History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 71

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

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died at Circleville, February 22, 1873. His wife survived until July, 1881.

John Courtright was rearel and educated in Walnut township, where his business and family interests have always more or less been centered. On August 16, 1866, he was mar- ried to Minerva L. Brobst, who is a daugh- ter of David and Leah Brobst, of Fairfield County, where Mrs. Courtright was born on February 8, 1846. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Courtright were: Alva Brobst, Sallie Florence, John David and Grace Cilicia. Alva Brobst, the eldest son, was born September 29, 1868, and was married in December, 1894, to Laura May Peters, a daughter of John Peters, of Scioto township, and they have one son, John Peters, born in December, 1896. Sal- lie Florence was born August 15, 1873, and on December 22, 1899, was married (first) to Rev. E. J. Snyder, who died 10 months later; on September 19, 1905, she was married (second) to Harry Reichelderfer, of Salt Creek town- ship. John David was born September 30, 1875, and died November 20, 1885. The youngest daughter was born March 16, 1881, and resides at home,

Mr. Courtright has always been identified with the Democratic party. He has frequently been called upon to serve in offices of trust and responsibility. He has been on the School Board; has served as township trustee and is serving his second term as trustee of the Pickaway County Children's Home. By Gov- ernor Herrick he was appointed a member of the State board of control of the Ohio Agri- cultural Experimental Station; a board made up of two Democrats and three Republicans. Mr. Courtright has always shown great inter- est in the Grange movement, regarding it as a helpful organization for agriculturists, and served as master of Nebraska Grange for 28 years. For almost 24 years he has served as a director of the Reber Hill Cemetery, of Walnut township. For 47 years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, and served as worshipful master several terms. No man stands higher in public esteem in this sec- tion than does John Courtright, whose portrait. accompanies this sketch.

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EORGE W. HARTMAN, county re- corder of Pickaway County, whose pleasant home is situated at No. 527 East Franklin street, Circleville, was born in this city on October 17, 1855, and is a son of William D. and Catherine (Glantzer) Hartman.

The parents of our subject were natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Ohio. In 1861 his parents moved from Pickaway to Fairfield County, Ohio, where both died. They were farmers. Their family numbered 12 children.

George W. Hartman was reared and edu- cated in Fairfield County where he lived from the age of six years. He was a member of a large family and as soon as he was physically able learned a self-supporting trade, making choice of that of plasterer, at which he worked until 1889, when he came to Pickaway County. He has always been more or less prominent in Democratic politics and shortly after re- turning to Circleville was elected assessor, serving_in that office for two terms and later as township clerk. In 1900 he was elected county recorder and approbation of the man- ner in which he discharged the duties of this office was shown by his fellow-citizens in his re-election in 1903.

Mr. Hartman was married (first) to Jen- nie Kesler and they had two children. Mrs. Hartman died in 1903. He married (second) Rosie Angell. Mr. Hartman is a member of the United Brethren Church.

D ENNIS C. RADER, whose well-im- proved farm of 198 3-5 acres is lo- cated in section 18, Pickaway town- ship, divided into two tracts, is one of the representative men of the lo- cality and is a member of the township Board of Education. He was born in Pike County, Ohio, May 28, 1870, and is a son of James and Mary A. (Shock) Rader. Extended men- tion of this old pioneer family will be found in another part of this work, in the sketch of Burr H. Rader.

Dennis C. Rader was still a lad when his parents moved to Pickaway County, in 1875, and he was reared and educated in Pickaway township. His training was all in the direc- tion of agriculture and it served to make him a practical, successful farmer.

On March 21, 1893, Mr. Rader was mar- ried to Louise Bougher, who was born in Hocking County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Benjamin Bougher, formerly of Pickaway County, but now a resident of Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Rader was six months old when her par- ents brought her to Pickaway County and she was reared in Pickaway township.

Mr. Rader is identified with the Democratic party as was his father before him. He is serving his first term as a member of the township Board of Education and performs his duty according to the highest demands of good citizenship He is one of the leading members of Emmett Chapel Methodist Epis- copal Church, of Pickaway township.

OLOMON GLOYD, 5 a successful farmer of Harrison township, was born January 22, 1842, in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of Myrom and Mary Gloyd.

Myrom Gloyd, who was a native of Ver- mont, located in Columbus upon coming to Ohio; later he moved to Pickaway County, where he passed the remainder of his life.

Solomon Gloyd lost his father when but 12 years old and the following year his mother died. He received a very limited education in the common schools of Walnut township and was reared on a farm. Mr. Gloyd has lived on his present form for over 40 years, having come to Harrison township when 18 years of age. He continued to live here for 14 years after his marriage, then lived outside the township for a time; ever since returning to the township, he has lived on this farm.

Mr. Gloyd operates a farm of 216 acres and is recognized as one of the leading farmers of the county. He has operated the Dill Bur-

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gett farm of 100 acres for a period of 10 years and at present runs the Sarah Jane Wiggins farm of 116 acres also; from the Wiggins farm in 1905 he produced about 2,000 bushels of grain and from the Dill Burgett farm he raised 1,400 bushels of grain-the largest with one exception of any crop ever raised.

On January 4, 1863, Mr. Gloyd was mar- ried to Sophia Leonard. Mrs. Gloyd came with her parents from Switzerland in 1851. Her father, David Leonard, was born near Basle, Switzerland, as was Mrs. Gloyd, also. Mr. Leonard died in Bloom township, Fair- field County, Ohio, as did his wife. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gloyd, namely : Henry, who resides in Ash- ville; John, who resides south of South Bloom- field on the Bill Adams farm; Mary, wife of Frank DeLong, living near Groveport, Franklin County; Minnie, who married Jesse O'Day and lives at Commercial Point; Ma- hala, deceased, whose first husband was Frank Goodman, and her . second, John French; Charles, who died in childhood; Frank, who accidentally shot himself, dying at the age of 17 years; and Carl, who died in infancy. Eu- fala Goodman, a bright lass of 12 years, our subject's granddaughter, has lived with her grandparents since she was three years old. Mrs. Gloyd is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at South Bloomfield. Mr. Gloyd has been a lifelong Democrat.

ARRY W. MOORE, the junior mem- ber of the well-known mercantile firm of Davis & Moore, at Darbyville, was born at Darbyville, on October 26, 1874, and is a son of William Henry Harrison and Anna (Buckler) Moore. William H. H. Moore was also born in Darbyville and lived here until just prior to the opening of the Civil War, when he removed to Paxton, Illinois. In 1861 he enlisted in an Illinois regiment and served faithfully for four years, participating in many of the great battles of the war. After its close, he returned to Darbyville and conducted a grocery busi- ness here for some three years before his

death. His store was accidentally burned and he did not resume business. He was one of the active Democrats of this section. He was of Virginia stock, his father having been born in the Old Dominion.

After his return from the army, William H. H. Moore was married to Anna Buckler, who was born at Darbyville, some 62 years ago. She still survives, living on the old home place. Her father was Rev. Abraham Buckler, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. William H. H. Moore and wife had these children: Sally, wife of W. G. Bur- roughs, of Superior, Wisconsin; Emma, wife of J. A. Hewitt, of London; Stanley, de- ceased,, who was a resident of Zanesville, Ohio; Harry W .; and Chauncy, deceased.

Harry W. Moore obtained an excellent education, remaining in school until about 19 years of age, his advantages including a course at a business college. At the close of seven years of business with Dr. J. E. Miller at Darbyville, Mr. Moore bought his partner's interest and in December, 1903, became a partner with Prof. C. W. Davis, of Darby- ville. The firm is a leading one of the town and carries a large and well selected stock of general merchandise.

Politically Mr. Moore is a Democrat. He has taken a very active part in political mat- ters for a number of years. He has been a member of the Democratic Central Commit- tee for three years and for one year was a member of the Executive Committee, has been clerk of the village and for one year has been a member of the Council. His fraternal rela- tions are with the camp of the Modern Wood- men of America at Darbyville and with the Odd Fellows lodge at Derby. He is a good business man and a frank, outspoken citizen.

G. HAYS, who is engaged in an in- surance business at Circleville, was for a number of years a ranchman in the West and later a successful farmer in Jackson township, Picka- way County. He was born in 1852 in Indiana, where he was reared and educated

In 1879 Mr. Hays went to Kansas, where

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he remained for 18 years, engaged in raising and shipping cattle. In the spring of 1882 he went to Texas and brought to Kansas 1,800 head of cattle for the company in which he was interested. Their ranch was located in "No Man's Land," near Dodge City, Ford County, Kansas, where they had some 4,000 cattle grazing. The bringing of 1,800 head all the way from Texas was considerable of an undertaking, requiring 71 days of travel on the old-trail of the Oklahoma survey. At the time the Red River was crossed, it was a mile wide, the cattle swimming and the party crossing on rafts. Cattle were shipped from Dodge City to Kansas City and Chicago and during Mr. Hays' business experience there, he shipped many thousands.

In 1897 Mr. Hays returned to the East and settled in Jackson township, Pickaway County, Ohio, where he still owns a farm of 500 acres. James R. Huls, the grandfather of Mr. Hays' wife, bought 1,500 acres from Lieutenant Colonel Cable, in 1822, which had been secured by the latter in 1812. The patent was signed by President Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, Secretary of State. This parchment is in possession of the Hays family. In 1903 Mr. Hays left the farm and moved to Circleville in order to give his children bet- ter educational advantages. Since locating here, he has engaged in an insurance' busi- ness, representing the New York Life Insur- ance Company; during the past year he has paid out the sum of $10,000 in death losses in Pickaway County.

In 1884 Mr. Hays was married to Mary Huls, a daughter of Arestes Huls and a grand- laughter of James R. Huls. The last named was born in New York and was one of the early and prominent settlers of Pickaway County. From his large estate he furnished many cattle for the American Army during the War of 1812.

Mr. and Mrs. Hays have three children, viz .: A. Huls, who superintends his father's farm; and Griffith and Helen, who are stu- dents in the Circleville High School. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church. During his residence in Jackson township, Mr.

Hays served two terms as township treas- urer. He is a member of Circleville Lodge, No. 77, B. P. O. E.

R OBERT McDOWELL GIBSON, a leading instructor and representative citizen of Scioto township, still resid- ing on the farm purchased by his grandfather in 1839, was born on the old family homestead November 6, 1872. He is a son of Eleazar W. and Louisa Virginia (Walker) Gibson, and was reared, educated and developed into his present prominence in his native township. Mr. Gibson laid the foun- dation of a thorough education and a broad in- telligence in the district schools, which he at- tended until 1888, in the meantime taking a course of six months at the Central College Academy. Co-incident with his mental train- ing, he enjoyed the discipline and healthful in- fluences of farm life, so that the physical and intellectual have gone hand in hand and com- bined to form a virile and substantial nature.

The five years spent by our subject as a teacher in Pickaway County have given him an enviable reputation as an instructor. In 1894-95 he taught school in District No. 7 and in 1898-99, in District No. 11, both in Scioto township. For two years he taught in District No. 2, Jackson township, and during 1905-06 was principal of Deer Creek township school. At the last meeting of the School Board of Scioto township, he was elected to the prin- cipalship of the Robtown School.

From boyhood Mr. Gibson has been of a studious disposition and has taken a deep in- terest in educational work; the practical appli- cation of his earlier literary training, in the field of pedagogics, has been most meritorious. In his treatment of pupils he is firm, but al- ways kind, and above all endeavors to com- mand the respect and confidence of those whose training is intrusted to him. He has earned a high reputation as a public speaker, and his services are in quite frequent demand, es- pecially in the sections where he has lived so many years and where he is best known.

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Eleazar W. Gibson, the father of our sub- ject, was a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born near Dayton on the 7th of Febru- ary, 1821. When eight years of age he re- moved with his parents to Scioto township, Pickaway County, the family locating on a farm a mile southeast of Commercial Point, where he resided until his death July 11, 1894. As a young man his occupations were various, but the greater portion of his life was devoted to husbandry, and at the time of his marriage he owned the farm on which his heirs now reside.

On the 17th of May, 1865, Eleazer W. Gib- son was married to Louisa Virginia Walker, daughter of John and Elizabeth Walker. One son-Robert McDowell, and three daughters -Emma, Sarah Margaret and Ruie-were born to this union. Emma attended the public schools of Scioto township, and spent a year in study at Reynoldsburg. Her career as a teacher extended over a period of 10 years. For five years she taught in District No. I, Jackson township, Franklin County; for about four years in Scioto township, Pickaway County, and the remainder of the time at Grove City, Franklin County. Sarah Margaret received her education in the schools of Scioto township, and while her brother and elder sister were teaching remained at home caring for her mother, who for some years was par- tially blind. She still resides on the old home- stead. Ruie was also educated in the district schools of Scioto township and in. 1900 grad- uated from the Scioto Township High School, at Commercial Point. The mother of the fam- ily, Louisa Virginia (Walker) Gibson, who was born March 20, 1835, survived her hus- band for seven years, her death occurring February 20, 1901, at the age of 65 years and II months.

Robert Gibson, the paternal grandfather of our subject, migrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio 'in 1816, and in 1818 married Ru- hamah Williamson, daughter of Capt. Eleazar Williamson. After their marriage they moved to Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, where they remained until 1829, when they located in Scioto township, Pickaway County, about a

mile southeast of Commercial Point, where Mr. Gibson had purchased from his father- in-law, Captain Williamson, the farm that is now the Gibson homestead, which is in the pos- session of our subject and his three sisters.

Robert Gibson, while a resident of Penn- sylvania, served in the War of 1812, among other duties being assigned to the work inci- dent to the construction of Fort Meigs. His death occurred in 1854; his wife survived him until September 6, 1876.

Capt. Eleazar Williamson was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1747, and his wife was a Miss McConnell. He migrated to Chilli- cothe, Ohio, in 1800, and eight years later re- moved to Scioto township, Pickaway County, where he received, in consideration for his military services, 100 acres of land near the present site of Commercial Point, which was known for many years afterward (until its purchase by Robert Gibson) as the Williamson homestead. Captain Williamson died Febru- ary 28, 1832.

Captain Williamson was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and also played a con- spicuous part in the campaign against the In- dians in 1782. During that and the following year he was in command of the second Com- pany of the Third Battalion, Washington County Militia. In the campaign of 1782 he was under Colonel Crawford, and when or- dered to attack the savages held his men back, but bravely withstood the assaults of the enemy during the entire day. In this engagement, he was the only officer who brought his com- pany away from the field of battle.

To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gibson, the pa- ternal grandparents of our subject, were born the following six children : Eleazar W., father of our subject; James A., who married Hester A. Crabb; Martha A., who became the wife of George W. Scholey; Mary J., who remained single throughout life; Rebecca, who married Garrett E. Conover; and Sarah, who became the wife of Luther Lerch. In connection with the history of the Gibson family, it may here be stated that the first of the name to settle in America came from Ireland.

For many years Robert Gibson and his

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wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, as are the present members of the family; the mother of our subject, however, was a Methodist. Robert M. Gibson and his sisters are all members of the Presbyterian Church at Commercial Point.

For many generations the Gibsons have been Republicans, and our subject is now active in the councils of the party. He has served as a delegate to various conventions in the county, and on various occasions has done effective work as a campaign orator. Since boyhood, in fact, he has been locally noted as a speaker.

The farm occupied by Robert M. Gibson and his sisters as the family homestead con- sists of 175 acres and represents a valuable property. They are especially identified with the educational progress of Scioto township, and their home is therefore the center of much of the intellectual activity of the community. As Mr. Gibson himself is a young man of marked ability and acumen, and has also be- hind him several generations of strong pioneer ancestry, there is every likelihood that he is at but the commencement of his career and that his advancement in the future will be even more rapid than in the past.

ILLIAM COLBERT HATFIELD, a member of the board of trustees of Monroe township, and a citizen of standing and influence, was born on the old Hatfield farm in Monroe township, on September 29, 1842. He is a son of Seth and Margaret (Longberry) Hatfield.

The venerable father of our subject still survives, although he has passed his 95th mile- stone. He was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, when it was but a village, on May 15, 1811, and is a son of John Hatfield, who was born in Eng- land. The latter came to America when a young man and located first in Maryland, but later pushed on into Ohio, and settled for a time at Chillicothe. There he contracted his first marriage and reared five children, viz. :

Mary, Hetty, Elijah, Seth and John W. By a second marriage the family was increased by these children: Shadrach, Anderson G., Nelson, Caroline, Nancy, Sarah Ellen and Maria.

After the death of his mother, Seth Hat- field was bound out to a blacksmith, with whom he learned a trade, which he followed more or less through the whole of his active life. He was about 19 years of age when he accom- panied the family to Pickaway County, where his father purchased about 100 acres of land. After his own marriage, in 1834, he bought a small farm in Monroe township, on which he built a blacksmith shop and continued to work at his trade until 1861, when he sold his first farm and bought a farm of 220 acres, on the Lester mill road, where he now lives. Mr. Hatfield has witnessed wonderful changes since he first came to this part of Ohio and can describe the primitive appearance of the now bustling city of Chillicothe, as it was in his childhood. In 1834 he married Margaret Longberry, a daughter of Charles Longberry, who had come to Pickaway County from Pennsylvania. They had these children : Mary Jane, who married Frank Hill-both now de- ceased; Orlando, who married Margaret Grif- fith and is now deceased; Elijah L., who mar- ried Charlotte Morton and resides in Darby township; William C., the subject of this sketch; Susan A., who resides near our sub- ject; Felix R., a member of the 114th Regi- ment, Ohio Vol. Inf., who died in the army; Rhoda, who married William Taylor Dennis and resides in Monroe township; Ezra, who married Hetty Smith and lives in Monroe township; and Seth, Jr., who died in infancy.

William C. Hatfield has resided on his present home farm of the Hatfield family since his father purchased it in 1861. He owns a farm of 40 acres and carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising for which the land is particularly well adapted. In addition to man- aging his large agricultural operations, Mr. Hatfield has given much attention to public matters in his township and at various times has been elected to important local offices. In 1868 he served through one term as constable

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and made a good officer. In 1893 he was first elected township trustee, serving until 1895, and was elected again in 1905 and assumed the duties of the office in January, 1906. He is an honest, straight-forward man, one in whom his fellow-citizens repose the greatest confidence.

In 1883, Mr. Hatfield was married to Susan Redding, who is a daughter of Reuben and Nancy Redding, the former of whom died some 30 years since. Mrs. Redding resides with her daughter, Mrs. Hatfield. Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield have four sons, viz .: John Ar- thur, Seth Emery, Festus Webster and Cecil Clark, all residing at home. They have all been afforded excellent educational advantages and are fine types of intelligent American young manhood.

ILLIAM M. STIMMEL, a well- known resident of Kingston, and the owner of a well-cultivated farm of 155 acres, located in Pick- away township, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 20, 1860, and is a son of John and Mary (Miller) Stimmel.

The Stimmel family is of German extrac- tion, as is the Miller, and both settled in Ohio in the days we call remote. Counting by years they are not so far away, but counting by the advance in civilization and the wonderful progress attained through the efforts of these same pioneers, the time is distant indeed. The Stimmels settled in Franklin County, where John Stimmel was born, and the Millers in Fairfield County. The father of our subject died when he was still in boyhood, but the mother still survives, in her 77th year, and re- sides in Franklin County.

William M. Stimmel grew up on the home farm in Franklin County and attended the district schools. From boyhood he worked on the farm and thus grew up a thoroughly com- petent farmer.

On May 22, 1889, Mr. Stimmel was mar-> ried to Ida M. Hassenpflug, who was born in Pickaway township, Pickaway County, Ohio, March 15, 1863, and is a daughter of Joseph and Martha ( Black) Hassenpflug. John Has-

senpflug, the paternal grandfather, was born in Holland; after emigrating to America, he settled first for a period in Pennsylvania, but later- came as an early settler to Ross County, Ohio, where he died full of years. Josep !! Hassenpflug was born in Pennsylvania and was 15 years of age when he accompanied his parents to Ross County. After his marriage to Martha Black, who was born in Pickaway County, he located in Pickaway township, where he engaged for many years in farming, but subsequently retired to Circleville, where he and his wife died, both in June, 1895. He was a supporter of the Republican party. Both he and his wife were valued and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The children of Joseph Hassenpflug and wife were : Missouri E., wife of Daniel Dunkel, of Lawrence, Kansas; Agnes J., wife of Clay Snyder, of Kingston; Emma L., wife of John Given, of Circleville; and Ida M., wife of our subject.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 71

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