History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 94

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 94

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J AMES M. BORROR, a prominent and influential citizen of Scioto township. is a representative of a family which has been identified with Ohio and her interests for several generations. Mr. Borror was born in Jackson township, Frank- lin County, Ohio, March 23, 1867, and is a son of Jacob and Isabelle Borror.

The Borror family came from Battenberg, Germany, at a very early day, the great-grand- father of James M. Borror settling in Hardy County, Virginia (now West Virginia). His son, Jacob Borror, the grandfather of James M., was the founder of the family in Franklin County, Ohio. He accumulated 240 acres of land, on which he lived and died, as did his son, Jacob Borror, and on this farm the latter was born, as was our subject. The grand- father had these children: Joab, Joel, Josiah. Jacob, Silas, William C., Margaret (wife of Abraham Haughn), Elizabeth ( wife of George Gordon), Magdalena (wife of J. M. Ford)- all now deceased except Silas, who is a resident of Jackson township, Franklin Coun- ty, Ohio ..

Jacob Borror, father of James M., was born in the old log house in Franklin township. which, then sheltered the family. It served well enough in pioneer days, but later Jacob Borror erected a fine brick residence on the same site. He was a farmer all his life, an in- dustrious, prudent man, and at the time of his death, in January, 1903, he owned 1,840 acres of land, purchasing in 1900 the 400-acre farm in Scioto township, where our subject resides. The family of Jacob. Borror contained four sons and three daughters, namely : Mary A., who married Michael Duff and resides in Co- lumbus; Ida, who married Russell Shover and lives on the homestead farm in Jackson town- ship; James M., of this sketch; Jacob C., who owns and operates 450 acres of land, partly in Franklin and partly in Pickaway Counties; Otis H., residing a short distance from the home- stead, who owns a farm of 400 acres; Albert H., a successful farmer of Jackson township, Pickaway County, who owns 260 acres of fine land; and Nora May, who died in infancy. The mother of this family, Isabelle (German) Bor -.

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ror, belonged also to an old pioneer family, of German extraction.

James M. Borror was reared in Jackson township, Franklin County, and was educated in the district schools and at an excellent school conducted at Borror's Corners. With his brothers, he was well trained to agricultural pursuits on the large family estate, and re- mained in Jackson township until he reached his 22nd year. He then moved to Hamilton township, Franklin County, and followed farm- ing there for some 13 years. In 1901 he lo- cated in Scioto township, Pickaway County, on what was then called the Dr. Jones farm, which property was purchased by his father, as stated above, in 1900, and is our subject's inheritance from his father's estate.

James M. Borror has placed his property under a high state of cultivation aud under his management his land yields abundantly. He devotes 150 acres to corn and realizes from 7,000 to 12,000 bushels of this staple; from 120 to 150 acres to wheat and this acreage produces from 1,500 to 3,000 bushels. He keeps five teams busy during the productive season and always has work of further improv- ment going on. He also keeps from 30 to 60 head of cattle and raises many hogs. He has devoted his entire active life to agriculture, and has made a scientific study of it. This section of Ohio has many fine farms but not all of them are so carefully and intelligently cultivated as that of James M. Borror.

On November 27, 1890, James M. Borror was married to Mary Hagans, of Hamilton township, Franklin County, Ohio, and they have two children, Frances Norene and James Curtis, both of whom are attending school.

Mr. Borror has a wide acquaintance both in Franklin and Pickaway Counties. He has always been actively interested in educational matters and during his residence in Hamilton township, Franklin County, testified to it by serving on the School Board. This interest he continued after coming to Scioto township, where he has served four years on the board and is serving in his second term as president of this body. It was mainly through his energy and efforts that the Commercial Point High

School has been raised from a second to a first- grade High School. He has devoted fully 10 years to advancing the educational interests of the county and has always been a prime mover in all commendable public-spirited enterprises, in fact is a model citizen.

Mr. Borror is a strong advocate of the policy of the Democratic party, and is loyal to all its interests. Personally he is a man of engaging address, possessing a cordial, pleas- ant manner which invites friendship. Frater- nally he is associated with the Modern Wood- men of America, belonging to Commercial Camp, No. 10,963.

Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Borror accom- pany this sketch, while a view of their home is shown elsewhere in this work.

OHN W. BETTS, a successful farmer of Deer Creek township, was born on the old Betts farm in this township, where he now resides, on September 28, 1864. He is the oldest son and child of the late George and Mary ( Phillips) Betts and grandson of John W. and Harriet (Gordy) Betts.

Mr. Betts was reared in Deer Creek town- ship and was educated in the local schools, re- maining at home until his marriage. He then took charge of the elevator at Woodlyn, which was conducted by his father, and remained in charge for eight years. The death of his father changed his plans and he then moved to Wil- liamsport, where he built a comfortable home. This he subsequently sold and located on that part of the home farm which had been secured from George Gordy. Here Mr. Betts has car- ried on general farming ever since. In 1899 he erected his handsome residence.

On May 26, 1899, Mr. Betts was married to Emma Andrews, who was born and reared in Williamsport, and is a daughter of Joseph D. and Anna (Cox) Andrews. Her mother belonged to one of the prominent pioneer fam- ilies of Williamsport. Mr. and Mrs. Betts have three children of their own-Thurman, Horace and Burnell. They also have an

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adopted son, Rodney Gordon, who has been reared and fathered and mothered by Mr. and Mrs. Betts, with true Christian spirit, since he was a little orphan of one and a half years.

In politics Mr. Betts is a Democrat. Fra- ternally he belongs to the camp of the Modern Woodmen of America at Williamsport, the lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Williams- port and the auxilliary society of the latter, the Rathbone Sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Betts are members of the Christian Church. The fam- ilies of Betts and Cox have long been honored ones in this locality, as has also the Andrews family, which has many members in Pickaway County.

E MANUEL WESTENHAVER, one of the representative men and extensive farmers of Walnut township, resides on a tract of 240 acres in section 12. Mr. Westenhaver was born at Circleville, Ohio, September 16, 1824, and is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Miller) Westen- haver.

The parents of Mr. Westenhaver were both born near Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). After marriage, they came to Pick. away County, Ohio, settling in a little village known as Jefferson, in Pickaway township. The only remains of the village still visible at Jefferson is the old brick schoolhouse. The set- tlement of Jefferson preceded the building of Circleville. At a later date, seeing that the avenues of business would leave Jefferson stranded, Jacob Westenhaver moved to the then growing village of Circleville, building the third house in the place. He was a carpenter and cabinetmaker. When Emanuel was eight years old, his father settled in Walnut town- ship on the farm of his uncle, Peter Miller, who owned some 640 acres.

Emanuel Westenhaver was mainly reared by one of his maternal uncles, who sent him to school until he was 12 years old and then put him at farm work, paying the lad the sum of $4 a month. Emanuel remained with his par- ents until his marriage, being at that time a sober, industrious young man who had ac-

cumulated enough capital to start out for him- self. With the exception of the time spent in the army, Mr. Westenhaver has followed farm- ing in Walnut township to the present time. On May 2, 1864, he enlisted for the 100-day service in the 155th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and served out his time, the greater part of it in Virginia. After his return, in 1865, Mr. Westenhaver erected his comfortable and com- modious frame dwelling. In addition to gen- eral farming, Mr. Westenhaver operates a saw- mill on his property.

In 1845 Mr. Westenhaver was married to Caroline M. Done, a daughter of Noble Done, of Circleville township. She was born in Con- necticut and died in Walnut township in 1867. Of the six children of this marriage, the sur- vivors are : Mrs. Frances Miller, of Lancaster ; Mrs. Loretta Clements, of Columbus; and Mrs. Addie Oman. Mr. Westenhaver was married (second) to Sarah Courtright, a daughter of Hon. Jesse D. Courtright, of Circleville. She died in August, 1901, leaving two children- Jesse C. and Mrs. Anna Glick.

Although never an active politician, Mr. Westenhaver has always supported the Repub- lican party. He has never been willing to ac- cept any office except membership on the School Board. He is very prominent in Masonry, having taken the 32nd degree, and is well known in fraternal circles all over the State. Formerly he owned 240 acres in Fairfield County, but he has deeded 160 acres to his son and daughter. He owns other property, in- cluding a brick residence at Circleville.

E DWARD WRIGHT, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Muhlen- berg township, and a member of the Board of Infirmary Directors of Pick- away County, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 24, 1861. He is a son of John Wright, who was born in Fairfield Coun- tv and there died, having lived there all his life (with the exception of 12 or 15 years spent in Pickaway County), engaged in farming and stock-raising.

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Edward Wright was reared and educated in Fairfield County and at the age of 22 moved to Jackson township, Pickaway County, where he purchased a tract of 90 acres and engaged in farming until 1905. He then purchased a tract of land in Muhlenberg township, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He also owns the 90-acre farm above mentioned, which he is having farmed by a tenant.

Mr. Wright was married December 24, 1884, to Susie Lemay, a daughter of Lewis Lemay, who was engaged in farming in Muhlenberg township. Mrs. Wright died on August 10, 1905, leaving seven children, namely : Florence, Bertha, Nellie, Dona, John, Gilbert and Evert. . Mr. Wright has always taken an active interest in politics, has served as trustee of Jackson township for six years and has also held numerous other minor of- fices. He was elected infirmary director in the fall of 1903 and was reelected in the fall of 1906.

L. PETERS, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon at Circle- ville, was born in Walnut town- ship, Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1851, and is a son of Lewis S. and Margaret (Ritter) Peters.

Lewis S. Peters was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he was reared and edu- cated. Immediately after his marriage, he moved to Walnut township, Pickaway Coun- ty, where he followed farming and was also a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, where his ministerial . labors were highly valued. His first wife, Margaret Rit- ter, the mother of our subject, died in 1861. In 1864 Lewis S. Peters was married to Mrs. Lydia J. Beckwith, of Somerset, Ohio. He continued to live on the farm until the time of his death, with the exception of the years between 1866 and 1872, when he made his home in Circleville.

W. L. Peters was educated in the local schools and the National Normal School and spent three and a half years in the Ohio Wes-

leyan University. After teaching one term of school, he followed farming for 10 years and then entered the homeopathic medical de- partment of the University of Michigan, where he was a student for two years, following which he attended the New York Homeopathic College, where he was graduated in 1890. He located for practice in Nebraska, Ohio, where he remained, following his profession, until October, 1900, when he moved to Circleville, where he has built up a very satisfactory practice.

On October 16, 1879, Dr. Peters was mar- ried to Belle L. Beckwith, who is a daughter of Joel King Beckwith, a prominent business man of Somerset, Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. Peters had one son, Howard R., who was one of the most promising and popular young men of this city. He graduated at the Everts High School at Circleville in 1904 and spent the fol- lowing year at the Ohio Wesleyan University. It was while enjoying his first vacation that he suffered from an attack of appendicitis, and. owing to the fact that a number of such at- tacks had occurred in the preceding 10 years. he decided to have an operation for relief from these recurring attacks. On account of slow recovery, he did not return to college at the opening of the term, as he had intended, al- though his convalescence had given hope of a complete recovery. On the night of March 8. 1906, while returning home after spending a very enjoyable evening with three of his most intimate friends at the home of one of them. he was seized with a hemorrhage and died within half an hour after reaching his home. Sympathy with the bereaved parents was uni- versal. His college fraternity, the Sigma Chi, sent three representative members and a beau- tiful floral offering to his funeral.

Dr. Peters is a member of the Ohio State Homeopathic Medical Society and the Amer- ican Institute of Homeopathy. He is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows and the Foresters. He is a member of the official board of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He owns two farms in Pickaway County, one of 160 acres in Circle- ville township and another. of 84 acres, in Wal- nut township.

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OHN E. PENN, whose valuable farm of 168 acres of well-cultivated, fertile land is situated in Pickaway township, was born March 27, 1852, in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of . Abram and Elizabeth (Black) Penn.

Both parents of John E. Penn were born in Salt Creek township. The paternal grand- father, Abram Penn, was born in England, accompanied his parents in boyhood to Amer- ica and grew to manhood in Pennsylvania. He learned the trade of ship carpenter but chose farming as his later occupation and came as a pioneer to Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, where he developed a farm out of the forest. He was succeeded by his son Abram, who resided in Salt Creek township until 1867, when he removed to Pickaway township, where he resided for over 20 years. He died in 1889, at London, Ohio. He mar- ried Elizabeth Black, daughter of a pioneer of Salt Creek township, and they reared five of their nine children, as follows: Samaria, wife of Andrew Dresher, of Defiance County, Ohio; John E., of this sketch; George, of Kingston, Ohio; Rollin F., of Madison Coun- ty, Ohio; and Oliver, of Springfield, Ohio.

John E. Penn was reared to the age of 15 years in Salt Creek township and then accom- panied his parents to Pickaway township, where he has lived ever since. His education was obtained in the district schools and his agri- cultural training from his father. He has al- ways followed agricultural pursuits. On his present farm upon which he settled in . 1899, he carries on general farming and raises some stock. He has made a number of substantial improvements.

In February, 1884, Mr. Penn was married to Mary L. Hunter, who was born in Ohio and is a daughter of Joseph Hunter, formerly a resident of Pickaway County and later, of Madison County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Penn have four children, namely : Bessie A., Lyman E., Ernest E. and Hazel B. Mr. Penn is giv- ing his children every advantage in his power and they are growing into intelligent young people, capable of filling almost any position to which the duties of life may call them.

Mr. Penn has been a lifelong Republican, but he has accepted no office except that of school director and has served as such for nine consecutive years in District No. 2. He is a member of the Foresters lodge at Circleville.

ILLIAM F. STOUT, a member of the board of trustees of Pickaway township and a popular and well- known citizen, was born in Wash- ington township, Pickaway Coun- ty, Ohio, March 11, 1867. He is a son of Jeremiah and Caroline (Sitler) Stout.

The Stout family came to Ohio from Penn- sylvania and the mother of William F. Stout was also born there. Jeremiah Stout, how- ever, was born in Ohio, and for many years was a respected resident of Washington town- ship. Both he and his wife died there.

William F. Stout received his education in the public schools of Washington township. His life has been mainly devoted to agricult- ural pursuits and he is considered a good, care- ful farmer.

On January 3, 1906, Mr. Stout was mar- ried to Leona Calvert, who was born in Pick- away County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Ja- cob Calvert of Salt Creek township, Pickaway County.

Politically Mr. Stout has always been affil- iated with the Democratic party. As a man of standing in the community, he was selected as one of the board of trustees of the township and is filling the office with the care and at- tention it demands. He belongs to the Im- proved Order of Red Men, at Adelphi, Ohio.

ILLIAM W. MILLER, one of the enterprising business men of Cir- cleville, leading in gents' furnish- ings, was born in Pickaway Coun- ty, Ohio, in 1845, and is a son of John and Caroline ( Angel) Miller.

John Miller was born in 1807 in Pennsyl- vania, and accompanied his parents to Pick- away County in 1812. He was reared in Wal-

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nut township and later learned the hatter's trade at Circleville. In 1845 the firm of J. Miller was established, which handled hats ex- clusively, and Mr. Miller continued in the busi- ness until his death in 1877. He was not only one of the early business men of this city, but he was one of the public-spirited and useful citizens. He served as a member of the early City Council and did much to advance the city's prosperity.

William W. Miller was left motherless in infancy. He was reared on a farm and ob- tained his education in the common schools of his native county. In 1866 he was admitted by his father to a partnership in the hat busi- ness and the firm became J. Miller & Son. At the death of his father he succeeded to the busi- ness and changed its scope to include a gen- eral line of gents' furnishing goods and now conducts the leading business of this kind in Circleville. His stock compares favorably with any in this section of the State.

In 1876 Mr. Miller was married to Re- becca Lee Dougherty. He is a member in good standing of the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Circleville. In politics Mr. Miller is a Republican.

E DMOND RECTOR, a well-known citizen and representative farmer of Deer Creek township, residing on the old Rector homestead, belongs to a family which has been established and prominent here for over a century. He was born in Deer Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, January 14. 1872, and is a son of Thomas W. and Mary (Conkle) Rector.

Henry Rector, the great-grandfather of Edmond, came from Virginia to Pickaway County, Ohio, about 1800, acquired land, mar- ried and reared a family. His son, John Rec- tor, was born in Pickaway County, and he also acquired large tracts of land and lived here until his death. He married Miranda Wig- gins, and one of their numerous sons was Thomas W., the father of our subject.

Thomas W. Rector was born February 9,

1847. His rearing and education, his agri- cultural success and his death all took place in Deer Creek township, his death occurring at his residence on the old family farm, on Feb- ruary 9, 1902. He married Mary Conkle, who was born in Hocking County, Ohio, and was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth ( Baumgard- ner) Conkle. Eight children were born to Thomas W. Rector and wife, of whom the seven survivors are: Edmond; Jessie and Carrie, both at home; Wilbe, widow of C. A. Hunsicker, of Williamsport; Lulu, wife of Heman Eckert, of Columbus; John R., who at present is in Oklahoma ; and Guy T., who lives at home. Thomas W. Rector was a stanch supporter of the Republican party. In his neighborhood he was a man of high standing but he never consented to fill any public office except that of school director. He was one of the liberal supporters and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He be- longed to Heber Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M., at Williamsport.

Edmond Rector was reared in Deer Creek township and here received his education in the public schools. He has always engaged in farming on the home place, agriculture being an occupation followed by his family for gen- erations.

Politically Mr. Rector is prominent in the Republican party in his township. He is now serving as assessor and has shown his interest in the matter of public education by serv- ing as school director. He is a member of Williamsport Lodge, No. 478, Knights of Pythias.

OHN PETERS, a prominent citizen and prosperous farmer of Scioto town- ship, resides in a beautiful home of brick construction, which is situated on a magnificent farm of 600 acres, all of which is in one body. He belongs to one of the oldest and most substantial families of the county. He was born in Royalton town- ship, Fairfield County, Ohio, October 27. 1847, and is a son of Andrew and Ann H. (Reber) Peters.

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Andrew Peters, the father of our subject, was born August 15, 1809, in Maryland, and accompanied his parents to Ohio, when he was just old enough to cause his mother anxiety by persisting in looking over the old-fashioned wagon-bed, as the family was being conveyed over the mountains, across unbridged streams and through unbroken forests. Samuel Peters, the grandfather of John Peters, located in Fair- field County, where he became a man of sub- stance and finally passed away. His son An- drew died in Fairfield County on July 8, 1894. He had been a farmer and trader all his life. He married Ann H. Reber, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 31, 1821, and died May 21, 1897. They had five children, as follows : Alice, deceased in October, 1894, who was the wife of George Creed, of Fairfield County; Emma, deceased at the age of six years; Frank, who is a large farmer and wealthy resident of Harrison township; John, the subject of this sketch; and Milton, who is also engaged in farming in Fairfield County.

The old Peters family ancestry can be definitely given from the birth of the grand- father, Samuel Peters, who was a son of Jacob Peters, of Philadelphia, and was born Novem- ter 27, 1772. On November 28, 1795, he mar- ried Mary Stevenson, who was born Septem- ber 28, 1773, and was a daughter of Daniel Stevenson, of Baltimore, Maryland.

The children of Samuel and Mary (Ste- venson) Peters were: Henry, born October I, 1796; Robinson Jones, born December 18, 1799; Nathan, born June 20, 1800; Wesley, born October 10, 1801; Rachel, born August 25, 1803; Stevenson, born June 23, 1805; Leah, born November 19, 1806; Andrew, born August 15, 1809; Gideon, born August 29, 1811; Lewis L., born March 23. 1816: Eliza- beth, born November 17, 1814; and Ebenezer.

John Peters attended the district schools in his boyhood and then became a student under Dr. John Williams, who conducted a noted pri- vate school at that time, at Lancaster, and sub- sequently founded the Greenfield Academy, which Mr. Peters attended for three months. In the fall of 1861 he entered Ohio University at Athens, where he completed his education

in 1867. Mr. Peters then engaged in farming and remained in Fairfield County until the spring of 1871, when he came to Pickaway County and located on the farm on which he now resides. At that time this property was all covered with hazel brush and wild briers, but under Mr. Peters' management the land has been converted into its present fine condi- tion, probably being one of the very finest farms in this section of the State. as his resi- dence is one of the most attractive, substantial and comfortable, an ideal rural home.

On January 21, 1875, Mr. Peters was united in marriage with Clara Rebecca Beck- ett, who is a daughter of James A. and Mar- garet Beckett, of Commercial Point, both of whom are deceased. Her ancestors were among the first settlers of Virginia birth, to come to this section of the State and her grand- father was the first merchant at Commercial Point. Mr. and Mrs. Peters have these chil- dren : Laura May, Alice B., Emma. Homer Hoyt and Margaret Anne. The eldest daugh- ter was born November 15, 1875. and was married on December 27, 1894, to Alva B. Courtright, a prosperous farmer, and they have one son, John Peters. Alice B., who was born August 26, 1877, married Owen P. Lamb, and they reside at Columbus, where Mr. Lamb is interested in the Columbus Packing Company. Emma, born September 13, 1879, was married in June, 1903, to Seymour M. Millar. a son of Michael Millar, a substantial farmer of this section; they reside on a farm near South Bloomfield, Harrison township, and have a little daughter-Louise. Homer Hoyt. born August 14, 1882, is at home with his parents. He first attended school at Granville, then was a student at the Randolph-Macon Academy, in Virginia, and then took a two-years' university course at Athens, Ohio. He supplemented his literary training with a commercial course at a Columbus business college. Margaret Anne completed her education, as did her older sis- ters, at Mrs. Phelps' Private School, an aristo- cratic institution at Columbus. All the ladies are highly educated and variously accom- plished.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 94

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