H. Morral Post, No. 167, G. A. R., of Ashville.

Mr. Ward started in life a very poor boy and is now a man of large means, and takes a very active interest in all movements that tend toward the advancement of the town and

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community in which he resides. He is presi- dent of the Citizens' Bank of Ashville and has been engaged in the grain business for a num- ber of years. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens and takes more pride in being a farmer than in being the presi- dent of a bank. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Ward accompany this sketch.

H LVIN A. REICHELDERFER, a prominent . agriculturist and well- known citizen of Salt Creek township, and one of the township trustees, re- sides on the George Bennett farm, a tract of 240 acres, which is situated on the Circleville and Adelphi turnpike. Mr. Reichel- derfer was born May 21, 1870, in Pickaway County, and is a son of Rufus and Susan (Davis) Reichelderfer.

The parents of Mr. Reichelderfer were both born in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, where the paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Reichelderfer, had settled among the pioneers. Rufus Reichelderfer has been a lifelong resident of Salt Creek township as have his two half-sisters, Caroline and Julia A. Mowery. The five children born to Rufus Reichelderfer and wife were: Minerva J., de- ceased; George, of Peoria, Illinois; Alvin A., of this sketch; Nelson E., of Lancaster, Ohio; and Stella E., wife of Arthur Heffner, of Whisler, Ohio. Rufus Reichelderfer is an in- fluential member of the Democratic party in Salt Creek township. He has served as town- ship trustee for a long period and he has also been a member of the School Board.

Alvin A. Reichelderfer was reared to man- hood on his father's farm and was educated in the township schools. He has always taken a just pride in his agricultural acquirements and has the reputation, honestly earned, of being one of the most successful farmers of his lo- cality. He has been located on the present farm since September, 1899, and can show very satisfactory results. He carries on mixed hus- bandry and raises some very fine stock.

On November 4, 1891, Mr. Reichelderfer was married to Luella Karshner, who was born

and reared in Pickaway County, and is a daughter of Enoch Karshner, a prominent farmer of Salt Creek township. They have one son, Clay W., born July 22, 1893, who is attending the local school.

Politically, Mr. Reichelderfer is a Demo- crat. He is serving his first term as township trustee, to which office he was elected by the largest majority ever given a candidate in Salt Creek township. This speaks well for his pop- ularity among his fellow-citizens. He has served six years as road supervisor of District No. 5 and his duties have always been faith- fully performed with the best interests of the public in view. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Tarlton, and of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Laurelville.

USTAVUS ADOLPHUS CLEL- LEN, owner of a well-improved homestead of 102 acres in Wayne township, was born in Pickaway County, August 26, 1854. His par- ents, Joseph and Celinda (Prindle) Clellen, were also married in this county, so that both he and his family are closely identified with it .. Mr. Clellen was trained to agricultural pur- suits in his early years and has held closely to them in his later life; the result was a thorough acquaintance with all agricultural details and a successful outcome of his labors. When he purchased his present property of J. W. Wig- gins, he set about its thorough improvement. He cultivated the land. on modern principles, drained it with tile and in 1899 erected a com- fortable frame residence of seven rooms.

In 1891 Mr. Clellen was elected by the Republicans to the office of township assessor, being the first successful candidate of the party for that office in Wayne township. This was an unusual testimonial, both to his personal popularity and individual worth.

Mr. Clellen's wife was formerly Alice Graves, daughter of Westley Graves, of Ross County, Ohio. The following children have been born to their union: Frederick F., who married Madge Shipley, daughter of Louis

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Shipley, of Pickaway County, and now resides near Circleville; James B., who attended Lima College; Guy W .; Mary Agnes, who is an accomplished pianist, member of the church choir at Kinderhook, and very prominent so- cially; Percy Alton and Iris May.

e HARLES W. MURPHY, city solic- itor of Circleville, a prominent at- torney and formerly a well-known newspaper man, was born in Greenc County, Ohio.

Mr. Murphy was reared in Greene County and was educated in the public schools of Xenia and at the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he spent several years. He was grad- uated in 1874 from the law department of the University of Michigan, and was admitted to the bar in the same year. Mr. Murphy then went to Iowa where he soon became interested in the newspaper business and for six years was editor of the Union, at Sidney, Iowa, where he also served as postmaster until he re- signed the office in 1880. From Sidney, Mr. Murphy went to New Mexico and spent a year and a half visiting different portions of one of the most interesting sections of the country.

Mr. Murphy then came to Circleville and was engaged in newspaper work here from 1882 until 1894, since which time he has been in the active practice of his profession. In 1902 he was elected city solicitor for a term of two years but by reason of a change in the municipal code his term expired at the end of one year. He was subsequently re-elected for a term of two years and in 1905 was again re- elected. He has been a faithful, conscientious official and enjoys the esteem and confidence of both political parties. He is a stanch Demo- crat.

On June 8, 1876, Mr. Murphy was married to Margaret B. Darst, a daughter of Jacob Darst, who was one of the early merchants of Circleville. They have had three children, viz .: Clark Darst, who died in promising young manhood, aged but 23 years, a victim of

disease contracted while serving in the Span- ish-American War, in Puerto Rico, a member of the Fourth Ohio Regiment Infantry, U. S. Volunteers; Kenneth, who has an aptitude for music, and is studying in New York City, at the Ogden-Crane School of Opera, of which he is business manager; and Brower, who is a student in the Circleville public schools.

Mr. Murphy is a valued member of Groce Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Circle- ville, having been a soldier in the Civil War. In 1863 he enlisted first in the Fifth Independ- ent, Ohio Vol. Cav., and later in the 186th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and served in Ten- nessee, Georgia and Alabama. Mr. Murphy and family belong to St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church at Circleville.

m EINHARD G. PALM, who owns a valuable farm of 55 acres in Clear Creek township, Fairfield County, Ohio, which is used for pasturage, resides on his father's farm of 117 acres, in Washington township, Pickaway County. Mr. Palm was born at Circleville, Ohio, Nov. 1, 1870, and is a son of Charles A. and Christina (Doering) Palm. An ex- tended sketch of these worthy people will be found in another part of this work.

Meinhard G. Palm was five years old when his parents removed to Kansas, where they re- sided one year and then returned to Circle- ville, in which city the family home continued to be until Meinhard G. was nine years old. when the family located on the farm in Wash- ington township, which our subject operates.

Mr. Palm was educated in the city and country schools and was reared to be a prac- tical farmer. His whole life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits and he has met with abundant success.

On January 4, 1894, Mr. Palm was mar- ried to Ella Miller, who is a daughter of Wil- liam and Margaret Miller, of Circleville. They have a family of five interesting children : Clarence, Christina Margaret, Carl William. Russell Chester and Bernice. Mr. Palm is one

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vi the leading members of the Lutheran Church. He is a well-known and respected cit- izen and a good representative of the best ele- ment to be found in Washington township- a good farmer, a kind neighbor, an advocate of good roads and a supporter of the schools and churches.

T SAAC N. BROWN, one of Pickaway County's honored survivors of the great Civil War, to which he gave three years of his young manhood, is a well-known agriculturist of Muh- lenberg township, owning a highly cultivated little farm in Muhlenberg township, consisting of 14 acres, which the word "garden" aptly describes. Mr. Brown was born June 16, 1831, in Knox County, Ohio, on a farm 10 miles northeast of Mount Vernon, and is a son of Nathan and Elizabeth (Long) Brown.

The parents of Mr. Brown were born in the vicinity of Cove Mountain, Pennsylvania, and were brought to Ohio by their parents in childhood. They married in Ohio and when our subject was seven years old moved to Fair- field County, Ohio, where they resided on a farm for some seven years and then decided to seek a new home in the West. Nathan Brown started with his wife and in children, but when he reached Circleville he was taken sick and died in 1848, aged 55 years. The family remained at Circleville until the death of the mother, which took place on July 5, 1855, when the family became scattered. The chil- dren were: Polly, Abraham and Susan, all deceased; Isaac N., of this sketch; Jacob, a resident of Illinois, who survived imprison- ment at Andersonville, during the Civil War, through a period of 11 months and 13 days; Barbara, now deceased, who married John W. Frost, a veteran of the Mexican War and moved with him to Missouri; John L., of In- diana; William, a member of an Illinois regi- ment in the Civil War, who died in 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee; Nancy J., a resident of Columbus ; Solomon; and Mrs. Elizabeth Sim- mons, who died in Missouri.

In the spring of 1849 our subject proceeded

to Muhlenberg township and sought and ob- tained work on a farm, by the month. He con- tinuedl to work in this way for nine years on the farm of James and Perry Dawson. receiv- ing as wages the sum of $8 a month. . After he married he continued to live there for two years longer, after which he moved to the James Abernathy farm, which he rented for two years and then removed to the Z. P. Ad- kins farm near Five Points.

Mr. Brown was living on this place when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, on August 30, 1861, entering Company C. 20th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., Third Brigade of the Third Division of the 17th Army Corps, under Capt. J. M. McCoy and Colonel Whittlesey. When Mr. Brown became a soldier, he entered upon a path of great hardship and constant danger as will be seen on recounting the many battles in which his life was risked. Not in- cluding minor engagements, Mr. Brown par- ticipated in these battles : Fort Donelson, Shi- loh, Bolivar, Iuka, Big Hatchie River, Hankin's Ferry, Raymond, Champion Hills, the whole siege of Vicksburg of 47 days dura- tion, Jackson and Baker's Creek. After three years and one month of service, he was honor- ably discharged. He was several times injured in the service. At Raymond he was slightly wounded in the left thigh by a bullet and had three ribs broken and a leg broken by being thrown down and run over by a wagon at- tached to a six-mule team. On April 1, 1864, this injury landed him in the Vicksburg hospital, where he remained for one month and then was sent to Louisville where he re- mained until he was mustered out.

Upon his return, Mr. Brown resumed farming and continued to live on his rented farm until the fall of 1888, when he purchased his present home of 14 acres which he has placed under a very fine state of cultivation and which yields handsomely. He has erected the buildings here and has made all the excel- lent improvements.

In 1852 Mr. Brown was married to Hester A. Starks, who was born in Maryland and died in Iowa. She had three children, viz. : Frank- lin P., of Iowa; John Wesley, deceased at

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the age of four years and Eliza Jane, deceased at the age of six years.

Mr. Brown was married ( second) in No- vember, 1868, to Mrs. Isabelle F. Nichell, who was the wiclow of Andrew J. Nichell, who died in the army during the Civil War, leaving four children. viz. : Elias D., of Illinois; Robert C., of Illinois ; Mrs. Sarah E. Lyons, of Hardin County, Ohio; and Mrs. Augusta Smith, of Muhlenberg township. Mrs. Brown was born in Vinton County, Ohio, February 22, 1840, and is a daughter of Elias and Sarah (Gard- ner) Ramey, the former of whom was born in Belmont County, Ohio, and the latter in Vir- ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had these children : Rose Ann; Mrs. Gertrude Kern, deceased ; Hattie, wife of Daniel H. Crawford, of Hardin County, Ohio; John M., of Madi- son County: Etta, wife of Fletcher Graham, living near Derby; Loutie M., who has been a teacher for the past 10 years; and Myrtle, who is the wife of Albert Brown, of Illinois.

Mr. Brown has been a life-long Republican. He is one of the old and esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Darbyville.

YMAN JONES, whose well-cultivated farm of 212 acres is located four miles from Circleville, on the Circle- ville and Kingston turnpike, is de- scended from two old pioneer families of Virginia and Pennsylvania, which had much to do with the early development of Ross County, Ohio. Mr. Jones was born in Salt Creek . township, Pickaway County, Ohio, January 28, 1841, and is a son of Abel and Catherine (Dreisbach) Jones.

Both parents of Lyman Jones were natives of Ross County, Ohio, where the father was born October 31, 1810, and the mother, in 1814. About 1838-39 they moved to Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, and then, in 1864, to Pickaway township, settling on the farm now occupied by our subject. Here Abel Jones died January 6, 1892, having survived his wife, who died in April, 1887. He was a stanch supporter of the Republican party and

was a man of sterling integrity of character and broad-minded views. Of his children these survive : Sarah A. and Rebecca, who live with their brother Lyman; Leah, wife of P. W. Brown, of Chillicothe; Mary E., wife of George Bennett, of Circleville; Alda, wife of Taylor Boggs, of Chillicothe; Laura J., wife of Harry R. Gregg, of Colorado Springs, Col- orado; and Lyman, of this sketch.

Lyman Jones, after completing the public school course in Salt Creek township, became a student at the Ohio University, at Athens. this training better preparing him for the in- telligent management of the large estate he now owns.

Mr. Jones has always been affiliated with the Republican party. He is a type of a good citizen, enterprising and public spirited and enjoys the esteem, as he commands the respect. of a wide circle of acquaintances.

CHRISTIAN CALVIN FOOR, pro- prietor of the Ashville Hotel, at Ashville, also conducts the leading livery business in the city and is one of the valued citizens. He was born March 1, 1860, in Bloom township, Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of George and Eliza (Weimer) Foor.

The Foor family was established in Fair- field County by the grandparents of Christian C. Foor, who came to Ohio from Berks Coun- ty, Pennsylvania. Both parents of our subject were born in Ohio .. They were substantial farming people and members of the German Reformed Church. Six sons and three daugh- ters were born to them, namely: William; Christian C., of this sketch; Franklin; Harvey, deceased; Bertha, wife of Harvey Mohart; Norton, deceased; Emma, deceased, who was the wife of Herbert Weimer; Addie, wife of Luther Heller ; and Albert.

Christian C. Foor was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the Egypt township district school, which he left at the age of 17 years. From 1877 until 1883 he worked on a farm at Marcy. In 1885 he moved to the

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farm of H. M. Dunick, on which he resided for six years, engaged in farming, and then removed to the farm of W. H. Pontius in Wal- nut township, Pickaway County, where he was successfully engaged in farming for the II years following. In 1902 he settled on the farm of W. H. Blue, in Walnut township, where he remained two years. In the fall of 1904 he moved to Ashville and purchased the Ashville Hotel and the adjoining property, which Mr. Foor utilizes as a first-class livery and boarding stable. He is one of Ashville's enterprising business men.

On June 17, 1883, Mr. Foor was married (first) to Lucinda Swoyer, who was a daugh- ter of Jacob and Mary Swoyer. Mrs. Foor had been a school mate of Mr. Foor's, the fam- ilies being neighbors in Bloom township. Mrs. . Foor died November 5, 1894, the mother of four children, viz. : Walter, born August 25, 1883, who died November 6, 1903; Oscar, born October 6, 1888, who is a student in the Ashville High School; Claude Earl, born May 22, 1891, who is a student in the Ashville schools; and one child that died in infancy. Mr. Foor was married (second) to Mary .Spindler, who was a daughter of George and Alice Spindler. They had one child, Earl Spindler, who died aged three months. Mrs. Foor died November 29, 1903.

Mr. Foor is a self-made man. His present financial condition has been brought about en- tirely through his own industry and good man- agement. He is an ideal landlord, having an affable manner and a pleasing, friendly per- sonality. The guests at the Ashville Hotel are made to feel at home and the trade of the house is constantly on the increase. Mr. Foor is a member of Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F., at Ashville.

A. LEIST, a representative member of the bar at Circleville, was born in 1868 in Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel Leist, and a grandson of that old pioneer of the county, John D. Leist.

John D. Leist was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and was brought to Pickaway County

in boyhood. During his active business life he was a contractor and builder and many of the old stone houses, which give such a sub- stantial look to many sections throughout the county, were erected by him and still stand as mute memorials to his skill and workman- ship. His son, Daniel Leist, was born in 1833 in Pickaway County, and still survives, a ven- erable resident of Circleville.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 67

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