History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 83

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 83

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In June. 1899. Mr. Smith was married to Margaret A. Schleyer, who is a daughter of the late William Schleyer, formerly sheriff of Pickaway County and a very prominent citizen.

Mr. Smith is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus.

EORGE W. HITLER. Pickaway County is noted for its many men of substance and reliability and for its rich agricultural districts. Among the old and prominent families settled in the vicinity of Circleville, that of Hitler takes a leading place. A prominent representa- tive of this old Pennsylvania family, which has been established here for several genera- tions, is George W. Hitler, who owns a fine stock farm of 150 acres, in Wayne township, on the Darby Plains. Mr. Hitler was born on April 29, 1845, in Circleville township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of George and Hannah (Ludwig) Hitler.

The paternal grandparents of George W. Hitler were George and Susannah (Gay) Hit- ler, the former of whom was a native of Mary- land and the latter probably of Franklin Coun- ty. Pennsylvania. In 1793 the grandparents removed from Franklin to Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and there George Hitler, father of our subject, was born on September 27, 1798. In the year following the family emi- grated to Ohio. In those days such a journey

was equal in adventure and anxious expecta- tion to one which the traveler now plans around the globe. It is a matter of record that the Hitler wagon, which contained the family and their most cherished possessions, was the second one to enter the Scioto Valley. The country was but sparsely settled, the pres- ent busy city of Chillicothe being then repre- sented by only a couple of log houses. Mr. Hitler settled for a time in rich bottom lands which proved wonderfully fertile but were sub- ject to overflow, and it was not until 1804 that he located permanently in Washington town- ship, Pickaway County. in which township both he and his wife died.

In 1819 George and Jacob Hitler. brothers, and sons of the above-named pioneer, bought a quarter-section of land in the southern part of Washington township and for many years they raised wheat here, ground it and shipped it in flatboats to New Orleans, the first trip being made by Jacob Hitler in 1819. During the succeeding 10 years the brothers carried on a profitable business. In its operation the brothers displayed excellent business faculty and superior judgment. The result of this and other business ventures made them both wealthy men. George Hitler acquired 1,000 acres of land. He was noted for his honesty and integrity and for the interest he took in all that pertained to the welfare of his family, his community and his State. He survived until 1884.

George W. Hitler, subject of this sketch, remained at home until he reached his ma- jority, assisting his father on the home farm and in the meantime securing a fair district school education. After his marriage, in 1878, he took charge of the farm of 157 acres, and until 1890 he made it his home. In 1890 he erected his fine residence at Circleville. . He is considered one of Pickaway County's sub- stantial men in every sense of the word.

In 1878 Mr. Hitler was married to Ida Lutz, who was born in Circleville township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Eli Lutz and a granddaughter of Jacob Lutz, who came to Pickaway County as a pioneer from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Hitler died April

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6, 1892. survived by three children, viz. : Bertha, Gay L. and Mary. Bertha is the wife of Gilbert Teegardin, a pharmacist of Circle- ville : they have one daughter-Evelyn.

Gay L. Hitler, the only surviving son of George W. Hitler, was born in Circleville township. Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1882. He was educated at Circleville and graduated at the Everts High School in 1901, spent 1901-02 at Kenyon College and then entered the dental department of the University of Cin- cinnati. He was graduated there in 1905, with his degree of D. D. S., and after several months of practice at Bucyrus, settled at Cir- cleville, in October, 1905. On November 3, 1905, Dr. Hitler was married to Mabel Long, who is a daughter of L. M. Long, of Circle- ville. The Doctor retains his fraternity mem- berships at college and university, still belong- ing to the Beta Theta Phi, at Kenyon College, and the Delta Sigma Delta, at the University of Cincinnati. He is also a member of the Elks.

HOMAS MONTGOMERY, owner of a good farm of 83 acres in Walnut township, is one of the old, substantial residents of his section of the county. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, April 1, 1845. and is a son of Rev. Joshua and Susan ( Tanner) Montgomery, both na- tives of Maryland, who there reached mature years and were married. Later Rev. Joshua Montgomery and his wife came to Perry Coun- ty, Ohio, and subsequently became residents of Pickaway County. In 1861 they settled in Pickaway township, but the following year moved into Walnut township. Mr. Mont- gomery was one of the best known clergymen of the United Brethren denomination in Ohio, his pastorate taking him into all parts of the State. He died in Franklin County, Ohio, in 1872, having moved thither in 1865: his wife survived him about eight years.

Thomas Montgomery has been self-sup- porting since he was nine years of age. Since early boyhood he has depended solely upon himself for advancement, and his continuous

progress and present independence are there- fore all the more commendable. Since 1862 he has been a resident of Walnut township. with the exception of that period in his youth when he went to the front in the service of the Union. In 1885 he visited Oregon, California and other Western States, and in 1886 he took a trip to Washington, D. C., and visited Balti- more and the famous battle-ground of Gettys- burg. He has never married and now rents the farm upon which he lives and which he purchased of Clayton Weaver in 1902.

OAH WOOLEVER, who owns a valu- able farm of 228 acres in Pickaway township, was born in Laurel town- N ship, Hocking County, Ohio, May 16, 1846, and is a son of John and Sarah (Rush) Woolever.

John Woolever was born in Warren Coun- ty, New Jersey, and his father, Philip Wool- ever, was also born there, of German parent- age. John Woolever married Sarah Rush, who was born and reared in Warren County, New Jersey, in which State her grandparents. who were natives of Germany, had settled prior to the Revolutionary War. In 1837 John Woolever and wife came to Hocking County, Ohio, accompanied by Mr. Woolever's aged father, and their daughter. Catherine. John Woolever entered 120 acres of land and on this homestead our subject was born, the fifth child in a family of 12. Nine of these reached maturity and eight still survive, Noah being the eldest of these. Both parents died in Hock- ing County.

Noah Woolever was 17 years old when he left the home farm in the fall of 1863. He went to work for a distant cousin, who was a resident of Pickaway County. and remained on the latter's farm until 1865, when he re- turned to Hocking County and the home farm. One year later he married and then settled on his father-in-law's place, on which he farmed for three years. In 1869 he returned to Pick- away township. taking the Simon Holderman farm, on which he lived for two years and then

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moved to Circleville township and spent 18 years operating either the Jacob Valentine or the John C. Weaver farms.

In 1896 Mr. Woolever purchased a farm of 140 acres in Pickaway township and moved upon it and in 1903 he purchased 88 acres more. This property Mr. Woolever continued to improve as long as he resided upon it, mak- ing additions to the house, adding farm build- ings, etc., and putting the land under a fine state of cultivation. On March 1, 1906, he pur- chased six acres of improved land in Circle- ville township and took possession of his new home on April 18. It is a very desirable tract and includes a good orchard and a commodious frame residence and barn.

On November 6, 1866, in Hocking County, Mr. Woolever was married to Mary A. Souders, a daughter of Noah Souders. She died in Pickaway township, July 5, 1905. She was the beloved mother of the following chil- dren : Clara B., who resides with her father; Cora Lucetta, who married F. M. Shook, of Urbana, Ohio, and has five children; Elsworth G., residing in Cleveland, who travels for the United States Biscuit Company; Hattie A., who married C. B. Shook, of Columbus and has three children; Mattie, who married Scott Scothorn, resides in Ashville and has four chil- dren; and Effie L., who married T. M. Glick, and with her husband resides on the farm in Pickaway township owned by Mr. Woolever. Mr. Woolever is a member of the Mystic Circle. He is a man who made his own way in the world and secured independence and a competency through his own industry and good management. He is a highly respected citizen.

J OSEPH S. SMITH, president of the Ohio Cereal Company, of Circleville, a stockholder in the Third National Bank and one of the leading stockmen in this section of the State, was born at Circleville, in 1861, and is a son of Edward Smith, who was one of the early settlers and extensive farmers of Pickaway County, com- ing here at an early day from Canada with his parents.

Mr. Smith was educated at Circleville and at the University of Notre Dame, where he remained four years. Upon his return home, he assisted his father until he became a farmer and stock-raiser on his own account, residing meanwhile at home. He then became a mem- ber of the firm of J. S. Smith & Brothers, in the manufacture of corn meal. In 1893-94 the company built a mill for the manufacture of flour and meal and handled all kinds of grain and feed. This enterprise was carried on under the business style of the Smith Mill Company until it was consolidated with the milling concern known as the Crites Brothers Company, the new company being incorpor- ated under the name of the Ohio Cereal Com- pany. Joseph S. Smith became the president of this new company, which is one of the pros- pering concerns of Circleville.

With his two brothers, Mr. Smith forms the Ideal Stock Food Company, which manufac- tures the "Ideal" stock and poultry condition powders from a formula invented by Mr. Smith. It is, as its name indicates, an ideal remedy, originated by Mr. Smith through his long years of practical experience in the rais- ing of fine blooded horses. He is connected with the Third National Bank of Circleville and he owns one of the finest and best-stocked farms in Pickaway County. It contains 600 acres and is largely devoted to the breeding of fine trotting horses and thoroughbred Short- horn cattle. He bred "Sunnyside," an animal which has a record of 2:15. His fine stallion "Wiltwood," has a record of 2:291/2 ; he is a son of "Wilton," whose record is 2:1914. A disastrous fire burned two of his finest barns and in the conflagration 18 of his finest horses perished. His stock is known for its excellence all over the State and many of his animals have distinguished themselves on the track.

In 1890 Mr. Smith was married to Mary M. Corcoran, who is a daughter of Thomas Corcoran, who was superintendent of the Sun- day Creek and the Congo coal companies. Mr. and Mrs. Smith .have the following children : Mary (a student at St. Mary's, Shepard, Ohio), Edward L., Sarah E., Margaret I., Thomas Paul, Frances Louise and Rose Victoria. The family belong to St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

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A BRAHAM JEFFERSON WILL- IAMS, one of the large owners of land and extensive farmers and stock- raisers of Pickaway County, resides on a tract of 400 acres, which is about. evenly divided by the Jackson and Muhlenberg township line and is situated on the Florence Chapel turnpike. He was born in Marion County, Ohio, April 23, 1850, and is a son of Abraham Jefferson Williams and a grandson of David Williams.

David Williams was born in Virginia and in young manhood removed to Franklin Coun- ty, Ohio, where he subsequently died. That farm is now owned by Henry Williams, who is a cousin of our subject, and a son of Benja- min Williams.

Abraham Jefferson Williams, father of our subject, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, June 11, 1812, and lived there until after he was married and his two oldest children were born. when he moved to Marion County, where he died September 15, 1849, a few months be- fore the birth of our subject. He owned 826 acres of land in Marion township, all in one body and in addition had 85 acres in timber. His family still own 826 acres in Marion Coun- ty. He married Emma Trimble, who was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died May 24. 1852. in Marion County, at the age of 39 years. During a visit at Chillicothe, she met Mr. Williams and they were married shortly afterward. Her parents were Robert and Maria Thimble. There were chil- dren born to this union, namely : Maria, born March 8. 1840, in Franklin County, who mar- ried Ira Uhler, a merchant at Marion, where he died June 6, 1891, survived by his widow and three sons and one daughter; Margaret, born in Franklin County, November 28, 1843, who is now a widow residing at Myerstown, Pennsylvania-one of her two children is liv- ing ; Mary E., born November 26, 1846, who resides with her brother; Sarah Elizabeth, born in Marion County, October 21, 1848, who re- sides also in the old home with her brother; and Abraham Jefferson.

Abraham J. Williams was two years old when he became an orphan, and, with his two

sisters, Mary E. and Sarah Elizabeth, were brought to the present farm by an uncle and aunt, Felix and Mary (Williams) Renick. The uncle died October 29, 1883, aged 70 years, 10 months and 23 days, leaving this fine estate to the three children, he and his wife owning the farm jointly and having no chil- dren of their own. Mr. Renick and brother had bought the farm in partnership and Felix Renick's wife had later purchased his brother's interest. It is one of the fine estates of this locality, one generously endowed by Nature, fertile and watered by Darby Creek. which bounds it on the south and west. Mr. Williams devotes the whole of his time and attention to farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Williams has been a Republican all his life. He is a member and one of the trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Jackson town- ship. which is located within a mile and a quarter of his home. With his sisters he is universally respected and esteemed throughout the neighborhood. All are single and have a wide and pleasant social circle.

R G. McCOY, president of the Esmer- alda Canning Company, of Circleville, and president and treasurer of the McCoy Canning Company, of Ur -. bana, Ohio, is very prominently identified with the business interests of Pick- away County. He was born in Ross County, Ohio. in 1851.

Mr. McCoy was reared in Ross County and was educated in the common schools. He continued to reside on a farm there until 1884, when he came to Jackson township, Pickaway County, and rented the Turney farm for a period of 15 years. At the end of 12 years he moved to Circleville, but he continued to operate the farm for three years longer.

Mr. McCoy is a man of business enterprise He was one of the organizers and purchasers, with Mrs. Turney and J. M. Dunlap, of the business of the C. E. Sears Canning Company, which they operated until 1903, when Mr. Mc- Coy sold his interest. In the spring of 1904

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the Esmeralda Canning Company was organ- ized and incorporated, under the laws of the State of Ohio, with a capital stock of $100,000, with R. G. McCoy as president; James I. Smith as vice-president; Edward E. Smith as treasurer and Boyd Trout as secretary. The company built a fine plant for the canning of corn and tomatoes, with a capacity to turn out 150,000 cases or 300,000 dozen cans each sea- son. In the year just passed the cannery was run to its full capacity. The company raises from one-half to two-thirds of their vegetables and the business is conducted on lines which insure the utmost excellence in all their output. Mr. McCoy organized the McCoy Canning Company at Urbana, Ohio, with a capital stock of $100,000 and he is president and treasurer of the same. The plant is run under the same sanitary conditions as the one at Circleville and the products are their own advertisements. Mr. McCoy continues his interest in farming. In 1876 Mr. McCoy was married to Emma F. Richhart, of Ross County, Ohio. They are members of the Presbyterian Church at Circleville.

RED C. CLARK, who is coroner of Pickaway County and also conducts an undertaking business at Circle- ville, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, but was only a child when his parents removed to Columbus, where he was reared.

After completing the high school course at Columbus, Mr. Clark then studied the art and science of embalming for four years, his in- structor being Dr. Carl L. Barnes. Then for two years Mr. Clark followed railroading on the Norfolk & Western Railway, after which he was employed as bookkeeper for one year by the Anti-Saloon League. From this position he went into the employ of Richard E. Jones, a very prominent undertaker and assisted him as embalmer for seven years.

On August 23, 1900, Mr. Clark came to Circleville and became associated with the un- dertaking house of H. H. Albaugh. In 1902 he was elected coroner of Pickaway County by a majority of 1,300 votes, receiving more than

any other candidate on the ticket. Again, in 1904, he led the ticket and has continued to fill the office ever since. He is a member of the Ohio State embalmers' examining board and holds license No. 1044 as a practicing embalmer in the State of Ohio.

Fraternally Mr. Clark is an Elk, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. Socially he is prominent in the Cir- cleville Athletic Club. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

E LIJAH DELONG, one of the repre- sentative and substantial citizens of Salt Creek township, who resides on a finely-developed farm of 1031/2 acres-the old pioneer homestead- located in section 35, belongs to a family which came to this section when forests cov- ered a great part of it and Indians were still numerous. Mr. Delong was born on this farm, on April 16, 1844, and is a son of Isaac and Catherine (Haynes) Delong.

It is probable that the Delong family orig- inated in France and possibly its first settlers in America belonged to that great body of Huguenot refugees, who later became thorough- ly American and from whom have come many useful and distinguished citizens. Andrew Delong, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and removed to Ohio in 1830, settling on the farm which is now oc- cupied by his grandson, Elijah. Isaac De- long, father of Elijah, was 17 years of age at the time of the removal to Ohio, and spent the rest of his life here, dying May 2, 1887, in his 73rd year. He took an active part in the town- ship's agricultural development and was a worthy and highly respected citizen. He be- longed to the Reformed Church and subscribed to its rules of life. He married Catherine Haynes, who lived until July 20, 1903, being then in 'her 90th year. Of their six children, the survivors are: Leah, wife of George Withrow, of Polk County, Missouri; Elijah, of this sketch; Susan, wife of Samuel Karsh- ner, of Hocking County, Ohio; and Jane, wife

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EDWARD TIFFIN TOOTLE.

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of John Hoffman, of Livingston County, Mis- souri. The mother of this family belonged to the Lutheran Church and lived to be one of its oldest members in this section.

Elijah Delong has devoted the larger part of his life to general farming and stock-rais- ing, since he completed his schooling in the schools of Salt Creek township. With the ex- ception of about 12 years spent in Piatt Coun- ty, Illinois, during three years of which he was a county commissioner and II years a school trustee, Mr. Delong has spent his life on the old homestead. In addition to this farm of 10392 acres, he owns 100 acres in Ross Coun- ty, 80 acres of this having been entered from the government by his grandfather, Andrew Delong, in 1830.

In 1866 Mr. Delong was married (first) to Dillie Wiggins, of Hocking County, Ohio, and two of their four children still survive, viz .: Nelson, of Hocking County, and Nina, wife of Thomas Mettler, of Laurelville, Ohio. In August, 1896, Mr. Delong was married (second) to Lillie Lutz, who is a daughter of George and Sarah E. (Critz) Lutz, and a granddaughter of the late Hon. Samuel Lutz, a pioneer and prominent citizen of Salt Creek township.

George Lutz, father of Mrs. Delong, is a well-known farmer and stock-raiser, whose farm is located in section 34, Salt Creek town- ship. He was born in Salt Creek township, April 26, 1831, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Fetherolf) Lutz, and a grandson of Jacob Lutz, the founder of the family in Ohio. Samuel Lutz was born in Pennsylvania and was 14 years old when he accompanied his father to Salt Creek township, among the very earliest settlers. He was one of the early sur- veyors and did a great deal in this line in Pick- away and other counties. He laid out the town of McArthur, the county seat of Vinton Coun- ty. His death occurred some years ago. He was a worthy member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church at Whisler. In his young manhood he served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and in middle life was elected several times as a member of the Ohio State Legisla- ture. He reached the unusual age of 102 years.

On June 7, 1855, George Lutz married Sarah E. Critz, who was a daughter of the late John S. Critz, who was a well-known justice of the peace and prominent citizen of Salt Creek township, and Mrs. Delong is a daughter of this marriage.

Mr. Delong and wife both belong to the Reformed Church, in which he has been a deacon for many years. He is an upright, hon- est, public-spirited citizen who commands the respect and enjoys the esteem and confidence of a large body of his fellow-citizens.

E DWARD TIFFIN TOOTLE, one of the largest landowners and most pros- perous farmers of the county, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, has resided on his homestead in Wayne township for a period of 35 years. His fam- ily estate in this township now consists of 465 acres; the remainder of the 700 acres of which he is owner lies in Deerfield and South Union townships, Ross County. The land is in two distinct farms-one in Pickaway and the other in Ross County. The home place has been in the possession of the Tootle family since 1857.

The old Tootle farm in Ross County is about seven miles southwest of the present home of our subject, and was settled by the grandfather, Thomas B. Tootle, who migrated from Maryland in 1805. He was accompanied by his father, Thomas Tootle, his mother and his younger brothers-John, Stewart and James. The father entered the land which is still held in the name of Edward Tiffin Tootle, but Thomas B., the eldest son, increased and improved it and became one of the wealthy and 'influential farmers of this section of the State. The great-great-grandfather of our subject, Nathan Tootle, came from England and settled in Maryland. He fought with the patriots in the Revolutionary War.

John, the second son of Thomas Tootle, did not become well known in Ohio, but trav- eled overland to Missouri while it was yet a frontier State of the great Western plains, es-

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tablished a trading post, became a millionaire and died at St. Joseph. In that old, conserva- tive, wealthy city many of his descendants still reside, now the owners of banks and mines and numbered among the affluent people of the place. Stewart, the third son, was a farmer in Ross County, where he married. He also removed to Missouri, but after his depart- ure from Ohio, in 1850, all trace of him and his was lost. James, the fourth son of the family, lived out his life of single blessedness in Ross County, where he died at an advanced age.

Thomas B. Tootle, the oldest son, and the grandfather of our subject, married Mary Ann Rector, daughter of Spencer Rector. Her mother was Mary Tiffin, a sister of Edwin Tiffin, the first Governor of the State of Ohio; it is from this distinguished family that Ed- ward Tiffin Tootle derives his middle name. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Tootle had the fol- lowing children: John; James, the father of Edward T .; Isaac and Amos. Thomas B. Tootle was a soldier in the War of 1812.

James Tootle, the father, was born in Ross County, Ohio, August 11, 1814; was reared and educated in that county, and married Mary Clarkson, daughter of Major Clarkson, who served in the War of 1812-"Major" was his given name. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James Tootle, namely: Milton Jackson, who resides in Monroe township; Ed- ward Tiffin, the subject of this sketch; Eliza, the only daughter, residing on a farm in Ross County, who is the widow of Stewart Morrow ; Monroe, who resided in Ross County, married, raised a family and died at the age of about 40 years-his widow still lives in that county ; and Douglas, who is married and lives in Ross County.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 83

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