History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 73

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985

USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions > Part 73

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William S. Pinkerton received his early education in the public schools of Preble county, Ohio, and later, when his parents moved to Rush county, Indiana, he attended the public schools in that county. In 1887 he entered Indiana State University, at Bloomington, Indiana. After he had been graduated from the university, he went to Pekin, Illinois, where for two years he was an instructor in the Episcopal denominational institution of that place. He then returned to Indiana University, where he taught Greek and Latin until 1895, at the same time working out his degree of Master of Arts. From Indiana University he went to Huntington, Indiana, where he taught Greek and Latin for eight years. At the end of that time his health failed and he abandoned his profession of teaching, taking up the work of truck farming in the vicinity of Bloomington, Indiana, an occupation which he followed for about six years. In 1910 he came to Fairhaven, Preble county, Ohio, and engaged in farming. He has since remained in Fairhaven and has been prominent in the affairs of the town.

On August 22, 1906, Mr. Pinkerton married Mrs. Lillian (Pierson) Smith, the widow of Charles E. Smith, who died April 14, 1896. She was a daughter of Stephen and Esther ( Elliott) Pierson, the father a native of New Jersey and the mother born in Dixon township, Preble county. Mr. Pierson was a wagonmaker in Fairhaven. He died in May, 1892, and Mrs. Pierson died in December, 1881. Mrs. Pinkerton owns ninety-three acres of land adjoining Fairhaven.

Mr. and Mrs. William S. Pinkerton are members of the United Presby- terian church of Fairhaven and are loyal supporters and active workers in that church. In politics. Mr. Pinkerton is affiliated with the Republican

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party and has been active in the political affairs of his community. He is at present ably serving his fellow citizens in the office of township clerk, and is conducting the duties of his office with entire success.

Mr. Pinkerton is a man of high ideals and upright citizenship. He has played an important part in the development of the country, first as an educator and later as a farmer and community leader. He has been in every way a worthy descendant of his pioneer ancestors and possesses the love and respect, not only of his neighbors, but also of the many students whom he wisely instructed and advised during the pliant periods of their lives.

FRED C. ROBERTS.

Perseverance and sterling worth are almost always sure to win con- spicuous recognition in all localities. Fred C. Roberts, at present a farmer living on Rural Route No. 5, out of Eaton, Ohio, affords a splendid example of a successful, self-made man, who is not only eminently deserving of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens, but who possesses the energy and integrity which have fitted him to discharge the duties of all the re- sponsibilities with which he has been entrusted. Mr. Roberts is a man of vigorous mentality, strong moral fiber, and to these qualities are due largely the signal success which he has achieved in the battle of life.

Fred C. Roberts was born in Gratis township, Preble county, Ohio, April 1, 1873, a son of James W. and Lucretia M. (Davis) Roberts. James W. Roberts was born in 1849 on the same farm as his son, Fred C., and now lives at West Elkton, Ohio. Lucretia M. Davis was born near Liberty, in Union county, Indiana. James W. Roberts is the son of Samuel Roberts, who was born near Seven Mile, in Butler county, Ohio. Samuel Roberts, a son of Jonathan Roberts, came to Preble county and located in Gratis town- ship, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a prominent farmer and one of the wealthiest men in that township, owning three hundred acres of land. He was a member of the Friends church, and was a stanch Re- publican. He was the father, besides James W., of Jonathan, Elihu, Zeno and Delilah.

James W. Roberts was reared in Gratis township and married in Union county. Indiana, and after his marriage he located on a part of the old farm, where he lived until he purchased land near West Elkton, Ohio. He lived

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FRED C. ROBERTS.

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on this farm until 1904, when he moved to West Elkton, Ohio, and retired from active life. He is a member of the Friends church, and a stanch Republican in politics. He was a successful farmer and owned one hundred and seventy-five acres of land. Three children were born to James W. Roberts and wife: Willis, who died at the age of eight years. Curtis, a grand- uate of the common schools and the West Elkton high school, also was a graduate of Earlham College, at Richmond, Indiana, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was superintendent of Israel township schools for some time, and was accidentally shot at a teachers' picnic in 1900. Fred C. Roberts, the third son born to his parents, was reared on the farm in Gratis township and was educated in the common schools of that township. He was graduated from the West Elkton high school in 1889, and from Earlham College with the degree of Bachelor of Science. After this he entered the State University of Michigan, where he was gradu- ated with the degree of Civil Engineer in 1897. He was employed on govern- ment surveys in Michigan two years, and then taught school for five years in Preble county, Ohio. He was elected surveyor of Preble county, Ohio, in 1903, and served six years. He also served as city engineer of Eaton for a term of three years.

Fred. C. Roberts was married to Verona Stubbs, of Gratis township, who was born in that township, and was graduated from the West Elkton high school. She also was a student at Earlham College. Three children have been born to this union, Lowell F., who is a junior in the high school at Camden; Robert W., who was born October 30, 1899, and who is a student in the same class as his brother, Lowell F .; Joyce, who was born in 1902, is a student in the public schools of Camden, Ohio.

Mr. Roberts and his father own six hundred and nine acres of land in Preble county, Ohio, all of which, with the exception of forty-six acres, is situated in Gasper township. It is all in one body. Mr. Roberts is a stock- holder in the Farmers' Elevator Company. He makes a specialty in the breeding of cattle and hogs, and has a splendid success in raising stock for the markets.

Politically, Mr. Roberts is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Friends church and active in the work of that church. Mr. Roberts is also a member of the Ohio Civil Engineering Society. Fred C. Roberts is a quiet, unassuming man, an honorable citizen of Preble county, highly re- spected in the community where he resides, and, in fact, throughout the whole county, where he is so well known.

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MARTIN L. COOVERT.

Success depends not only upon character, but upon training, disposi- tion and optimism. In every community some men are known for their upright lives, remarkable commonsense and their congenial temperaments. They acquire political prestige by virtue of these qualities, since their neigh- bors and acquaintances come to respect them and to admire them. It is an honor of no small consequence to be entrusted with important political du- ties, and Martin L. Coovert, a farmer of Monroe township, Preble county, Ohio, has been honored by the citizens of Preble county. It is only fair to say that Mr. Coovert discharged these duties to the satisfaction of the peo- ple of Preble county, and that his reputation in a public way is builded upon the efficiency he showed in this office.

Martin L. Coovert was born in Monroe township, Preble county, Ohio, February 21, 1851, the son of Samuel and Emily (Hendrickson) Coovert. Samuel Coovert was the son of John Coovert, who was one of the early settlers of Preble county, and who died in Missouri. Samuel Coovert was reared in Preble county and here married. He spent practically his whole life in this county. He was active in local politics and served as one of the commissioners of the county for nine years. He was known far and wide for his untiring energy and for the dispatch with which he did things. He was an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Coovert died in June, 1913, and her husband died in April. 1914. They celebrated their sixty-sixth wedding anniversary in 1913. They were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, Jane, the wife of William Slusser, who lives in Monroe township; Martin L., the subject of this sketch; Curtis, a farmer of Monroe township, and Samuel J., a retired farmer of Eldorado.

Martin L. Coovert spent his boyhood days in Preble county and when old enough he worked on the farm and attended the district schools. He later engaged in the manufacture of tile in Monroe township and was in that business for eighteen years. After quitting the tile business he purchased a farm and now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, a splendid farm in every respect.

On July 18, 1875, Martin L. Coovert was married to Huldah J. Mc- Coy, a sister of Samuel L. McCoy. Two children have been born to this union, Minnie, who is a graduate of the Eldorado high school and the wife of O. P. Murray, of New Madison, Ohio, and Edward, a graduate of the

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Ohio University at Athens, who is a teacher in the Akron (Ohio) high school. He married a Miss Leyda.

Mr. Coovert served as county commissioner of Preble county two terms, having been elected upon the Republican ticket. Throughout his life he has been active in local politics and is regarded as one of the leaders in his community, and, in fact, in Preble county. Mrs. Coovert belongs to the United Brethren church at Eldorado. Martin L. Coovert is a man much like his father in the effective manner in which he performs either a private or public duty. He must in every sense be regarded as a representative citi- zen of Preble county and one thoroughly entitled to representation in this volume.

EDMOND SOMERS.

The sons of Ireland who are living in this country are at all times found to be among the most public-spirited and patriotic citizens, as they are characteristically leaders, warm hearted and enthusiastic, and gifted with a passionate love for their adopted land. The sons display the same traits as the fathers, with the exception that they are fully Americanized and fully in sympathy with American institutions, since they understand them better.

A son of an Irish father is Edmond Somers, who was born in Dixon township, Putnam county, on July 4, 1858, the son of Thomas and Mary (Stack) Somers, who were the parents of twelve children, of whom five are living. They are: Edmond; Marcella, the wife of Lewis M. French, of Dixon township; Thomas, who married Zoretha Braddock, also resides in Dixon township; Arthur married Marie Jackson and lives in Dixon township; Michael L. lives in Winchester, Indiana, where he engages in the manufacture of glassware.

When he was twenty-one years of age, Thomas Somers came from Ireland to America, landing almost penniless. He went to work on a Dixon township farm, where he continued for a number of years, working by the month for a time. Eventually he owned three hundred and sixty-seven acres, all earned by his own efforts. His wife came from the same county in Ireland as did he. She came to Eaton at the age of twelve and Thomas Somers and she were married in Dixon township on March 18, 1847. The husband died January 22, 1893; the wife on April 15, 1904.

Edmond Somers was reared on the home farm and was educated in the district schools. After his marriage, he rented a farm in Dixon town-

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ship on which he lived until March, 1910, when he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres on which he now lives, formerly known as the old Morton place, situated six miles southwest of Eaton on the Sugar Val- ley road. The place is now known as the "Brookside Farm" and is de- voted to general farming and stock raising, a specialty being made of Duroc- Jersey red hogs.

On March 5, 1888, Mr. Somers married Lida Watt, the daughter of John J. and Matilda (Fitzsimmons) Watt. John Watt was born on July 4, 1819, in Brookville, Indiana, and his wife was born in Pennsylvania on June 4, 1826. John Watt was a miller by trade and, after living at various places, finally settled on a farm, in connection with which he operated a mill on Four Mile creek. Mr. Somers and wife are the parents of the following three children: Mildred is living at home; Oral is a graduate of the Eaton high school, and Marvin is a student in the home schools.

Mr. Somers is a quiet mannered man, who believes that he can best serve the community by a good example. In politics he is Republican, and his wife is a member of the Sugar Valley Methodist church. A progressive agriculturist, a wise and devoted husband and father and a true gentleman, Mr. Somers is well worthy of a place among the representative citizens of his county.

OTTO FERST.

"Honor and shame from no condition rise; act well your part, there all the honor lies." How aptly the poet thus expresses the basic condition of right living. There is no one who has not at some time had this statement impressed upon his consciousness by a review of the life of some one of his acquaintance or of some one within the range of his knowledge, who, from humble conditions, has risen to a place of honor and distinction. These honors and distinctions may be nation-wide in scope or they may be con- fined to the locally-restricted area of a quiet neighborhood, but they are none the less honors and distinctions for their being of mere local application. There are many in this county who will at once discern the aptness of the epigram as just quoted, applied to the useful life of the well-known Gratis township farmer with whose career this particular sketch will treat. Left an orphan when a child, being bereft of both parents when little more than an infant, Otto Ferst has become one of the most prosperous and progress-

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ive farmers in Preble county and it is but proper that a brief account of his life and of his works be here presented.

Otto Ferst was born on December 1, 1859, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ferst, both of whom died when he was a small child. He was born in St. Louis, but, while still an infant, was taken by his parents to Cincin- nati, Ohio, to which city they moved from St. Louis, and there, shortly afterward, both his parents died. Being thus doubly bereft, though, happily too young to realize the full import of his irreparable loss, the child Otto fell into good hands and in the later days of his prosperous manhood never neglected grateful acknowledgment of the debt he owed to his devoted foster-parents. Otto Ferst was taken into the home of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Roberts, prosperous farmers of Gratis township, Preble county. and, under their tender care, was reared to vigorous and useful manhood. He remained with Mr. and Mrs. Roberts until he reached his majority, completing the course in the excellent schools of the township, and then started out "on his own hook." Early acquiring a small farm, he pushed the cultivation of this with such well-directed energy that he presently began enlarging his holdings and now owns a fine farm of two hundred and thirty acres, which is as well improved and under as high a state of cultivation as any farm in the county.

Mr. Ferst has been twice married. His first marriage took place on August 11, 1885, when he was united with Sarah Elizabeth Stubbs, who was born in Preble county, June 13, 1865. the daughter of Joseph and Esther (Cooper) Stubbs, well known and highly respected farming people of this county. To this union four children were born, three sons and one daughter, as follows: Howard J., born January 11, 1888, was graduated from the West Elkton high school, which course of instruction he supplemented with a course in the Jacobs Business College at Dayton, Ohio. from which insti- tution also he was graduated with honor ; he married Merle Keister. by whom he has one daughter, Vera, born July 23, 1909, and is successfully engaged in the real estate business at Germantown, Ohio: Arthur B., born February 23, 1893, married Lucille Reece and lives on the home farm, known through- out this region as "Clover-Leaf Farm:" Russell S., born December 23, 1897, was graduated from the West Elkton high school with the class of 1915, and Esther Marie, born January 5, 1900, is still in school.

The mother of these children was a birthright member of the Friends church, of West Elkton, but later united with the United Brethren church. She died June 14, 1911, and on June 19, 1912, Mr. Ferst married Mrs. Margaret Bare, widow of Ora E. Bare, who was born February 26,

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1867. Margaret Boner and Ora E. Bare were married February 23, 1888, and to them three children were born: Anna C. Bare, born June 14, 1889, the wife of Joseph Schell, who lives in Dayton, Ohio; Franklin Bare, born September 20, 1892, lives at Middletown, Ohio, and Earl Bare, born Janu- ary 5, 1895, married Anna Curl and lives in Dayton. Ora E. Bare was a successful contractor in brick-masonry, whose death occurred December 1I, 1910. His wife, now Mrs. Ferst, is the daughter of Thomas D. and Ann M. (Strader) Boner, the former of whom was born in Germantown, Ohio, and died January 15, 1888, and the latter of whom died December 17, 1904.

Otto Ferst is recognized as one of the best farmers in Preble county. His well-appointed place, "Clover-Leaf Farm," is kept in the highest state of cultivation to which modern methods of farming can bring it and, in addi- tion to general farming, Mr. Ferst gives much attention to the raising of thoroughbred hogs, finding much profit in his carefully maintained drove of Duroc-Jerseys. "Clover-Leaf Farm" is situated three-fourths of a mile south of West Elkton and is a model upon which many farmers of this county might profitably pattern their farms. In connection with his farm duties, Mr. Ferst finds time to give the attention to public service which all good citizens should give and has been honored by his neighbors, who early recog- nized his executive ability and sound business judgment. He has given much attention to school affairs, being deeply interested in the educational system of the township, and is president of the West Elkton school board. Previous to this term of service, he had been for six years a member of the township board. He is a Republican and has always taken an intelligent interest in the political affairs of the county, his counsel often having proved of value to the party managers in local campaigns.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ferst are members of the United Brethren church at West Elkton, Mr. Ferst having been one of the trustees of the church for about twenty-five years. Previous to her marriage with Mr. Ferst, Mrs. Ferst had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at West Alex- andria, but. following her marriage, she became affiliated with the congre- gation to which her husband had been so long and so devotedly attached. Mrs. Ferst also is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Pythian Sisters and the Daughters of Rebekah, all at West Alexandria. Both she and Mr. Ferst are active in doing good and are always found well to the front in the ranks of those who are interested in the advancement of the truest culture of their neighborhood. in consequence of which they are held in the highest regard by all of their large circle of acquaintances, all of whom pay to them the high tribute of their fullest confidence.

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PHILIP FORSBERG, D. V. S.

The sympathy which mankind extends to the dumb brutes of creation, "the little brothers" who are unable to voice their feelings in a manner capable of close interpretation to that higher order of the animal creation which the great God has endowed with articulate speech, is one of the most convincing evidences that man indeed was created but little lower than the angels. The pleading of the eloquent eyes of one of the domestic animals, gazing at one of the acknowledged "lords of creation" with mute appeal to bring relief to the sufferings which it cannot voice, is one of the most pathetic sights in all nature and no one can behold such a sight without experiencing a new respect for the self-sacrificing doctors of veterinary surgery who are ever ready to respond to the call to bring relief to the sufferings of stricken ani- mals and without acknowledging anew that these devoted surgeons are indeed far in the front ranks of public benefactors. Among the several surgeons in Preble county whose lives have been devoted to the relief of the sufferings of the brute creation, none is better known or held in higher esteem than the doctor whose name heads this review and the biograper finds it a pleasant task to here present for the information of the readers of this valuable volume a brief epitome of his life's history.

Dr. Philip Forsberg was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 9, 1887. the son of August and Marie ( Bihle) Forsberg, who were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, as follow: Augusta, Emma, Selma, Grace. Ebba and Philip. all of whom, save Dr. Philip Forsberg, are living at home with their parents.

August Forsberg, father of the subject of this review, was engaged in the real-estate business in Chicago from about the year 1879 until the year 1894, when he entered the employ of a steel mill as a mechanic and followed that line of industrial activity until the year 1904, when he, with others, or- ganized a company for the manufacture of surgical instruments. He was engaged with this company until the fall of 1907. when, the "hard times" of that period coming on. the industry was abandoned and Mr. Forsberg, with his family. moved to DeKalb, Illinois, where he now resides and where he is engaged as a skilled mechanic in the employ of the Haish Manufacturing Company.

Philip Forsberg received his education in the public schools of Chicago, which excellent course of schooling he supplemented with a seven-months course in a business college in the same city. Upon completing this course,

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he enlisted in the United States regular army and was attached to Troop E, Fourth Cavalry, receiving his honorable discharge in June, 1911. While serving in the cavalry, Doctor Forsberg conceived such a liking for horses that he determined to devote his life to the amelioration of the ills and dis- tresses of these most useful of man's servitors. Upon returning to Chicago he immediately entered upon the conscientious study of the veterinary science, and in the spring of 1914 was graduated from the Veterinary College of Chicago, with the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Surgery. thus qualifying himself for the practice of his noble profession. Doctor Forsberg at once came to Preble county and located at Camden, where he entered upon a prac- tice which has, even in the comparatively short time he has been there, grown to large proportions, speaking well for the professional skill and ability of the young veterinary surgeon, whose reputation is rapidly extending to all parts of the county and adjacent communities.

Doctor Forsberg is agreeable in his personality, skilled in his profession and frank and direct in his dealings with his fellow citizens and the biog- rapher does not hesitate to predict that he is destined to a work of large use- fulness in the neighborhood which he has selected as a place for residence and practice.

CHARLES SHADE.

The debt that this nation owes to the people of Teutonic origin, who form a part of the wonderful polyglot population of the country, cannot today properly be estimated and the present historian will not attempt to place an appraisement upon the value of the services to the civilization of the west- ern continent rendered by those of Germanic birth who were prompted by the restrictions of their own country to flee militarism and its kindred evils and seek the free land oversea as a place in which to erect a new home. Those traits of honesty, perseverance, industry and family devotion, those high in- trinsic qualities that have endeared the German immigrant to his American neighbors. have made their impress in every part of the country and the full value of this influence may be determined only by the future historian. There are many residents of Preble county who either were born in Germany or who have Germanic parentage and a work of this character would not be complete without an honest expression of acknowledgment of the debt the community owes to these sterling people. Among these citizens of German origin in this county, few are better known or more deservedly popular than

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History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 73

Author: R. E. Lowry Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 985

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985