History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 95

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 95

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).

Both Mr. Peters and wife are members of

Digitized by Google

748

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

the Methodist Episcopal Church at Commer- cial Point. For more than 35 years Mr. Peters has been a member of this religious body, unit- ing with it at Royalton. He is considered one of the largest capitalists in Scioto township, having. beside a large amount of real estate, a number of safe investments, including stock in the First National Bank, now known as the New First National Bank, which is one of the strongest institutions in Columbus. He was one of the original stockholders of the Market Exchange Bank. For the past 20 years he has systematically invested in stocks and bonds but has also expended some $10,000 in educat- ing his children. He is the largest tax-payer in his part of the county. Personally, Mr. Peters is a courteous gentleman, whose pleas- ant address and friendly interest place a visitor at ease and instinctively inspire admiration and confidence.

7 ILLIAM S. MOORE, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Madi- son township, owning a fine farm of 225 acres, under an excellent state of cultivation, was born on this farm on April 9, 1847, and is a son of John B. and Catherine Ann ( Perrill) Moore. John B. Moore came from Pennsylvania with his parents, who were early settlers in Madison township, and here his long and hon- orable life was spent. He was a man of intel- ligence and energy and took an active interest in public affairs. He was elected clerk of Mad- ison township and was serving his second term as treasurer of Pickaway County, when his death took place, in 1855. He was one of the leading Democrats of the county and was a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Lith- opolis. He married Catherine Ann Perrill, who was born in Virginia. Of their children, these survive : Missouri E., widow of Thomas B. Vause, now residing at Columbus; Frank- lin A., of Madison township; Nathan Z., of Columbus; William S., of this sketch; Ella R., wife of George R. Miller, of Madison town- ship ; Josephine C., wife of Rev. J. F. Kemper, presiding elder of the Lincoln (Nebraska) dis- trict, of the Methodist Episcopal Church-

they reside at University Place, a pleasant sub- urb of Lincoln. In the death of John B. Moore Pickaway County lost a citizen who had proven his fidelity to the interests entrusted to him and who is recalled with feelings of respect and esteem. His burial took place at Canal Win- chester. He was a consistent and active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and took a deep interest in the Sunday-school. His estimable wife seconded him in his worthy efforts.

William S. Moore grew to manhood and was educated in his native locality, with the ad- ditional advantages afforded by one year at the Lebanon (Ohio) Normal School. He has always been interested in farming and stock- raising and for the last quarter of a century has also dealt largely in cattle.

Mr. Moore married Elizabeth Bunn, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, a mem- ber of an old and prominent family of that county. They have three children, viz. : Archie B., Harry P. and Frederick B. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are active members of the Madison Presbyterian Church, in which he is serving as trustee and treasurer. Politically he is a Democrat and for six consecutive years he served as trustee of Madison township. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Lithopolis.

D USTAVUS A. SCHLEYER, cashier of the Second National Bank of Cir- cleville, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, is one of the city's enter- prising, educated men, who, in spite of having business interests of an absorbing nature, can find time to take an interest in and to actively promote the higher institutions which make for something more in civic growth than mere material prosperity. Mr. Schleyer was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, Febru- ary 7, 1857, and is a son of the late John F. Schleyer, who settled with his family at Circle- ville, in 1863.

Mr. Schleyer was educated in the schools of Circleville and began his business career when a youth of 15 years, when he became a collector for the Second National Bank. He scon realized that a more complete education

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

DAVID M. PRINDIE

Digitized by

Google

751

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

along business lines would be desirable and took a special course in bookkeeping, studying at night. In 1875 he was promoted to be in- dividual ledger bookkeeper in the bank and in 1882 was made teller, in 1885 assistant cashier and in 1900, cashier. During all these years he has shown himself thoroughly interested in the general welfare of his community, perhaps in no more signal way than in his successful efforts, while a member of the City Council, in the founding of a fine Public Library and the erection of the large brick structure, on the cor- ner of Main and Pickaway streets. This is no gift from a millionaire but stands as a memorial to the public spirit and cultured intelligence of Gustavus A. Schleyer and his associates.

Mr. Schleyer was married first, at Circle- ville, in 1880, to Emma Hartmeyer, who was born in this city and was a daughter of ex- Sheriff C. F. Hartmeyer. They had one son, Paul F. Mr. Schleyer married, for his second wife, Nellie Hartmeyer, a sister of the first Mrs. Schleyer. In 1881 he erected a handsome home on Scioto street, Circleville and later, a still more modern one, on the same street. He also owns a large amount of city property, aggregating some three acres which constitute one of the city's residence sub-divisions.

Politically Mr. Schleyer is a Democrat and he has frequently been elected a delegate to im- portant conventions. In 1891 he was elected to the City Council from the Fourth Ward, served as its vice-president, and was chairman of the police committee and of the light com- mittee during the latter's two-year struggle for the introduction of arc lights. He has served also as president of the Public Library and has been connected with many charitable and phi- lanthropic organizations, Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias and an Elk.

D AVID M. PRINDLE, a prominent pioneer citizen of Pickaway County, who owns a well-developed farm of 131 acres, situated along the Florence Chapel turnpike, in Muhlenberg township, was born near Utica, New York, June 22, 1834, and is a son of David and Han- nah ( Kritsinger) Prindle.

The Prindle family originated in England and was founded in America by three brothers, one of these being our subject's great-grand- father. Amos Prindle, the grandfather, spent his life in the State of New York, and there David Prindle, the father of David M., was also born. In 1836 he closed out his farming interests in New York and came to Pickaway County, with his family, subsequently buying a farm of 170 acres in Scioto township. on which he lived during the rest of his life, dying in 1882, in his 81st year. He was a strong Whig in early days, later became a Republican but never consented to hold office. In religious faith he was a Methodist. He married Han- nah Kritsinger, who was born in Pennsylva- nia of German parentage, and spoke the Ger- man language fluently. As an indication of the great regard felt for this most worthy lady in her community, a pleasing obituary notice appeared in a Circleville newspaper, a part of which is as follows: "Mrs. Hannah Prindle, an old resident of near Darbyville, died Au- gust II, 1901, and was buried at Darbyville on August 13. She was 89 years of age. She left 10 children, 58 grandchildren, 105 great- grandchildren, and 37 great-great-grandchil- dren." It is granted to very few to witness so many descendants grow and prosper under one's eyes. In this case the venerable mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great- great-grandmother was the center of family affection and interest. Her children were: Anna Eliza, deceased May 21, 1906, who was the wife of Clifford Carpenter, of Muhlenberg township; Mrs. Celinda Clellen, a widow. of Scioto township; Polly, who died young; Da- vid M., of this sketch; John, who died young; Aurilla, wife of Joseph Gochenouer, of Scioto township; Daniel, of Scioto township; Eliza- beth, wife of Richard Hudson, of Scioto town- ship: Sarah Jane. wife of George Birkhead, of Scioto township; and Perry, deceased.

David M. Prindle was two and a half years old when his parents came to Circleville. Dur- ing the succeeding winter. his father cleared the timber off the present site of the Everts High School and later moved on the Kepler farm in Scioto township and still later bought a farm in that township, built there a home and

Digitized by Google

752

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

spent the rest of his life there, as mentioned above. David M. Prindle was reared there and went to the district schools as occasion of- fered, remaining with his parents until he was 27 years of age. In 1863 he went to Illinois and passed one year in Vermilion County and then returned to Pickaway County and re- mained in Scioto township until the close of the Civil War. When he came to his present farm, it contained 128 acres, still in woods, al- though the best of the timber had been chopped out. He now owns 131 acres and has cleared 100 acres with his own hands; only one who has accomplished such a feat can recognize what an undertaking it is. Mr. Prindle found here a sawed-log house which he now utilizes as a part of his present dwelling. He has made all the fine improvements here, erect- ing substantial buildings and has also built a good dwelling for his son, on another part of the farm. Mr. Prindle earned his first con- siderable amount of capital by peddling and engaging in a huckster business for some seven years prior to purchasing his farm. He has it now under cultivation and devotes it mainly to grain and stock.

On April 16, 1855, Mr. Prindle was mar- ried to Elizabeth Gochenouer, who was born in Scioto township, Pickaway County, Ohio, Au- gust 6, 1837, and died here June 13, 1886. She was a daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Smith) Gochenouer, the former of whom was born in Pickaway County and the latter in Maryland. The children born to this marriage were: Perry L., who resides south of Circle- ville in Washington township; Rebecca, de- ceased; who was the wife of Josiah Trego, of Scioto township; John H., of Scioto town- ship; David Henry, of Jackson township; El- mer E., who resides on the home farm; Edwin, deceased in infancy ; and Bertha, who married George Clark, of Muhlenberg township. Mr. Prindle was married (second), on October 26, 1896, to Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Brewster, widow of Samuel R. Brewster, and daughter of Thomas and Christina Curry. Mrs. Brindle was born July 4, 1846, in Vinton County, Ohio. She has had no children by either marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Prindle have a child living with

them, named Ollie Stevens, taken frum a Chil- dren's Home, some nine years ago.

In politics, Mr. Prindle is affiliated with the Republican party. He has served four terms as township trustee and has taken a great deal of interest in the development of Muhlenberg township. It was due to his good judgment that Darbyville has so neat and well-arrange.l a cemetery, he having staked off the lots and built the mound there. He has also been very active in the Darbyville Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon. Mr. Prindle is one of . the representative men of this section and com- mands the universal respect of his fellow-citi- zens .. His portrait accompanies this sketch.

ENRY HILL, who is engaged in farm- ing in Muhlenberg township, was born in Scioto township, Pickaway County, Ohio, March 31, 1861, and is a son of William and Anna Maria (Gochenouer) Hill.

William Hill was born in Scioto township, Pickaway County, Ohio, January 10, 1836. and here spent his whole life, owning a farm of 100 acres in this township which he operated until his death at the age of 54 years. He was a Republican all his life but never entered actively into politics. He was a son of Joshua Hill who came to Ohio from Maryland, locat- ing . in Scioto township, Pickaway County, where he entered about 400 acres of land on the Scioto River bottom. He helped haul the stone for the old State House at Columbus. The most of his life, however, was spent in farming. He died 'on the old home place at the age of 66 years. He had eight children, two of whom are still living. Mrs. William Hill, the mother of our subject, was born April 8, 1841, in Pickaway County, and is a daugh- ter of Henry Gochenouer. She is still living and resides on her father's old place in Scioto township. She is the mother of 14 children : Henry, subject of this sketch; Joshua, who lives in Scioto township; William, who lives near Grove City, in Franklin County; Joseph, who lives in Scioto township; John, of Grove City,

Digitized by Google

753

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Franklin County; Charles, who died in young manhood; Irwin, Milton, Samuel and Freder- ick, who live in Columbus; Isaac. a rural free delivery carrier, living in Orient : Rebecca, who lives at home; Wesley, who lives in Har- risburg, where he conducts a bakery : and Mary Elizabeth, who died at the age of 21 years.

Henry Hill was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until the time of his mar- riage, in 1885, to Sarah E. Brown, who was born in Pickaway County. Ohio, in 1864, and is a daughter of Samuel E. and Elizabeth ( Morris) Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have had three children : Florence, who died at the age of eight years; Georgia F. and Elizabeth M. After his marriage, Mr. Hill purchased his present place of 11/2 acres, where he has a fine home which he built about 12 years ago. He also operates a farm of 200 acres, which be- longs to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Brown. Mr. Hill at one time worked about five years at carpentering, but has spent the most of his time in farming. Mr. Hill has always been a F.epublican. He is district com- missioner, rord supervisor, and is serving on the School Board.

8 AMUEL STUMP FETHEROLF, postmaster at Era, and a well-known and highly respected citizen of Darby township, was born in Hocking Coun- ty, Ohio, September 20, 1840. He is 'one of the oldest merchants of Pickaway Coun- ty in point of continuous service.

He was educated in the district schools and upon attaining manhood learned the carpenter's trade, afterwards learning the harness-maker's trade. He had been married but 20 days when he was drafted for service in the Civil War, and he was in the army from September, 1864, until the close of the great struggle. During this time he participated in the battles of Mor- ris Island, Appomattox Court House and others, but was fortunate in escaping all in- jury. Upon his return home, in 1865, he en- gaged in farming and also followed milling at the Rock House mills in Hocking County.

In 1869 he moved to what was then known as Palestine, but now bears the name of Era. where he embarked in a general mercantile business in 1873. This he has continued, ex- panding it as trade has demanded, and since 1878 he has been postmaster, having been first appointed under the administration of Presi- dent R. B. Hayes.

On September 4, 1864, Mr. Fetherolf was married to Margaret Oswalt, a daughter of Asa and Clarissa (Friend) Oswalt, natives of Pennsylvania, who had two children, Margaret and Levi, the latter a resident of Lancaster, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Fetherolf have had these children : Frank, who met death by accident on the railroad, in 1893; Charles, who married Margaret Robbins; Ida L., who married Thomas Neff; Mary, who married John Swartz; Clarissa, who married Edgar Man- ning, now the mayor of Harrisburg, Ohio; George, who married Lillian Landacre; and Minnie, who married Augustus Stare. Our subject is the proud and happy grandfather of 12 grandchildren, bearing these names : Ethel, Elmer and Lucille Neff; Edgar Leo Swartz; Ruth and Merrell Fetherolf; Gladys and Har- ry Manning; Cecil and Beryl Fetherolf; and Arthur Davis and Edith Stare.

Mr. Fetherolf occupies an enviable position in the community in which he has so long made his home. Possessing as he does the confidence and esteem of all who know him, he is often made a court of last appeal by his fellow-citi- zens, who lay their troubles and difficulties be- fore him, assured of his sympathy as well as practical help. He has a number of the old maps and papers concerning the early surveys of the county, as well as private records, and thus, aided by excellent judgment and a large amount of tact, he frequently settles disputes which might otherwise lead to long drawn out proceedings in courts of law. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of 40 years and was an exhorter and local minister for 24 years, until 1904, when he withdrew from the church to be free to "do the work of an evangelist." He is a ready speaker and scarcely any other zealous advocate of temper- ance and prohibition in the county is more ire-

Digitized by Google

754

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

quently called upon or more willingly list- ened to.

It was mainly through Mr. Fetherolf's ef- forts that the name "Era" was given to this village, station and postoffice and he has had much to do with the building up of the place. For a number of years he has been local corre- spondent for the leading journal of Circleville, and for religion and temparance papers and he has also for some time issued two advertising journals of his own, which he calls The Banner and The Courier. He has also devoted much of his time to writing tracts to be published, and letters in answer to inquiries of those who desire to attain the "better life."

C HOMAS J. MORRIS, formerly auditor of Pickaway County for two terms, has been a resident of Circleville since 1889, but still retains his valuable farm of 160 acres in Walnut town- ship. He was born March 11, 1854, in Wal- nut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of James and Mary (Davis) Morris.

John Morris, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in 1802, settling as a pioneer in Walnut township, Pickaway County, where he later be- came possessed of 1,000 acres of land, 160 acres of which is now the property of Thomas J. Morris, our subject. He reared a family and left descendants who are now among the county's best citizens.

James Morris, son of John Morris and father of our subject, was born in Walnut township and here grew to manhood, cleared a farm of 160 acres and added several hundred more acres to his first purchase. He died April 22, 1896. For many years he was a justice of the peace and served as township trustee. In politics he was a strong adherent of the Demo- cratic party. He married Mary Davis, who was also a native of Walnut township and a daughter of William Davis, who was one of the pioneer settlers of the township. She died January 7, 1904. Of their nine children, there are now living three sons-Thomas J., our sub- ject; George W., the present treasurer of Pick- away County, a sketch of whom will be found

in this work; and James M., a hardware mer- chant of Circleville, also represented with a sketch in this book-and four daughters-Mrs. Lydia Stein, of Circleville township; Mrs. Ella Stein, of Jackson township; Mrs. Alice Blacker, of Chillicothe; and Mrs. Clara Camp- bell, of Circleville. John and Jane are de- ceased.

The boyhood and youth of Mr. Morris were spent on the farm and in attending school. In 1875 he entered the Worthington Normal School and enjoyed a thorough course of train- ing there which fitted him for the profession of teaching, which he followed for 13 years. After his marriage, Mr. Morris operated a portion of the homestead farm during the summer sea- sons and taught school in the winter, until 1889, when he moved to Circleville and bought a one-half interest, with Henry Pontius, in a grocery business, the name of the firm being Pontius & Morris. One year later Mr. Morris withdrew in order to give his attention to other matters.

Mr. Morris married Clara K. Ritt, who was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (McDowell) Ritt. They have four children, viz. :. Mary F., Emmett C., Clara Helen and Frances R. The family residence is located at No. 722 North Court street, Circleville.

In politics Mr. Morris has always been identified with the Democratic party. Prior to removing to Circleville, Mr. Morris had served as justice of the peace in Walnut township. In the year following his retirement from busi- ness, he was elected auditor of Pickaway Coun- ty and served six years. He has always been active in party matters and wields considerable influence. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows, Foresters and Knights of Pythias.

ENRY B. RHOADS, the operator of a farm of 322 acres in Jackson town- ship, which lies along the Dawson turnpike, is one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of his sec- tion of the county. Mr. Rhoads was born in Pickaway township, Pickaway County, Ohio,

Digitized by Google

755

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

August 5, 1864, and is a son of Henry and Rosa (Mack) Rhoads.

The Rhoads family in Pickaway County dates back to the settlement here of Leonard Rhoads, the grandfather of Henry B., who lo- cated in Pickaway township at a very early day. He acquired land there and died in ad- vanced age. Henry Rhoads, father of Henry B., was born, as was his father, in Hessen- Darmstadt, Germany. When 21 years of age he came to America and joined his parents who had previously located in Pickaway township. He died in 1889 at the age of 59 years, having been a farmer all his life. He married Rosa Mack, who was born in Wittenberg, Germany, and died in Pickaway township in 1888, aged 59 years. She had accompanied her parents to America and they settled in Ross County, Ohio.

The children of Henry and Rosa Rhoads were: Emma, who died at the age of II years; Henry B., of this sketch; Annie, who married John Walters, of Circleville town- ship; Maggie, who married Albert Cook, of Circleville; and Frank L., of Pickaway town- ship.

Henry B. Rhoads was reared on his father's farm and continued at home until he was 24 years of age. His education had been ob- tained in the district schools and he grew to manhood an intelligent, practical farmer. After his marriage he rented a farm in Pickaway township for a year and then farmed the fa- mous "Seven Oaks Farm" in Wayne township for a year and for the next four years operated an adjoining farm. He then came to his pres- ent place, which he has rented for the past 12 years. Recently Mr. Rhoads has purchased a valuable farm of 176 acres in Pickaway town- ship but still continues to operate the Jackson township farm which he has so admirably man- aged. He has the reputation of being a very capable farmer and a successful stock-raiser. The condition of the land demonstrates that his agricultural methods bring about excellent re- sults.

Mr. Rhoads was married February 7, 1888, to Alda Motz, who was born in Fairfield Coun- ty. Ohio, and is a daughter of Catus and Pris- cilla (Valentine) Motz, natives of Pennsylva-

nia. They have a family of four children, viz. : Lawrence, Howard, Mabel and Neda Beatrice. Mr. Rhoads is disposed to give his children every advantage in his power. Politically Mr. Rhoads has always been a Democrat but gives more attention to the management of his busi- ness than to public affairs. He is one of the leading members of the Lick Run Lutheran Church.

77 ALTER D. McDILL, one of Wayne township's excellent farmers and respected citizens, resides on his well-improved farm of 100 acres, where he was born July 28, 1863. He is a son of James and Nancy ( McCollister ) McDill.

The parents of Mr. McDill were both born in Ross County, Ohio. In 1862 they came to Pickaway County and the father purchased a farm from Mr. Flemming, a portion of which is now included in our subject's farm. Here the father died December 13, 1898, and the mother, November 16, 1901. They had the following children : Mary Jane, Maria, Sarah Ellen, Martha, Rachel, Nancy Belle, Owen and Walter D.

Walter D. McDill purchased 100 acres of the home place from the other heirs at the time of his father's death. He has a very valuable home here, where he carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising operations. It took much hard work on his and his father's part to clear the farm of brush and useless shrubs and to put it into its present state of fine cultivation. In his boyhood plenty of wild turkey could be shot where now are his most fertile fields. Mr. McDill was educated in the schools of Wayne township and is a well-informed, sensible, re- liable man.

On October 19, 1887, Mr. McDill was mar- ried to Lizzie Leist, a daughter of Jacob and Mahala (Kinser ) Leist, who had the following children, namely: Lemuel, Salome, Rose, Floyd, Joseph, Minnie, Laura, Lizzie and Ma- hala. Mrs. Leist passed away on February II, 1905, but Mr. Leist still survives, residing in

Digitized by Google

756

HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

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 95

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