History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 73

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

USA > Ohio > Pickaway County > History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 73

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On January 23. 1868, Mr. Wefler was mar- ried to Susan Kraft, who is a daughter of Kas- per Kraft, one of the old settlers of this sec- tion. The sons, William and George F., are gardeners and carry on the most extensive oper- ations in this line in this locality. The father was associated with them until he retired. William married Minnie Helvering and they have two children-Frederick and Mary Eliza- beth. The daughters are : Katherine; Ida. wife of William F. Heffner; Carrie, wife of D. E. Mason; and Harriette. The family belong to the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Wefler has been one of the city's prom-

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inent public officials, serving on the City Coun- cil and for six years was a member of the Board of Equalization. He belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and to Groce Post, No. 156, G. A. R. His residence is lo- cated at No. 349 East Watt street, Circleville.

ILLIAM J. M. GRIMES, a sub- stantial citizen and representative farmer of Perry township, whose fine farming lands embrace nearly 400 acres, is a native of this town- ship, where he was born October 11, 1844. He is a son of George and Jane (Bennett) Grimes.

The Grimes family was established in Pick- away County by Benjamin Grimes, the grand- father of our subject. He came from Virginia and located first at Atlanta but subsequently settled in Perry township on the farm now oc- cupied by our subject, on the Circleville road. He married Sarah Anthony and they had two sons-George and William.

George Grimes was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, and was reared on the farm men- tioned above, where he lived a part of his ma- ture life and then moved to Ross County where he died. He married (first) Jane Bennett, who was a daughter of John Bennett, a prom- inent early resident of Perry township. Their children were: Elizabeth J., wife of Allan L. Hyde; Sarah A., wife of Joseph Kirkpatrick; and William J. M., of this sketch. The second marriage of George Grimes was to Rachel Bowdle, of Ross County, and there are four surviving children of this marriage, viz. : Francis M., a resident of Perry township; John Wesley, a resident of Delaware, Ohio; Louisa, wife of Judge George B. Bitzer, of Chillicothe; and Maria, wife of Edward Coover, of Ross County. The third marriage of George Grimes was to Ellen Parker and they had two children, viz .: Althea, who died aged 22 years; and Joseph B., who lives in Ross County. The father died in 1899.

William J. M. Grimes was educated in the district schools of Perry township and prepared for the life of a farmer. He was 20 years of age when he enlisted, in 1864, for the 100-day

service in the Civil War, entering Company I, 155th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and accompanied the command to Washington, D. C., where it was sent to prevent General Early's con- templated invasion of the National Capital. After some four months' service, he returned home and his life has since been mainly con- fined to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture.

In 1866 Mr. Grimes was married to Ellen E. Thomas, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, and is a daughter of John L. and Susan M. (Buckwith) Thomas. Mr. Thomas moved to Illinois and later to Missouri where Mrs. Thomas died and he then brought his children back to Ohio. Mrs. Grimes was reared by her aunt, Eliza Draper, at New Holland. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have had five children, namely : Myrta Olive, who married John D. Fidler, of St. Louis, and has one daughter- Eleanor; Charles, a resident of Perry town- ship, who married Ollie Hyer and has one child-Marie; Lydia J., who died at the age of 22 years; Ethel, who resides with her parents; and Glenn S., farming an adjacent property, who married Verna Taylor.

Mr. Grimes is a stanch Republican but has never accepted any office except that of town- ship trustee, in which he proved a very satis- factory official. He belongs to Ferguson Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at New Holland, and he is also affiliated with the New Holland Masonic Lodge. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at New Holland.

EREMIAH B. HORNBECK, proprie- tor of the "Yellow Bud Farm," a large estate situated in Jackson township on the Dawson turnpike, three and a half miles northeast of Williamsport, is one of the leading citizens of this section. He was born in Deer Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, June 17, 1850, and is a son of Cyrus and Jane (Baker) Hornbeck.

The Hornbeck family is a very old one in Pickaway County, the grandfather of our sub- ject, Simon Hornbeck, having been born in Deer Creek township, on his father's farm. The latter was of German descent and spoke

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that language. It is likely he was a Pennsyl- vanian and one of the earliest settlers along Deer Creek. Simon Hornbeck spent his en- tire life in Deer Creek township, where he owned 100 acres of land. He is represented as having been a man of great physical devel- opment, six feet in height and of athletic build. He was well known as a hunter and often went with the Indians of this locality on hunting trips in the forest. He won the esteem of the savages through fair dealings with them, and no record is found that they proved other than trustworthy. He was a great church man and was one of the founders of the Christian Church in Deer Creek township. He lived to the age of 80 years.

Cyrus Hornbeck, son of Simon and father of our subject, was born in Deer Creek town- ship, where his whole busy, useful life was spent and where he died on Christmas Day, 1886, aged 68 years. He was a man of large means and invested much money in land, at one time being the owner of 800 acres. This was the home farm, a fertile tract all in one body, in Deer Creek and Jackson townships. He was a very successful farmer and devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits. A great part of this immense body of land he cleared himself ; some of it was originally covered with heavy imber. Mr. Hornbeck voted, in early life, with the Whig party and later with the Republicans, but he would not, under any consideration, ac- cept office. In him the Christian Church found a liberal supporter-he was one of the local preachers in this religious body. When the proposal came to erect the present church edi- fice, he made a contribution of $1,000.

Cyrus Hornbeck married Jane Baker, who was born near Clarksburg, Deer Creek town- ship, October 8, 1819, and died February 5, 1891, aged 72 years. She was a daughter of James and Mary Baker, and a niece of Mackey Baker, all natives of New England. Mackey Baker was a wealthy stock-raiser of Deer Creek township. Cyrus Hornbeck and wife had nine children, as follows: Ira, deceased; Marvin, who married Mary Keys and is now deceased; Sarah; Mary, who married Jarret Rector, of Chillicothe; Jeremiah B., of this sketch; Oliver B.,.of Williamsport, who mar-

ried Mary Yates; Mrs. Henry Galbreth, a widow, residing at Mount Sterling; Edgar C., of Mount Sterling, who married Ella Hun- sicker ; and Etta, of Mount Sterling.

Jeremiah B. Hornbeck remained on the home farm until his marriage and then set- tled on 100 acres of his present farm, which his father gave him. He has made all the modern improvements which make it one of the township's fine farms, at various times having also added to its extent. He purchased 80 adjoining acres and in the spring of 1905 he bought 75 more and has 255 acres in one body of land, this comprising his home place. He also owns a farm of 118 acres in Perry town- ship and another, of 114 acres, in Monroe township. He rents two of his farms and operates the rest of his land in general farm- ing and stock-raising. The homestead of Mr. Hornbeck is known as the "Yellow Bud Farm," being named for the stream of that name which flows through his land, draining it and making it well adapted to both farming and stock- raising. It borders one of the leading high- ways of the county-the Dawson turnpike. This farm is within easy distance of two towns, Williamsport being but three and a half miles to the southwest, and Circleville being within eight miles and a half. This farm is widely known for its fine grade of stock.

On January 17, 1884, Mr. Hornbeck was married to Theresa E. Phillips. She was born in Monroe township, Pickaway County, Ohio, September 7, 1850, and is a daughter of Daniel Ryan and Nancy (Outen) Phillips. The par- ents of Mrs. Hornbeck were born and mar- ried in Delaware. In 1833 they located in Monroe township, Pickaway County, where they' spent the rest of their lives. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were: Maria Elizabeth, who married A. J. Walston-both recently deceased; Kendall, David I. and Rev. Charles A., all of whom served in the Civil War; Mary A., who married George Betts, of Deer Creek township; Sarah Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Jacob Terflinger, of Mon- roe township; Amanda, who died in 1902 at the home of our subject; Alice Bell, deceased in infancy; and Theresa E., who is the wife of our subject. The three soldier brothers of Mrs.

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Hornbeck are dead. Kendall enlisted from Pickaway County, in Company E, under Cap- tain Abraham, in the 114th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., as did his brother David I., and both died at Vicksburg. Rev. Charles A. was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He enlisted in the 43rd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf .. and died soon after returning from his army service. Many years have passed since these loyal hearts have rested under their cover- let of green, their life-work finished, but they are not forgotten.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hornbeck are: Ella N., a talented young lady who is under instruction at the Capital College of Oratory and Music, at Columbus; and Blanche, who attends school at Williamsport.

Mr. Hornbeck has always been a Republi- can, imbibing the principles of this party in his youth. He has been a very prominent factor of the party in his locality for many years, and has served on numerous occasions as a dele- gate to county, district, State and congressional conventions. He possesses every qualification for holding high position, but has worked harder for others than he has for himself. He is at present committeeman for the south pre- cinct, which carries with it a large degree of influence. .

Fraternally Mr. Hornbeck is a Mason, one of the leaders in the lodge at Williamsport. He is a member of the Christian Church at that place also and lives up to what have been the convictions of his family for generations, both in political and religious life. In every. way he stands as one of the representative citizens of Jackson township, one who for years has forwarded all laudable public movements and with purse and influence has assisted in the de- velopment of this part of the county along agri- cultural and educational lines.

ANIEL PRUSHING, whose beautiful farm of 500 acres stretches through the most fertile portion of Scioto township, is one of the leading citi- zens as well as most prosperous agri- culturists of this section. Mr. Prushing is a native of Germany, having been born in Hes-

sen-Cassel, on March 18, 1838. His parents were Nicholas and Elizabeth ( Roese) Prushing.

The life story of Daniel Prushing is an in- teresting one and it is also an inspiring one, reaching from the landing of a young man on a foreign shore, dependent entirely upon his own resources, ignorant of the customs and language of a strange country, to a time when, through his own industry, thrift and good management, he has become possessed of ample means, large resources and the universal re- gard of his fellow-citizens.

In his own country, Mr. Prushing was well schooled. When he came to America in 1856, he decided to seek an old schoolmate, Dill Wiegand, who had already established himself in Pickaway County, Ohio. Landing at Balti- more, Mr. Prushing crossed the country to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and from there made his way to the farm of Mr. Wiegand, in Harri- son township. Pickaway County, Ohio, from whom he received a warm German welcome. Mr. Prushing made himself useful to Mr. Wiegand until the following spring, when he went to Columbus and worked for a time at shoemaking. but subsequently accepted \M1. Wiegand's invitation and returned to the lat . ter's farm, where he remained for the following II years. At the end of this period Mr. Prush- ing was married and for the next four years rented farming land in Scioto township and then purchased the farm on which he has lived for the past 36 years. At the date of pur- chase. it contained 105 acres, to which Mr. Prushing has continued to add, until he now has 500 acres of as good land as may be found in Pickaway County. It is not necessary to say that the acquisition of this large property has not come without strenuous effort, but it has all been honestly earned and can be enjoyed without scruples concerning the methods of its acquisition. Resolution, industry, economy and integrity have been the main factors.

On February 7, 1866, Mr. Prushing was united in marriage with Wilhelmina Spindler, who was born in Germany in 1845. and who ac- companied her father and one brother to Amer- ica, in 1859. Her parents were William and Annie Elizabeth (Schneider) Spindler. Mr.

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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE C. GERHARDT

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Spindler located at Baltimore, Maryland, where he died soon after and his daughter later be- came a member of the household of Dill Wiegand, in Pickaway County, Ohio, where she was married to Mr. Prushing, as men- tioned above. Her one brother is a resident of Cumberland, Maryland.

Mr. and Mrs. Prushing have reared one of the finest families in Scioto township, consist- ing of seven sons and four daughters, as fol- lows : Susan, John H., William, Valentine H., Harry, Frederick Daniel, David T., Edward L., Elizabeth, Wilamina and Gladys.

The eldest daughter of Mr. Prushing, Susan. married David Kurtzhalz; they reside at Lockbourne, Franklin County, Ohio, and have these children-Clarence, Gladys, How- ard and David Daniel.

John H. Prushing, the eldest son, is prom- inent in township politics and has served as as- sessor. He is a member of the Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America at Commercial Point. He married Anna Dechert, a daugh- ter of Peter Dechert and has five children, three sons and two daughters, viz .: Roy, Claude, Rebba, Frederick and Mildred. They reside at Commercial Point.

William Prushing is a farmer in Scioto township. He married Mary Wiegand, a daughter of Henry Wiegand and has one. daughter-Minnie Elizabeth.

Valentine H. Prushing, who is engaged in farming in Scioto township, has served as township assessor. He married Adda Brown, a daughter of Harley Brown.

Dr. Harry Prushing is a successful prac- titioner of medicine at Columbus and resides on Parsons avenue in that city. He graduated at the Commercial Point High School and later at the Ohio Medical University at Columbus. He married Anna Bauer, a daughter of F. J. Bauer, of Columbus, and has one son-Harry Bauer.

Frederick Daniel and Edward L. Prushing are engaged in farming on the home estate, both being representative young agricultur- ists of this section.

David T. Prushing is a fine business man. He resides in Cleveland, where he is connected with a mortgage and trust company. He com- 30

pleted his education at Ohio University at Athens. He is a Knight of Pythias, being a member of the lodge at Columbus.

The three young daughters of Mr. Prush- ing who reside at home are among the most attractive, educated and accomplished young ladies of Scioto township and are leaders in the pleasant social life of the neighborhood. They are high school graduates and the young- est carried off the Boxwell prize at graduation.

Mr. Prushing has afforded his children fine educational advantages and has been rewarded by seeing them develop into representative men and women, capable of filling any position to which the exigencies of life may call them.

Although our subject has never taken a very active part in politics, he has always been stanch in his support of the Democratic party and several of his sons have been elected to local offices. For a great many years Mr. Prushing has been prominently identified with the Presbyterian Church at Commercial Point, in which he is an elder, and to which he has al- ways given liberal support.

EORGE C. GERHARDT, che of the substantial and representative men of Jackson township, proprietor of "Pleasant View Farm," which is lo- cated four miles from Circleville, on the Florence Chapel turnpike, and consists of 274 acres of well-improved land, was borr near Kingston, Ross County, Ohio, July 13, 1862. His parents were George and Caroline (Blum) Gerhardt.

Both parents of Mr. Gerhardt were born in Germany, the father on the banks of the storied Rhine, on March 28, 1832, and the mother in Hessen-Darmstadt, in December, 1833. The latter, prior to her marriage, came to America alone and made her own living, working in New York and Pennsylvania, where she made friends who continued as such up to the time of her death, which took place in Walnut town- ship, Pickaway County, Ohio, in May, 1901. The father of our subject came to America when 26 years of age, with no capital but his physical health and strength. For a number .:

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of years he worked for farmers in Ross Coun- ty, Ohio, and in the course of time acquired a farm of his own in Walnut township, Pick- away County, Ohio, where he died on Decem- ber 26, 1890. Politically he was a Democrat. In religious faith he was a Lutheran. In 1860 he married Caroline Blum and they had the following children : Charles, who is prosecut- ing attorney of Pickaway County; Katherine, deceased at 14 years of age; and Caroline, wife of Ludwig Oesterle, residing on the old homestead in Walnut township.

George C. Gerhardt was two years old when his parents located in Pickaway County and he remained at home, assisting on the farm, until he was 25 years of age. Then his parents moved to a place of their own and our subject remained on the former farm of 380 acres, which belonged to the Kellenberger es- tate, his residence on this farm covering a period of almost 40 years. In 1900 he purchased his present farm, known as "Pleasant View Farm," through which runs Darby Creek. It is a tract finely adapted to grain growing and stock-raising. Mr. Gerhardt makes a specialty of the latter, paying special attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and devoting all his time to the improvement of his property and the development of all its resources. In 1904 he erected the beautiful residence, which in its appearance, appointments and comfort is certainly the finest in the township and prob- . ably in the county. It is constructed of brick, has 10 rooms, is heated with hot air and lighted with gas, has a perfect system of hot and cold water and is situated on an elevation which commands a lovely view down the Scioto River. Mr. Gerhardt has every reason to take pride in this substantially constructed home, which is an ornament to the locality, a credit to the builder and must be a comfort to its owner.

February 13, 1889, Mr. Gerhardt was mar- ried to Carrie Kramer, who was born at Chilli- cothe, Ross County, Ohio, August 15, 1863, and is a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Smith) Kramer, the former a native of Ger- many, and the latter, of Ross County, Ohio. The father of Mrs. Gerhardt served in the

Civil War and died from its hardships when his daughter was two years old. The mother survives and lives in Pickaway County. Mr. and Mrs. Gerhardt have had three children, viz. : Harry Smith, Hazel Katherine and Mar- garet Elizabeth. Harry Smith Gerhardt, the only son of our subject, was born February 28, 1890, and died May 12, 1905. He was an unusually bright, promising and handsome lad, just the kind of a son to engage the pride and affection of loving parents and to encour- age hopes of great future usefulness. Fond of outdoor life and rural sports, he was ac- customed to fishing on Darby Creek, on his father's land, and there it was that the sad accident occurred which caused his death by the capsizing of his boat. This blow to his parents is too recent to have lost any of its bitterness. Great sympathy is felt all through the neighborhood.

Mr. Gerhardt has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party all his life. For five years he served as trustee of Walnut town- ship and for a number of years he has been on the School Board. He is one of the leading members of the Lutheran Church at Circleville. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Foresters and also the Grange. He is a self-made man and is justi- fiably proud of the fact that he has made every dollar he owns, honestly and fairly. A view of his home is shown on a nearby page.

EWIS MOWERY, deceased, was one of the representative citizens of Salt Creek township, where his long and useful life was spent. Mr. Mowery was born on the farm still occupied by his surviving family, situated in section II, Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, July 29, 1847, and died there October 20, 1899. He was a son of Peter and Leah (Dunkle) Mowery.

The Mowery family was founded in Pick- away County by the grandparents of Lewis Mowery, who came at an early day from Penn- sylvania. The Mowery family is now one of

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the numerous, prosperous and best known fam- ilies of Salt Creek township, many of its mem- bers having held official position and almost all being large landowners.

Lewis Mowery attended the district schools near his father's farm, on which he grew to manhood. He remained at home engaged in tilling the home farm until he was 16 years of age, when the family was broken up by the death of the mother, the father having died when our subject was II years old. Lewis was thus early thrown more or less upon his own resources. Through good management and continued industry he acquired land and at the time of his death left a well-improved farm of 155 acres-the old family homestead -on which he was born, as stated above.

On March 22, 1868, Mr. - Mowery was mar- ried to Orpha Hedges, who was born in Fair- field County, Ohio, August 30, 1847, and is a daughter of Hiram and Elizabeth (Pickle) Hedges, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Fairfield Coun- ty, where both died. The children of Hiram Hedges were: Elmira, wife of William E. McClelland, of Fairfield County, Ohio; War- ren, deceased; Howard, of Hocking County ; Orpha, widow of Lewis Mowery; Missouri, wife of Judson Wise, of Lancaster, Ohio; and Eli, of Tarlton, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. 'Mowery had nine children born to them, namely: William E .; Effie May, wife of Elias Spangler, of Salt Creek township; Chester W., of Columbus; Ollie M., deceased; Josie Irene, wife of Pearl Karshner, of Kansas City, Missouri; Glendora E., wife of Charles Boyer, of Laurelville, Ohio; Edith E., deceased; and Guy C. and Ottie R., who live at home with their mother. Mrs. Mowery, with the assistance of her sons, continues the operation of the farm.

Lewis Mowery was a member of the Dem- ocratic party. He was a good, fair-minded cit- izen and on all occasions performed his full public duty. He was a kind husband, a care- ful father and a helpful neighbor. His mem- ory is held in esteem by those who had known him for so many years. At the time of his death he was a valued member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church at Union, Ohio.

ILLIAM AND GEORGE WEFLER, who are engaged in the gardening business in Circleville township where they have a plot of 27 acres of land, all of which is under cul- tivation except two acres, are the sons of Christian and Susan (Kraft) Wefler, both of whom are still living. Christian Wefler was born in Switzerland. A full sketch of his life will be found elsewhere in this work.

William Wefler was born December 5. 1869, and was reared and educated in Circle- ville. In 1902 he was married to Minnie Hel- vering, a daughter of Frank Helvering. They have two children-Frederick, who was born December 8, 1902; and Mary Elizabeth, born May 8, 1906.

George Wefler was born February 28, 1872, and is still single. The Wefler brothers carry on an extensive business, and dispose of their goods both wholesale and retail, ship- ping to a great many towns outside the county.

E LMER HELWAGEN, one of the very efficient members of the Board of County Commissioners of Pickaway County, was born at Williamsport, in Deer Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, October 11, 1864, and is a son of Bernhart and Sidney (Walston ) Helwagen.

The father of Mr. Helwagen was born in Germany and came many years ago to Picka- way County, Ohio. He followed the carpen- ter's trade for some years and then went into a mercantile business at Williamsport, finally settling on a farm. He married a daughter of James Walston, who was one of the earliest settlers in this county.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 73

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