History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 97

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

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In 1883 Mr. Bennett was married to Emma B. Breternitz, of Circleville, and they have one son, W. B., who is engaged in looking after mining interests in Arizona. This young man graduated at the Circleville High School and then entered Kenyon College, but was obliged by ill health to leave prior to finishing his course and is now building up his health in the mountains of the West.

Mr. Bennett has been one of the most valued members of the City Council, elected on the Republican ticket, overcoming by 21 votes the usual Democratic majority of 55. For the past 22 years he has been a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Circleville.

FRANKLIN MILLAR. The late Frank- lin Millar, whose death occurred March 15, 1878, was for 50 years a resident of Madison township where he was born January 11, 1828, being a son of Isaac and Susan (Decker) Millar. Isaac Millar was born in Hampshire Coun- ty, Virginia (now West Virginia ), and in 1806 came to Ohio, settling on a section of land in Madison township, Pickaway County. He ac- cumulated considerable property during his life and at one time owned 1,800 acres of land in Madison and Harrison townships. In 1815 he built and operated a small distillery and corn mill. He brought the first threshing machine and the first reaper into Madison township where the greater part of his life was spent. In 1812 he married Susan Decker, also a na- tive of Virginia and to them were born nine children, as follows: Rebecca, John D., Jacob, Michael, Susan, Sarah, Franklin, Hannah and Elizabeth, all of whom are deceased but Han- nah (wife of George W. Brown) and Eliza- beth (widow of Jesse Musselman). Isaac Millar died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Musselman, July 15, 1883.

Franklin Millar was reared and educated in Madison township and devoted his whole life to agricultural pursuits in which he was uniformly successful. He was married on May 18, 1854, to Jane A. Rarey, who was born in Madison township, Pickaway County. Ohio, and is a daughter of George and Jane (Wilson) Rarey, who were early settlers in this township. where the former was a large farmer and stock- raiser. Mrs. Millar's mother died in 1836 and her father in 1850. She was reared in Madison township and was mainly educated at Lith- opolis where she completed her education in the high school. To Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Millar were born seven children, namely : Isaac. Hannah D., Charles R .. Margaret R .. Clara, Franklin G. and Irvin. Isaac was mar- ried to Mary E. Wilson on January 11, 1888. and on the 4th of the following August was killed by lightning in the house where he was born. On October 16th of the same year, a son, Isaac, was born to his widow. which son now lives with his mother at the Wilson home-

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stead near St. Paul, Ohio. Hannah D. died November 15, 1893. Charles R. died Decem- ber 24, 1875. Clara married William H. Rugh and lives on an adjoining farm in Madison township. Margaret R., Franklin G. and Irvin live with their mother on the home farm. The subject of this sketch died in the full belief of a blessed immortality. He was, as is his widow, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church located near Duvall, Ohio. Mrs. Millar is a lady who is widely and favor- ably known throughout Madison township for her many estimable qualities and numbers her friends by the score.

e LINTON B. TEEGARDIN, the popular clerk of Madison township, who owns a fine farm of 160 acres which he devotes to general farm- ing and the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and fine stock, was born in Madison township, Pickaway County, Ohio, August 29, 1870, and is a son of Peter and Ivy (Crum) Teegardin.

Peter Teegardin was born in Madison township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and was a son of William Teegardin, who came with his father, Aaron Teegardin, to this locality from Pennsylvania, when the country was still wild. In Peter Teegardin the township had one of its most reputable and useful citizens. He served as township trustee for a number of years and enjoyed the entire confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was one of the pillars of the Madison Presbyterian Church. His wife died in 1883 and his own death followed in 1900. Of his children, these survive : William H., of Kansas City, Missouri; Hannah E., widow of Samuel. V. Murphy. of Madison township, Franklin County; Thomas H., of Madison township; George E., of Columbus ; Edwin O., of Madison township; Sarah A., of Madison township; Clara M., wife of O. C. Peters, of Madison township; Peter M., of Madison township, whose sketch appears else- where in this work ; Clinton B., of this sketch; and Cora A., wife of Oscar Housinger, of Kan- sas City, Missouri.

Clinton B. Teegardin grew up on his father's farm in Madison township and, after completing his preparatory education in the local schools, entered the University of Ken- tucky, at Lexington, where he was graduated in 1896. In addition to managing his large property and stock interests, Mr. Teegardin gives attention to public matters of import and also serves as secretary and treasurer of the Pickaway County Farmers' Mutual Fire In- surance Association. He was one of the pro- moters and main organizers of this successful enterprise.

Politically Mr. Teegardin is a Democrat and as a member of that party he has done a great deal of effective campaign work. He is now serving as clerk of Madison township and is a very popular official. He is known favorably all over the county.

On November 27, 1902, Mr. Teegardin was married to Mary L. Warner, who is a daughter of that prominent citizen of Madison township, Elisha Warner, Esq .. and they have two children-Paul W. and Ruth P. Mr. Tee- gardin is one of the active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Madison township and is a member of its board of trustees.

E F. ANDERSON, dealer in marble and granite, at Circleville. is one of the representative business men of this city. He was born in Marion Coun- ty, Iowa, March 22. 1868, and in childhood accompanied his parents to Christian County, Illinois.

After completing his education, Mr. An- derson secured employment as a salesman for Barbre & O'Brien, granite and marble dealers at Taylorville, Illinois, with whom he remained for two years and then purchased a one-half interest in the business. One year later Mr. Anderson and Mr. Barbre bought out Mr. O'Brien and continued together for two years, when Mr. Anderson sold his interest to Mr. Barbre and was employed for two years by the Richter Monument Works, Springfield, Illi- nois, and then located at Circleville. Here he

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bought the old established business of James Wilson, of this sketch; William, of Columbus; Harsha, who had founded it in 1860. Mir. An-' Dennison ; and James, of Columbus. derson purchased the above mentioned business February 1, 1898, and has conducted it ever since. In February, 1906. Mr. Anderson pur- ! chased his present building and is well equippe.I for all kinds of business in his line. His ter- ritory covers all of Pickaway and adjoining counties, and he has a branch office at Mount Sterling, Ohio. Ilis fine monuments and mod- ern style of vaults can be seen all over this see- tion.

Mr. Anderson is a stockholder in the Mon- tello Granite Company at Montello, Wiscon- sin, where are located some of the finest quar- ries of granite in the United States. He is an excellent business man and his methods bring him the confidence and esteem of the trade and the public.

Mr. Anderson married Jennie (Gongwere) Murgotten, and they have two children, Wal- ter and Edith. The family belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In his fraternal rela- tions Mr. Anderson is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Modern Woodmen of America.

e HARLES WILSON DAVIS, princi- pal of the Darbyville public schools and for the past II years an edu- cator here, was born in Monroe township, Pickaway County, Ohio, on the farm west of Five Points operated by his father. on October 28. 1863. He is a son of William and Emily ( Peacher) Davis.

The parents of Mr. Davis were natives of Virginia. They moved to Ross County, Ohio, with their parents, in childhood and were there reared and married. In 1859 they settled in Monroe township. Pickaway County, Ohio. The mother died in Scioto township, aged 62 years and the father's death followed in Darby township at the age of 68 years. They had nine children, namely : John Wesley, who died aged 13 years; Edward, who died aged 44 years; Sarah. who married James Campbell. of Fayette County; Martha (Hatfield). de- ceased; George, of Darby township; Charles

When Charles W. Davis was a lad of seven years, his parents purchased and settled on a farm south of Five Points, where the family lived for three years and then moved to the village and lived there until 1878. They were then located in Darby township until 1884, when they returned to Monroe township. When 23 years of age, after careful prepara- tion, our subject began to teach and after three years took a year's course at the Ohio Normal University at Ada. Since then he has con- tinued in his chosen field, giving all his efforts to his native county. For II years he has been identified with the Darbyville school and for the past year has been at its head. He, with his two capable assistants, has 85 pupils in charge. Mr. Davis gave his entire attention to his school work until December 3, 1903, when, with Harry Moore. he embarked in a mer- cantile business at Darbyville, under the firm name of Davis & Moore. He has been a resi- dent at Darbyville since 1893 and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

In 1892 Charles W. Davis was married to Sally Graham, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 28, 1873. and is a daugh- ter of Thomas L. and Elizabeth ( Bell) Graham, natives of Pickaway County, who spent the larger portion of their lives in Darby township.

Although Mr. Davis has never been a very active politician, he has been a stanch Demo- crat all his life. He is one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Darbyville and has been a class leader for five years and for eight years has been superin- tendent of the Sunday-school.

e ARSON CHASE MCCAFFERTY. whose fine home farm of 105 acres is situated in Monroe township. owns another farm which is located on Deer Creek. Both properties are in a fine state of cultivation. Mr. McCaf- ferty was born in Fayette County, Ohio, and

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is a son of David and Ann E. (Steele) Mc- Cafferty.

William McCafferty, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland, where he mar- ried a Miss Nutt, of German extraction. After his death his widow married Isaac Moore. Two children were born to the first marriage, viz. : Eliza, who married Ezra Blaine, now of Mount Sterling, Ohio; and David, the father of our subject. The three children of the second marriage of the grandmother of our subject were: Harry, who married Mar- tha Alkire and, after her death, Tabitha Hedges, who survives him; Madeline, de- ceased, who married the late Spencer McCaf- ferty; and Clara, who is the widow of a Mr. Shook.

The parents of David McCafferty located first in Fayette County but moved to Madison County before his birth. He was reared on a farm which lay along Duff's Forks, and he re- mained at home until his marriage, after which he settled on an 80-acre farm in Fayette Coun- ty, near Bloomingburg, and it was here that Carson C. McCafferty was born. After the birth of two children, the parents moved to Monroe township, Pickaway County, selling the old farm and purchasing the 105 acres in Monroe township, on which the father died September 9, 1896. This farm is occupied by the widow of David McCafferty, with her son Charles.

After reaching manhood, David McCaf- ferty was married to Ann E. Steele, who is a daughter of James P. Steele, a well-known old citizen. Mrs. McCafferty had one sister and four brothers, namely: Elizabeth, who mar- ried Tillison Neff-both died in Kansas; Da- vid; James P., who married Mary Taylor, now deceased; Adam, who married Mary France and lives at Five Points, Monroe township; and Franklin, who married Catherine Davis (now deceased) and lives near San Francisco, California.

The children of David McCafferty and wife were: Carson C., of this sketch; Eliza- beth, who married W. H. Thomas and lives on a farm adjoining that of our subject; Clara, who died at the age of four years; Adam, de-

ceased in infancy; Vista C., who married C. W. Mouser and lives in Perry township ; James T., who married Etta Baker and, after her death, Christina Brown -- they live near Five Points; Estelle. deceased at the age of 23 years; Charles F .. unmarried, who lives with his mother on the homestead: and Scott, who married (first) Hester Crownover (deceased February 28, 1896), and (secon.1). Emma Morehart-they live at Mount Sterling. Ohio.

Carson C. McCafferty was educated in the township schools where his parents lived dur- ing his boyhood and youth. His advantages were no better than those of many of his com- rades, but he undoubtedly made better use of them, for immediately after his marriage he was engaged! to teach school at Mount Ster- ling, where he lived for the first year. He then rented a farm on Deer Creek, which he subse- quently purchased. He did not give up teach- ing, however, seeming to have special ability as an educator. He taught for five years in Perry township, and after an interval taught three years more. He next purchased1 84 acres of land from the Hanawalt estate, on which he lived from 1879 until 1893. when he sold it and bought the farm on which he still resides. Mr. McCafferty then gave up teaching and de- voted his energies mainly to farming.

The farm owned by Mr. McCafferty was formerly included in the Porter estate: a part of it was purchased from the heirs in 1878 and the rest in 1890. Two old log houses were the only buildings on the place at the time of purchase and one of these Mr. McCafferty util- izes as a barn. His handsome residence of eight rooms was built in 1893 and is a com- fortable, attractive home. He has made in- numerable improvements here and his property has grown to be very valuable. He operates both of his farms and raises principally wheat, corn and hogs. His well-cultivated land shows that is well managed and there are unmistak- able evidences that it is very productive.

On March 12, 1876, Mr. McCafferty was married to Elizabeth J. Porter, a daughter of James and Mary E. Porter, of Pickaway Coun- ty. Mr. Porter was twice married and Mrs. McCafferty has three brothers and two sisters,

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viz. : William J., who married Mary Maddox ; John, who married Olive Taylor; Milton, who married Alice Robison; Catherine, who mar- ried William Longerbone; and Mahala, who married J. W. Lewis. The half-brothers and sisters of Mrs. McCafferty are: Vincent, who married Sapphira Nutt; Clement V. Hughes, who married Carrie Porter: Margaret, who married Joseph Maddox; and Margaret, who married Sherman Larey.

Mr. and Mrs. McCafferty have five chil- dren but none was born on the present farm. They are as follows : Walter E., born at Mount Sterling, Ohio, January 15, 1877, who mar- ried Opal Porter, has two children, Verna and Earl, and lives in Monroe township; Cora May, born February 25, '1879, in Monroe township, who married Myrel Scott and lives at Waterloo, Ohio; Grace L., born August 29, 1880, in Monroe township, who lives at home: Edma C., born in Monroe township, August 26, 1884, who married Charles Fulton, has one son, Lewis A., and lives at Mount Sterling, Ohio; and Perry Clark, born in Pickaway County, June 1, 1889, who is attending school.

Mr. McCafferty has been one of the town- ship's leading men for many years. For the past 18 years he has been a justice of the peace, for six years a notary public and for two years was supervisor and a member of the election board. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. In religious belief and observance he is a Meth- odist.

ILLIAM H. CORDRAY, one of the leading farmers of Muhlenberg township, where he owns a well- improved farm of 100 acres, on the Florence Chapel turnpike, was born at Williamsport, Pickaway County, Ohio, September 24, 1850. His parents were Levi and Mary ( Bateman ) Cordray.

The Cordray family is of Scotch extraction, but has been established in Ohio through sev- eral generations. Levi Cordray, father of our subject, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, and came to Circleville in its early days, when he was still a very young man. From Circle-

ville he enlisted for service in the Mexican War and served under Gen. Zachary Taylor, returning to Circleville after the close of the war. For many years he followed fence-mak- ing and made many miles of fencing through- out Pickaway County. Later in life he lived on a farm and died at the home of a daughter in Kingston, Ohio, in 1896, aged 89 years. Although he was an industrious man and made considerable money for his time, he never in- vested it in such a way as to bring him a com- petency. He was always interested in public matters. He was a strong Whig in youth, later becoming identified with the Republican party. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Levi Cordray married Mary Bateman, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, and passed her whole life here, dying at the age of 60 years. Their children were: William H., of this sketch; James, a resident of Circleville township; George W., who resides in Muhlen- berg township; Thomas, of Franklin County, Ohio; Ada Jane, wife of David Smith, of Kingston, Ohio; John, who died in infancy; and Margaret, who died aged nine years.

William H. Cordray was the oldest of his parents' family and on him fell many burdens when but a youth. He was 10 years old when his father settled on a small farm in Jackson township, Pickaway County, near Fox, and our subject remained in that township for some 16 years, and then moved to a farm in Pickaway township. About this time he was married. He then farmed rented land in Pickaway town- ship for four years, 'after which he rented a farm near St. Paul, in Madison township, for four years and, later, a farm in Harrison town- ship, for three years. He then made his first purchase of land, this being a small farm in Scioto township, near Commercial Point. Af- ter operating that for seven years, he was able to sell it to advantage and then purchased his present farm of 100 acres, in Muhlenberg town- ship, 60 acres of which he cleared of scrubs. He settled here in 1891. He erected all the buildings now standing and has many plans for improving his place in the future. He de- votes his whole time to the development of this

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MRS. SARAH B. JOHNSON.

JAMES M. JOHNSON

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farm which has come into his possession en- tirely through his own efforts.

On September 17, 1873, Mr. Cordray was united in marriage with Anna McDonald, who was born in Pickaway township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Peter and Abarilla (Botts) McDonald, natives of Guern- sey County, Ohio. The children born to this marriage are: Charles F., of St. Paul, Madi- son township, Pickaway County, who married and has four children-Elva Anna, Ruth Flor- ence, Carra Marie and Carl Noaker; and Carra Dell, wife of Rev. Emanuel Reid, of Muskin- gum County, a minister' of the Lutheran Church-they have one child, Anna Bell; Mar- shall Fleetwood, of Circleville township; and Palmer Lloyd.

Mr. Cordray has always been a Democrat and for three years he served as a justice of the peace. For seven years' he was a member of the township Board of Education. He and his wife belong to Florence Chapel Presby- terian Church.

OMER VIRGIL JOHNSON, a sub- stantial citizen and leading agricult- urist of Scioto township, who owns and operates the old homestead farm of 300 acres, was born here in 1851 and is a son of James M. and Sarah C. (Briley) Johnson.

James M. Johnson was born in Maryland and was six years old when he accompanied his widowed mother to Hardin County, Ohio. where he remained until he was 17 years of age. In search of farm work he then came to Pickaway County and was employed by Jona- than Renick and it was while thus employed that he became acquainted with Sarah C. Bri- ley, a native of Ohio, to whom he was mar- ried on April 28, 1842. He was born Septem- ber 5, 1820, and died March 15, 1893. She was born May 20, 1827, and died June II, 1893. They had 17 children, all of whom reached maturity with the exception of an in- fant that died December 19, 1868. The rec- ord of the others is as follows: Harriet, who married F. M. Beavers and died July 7, 1870;

Sarah Jane, who married James Rasor-both now deceased; Jonathan, born March 3, 1843, who married Sarah Clifton and is now de- ceased; William W., born November 3, 1844, who married Esther Beavers and resides in Scioto township; James M., born March 27, 1846, who married Mary Ann Beavers and lives in Scioto township; Marion F., born No- vember 4, 1849, who resides with our subject on the old home farm; Homer V., of this sketch; Peter, born November 20, 1852, who married Martha Leach and later Alice Miller, both of his wives being now deceased; Mary E., born April 12, 1856, who married G. E. Neff, a merchant at Derby, Ohio; Lydia A., born January 17, 1858, who married Alex. Redman, of Columbus; Lucy A., born June 3, 1859, who is the widow of Austin Gochenouer and resides at Los Angeles, California; John D., born December 13, 1860, who married Flora Hudson and resides in Muhlenberg township; David, born August 28, 1862, who resides on the home farm; Priscilla, born De- cember 4, 1864, who married Peter Redman and lives at Harrisburg, Franklin County, Ohio; Grant, born December 27, 1866, who married Margaret Winegarner and resides at Columbus; and Lillian, born December 12, 1869, who married William Beavers and lives in Scioto township.

Shortly after his marriage, James M. John- son rented a part of what was then known as the Buckley farm, which he purchased in 1869. He made many improvements, one being the building of the present comfortable farm resi- dence-a large nine-room house in which his many children spent a happy, healthy child- hood. One feature is an old-fashioned fire- place, the like of which is seldom seen in later constructed buildings. It radiated good cheer on many festive occasions. The old house was so stanchly built that in the lifetime of Mr. Johnson it was sometimes facetiously declared that it was so tight that a window had to be opened when a draught was needed to make the fire burn. The home stands on an emi- nence that commands the surrounding country and the traveler along the Buckley road has no difficulty in singling out the beautiful old

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Johnson home. Pausing at its hospitable en- trance, a draught of sweet, cold water may be obtained, brought up from the rock bottom, from the old-fashioned well which recalls mem- ories to everyone of the "Old Oaken Bucket."

Our subject came into possession of the old homestead at the death of his father and has always resided here. Formerly this land was included in Darby township, but is now sit- uated in Scioto; it is bounded on the west and south by Darby Creek. It is thus well adapted to general farming and stock-raising and has always been considered a very valuable prop- erty, and under the Johnsons has been a very productive one.

In addition to his agricultural interests, Homer V. Johnson has been more or less con- cerned for years in all matters of importance that have required good citizenship in Scioto township. Since 1888 he has served his polit- ical party as central committeeman and for 24 years he has been a member of the township School Board, its chairman for 21 years, and is also one of the board of trustees of the Pick- away County Children's Home. From 1894 until 1897 he served as justice of the peace. Mr. Johnson is unmarried.

Portraits of the father and mother of the subject of this sketch are shown on a fore- going page.

J R. WILSON. The city of Circleville owes much of its prosperity to the re- sponsible business firms which have given it standing; a leading one is that of Hoffman, Brown & Wilson, large dealers in stoves, hardware and house furnishings and engaged in sanitary plumbing. Of this firm J. R. Wilson is the junior member, a progressive, enterprising man of business. He was born in Hocking County, Ohio, in 1856, and was reared and educated at Logan. His father was Arthur Wilson, who was en- gaged in railroad contracting.

After completing his education, Mr. Wil- son, under his father, engaged in railroad con- struction and became foreman of the workmen who built the Norfolk & Western Railway. He

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 97

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