History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 72

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

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For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Stim- mel lived on the old farm in Pickaway town- ship, but in 1904 they retired to Kingston, where they have a very comfortable home. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Kingston, and they have many pleasant social ties in this village. Mr. Stim- mel is a member of the Masonic lodge at Cir- cleville.

OHN WARDELL, a director of the Second National Bank of Circleville, and one of the successful men of Pickaway County, was born in Eng- land, in April, 1831, and is one of a family of three children born to his parents, who were John and Anna (Bealby) Wardell, farming people of England.

Mr. Wardell had little more than attained manhood when he left his native land, where he had been well educated. Landing in the city of New York, after the voyage across the Atlantic, he came on to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he arrived in November, 1853. His capital was small and for years very hard work was his portion, but with persist- ent industry he has become one of the cap-

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italists of Wayne township, where he owns a fine farm of 400 acres. This he has cultivated and improved until it is a very valuable pos- session.

Mr. Wardell has been married three times. His first wife, Sarah Douglas, was a native of England, where they were married. She died after they came to the United States. His second wife was Mary Clearwater, whom he married in Wayne township; they had nine children, eight of whom are now living. The third marriage was to Lydia Clearwater, to which union one child was born, Margaret, who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Wardell, with their children, belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Clearwater family, into which Mr. Wardell married, is one of the old, pioneer families of Pickaway County.

Mr. Wardell is a strong Republican and has served as trustee of Wayne township for two terms. Since 1900 he has been one of the directors of the Second National Bank of Cir- cleville. The family home. since removing from the farm, has been at No. 335 East Union street, Circleville. Mr. Wardell is a self-made man. He has comfortably reared a large fam- ily and has given them good educational and social advantages. He has developed those sterling traits of character which make him re- spected and beloved at home and universally esteemed by his fellow-citizens.

OHN KEGG, who has been identified with Pickaway County for the past 63 years, resides on his well-improved farm of 142 acres, situated on the Young road, off the Commercial Point turnpike. in Scioto township. His parents were Christian and Catherine Elizabeth Kegg.

Christian Kegg and wife, who were natives of Germany, emigrated to America, with their eldest son, in 1827. Mr. Kegg was a brick- maker and he found employment at Columbus, Ohio, where the family lived for some years, during which time the family was increased by the birth of five children. With an in- creasing family, the father sought wider op- portunities for them and decided to settle on a

farm, although his means were limited. His opportunity came when the John Law land was for sale, at $4 an acre. It was situated right in the woods and our subject, who was born here some years later, can well remember when it was still wild and uncleared and neighbors were far distant. Both father and mother died on this farm, the former in 1859 and the latter in 1867. They were honest, industrious, virtuous people and set a good example to their children, two of whom were born in Pickaway County.

The children of Christian Kegg and wife were: Godfrey, born in Germany, who mar- ried Ella Cunningham and resides in Georgia ; William, now a resident of Pickaway County, who was born in Columbus and married Caro- line Eacher : Charles, who married (first) Sid- ney Clifton and (second) Mary McFarland, and lives at Morgan's Station (Orient P. O.) ; Catherine, who married John Seeds, of Pick- away County; Mary, who married Amarias Jackson, of Madison County; Caroline, who is the widow of Thomas Peterson; Louisa, de- ceased, who was the wife of the late John Mc- Cord; Elizabeth, born in Pickaway County, who married Nelson Kassidy; and John.

John Kegg, the youngest son in his par- ents' family, has made his home all his life on the farm on which he was born, not having been absent from it for any extended period. Near the close of the Civil War he enlisted for 100 days, in the 133rd Regiment. Ohio Vol. Inf., served out his time and then resumed the management of the farm for his mother. After her death he purchased the interests of the other heirs and has conducted large farm- ing and stock-raising operations here up to the present time. Mr. Kegg is acknowledged to be one of the most successful horse and swine raisers in the county. He makes a specialty of the Poland-China hog, crossed with the Berkshire. He takes a great deal of pride in his fine horses and none but the very best can be found here. His comfortable residence, a great, roomy, frame structure, its 10 rooms easily sheltering all the family when they are at home and still leaving room for the exercise of the generous hospitality in which Mr. Kegg rejoices, commands a fine view of the Young

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WILSON FISHER.

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road, just off the much-traveled .Commercial Point turnpike. Many improvements to house and barn were made by Mr. Kegg after he be- came the owner of the farm.

In 1868 Mr. Kegg was married to Jane Baker, who died in 1893. She was one of the children born to Lewis and Mary ( Mitchell) Baker, the others being: Howard, Albert, Anna, Ella, Belle, Andrew and Earl. In September, 1896, Mr. Kegg was married to Mrs. Emma (Neff) Murphy, widow' of George W. Murphy, and daughter of George and Amanda (Berry) Neff. Both parents of Mrs. Kegg died in 1882 at their home, which is now the farm of A. L. Shockley. Their chil- dren were: Lydia, who married George Deyo; Jesse, who married Mary Wilson; Harley, who married Eva Demilt; Thomas, who married Ida Fetherolf, daughter of S. S. Fetherolf, postmaster and oldest merchant at Era; and David, who lives unmarried, at Derby.

By her first marriage Mrs. Kegg had three children. viz .: Elta Florence, who married Harry Brown, who is the contractor for all the big Hartman barns in South Columbus; Edna Fay; and Fletcher Lee, who assists his brother-in-law, Mr. Brown. Mr. Kegg's six children were all born to his first marriage, as follows: George, who died in boyhood; Al- bert. who served in the Spanish-American War, enlisting from Washington, passed 18 months in the Philippine Islands and now is in business at Los Angeles, California; and Frank, Jesse, Nelson and Wallace, all of whom live in Cali- fornia, where they have gained health and good positions.

Mr. Kegg has served on the School Board and as township trustee. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is one of the very highly esteemed citizens of Scioto township.

ILSON FISHER, a successful farmer and well-known citizen of Scioto township, who operates a farm of 323 acres, was born No- vember 27, 1842, in Jackson town- ship, Pickaway County, Ohio. He is a son of John G. and Mary (Jordan) Fisher.

The Fishers settled among the pioneers of

Jackson township, Pickaway County, 91 years ago. John and Absalom Fisher, the great- grandfather and the grandfather of our sub- ject, came from Virginia, in 1815, and the former died in Jackson township at the age of 86 years. Absalom Fisher died in 1865, in Illinois, in his 77th year, his wife having passed away in 1863.

John G. Fisher, father of Wilson Fisher, was born in Virginia on February 27, 1813, and was only two years old when the family settled in Ohio. He lived all his life in Jack- son and Scioto townships. He died in 1887 in Scioto township in his 75th year. He married Mary Jordan, a daughter of Andrew Jordan, of Franklin County, Ohio. She was born in that county, August 31, 1818, and died in Jackson township, Pickaway County, in Octo- ber, 1886. Their children were: Matilda; Jane, wife of D. V. Shook, of Circleville; Wil- son, of this sketch; Mary C., widow of John Hall, who now lives in Pickaway County, com- ing here from Illinois; Andrew M., a farmer of Paulding County, Ohio; Cindia E., who died in 1895; Absalom, a farmer of Paulding Coun- ty, Ohio; Josephine; Frances E .; and Tirzah C., deceased, who was the wife of Lewis Haynes.

Wilson Fisher attended the subscription and district schools in his native township, at- tending mainly in the winter time and working for wages in the summer. . He thus reached his 20th year, by which time he was a pretty fair farmer. The outbreak of the Civil War, however, aroused a feeling of loyalty in his breast and he soon settled the current of his life for the next three years by enlisting in the service of his country. He became a mem- ber of the 45th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., un- der Col. Benjamin P. Runkle, Capt. George Ross' and Lieut. Elias F. Scott, and was mus- tered in at Camp Chase on August 19, 1862. The regiment was sent to the front and during the whole of Mr. Fisher's service bore a promi- nent part in the dangers and hardships which attend army life. Mr. Fisher was wounded on June 9, 1863, in an engagement at Rocky Face, which was serious enough to entitle him to a furlough home. He returned as soon as recuperated and was with his regiment under

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General Burnside through the East Tennessee campaign, was with General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and later was with General Thomas at Nashville and Franklin. His regi- ment followed Hood's forces when they re- treated to Huntsville, Alabama, and then was sent to Virginia where it was stationed when the war closed. The regiment was mustered out at Nashville in June, 1865.

After the close of his honorable army serv- ice, Mr. Fisher returned to agricultural pur- suits in Ohio. In 1868 he went to Illinois, but 14 months later returned to Pickaway County and engaged in farming in Jackson township, where he continued until 1884. He then located on the Wayne Caldwell farm of 323 acres in Scioto township, on which he has resided for 21 years. He is one of the most successful farmers of this locality and under his capable management this farm produces enormously. He runs five teams, has about 200 acres in corn and 100 in wheat, raises a great deal of hay and has fine cattle, horses and hogs. He farms along modern lines and makes use of the machinery which every enterpris- ing farmer now demands.

Mr. Fisher is identified with the Repub- lican party, coming from a family of old- line Whigs. Fraternally he is an Odd Fel- low, a member of Pickaway Lodge at Ash- ville. He belongs to Groce Post, G. A. R., at Circleville and enjoys meeting old comrades and recalling with them the days of 1861-65 and of the heroic deeds in which they partici- pated. Mr. Fisher is a very pleasant man to meet, sociable and genial, these qualities being natural as he is a total abstainer from all kinds of stimulants. A portrait of Mr. Fisher, exe- cuted from a recent photograph, accompanies this sketch.

J OHN GRIESHEIMER, deceased, was a highly respected citizen and ex- cellent farmer of Scioto township, where he owned 90 acres of land which he had developed from a wild condition. Mr. Griesheimer was born May 25, 1856, at Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio, and was a son of Martin and Barbara Griesheimer.

Both parents of Mr. Griesheimer were born in Germany. They came to America in 1840 and located at Chillicothe, Ohio. The mother died in 1865, but the father still sur- vives, aged 77 years. Martin Griesheimer is survived by a brother, Lewis, who resides at Columbus; a sister, Elizabeth, who is the wife of John Wetzel, of Chillicothe; and by Frank and Christine, a half-brother and half-sister.

The late John Griesheimer was reared and educated at Chillicothe. Soon after his mar- riage, he located in Scioto township, Pickaway County, where he resided until his death on May 28, 1902. He had improved his farm with a very comfortable and attractive resi- dence and made many substantial improve- ments which combine to make his one of the most valuable farms in the township.

On March 2, 1881, Mr. Griesheimer was united in marriage with Elizabeth Goebel, a daughter of Philip and Otilda (Griesheimer) Goebel. Philip Goebel, who was a native of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, died in Septem- ber, 1892, aged 51 years; his wife died in August, 1879, aged 37 years. Their children were the following: Elizabeth, widow of John Griesheimer ; Ella, wife of Montgomery Divon, of Springfield, Missouri; Julia, wife of N. A. Brown, of Florence, Alabama, where Mr. Brown is connected with the iron industry ; George and Caroline, both deceased; and Mary, wife of Leonard O'Harra, residing at Commercial Point. The grandfather of Mrs. Griesheimer was Jacob. Goebel, who was at one time a well-known resident of Chillicothe.

Mr. and Mrs. Griesheimer had four chil- dren, viz .: Albert, the manager of the home farm; Ella, who lives at home with her mother; William, also living on the home farm, and Karl Emmett, deceased.

In politics Mr. Griesheimer was a Demo- ·crat. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both of his sons belong to the Modern Woodmen of America. They are industrious, manly young Americans and in the management of the farm follow closely the excellent methods in which their. late father found success. Mrs. Griesheimer is a valued member of the Presbyterian Church at Commercial Point.

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E DWARD VALENTINE, one of the best known citizens of Pickaway County, prominently connected with stock interests and known all over as owner of the noted horse, "Maggie V.," resides on what is known as the "Maggie V. Stock Farm," which is a tract of 180 acres, situated in section 20, Circleville township. Mr. Valentine belongs to one of the old fam- ilies of the county and was born at Circleville, Ohio, April 12, 1861, being a son of Israel and Catherine (Stout) Valentine.

The Valentine family is of German extrac- tion and the grandparents of Mr. Valentine were the founders of the family in Ohio, com- ing here from Baltimore, Maryland. As early as 1800 the grandfather, John Valentine, trav- eled over a large part of the State on horse- back and finally selected a tract in Circleville township, Pickaway County, which he pur- chased from his father-in-law, Jacob Zeiger, a still earlier settler.

Israel Valentine, son of John and father of Edward, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 26, 1819. He remained at home with his father until the age of 22 years and then started out for himself, purchasing 83 acres in Circleville township. In 1841 he married Caroline Stout, a daughter of John Stout, of Pennsylvania. Later Mr. Valentine added 86 acres and still later bought the old Stout farm of 200 acres in Washington town- ship. Other property that he subsequently bought consisted of the Market farm of 105 acres, in Circleville township; the old Zearing farm of 80 acres, in Fairfield County and the old Tobey farm of 200 acres, in Washington township. At one time he owned 760 acres of valuable land, the greater part of it being subsequently given to his sons. Israel Valen- tine died in November, 1903, his wife: having passed away in 1887. They had reared a fam- ily of II children, viz .: William, Lydia A., Lizzie, John, George, James, Mary, Emanuel, Sarah E., and Edward and Israel S. (twins).

Edward Valentine was reared in Circleville township and attended the local school. He has always made his home in this locality. In addition to his homestead he owns a farm of

103 acres in Washington township, which is occupied by a tenant. The Circleville town- ship farm is owned jointly by himself and wife. In association with his twin brother, Israel S. Valentine, our subject has been identified with the breeding of race horses for some years. At the present time they own a string of 10 head, among them being the beautiful mare, "Maggie V.," which has a record of 2:121/2. This valuable mare is well known and appreciated in racing circles and when it took the prize of $2,000 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, taking the second heat in 2:121/2 and also winning the third and fourth heats, beating the great race horse, "Klondike," for the first time in the latter's racing life, im- mense sums were offered the Valentine Broth- ers for the little beauty. They value it too highly, however, to be induced to part with it and there is every expectation that "Maggie V." will lower her already remarkable record.

On October 28, 1886, Mr. Valentine was married to Maggie D. Walters, who is a daughter of John J. and Mary (Dresbach) Walters. They have one son, John Walters, who was born August 24, 1887.

Mr. Valentine is a member of the township School Board. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

D ANIEL W. BALDOSER, an excellent farmer and substantial citizen of Pickaway township, has resided on his present farm in this township since 1901. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, May 10, 1867, and is a son of Daniel and Harriet (North) Baldoser.

The father of Mr. Baldoser was born in Pennsylvania and came to Fairfield County, Ohio, at a very early date. He still survives, in his 83rd year, residing in Clear Creek town- ship, Fairfield County. He married Harriet North, who was a daughter of James North, an early settler of Clear Creek township, Fair- field County, where she was born and reared. She died in 1882. She was the mother of seven children, namely : Theodore, deceased ; Albert E., who resides in the State of Wash-

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ington; Effie M. (Lutz), of Fairfield County, Ohio; Daniel W., of this sketch; Austin, of Muskingum County, Ohio; William I., of the State of Washington; and Lucy (Doser), of Muskingum County, Ohio.

Daniel W. Baldoser grew up as other country lads, attending school and assisting at home until he was old enough to learn the bakery business, in which he was engaged for five years at Kingston. For a number of years, however, he has given his entire atten- tion to agriculture.

On May 16, 1894, Mr. Baldoser was mar- ried to Julia Orr, who was born in Ross Coun- ty, Ohio, April 12, 1861, and is a daughter of Simeon and Hannah (Kelly) Orr, both par- ents being natives of Ross County. The father died in 1894. The mother; who has reached her 68th year, resides with Mr. and Mrs. Bal- doser. The Orrs were early settlers in Ross County and were members of the Society of Friends.

Politically Mr. Baldoser is identified with the Republican party but has prohibition pro- clivities. He belongs to the Methodist Episco- pal Church at Kingston, of which he is a steward. Mrs. Baldoser is a member of the Society of Friends and is connected with the meeting at Londonderry.

J OHN E. WEISER, township clerk of Walnut township, and proprietor of a general merchandise establishment at Walnut, was born at Greencastle, Fair- field County, Ohio, on the 3rd of Feb- ruary, 1866, and is a son of Samuel and Eve Ann (Carris) Weiser.

The great-great-grandfather of our subject, Conrad Weiser, came to America with his father when but an infant, was adopted into a tribe of Pequod Indians and reared by his savage friends from the age of two years to 21. He became a master of the Indian language in all its branches, and accompanied Washington as his interpreter in the French and Indian War. In connection with the genealogy of the Weisers, it should also be stated that the family

is closely connected with the Muhlenbergs, who settled the township by that name and chris- tened it.

Samuel Weiser, the grandfather of our sub- ject, migrated from Pennsylvania to Fairfield County, Ohio, in early manhood and settled on a farm. Later he moved to Greencastle in that county, where he served as postmaster and filled the office of justice of the peace for 40 years.

Samuel Weiser, the father of our subject, was born, reared and educated in Bloom town- ship, Fairfield County, Ohio, and married Eve Ann Carris, daughter of George Carris. His wife was born in France, near the German frontier. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Weiser reside at Greencastle, the former aged 80 years, and the latter, aged 78. Their nine children are as follows : George R., Charles F., Calvin W., Almeda, wife of John Schofner; Mary, unmar- ried; John E .; Eveline, married to Henry Brenner; Jesse W. and Thomas H.

John E. Weiser nearly reached his majority as a resident of Fairfield County, coming to Walnut township in 1886 and at once securing a position as a school teacher. He followed this profession with unvarying success for 15 years. In 1899 he founded the general mer- chandise business which he still conducts, and for three years served as postmaster of Wal- nut. In politics he is a Democrat, and as repre- sentative of that party has served three terms, or a period of seven years, as township clerk. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

On March 3, 1892, Mr. Weiser was mar- ried to Lilly B. Noggle, daughter of Isaac Noggle, of Walnut township. They have four children-Rayman, Harold, Frances and Or- ville.

HRISTIAN WAIDELICH, a well- known citizen and a representative old settler of Pickaway township, residing on his well-cultivated farm of 88 acres, was born April 13, 1820, in Germany, and is a son of Jacob Waidelich, whose life was passed in his native land.

Christian Waidelich, who has been a resi-

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dent of the county for a half century, was edu- cated in the excellent schools for which his na- tive land is celebrated and, as is usual with Ger- man youths, he learned a self-supporting trade, that of wagon-making. In the year of his ma- jority he emigrated with his brother John to America, and together they embarked in busi- ness at Steinsville, Pennsylvania, where they conducted a wagon-making establishment for some years. After his marriage, Mr. Waide- lich came to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he carried on farming operations in Pickaway township during the rest of his active life. His valuable farm is now under the capable man- agement of his son, Charles.

In . Berks County, Pennsylvania, Mr. Waidelich was married to Catherine Sittler, born June 8, 1826, and they have had nine children born to them, the survivors of the fam- ily being: Jackson, a resident of Champaign County, Illinois ; William, of Jackson township; Mary J., who lives at home with her aged parents; Ella, wife of Ferdinand Bowshier, of East Columbus, Ohio; and Charles, who, as stated, manages the home farm.

Mr. Waidelich has always been attached to the Democratic party. Both he and his estim- able wife, who is now in her 80th year, be- long to the Lutheran Church. Formerly Mr. Waidelich was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Since coming to Pickaway County, Mr. Waidelich has seen remarkable changes. He is an example of a self-made man, having earned all he possesses through his own industry and good management. Scarcely any resident in his locality is better known and both he and his wife are respected and esteemed and are held in much honor at the gatherings of the old settlers.

e HRISTIAN WEFLER, one of the esteemed citizens of Circleville, where he is leading a life of ease and retirement after many years of agricultural endeavor, was born in Switzerland, February 7, 1836.

The parents of Mr. Wefler came to Amer- ica when he was one year old, locating first at Albany, New York. They resided there for

seven years and then moved to Canton, Ohio, and in the fall of 1845 came to Circleville. This place has been Mr. Weffer's home ever since. His business has been that of gardening.

Mr. Wefler has an honorable Civil War record. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany B, 114th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and went into camp with the regiment at Circleville and then at Marietta. It was soon sent to Memphis and took part in the battle of Chickasaw Bluff, and that of Arkansas Post, going from there to Young's Point and Milligan's Bend and later taking part in the great Vicksburg campaign. Mr. Wefler was a brave soldier and always at his post. He participated in the capture of Vicksburg, and was then sent to New Orleans and the regiment came under the command of General Banks, in the Depart- ment of the Gulf. After several months in Louisiana, during which the regiment took part in all the various engagements in that sec- tion, it went in December to Texas and re- mained until April and then took part in the Red River campaign. During the summer of 1864 the regiment served first on detached service, proceeded up the White River and then down again to New Orleans, thence to Pensa- cola and then on to the capture of Mobile. From there the regiment went to Selma, Ala- bama, returned then to Mobile and finally was mustered out at Galveston, Texas. Mr. Wefler entered the service as a private and was mus- tered out as a corporal. He escaped the dan- gers of a soldier's life and was able to return to his home practically unharmed.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 72

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