History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 81

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 81

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Wentworth is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk, and he be- longs also to the Circleville Athletic Club and to the Business Men's Association. He is a member of the First Baptist Church. His in- terest in politics is only that of a good citizen who desires to uphold the law and aid good government.

A DAM RADER, who during his life- time was a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Pickaway town- ship where he was engaged in farm- ing, was born in Pike County, Ohio, on a farm about eight miles east of Waverly, April 22, 1855. He was a son of Adam and Nancy (Tharp) Rader, who settled at an early day in Pike County, where their family came to be considered one of the wealthiest and most prominent families there.

Adam Rader, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of a family of four girls and six boys, and was reared in Pike County, where he received a common school education. He lived on his father's farm where he was born until the death of his parents, when he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the homestead, and there continued to live for two years. He then sold the farm, which con- sisted of 200 acres, and moved to Pickaway County, where he rented a farm of 187 acres four miles south of Circleville on the Picka- way Plains and here devoted the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits. His death occurred on May 22, 1884. Mr. Rader was a Democrat politically and, though active in politics, never held office.

December 3, 1881, Mr. Rader was married to Nancy Catharine Brill, and they had one

Digitized by Google

636

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

child, May, now 22 years old, who resides with her widowed mother. Mrs. Rader is a daugh- ter of Jeremiah Norton and Mary (Bumgar- ner) Brill and was born in Piketon, Pike County, Ohio. Mr. Brill died in Pike County ; his wife still survives him and lives at Ports- mouth, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brill were the parents of three children-Sarepta, wife of Rev. James Wesley Kirkpatrick, a Methodist minister, residing in Pike County; Henry El- more, living in Mulhall, Logan County, Okla- homa, who is a Methodist minister; and Nancy Catherine (Mrs. Rader), widow of the sub- ject of this sketch.

Mrs. Rader is a woman well known throughout Jackson township, where she lives, for unusual business abilities. She has III acres of land in Scioto township, which she devotes to agricultural purposes. She also rents a fine farm of 366 acres of Circuit Judge Festus Walters on the Mount Sterling road, where she runs a large stock farm, em- ploying several men to assist her in the work.

ARVEY TRONE, the son and the grandson of pioneers of Walnut township, is a native of this town- ship, born June 21, 1835. He is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Yan- tis) Trone.

Benjamin Trone was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1800 and when 13 years of age accompanied his father, Andrew Jackson Trone, into the Ohio country. Settling on a farm in Walnut township, Pickaway County, the boy developed into a stalwart yeoman, and when a young man, in company with his brother Asa, purchased the home- stead of his father. The latter then moved to Circleville, where he died about the year 1850. The tract of land bought by the two sons con- sisted of 160 acres of land, which was even- tually fashioned into a fine homestead and was the birthplace of our subject.

Benjamin Trone was twice married. His first marriage was to a Miss Deeds, who died within a few years of their union, the mother

of three children, viz .: Eliza, deceased, who was the wife of James Whitehorst; Andrew Jackson, who was killed in Circleville, in the fall. of 1905; and Elizabeth, the widow of Hiram Bales. Benjamin Trone's second mar- riage was to Elizabeth Yantis, daughter of Henry Yantis, a native of Maryland. Her father had moved to Virginia, settling for a time at Harper's Ferry, and thence had mi- grated to Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, where he flourished as a farmer and was highly respected as a citizen.

By the second marriage there were four children, as follows: Harvey, our subject and the first born; Asa, who resides on his farm of 90 acres in Washington township; Catherine, widow of John Stump; and Henry, deceased, late a resident of Walnut township.

Harvey Trone was raised in Walnut town- ship, but resided about 20 years in Fairfield County, this State. In September, 1857, he married Martha Peters, daughter of Absalom A. Peters. They have no children. Their fine homestead of 83 acres is a portion of the farm upon which Mr. Trone was born, and their residence, a large, comfortable brick house, erected by him in 1874.

Mr. Trone is prominent in local politics. For several terms he has been elected township trustee on the Republican ticket, although the township is normally Democratic by a decided majority. He has also served as school di- rector and as director of the Reber Hill Ceme- tery. At one time Mr. Trone was a Republi- can candidate for infirmary director, and al- . though the county has a usual Democratic majority of 800 votes he was defeated by only 300.

A LBERT ROSS WHITE, whose fine farm of 136 acres lies along the Lon- don and Circleville turnpike, in Darby township, is a native of this State, born in Franklin township, February 12, 1866. He is a son of William P. and Elizabeth (Gantz) White.

William P. White was born in Virginia, where his parents passed their lives. He

Digitized by Google

HON. GEORGE H. PONTIUS.

Digitized by

Google

639

ÅND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

came as a prospector to Ohio, visiting different sections on horseback and finally chose a tract of forest land in Franklin County. He had to clear a large enough space on which to erect his cabin of logs. Prior to his marriage to Elizabeth Gantz, whose people moved to Franklin County from Pennsylvania, he taught school for a time and afterward lived for a year on her father's farm, and then took up his residence in the woods, where a good farm was developed and where the remainder of his life was spent. William P. White and wife had a family of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The others were: Dexter, who married (first) Laura Clark and ( second) Harriet Lyons and now resides in Oregon; Alice, who married H. H. Seeds of Pickaway County; Dilworth T., who married Mary Smith; Mary C., who married A. Linebaugh, of Portland, Oregon; Adam, who died aged 19 years ; W. Elvin, who married Anna E. White, and Albert Ross, of this sketch.

Albert Ross White remained at home until he was 20 years of age and then went to Illi- nois, where he remained for two years. After returning to Franklin County, he remained at home six months and then, on October 3, 1888, was married to Jennie Smith. With his wife he took a trip to Illinois, during which time he disposed of his interests in that State and then rented his present farm in Pickaway County from his father-in-law, S. R. Smith. Later he purchased the property, making something of a trade, being already the owner of some adjoining land. On this fine farm Mrs. White had been born and reared and it must be a source of great pleasure to her to be able to continue to reside among old familiar scenes. She has one brother, Charles J., who is a very prominent doctor of Oregon, a mem- ber of the State Senate, president of the State Medical Board and a successful practicing physician at Pendleton. He married Lillian Gulliford. During visits to Oregon, Mrs. White has collected a number of Indian relics and in order to display them effectively, she has fitted up a unique "Indian Corner" in her drawing-room.

Mr. and Mrs. White have two children,

Roy S., born September 15, 1889, and Charles E., born September 10, 1892. Both are bright students at the Derby High School and the younger has recently successfully passed the Boxwell examination.

Mr. White has never been an active poli- tician but he has always performed the duties pertaining to good citizenship. For a number of years he has served as a member of the School Board. The family belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Derby.

ON. GEORGE H. PONTIU'S. pro- bate judge of Pickaway County, an eminent attorney and prominent citi- izen of Circleville, whose portrait ac- companies this sketch, was born in Washington township, Pickaway County, Ohio, August 6, 1856, and is a son of Amos and Catherine ( Earnhart ) Pontius and grand- son of Daniel Pontius, who was born in Penn- sylvania.

Daniel Pontius came to Pickaway County, Ohio, from Pennsylvania at a day when Wash- ington township, where he located, was in a very wild state. He became one of the large landed proprietors, having an estate of 1,600 acres of land. Here Amos Pontius, father of Judge Pontius, was born and reared. He also became a man of substance and prominence, during his residence on his farm of a quarter section, located two and a half miles from Circleville, and later, when he made his home in the latter place. He married Catherine Earnhart, who was born in Washington town- ship and was a daughter of William Earnhart, who came to Ohio from Maryland and becaine a large landholder on the Pickaway Plains, removing later to Washington township. Both the Earnhart and Pontius families were strong supporters of the United Brethren Church, and the first church of this denomination in Wash- ington township was erected on the farm of the latter family. The mother of Judge Pontius died in 1889. Of the six children in the fam- ily, five survive, our subject being the third. in order of birth.

Digitized by Google

640

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

Until he was 17 years of age, George H. Pontius remained at home, attending school but enjoying only common-school advantages. In order to satisfy his ambitions for a more extended field of usefulness than was offered on the home farm, he then engaged in teaching school until he had accumulated sufficient cap- ital to enable him to graduate at the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he received the degree of B. S., in 1879. He con- tinued to teach until 1884, when he was elected clerk of courts, being re-elected in 1887. In the meantime he had studied law under Judge Winstead, of Circleville, formerly probate judge, and in March, 1888, he was admitted to the Ohio bar. On February 9, 1891, he entered into partnership with H. P. Folsom and the firm of Folsom & Pontius became one of the leading law firms of the county. In 1891 he was elected a member of the Election Board and served until 1902, when he was honored by election to the Probate bench, a re-election following in 1905. Judge Pontius has made an enviable record for painstaking en- ergy, courage and honesty for mature, well- balanced judgment and for impartial fidelity to the issues before him.

On December 8, 1887, Judge Pontius was married to Ora Hall, who was born at Logans- port, Indiana. They have two sons,-Miller H. and Stuart D. The family belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Circleville, the Judge being one of the trustees.

Politically Judge Pontius has been a life- long Democrat and has served his party in many important positions. He has been one of the men in public life who has continued to be deeply interested in all local affairs and willing to assist in promoting the welfare of his own community. He has served as a member of the Board of Education and is a member of the board of directors of the Opera House Com- pany and of the Board of Trade. He is a Mason of high degree and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias.

Judge Pontius has found time, in the midst of professional duties of an absorbing nature, to enjoy the pursuits of a thinker, scholar and man of taste and not only possesses a remark-

ably fine library, but has broadened his mind by extensive travel. Unlike many of his fel- low countrymen, he has chosen to visit ali parts of his own land and view its natural wonders and business development. before touring in other parts of the world. He is a thorough American.

6 EORGE G. LEIST, M. D., physician and surgeon at Circleville, is a na- tive of Fairfield County, Ohio, a member of a distinguished family of that section of the State. He is a son of Jesse and Phoebe (Glick) Leist and a grandson of Hon. John Leist.

Hon. John Leist, a stone cutter and me- chanic by trade. rose from a humble estate to be one of the statesmen and leading citizens of his section of Ohio. For 13 terms he served in the State Legislature from Fairfield County and was one of the most earnest promoters of the old canal, which so greatly benefited his section. He was thoroughly acquainted with the law. although a graduate of no school. and was the chosen adviser and friend of half the people of his county. His son, Jesse Leist, the father of Dr. Leist, was born in Fairfield Coun- ty and turned his attention to agriculture, be- coming one of the substantial farmers of that locality.

George G. Leist was reared and primarily educated in the schools of Fairfield County and was graduated from the Zanesville Busi- ness College in 1877. After reading medicine for several years, with Dr. J. J. Silbaugh, at Royalton. Ohio, he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1891. He immediately began practice at East Ringgold. Pickaway County, Ohio, where he continued for seven years and then removed to Royalton, where he spent seven years more. In 1904 Dr. Leist came to Circleville and here has met with a ready welcome. He is a valued member of the Fairfield County Medical So- ciety and of the Ohio State Medical Society and is an enthusiastic member of his profes- sion.

On December 24, 1891, Dr. Leist was

Digitized by Google

641

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

united in marriage with Mary McCandlish, who is a daughter of George McCandlish, formerly a farmer in Fairfield County, but now a retired resident of Thornville, Ohio. James A. McCandlish, an uncle of Mrs. Leist, was a very prominent man in Fairfield County. He served, with the rank of captain, for three years in the Civil war, located then in Cum- berland County, Illinois, where he was elected sheriff, being the first Republican incumbent the county had had. He served nine years in that position and later was elected clerk of the County Court.

Dr. and Mrs. Leist have four children, viz. : Harold, George and Helen, all bright students at Circleville; and Martha Alice, the pride of the home, born April 26, 1906. In politics the Doctor is a Republican .:

ILTON JACKSON TOOTLE, who resides on a well-improved and valuable farm of 220 acres in Mon- roe township, owns rich farming land in this locality aggregating 1,000 acres. Mr. Tootle was born on the old Tootle homestead, in Ross County, Ohio, De- cember II, 1840, and is a son of James and Mary (Clarkson) Tootle.

The Tootle family was established in Ohio by Thomas Tootle, who came from Maryland to Ross County in 1805. The family became the owners of a large body of land, which has been increased and improved as each genera- tion has succeeded to its ownership. Thomas B. Tootle, the eldest son of the founder and the grandfather of Milton J. Tootle, married Mary Ann Rector, whose maternal uncle was Edward Tiffin, the first Governor of Ohio. The children of this marriage were: John, James, Isaac and Amos. Thomas B. Tootle was a man of means and influence and was closely identified with the development of Ross County. He was also a loyal citizen and served as a soldier of the War of 1812.

James Tootle, the second son of Thomas B. and the father of Milton J., was born August 11, 1814, in Ross County, Ohio, where

he married Mary Clarkson, a daughter of Major Clarkson, another veteran of the War of 1812. They had five children, namely : Milton Jackson, of this sketch; Edward Tiffin, of Wayne township; Eliza, widow of Stewart Morrow; Monroe, deceased; and Douglas, of Ross County. Like other members of his fam- ily, James Tootle was a man of sterling worth The family properties under his control were increased in value and he was able to be very generous with his children.

In recalling his schooldays our subject re- members the old log structure near his home in Ross County, with its puncheon floor and rough slab seats, where he was mainly edu- cated, his attendance at school continuing until he was about 18 years of age. With his broth- ers, he assisted in the management and opera- tion of his father's farming lands until he was about 22 years of age, when the latter pre- sented him with a farm of 220 acres, with the stipulation that he should improve and culti- vate it. This is the rich tract on which Mr. Tootle now resides; it is situated partly in Monroe and partly in Darby townships. Sub- sequently Mr. Tootle purchased 525 acres from the Colonel Florence estate, on Dry Run, in Muhlenberg and Monroe townships, and still later, 240 acres on the Five Points road, which formerly belonged to the old Abernethy es- tate.

When Mr. Tootle accepted his father's suggestion that he should show what he could do by himself taking over his present farm, at first under a nominal rental, he had to face unusual hardships. The land was heavily tim- bered and part of it required much ditching before it could be cultivated. Game was still plentiful in the vicinity of the little log cabin in which he took up his residence and for which he made the furniture with the best skill he could command. His days were filled with hard work, but within the space of three years he had proved to his father that the experiment was a complete success and the wild farm had been cleared and subjugated.

Following the final acquirement of his farm. came our subject's marriage, which took place with Mary Abernethy, on Thanksgiving Day.

Digitized by Google

642

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

November 28, 1867. She was born in Ross County, Ohio, and is a daughter of James M. and Rhoda (Conner ) Abernethy. Her father was born in Virginia, moved to Ross County, Ohio, and subsequently became a man of large possessions. He was thrice married; first, to Rhoda Conner ; second, to Mrs. Lucy Somers; and third, to Elizabeth Proctor. The chil- dren of the first marriage were: William and Robert, deceased; Isaac and Mary. Of these, William became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Robert became a farmer. Isaac, now a prominent attorney at Circleville, served as judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the district composed of Pickaway, Frank- lin and Madison counties. He married (first) Elizabeth Cusic and (second) Wealthy Veath. The children of James Abernethy's second marriage were: Adolphus, Lawrence and Florence (twins), and Cyrus, now cashier of the Second National Bank at Circleville, who was formerly county surveyor and laid out the townships of Pickaway County.

Mr. and Mrs. Tootle had seven children born to them namely: John, who died aged 18 years; Robert Tiffin, born July 18, 1868; Olive Elizabeth, born December 30, 1871, who resides at home; Minnie Theodosia, born October 12, 1874, who is the wife of James Hatfield, of Five Points, and has one son- Eldon; Rhoda Estella, born November 8, 1877, who lives at home; James Milton, born April 1, 1884; and Samuel C., the third son, who was born November 13, 1870. After completing the common school course in Mon- roe township, Samuel C. Tootle taught school for some time in Monroe, Darby and Jackson townships and then entered the medical de- partment of the Ohia State University, at Co- lumbus, where he was graduated as a physician in 1896. He practiced for a short time in that city and then returned home and in 1905 was elected township treasurer on the Democratic ticket. He is one of the promising young men of the vicinity and is thoroughly prepared to follow either his profession or almost any chosen career.

In Milton J. Tootle is found one of Pick- away County's most representative citizens

and he worthily represents the old family of substance and influential connections which has made its name one to be honored in this part of Ohio, for generations. He is one of the largest cattle and stock-raisers of this lo- cality, and is a director in the First National Bank of Mount Sterling, Ohio. For a number of years he has been a township trustee and has also served as a member of the School Board. Politically he is a Democrat.

EORGE FREDERICK GRAND- GIRARD, one of the leading phar- G macists and business men at Circle- ville, was born at Red Oak Presby- terian Parsonage. Brown County, Ohio, June 9, 1862, and is a son of the late Rev. Emile F. Grand-Girard.

The Grand-Girard family originally were from the South of France and from the Depart- ment du Gars (as the state is at present di- vided), Cheflieu, Nismes. After the Revoca- tion of the Edict of Nantes. they found their way to Switzerland in the Canton of Berne, and there remained until the year 1777, when their children returned to France. However. previous to the return of these religious refu- gees, they took the precaution of securing let- ters of citizenship. This letter of origin and citizenship is written on parchment and signed by D. Guillarmot, notary public. A copy was taken by Rev. Emile T. Grand-Girard from the original while visiting a cousin, August Grand-Girard, living then at Lille, Department du Nord, France. in July. 1872.

Our subject's grandfather, George F. Grand-Girard. was a French soldier, who fol- lowed the great Napoleon in all his varied for- tunes as soldier and Emperor. He wore the eagles . of the Imperial Guard. He was in Paris when Napoleon was crowned Emperor. After the war, he resumed his position in civil life as an architect and builder in his native district. In May, 1833, he left France with his young family for America, bringing with him letters of introduction from the Marquis de La Fayette to gentlemen in New York and Cincinnati.

Digitized by Google

643

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Rev. Emile F. Grand-Girard was born at Hericourt, France. June 4, 1816. He was for one year a student in the College of Mont- beliard, where the great naturalist Cuvier was educated. He was then for three years a stu- (lent in the polytechnic school at Strasburg, one of the French government schools of ap- plied sciences at that time. At the age of 17 he came with his family to America. During the Civil War his loyalty to his adopted coun- try was so emphatic, he was commissioned Colonel in the Ohio National Guard by the Governor of Ohio. He was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry and for 41 years was permitted to preach. With his sister, Miss Emily Grand-Girard, he was for a considerable period, in charge of the Highland Female In- stitute, of Hillsboro, Ohio-a very noted in- stitution of learning in their time.

Rev. Emily F. Grand-Girard married Georgianna Herdman, of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Her ancestors, who were Scotch- Irish, settled in Virginia upon coming to America. One of her ancestors, in the mater- nal line, was Dr. Francis Makamie, sometimes styled the "Father of Presbyterianism" in this country, as he was the first minister of the Presbyterian denomination to preach in Vir- ginia.

George F. Grand-Girard was four years old when his parents removed from Red Dak Parsonage to Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio. On May 1. 1878, when about 16 years old he joined his brother, Herdman E. Grand- Girard, at Circleville, and immediately entered the latters' store. On September 9, 1881, he started to Cincinnati to attend the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. On October 1, 1883, he purchased his brother's drug business and has continued the same ever since.

On April 13, 1886, Mr. Grand-Girard was married to Carrie Dresbach, who is a daughter of R. P. Dresbach, one of the early settlers of the county. They have two children-Stanley and Miriam. The former is attending the Circleville High School. being a member of the class of 1908. Mr. Grand-Girard was elected an elder in the Presbyterian Church for life, on January 10, 1896. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees.

J ACOB H. GLICK, whose fine farm of 1821/2 acres is situated in section 8, Circleville township, was born at Cir- cleville. Ohio, July 9, 1853, and is a son of Philip and Nancy ( Hoover) Glick.

Philip Glick, father of Jacob H., was born in Amanda township, Fairfield County, Ohio, June 5, 1819, and was a son of Henry Glick, whose father emigrated from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania, where he followed farming for a time. He then came to Ohio and entered several sections of land in Fair- field and Pickaway counties. While returning for his family, he died in Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania, and was buried there. His widow and children moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, after his death.

Henry Glick, the grandfather of Jacob H., was a farmer and teacher and for many years was a justice of the peace. He was better edu- cated than many of his neighbors and hence became a leader in the social, political and busi- ness life of the community. He married Sarah Peters, also a native of Pennsylvania, whose family came as pioneers to Fairfield County. Both Henry Glick and wife were worthy mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 81

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